DPA Request Regarding Hotel Shelter Conversion Project

Tracey Blasenheim filed this request with the Department of Human Services of Minnesota.
Submitted June 2, 2021
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Tracey Blasenheim

Subject: Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Request: DPA Request Regarding Hotel Shelter Conversion Project

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, I am requesting information on Hennepin County’s hotel shelter conversion project in March 2020. In particular, aspects of that project pertaining to contracts relating to the partnership between Hennepin County and the Holiday Inn hotel shelter locations at 94th Street and Johnson Street. First, I am looking for copies of these contracts.

Second, I am looking for information on the context of their creation. This would involve any information regarding: a) which officials were involved in the decision to launch Hennepin County’s hotel shelter conversion project; b) which officials were involved in the awarding of the contracts listed above; c) how long Hennepin County’s hotel shelter conversion project was discussed before it was launched; d) the reasons provided for launching the project; e) why the project was not expanded to include other hotels.

To address these requests, I would like access to any email, meeting notes, memos, or other communications from any of the following individuals during March 2020 possibly pertaining to these subjects:
- Office of Economic Opportunity, Katelyn Warburton (DHS) <katelyn.warburton@state.mn.us>
- Supervisor, Office of Economic Opportunity, Andrea L Simonett (DHS) <andrea.simonett@state.mn.us>
- Julia Welle Ayers, county office for housing and economic development
- Any County Commissioner (during March 2020); Commissioner Mike Opat in particular
- Donald W Ryan Donald.Ryan@hennepin.us
- David Hewitt David.Hewitt@hennepin.us
- Stacey Ray Principle planning analyst with Hennepin County HSPHD stacey.ray@hennepin.us
- Jodi Wentland, Assistant County Administrator of Human Services at Hennepin County
- Kate Heffernan Carson, Senior Department Administrator at Hennepin County

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Thorin Wenner

From: Department of Human Services

Subject: RE: Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Request: DPA Request Regarding Hotel Shelter Conversion Project

Email

Hi Thorin -

I'm writing to acknowledge that we've received your request below related to the Hennepin County hotel conversion project in March 2020. I'll work with our staff to get any related data we may have. You'd normally be hearing from my colleague Katie, who is out of the office. I've copied her on this email; one of us will be in touch if we need any clarification.

If you plan to make additional requests, you can submit them to dhs.datarequest@state.mn.us<mailto:dhs.datarequest@state.mn.us> or by contacting one of our communications team<https://mn.gov/dhs/media/contacts-for-reporters/> members. Doing it that way will help it get to the right person faster and allow us to respond more quickly. More information about making data requests is on our website<https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/about-dhs/data-requests/>.
Best,

Sarah Berg
Media Relations Manager
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Office: 651-431-4901
Cell: 651-387-4976
sarah.berg@state.mn.us<mailto:sarah.berg@state.mn.us>
Pronouns: she/her/hers

From: Department of Human Services

Subject: In response to your data requests

Email

Thorin:

In response to your two data requests (emails attached), I have information for you (documents attached).

Hennepin County submitted two requests to the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) for COVID Emergency Response Funds

Request #1:
Request submitted by Hennepin County on April 10, 2020 (Survey row 112, Review 114).
Amount of the request was $1.350 million
Funds were being requested for expenses for the month of April 2020
Request was to support the following locations:

1. Holiday Inn Express 7770 Johnson Ave S, Bloomington

2. Holiday Inn, 1201 W 94th St, Bloomington

3. University Inn, 925 4th St. SE, Mpls
OEO funded Hennepin County's request at the full amount ($1.350 million).
Payment was issued on May 5, 2020 via electronic funds transfer
Documents related to this funding:

1. Survey submitted by Hennepin County requesting funds

2. Email sent to Hennepin County notifying them of funding level

3. Assurances document signed by Hennepin County

4. Remittance notice
Request #2:
Request submitted by Hennepin County on June 2, 2020 (Survey row 210, Review tab 212)
Amount of request was $6,266,859
Request was to support the following locations:

1. LumInn, 219 S 4th Street, Minneapolis

2. Holiday Inn Express, Johnson Ave S, Minneapolis

3. Holiday Inn, 1201 W 94th Street, Bloomington

4. Millennium Hotel, 1313 Nicollet mall

5. University Inn, 925 4th Street SE, Minneapolis
Request was denied as the county was receiving their own direct COVID funding, so it was recommended by the state that they use their direct funding.

Please confirm receipt of this information.

Katie Bauer
Public Information Officer | Office of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64998
St. Paul, MN 55164-0998
O: 651-431-2911
C: 651-276-3055
F: 651-431-7443
mn.gov/dhs<http://mn.gov/dhs/>
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Caution: This e-mail and attached documents, if any, may contain information that is protected by state or federal law. E-mail containing private or protected information should not be sent over a public (nonsecure) Internet unless it is encrypted pursuant to DHS standards. This e-mail should be forwarded only on a strictly need-to-know basis. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (1) notify the sender immediately, (2) do not forward the message, (3) do not print the message and (4) erase the message from your system.

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