-
Develop a Parks Master Plan and establish a sustainable funding source for our parks.
Join the Minnesota Green Step City program.
Parks Master Plan
We have an engaged and excited group of volunteers on our Parks and Rec Commission, but they are not empowered to do anything for the city other than pick out the color of playground slides when we replace aged equipment. They’re not given a purpose and it’s a reason why we see a lot of turnover in this Commission. We should develop a Parks Master Plan that will give this group direction for how our City sees our Parks and Trails 5, 10, and 15 years from now. This plan will be a guidepost to utilize this group’s dedication to Parks for the good of the community.
Sustainable Park Funding Sources
We need to identify sustainable park funding sources. Parks are currently funded using a Park Dedication Fund that only developers contribute to when there is development or re-development. Our city is nearly built out so this funding source is not sustainable. This fund is not growing, it’s shrinking - and our Council has not even started to address what happens when those funds will no longer support our existing parks. Our parks are important, so we need a transition plan to sustainable funding sources.
GreenStep City
Mahtomedi, Shoreview, WBL and other neighboring cities have benefited from this program. This go-at-your-own-pace program focuses on cost savings, energy efficiency and innovation. We can form a volunteer-run Environment Commission like other cities have to work with City Staff to identity opportunities for cost savings and beneficial green best practices (i.e. green steps) that make sense for our city right now. All actions would be reviewed and approved by City Council prior to implementation.
What ideas do you have for how our city can be more energy efficient, green, and environmentally friendly?
-
Working alongside city staff and engaging citizens to identify the best and most efficient use of tax revenue to support our aging infrastructure and roads. And invest in our parks and trails. Develop 5-, 10- and 15-year plans and stick to them.
Address the future transportation needs for the community.
Our City Council over the past 6+ years has been successful in achieving a goal of a super lean city budget, but that has come at a cost for our current residents. It means we are left with no reserves to weather through inflation (unlike WBL and other neighboring cities) and it means we haven’t invested in our community. I do not think maintenance projects (e.g. repair roads, hazardous trails, replacing weathered park signs) are investments. Investments are updates that add new features, new amenities. We need to invest in our parks and trails. We need to invest in improved playground equipment, not just bandaid replacements of unsafe, non-American Disabilities Act compliant playgrounds that shrink in features. At a minimum, maintenance to me means replacing like-for-like, but we’re not even doing that. Go look at Greenhaven Playground and talk to the families there that have seen the playground shrink and replaced with less equipment, less features. When we are not even maintaining what we have - we need to plan better. I will prioritize making sure we are maintaining with like-for-life repairs/replacements, but also investing for our future. Investments take planning and sticking to that plan. This will be a priority for me.
As a current member of the County Road E Corridor Project Team, I am advocating for our community, and our neighboring communities, to keep future transportation needs in mind as we help define goals and plans for this vital East-West corridor in our community. It's important that all residents have the option to safely travel within our communities and to neighboring communities without needing a vehicle. This will mean investing in complete paths/sidewalks and planning for an efficient, future incorporation of a public transit option in this corridor.
As an elected Council Member, I will strive for our city to complete our fragmented (and at times non-existent) sidewalk and trail network so we can all navigate our city safely. We should be able to take a leisurely stroll, walk our dogs, walk to the local store and bring our children to school with peace of mind. I will advocate for our community to get Safe Routes to School funds and other federal, state or county funding sources. I will look to update our requirements for developers to contribute to building out sidewalks in the development’s area. In addition, I will look for opportunities to partner with developers or Ramsey County to build out sidewalks/paths nearby if efficiencies with equipment and time exist.
What would you like to see change along County Rd E?
-
Increase engagement with citizens to provide more input into future residential and commercial development.
There are opportunities available to provide input, but even when some step up to the microphone, they do not feel they are heard and then feel dissatisfied with outcomes because their input feels dismissed. This has occurred multiple times with recent higher density housing developments in our community.
I would work to encourage citizen input and discussion on varying opinions so the collective community’s vision and goals are known and understood, and then ultimately reflected in the decisions of the City Council.
Improve timing and depth of public meeting notifications
We can improve public meeting notifications and better utilize City Commissions. Agendas for public meetings are posted in advance, but that places the burden on citizens to check the city website or newspaper regularly for events of interest. There have been several instances at Planning Commission meetings that I have heard, “Sorry, I am still processing this as I just found out today.” We can improve notifications of public meetings. Two options are updating city code to broaden the mailed notice range beyond the current 350 feet requirement and creating e-mail subscriptions for interested parties to opt-in to notification of events based on an interest area (like Comprehensive Plan or zoning amendments, or PUD applications).
What can I do to make sure everyone's voice is heard?
-
Our residents have asked for a Human Rights Commission, but at the time the majority of our City Council was not supportive of the formation of this advisory commission.
I will support the creation of a Human Rights Commission. We could model this commission based on Human Rights Commissions formed in other Minnesota cities, like Shoreview.
Shoreview’s Human Rights Commission “ advises and aids the City of Shoreview by establishing and promoting a community standard of equal opportunity and freedom from discrimination. We envision a community where all people are welcomed, valued, and respected; where each person feels at home.”
A Human Rights Commission advises the City Council, which is the same role fulfilled by all the other current City Commissions (e.g. Planning, Parks, etc). They do not direct the work of City Staff, and most importantly, do not control City Council’s control over city expenditures and activities. The elected City Council reviews recommendations and determines how to respond. The Commission’s goals could be defined similar to Shoreview’s:
“The HRC's responsibilities include:
Developing educational programs and increasing awareness
Coordinating efforts with neighboring human rights commissions
Advising and recommending items related to human relations and civil rights problems
Identifying responsibilities to bridge cultural and other differences”
As I stated in a video I recorded for Hmoob Twin Cities News (scroll to bottom of this “My Vision” page), I support a Human Rights Commission because I acknowledge that not all residents of Vadnais Heights feel invited and represented in our community. This community does a great job appealing to me: a Minnesota native, middle-class, white woman, raised by married parents. My physical, mental and emotional needs have been met by every community I have lived in. I have always felt invited and represented. However, I am fully aware that what appeals to me and my upbringing and interests may not be shared with others in this community, and we could do more as a city to represent all and make all feel welcomed.