A Synopsis of My Priorities

As we approach election day, I'd like to lay out my priorities should I be elected as an at-large City Council member.  These are priorities I've articulated in different blogs and interviews, but I wanted to put them together in a single place.  Each of them is targeted at improving our quality of life and making St. Cloud an even better place to live. They are all tied together in some way or another.

1. Develop Long-term Infrastructure / Land-Use Strategy: 
We cannot afford to continue expanding our infrastructure outward.  The maintenance costs in the future will eat up a large portion of our budget that may be needed for things like fire and police protection, as well as amenities like an aquatic center and recreational opportunities.  This is already a problem that is requiring a super-bond (found on the ballot this year) that addresses the problem in the short-term (by raising property taxes 4.5%).  We need to identify how we will pay for the maintenance of our roads, what our roads of the future should look like (incorporating Complete Streets), and who will use our roads.  We should do more to get a higher return on investment with our existing infrastructure and focus on developing or re-developing within our established infrastructure.

We must also examine how we've gotten into such a predicament as a way to avoid having the situation repeat itself.  In hindsight, the construction of the new police building has impacted our bonding abilities and shifted resources that could have went to infrastructure repair.  Obviously, we can't go back in time and re-litigate this decision, but we can learn lessons from it (and other past decisions).

2.  Focused Economic Development:  
Folks have been talking about economic development and bringing higher-paying jobs to our region for 20+ years.  It's not unique to St. Cloud.  For every new Arctic Cat or Geringhoff we bring into our area, we also lose a Donlin Co or Fingerhut.  Business, and thus economic development, is cyclical.  We must adapt to changes in the global economy and market our strengths.  Hitting home runs by attracting new, large employers to the area are rare.  As a result, we should do more to grow and expand existing businesses that are here.  We do this by identifying what government. a private partner, or a private-public partnership can do to help them.

It also means getting our local higher-ed grads placed into opportunities in our area.  We lose when they move and we must do what we can to provide them opportunities here.  This can be done, in part, by leveraging effective private-public partnerships and identifying ways to achieve this.  Those opportunities may be through young start-ups, business incubation, or established local businesses.

We should be targeting and focusing our efforts on compatible development with our labor market - aligning the right jobs with job seekers and graduates.

The benefits to strong and focused economic development are obvious:  higher median income, higher property values, and a better quality of life.



3.  Protecting our Neighborhoods and Establishing an Identify for St. Cloud:   
Our neighborhoods are the key to our community.  Much has been done through healthy neighborhood partnerships and neighborhood groups.  More can be done.  Problem properties can be detrimental to surrounding properties.  Crumbling infrastructure can also devalue properties.  We need to ensure we are proactive in dealing with problem properties and enforce existing ordinances.  Rental properties should be inspected annually, something that has not been occurring due to budget issues.  As well, city council members should be actively involved in listening to neighbors and working to address issues in a timely fashion.  I've committed myself to being open to neighborhood groups and individual residents through regular meetings and the use of social media.  Too often, people don't have the time or desire to speak to their elected officials in person.  Instead, using Facebook or a blog should be used to allow for more open communication and dialogue. 

In addition, I want to listen to residents to find out what we can do in their neighborhoods to protect them and make them quality places to live.

Our community is currently seeking to develop a comprehensive placemaking strategy that involves implementation.  I have been involved in the selection effort as a member of the planning commission.  Making better use of our public spaces and using art, for example, can greatly enhance a neighborhood or public gathering place.  We've done a lot of planning over the past two decades - it's finally time to act on them!


4.  Crime / Public Safety:
One of the core responsibilities of all levels of government is public safety.  This includes both police and fire protection.  These two areas consume a large portion of our budget.  Our efforts to provide public safety need to be balanced with what we can afford.  We need people who live here, visit here, or go to school here to feel safe.  Proactive policing and adjustments to patrol areas are appropriate ways to fight crime.  But we must also remember that law enforcement professionals are already doing these things - often times completely under-the-radar from the public.  They must be given the tools and respect to get the job down.  It's also important for the public - and city council - to hold them accountable for their actions.

Effective public safety also includes adequate community and neighborhood involvement.  Residents should know each other and look out for each other.  If we, as a community, are serious about keeping our community safe, then we all need to be involved in the effort.

Finally, petty crime leads to bigger crimes.  We need adequate and consistent enforcement of petty crimes to prevent more serious crime from occurring. 

5.  Customer Service Focus:
On more than one occasion, it has been stated that government should be run more like a business. I agree - but differ on what aspect.  Most businesses have stated customer service policies that highlight the importance of the customer.  St. Cloud needs to do the same thing - with its customers being residents, developers, contractors, and anyone who has to interact with the city.  It means delivering a consistent experience.  It means utilizing technology in ways that make city staff more effective and efficient.  The end goal needs to be providing excellent customer service.

By focusing on customer service, I intend to reduce the amount of contradictory or inconsistent information people may get from the city.  Using technology, more services should be available on-line.  This includes plan reviews and purchasing things like dog licenses. As a commissioner, I voted to spend development fund dollars (nearly $1mil) on technology upgrades that will help meet this goal.  We also need adequate customer service policies and processes associated with them.  That doesn't require technology but commitment and leadership.  City staff do their best to provide good service, but having a standard policy of what is expected can help ensure consistency. 

I want everyone who interacts with the City to feel they are being provided quality service.  I want people to see the value in what is being provided to them.  And I want the interaction to be consistent. 


There are many other areas that I could go into, but wanted to at least get my top 5 priorities stated.  As I noted in the beginning, some of the areas are much larger and may have several different sub-components.  I also know that there are many others in the community who may have great ideas or suggestions to improve my ideas.  I am always open to hearing or learning about ways to improve our community.  As I said at a forum, I'm a pragmatist and not an ideologue.  Let's work, together.

Thank you.