Jake Ingebrigtson
Name: Jake Ingebrigtson
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-216-3343
Website: www.jakeforoakdale.com
Twitter handle: @foroakdale
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/foroakdale/
Candidate Bio
I have served on the Oakdale City Council since November, 2018. In that time, we have successfully accomplished many things, including these highlights:
Besides serving on the City Council, I am a small business owner, which has provided me a background that has assisted me in getting up to speed on Council matters much more quickly than I otherwise would have. Having this business background also assists me in helping staff and other Council members better understand the needs of the business community in Oakdale.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Oakdale is challenging as it is everywhere. The role of businesses is to provide goods, services, and amenities to our residents to improve their quality of life. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a member of the Oakdale City Council is seeing new businesses fulfill the needs of our residents.
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 ?
OakdaIe’s Economic Development Department has done a very good job marketing the city and seeing that businesses and employees want to stay. I would certainly like to see that continue. I think the City Council’s role in attracting and retaining jobs and businesses should be limited. What this means is the city should not be drafting ordinances or enacting policy dictating what businesses should or should not do in regards to their operations or employees.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (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 Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I will vehemently oppose any specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale. If the City of Oakdale wishes to remain competitive in terms of attracting and retaining businesses, we must avoid increasing regulation.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Public Safety – The key to Public Safety is to make sure that those who are responsible for our public safety have the tools, resources, and training they need to be successful. I will not support any budget proposals that include cuts to our police or fire departments.
Housing – With the build out of the Willowbrooke development, Oakdale is going to be very close to fully developed. -- The City of Oakdale currently offers multiple loan programs to help residents repair and improve their homes. I will support the continuation of this program.
Transportation – The Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project is moving forward and I have two priorities as it relates to this project: 1. Make sure the project includes car lanes on a Helmo to Bielenberg overpass and 2. Ensure the project allows us to develop the area on 4th St. near Helmo Ave. and to see this area become a destination for local residents.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My top priorities for the budget are to make sure our critical services (in particular police and fire) are fully funded while always considering the difference between needs and wants in every budgeting decision. It will be critical to keep taxes as low as possible over the next couple of years to help our businesses and residents handle the economic challenges relating to the pandemic.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’s tax base?
To expand our tax base, we should be focused on attracting not only businesses to Oakdale, but also consumers. The Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project will provide infrastructure and development to help with that over the next several years.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city is currently in partnership with the Washington County Workforce Center Business Services to provide personalized services for workforce hiring and training needs. I will seek to continue this partnership.
In addition, if I am re-elected, I am hoping to forge a relationship with each member of the ISD 622 School Board member and hope to work with them to implement strategies to leverage local government in the educational process.
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?
There are no services currently provided by the city that I believe should be cut back or eliminated. While I am not familiar with any current opportunities, I am always open to new opportunities to share services with other entities as long as a major positive economic benefit to the City of Oakdale exists.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale ?
The role of the City Council in fostering these businesses in Oakdale is to make sure the barriers of entry to do business in Oakdale are kept to an absolute minimum. The two key aspects of doing this are to keep taxes low and to minimize regulation.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a City Council member, I supported a 3 year interest free loan program to help businesses in Oakdale (which is currently available).
We are currently assessing the possible uses of the CARES Act money, and while no promises can be made at this time, there may be some opportunities there to help the business community.
Going forward, I believe that doing small things such as waiving licensing and inspection fees are viable options and may have a positive impact.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Yes. I have been endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association for my continued support of the Oakdale Police Department. I love the City of Oakdale and believe we have a great thing going! I am running for re-election to make sure we keep that great thing going!
Public Office Sought: Oakdale City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-216-3343
Website: www.jakeforoakdale.com
Twitter handle: @foroakdale
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/foroakdale/
Candidate Bio
I have served on the Oakdale City Council since November, 2018. In that time, we have successfully accomplished many things, including these highlights:
- Hiring a new City Administrator
- Successfully implemented an emergency plan in response to Covid-19
- Approved budgets with a 0.68% tax rate increase in 2019 and a 1.617% tax rate DECREASE in 2020
- Finalized housing development plans that will add over 1,100 housing units to the tax rolls in Oakdale (Willowbrooke)
Besides serving on the City Council, I am a small business owner, which has provided me a background that has assisted me in getting up to speed on Council matters much more quickly than I otherwise would have. Having this business background also assists me in helping staff and other Council members better understand the needs of the business community in Oakdale.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Help businesses and residents survive the economic damage caused by the pandemic.
- Continue to promote and advocate for public safety in the City of Oakdale.
- Move forward with the Public Works and Police Station construction projects with minimum financial impacts to our residents.
How would you characterize the business climate in Oakdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Oakdale is challenging as it is everywhere. The role of businesses is to provide goods, services, and amenities to our residents to improve their quality of life. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a member of the Oakdale City Council is seeing new businesses fulfill the needs of our residents.
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 ?
OakdaIe’s Economic Development Department has done a very good job marketing the city and seeing that businesses and employees want to stay. I would certainly like to see that continue. I think the City Council’s role in attracting and retaining jobs and businesses should be limited. What this means is the city should not be drafting ordinances or enacting policy dictating what businesses should or should not do in regards to their operations or employees.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale (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 Oakdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I will vehemently oppose any specific employment-related proposals in Oakdale. If the City of Oakdale wishes to remain competitive in terms of attracting and retaining businesses, we must avoid increasing regulation.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Public Safety – The key to Public Safety is to make sure that those who are responsible for our public safety have the tools, resources, and training they need to be successful. I will not support any budget proposals that include cuts to our police or fire departments.
Housing – With the build out of the Willowbrooke development, Oakdale is going to be very close to fully developed. -- The City of Oakdale currently offers multiple loan programs to help residents repair and improve their homes. I will support the continuation of this program.
Transportation – The Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project is moving forward and I have two priorities as it relates to this project: 1. Make sure the project includes car lanes on a Helmo to Bielenberg overpass and 2. Ensure the project allows us to develop the area on 4th St. near Helmo Ave. and to see this area become a destination for local residents.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My top priorities for the budget are to make sure our critical services (in particular police and fire) are fully funded while always considering the difference between needs and wants in every budgeting decision. It will be critical to keep taxes as low as possible over the next couple of years to help our businesses and residents handle the economic challenges relating to the pandemic.
What will you do to expand Oakdale’s tax base?
To expand our tax base, we should be focused on attracting not only businesses to Oakdale, but also consumers. The Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit project will provide infrastructure and development to help with that over the next several years.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city is currently in partnership with the Washington County Workforce Center Business Services to provide personalized services for workforce hiring and training needs. I will seek to continue this partnership.
In addition, if I am re-elected, I am hoping to forge a relationship with each member of the ISD 622 School Board member and hope to work with them to implement strategies to leverage local government in the educational process.
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?
There are no services currently provided by the city that I believe should be cut back or eliminated. While I am not familiar with any current opportunities, I am always open to new opportunities to share services with other entities as long as a major positive economic benefit to the City of Oakdale exists.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Oakdale ?
The role of the City Council in fostering these businesses in Oakdale is to make sure the barriers of entry to do business in Oakdale are kept to an absolute minimum. The two key aspects of doing this are to keep taxes low and to minimize regulation.
What further policies can Oakdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a City Council member, I supported a 3 year interest free loan program to help businesses in Oakdale (which is currently available).
We are currently assessing the possible uses of the CARES Act money, and while no promises can be made at this time, there may be some opportunities there to help the business community.
Going forward, I believe that doing small things such as waiving licensing and inspection fees are viable options and may have a positive impact.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Yes. I have been endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association for my continued support of the Oakdale Police Department. I love the City of Oakdale and believe we have a great thing going! I am running for re-election to make sure we keep that great thing going!