Campaign mailing address: 20 Ashley Rd, Hopkins MN 55343
Office Sought: City Council Member
Are you an Incumbent or Challenger: Incumbent
City of Residence: Hopkins MN
How long have you lived in your community?
21 years
Are you a Homeowner or Renter?
Homeowner
Do you own other real property (e.g. Business, Cabin, Investment, or Rental Property)? If so, which?
Yes – I own 40 acres of hunting land in Marshall County, Minnesota
Describe your civic and/or community engagement.
City Council Member Hopkins 2015 – 2020, 2024-Current. Hopkins Park Board 2007-2011. Hopkins Planning Commission 2011-2015. Hopkins Youth Baseball Assn – Baseball Coach 2015-2025. Hopkins Youth Football Coach and Booster Board Member 2016-2025
What are the most important housing challenges facing your community?
Keeping Hopkins Affordable for everyone from all types of income and backgrounds. Hopkins is very diverse in housing stock as well as the general population. Keeping and protecting our existing affordable housing stock is a huge goal of our community.
The Twin Cities Metro is facing a housing shortage unlike any we have experienced in recent history. What will you do to increase the number of homes available to residents of your community?
We are along the upcoming SWLRT train line. We have seen a huge boom in a good mix of housing options. Adding housing as infill properties become available. We are looking at converting underused city owned property into housing for new smaller rental units as well as some owner occupied housing options. Adding to our single family housing stock is always a challenge. We are adding a lot of apartments to our town at various levels of affordability
Minnesota has one of the largest homeownership gaps between Whites and Blacks, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is one of MAR’s primary concerns. What would you propose at the local level to close this home ownership gap?
We work to protect our existing affordable housing stock in Hopkins! We have extended our tenant protection policy to 90 days if a developer purchases a property and is looking to raise rents beyond what someone can afford. We are actively working on infill of city owned property with smaller housing rental units as well as converting an underused city parking lot into owner occupied row homes.
How do you think your city can best balance the rights of tenants and property owners to effectively manage rental housing?
To make Hopkins more affordable, the city council has prioritized affordable housing through an inclusionary housing policy and are exploring various programs and grants to assist residents. The city is also focused on initiatives like workforce development, green infrastructure, and sustainable development to improve the overall quality of life and affordability. We have an Inclusionary Housing Policy that requires developers to include affordable unity in new market rate developments. We are exploring options of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help support and maintain affordable housing options. We have zoning regulations to keep our affordable housing that exists from becoming huge McMansions to preserve affordability and maintain neighborhood character
What are your views on property tax rates in your community? Do you have concerns related to your city’s property tax rate? If so, how would you address those concerns once elected?
There is no doubt that our taxes in Hopkins are high. We do not have the “big box” commercial sites to help offset our tax burdens. The price of the available land for developers does impact the cost of new development. Finding a sound mix of market rate and workforce housing is a top goal of the city council. Its a fine line to walk as some residents do not want more apartements so we work to protect our existing single family affordable housing to the best of our ability. We have a sound and open budget process and try to keep our tax bill each year in check. Being a small town without a large industrial center or big commercial box stores – we understand the importance in protecting what we have.
Please provide links to all social media accounts connected to you or your campaign.
Website: kuznia4council.com
Facebook: “Kuznia for Hopkins City Council”
Instagram: “kuznia4council”
Please list any notable endorsements for your campaign
Endorsements can be found on my campaign website at the following link: https://www.kuznia4council.com/endorsements
It is a mix of other local leaders from State House Rep Cheryl Youakim, other current and former Council/Mayor members, and members of the Hopkins Community. I also am a member of the DMO (Democratic Municipal Officials). I have a Letter of Support from the Senate District 46 DFL party
