Anne Burt
Name: Anne Burt
Public Office Sought: Woodbury Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-436-3701
Website: anneburt2018.com
Twitter: @anneburt2018
Facebook Page: Anne Burt
Candidate Bio
I am a passionate advocate about this wonderful community of Woodbury. Having raised our family here for the past 14 years, we have been enthusiastic participants and leaders in many of the engaging organizations and events that thrive here. From a civic perspective, I have actively contributed in many appointed roles of service and leadership for the City of Woodbury including:
I am service-driven and am fortunate to be able to devote my time to the demands of the role of Mayor of Woodbury. My personal characteristics include being successful, friendly, energetic, goal-oriented, inquisitive, strategic, collaborative, detail-oriented, and one who gets things done.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury?
Thriving! Last year we celebrated 50 new businesses in Woodbury and we’ve welcomed 325 new businesses in the last 5 years. In 2017 we experienced commercial growth of 540,000 sq. ft. In total, Woodbury has over 11 million sq. ft. of commercial properties with 56% of that providing places to work. There are more than 23,000 jobs here; 27.6% of all jobs in Washington county are located in Woodbury and our unemployment rate is 2.2%. We are becoming known as the healthcare destination of the east metro with our growing medical sector and employers. We benefit from a growing population with current estimates at 70,000 residents with the year 2040 estimate to be nearly 90,000. We have a variety of housing options so that people can both work and live in Woodbury. In addition, our active Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce engages and connects businesses with our community to promote prosperous economic development and a vibrant business community.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and how would your administration actively solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Woodbury?
Our current leadership has done an excellent job in attracting new business to Woodbury and I plan on continuing along that same path – and the opportunities are plentiful. Our 2040 Comprehensive Plan has thoughtfully planned for expansion of our diversified business sector which will allow for a variety of employment opportunities, increase our tax base, enhance our residents’ quality of life, and continue to be a place to both work and live in Woodbury. As mayor and official head of the city, I will take an active role in meeting with business owners and developers as spokesperson to share the good news about the many benefits of bringing commercial and industrial development here. Woodbury benefits from having an established economic development staff and a commission of engaged citizens that studies, reviews, and prepares recommendations for city council review.
3. Will you commit to hiring a business advocate as a member of your senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Woodbury?
Woodbury is a thriving suburban community and, unlike the needs of large urban cities, operates well with limited government. Thus the Mayor has no direct, dedicated staff (and thus unlikely to hire a business advocate as a member of mayoral staff) and instead relies on the combined efforts of city staff, including a Community Development Director, along with business professionals and resident-led Economic Development Commission to develop a Strategic Plan to guide growth, retention, and redevelopment. In my working experience with the city in the last several years, this method has worked well and I will continue to support it. However, as needs arise and the economic climate changes, I will be open to listening and evaluating other options.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Woodbury? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury and do you support proposals to mitigate the effects on businesses like a tip credit, a youth wage, a training wage, and/or a phase-in?
Being active in our community I see market forces for employment actively at work. While there is a minimum wage for the State of Minnesota, many businesses in our community are paying far above the minimum wage. Business owners and managers seem to effectively adjust their wages based on the specific needs of their business in attracting, hiring, and retaining employees. Our businesses know how to operate their companies and likely will continue to adjust to market conditions as they need in order to remain competitive. Thus, I do not see the need, at this point, to support any type of minimum wage in Woodbury.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (such as mandatory sick time or scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
My answer to this is generally the same as to #5 above. To thrive and survive, Woodbury businesses need to attract, hire, and retain employees. They have data, information and tools available to help them make the best decisions regarding the benefits that their employees receive.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
We live in a very safe community due to our excellent public safety as well as the quality of our residents. In a recent survey, one of the reasons residents said they have chosen to live in Woodbury is because it is known to be a safe community. The City of Woodbury operates on an Integrated Public Safety model, combining police, fire and emergency medical services together. While this model does not work for all cities, it does work here. Concerns about public safety would be addressed by first listening to understand the issues and concerns and then seeking input from our professionals, including our Director of Public Safety, police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, and City Administrator, as well as our residents. I will strive to ensure that our community remains safe and that our public safety services are effective, efficient, and well managed.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Woodbury has an excellent AAA bond rating as a result of budgeting conventions and historically strong financial practices. The priorities for the City’s budget are to provide continuing quality and affordable services. It is important to balance the needs of our growing, high-quality community with the controlled spending. Currently Woodbury has the 6th lowest tax rate among the 17 city metro communities. I will continue the expectation that we run an efficient government and that we maintain the right balance of taxes and services. I support our city’s detailed budgeting process, for both operating expenses and capital projects, which is essentially an on-going process throughout the year.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
The relationship needs to remain balanced and fair. When it becomes imbalanced we will lose the opportunities to remain a city that attracts both businesses and residents. As mayor, I will ensure that we have the right balance by digging into the detailed data, asking questions, and getting input.
9. What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
We are poised for continued growth and thus the tax base will expand accordingly. We have had significant commercial growth for the past 5-6 years. With our expanding community, our residential construction is very strong. Our next phase of commercial development is in the northeast corner of Woodbury where there are plans for growth in places to work including warehousing, office, showrooms, and light industrial.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are fortunate to have a well-educated group of residents. 57.6% of residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, compared with the Twin Cities at only 40.5%. Our highly-educated community expects the same for our youth and attracts new residents who are also focused on effectively educating our youth. The City of Woodbury has a good working relationship with the three school districts that are located here, including Districts 833, 834, and 622 as well as with the several private and charter schools. Planning for population growth and geographic shifts in age demographics requires good communication so that our schools can make adjustments and additions as the needs change and that communication is on-going. The city also works collaboratively with the Woodbury Community Foundation and other organizations to promote youth development and career training.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Woodbury?
The mayor’s role is to ensure open dialog and communication with the leaders of our public schools so they can effectively plan for the education of our growing community. We also will continue to work together to ensure a safe environment for our students.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Effectively managing growth is one of the biggest challenges. With growth comes the need for new infrastructure and improvements to existing; especially our roads and transportation system. We need to work effectively with the county and state to plan for effective methods to move people in and through our city. We have an opportunity to have significant improvements in public transit with the upcoming Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit system being planned with its final stop at two locations in Woodbury. We also need to be working with the state for improvements to the 94/494/694 interchange.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Carefully manage growth with strategic and thoughtful planning
- Maintain a high quality of life for our residents while supporting our business community
- Ensure that we have an effective solution for our water quality concerns with the funds coming from the PFC settlement
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Effective planning and implementation of the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit system as well as work with the state and county on timely road improvements.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
We are fortunate to have many community-based organizations with whom we do and should collaborate with to provide services to our community – both as necessities and enhancements to our existing quality of life. These include school districts, community education, the Woodbury Community Foundation, numerous churches/faith communities, athletic associations, community food shelf, community theater, VFW, American Legion, Lions Club, Rotary Club… and the list goes on. With regard to cutting back or eliminating current city services, I would evaluate services that we currently offer to ensure they are optimized, as required.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Above all, I want to ensure that Woodbury continues to provide a high quality of life by ensuring that our community has various opportunities for employment, business retention and growth, education, transportation, recreation & healthy lifestyles, housing, and various community organizations while ensuring public safety and sustainability of natural resources.
Public Office Sought: Woodbury Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-436-3701
Website: anneburt2018.com
Twitter: @anneburt2018
Facebook Page: Anne Burt
Candidate Bio
I am a passionate advocate about this wonderful community of Woodbury. Having raised our family here for the past 14 years, we have been enthusiastic participants and leaders in many of the engaging organizations and events that thrive here. From a civic perspective, I have actively contributed in many appointed roles of service and leadership for the City of Woodbury including:
- Planning Commission
- Park and Recreation Commission
- 2040 Comprehensive Plan Task Force
- Graduate of Woodbury Citizens’ Academy
I am service-driven and am fortunate to be able to devote my time to the demands of the role of Mayor of Woodbury. My personal characteristics include being successful, friendly, energetic, goal-oriented, inquisitive, strategic, collaborative, detail-oriented, and one who gets things done.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury?
Thriving! Last year we celebrated 50 new businesses in Woodbury and we’ve welcomed 325 new businesses in the last 5 years. In 2017 we experienced commercial growth of 540,000 sq. ft. In total, Woodbury has over 11 million sq. ft. of commercial properties with 56% of that providing places to work. There are more than 23,000 jobs here; 27.6% of all jobs in Washington county are located in Woodbury and our unemployment rate is 2.2%. We are becoming known as the healthcare destination of the east metro with our growing medical sector and employers. We benefit from a growing population with current estimates at 70,000 residents with the year 2040 estimate to be nearly 90,000. We have a variety of housing options so that people can both work and live in Woodbury. In addition, our active Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce engages and connects businesses with our community to promote prosperous economic development and a vibrant business community.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and how would your administration actively solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Woodbury?
Our current leadership has done an excellent job in attracting new business to Woodbury and I plan on continuing along that same path – and the opportunities are plentiful. Our 2040 Comprehensive Plan has thoughtfully planned for expansion of our diversified business sector which will allow for a variety of employment opportunities, increase our tax base, enhance our residents’ quality of life, and continue to be a place to both work and live in Woodbury. As mayor and official head of the city, I will take an active role in meeting with business owners and developers as spokesperson to share the good news about the many benefits of bringing commercial and industrial development here. Woodbury benefits from having an established economic development staff and a commission of engaged citizens that studies, reviews, and prepares recommendations for city council review.
3. Will you commit to hiring a business advocate as a member of your senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Woodbury?
Woodbury is a thriving suburban community and, unlike the needs of large urban cities, operates well with limited government. Thus the Mayor has no direct, dedicated staff (and thus unlikely to hire a business advocate as a member of mayoral staff) and instead relies on the combined efforts of city staff, including a Community Development Director, along with business professionals and resident-led Economic Development Commission to develop a Strategic Plan to guide growth, retention, and redevelopment. In my working experience with the city in the last several years, this method has worked well and I will continue to support it. However, as needs arise and the economic climate changes, I will be open to listening and evaluating other options.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Woodbury? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury and do you support proposals to mitigate the effects on businesses like a tip credit, a youth wage, a training wage, and/or a phase-in?
Being active in our community I see market forces for employment actively at work. While there is a minimum wage for the State of Minnesota, many businesses in our community are paying far above the minimum wage. Business owners and managers seem to effectively adjust their wages based on the specific needs of their business in attracting, hiring, and retaining employees. Our businesses know how to operate their companies and likely will continue to adjust to market conditions as they need in order to remain competitive. Thus, I do not see the need, at this point, to support any type of minimum wage in Woodbury.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (such as mandatory sick time or scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
My answer to this is generally the same as to #5 above. To thrive and survive, Woodbury businesses need to attract, hire, and retain employees. They have data, information and tools available to help them make the best decisions regarding the benefits that their employees receive.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
We live in a very safe community due to our excellent public safety as well as the quality of our residents. In a recent survey, one of the reasons residents said they have chosen to live in Woodbury is because it is known to be a safe community. The City of Woodbury operates on an Integrated Public Safety model, combining police, fire and emergency medical services together. While this model does not work for all cities, it does work here. Concerns about public safety would be addressed by first listening to understand the issues and concerns and then seeking input from our professionals, including our Director of Public Safety, police officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, and City Administrator, as well as our residents. I will strive to ensure that our community remains safe and that our public safety services are effective, efficient, and well managed.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Woodbury has an excellent AAA bond rating as a result of budgeting conventions and historically strong financial practices. The priorities for the City’s budget are to provide continuing quality and affordable services. It is important to balance the needs of our growing, high-quality community with the controlled spending. Currently Woodbury has the 6th lowest tax rate among the 17 city metro communities. I will continue the expectation that we run an efficient government and that we maintain the right balance of taxes and services. I support our city’s detailed budgeting process, for both operating expenses and capital projects, which is essentially an on-going process throughout the year.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
The relationship needs to remain balanced and fair. When it becomes imbalanced we will lose the opportunities to remain a city that attracts both businesses and residents. As mayor, I will ensure that we have the right balance by digging into the detailed data, asking questions, and getting input.
9. What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
We are poised for continued growth and thus the tax base will expand accordingly. We have had significant commercial growth for the past 5-6 years. With our expanding community, our residential construction is very strong. Our next phase of commercial development is in the northeast corner of Woodbury where there are plans for growth in places to work including warehousing, office, showrooms, and light industrial.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are fortunate to have a well-educated group of residents. 57.6% of residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, compared with the Twin Cities at only 40.5%. Our highly-educated community expects the same for our youth and attracts new residents who are also focused on effectively educating our youth. The City of Woodbury has a good working relationship with the three school districts that are located here, including Districts 833, 834, and 622 as well as with the several private and charter schools. Planning for population growth and geographic shifts in age demographics requires good communication so that our schools can make adjustments and additions as the needs change and that communication is on-going. The city also works collaboratively with the Woodbury Community Foundation and other organizations to promote youth development and career training.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Woodbury?
The mayor’s role is to ensure open dialog and communication with the leaders of our public schools so they can effectively plan for the education of our growing community. We also will continue to work together to ensure a safe environment for our students.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Effectively managing growth is one of the biggest challenges. With growth comes the need for new infrastructure and improvements to existing; especially our roads and transportation system. We need to work effectively with the county and state to plan for effective methods to move people in and through our city. We have an opportunity to have significant improvements in public transit with the upcoming Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit system being planned with its final stop at two locations in Woodbury. We also need to be working with the state for improvements to the 94/494/694 interchange.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Carefully manage growth with strategic and thoughtful planning
- Maintain a high quality of life for our residents while supporting our business community
- Ensure that we have an effective solution for our water quality concerns with the funds coming from the PFC settlement
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Effective planning and implementation of the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit system as well as work with the state and county on timely road improvements.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
We are fortunate to have many community-based organizations with whom we do and should collaborate with to provide services to our community – both as necessities and enhancements to our existing quality of life. These include school districts, community education, the Woodbury Community Foundation, numerous churches/faith communities, athletic associations, community food shelf, community theater, VFW, American Legion, Lions Club, Rotary Club… and the list goes on. With regard to cutting back or eliminating current city services, I would evaluate services that we currently offer to ensure they are optimized, as required.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Above all, I want to ensure that Woodbury continues to provide a high quality of life by ensuring that our community has various opportunities for employment, business retention and growth, education, transportation, recreation & healthy lifestyles, housing, and various community organizations while ensuring public safety and sustainability of natural resources.