Anthony Fernandez
Name: Anthony Fernandez
Public Office Sought: West Saint Paul Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-978-4461
Website: www.VoteFernandez.com
Twitter: @AJFernandezMN
Candidate Bio
I am currently a West St. Paul Councilmember and former West St. Paul planning commission member. I have served on the planning commission and zoning committee in St. Paul. I was a previous board chair of the District 7 planning council in St. Paul. Small business owner and Real Estate Broker.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in West Saint Paul?
The business climate in West St. Paul is not good. Redevelopment on Robert Street has stalled. If you look at other inner ring suburbs like Richfield, which is seeing $200 million in redevelopment projects right now, West St. Paul is missing out. Redevelopment and revitalization is going to be my number one priority as Mayor. We need to rebrand and remarket our city in order to attract new businesses and we need a Mayor that will commit to aggressive redevelopment along Robert Street.
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, West Saint Paul?
The City should take the lead role in marketing and rebranding our city to attract and retain jobs. There has been a lack of cooperation between the City and the business community and I will seek to bridge that gap through business roundtables, community meetings, networking and leading the council to adopt an aggressive rebranding and marketing effort of West St. Paul.
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 West Saint Paul?
I would be willing to learn more about this staff position to understand the budget impact and potential benefits that position could provide West St. Paul.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in West Saint Paul? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in West Saint Paul 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?
The City of Saint Paul is still in the process of exploring this matter and I believe West St. Paul should wait to take any action on this issue until Saint Paul completes its process.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West Saint Paul (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 West Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Through my quarterly business roundtables, I would hope I could hear from businesses in West St. Paul on these issues to determine the feasibility and impact of such proposals.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
I will fully support our police and fire through the budgeting process and ensure our police and fire receive all the resources they need to meet the public safety expectations of our residents. A fundamental duty of our local government is to keep us safe and we must always address that first before allocating funds to other areas of the budget. I will also lead the way in reaching out to our minority and underserved community members to ensure we enhance police relations with these groups. As a minority myself I understand the challenges many face on a daily basis when it comes to police relations with the community. Many communities are adding police body cameras and I would support that here in West St. Paul.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Every budget process is a balance of priorities. We need to ensure our police and fire are fully funded as a number one priority. While we have focused a lot of attention on Robert Street, many of our neighborhood streets are in poor condition and we must continue to pursue infrastructure improvements to the fullest extent possible while keeping a lid on levy increases year after year. To do so I would leverage the city budget as much as possible to support redevelopment and revitalization of Robert Street to expand our tax base. The golf course redevelopment is also an incredible opportunity to add additional tax base to the city rolls in the long run, so a short term priority would be to ensure we can properly market and redevelop the golf course.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Not sure I completely understand that question, but I will give you an example of a recent dealing in trying to make things more equal. We have a side walk in a specific area that is predominately commercial with a small amount of single family townhouses. The commercial property owners were feeling pinched especially because of the side walk cost which was shared and the snow removal cost which was not. I recommended we create a service district so this cost was shared evenly.
9. What will you do to expand West Saint Paul’s tax base?
We need to quickly and aggressively redevelop along Robert Street to revitalize our commercial corridor. The City has spent years on planning documents and public infrastructure improvements, now is the time to rebrand and remarket our city to attract much needed development and businesses that will not only expand our tax base but provide living wage jobs.
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?
I do not have a specific answer, but I do have a healthy relationship with the superintendent of district 197 and would find out how.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in West Saint Paul?
I think it is important to work on providing amenities and opportunity of the children going to school in the community.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Economic development. See previous answers.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
5-point plan. Will not limit to 3.
1. PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A growing tax base is vital to keeping property taxes low while still improving city services. Anthony will work to expand our tax base with your input. This includes seeking creative ways to bring in and retain big and small businesses consistent with community values.
2. ENCOURAGE HOUSING REVITALIZATION: The city has aging homes and apartment buildings. To maintain safety, curb appeal, and property values, Anthony will establish a community taskforce and set up a fund so that residents can have access to affordable loans for rehabilitating and maintaining their homes.
3. RECOGNIZE OUR DIVERSITY: As the population and demographics change, the city must be responsive to our needs. Anthony will establish a committee of community leaders and residents to help create equity and opportunity for everyone.
4. ESTABLISH A HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: The backbone of a strong community is the health and safety of residents, families, and children. Anthony will promote parks and enhance the city’s bike and pedestrian plan. He will also work with police and fire services so that best practices are available to keep us safe.
5. OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION: It is time to elect a mayor who is accessible and leads by listening. Anthony will start quarterly business roundtable meetings and regular community-based question and answer sessions for everyone to attend.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We need more sidewalks and paths for the residents, but need to soften costs for the taxpayers.
Public Office Sought: West Saint Paul Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-978-4461
Website: www.VoteFernandez.com
Twitter: @AJFernandezMN
Candidate Bio
I am currently a West St. Paul Councilmember and former West St. Paul planning commission member. I have served on the planning commission and zoning committee in St. Paul. I was a previous board chair of the District 7 planning council in St. Paul. Small business owner and Real Estate Broker.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in West Saint Paul?
The business climate in West St. Paul is not good. Redevelopment on Robert Street has stalled. If you look at other inner ring suburbs like Richfield, which is seeing $200 million in redevelopment projects right now, West St. Paul is missing out. Redevelopment and revitalization is going to be my number one priority as Mayor. We need to rebrand and remarket our city in order to attract new businesses and we need a Mayor that will commit to aggressive redevelopment along Robert Street.
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, West Saint Paul?
The City should take the lead role in marketing and rebranding our city to attract and retain jobs. There has been a lack of cooperation between the City and the business community and I will seek to bridge that gap through business roundtables, community meetings, networking and leading the council to adopt an aggressive rebranding and marketing effort of West St. Paul.
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 West Saint Paul?
I would be willing to learn more about this staff position to understand the budget impact and potential benefits that position could provide West St. Paul.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in West Saint Paul? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in West Saint Paul 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?
The City of Saint Paul is still in the process of exploring this matter and I believe West St. Paul should wait to take any action on this issue until Saint Paul completes its process.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West Saint Paul (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 West Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Through my quarterly business roundtables, I would hope I could hear from businesses in West St. Paul on these issues to determine the feasibility and impact of such proposals.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
I will fully support our police and fire through the budgeting process and ensure our police and fire receive all the resources they need to meet the public safety expectations of our residents. A fundamental duty of our local government is to keep us safe and we must always address that first before allocating funds to other areas of the budget. I will also lead the way in reaching out to our minority and underserved community members to ensure we enhance police relations with these groups. As a minority myself I understand the challenges many face on a daily basis when it comes to police relations with the community. Many communities are adding police body cameras and I would support that here in West St. Paul.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Every budget process is a balance of priorities. We need to ensure our police and fire are fully funded as a number one priority. While we have focused a lot of attention on Robert Street, many of our neighborhood streets are in poor condition and we must continue to pursue infrastructure improvements to the fullest extent possible while keeping a lid on levy increases year after year. To do so I would leverage the city budget as much as possible to support redevelopment and revitalization of Robert Street to expand our tax base. The golf course redevelopment is also an incredible opportunity to add additional tax base to the city rolls in the long run, so a short term priority would be to ensure we can properly market and redevelop the golf course.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Not sure I completely understand that question, but I will give you an example of a recent dealing in trying to make things more equal. We have a side walk in a specific area that is predominately commercial with a small amount of single family townhouses. The commercial property owners were feeling pinched especially because of the side walk cost which was shared and the snow removal cost which was not. I recommended we create a service district so this cost was shared evenly.
9. What will you do to expand West Saint Paul’s tax base?
We need to quickly and aggressively redevelop along Robert Street to revitalize our commercial corridor. The City has spent years on planning documents and public infrastructure improvements, now is the time to rebrand and remarket our city to attract much needed development and businesses that will not only expand our tax base but provide living wage jobs.
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?
I do not have a specific answer, but I do have a healthy relationship with the superintendent of district 197 and would find out how.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in West Saint Paul?
I think it is important to work on providing amenities and opportunity of the children going to school in the community.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Economic development. See previous answers.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
5-point plan. Will not limit to 3.
1. PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A growing tax base is vital to keeping property taxes low while still improving city services. Anthony will work to expand our tax base with your input. This includes seeking creative ways to bring in and retain big and small businesses consistent with community values.
2. ENCOURAGE HOUSING REVITALIZATION: The city has aging homes and apartment buildings. To maintain safety, curb appeal, and property values, Anthony will establish a community taskforce and set up a fund so that residents can have access to affordable loans for rehabilitating and maintaining their homes.
3. RECOGNIZE OUR DIVERSITY: As the population and demographics change, the city must be responsive to our needs. Anthony will establish a committee of community leaders and residents to help create equity and opportunity for everyone.
4. ESTABLISH A HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE: The backbone of a strong community is the health and safety of residents, families, and children. Anthony will promote parks and enhance the city’s bike and pedestrian plan. He will also work with police and fire services so that best practices are available to keep us safe.
5. OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION: It is time to elect a mayor who is accessible and leads by listening. Anthony will start quarterly business roundtable meetings and regular community-based question and answer sessions for everyone to attend.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We need more sidewalks and paths for the residents, but need to soften costs for the taxpayers.