Minutes - Council - 05/26/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Buscher asked City Administrator Hagen whether he had received requests from residents asking the City to pursue a censure of Governor Walz. City Administrator Hagen replied that he had not. Councilmember Buscher then questioned references to Local Government Aid and asked when Ramsey last received LGA funding. City Administrator Hagen responded that the City last received LGA around 2013 and explained that eligibility is determined by a state formula that generally directs aid toward communities with greater financial need. He noted that Ramsey has not relied on LGA in recent years because it has not qualified for the program. Councilmember Buscher concluded that the resolution would not improve City services, recover funds, or produce a meaningful outcome for residents. She argued that the proposal would increase political division, create feelings of exclusion among some residents, and move the City into broader political debates that are more appropriately addressed at the state or federal level. Motion by Mayor Heineman, seconded by Councilmember Olson, to adopt Resolution #26-108, expressing formal disapproval and censure of Governor Tim Walz regarding the mismanagement of State resources and oversight failure. Councilmember Riley opposed the resolution, arguing that the Council was spending time on an issue unrelated to the City's core responsibilities. He observed that the proposal had not been discussed in a work session and characterized the resolution as symbolic rather than substantive. He emphasized his view that the resolution lacked meaningful consequences and was more performative than practical. Mayor Heineman defended the resolution. He argued that numerous reports had documented concerns about oversight failures in the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation and maintained that state leadership should be held accountable when problems occur. He stated that public officials at every level of government should be subject to scrutiny and argued that censure sends an important message regarding expectations for accountability. He also rejected criticism that the proposal amounted to virtue signaling, asserting that public discussion of important issues helps residents understand where their elected officials stand. He argued that transparency and accountability justified the Council's consideration of the resolution. Councilmember Olson supported the resolution and stated that accountability requires public officials to speak out when significant wrongdoing occurs. Referencing a quotation often attributed to Edmund Burke, he argued that inaction enables misconduct to continue unchecked. He acknowledged that a censure would not directly change policy. Still, he stated that it would communicate the Council's disapproval of how the fraud issue had been handled and reinforce the principle that elected leaders are responsible for outcomes occurring under their administration. Councilmember Specht also supported the resolution. He stated that many residents had contacted him expressing concern about the fraud scandal and encouraging the Council to take a public City Council /May 26, 2026 Page 13 of 19