Council outlines DBE implementation steps and flags HRA payment-standard pressures
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Summary
Council staff said they are implementing changes to comply with the U.S. DOT interim DBE rule and put the issue in an incident-command structure; council members reported rising rent pressures and upcoming decisions on HRA payment standards.
At the Oct. 22 Metropolitan Council meeting staff described ongoing work to respond to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s interim final rule on Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) regulations and reported a related internal incident-command structure to coordinate the council’s response.
Regional Administrator and staff said the council has been operating under an incident command structure since Oct. 10 to coordinate resources and ensure alignment with MnDOT and other parts of state government while the council evaluates the federal rule’s effects and prepares policy and process changes. Staff said they expected to close the incident period around Oct. 24 if planned steps proceed.
Separately, Council Member Lilligren reported to the full council on community development committee discussion of Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) payment standards. She said rent increases have been strongest for the most affordable units and that the council faces pressure when setting HRA payment standards for 2026. Staff said a committee-of-the-whole presentation and related materials are available on the council website and council members should review staff materials and may follow up with questions.
Why it matters: The DBE rule change affects how the council administers federal DBE-funded contracting programs; staff said they are coordinating across the organization and with MnDOT. HRA payment standards determine subsidy levels used in regional housing programs and the council noted upward rent pressure, particularly at lower price points, when discussing upcoming policy decisions.
