Greg Rubenstein
Name: Greg Rubenstein
Public Office Sought: Arden Hills City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 952-334-3241
Website: Greg4ArdenHills.com
Facebook: Greg Rubenstein for Arden Hills City Council
Candidate Bio
Personal: I am 61 years old and moved to Arden Hills in 2006 when I married my sweetheart Marlys. I have 4 adult children and 1 grandson.
Education: I have My Bachelors from the University of Tampa with concentrations in Business and Economics. I also have an Associates degree from the State University of New York in Business Data Processing. I am a certified Project Manager (PMP). I am a certified Agile Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).
Business Experience: Independent Business Owner – A Fine Grind Coffee Shop, St Paul: G&M Associates, LLC -Technology and Business Consulting. Corporate Positions - First Boston Corporation – Assistant VP Systems & Programming : Chase Home Mortgage – CIO & VP, Information Technology : US Bank – Division CIO & SVP, Information Technology : Delta Dental – CIO & VP, Information Technology : Meritain Health (CBSA/Performax) CIO & VP, Information Technology : Wells Fargo - Technology Manager : Fiserv – Director of Solution Delivery : FIS Global – Product Business Analyst
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Arden Hills?
Arden Hills has seen growth in both large and small businesses. The continued development of Lexington Station and the addition of new small retail businesses shows that entrepreneurs have a high level of confidence that Arden Hills is a great place to grow a business. Opportunities exist at the Rice Creek Commons project as well as the old Smith Medical complex which was sold in 2017. These are great opportunities for Arden Hills to attract new businesses.
2. 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 Arden Hills?
Arden Hills has several vacant positions one of which is a Community Development Director. That person will certainly be key in the development of the Rice Creek Commons project.
3. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Arden Hills? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Arden Hills 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?
As a former coffee shop owner, I have mixed feelings regarding the minimum wage. I believe I paid a fair wage to my baristas (who were hourly plus tips) who certainly have their daily expenses. I also had a responsibility to my customers to keep prices reasonable as well as a responsibility to pay my store rent, insurance and other business expenses. I also was in business to make money so there’s a fine balance between wages, prices and expenses that need to be considered by each business.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Arden Hills (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 Arden Hills and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
These are noble programs but I believe that government (local, state or federal), should not mandate these types of policies on business and that it’s up to those business who want to stay competitive, attract and retain employees, to offer these benefits to their employees.
5. What are your strategies to address public safety concerns?
Unwavering support for Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office who keep our streets safe, the Lake Johana Fire & Rescue, the Arden Hills Public Works who keep our infrastructure humming as well as the significant presence of our Army Reserve and MN National Guard.
Budget
6. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The 2018 Adopted Budget (available on the city’s website) shows the city takes in less than what it spends. I don’t budget my personal expenses that way and in my business life, we don’t budget our company that way either. My priority would be to look at ways to bring revenues and expenses more in balance and to ensure we maintain the “AA+” rating from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch and the “Aa” rating from Moody’s for general obligation debt.
7. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
From a tax viewpoint, commercial property is pretty much anything which isn't residential i.e. shops and offices, restaurants, pubs, doctors, dentists and vets' surgeries, hotels. Residential, or owner-occupied (as a homestead) residential property as a homestead is discounted in that Minnesota gives you a rebate on your income taxes.
Commercial property is not my area of expertise and I’m still researching this but in some states, commercial property may be subject to city improvement bonds that require an annual contribution towards city improvements like streets and sewers which would be above and beyond the assessed property value. Hence a difference in the effective tax rates.
8. What will you do to expand Arden Hills’ tax base?
With the exception of the Rice Creek Commons property, Arden Hills is mostly build out limiting our opportunity for additional residential and business tac collection. There are opportunities to repurpose property expanding the tax base. The Lexington Station rebuild is a great example of this.
Workforce development
9. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
10. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Arden Hills?
Community cooperation and support for the schools is an important way to create partnerships, provide students with work opportunities, contributes extra funds and educational resources, provides supplemental services, and promotes support for the educational programs. Urging businesses to support school/business partnerships is an important resource for continued school programs and can provide learning opportunities for students.
Other
11. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The development of the Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) is a huge opportunity where both new homes and new business will expand the tax base but also put heavy strains on the cities infrastructure and school system. Planning and executing on an expansion of this magnitude presents many challenges but also many opportunities. As a highly successful certified project manager, I will review plans, estimates, progress and budgets and ensure that all project risks are properly identified and addressed.
12. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Our aging population, influx of young families and raising property values all need to be looked at and balanced in relation to the cities projects and spending.
Identifying cost saving efficiencies through process improvement and implementation of new technologies.
Review maintenance and preservation plans, budgets and schedules.
13. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Balancing road maintenance schedules with other projects to limit congestion on local streets.
14. 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?
We should look at opportunities to outsource services as an opportunity to save taxpayer dollars where ever it makes the most sense. The city already contracts for services with Ramsey County for both police and fire services.
15. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I promise to be your voice in local government. Just because practice makes perfects, it doesn’t mean things shouldn’t get done right the first time. I will work tirelessly to ensure that your tax dollars are wisely spent and that when project get done, they’re done right the first time.
Public Office Sought: Arden Hills City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 952-334-3241
Website: Greg4ArdenHills.com
Facebook: Greg Rubenstein for Arden Hills City Council
Candidate Bio
Personal: I am 61 years old and moved to Arden Hills in 2006 when I married my sweetheart Marlys. I have 4 adult children and 1 grandson.
Education: I have My Bachelors from the University of Tampa with concentrations in Business and Economics. I also have an Associates degree from the State University of New York in Business Data Processing. I am a certified Project Manager (PMP). I am a certified Agile Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).
Business Experience: Independent Business Owner – A Fine Grind Coffee Shop, St Paul: G&M Associates, LLC -Technology and Business Consulting. Corporate Positions - First Boston Corporation – Assistant VP Systems & Programming : Chase Home Mortgage – CIO & VP, Information Technology : US Bank – Division CIO & SVP, Information Technology : Delta Dental – CIO & VP, Information Technology : Meritain Health (CBSA/Performax) CIO & VP, Information Technology : Wells Fargo - Technology Manager : Fiserv – Director of Solution Delivery : FIS Global – Product Business Analyst
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Arden Hills?
Arden Hills has seen growth in both large and small businesses. The continued development of Lexington Station and the addition of new small retail businesses shows that entrepreneurs have a high level of confidence that Arden Hills is a great place to grow a business. Opportunities exist at the Rice Creek Commons project as well as the old Smith Medical complex which was sold in 2017. These are great opportunities for Arden Hills to attract new businesses.
2. 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 Arden Hills?
Arden Hills has several vacant positions one of which is a Community Development Director. That person will certainly be key in the development of the Rice Creek Commons project.
3. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Arden Hills? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Arden Hills 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?
As a former coffee shop owner, I have mixed feelings regarding the minimum wage. I believe I paid a fair wage to my baristas (who were hourly plus tips) who certainly have their daily expenses. I also had a responsibility to my customers to keep prices reasonable as well as a responsibility to pay my store rent, insurance and other business expenses. I also was in business to make money so there’s a fine balance between wages, prices and expenses that need to be considered by each business.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Arden Hills (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 Arden Hills and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
These are noble programs but I believe that government (local, state or federal), should not mandate these types of policies on business and that it’s up to those business who want to stay competitive, attract and retain employees, to offer these benefits to their employees.
5. What are your strategies to address public safety concerns?
Unwavering support for Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office who keep our streets safe, the Lake Johana Fire & Rescue, the Arden Hills Public Works who keep our infrastructure humming as well as the significant presence of our Army Reserve and MN National Guard.
Budget
6. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The 2018 Adopted Budget (available on the city’s website) shows the city takes in less than what it spends. I don’t budget my personal expenses that way and in my business life, we don’t budget our company that way either. My priority would be to look at ways to bring revenues and expenses more in balance and to ensure we maintain the “AA+” rating from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch and the “Aa” rating from Moody’s for general obligation debt.
7. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
From a tax viewpoint, commercial property is pretty much anything which isn't residential i.e. shops and offices, restaurants, pubs, doctors, dentists and vets' surgeries, hotels. Residential, or owner-occupied (as a homestead) residential property as a homestead is discounted in that Minnesota gives you a rebate on your income taxes.
Commercial property is not my area of expertise and I’m still researching this but in some states, commercial property may be subject to city improvement bonds that require an annual contribution towards city improvements like streets and sewers which would be above and beyond the assessed property value. Hence a difference in the effective tax rates.
8. What will you do to expand Arden Hills’ tax base?
With the exception of the Rice Creek Commons property, Arden Hills is mostly build out limiting our opportunity for additional residential and business tac collection. There are opportunities to repurpose property expanding the tax base. The Lexington Station rebuild is a great example of this.
Workforce development
9. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
10. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Arden Hills?
Community cooperation and support for the schools is an important way to create partnerships, provide students with work opportunities, contributes extra funds and educational resources, provides supplemental services, and promotes support for the educational programs. Urging businesses to support school/business partnerships is an important resource for continued school programs and can provide learning opportunities for students.
Other
11. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The development of the Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) is a huge opportunity where both new homes and new business will expand the tax base but also put heavy strains on the cities infrastructure and school system. Planning and executing on an expansion of this magnitude presents many challenges but also many opportunities. As a highly successful certified project manager, I will review plans, estimates, progress and budgets and ensure that all project risks are properly identified and addressed.
12. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Our aging population, influx of young families and raising property values all need to be looked at and balanced in relation to the cities projects and spending.
Identifying cost saving efficiencies through process improvement and implementation of new technologies.
Review maintenance and preservation plans, budgets and schedules.
13. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Balancing road maintenance schedules with other projects to limit congestion on local streets.
14. 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?
We should look at opportunities to outsource services as an opportunity to save taxpayer dollars where ever it makes the most sense. The city already contracts for services with Ramsey County for both police and fire services.
15. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I promise to be your voice in local government. Just because practice makes perfects, it doesn’t mean things shouldn’t get done right the first time. I will work tirelessly to ensure that your tax dollars are wisely spent and that when project get done, they’re done right the first time.