Dan Roe
Name: Dan Roe
Public Office Sought: Roseville Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-487-9654
Website: roe4roseville.org
Twitter: @MayorDanRoe
Facebook: Re-Elect Mayor Dan Roe of Roseville, MN
Candidate Bio
Having served as Mayor since 2011, and prior to that 4 years as a councilmember, I have played a leading role in eliminating a $16 million backlog of incomplete park rehabilitation work; developing and implementing plans to make City infrastructure rehabilitation financially sustainable for at least the next 20 years; and improving community engagement, including adding a citizen advisory role on engagement, requiring open houses for land use changes, and supporting and encouraging the grass roots Imagine Roseville community conversations about race and policing. One highlight and bit of unfinished business is the community-driven vision plan for the Rice/Larpenteur area that reflects the work and commitment of Roseville, Maplewood, and St. Paul, working together with Ramsey County. During my time as Mayor, I have focused my efforts on making sure that all voices who wish to be heard are heard at council meetings, and that ultimately the council makes the decisions and takes the actions that best reflect the views and concerns of the community and councilmembers. That is the record I would work to continue if re-elected this fall.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
The business climate in Roseville is very good. That is partly the result of the overall good economy in this region, but also because of Roseville’s superb location adjacent to both St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as being highly accessible to the regional transportation network. The City is working hard to support and encourage local businesses through our Economic Development Authority (EDA) and its Grow Roseville efforts, including business visits and our growroseville.com web site.
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, Roseville?
The City should work to make sure that we are open to all businesses, and make it easy to do business in the community. We offer many forms of assistance, including workforce development support, connection to MNDEED and Ramsey County assistance programs, site selection support, job posting opportunities (via growroseville.com), and financial assistance where merited based on our policies.
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 Roseville?
I believe that our City Manager, Community Development Director, and EDA staff are already business advocates, along with the city council members, so I’d say we have that actually pretty well covered. However, we can certainly look at other possibilities that may make sense to enhance those efforts.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Roseville? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Roseville 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 I certainly support people earning wages that can support them adequately, I personally support broader regional or statewide decision-making on issues such as the minimum wage. Roseville has a very diverse work force and range of business types, and that makes it very challenging to have a one-size-fits-all answer in our community, or indeed in the region. Any broad minimum wage increase should take include appropriate mitigation measures to address specific concerns.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Roseville (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 Roseville and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As with the minimum wage issue, I believe decision-making on other employment-related issues belongs at a higher level than the city level – especially as it relates to a city with a population and employment base that is a small portion of the overall regional economy.
6. How would you support tourism and its economic impact on the City of Roseville? How would you increase the number of visitors to our destinations (creating a ‘downtown’ walkable area, producing wayfinding and welcome signage, etc.)?
As a member of the board of the Roseville Visitors’ Association, I am keenly aware of the impacts of visitors on the local economy. I strongly support efforts to enhance the experience of visitors to the community, including enhanced pedestrian connections, welcoming and wayfinding signage, and improvements such as parking shuttles to make the shopping districts more user-friendly during the holiday season.
Public safety
7. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety is best addressed with a two-pronged approach that includes hiring and training highly professional and accountable police officers and firefighters/EMTs that reflect the community they serve, along with continuing to connect those professionals with that community through constant engagement and outreach. I am proud of the efforts of both the Roseville Police and Fire departments in those areas, and support constant evaluation and improvement.
Budget
8. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The high-level priority for the City’s budget is to provide the services the community seeks from their local government at a cost that the community supports. More specifically, that means taking care that costs are constantly reviewed and reconsidered, and that innovation and efficiency are encouraged. That also means keeping a watchful eye on tax impacts, taking advantage of prior surpluses to mitigate future impacts, and seeking the most diverse and appropriate set of revenues to augment property taxes.
9. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Roseville residents benefit from our extensive business community in that a significant portion of our local levy is paid by businesses. I would like the current approximate ratio between the two classes of taxpayers to continue, but I believe that the City must work to assure that both sectors of the local tax base are healthy and growing in order to keep from shifting burdens too greatly toward one or the other. Our EDA efforts in support of business and residential redevelopment and enhancement are key to that tax base growth.
10. What will you do to expand Roseville’s tax base?
As I mentioned before, growth of the tax base is critical to the success of the community in terms of City finances. I will also add that it is critical to our success more broadly as well. Some of the significant efforts in terms of tax base expansion include the previously mentioned business retention and expansion efforts, but also conscientious decisions over the past several years to put in place flexible zoning that will allow for a broad range of marketplace solutions on given redevelopment properties, so that the City is not unduly constraining redevelopment activity. Another key to tax base expansion is providing healthy and well-sustained infrastructure, including adequate and varied transportation.
Workforce development
11. 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 have been a strong proponent of the efforts of both the Mounds View and Roseville school districts to expand vocational training in partnership with businesses and educations institutions in the area. It has been eye-opening to talk with local businesses about their needs and where the labor marketplace in this area is now falling short and is projected to in the future. The Roseville district in particular has impressively stepped up in this area in the last few years, and I will continue to support and tout their efforts to make sure they succeed and grow.
12. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Roseville?
Since the school districts are separate government entities, I take care to respect their autonomy. However, the City can be a great partner for its school districts in areas from recreation to workforce development to joint facilities. One key to a successful partnership is to keep in constant contact. Both districts have excellent efforts underway to meet with local elected officials on routine bases. Additionally, there have been and should continue to be at least annual joint meetings between the Roseville school board and the city council.
Other
13. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Roseville has been and continues to be that of being a first-ring suburb. We face “big city” pressures related to crime and congestion, while also seeing opportunities and challenges in our growing diversity. At the same time, we largely want to continue our “small town” suburban neighborhood character. All of these factors can lead to great tension and conflict, and I see my role as one of working to resolve those tensions and conflicts in ways that can lead to the best possible results for our community.
14. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
If re-elected, I would focus on engaged economic development, including successful implementation of the Rice/Larpenteur vision plan; continuing to assure the City’s financial sustainability – especially relating to infrastructure; and strengthening the connections between the community and its local government – especially related to public safety.
15. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
The short-term top transportation priority coming up is to do the best we can to manage and mitigate impacts related to the 35W MNPass construction project over the next few years. More broadly, we need to continue to work with Metro Transit to improve transit alternatives for Roseville, and also seek to build on other partnerships such as the recent NewTrax circulator to fill gaps in the transit and transportation system.
16. 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?
With the budget constraints of the last several years, including state levy limits and changes to the market value homestead program along with our own efforts to shift funding to infrastructure, the City has already been focused essentially on core functions and operating efficiencies, so there do not appear to be significant opportunities for cutting. However, there may be opportunities to consider shared services related to financial and human resources services.
17. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe that I have served Roseville well as Mayor, and I have a proven record of success that includes engagement and respect of all, so I would be grateful for the support of the community to continue as Mayor.
Public Office Sought: Roseville Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-487-9654
Website: roe4roseville.org
Twitter: @MayorDanRoe
Facebook: Re-Elect Mayor Dan Roe of Roseville, MN
Candidate Bio
Having served as Mayor since 2011, and prior to that 4 years as a councilmember, I have played a leading role in eliminating a $16 million backlog of incomplete park rehabilitation work; developing and implementing plans to make City infrastructure rehabilitation financially sustainable for at least the next 20 years; and improving community engagement, including adding a citizen advisory role on engagement, requiring open houses for land use changes, and supporting and encouraging the grass roots Imagine Roseville community conversations about race and policing. One highlight and bit of unfinished business is the community-driven vision plan for the Rice/Larpenteur area that reflects the work and commitment of Roseville, Maplewood, and St. Paul, working together with Ramsey County. During my time as Mayor, I have focused my efforts on making sure that all voices who wish to be heard are heard at council meetings, and that ultimately the council makes the decisions and takes the actions that best reflect the views and concerns of the community and councilmembers. That is the record I would work to continue if re-elected this fall.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
The business climate in Roseville is very good. That is partly the result of the overall good economy in this region, but also because of Roseville’s superb location adjacent to both St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as being highly accessible to the regional transportation network. The City is working hard to support and encourage local businesses through our Economic Development Authority (EDA) and its Grow Roseville efforts, including business visits and our growroseville.com web site.
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, Roseville?
The City should work to make sure that we are open to all businesses, and make it easy to do business in the community. We offer many forms of assistance, including workforce development support, connection to MNDEED and Ramsey County assistance programs, site selection support, job posting opportunities (via growroseville.com), and financial assistance where merited based on our policies.
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 Roseville?
I believe that our City Manager, Community Development Director, and EDA staff are already business advocates, along with the city council members, so I’d say we have that actually pretty well covered. However, we can certainly look at other possibilities that may make sense to enhance those efforts.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Roseville? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Roseville 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 I certainly support people earning wages that can support them adequately, I personally support broader regional or statewide decision-making on issues such as the minimum wage. Roseville has a very diverse work force and range of business types, and that makes it very challenging to have a one-size-fits-all answer in our community, or indeed in the region. Any broad minimum wage increase should take include appropriate mitigation measures to address specific concerns.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Roseville (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 Roseville and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As with the minimum wage issue, I believe decision-making on other employment-related issues belongs at a higher level than the city level – especially as it relates to a city with a population and employment base that is a small portion of the overall regional economy.
6. How would you support tourism and its economic impact on the City of Roseville? How would you increase the number of visitors to our destinations (creating a ‘downtown’ walkable area, producing wayfinding and welcome signage, etc.)?
As a member of the board of the Roseville Visitors’ Association, I am keenly aware of the impacts of visitors on the local economy. I strongly support efforts to enhance the experience of visitors to the community, including enhanced pedestrian connections, welcoming and wayfinding signage, and improvements such as parking shuttles to make the shopping districts more user-friendly during the holiday season.
Public safety
7. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Public safety is best addressed with a two-pronged approach that includes hiring and training highly professional and accountable police officers and firefighters/EMTs that reflect the community they serve, along with continuing to connect those professionals with that community through constant engagement and outreach. I am proud of the efforts of both the Roseville Police and Fire departments in those areas, and support constant evaluation and improvement.
Budget
8. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The high-level priority for the City’s budget is to provide the services the community seeks from their local government at a cost that the community supports. More specifically, that means taking care that costs are constantly reviewed and reconsidered, and that innovation and efficiency are encouraged. That also means keeping a watchful eye on tax impacts, taking advantage of prior surpluses to mitigate future impacts, and seeking the most diverse and appropriate set of revenues to augment property taxes.
9. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Roseville residents benefit from our extensive business community in that a significant portion of our local levy is paid by businesses. I would like the current approximate ratio between the two classes of taxpayers to continue, but I believe that the City must work to assure that both sectors of the local tax base are healthy and growing in order to keep from shifting burdens too greatly toward one or the other. Our EDA efforts in support of business and residential redevelopment and enhancement are key to that tax base growth.
10. What will you do to expand Roseville’s tax base?
As I mentioned before, growth of the tax base is critical to the success of the community in terms of City finances. I will also add that it is critical to our success more broadly as well. Some of the significant efforts in terms of tax base expansion include the previously mentioned business retention and expansion efforts, but also conscientious decisions over the past several years to put in place flexible zoning that will allow for a broad range of marketplace solutions on given redevelopment properties, so that the City is not unduly constraining redevelopment activity. Another key to tax base expansion is providing healthy and well-sustained infrastructure, including adequate and varied transportation.
Workforce development
11. 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 have been a strong proponent of the efforts of both the Mounds View and Roseville school districts to expand vocational training in partnership with businesses and educations institutions in the area. It has been eye-opening to talk with local businesses about their needs and where the labor marketplace in this area is now falling short and is projected to in the future. The Roseville district in particular has impressively stepped up in this area in the last few years, and I will continue to support and tout their efforts to make sure they succeed and grow.
12. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Roseville?
Since the school districts are separate government entities, I take care to respect their autonomy. However, the City can be a great partner for its school districts in areas from recreation to workforce development to joint facilities. One key to a successful partnership is to keep in constant contact. Both districts have excellent efforts underway to meet with local elected officials on routine bases. Additionally, there have been and should continue to be at least annual joint meetings between the Roseville school board and the city council.
Other
13. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Roseville has been and continues to be that of being a first-ring suburb. We face “big city” pressures related to crime and congestion, while also seeing opportunities and challenges in our growing diversity. At the same time, we largely want to continue our “small town” suburban neighborhood character. All of these factors can lead to great tension and conflict, and I see my role as one of working to resolve those tensions and conflicts in ways that can lead to the best possible results for our community.
14. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
If re-elected, I would focus on engaged economic development, including successful implementation of the Rice/Larpenteur vision plan; continuing to assure the City’s financial sustainability – especially relating to infrastructure; and strengthening the connections between the community and its local government – especially related to public safety.
15. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
The short-term top transportation priority coming up is to do the best we can to manage and mitigate impacts related to the 35W MNPass construction project over the next few years. More broadly, we need to continue to work with Metro Transit to improve transit alternatives for Roseville, and also seek to build on other partnerships such as the recent NewTrax circulator to fill gaps in the transit and transportation system.
16. 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?
With the budget constraints of the last several years, including state levy limits and changes to the market value homestead program along with our own efforts to shift funding to infrastructure, the City has already been focused essentially on core functions and operating efficiencies, so there do not appear to be significant opportunities for cutting. However, there may be opportunities to consider shared services related to financial and human resources services.
17. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe that I have served Roseville well as Mayor, and I have a proven record of success that includes engagement and respect of all, so I would be grateful for the support of the community to continue as Mayor.