The Ramsey City Council voted 4-3 May 12 to remove three politically charged items from its agenda, including proposals to make the former state flag the city’s official flag, censure Gov. Tim Walz and explore whether the city could take legal action against Walz and other state leaders.
The items would have designated the state flag adopted by Minnesota in 1983 as Ramsey’s official flag, expressed formal disapproval and censure of Walz, and authorized city staff to explore whether Ramsey could file a legal claim against Walz and other state leaders.
Council Members Eric Peters, Kirsten Buscher, Chris Riley and Shanna Stewart voted to approve the agenda without the three items. Mayor Ryan Heineman and Council Members Michael Olson and Dan Specht voted against removing them.
Heineman said he opposed removing the items because they had gone through the proper process.
During mayor and council input later in the meeting, Heineman defended the proposals and, responding to earlier citizen comments, said it was misleading to suggest the council was neglecting city business by discussing state-level issues.
“So to make the insinuation that the City Council isn’t doing their job because they talk about other things outside of the city is misleading,” Heineman said.
Heineman said the state followed a legal process in adopting the new flag, but argued the committee that selected it had too much freedom and did not represent the state. He also criticized state spending, fraud and aid decisions, saying those issues affect Ramsey residents.
Heineman said he would not stand by while the state, in his view, mismanaged money that could affect cities. He argued Ramsey relies on several state programs to help keep property taxes low and said the city might qualify for more aid if the state had more funding available.
On the proposed censure of Walz, Heineman said cities often weigh in on state and federal policy, even though they do not control state government.
“To say that we can’t do it is a lie, and to say it with confidence is to create a false narrative that is wrong,” Heineman said.
Heineman said the third resolution would not have filed a lawsuit, but would have directed the city administrator and city attorney to explore the city’s legal options.
He said reports from the Minnesota Legislative Auditor and federal investigators showed warnings and red flags involving state programs before federal raids in early 2022. Heineman argued local government has a role in holding higher levels of government accountable.
Heineman said he was disappointed by the council’s vote and planned to talk with the city attorney and city administrator about trying to bring the matter back to the agenda.
Several residents spoke during public comment about the proposals removed from the agenda.
Dara Grimmer said she did not feel represented by the former state flag and supported the state’s decision to adopt a new one.
“If you choose to put that old flag up, I feel that you would be telling me I am no longer welcome here in Ramsey, and I am not part of this city,” Grimmer said.
Marygrace Horner said the former flag is historic but outdated, noting that women are not represented in the seal.
“Women are entirely absent. That matters,” Horner said. “Representation mattered then, because it signaled who had a voice and whose interests were recognized.”
Nick Steblay said the proposed actions involving Walz violated the city charter, which he said limits the city’s investigative authority to city affairs. He also said the city lacked legal standing by connecting stolen federal money to Ramsey’s budget, and that investigating the governor would cost city staff time and money.
Teri Trail spoke in support of flying the former flag, saying Minnesota was shaped by Native residents, European exploration and settlement, trade and economic development.
Todd Embury said the former flag was visually similar to many other state flags with a blue background and a seal in the middle. He said the current flag is more recognizable and better at catching the eye, comparing it to the flags of Alaska and Texas.
Ron Trail questioned why the state should be able to penalize cities that choose not to fly the current flag.
“The citizens of this city are the ones that determine what goes on in this city,” Trail said. “If they want to take that right away from us, what’s next?”
John Hornby said he objected to being told what flag the city should display.
“They took the flag that represents the state of Minnesota and made it into something else,” Hornby said.
Paul Sitz urged the council not to use nonpartisan city positions to advance a partisan cause. He compared the proposed resolutions to asking the council to take up an unrelated symbolic issue, saying it would waste the council’s time and could be seen as political.
Buscher said during council member reports that the three items had been brought forward legally by two council members, but she believed they should have been discussed in a work session first.
“I think that, as was pointed out earlier, there were some things within these resolutions that were factually inaccurate,” Buscher said. “We don’t receive Local Government Aid funding in this city. And it mentioned that all municipal agencies receive this.”
Buscher said state bills come forward often, and the city should be cautious about making decisions based on issues that may not directly affect Ramsey residents.
“For us to make a decision on a flag and make a connection to fiscal responsibility tied to this bill, it will not actually impact our citizens,” Buscher said. “I don’t think it’s pertinent.”
Buscher also questioned what legal action against the state would cost the city and said Ramsey should first talk with the city attorney about whether it has the authority to act.