Hennepin County board proclaims Public Health Week, Fair Housing Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month; approves routine license and consent items
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Summary
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on April 7 unanimously approved proclamations recognizing National Public Health Week (April 6–12), April as Fair Housing Month and April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and approved routine business including a temporary liquor license and the consent agenda.
Hennepin County commissioners unanimously approved several proclamations and routine items at their April 7 meeting, including a declaration of National Public Health Week (April 6–12), a proclamation designating April 2026 as Fair Housing Month, and a resolution recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Chair Irene Fernando opened the session and led votes on the proclamations after the clerk read each resolution into the record. The public health proclamation cited recent county investments and programs, including a $4,000,000 commitment to food support for 35 partner organizations and outreach clinics that delivered 2,484 immunizations in 2025. The county also cited harm‑reduction work: wound care, opioid‑use‑disorder treatment and the distribution of naloxone kits, which staff reported contributed to 1,641 reported overdose reversals in 2025.
"Both the Fair Housing Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act make clear that discrimination has no place in our housing system," Chair Irene Fernando said as the board approved the Fair Housing Month proclamation, noting the 58th anniversary of the federal law.
Commissioner Kevin Anderson used the consent‑agenda discussion to reiterate the board's support for a possible county sales tax to stabilize health‑care funding, saying the county needs "stable funding, passed by the legislature this year or the hospital will close." No formal county tax measure was on the agenda; Anderson’s remarks were presented as advocacy during the consent‑agenda portion of the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: unanimous; motion carried. - Claims registers for March 20, March 27 and April 3, 2026 (items 8A–8C): approved unanimously. - Consent agenda (items 9A–9X): approved unanimously. - Temporary on‑sale liquor license for Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center (April 25, 2026) (item 13A): approved. - Proclaim National Public Health Week (April 6–12, 2026) (item 13B): approved. - Proclaim April 2026 as Fair Housing Month (item 13C): approved. - Proclaim April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (item 13D): approved.
The board adjourned the regular session and immediately convened the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, which approved its agenda and minutes and then adjourned.
