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Council discussion centered primarily on how involved the Council should be throughout the <br />process, particularly in land-use and zoning decisions that could affect Ramsey’s rural character <br />and future development patterns. There was emphasis on the importance of not treating the update <br />as a mere procedural exercise, but rather carefully evaluating the long-term impacts of future land- <br />use decisions to avoid comprehensive plan amendments. <br /> <br />Several Councilmembers supported relying heavily on the Planning Commission for technical <br />review while also scheduling joint Council-Planning Commission work sessions at key decision <br />points. <br /> <br />Councilmembers also discussed public engagement strategies, including open houses, farmers <br />market outreach, and broader community input opportunities, depending on the scale of proposed <br />changes. Some members stressed the need to push back against the Metropolitan Council's density <br />expectations where appropriate to preserve Ramsey’s community character and better reflect <br />residents' preferences. <br /> <br />2.02: Wage Theft Enforcement <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher introduced a presentation regarding wage theft enforcement and labor <br />exploitation concerns in the construction industry. <br /> <br />Mr. Andy Wilkin, Government Affairs Representative for Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, Mr. <br />Matt Urban, Sprinkler Fitters and Fire Protection Local 417, Mr. Paul Martin, Sheet Metal <br />Workers, Mr. Woodrow Piner, Carpenters Union, Mr. Tim Watkins, Education and Policy <br />Coordinator with the Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota, and Mr. Dylan Ranchoff, <br />Boilermakers Local 647, spoke about recent statewide wage theft investigations, labor trafficking <br />concerns, payroll fraud, worker misclassification, and enforcement challenges tied to publicly <br />funded development projects. <br /> <br />The representatives referenced a recent Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry settlement <br />involving more than $1.28 million in wage theft violations connected to labor brokerage firms. <br />They described broader industry concerns involving contractors paying workers off the books, <br />avoiding taxes and benefits, and exploiting undocumented or vulnerable workers. <br /> <br />Labor representatives indicated these practices harm workers, undercut responsible contractors, <br />reduce tax revenue, and expose municipalities to reputational and financial risks when taxpayer- <br />supported projects indirectly fund exploitative practices. <br /> <br />Additional testimony included several examples of alleged labor exploitation, wage theft, worker <br />intimidation, workers’ compensation fraud, labor trafficking, and unsafe construction practices <br />occurring on projects throughout the Twin Cities metro area. <br /> <br />The representatives discussed how municipalities such as Brooklyn Park adopted claw back <br />provisions tied to TIF agreements and prevailing wage policies to discourage unethical <br />subcontracting practices. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / May 26, 2026 <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />