April 30, 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Please join me tomorrow for my monthly ‘Coffee with Chris’ series where we sit down over a cup of coffee for an informal conversation. This Saturday, May 1, you can join me by clicking here.
Updates you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:
🌎 Climate Action Plan Updates: The plan (PDF) the board considered earlier this week reflects additional changes that were made based on the comments received.
☕ Coffee with Chris – Saturday, May 1 at 10:00am: Join me for an informal virtual conversation over coffee. You can click here to join the virtual meeting on May 1.
🏢 COVID-19 resource guide available for small businesses: MN DEED created a summary guide to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation.
🏠 Minnesota Housing Announces Funding Availability: Minnesota Housing and its partners are have announced the 2021 Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open for applications.
🏡 Beacon Housing Town Hall: This week I joined Beacon for their Commissioner Conversations series to talk about pathways for partnership in reaching those shared goals around housing.
✍ My Statement on the Board’s Vote on Board Action Request 21-0158
I encourage you to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns using the contact information at the bottom of this newsletter.
In service,
Chris
🌎 Climate Action Plan Updates
Climate Action Plan to be brought forward for final adoption on May 4
On Tuesday, April 27, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners acting in committee meetings discussed the Climate Action Plan.
Change made to the plan
The Climate Action Plan (PDF) was amended by commissioners to clarify the role of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
On page 57, right column, the first sentence of the second paragraph now reads: The county expects waste-to-energy to decline in importance as waste prevention, reuse, recycling and composting become more widely adopted.
No other amendments were offered for the plan, and the board acting in committee approved the plan board request to advance to the board agenda for adoption on Tuesday, May 4.
Discussion highlights
Commissioners also reflected on feedback they had received that is focused on implementation, and they clarified their expectations in the following areas.
Climate change is intersectional with racial disparities
The county recognizes our obligation to work toward eliminating disparities in our response to climate change. Commissioners discussed:
- How racial equity is woven through the plan.
- The need for additional engagement that includes more voices from communities of color.
- Ensuring that solutions address the needs of residents equitably and the burden doesn’t fall on those who are less affluent or communities of color.
More community engagement needs to happen during implementation and performance measurement
Engagement will not stop with the adoption of the plan. Commissioners highlighted:
- How the public engagement processes resulted in significant improvements in the plan. Commissioners expressed gratitude for the community’s interest in the plan and continued commitment to providing valuable feedback at each step in the engagement process.
- The need for ongoing engagement as the framework of the plan evolves into work plans to implement the plan’s strategies.
- Community wants future engagement to include regular assessment and mutual accountability with partners and the public to ensure the county is on track to meet its goals.
- The role of the newly created Climate and Resiliency Director to coordinate partnerships and track performance metrics with the expectation that the first report back to board will occur about a year into the plan.
The need for ambitious goals and even more ambitious implementation
Commissioners noted a few areas they want county staff to strive for reaching the goals even faster than the plan calls for because of their importance:
- Reducing vehicle miles traveled: The plan calls for advancing the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) goal of 20% reduction in vehicle miles travelled (VMT) by 2050 by developing a more ambitious goal for Hennepin County that reflects our role in the state as a more densely populated county, and also reflects rural, suburban, and urban contexts within Hennepin County. Commissioners expect a plan by June 2022 with recommendations on a more ambitious goal and evaluation of how to achieve this goal.
- Electrifying the county fleet: Commissioners encouraged staff to achieve net zero emissions in the county’s fleet as soon as possible. The plan calls for completing an assessment of existing county fleet vehicles and infrastructure for electrification opportunities, right-sizing county fleet through new standards, and developing an electrification implementation plan to guide the procurement of electric vehicles and charging station locations.
- Getting to zero waste: Commissioners discussed the work by staff to plan for how to get to zero waste faster and transition away from landfilling and HERC as waste disposal options. They also noted the role of cities in advancing a zero-waste future.
Alignment of local efforts with direction at the federal level
Commissioners noted how the items being advanced at the federal level dovetail with local efforts to result in meaningful action in response to the climate crisis.
Video recording of the committee meeting
You can watch a video recording of the committee meeting. The climate action plan is discussed from about 2:20 to 2:45 in the recording.
Timeline toward board adoption
The climate action plan will be brought forward for final adoption at the board meeting on Tuesday, May 4. You can participate in Open Forum ahead of the board meeting on Tuesday, May 4. Learn more about the public participation process at board meetings.
☕ Coffee with Chris
Join me this Saturday, May 1st for an informal virtual conversation over coffee. Starting at 10:00am you can click here to join the virtual meeting.
🏢 COVID-19 resource guide available for small businesses
State and federal programs are available to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Different programs make sense for different businesses. MN DEED created a summary guide to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation.
View the Guide for Minnesota Small Businesses Who Need Help
🏠 Minnesota Housing Announces Funding Availability
Minnesota Housing and its partners are have announced the 2021 Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open for applications.
The annual Consolidated RFP process makes funding available to help build and preserve homes that are affordable in communities throughout Minnesota. With your partnership, we can help Minnesotans live and thrive in a safe, stable home they can afford in a community of their choice.
Read more: Minnesota Housing Announces Funding Availability Announcement
📰 News
Hennepin County jail, Government Center reopen some services in Minneapolis
Hennepin County is reopening services at the public safety building and Government Center in downtown Minneapolis that were temporarily closed during the Derek Chauvin trial.
Access the full story, here.
🏡 Beacon Housing Town Hall
It’s no question our region needs more deeply affordable housing and pathways for long-term stable housing. This week I was grateful to join Beacon for their Commissioner Conversations series to talk about pathways for partnership in reaching those very goals around housing.
I’m thankful for Beacon’s dedicated advocacy to this critical issue and their work pushing us forward toward solutions and smart housing investments.
✍ My Statement on Board Action Request 21-0158
Earlier this week the Hennepin County Board rejected a resolution condemning law enforcement use of chemical irritants and non-lethal projectiles on a 4-3 vote. I joined the majority in voting ‘no’ on this action while reaffirming my solidarity with those expressing their 1st Amendment freedoms and expressing my grave concerns about the growing militarization of law enforcement, including the increasingly routine use tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets.
About District 6
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners consists of one commissioner from each of seven districts. I am proud to represent Deephaven, north Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, northern Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland.
County information
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- Understanding your property tax
Chris LaTondresse
Commissioner
6th District
612-348-7886
Jessica Oaxaca
District Director
612-348-6885
Kyle Olson
Policy Director
612-348-3168