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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county news and services. Our newsletter comes out the first Monday of each month.
We are always looking for resident feedback on ways to improve Hennepin County's service offerings. If you have an idea, please don't hesitate to reach out. As an elected official, I answer to you.
Budget Process - 2023
Late last month, the county board kicked off our annual budgeting process with the approval of a $939.8 million maximum property tax levy for 2023. This represents a 4.5% increase over property tax revenues collected last year. Roughly one third of county revenues come from property taxes.
I voted for this increase rather than the initially proposed 3.5% increase in order to give us some flexibility in the budget process to fund new initiatives. However, during the course of the budget process, my goal is to critically look at new initiatives, determine which are the most impactful, and bring it down from this cap:
- Information on the budget process, including the full schedule, is available on our website.
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Want to give your input? You can show up to a budget hearing during the open forum period (beginning) or record your comments by leaving a voicemail at 612-688-4455.
**Have questions on the budget process? Contact my policy aide Anna at anna.schmiel@hennepin.us.
Evictions
Last week, I voted to approve $3.5 million to support family homeless shelter services in Hennepin County through the end of March 2023:
Thank you Commissioner Conley (D4) for bringing this resolution forward! See the full resolution below.
 Expansion of Youth Sports Grant - arts & music
Exciting news! The board of commissioners unanimously approved a contract to expand the scope of the Hennepin County Youth Sports grant program:
- The contract gave the North Minneapolis non-profit, Encouraging Leaders, $300,000 over 3 years to fund youth art and music programs.
- This will allow the county to invest more in activities for all youth, not just those involved in sports.
A big thanks to Commissioner Anderson (D7) for bringing this resolution forward!
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 "Can I vote if I...?"
“Can I vote if I’m in jail?"
Voters who are in jail BUT haven’t been convicted of a felony sentence are still eligible to vote and can request an absentee ballot:
- In 2020, Hennepin County elections started a program to bring absentee ballots to eligible voters in the county’s jails when requested.
- It’s free to call Hennepin County elections to request a ballot at 612-348-5151 for those in jail.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
 Map showing the full proposed park plans.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park combines Three Rivers Park District land and the Environmental Nature Area in Brooklyn Park (see map above) into a new park that will connect people year-round to the Mississippi River and the outdoors. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.
I consider myself a small "e" environmentalist, meaning I want projects to be accessible and beneficial to residents. As Mayor of Brooklyn Park, I pushed this project forward because I believe everyone, no matter their income, should have access to nature. I am thrilled to see how community-centric this project is. It provides free, inclusive recreation space and environmental education/activities for all ages to enjoy - all while preserving our riverfront for future generations to enjoy.
**See the proposed design here.
PrairieCare's New Site - youth mental health
 Shoveling up dirt during the ground break. Officials pictured include PrairieCare staff, the city of Brooklyn Park, the Minnesota Legislature, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, and NAMI-MN.
I had a great time attending the ground break for PrairieCare expansion of its youth inpatient psychiatric facility in Brooklyn Park at 9400 Zane Ave. N:
- The 30,000 square-foot expansion will add another 30 inpatient beds to the existing 71-bed hospital, room for an additional estimated 3,500 patients each year.
- With mental health issues on the rise, especially among youth, this a much needed increase in services. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, there are currently only 202 psychiatric hospital beds available for youth in the state.
Crystal Police Station - grand opening
 People standing outside of the opening of the police department, listening to speakers.
I also attended the grant opening of the updated Crystal Police Department last month. This expansion includes:
- Police vehicle fleet storage
- Kennels for the city's two K9 units
- Expanded locker room space and capacity with lockers for every employee
- Up-to-date, 16-hour holding facility that meets all modern Dept. of Corrections requirements
- Community meeting room
The Crystal Police Department is already home to innovative programs, including:
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Mental Health Embedded Social Worker: provide mental healthcare for cases where this, rather than policing, is the appropriate response
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JCPP/MAC Liaison: enhances community connection with law enforcement
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Community Engagement Sergeant: reaches out to the community to build relationships
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Cornerstone Domestic Violence Advocate: legal advocates that provide support and resources for survivors
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Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY)
 Text reads, "Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health: The Reimagine Youth Mental Health initiative will change systems to improve youth mental health by implemented a youth-centered and community driven process to identify, analyze, implement and evaluate specific policy changes in a range of settings.
A big congrats to BBAY, who received a grant for a new initiative through the Office of Minority Health - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to promote Black youth mental health (BYMH):
- This award is one of only eight national awards, which BBAY received after BBAY partners, and Minnesota Department of Health worked together to apply for the federal grant.
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The Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health initiative will change systems to improve youth mental health by implementing a youth-centered and community-driven process to identify, analyze, implement, and evaluate specific policy changes in a range of settings.
Harm Reduction
NorthPoint's Sanctuary Resource Center (710 West Broadway in North Minneapolis) offers residents services to reduce the harm of drug use and prevent HIV and viral hepatitis infection.
They accept most insurance and offer income-based discounts on a sliding scale.
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Services include:
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Syringe exchange: to reduce the spread of infections like HIV/Aids and Hepatitis B/C
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Naloxone distribution: to stop overdoses
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Testing and continued care: care linkages are made to various resources such as Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT), treatment, detox, wound care, and food/housing.
**Questions? Call 612-267-0305 (HIV testing appointments) or 612-223-3682
MN HEALS 2.0
MN HEALS 2.0, which I am a part of, has released its initial report. The report outlines the efforts that have been taken to address juvenile carjackings in Minneapolis. It also sets forth goals to address serious violent crime in Minneapolis and nearby suburbs.
What is MN HEALS 2.0?: A cross-sector effort to address violent crime in Hennepin County. Its members include law enforcement, faith leaders, the business community, and local elected officials.
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Blue Line Updates
 Text reads, "Fieldwork: project development activitied along the proposed route." Below is an image of two construction staff doing wetland surveying.
METRO Blue Line Extension field work is set to begin this month. As planning and environmental work continues, you may notice project staff in your neighborhood performing initial field work. Work you may see includes:
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Surveying: determines the location of the built environment (e.g., trails, roads, walls) around the project route and property lines.
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Wetland surveying: survey crews also check the location and boundaries of wetlands that may be affected by the project to mitigate its impacts.
Anti-Displacement Work Group - meeting #2
The METRO Blue Line Extension Anti-Displacement Work Group had its second Saturday workshop last month. It focused on understanding the landscape of potential anti-displacement policies and creating structure for group recommendations through implementation.
What are the Saturday workshops?: 4 long brainstorming sessions between the 26 work group members, facilitated by the Center for Urban & Regional Affairs (CURA). Each session will focus on a different type of displacement (housing, commercial, and cultural).
How to get involved:
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What: supports landowners, businesses, government agencies, and organizations with matching grants to implement conservation practices to preserve and restore critical habitats, reduce erosion, protect groundwater, and improve water quality.
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Amount: maximum of $25,000 per project (typically $5,000 to $15,000)
Contact us
Jeffrey Lunde
Commissioner, 1st District
612-414-3302
Vicky Soukaseum
Policy Aide
612-414-4747
Anna Schmiel
Policy and Communications Aide
612-348-5202
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