Advocacy in Action: a February 2026 Update

SPAAR’s Government Affairs Directors (GADs), Becky Wegscheid and Simon Opatz, actively engaged with numerous elected officials, government staff and housing stakeholders throughout February on behalf of SPAAR members.

To kick off the month, SPAAR’s GADs secured Bethany Cox, Washington County Commissioner, and Alan Kranzo, vice president of Real Estate, Planning and Construction at HealthPartners, to speak at April’s Government Affairs Committee meeting. They will provide an update on the new hospital development in Stillwater and share their outlook on the area’s economic development and housing landscape.

At February’s Government Affairs Committee meeting, Emmett Coleman, an advocate for the Yes to Homes bill at the Minnesota Legislature, briefed members on the coalition’s efforts to advance the legislation. The bill would allow developers and property owners to build a broader range of housing types across Minnesota.

SPAAR’s GADs also submitted a letter to Blaine’s Planning Commission outlining SPAAR’s opposition to the city’s proposed amendment that would roll back its existing ADU ordinance by disallowing detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The proposed change follows an ongoing lawsuit stemming from a dispute between a Blaine resident and the city.

Becky and Simon attended the MetroNorth Chamber’s annual legislative reception, where state legislators representing the northern suburbs discussed key issues facing the Legislature and their expectations for the session. During the event, the GADs spoke with State Senator Heather Gustafson and Coon Rapids City Councilmember Christopher Geisler about Minnesota’s housing shortage and its impact on affordability.

The GADs also attended the monthly Saint Paul Area Chamber Policy Committee meeting, where they heard from local law enforcement officials about their cities’ and police departments’ experiences with ICE during the metro surge.

Additionally, Simon met with Dakota County Commissioner Bill Droste to discuss housing development and senior housing in Dakota County. He also met with Sandi Scott of Cottage Grove’s Economic Development Authority to discuss the city’s efforts to grow its business base and expand housing availability. Becky met with Coon Rapids Councilmember Peter Butler to discuss development in Coon Rapids and how SPAAR and the city can work together to make housing more affordable and available in that community. She also spoke with Woodbury City Staff on partnering to get information out regarding the City’s down payment assistance programs, which has been shared with SPAAR members.

Please reach out to Simon Opatz (sopatz@spaar.com) or Becky Wegscheid (bwegscheid@spaar.com) with any questions about SPAAR's advocacy efforts, about participating in meetings with local elected officials or about becoming more engaged with SPAAR's Government Affairs Committee.