Dear neighbors,
In April, my colleagues and I teamed up with numerous volunteers from around Ramsey County for an Earth Day celebration, where we cleaned up Battle Creek Regional Park right here in District 6 (see photo above). In appreciation of their efforts and those of hundreds more who volunteer throughout the year, the Board has declared April 21-27 as Volunteer Week in Ramsey County.
On that note, I’m proud to have passed the Ramsey County Climate Equity Action Plan. This plan sets a new framework that will shape how future board decisions are made, ensuring that our climate initiatives are responsive and attentive to the needs and experiences of everyone, especially those in our most vulnerable communities.
For example, we know that emissions from transportation are the lead cause of climate pollution and health risks here in Ramsey County. Our major highways cut through many of our most underrepresented or low-income communities, many of whom are BIPOC, have limited mobility, or may be immunocompromised. The plan will prioritize clean transportation, climate smart natural land, thriving communities, clean energy and efficient buildings, healthy lives, and a clean economy. Read the full plan here.
Thank you once again for your valuable feedback and for being an active part of the East Side community as we carefully progress and focus on initiatives together. I encourage you to keep contacting my office, sharing your thoughts, and engaging in our community discussions.
Sincerely,
Mai Chong Xiong
Ramsey County Commissioner (District 6)
In April, I voted unanimously with the Board on several important board items that will vastly expand the scope of county services. Here are a few board actions that you may be interested in, including recent work that I've invested in as the Chair of our Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Board Action: Joint Powers Agreement w/ the State of Minnesota for Disparity Study
Ramsey County and the State of Minnesota will partner in a disparity study that will examine how minority and women-owned businesses are underrepresented in the procurement of services related to construction, goods, professional services, and more. This board action ensures that $500,000 will be reserved for the specific study of disparities here in Ramsey.
This study will help us better understand the extent of challenges that our local minority and women-owned businesses must face. Areas of interest are in bias, discrimination, access to information or networks, a lack of capital and resources, and bureaucratic barriers in the certification or procurement processes. We hope that this study will serve as a large step towards lifting these barriers in the future to create more equitable access, encourage a growing economy, and reduce the market power of monopolies that may dominate particular industries, even at the local level.
Board Action: Accepted $592k for Family First Prevention Services
We accepted $592,000 from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for our Family First Prevention Services. This pool of money will go towards helping families avoid entering the child welfare system, prevent further involvement with the welfare system, and support family preservation.
Ramsey County will use these funds to provide training support for staff in preventative interventions, provide direct support to families, and provide support to our child welfare program. For example, funds will go towards assisting families, including extended relatives, to assist with basic needs, like purchasing food, emergency childcare, rent, and more.
Board Action: Agreement with Regions Hospital for Bedside Violence Intervention
The Board voted in approval of a service agreement between Regions Hospital and the county's Healing Streets Project. Now, staff may provide hospital-based bedside support to individuals impacted by gun violence. County staff, through the Healing Streets project, will be able to provide direct assistance to patients and their families during their hospital stay, including providing conflict resolution, individual/family case management, mediation, and wrap-around supportive services.
HRA: Testified to the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee about SF 4655
As the chair of the County HRA, I testified in support of S.F. 4655, which proposes the creation of the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority. This bill would enhance our HRA's capabilities by including support for small businesses, which currently falls outside our scope due to limitations on the use of our HRA levy for business assistance. The legislation seeks to extend HRA eligibility to business programs without imposing a new tax on property owners.
Thank you Minnesota State Senator Foung Hawj for giving Ramsey County the opportunity to provide support for the bill.
 Photo obtained from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) social media page.
I serve on many vital boards and committees, one of these being MMCD. In April, MMCD sent out helicopters to target ponds and wetlands with active mosquito larvae, including those in the Twin Cities. Last winter was anything but normal. It was a warm winter with a lack of snow. MMCD found its first deer tick of the year on February 5th, which is much earlier than normal.
This unusual winter makes it difficult for the MMCD to predict what the upcoming mosquito season will look like. However, I'm glad to report that MMCD will be conducting surveillance and treatment activities to reduce the risk of disease and annoyance by monitoring and treating wetlands where mosquitoes breed.
If you notice green or white trucks with the MMCD logo or staff on bikes or feet wearing Mosquito Control shirts, do not worry. Sometimes, employees have to cross private property.
Also, you might be surprised to learn that MMCD does free tire pickups. Ramsey County residents are eligible for free tire pickup and recycling. Learn more about the tire recycling program here.
If you have questions about mosquito control activities or additional concerns, please call the MMCD front desk at (651) 645-9149 or visit MMCD.org.
Upcoming Housing Forum in District 6!
My assistant, Winona Yang, and I are proud to be leading one of the most exciting housing forums to take place in District 6. Our co-hosts include several other elected officials, each of whom share the same concerns that we have about affordable and accessible housing.
We are partnering with Twin Cities Habitat, Minnesota Housing, Ramsey County's Community and Economic Development team, Saint Paul's Planning and Economic Development team, and local and state electeds to push this event forward.
We hope to also provide more information about what housing opportunities will be available for renters to become homeowners. The pathway to homeownership takes time, especially for individuals who are specifically interested in being eligible for The Heights through Habitat's programs. Individuals interested in general homeownership or specific programs are highly encouraged to attend.
For more information or to be included in this event, please reach out to my office's Principal Assistant Winona Yang at winona.yang@co.ramsey.mn.us.
Join my office in doing outreach for the event by signing up for door knocking here.
Purple Line BRT: Center Running Option
In addition to the community work I do to advocate for the Purple Line BRT to run on Maryland Avenue, I have the unique position as a voting member of the Metro Transit Corridor Management Committee (CMC). In April, Metro Transit received direction to fully evaluate a "narrowed center running option in St. Paul." A center running lane would position the bus stops to be in the middle of the opposing lanes of traffic. The next CMC meeting will take place virtually on in a position to bring forward the full technical evaluation of the center running option to the committee for review.
Arcade Street Station
Regarding the Arcade Street Station update, project staff are beginning the process of a redevelopment feasibility study for the surrounding area. We expect this study to be completed by June 2024. The study will include understanding the redevelopment potential of Glimcher Group and City of Saint Paul properties, the engagement of local Payne-Phalen District Council, ESABA, and the City of Saint Paul, and to present outcomes to Glimcher Group to gauge their interest in the Neid Lane extension to Phalen Boulevard.
Purple People Pop-up Party
I, with my staff Winona Yang, are proud to be a part of the Purple People group, where we work with local community leaders and organizers to raise awareness and illicit feedback about the Purple Line.
The Purple People will be hosting a Pop-up Party for the Purple Line on Saturday, May 4th from 9AM to 12PM at the intersection of Arcade Street and Neid Lane in Saint Paul. Free coffee and breakfast will be provided. Visitors and volunteers are welcome to help in making signs and write letters to elected officials about moving the Purple Line to White bear.
 Sign up for email updates to be notified by Metro Transit about future opportunities to engage with the Purple Line project. If you would like Purple Line project staff to come to your event or meeting, contact purpleline@metrotransit.org
 I attended Payne-Phalen Community Council's meeting with Alex Lawton, the owner of the Northern Iron and Machine Foundry, which is located in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. On April 13, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency gave a 30-day administrative order to fix lead and particulate matter pollution.
The order was made in response to recent emission records that indicate excessive pollution. Regulators say it is “highly likely” that the foundry is emitting levels of lead and particulate matter over federal air quality standards.
Last October, the MPCA fined Northern Iron $41,500 for violations over fifteen years related to installing and removing equipment without properly notifying state regulators.
The MPCA will be hosting an informational session with a Northern Iron community meeting on May 22, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Saint Paul Eastside YMCA located at 875 Arcade Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106.
A brief presentation will begin at 5:45 p.m. Following the presentation, the event will transition to an open house format with representatives from the agencies and departments available to answer your questions on a variety of topics. Translators will be available. For translation services, please contact Alexa Golemo by May 7. Learn more here.
The public may access R&E board meeting notes and updates. In our last meeting on April 25, we reviewed the 2023 year-end budget projects and were presented with recommendations in managing year-end deficits and surpluses. Find more information about the 2025 budget objectives here.
The Saint Paul Children's Collaborative is hosting a virtual session to share the recently released financial analysis and set of recommendations for Saint Paul's Early Childhood Initiative. The Saint Paul Children's Collaborative contracted with early childhood consulting firm MetrixIQ to develop a budget, scale-up proposal and other recommendations for Saint Paul's proposed early childhood program for children ages birth to five years.
To learn more and access the Executive Summary and the full report, check out the Program Development page of our website.
The virtual session will take place on Wednesday May 8, 2024 8AM to 9AM via ZOOM.
Please register for this virtual event here. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Community Innovation Grants are now available!
These grants are provided by the Saint Paul Ramsey County Public Health team to support activities, programs, and initiatives that improve public health issues impacting our communities. The applications must relate to building capacity, planning, developing, implementing, or evaluating work designed to address Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities. CHIP priority areas covered under this grant include:
- Racial and Health Equity.
- Healthy Eating, Active Living and Tobacco-Free Living.
- Access to Health Care Services.
- Mental Health and Well-being.
- Violence Prevention.
SPRCPH anticipates awarding up to eight grants of up to $30,000, approximately $240,000 in total, to support 12 months of activities. We encourage new and innovative programs to apply including those who have never contracted with the county before.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. by May 24, 2024.
Additionally, please note that the first half of 2024 property taxes are due on Wednesday, May 15. If your tax is $100 or less for real property or $50 or less for personal property or manufactured homes, it must be paid in full by May 15.
Ramsey County provides a large range of services.
Service Centers
Ramsey County has several Service Center locations and five community partner sites that provide Navigator services. A Navigator is a county staff member that helps residents access a wide range of services and programs including financial assistance services, social services, employment assistance, and voter registration.
For more information about the service centers, click here: Service Centers | Ramsey County
To submit a Service Center Navigator Referral Form for yourself or for another person, click here: Service Center Navigators Referral Form | Ramsey County
Did you know that we have a site solely dedicated to helping Ramsey County residents in business? Ramsey County Community & Economic Development has a useful Incentives Dashboard that serves as a one-stop spot for grants and funding opportunities across Saint Paul and other Ramsey County cities.
My office has directed several constituents to our Open to Business program, which provides technical assistance and other forms of support to small business owners and entrepreneurs for FREE. At no cost, you can receive help in business plan development, financing projections, city and state licenses, loan packaging, and more! These services are provided in partnership with the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, which also offers capital loan services for qualifying businesses.
Sign up to contract with Ramsey County!
The county acquires goods and services through a cost-effective, competitive and fair process accessible to all businesses. The county seeks vendors who share its commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and inclusiveness. Vendors interested in providing goods and/or services to the county and its residents must first register to use DemandStar, an internet purchasing network. DemandStar offers immediate and automatic notification of purchasing opportunities with the county, solicitation documents and results, and prior solicitation information. Subscribing to DemandStar is free.
Bids and RFPs are provided online via DemandStar. View what procurement opportunities are available by visiting our Ramsey County Procurement site.
Questions or comments about doing business with Ramsey County? Contractors, business owners and community members can email or call the Purchasing and Contracting Service Desk and connect directly with our staff.
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