Request Concerning Hotel Shelter Conversion Project

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, I am requesting information on Hennepin County’s hotel shelter conversion project in March 2020. In particular, communications related to 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 from April 1, 2020 until July 6, 2021 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.

Sincerely,

Thorin Wenner