Issues

ROBERT STREET

I strongly support our local business community and the work of the South Robert Street Business Association. We are fortunate to have so many great community events sponsored by South Robert Street Business Association, including most recently the very successful Winter Fun Fest in February. I have been active in supporting the implementation of a Special Service District (SSD) for the Robert Street corridor. An SSD will allow the City to implement and collect fees in order to enhance marketing, beatification, and coordination between businesses and the City. The City approved funding in its recent budget to establish the SSD. I also voted in favor of our recently adopted 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan guides development throughout the city and establishes a unified vision for Robert Street over the next decade. We must continue to implement that plan through policy changes and not just let another plan collect dust on a shelf. With increased density requirements and changes to allow residential housing along Robert Street, we must carefully study and consider changes to our parking, design and other development standards to ensure we build up a community we can all be proud to call home.

PUBLIC SAFETY

We are fortunate to have a very professional and well run police department in our city. I believe the appointment of Brian Sturgeon as our police chief following the retirement of Chief Shaver in 2019 was a good decision. When rioting and violence came to our city in May, Chief Sturgeon really stepped up to protect West St. Paul businesses and residents. I witnessed the violence and looting first hand at my shop on Robert Street. It was scary and I hope to never have to experience that fear in my community again. But I also witnessed the quick, professional and appropriate response from our police department and its many partners. I fully support our Police Department. Yet the events in Minneapolis is an opportunity to do better and to listen to our community. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis is a turning point not just for Minneapolis but nationwide. As a council and a city, we must continue to evaluate our police department, its culture and practices; review and implement change for the better in our use of force policies; consider and question all requests for additional funding; and hold our police department to a very high standard to ensure they serve the people of our city. I also continue to support South Metro Fire as they continue to receive high marks for response times, training and professionalism.

ACCESSIBLE TO YOU

Having a visible and long established family owned business on the corner of Robert Street and Moreland, residents know where to find me. And you sure have. I have more conversations with residents, other council members and staff at my shop than at any other place in the city. My door is open and you always know where to find me. I love hearing from residents, getting feedback on our agendas and debating the issues right here on Robert Street, the backbone of our city. I will continue to be your councilmember that listens to all viewpoints in the community. Leadership requires open access, listening, and weighing all viewpoints to reach a decision that is in the best interests of the entire city not just special interests. During my time on the Council, I have done that, will continue to do that, and look forward to working for you for another 4 years.

WORKING TOGETHER

Under the leadership of Mayor Dave Napier, Council has reached consensus on many of the issues coming before us, including unanimous passage of many important proclamations. We have worked together to reach sound budget decisions and move development projects forward. I was also a member of the committee that unanimously recommended appointment of Councilperson Lisa Eng-Sarne to Mayor Napier’s seat in Ward 3 in 2019, the first woman ever appointed to our Council. No matter the politics or personalities involved, we still must work to find common ground and work together for the good of the city. Each year our neighborhood meeting surveys have provided important insight into what residents would like to see in West St. Paul. We have used that feedback to form the framework of our Council priorities established in 2019. I look forward to working with the Council and Mayor in 2021 and beyond to review and update those priorities for the future.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

I strongly supported, and voted in favor of, the financial management plan established by staff and approved by the Council. The highlights of this plan that I am most proud of are: two year budget cycles; debt reduction targets; improved cash reserve plan; stable and incremental increases to property taxes; and implementation of the local sales tax to mitigate the debt from the Robert Street project. I also supported, along with the rest of the Council, implementing a pay-as-you-go budgeting policy in order to shore up our debt-to-cash ratios to ensure our City is on solid financial footing for many years to come. With the recent events around the Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure we have sound financial planning and budgeting at our City. One of the most important areas to improve our city budget is expanding our tax base with continued redevelopment of blighted properties and vacant space along Robert Street. We also need to support and expand our industrial manufacturing businesses within our city. We have made substantial progress in expanding our tax base but there is more work to do in the next four years to continue the momentum.

TRAILS & SIDEWALKS

As an avid biker, I was proud that one of my first votes on Council in 2017 was to support a Met Council grant that would help establish a trail on Marie and Oakdale. That trail was recently completed and helps connect one of the biggest needs in the city in terms of connectivity to our residents in Ward 1 to Robert Street. I also supported and advocated for dedicated funding for sidewalks. The Council unanimously approved an annual budget line item of $500,000 dedicated to sidewalks. Additionally, I worked hard to change the sidewalk funding policy to remove the burden of funding sidewalks from 100% on the homeowner to a city wide responsibility. This change in policy will provide a more equitable and fair funding mechanism for sidewalk connections and gaps to be completed. Sidewalks and trails benefit all residents in the city and we must continue to work to add sidewalks and trails according to our plans and needs. In addition, I voted in favor of accepting County and Met Council funding for the construction of the River-to-River Greenway tunnel under Robert Street which will be completed in conjunction with the new HyVee development project and tie into redevelopment plans for Town Center 1 on the west side of Robert Street. I credit our staff for handling all the moving parts to make the land use in the area lineup with the County’s plan for a tunnel under Robert Street. I fully support the County’s plan to enhance that area around the pond and closed golf course so all residents can fully enjoy that area. But we have more work to do in that area and I look forward to seeing it through.

NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS

For the past decade much of the debate in our city has been focused on Robert Street and for good reason it was in incredibly rough shape. Unfortunately because the state did not pay their fair share of the project, the debt from that project has created a budget crunch. That is why I voted in favor of implementation of the local sales tax that was approved by the voters in 2018. The increased debt from Robert Street has forced some delays in street improvement projects in our neighborhoods. The local sales tax will allow us to stabilize our budget and keep property tax increases stable as we continue to address infrastructure needs. I am committed to refocusing our efforts to our neighborhood streets. We need to find ways to move as many street projects forward as possible to ensure we don’t fall further behind and we can improve the overall condition of our neighborhood streets. During my time on Council I have supported and will continue to support street improvements all over town. We must do this within our financial management plan to ensure our city budget is on sound financial footing. I have also supported street projects that come with fair funding allocations between the city and the County, such as the recently completed Marie Avenue that includes pedestrian access on both sides of the street. I also supported changing our special assessment policy to ensure a more fair cost sharing between the city and those properties benefited by street projects. In the near future, I look forward to working on the large project to rehabilitate Moreland Avenue in 2021, an important connection for residents and businesses from Delaware Avenue to Robert Street.