William "Bill" Bergeron
Name: William "Bill" Bergeron
Public Office Sought: Mounds View City Council
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page: Bergeron for Mounds View
Candidate Bio
After nearly thirty years working in management in customer service and client accessibility, I have felt prepared for serving on city council. My professional career combined with my liberal arts degrees and my desire to serve my neighbors and my community have led me to this point.
Professionally I have balanced budgets, run meetings and managed a large and diverse workforce. I have been called on to train employees and make presentations to clients. I have listened to customers and clients alike and worked for resolutions satisfactory for all.
Much of this experience and all of my acquired skills work to serve me well in my role on city council.
During this past year plus I have met so many fellow Mounds View residents who have shared their thoughts and ideas for making Mounds View an even better community. Their shared enthusiasm has fueled my time on the council.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Mounds View?
Very promising. With the advent of the TCAAP development, witch promises increased visitors traveling along Mounds View Blvd, combined with some presently underdeveloped properties, make Mounds View an attractive business destination.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Mounds View?
In my brief time on council I have worked with staff, when appropriate, to attract the businesses to Mounds View that would be most beneficial to our residents, our neighbors and most profitable to the business owners.
Along those lines we are moving to provide a ready workforce through affordable housing and helping identify possible locations in the center of town.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Mounds View?
Mounds View has a Business Development Coordinator engaged in these very areas.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Mounds View? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Mounds View 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?
While personally supportive of everyone receiving a livable wage I believe that it would be best implemented on a larger scale than Mounds View alone. Having said that I must point out that I am in no way in favor of the state legislature preemptively taking such authority from the cities.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Mounds View (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 Mounds View and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Please see my answer to question number five.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Mounds View a member of a joint powers agreement with the cities of Spring Lake Park and Blaine to provide fire safety to our residents. We also have our own police department. Both do a fine job of caring for Mounds View residents and property. Additionally, our police chief has tirelessly worked on outreach to the community creating dialogue and connections among residents and staff.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My budget priorities are straight forward, to provide the best city services possible for our residents and businesses in the most fiscally responsible manner. The trick I believe is to plan well yet be flexible in dealing with circumstances that interfere with the plan.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Balance and fairness are required to be equally beneficial to all who live, work, or do business in Mounds View.
9. What will you do to expand Mounds View’s tax base?
Continue to work on redevelopment of the Mounds View Blvd corridor as well as use in-fill development in residential areas where appropriate.
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?
Irondale, our local high school, is a leader in providing early college for its students and technology education. Mounds View has local businesses that could be interested in such well prepared workers.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Mounds View?
One of our council goals for 2018 is to improve communication with the school district so that we can be more supportive as well as find possible collaborative efforts including school safety.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
I believe that at present our biggest challenge is the redevelopment of the Mounds View Blvd corridor. Our approach needs to be strategic rather than piecemeal. We need to get in front of this issue and with the improved economy I believe that the time is right.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
To continue to lobby for improved mass transit availability for Mounds View residents. The increase in our population since 2010 requires a reevaluation of our public transit needs.
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 en ?
At this point in time I would not be in favor of cutting back or eliminating any city services.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I would like to share my vision for Mounds View. I see a Mounds View Blvd corridor lined with businesses and services that meet the needs of our residents but also attract customers and clients from neighboring communities. I see safe, diverse neighborhoods of residents excited about Mounds View's future. I see a fiscally prudent, well thought out plan to continue Mounds View's solid financial footing.
This is what I see ahead. And I hope you do as well.
Public Office Sought: Mounds View City Council
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page: Bergeron for Mounds View
Candidate Bio
After nearly thirty years working in management in customer service and client accessibility, I have felt prepared for serving on city council. My professional career combined with my liberal arts degrees and my desire to serve my neighbors and my community have led me to this point.
Professionally I have balanced budgets, run meetings and managed a large and diverse workforce. I have been called on to train employees and make presentations to clients. I have listened to customers and clients alike and worked for resolutions satisfactory for all.
Much of this experience and all of my acquired skills work to serve me well in my role on city council.
During this past year plus I have met so many fellow Mounds View residents who have shared their thoughts and ideas for making Mounds View an even better community. Their shared enthusiasm has fueled my time on the council.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Mounds View?
Very promising. With the advent of the TCAAP development, witch promises increased visitors traveling along Mounds View Blvd, combined with some presently underdeveloped properties, make Mounds View an attractive business destination.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Mounds View?
In my brief time on council I have worked with staff, when appropriate, to attract the businesses to Mounds View that would be most beneficial to our residents, our neighbors and most profitable to the business owners.
Along those lines we are moving to provide a ready workforce through affordable housing and helping identify possible locations in the center of town.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Mounds View?
Mounds View has a Business Development Coordinator engaged in these very areas.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Mounds View? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Mounds View 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?
While personally supportive of everyone receiving a livable wage I believe that it would be best implemented on a larger scale than Mounds View alone. Having said that I must point out that I am in no way in favor of the state legislature preemptively taking such authority from the cities.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Mounds View (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 Mounds View and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Please see my answer to question number five.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Mounds View a member of a joint powers agreement with the cities of Spring Lake Park and Blaine to provide fire safety to our residents. We also have our own police department. Both do a fine job of caring for Mounds View residents and property. Additionally, our police chief has tirelessly worked on outreach to the community creating dialogue and connections among residents and staff.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My budget priorities are straight forward, to provide the best city services possible for our residents and businesses in the most fiscally responsible manner. The trick I believe is to plan well yet be flexible in dealing with circumstances that interfere with the plan.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Balance and fairness are required to be equally beneficial to all who live, work, or do business in Mounds View.
9. What will you do to expand Mounds View’s tax base?
Continue to work on redevelopment of the Mounds View Blvd corridor as well as use in-fill development in residential areas where appropriate.
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?
Irondale, our local high school, is a leader in providing early college for its students and technology education. Mounds View has local businesses that could be interested in such well prepared workers.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Mounds View?
One of our council goals for 2018 is to improve communication with the school district so that we can be more supportive as well as find possible collaborative efforts including school safety.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
I believe that at present our biggest challenge is the redevelopment of the Mounds View Blvd corridor. Our approach needs to be strategic rather than piecemeal. We need to get in front of this issue and with the improved economy I believe that the time is right.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Redevelopment of the Mounds View Blvd corridor.
- Maintaining and updating Mounds View's clean water system.
- Continue making strides in building an inclusive community.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
To continue to lobby for improved mass transit availability for Mounds View residents. The increase in our population since 2010 requires a reevaluation of our public transit needs.
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 en ?
At this point in time I would not be in favor of cutting back or eliminating any city services.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I would like to share my vision for Mounds View. I see a Mounds View Blvd corridor lined with businesses and services that meet the needs of our residents but also attract customers and clients from neighboring communities. I see safe, diverse neighborhoods of residents excited about Mounds View's future. I see a fiscally prudent, well thought out plan to continue Mounds View's solid financial footing.
This is what I see ahead. And I hope you do as well.