Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ramsey County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 issues in development
Landlord engagement for housing stability
Vice Chair Xiong hosted a first-ever listening session with property owners and managers about renting to people with housing vouchers — part of Heading Home Ramsey County's effort to expand housing options. Even the Public Housing Authority is reportedly over $500,000 in debt doing this work.
County–St. Paul partnership and role clarity
About 204 people live in active encampments on the county's list, and roughly 177 have had coordinated entry assessments. Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong pressed for the county to convene cities and partners on a shared encampment approach; County Manager Ling Becker said the county already carries heavy administrative burdens and cautioned against over-investing in encampment response at the expense of the broader system.
$50 Million Dynamic Downtown Fund
Downtown St. Paul's commercial tax capacity is shrinking fast — down 12.2% year over year — which pushes more tax burden onto other areas and property types. Commissioners tied this to the county's Building Stronger Together downtown investment strategy.