Proactive Problem Solving
Many of our city's issues stem from our current city council's lack of proactive planning. Instead, many issues are addressed reactively, or not at all. This includes the ramifications of recent developments in and around our city. As city council member, I will proactively seek solutions to issues before they become problems whenever possible. Read More
Government Transparency
Transparency is the hallmark of democracy. An informed citizenship is crucial to a vibrant community. Current city systems do not provide the level of information needed to keep citizens informed in a timely manner or provide adequate tools for easy citizen input. As a city council member, I will establish a process to alert citizens on issues facing the city and identify and implement the systems needed to keep our citizens informed and to gather their input. Read More
Regional Collaboration
The new Vikings Performance Center is an opportunity for the region; however, it comes with a number of liabilities for our city, not the least of which is the increased amount of traffic that will flood our city via Delaware and Dodd roads. As a member of our city council, I will hold regular regional meetings with our neighbor cities and regional agencies to discuss important issues that affect all of us. Read More
Green Space
Our green spaces are one of the great prides of our city. However, invasive species are a major issue that needs to be addressed. I will prioritize developing a long term plan that preserves our open spaces while strategically tackling this issue. Read More
Community Protection
Safety is essential to the welfare and vitality of all communities. I will support the Mendota Heights Police Department in their efforts to provide our citizens with the most community focused, efficient and effective police service. I will also assist the city council in identifying resources that may be needed to maintain the high level of protection currently provided by our courageous police force and fire fighters.
Proactive Problem Solving
Development is important to keep our city fresh and address infrastructural issues. However, it is clear that recent development in and around Mendota Heights has happened without full consideration of the consequences to our city.
One defining characteristic of Mendota Heights is the low density, rural feel of its neighborhoods. With spacious lot sizes and limited high-density housing units, there is plenty of space for families to grow, without having to be concerned with excessive traffic, over-populated schools, and other strains on local resources.
Our current city council has opted to approve higher density units, including the Reserve at the Mendota Heights Plaza, and the planned "Michael" development recently approved on Highway 13 near Highway 55. Large scale development of this type sets us up for future difficulties, and it is disappointing that the impact on our community hasn't been fully considered or realized.
One of the primary goals in the Mendota Heights 2030 and draft 2040 comprehensive plans is to ”maintain and enrich the mature, fully developed residential environment and character of the community.” As a council member I will protect community zoning ordinances, champion balanced and sustainable development, work to mitigate conflicts in land use, identify and advance mitigation strategies for traffic and air quality issues that arise, and inform and gather input from the community on important land use and transportation issues affecting us.
Additionally, I will proactively seek solutions to issues before they become problems whenever possible, considering the safety of our community to be of the greatest importance. As part of this commitment, I also intend to increase regional collaboration.
One defining characteristic of Mendota Heights is the low density, rural feel of its neighborhoods. With spacious lot sizes and limited high-density housing units, there is plenty of space for families to grow, without having to be concerned with excessive traffic, over-populated schools, and other strains on local resources.
Our current city council has opted to approve higher density units, including the Reserve at the Mendota Heights Plaza, and the planned "Michael" development recently approved on Highway 13 near Highway 55. Large scale development of this type sets us up for future difficulties, and it is disappointing that the impact on our community hasn't been fully considered or realized.
One of the primary goals in the Mendota Heights 2030 and draft 2040 comprehensive plans is to ”maintain and enrich the mature, fully developed residential environment and character of the community.” As a council member I will protect community zoning ordinances, champion balanced and sustainable development, work to mitigate conflicts in land use, identify and advance mitigation strategies for traffic and air quality issues that arise, and inform and gather input from the community on important land use and transportation issues affecting us.
Additionally, I will proactively seek solutions to issues before they become problems whenever possible, considering the safety of our community to be of the greatest importance. As part of this commitment, I also intend to increase regional collaboration.
Government Transparency
Transparency will be a top priority for our city government when I am a city council member. As an example, at the time my campaign site was created, no financial statements were available on the city's official site, and the only budget posted was a preliminary one for 2017. At a recent city council meeting, I made a public comment requesting that financial information, including the recently completed audit, be published on the city website. Insight into the financial health of the city helps its citizens put many of the council's decisions in context. I am pleased to say that the city has since posted the complete audit as well as current quarterly financial information. I will work to ensure that all reporting is available to its citizens without undue delay, and will work swiftly to create additional physical community boards, more effective social media usage, and the ability for citizens to sign up for regular notices on the Mendota Heights website.
Additionally, notices and updates concerning the development of the Mendota Heights 2040 comprehensive plan are not well distributed. Due to the extremely important nature of a comprehensive plan, it is of the upmost importance that its creation involves healthy input from the citizens of our city. According the MET Council page linked above, "Once the Council completes the review process for a comprehensive plan or amendment, the local government can implement it through zoning ordinances, capital budgets for public improvements, and other actions." This means that once the comprehensive plan is in place, it will be extraordinarily difficult to stop future development whether or not it fits within the character of Mendota Heights.
As city council member, I will ensure open communication with all of its citizens, and notifications on issues will far exceed the minimum amounts required by ordinance. I will also leverage my expertise in Accounting and Finance to lend an educated and experienced perspective to city finances that consider the broader impacts to the city and its budget planning and execution.
Additionally, notices and updates concerning the development of the Mendota Heights 2040 comprehensive plan are not well distributed. Due to the extremely important nature of a comprehensive plan, it is of the upmost importance that its creation involves healthy input from the citizens of our city. According the MET Council page linked above, "Once the Council completes the review process for a comprehensive plan or amendment, the local government can implement it through zoning ordinances, capital budgets for public improvements, and other actions." This means that once the comprehensive plan is in place, it will be extraordinarily difficult to stop future development whether or not it fits within the character of Mendota Heights.
As city council member, I will ensure open communication with all of its citizens, and notifications on issues will far exceed the minimum amounts required by ordinance. I will also leverage my expertise in Accounting and Finance to lend an educated and experienced perspective to city finances that consider the broader impacts to the city and its budget planning and execution.
Regional Collaboration
While Mendota Heights has a vision in the form of a Comprehensive Plan, the city does not live in a vacuum. The Vikings Training Facility may provide Mendota Heights with some new economic development opportunities that enhance our community. On the other hand, the facility, particularly on event nights, may have detrimental impacts on our environment, health, road congestion and crime rate – essentially reducing the quality of our lives. While the current Vikings “Alternative Urban Area-wide Review” conducted for Eagan concludes it will have few detrimental impacts, I will work to assure this conclusion by initiating action by the council to 1. Determine and adopt impact levels in key areas identified in the AUAR document, such as noise level, air quality, and traffic volumes, that trigger mitigation actions if they are exceeded, 2. Develop a process to measure impacts and 3. Define strategies and actions the city can take to mitigate or reduce detrimental impacts when they exceed Mendota Heights standards.
I will additionally establish regular regional meetings with the councils and relevant committees and organizations of neighboring cities to ensure that all interested parties are aware of, and participating in, any major construction projects or events. With good communication, we can take advantage of regional expertise while ensuring the straightest path to each of our future goals.
I will additionally establish regular regional meetings with the councils and relevant committees and organizations of neighboring cities to ensure that all interested parties are aware of, and participating in, any major construction projects or events. With good communication, we can take advantage of regional expertise while ensuring the straightest path to each of our future goals.
Green Space
A defining feature of Mendota Heights is the green space found throughout the city. From lovely parks, where our kids play soccer, and our amazing trails, where bikers, walkers, and runners can connect all over the city and to our neighboring cities through beautiful wooded, paved trails, including the new tunnel under 110, Mendota Heights has shown pride in its natural and recreational spaces. However, many different invasive species have invaded our natural areas. As city council member, I will work to ensure that we are a leader in green space preservation and nature trail maintenance, and development short, mid, and long term plans for eliminating invasive species, cultivating native plants, and sustaining those efforts for future generations. Our city has a robust group of master gardeners with whom I will work to ensure the healthy preservation of our natural environment including pollinator-friendly policies and revitalized parks and playgrounds. We will also take advantage of regional expertise and common interest by partnering with other government and community groups.