Colleen Swedberg
Name: Colleen Swedberg
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: N/A
Website: colleenswedberg.org
Candidate Bio
I was born and raised in Washington County. Currently living in the City of Oakdale for the past 5+ years. The last 4 years, I have been serving on the Oakdale Park and Recreation Board, with this year elected as Vice Chair. I have played a part with several successful projects such as the Nature Preserve Boardwalk, the Off Leash Dog Park and new Pickleball courts. I also participated in the 2040 Comprehensive Oakdale Vision Planning.
In addition, I have over 20+ year’s business experience holding various senior management positions involving developing, planning and executing budgets
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale?
Favorable! The City of Oakdale works with businesses thru various programs to encourage and attract a complimentary array of options for people to work. We need to continue on this path for our city to remain viable and competitive.
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 Oakdale?
The city currently takes an active role in recruiting, obtaining and retaining various businesses. These activities should continue with expanding the revitalization efforts as done with the Hy-Vee & Cub Foods area off 10th street.
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 Oakdale?
The Community Development Department and Economic Development Commission has the expertise and knowledge to lead the charge on this issue. They have access to various resources to inquire/gain more information as needed.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Oakdale? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Oakdale 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 market place needs to drive the wages so businesses can attract and retain the best employees as possible.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (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 Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Businesses need the flexibility to handle their situation that fits them best.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety always plays an important role in maintaining a quality of life for both residents and businesses. We need to meet the needs of both in order to have a healthy balance.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We need to be fiscally responsible with the budget without taxing the city residents or forcing the city to go into unmanageable debt. Things to consider are the BRT gold line, the police department expansion and funding Park & Recreation projects and maintenance efforts.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
We are fortunate to have a diversified tax base in Oakdale, with a large portion of the tax base in residential property. The relationship between the two (commercial and residential) need to complement each other while at the same time coexisting. We need to make sure the balance is both equitable and appropriate.
9. What will you do to expand Oakdales tax base?
Oakdale is developing areas for both mix use residential and commercial. There are areas within Oakdale such as the Hwy 14 corridor that have unrealized potential for commercial development as well as the approximately 200 acre 3M site for residential use. We need to ensure the business climate for those areas are encouraging so that developers will fill the void and help bring new businesses and residents to Oakdale.
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 need to continue to partnership with our schools in ISD 622 to encourage and maintain relationships between local businesses and students so that kids get excited about them. It is from these relationships that ideas such as apprenticeships/internships, skill development, and future job opportunities develop. As a city, we need to encourage, K-12 and post-secondary education when and where needed with programs to identify and develop skills for today and in the future.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Oakdale Public Schools?
The city council needs to be a partner with ISD 622 to discover the needs of the students and provide guidance as to needs from local businesses. This helps the schools to offer specific curriculum when appropriate to further the education of the students so they are better able to match the needs of the businesses in Oakdale and beyond.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The population of Oakdale is aging and diversifying. The challenge is to encourage a healthy mix of generations within the residents as well as generating a sense of community. Oakdale can do this through a number of ways, with some being programs that help residents to keep houses up to date, creating new jobs, and attracting/retaining businesses.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
In no particular order: Parks and Recreation. Having a place for residents to get out and enjoy what the city has to offer. This goes into the second priority: quality of life. We can encourage this by having programs, events and other offerings so that residents can get out, meet each other and build relationships that will lead to a strong city. Finally, having an appropriate budget. One that does not put the city into too much debt and one that doesn’t demand more from residents and businesses than appropriate.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Ongoing maintenance of our roads is first priority. Our residents and visitors use the roads every day. They need to be safe and adequate. Finding a way to help establish the Bus Rapid Transit project in Oakdale is also a major priority as it will help offer new opportunities to residents and employers for bus transportation options.
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?
Oakdale currently has shared service agreements with other entities to help reduce total cost and take advantage of shared strengths. These agreements have served us well and we’ll continue to look for new opportunities to contain costs while offering the best services possible to our community.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I moved into Oakdale several years ago and have found Oakdale to be a great city to live. I became involved with the Park and Recreation Board and enjoy contributing my talents to make this City better for our residents and businesses. I’m looking forward to continuing my contributions of time and talent to help make Oakdale a better place to live and have a business. Thank you.
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: N/A
Website: colleenswedberg.org
Candidate Bio
I was born and raised in Washington County. Currently living in the City of Oakdale for the past 5+ years. The last 4 years, I have been serving on the Oakdale Park and Recreation Board, with this year elected as Vice Chair. I have played a part with several successful projects such as the Nature Preserve Boardwalk, the Off Leash Dog Park and new Pickleball courts. I also participated in the 2040 Comprehensive Oakdale Vision Planning.
In addition, I have over 20+ year’s business experience holding various senior management positions involving developing, planning and executing budgets
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale?
Favorable! The City of Oakdale works with businesses thru various programs to encourage and attract a complimentary array of options for people to work. We need to continue on this path for our city to remain viable and competitive.
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 Oakdale?
The city currently takes an active role in recruiting, obtaining and retaining various businesses. These activities should continue with expanding the revitalization efforts as done with the Hy-Vee & Cub Foods area off 10th street.
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 Oakdale?
The Community Development Department and Economic Development Commission has the expertise and knowledge to lead the charge on this issue. They have access to various resources to inquire/gain more information as needed.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Oakdale? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Oakdale 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 market place needs to drive the wages so businesses can attract and retain the best employees as possible.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (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 Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Businesses need the flexibility to handle their situation that fits them best.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety always plays an important role in maintaining a quality of life for both residents and businesses. We need to meet the needs of both in order to have a healthy balance.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We need to be fiscally responsible with the budget without taxing the city residents or forcing the city to go into unmanageable debt. Things to consider are the BRT gold line, the police department expansion and funding Park & Recreation projects and maintenance efforts.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
We are fortunate to have a diversified tax base in Oakdale, with a large portion of the tax base in residential property. The relationship between the two (commercial and residential) need to complement each other while at the same time coexisting. We need to make sure the balance is both equitable and appropriate.
9. What will you do to expand Oakdales tax base?
Oakdale is developing areas for both mix use residential and commercial. There are areas within Oakdale such as the Hwy 14 corridor that have unrealized potential for commercial development as well as the approximately 200 acre 3M site for residential use. We need to ensure the business climate for those areas are encouraging so that developers will fill the void and help bring new businesses and residents to Oakdale.
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 need to continue to partnership with our schools in ISD 622 to encourage and maintain relationships between local businesses and students so that kids get excited about them. It is from these relationships that ideas such as apprenticeships/internships, skill development, and future job opportunities develop. As a city, we need to encourage, K-12 and post-secondary education when and where needed with programs to identify and develop skills for today and in the future.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Oakdale Public Schools?
The city council needs to be a partner with ISD 622 to discover the needs of the students and provide guidance as to needs from local businesses. This helps the schools to offer specific curriculum when appropriate to further the education of the students so they are better able to match the needs of the businesses in Oakdale and beyond.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The population of Oakdale is aging and diversifying. The challenge is to encourage a healthy mix of generations within the residents as well as generating a sense of community. Oakdale can do this through a number of ways, with some being programs that help residents to keep houses up to date, creating new jobs, and attracting/retaining businesses.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
In no particular order: Parks and Recreation. Having a place for residents to get out and enjoy what the city has to offer. This goes into the second priority: quality of life. We can encourage this by having programs, events and other offerings so that residents can get out, meet each other and build relationships that will lead to a strong city. Finally, having an appropriate budget. One that does not put the city into too much debt and one that doesn’t demand more from residents and businesses than appropriate.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Ongoing maintenance of our roads is first priority. Our residents and visitors use the roads every day. They need to be safe and adequate. Finding a way to help establish the Bus Rapid Transit project in Oakdale is also a major priority as it will help offer new opportunities to residents and employers for bus transportation options.
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?
Oakdale currently has shared service agreements with other entities to help reduce total cost and take advantage of shared strengths. These agreements have served us well and we’ll continue to look for new opportunities to contain costs while offering the best services possible to our community.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I moved into Oakdale several years ago and have found Oakdale to be a great city to live. I became involved with the Park and Recreation Board and enjoy contributing my talents to make this City better for our residents and businesses. I’m looking forward to continuing my contributions of time and talent to help make Oakdale a better place to live and have a business. Thank you.