Our residents deserve a City Hall that embraces democracy, strong fiscal management and transparency

Vision for Shorewood:

Continue to support our great neighborhoods for families and residents and transform Shorewood City Government into a culture that strives to be a model for democracy, strong fiscal management, transparency, and robust resident engagement as opposed to the minimum required by law. Leaders in public office are effective by setting aside their emotions to focus on a purpose that is greater than themselves - serving residents. This means accepting feedback and welcoming input from those who may disagree with the City's approach.

My Priorities

1. Raise Accountability to Residents. For example:

Increase accountability and transparency to residents regarding long term planning and financial management.
Expand opportunities for residents to dialogue with City Council via public forums and social events (e.g., post council meeting social events).
Form at large resident groups to tackle issues (e.g., Shorewood Community Center utilization, zoning code improvement, coordinating with neighboring cities, etc.).
Use new sources of technology to identify solutions for the community.
Create and implement a conflict resolution process for residents and the City to develop positive solutions.
Streamline the City Code to remove unnecessary regulations and eliminate ambiguity.

2. Strengthen the City's Fiscal Management - Residents want us to use City / taxpayer resources more effectively and efficiently. For example:

Complete independent consultant or qualified resident reviews to thoroughly vet major design and budget recommendations prior to council approval.
Gather and utilize data (e.g. surveys) to understand what residents want the City to invest in.
Identify opportunities to reduce costs to invest in the infrastructure of our community (e.g., roads, water quality, environment, etc.).
Ensure City fund financial plans do not generate budgeted shortfalls or surpluses.

3. Preserve the Natural Character of our Community

Teach residents about the importance of a healthy ecosystem.
Abide by the City's existing bee safe policies and procedures.
Update the City's tree preservation and replacement policy into a tree management program.
Work with the community to identify creative approaches to preserve the City's healthy, mature trees and remove hazardous trees and invasive species.

Untapped potential: Our residents

I've spoken to many residents who would like to become more involved with the City. Unfortunately, our current City Council is dismissive of involvement - especially towards residents who ask important questions and challenge the City Council's approach. Our talented residents are a significant untapped resource. Let's work together to build a city culture that welcomes resident feedback and engagement.

Click here to learn more about opportunties for our city

Shorewood residents would benefit from a City that adopts a pro-democracy culture firmly grounded on service to citizens that bridges connections across the community. The current City Council strives to do the minimum required under the law for resident input, engagement, and transparency.

For instance:

In January 2021 the City Council decided it was in their interest to appoint the replacement to fill an empty council seat rather than hold a special election and allow Shorewood residents to choose. The reason given was that the law allowed them to do this. A more democratic approach would have been to offer residents the opportunity to vote for their representative on the Council.

The current City Council has limited public comments at the start of council meetings (Matters from the Floor) to three minutes while our neighboring cities Excelsior, Tonka Bay, Victoria, and Chanhassen provide five minutes with opportunity to dialogue with council members. Shorewood residents who have taken the time to prepare thoughtful comments are routinely cut off prior to finishing their statements. This constraint unnecessarily limits input from residents and democratic engagement.

The prior City Council lengthened the mayor's term from two years to four years. This limits Shorewood residents' ability to vote for change every two years if they are not satisfied with the City's direction and performance. We should change the mayor term back to two years to make the City Council more accountable to residents.

I provided comments at a Shorewood city council meeting suggesting topics for the City's six-hour retreat. The following points were ignored by the city council:

the absence of visible processes to make decisions based on data, facts and analysis,
the City's lack of engagement with residents, and
the lack of clarity of the zoning code and its misalignment with the City's policies and objectives.

I encourage Shorewood residents to become active in our City. We must not take our democracy for granted.

Where money is wasted in our community

This is Birch Bluff Road. The City plans to spend $5.5 million+ to widen the street and install curb and gutter and City water. The residents in the area I've spoken to are overwhelmingly against widening the street and only a few have indicated they would connect to City water.

Birch Bluff Road was resurfaced less than three years ago. As the picture shows, the road is in pristine condition and is rated a perfect 10 according to the City's own street condition rating system. There are no potholes or cracks. Tearing up a perfectly good street for no good reason is a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. The council has approved the project despite 28 letters in opposition expressed in the June 13 council meeting packet.

The council has a fiduciary duty to spend our taxpayer money wisely. The City should reallocate the $5.5 million to repair the many dilapidated streets in Shorewood.

Our residents deserve a City Hall that embraces democracy, strong fiscal management and transparency

My Priorities

Untapped potential: Our residents

Where money is not spent in our community

Where money is wasted in our community