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County attorney urges retraction, board returns Ren Collective contract amendment to staff
Summary
During consideration of an amended agreement with Ren Collective, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said inaccurate public information harmed her office and the contractor; the board voted to return the amendment to staff for further review.
The Hennepin County Board paused consideration of an amendment to an agreement with Ren Collective on Dec. 11 after County Attorney Mary Moriarty addressed the board and requested an official retraction for inaccurate information previously circulated about the contract and the attorney's office.
The non-consent item (10A) would have extended Ren Collective's contract for complex legal communication services through Dec. 31, 2026, and increased the not-to-exceed amount. Moriarty told the board that the office had been directed to cut its budget and hold 25 positions open next year, and said staff had already found $1.5 million in savings in 2025. She described the Ren Collective as a valued partner that had assisted with drafts and media requests and said inaccurate public reporting had caused “tremendous damage” to both the firm and her office.
Moriarty also said her office re-examined contracts in light of upcoming staffing constraints and budget pressures, and that the decision to cut the contract was fiscal rather than political. Commissioners thanked the attorney for clarifying, noted follow-up from Sarah Davis in the attorney's office and asked staff to provide more information. The board moved and carried a motion to return the item to staff for further review.
Action: the board voted by voice to refer the Ren Collective amendment back to staff for further analysis on budgeting and communications before any future board action.
