Preserve our natural environment
Walk out your door. Our city is like a giant park! This didn’t happen by accident - it was the result of deliberate planning over decades and factors too many to list. Minnetonka faces different challenges today because of our changing climate, and preserving this environment means thoughtful planning on future development, deep engagement with community groups, and continuing to educate our residents about the tradeoffs between use and preservation.
Ensure Minnetonka is safe and welcoming for all
Many things help to make our community safe, but there are generally three flavors: law enforcement, physical spaces that help us feel secure, and a caring community of people around us. Our police department has strong leadership and excellent officers, and deserves our continued support. We’re finally expanding our sidewalks on busy streets in a meaningful way, and additional improvements like radar speed signs and lighted crosswalks can make our streets safer. Our city leadership should make policy so everyone can thrive, but it’s up to all of us to connect with our neighbors and welcome the next generation of Minnetonka residents. Together, these things create a sense of belonging for everyone.
Smart spending to minimize property taxes
As a thrifty nerd with an MBA, being smart about money is in my wheelhouse. Minnetonka has historically done an excellent job of managing its finances, but city property taxes have been recently increasing at an unsustainable rate. This creates issues for everyone, especially people on fixed incomes and young families. We need to continue to be transparent about the process so the community can help determine needs vs wants.
Cultivate positivity and respect
A good city council member is committed to public dialog and fair, transparent processes when hard choices need to be made. No matter the outcome, when people feel they were respected and heard, it sustains the long term goodwill and trust among everyone in the community. I have a natural ability to listen and understand differing perspectives. This helps me stay above divisive rhetoric, be a champion for new and practical ideas, and bring positive energy to the process.
Harness the positive energy and ideas of residents
Our city is full of smart and motivated people who care deeply about the environment, community development and safety. I believe we’re only scratching the surface of our volunteer potential. There are win/win solutions all around us, and a better process to encourage resident ideas can help increase overall engagement and improve how our city functions.