Dakota County  
General Government and Policy  
Committee of the Whole  
Minutes  
Tuesday, December 2, 2025  
9:30 AM  
Conference Room 3A, Administration  
Center, Hastings  
(or following County Board)  
1.  
Call to Order and Roll Call  
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Workman at 9:55 a.m.  
Commissioner Mike Slavik  
Present  
Commissioner Joe Atkins  
Commissioner Laurie Halverson  
Commissioner William Droste  
Commissioner Liz Workman  
Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland  
Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg  
Absent  
Also in attendance were Heidi Welsch, County Manager; Tom Donely, First Assistant County  
Attorney; and Jeni Reynolds, Sr. Administrative Coordinator to the Board.  
The recording of this meeting is available upon request.  
2.  
Audience  
Chair Workman noted that all public comments can be sent to  
CountyAdmin@co.dakota.mn.us  
No comments were received for this agenda.  
3.  
Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)  
Approval of Agenda (Additions/Corrections/Deletions)  
Motion: Laurie Halverson  
Ayes: 6  
3.1  
Second: William Droste  
CONSENT AGENDA  
On a motion by Commissioner Atkins, seconded by Commissioner Droste, the Consent  
agenda was approved as follows:  
4.  
County Administration - Approval of Minutes  
Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on November 18, 2025  
4.1  
Motion: Joe Atkins  
Ayes: 6  
Second: William Droste  
5.  
6.  
Central Operations  
Report On Budget Amendments And Contracts  
Information only; no action required.  
REGULAR AGENDA  
5.1  
Public Services and Revenue  
Discussion On Public Art Blueprint Research And Community Dialog  
6.1  
Principal Planner Lil Leatham and Public Services and Revenue Deputy Director  
Teresa Mitchell briefed this item and responded to questions.  
Information only; no action requested.  
Resolution No: 25-593  
6.2  
Approval Of Public Art Advisory Committee 2026 Work Plan  
Motion: Mary Hamann-Roland  
Second: Laurie Halverson  
Public Services and Revenue Deputy Director Teresa Mitchell briefed this item  
and responded to questions. Public Art Advisory Committee members Bob  
Erickson (District 6) and Al Tsai (Chair/At-large representative) were also  
present and shared information.  
WHEREAS, County Policy states that advisory committees are required to  
consult annually with the County Board to seek concurrence regarding the topics  
they will study or which they advise the County Board; and  
WHEREAS, the Public Art Advisory Committee has discussed and drafted  
potential directions for their efforts in 2026; and  
WHEREAS, staff recommends that the Public Art Advisory Committee 2026  
work plan to assist with public art blueprint planning, analyze public art inventory  
along greenways, host student art contest and collaborate and consult with  
departments on public art initiatives be approved.  
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of  
Commissioners hereby approves the Public Art Advisory Committee 2026 work  
plan.  
This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of  
Commissioners on 12/16/2025.  
Ayes: 6  
Resolution No: 25-594  
6.3  
Approval Of Library Advisory Committee 2026 Work Plan  
Motion: Laurie Halverson  
Second: Mike Slavik  
Library Director Jennifer Reichert Simpson briefed this item and responded to  
questions. Library Advisory Committee members Robin Cerio (Chair) and Kari  
Cahn (Vice-Chair) were also present and shared information.  
WHEREAS, County policy states that advisory committees are required to  
consult annually with the  
County Board to seek concurrence regarding topics they will study or advise on,  
which are outlined in their annual work plan; and  
WHEREAS, the Library Advisory Committee drafted potential direction for their  
efforts in 2026; and  
WHEREAS, Library staff recommends that the Library Advisory Committee 2026  
work plan about community input on library services, spaces, policies and  
awareness efforts be approved.  
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of  
Commissioners hereby  
approves the Library Advisory Committee 2026 work plan.  
This item was approved and recommended for action by the Board of  
Commissioners on 12/16/2025.  
Ayes: 6  
7.  
County Board/County Administration  
Legislative Update  
7.1  
Communications and Public Affairs Director Mary Beth Schubert briefed this  
item and responded to questions. Dan Dwight (Stinson Representative) was  
present via interactive technology but due to technical issues was unable to  
share information. The following information was sent to committee members  
and staff for the update:  
The Senate Subcommittee on Federal Impacts received a SSIS demonstration  
on November 19th. Feedback from legislators been good. There is opportunity  
to build further engagement at the Capitol.  
The November forecast will be released December 4, 2025. As usual, no  
definitive idea yet of what the forecast will look like, but if I had to guess the  
state will have a small deficit for the remainder of this biennium and a larger  
shortfall predicted for the next biennium. The February Forecast will provide a  
sharper picture for any required budget adjustments this session.  
With the election as Saint Paul Mayor and subsequent resignation of Kaoly Her,  
current House Transportation Committee Co-Chair, Rep. Erin Koegel has been  
appointed as the new Co-Chair of the House Commerce Committee. Rep. Brad  
Tabke has been appointed to replace Rep. Koegel as the Co-Chair of the House  
Transportation Committee. Rep. Tabke is the architect of last year's plan to take  
transportation funding from metro counties and redirect it to transit projects.  
As we’ve discussed previously, Sen. Jim Carlson is retiring. Rep. Liz Reyer is  
running to replace him in the Senate, creating an opening for her current seat.  
Christos Jensen has announced his candidacy. I expect there to be others  
entering both the Senate and House races in this district. I expect there will be at  
least one or two additional open seats in Dakota County heading into the 2026  
election.  
A number of retirement announcements continue to stack up. Rep. Koegel  
announced her retirement a couple of weeks ago. Sen. Alice Mann from  
Bloomington announced her retirement yesterday. There will be additional  
retirements announced as we head into session.  
There are two upcoming special elections in the House on January 27, 2026.  
The House should remain evenly divided for the 2026 session. The special  
elections are to replace Rep. Kaoly Her in Saint Paul and Rep. Amanda  
Hemmingsen-Jaeger in Woodbury.  
Information only; no action requested.  
8.  
Central Operations  
Update On 2026 Dakota County Housing Services  
8.1  
Social Services Director Emily Schug and Social Services Deputy Director  
Madeline Kastler briefed this item and responded to questions.  
Information only; no action requested.  
Update On December Changes To 2026 County Manager’s Recommended  
Budget  
8.2  
Budget Office Supervisor Allie Regenscheid briefed this item and responded to  
questions.  
Information only; no action requested.  
9.  
County Manager/Deputy/Director's Report  
County Manager Heidi Welsch referenced the Director's Reports that were distributed to the  
committee.  
10.  
Future Agenda Items  
There were no suggested topics for future meetings.  
11.  
Adjournment  
Adjournment  
11.1  
On a motion by Commissioner Atkins, seconded by Commissioner  
Hamann-Roland, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 12:03 p.m.  
Respectfully submitted,  
Jeni Reynolds  
Sr. Administrative Coordinator to the Board