Campaign mailing address: 5112 W. 105th St., Bloomington, MN 55437
Office Sought: Bloomington City Council District 2
Are you an Incumbent or Challenger: Incumbent
20 Bloomington
How long have you lived in your community?
26 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, rental home and office building
Describe your civic and/or community engagement.
Bloomington Port Authority Commissioner. Boardmember of VEAP and Bloomington MN Travel and Tourism. Member of eight Chambers. Extensive other leadership positions in the past, but locally, statewide, and nationally.
What are the most important housing challenges facing your community?
Supply and regulations that impede production of new housing.
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?
While I have been on the Council we have reduced barriers to building housing, including our Opportunity Housing Ordinance, our recent reform of single family zoning and building standards, and our current work on missing middle housing. Bloomington’s modernization has proven successful in producing housing, and we have already almost authorized the entire Met Council 2030 goal for new housing in our community. I believe that overall in the region that is only 14%. With the single family and missing middle we are increasing our focus on owner occupied housing. I personally have testified at the legislature to encourage them to implement similar housing reforms that we are proving to be successful.
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?
In addition to building more housing we restructured our HRA and Port Authority. The Port Authority is now city wide, using its expertise in larger development projects. The HRA is directly focused on single family and missing middle housing. We are continuing to expand our support for first time home buyers with rent to own,, downpayment assistance, and education. Bloomington is committed to its DEI initiatives that don’t provide preference, but provide opportunity and support for all, including those that have historically been excluded.
How do you think your city can best balance the rights of tenants and property owners to effectively manage rental housing?
We addressed some of these issues a couple years ago. Property owners have the right to sell there property, improve it and raise rents, and evict tenants. We do have an ordinance that if the owner is make a major change that tenants and the city receive timely notice of those changes. We have not had any conversations about rent control or other harmful practices. Our Police also have a liaison to apartments to help them with their practices to screen and remove problem tenants.
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?
Bloomington is challenged on property taxes, largely due to transforming of fire department from paid on call to full time, and our older infrastructure. I have been advocating for alternative revenues, like grants, sponsorship, and advertising to supported some community desires. We will also use a Priority Based Budgeting process year to drill deeper into departmental budgets.
