Erik Goebel
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Name: Erik Goebel
Public Office Sought: Vadnais Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 262-902-3614
Website: erikgoebel.com
Twitter handle: @erik4vadnais
Facebook page: facebook.com/erik4vadnais
Candidate Bio
I am a business owner, PhD scientist and engaged resident of Vadnais Heights. I serve on the board of the Vadnais Heights Area Community Foundation, Carriage Homes Condo Association and served on the Garceau Task Force.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Maintain our infrastructure and budget for the future. Become a Green Step city to promote sustainability, efficiency, and enhance the quality of life of residents. Introduce anti-corruption and decorum measures to ensure civility and transparency in our government.
How would you characterize the business climate in Vadnais Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Vadnais Heights is good. We offer a low-cost alternative to downtown Saint Paul, while offering proximity to all the amenities of the city. Businesses and the local economy are fundamental to quality of life in a community.
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, Vadnais Heights?
Vadnais Heights is already very business friendly. The city can maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to business. We can remove harmful regulations like mandatory parking minimums. Business owners know their requirements better than one size fits all regulation.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Vadnais Heights (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Vadnais Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No, these are issues for state and federal government.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
I would like to see a higher density, mixed use City Center that is a walkable district. Density is the only way to get public transit to make sense.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Plan, and budget for the future we want. Infrastructure has a predictable lifespan. We need to ensure we have the funds for infrastructure needs when we need them.
What will you do to expand Vadnais Heights’ tax base?
Promote a dense, walkable city center. Encourage redevelopment, legalize accessory dwelling units.
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 would be happy to review proposals for retaining and developing educated workforce but this is not my own area of expertise.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
No services that should be cut back. I believe that there are opportunities to share services and equipment with neighboring cities. These cost savings could be significant.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Vadnais Heights?
We need to promote minority and woman owned businesses wherever possible. That being said, we need to recognize the limitations that a government as small as the Vadnais Heights Council has. County, state and federal government agencies have better ability to foster minority and women owned businesses and we can partner with them.
What further policies can Vadnais Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We need our residents to feel safe when shopping. It would be great if we had the reputation of “the safest city to shop in.” We need to be flexible with regulation on signage, outdoor seating and the like to ensure businesses can pivot to meet the challenge of COVID-19.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
No, thank you.
Public Office Sought: Vadnais Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 262-902-3614
Website: erikgoebel.com
Twitter handle: @erik4vadnais
Facebook page: facebook.com/erik4vadnais
Candidate Bio
I am a business owner, PhD scientist and engaged resident of Vadnais Heights. I serve on the board of the Vadnais Heights Area Community Foundation, Carriage Homes Condo Association and served on the Garceau Task Force.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Maintain our infrastructure and budget for the future. Become a Green Step city to promote sustainability, efficiency, and enhance the quality of life of residents. Introduce anti-corruption and decorum measures to ensure civility and transparency in our government.
How would you characterize the business climate in Vadnais Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Vadnais Heights is good. We offer a low-cost alternative to downtown Saint Paul, while offering proximity to all the amenities of the city. Businesses and the local economy are fundamental to quality of life in a community.
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, Vadnais Heights?
Vadnais Heights is already very business friendly. The city can maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to business. We can remove harmful regulations like mandatory parking minimums. Business owners know their requirements better than one size fits all regulation.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Vadnais Heights (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Vadnais Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No, these are issues for state and federal government.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
I would like to see a higher density, mixed use City Center that is a walkable district. Density is the only way to get public transit to make sense.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Plan, and budget for the future we want. Infrastructure has a predictable lifespan. We need to ensure we have the funds for infrastructure needs when we need them.
What will you do to expand Vadnais Heights’ tax base?
Promote a dense, walkable city center. Encourage redevelopment, legalize accessory dwelling units.
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 would be happy to review proposals for retaining and developing educated workforce but this is not my own area of expertise.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
No services that should be cut back. I believe that there are opportunities to share services and equipment with neighboring cities. These cost savings could be significant.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Vadnais Heights?
We need to promote minority and woman owned businesses wherever possible. That being said, we need to recognize the limitations that a government as small as the Vadnais Heights Council has. County, state and federal government agencies have better ability to foster minority and women owned businesses and we can partner with them.
What further policies can Vadnais Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We need our residents to feel safe when shopping. It would be great if we had the reputation of “the safest city to shop in.” We need to be flexible with regulation on signage, outdoor seating and the like to ensure businesses can pivot to meet the challenge of COVID-19.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
No, thank you.