BOARD NEWS
FEBRUARY BOARD ACTIONS
February 7, 2012
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Interim Governance Structure Established for Integrated Health Care Model (Hennepin Health)
Commissioners Mike Opat, Peter McLaughlin, Gail Dorfman and Randy Johnson were named to the governance board of the Hennepin Health demonstration project;
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Volunteers appointed or reappointed to the following citizen advisory boards: Capital Budgeting Task Force, Minneapolis City Planning Commission, Community Action Parnership of Suburban Hennepin (CAPSH) Board, Human Resources Board, Mental Commitment Attorney Panel Advisory Board, and the Workforce Investment Board.
February 28, 2012
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The Board approved $9.5 million in capital improvements for Hennepin County Medical Center's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Cancer Clinic
$6.9 million was approved to remodel the PICU. HCMC is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and the new PICU will be a state-of-the-art facility with space for patients and their families to heal together. Also approved, $2.95 in improvements to expand the HCMC Cancer Center to relieve capacity constraints to allow for new patient growth.
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Project aimed at expanding job opportunities, reducing dependency on county services in north Minneapolis
To address the area's long-term challenges of poverty, expand economic opportunties for residents and reduce dependency on county services, the Board authorized $150,000 for Sanctuary Community Development Corporation to act as fiscal agent for a Dependency Reduction Project.
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Program provides job training to County Home School residents
The Board approved an agreement with East Side Neighborhood Services to provide job training for up to 32 residents of the Hennepin County Home School - the county's residential treatment center for juveniles.
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Volunteers appointed to citizen advisory boards
The Board appointed or reappointed residents to the following citizen advisory boards: the Library Board, and the Adult Mental Health Local advisory Board.
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Court Security
County Administration presented recommendations for improving court security, including closure of the Southdale court facility. The Board will consider these recommendations in committee on Thursday, March 8 and act on them on Tuesday, March 13.
FEBRUARY BOARD BRIEFINGS
In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the board often meets on Thursday mornings to receive "Board Briefings." These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made. Board Briefings occur in the Boardroom on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public.
February 9, 2012
The board was briefed regarding foreclosure response in Brooklyn Park. Information was provided relating to the number of foreclosures (599 in 2011) and vacant properties, the challenges posed by foreclosed properties and Brooklyn Park's response plan. To date, Brooklyn Park has assisted in the rehabilitation of 215 units and also assisted buyers to purchase foreclosed units.
February 23, 2012
The Board received information on two topics: redistricting and public health.
1. Redistricting -- Now that legislative lines have been drawn, the focus of redistricting shifts to local units of government. Hennepin County will draw its own boundaries for commissioner districts. It will be the last unit of government to act and may not do so until all 45 Hennepin County cities have drawn their precinct boundaries. (County commission districts may not split precincts.)
The following calendar of events related to redistricting was presented:
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March 8 -- County Board (in committee) considers a resolution setting out the county redistricting process
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March 13 -- County Board adopts the redistricting process
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April 3 -- Cities complete their redistricting activities and County Board (in committee) considers redistricting principles
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April 10 -- County Board adopts redistricting principles
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April 17 -- County Board considers proposed redistricing plan and holds public hearing
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April 24 -- County Board considers (and adopts if appropriate) redistricting plan
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May 1 -- County redistricting must be complete
On May 22, the filing period for county offices will open. It closes June 5.
2. Public Health -- Staff reviewed the county's public health role. It provided information and data related to public health promotion, public health protection and public health clinics. This was in response to requests by commissioners for more information on this area of county activity, including effectiveness, expenditures, and strategic direction.
What: A public hearing was established for the purpose of issuing debt under the county's Five-Year Capital Improvement Program
When: Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 1:30 during the Budget and Capital Investment Committee
Where: 24th floor boardroom of the Government Center - 300 S. 6th Street, Mpls.
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