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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. Schedule - Budget 2023. Amendments: Thursday, Nov. 17th, 1 - 4pm & Monday, Nov. 21st, 1 - 4pm. Truth in Taxation Public Hearing: Tuesday, Nov. 29th, 1 - 4pm. Budget and levy - board approval: Thursday, Dec. 15th, 1:30pm. Want to give your input? Show up to a budget hearing during the open forum period (beginning of meeting). Record your comments by leaving a voicemail at 612-688-4455. Email my policy aide Anna at anna.schmiel@hennepin.us with your questions/suggestions.
The 2023 budget process is underway! Budgets year-to-year are often quite similar, so looking at the 2022 budget will give you a good idea of what your tax dollars are being used for.
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Visit our website for updates on the 2023 budget and more information on how to submit your comments.
**Have questions? Contact my policy aide Anna at anna.schmiel@hennepin.us
Paid Parental Leave Doubled
 Screenshot of the beginning of Board Action Reguest 22-0428.
Last week, my fellow commissioners and I voted to double the paid parental leave offered to county employees for birth/adoption of a child from 6 to 12 weeks. This is an expansion of Hennepin County's Parental Leave Policy and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
A big thanks to Commissioner Greene (D3) for bringing the BAR forward, and to Commissioner Fernando (D2) and Hennepin County's Health Insurance, Benefits and Employee Wellness Advisory Board (HIBEWAB) for their support of this effort!
Why is this important?
Dakota Makoce Na Mni Okiciyaka
Dakota Land and Water Acknowledgment Statement
Earlier this month, my fellow board members and I formally adopted our first ever Land and Water Acknowledgement to recognize the Dakota people as the traditional stewards of the land Hennepin County residents call home. This is just one of the ways we are celebrating our first formally recognized Native American Heritage Month, honoring the contributions of the American Indian community in Hennepin County, and facilitating education on the history of colonialism and its ongoing impacts.
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 Business Funding: grants. Main Street Economic Revitalization Program: Apply at ACER (African Career Education and Resources Inc.). Amount: up to $300,000 Used for: for work on existing or new properties Eligibility: Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center businesses worst hit by the impact of COVID-19 and the uprising.
11th Annual Business Forward Forum
 Eleventh Annual Business Forward Forum: Wednesday, November 9th, 8am - 12pm. Edinburgh Gold Course (8700 Edinbrook Crossing, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443). Come here from Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde on business in Hennepin County alongside a panel of guests who will be speaking about becoming "Loan Ready." Questions? Contact Malcolm Hicks at malcolm.hicks@brooklynpark.org or call 763-493-8053.
Join me at Brooklyn Park's 11th Annual Business Forward Forum. This yearly event is an opportunity for businesses to network and learn about resources available.
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When: Nov. 9, 8am - 12pm
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Where: Edinburgh Gold Course (8700 Edinbrook Crossing)
I'll be giving a presentation on the county's Community Investment Initiative (CII). This initiative was launched to respond to the economic disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. My fellow commissioners and I authorized up to $10 million in pandemic relief funding for a place-based approach to strengthen communities.
9th Annual Cities United Conference
 Man and woman hugging at a podium during the 9th Annual Cities United Conference in Baltimore.
I had a wonderful time last week at the 9th Annual Cities United Conference! I was one of nearly 600 leaders who came to Baltimore to build, learn and heal in an effort to make our communities across the country safe, healthy and hopeful.
What is Cities United?
As Mayor of Brooklyn Park, I was one of the founding mayors of Cities United - a national network of mayors, community leaders, and young people who are coming together to end the gun violence epidemic among young Black men and boys using an investment-centered approach. A big thanks to the Executive Director, Anthony D. Smith, for the invite and your continued partnership!
 Environmental Review Process. Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Supplemental EIS): updated from 2020. Brooklyn Park - West Broadway Ave. Southern Brooklyn Park and Crystal - Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) new! Robbinsdale - Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) new! Minneapolis - West Broadway Ave. new! Public comment period Due Nov. 7th Email to Neha Damle at Neha.Damle@metrotransit.org.
The METRO Blue Line Extension is beginning work on a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It will focus on potentially significant changes to the project based on the identification of the recommended route:
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Draft: expected fall/early winter 2023
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Final: expected 2024
The METRO Blue Line's Anti-Displacement Work Group has its third Saturday workshop November 12th from 10am - 4pm. This workshop's topic is: Business Displacement
- The public is invited to watch the live stream on CURA's YouTube channel (previously recorded meetings also available).
- Meeting materials and the membership list are available on the website.
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Placemaking as Public Safety
 Commissioner Lunde standing next to the purple KABOOM! logo at their office in Baltimore.
While in Baltimore last week, I had the opportunity to visit KABOOM! KABOOM! is a national non-profit that works with communities to build kid-designed play spaces to increase pride in place and community well-being.
**Stay tuned for some exciting news ahead and how this work fits in with my office's investment-based public safety approach!
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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