Jason Teiken
Name: Jason Teiken
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-803-3199
Campaign Website: jasonteiken.org
Twitter handle: @teikenforigh
Facebook Page: Teiken For Inver Grove Heights City Council- https://www.facebook.com/TeikenforIGH
Candidate Bio
My family and I have lived in Inver Grove Heights for over six years. I am currently serving on the Planning Commission where we have made progress moving developments forward, considering variances to homeowners and businesses, and amending the city code to support growth. On the Planning Commission, I advise the City Council on land use issues, citizen requests, and develop long term land use plans. I am an attorney and I went to law school in order to serve the public.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I will be determined and collaborative. Working to find solutions within the frame work of current city resources, while also being creative by collaborating with businesses, other city governments, county government, and state departments. As I already demonstrate in my work at the Planning Commission, I will ask critical questions and engage in discussion with city staff and council colleagues.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
First and foremost, my top priority is to address our housing shortage. In Inver Grove Heights, we have a vacancy rate between 1.8% to 2%. That represents far more demand than supply. That impacts prices and the ability of our residents to stay in Inver Grove Heights and potential new residents looking for a place to live. My second priority is to work with community members and city staff to strike the right balance between development and preserving our green spaces. Development will help us address our housing shortage, but we must also preserve the green spaces that define our city’s identity. Finally, my next priority is to protect our environment- specifically our parklands, parks, trails, forests, and trees. I intend to engage with our city’s Environmental Advisory Commission, Parks and Recreation Department, Dakota County, and the Department of Natural Resources to collaborate on sustainability practices.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Inver Grove Heights?
The biggest challenge is the biggest opportunity facing Inver Grove Heights and that is our potential for growth. Growth constitutes change. Such change can impact a city’s identity. We have an opportunity to attract development in both residential, commercial, retail, and restaurant properties, but we need to do so in a smart way in order to keep the qualities that makes our city exceptional.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
The outcomes of 2023-2024 legislative session positively impacted collaboration and the state’s business climate. What Minnesota, and cities such as Inver Grove Heights, have to offer employers are an educated and capable workforce and safe places for businesses to operate and customers to live. Our infrastructure, quality of life, and health care systems are models for the nation. We were recently ranked 6th best state for business in the nation. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-is-ranked-6th-in-the-nation-for-business-a-new-study-finds/
Minnesota was also recently found as the best state for independent retailers. The accomplishments of that session will support the qualities that make Minnesota attractive to businesses and residents.
How would you characterize the business climate in Inver Grove Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
The business climate in Inver Grove Heights is full of potential. We need more residents to be both customers and employees. Retail and restaurants, in particular, are interested in cities that are growing. We are currently behind our neighboring cities in residents and businesses. With some targeted and smart development, our potential can be realized or even exceeded. Beyond growth in residents and businesses, we can also help support businesses by improving roadways, the community center, parks, and trails. We improve our business climate by providing and protecting what residents need, such as safe schools. This fall, in school District 199, we have an opportunity to help fund another Security Resource Officer (SRO) by passing the upcoming referendum. We can make Inver Grove Heights a safe place for people to thrive by continuing to invest in our police force and fire department.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
First and foremost, we need to listen to the community. As I travel our city and speak with residents, I hear a lot of concerns about traffic, especially speeding. We as a City Council can work on speed management countermeasures. The next step would be to engage with our officers to see what they need to address these concerns. The police department does a remarkable job with community engagement. I would intend to engage with the officers frequently as a member of the Council.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing supply and housing options. More development. More supply will bring down prices. More variety will help current residents move to the housing option that fits their needs and stay in Inver Grove Heights.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We are rightfully proud of our trails here in Inver Grove Heights, however, we can and must do better in connecting them. We can do more in connecting our existing walk ways and trails to make our city even more walkable and bikeable. We also need to look into more measures to address residents’ concerns with the speed of traffic. Eventually, I would be interested in more routes for public transportation as we increase our density in certain areas of town.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Ensuring we did not budget on-going investments with one-time funds is key. In budgeting, we should look to sustainable sources of funding for on-going investments. Smart, thoughtful budgeting is essential as we grow.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Finding a solution to the Uber/Lyft wages issue was critical for our city and Dakota County. Our county government made it very clear to the public and stakeholders that their partnership with Uber/Lyft assists many residents with mobility and transportation access. Childcare and access to affordable daycare is a crucial issue for families with young children. Trust me, as a father of a four-year-old, finding a great, local, and affordable daycare is essential. It is an issue at the city, county, and state level. There should be no geographic limit to solutions. However, where a city can take the lead is directing its own development. Staking a claim on an identity and using knowledge of local dynamics to make the best decision on land use and location for housing, businesses, and amenities. Recently, we were able to approve preliminary plans for a daycare in the northwest area of town. There was discussion of a day care on 80th street. Continuing to encourage and proactively seek such developments will help our city address child care needs.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-803-3199
Campaign Website: jasonteiken.org
Twitter handle: @teikenforigh
Facebook Page: Teiken For Inver Grove Heights City Council- https://www.facebook.com/TeikenforIGH
Candidate Bio
My family and I have lived in Inver Grove Heights for over six years. I am currently serving on the Planning Commission where we have made progress moving developments forward, considering variances to homeowners and businesses, and amending the city code to support growth. On the Planning Commission, I advise the City Council on land use issues, citizen requests, and develop long term land use plans. I am an attorney and I went to law school in order to serve the public.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I will be determined and collaborative. Working to find solutions within the frame work of current city resources, while also being creative by collaborating with businesses, other city governments, county government, and state departments. As I already demonstrate in my work at the Planning Commission, I will ask critical questions and engage in discussion with city staff and council colleagues.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
First and foremost, my top priority is to address our housing shortage. In Inver Grove Heights, we have a vacancy rate between 1.8% to 2%. That represents far more demand than supply. That impacts prices and the ability of our residents to stay in Inver Grove Heights and potential new residents looking for a place to live. My second priority is to work with community members and city staff to strike the right balance between development and preserving our green spaces. Development will help us address our housing shortage, but we must also preserve the green spaces that define our city’s identity. Finally, my next priority is to protect our environment- specifically our parklands, parks, trails, forests, and trees. I intend to engage with our city’s Environmental Advisory Commission, Parks and Recreation Department, Dakota County, and the Department of Natural Resources to collaborate on sustainability practices.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Inver Grove Heights?
The biggest challenge is the biggest opportunity facing Inver Grove Heights and that is our potential for growth. Growth constitutes change. Such change can impact a city’s identity. We have an opportunity to attract development in both residential, commercial, retail, and restaurant properties, but we need to do so in a smart way in order to keep the qualities that makes our city exceptional.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
The outcomes of 2023-2024 legislative session positively impacted collaboration and the state’s business climate. What Minnesota, and cities such as Inver Grove Heights, have to offer employers are an educated and capable workforce and safe places for businesses to operate and customers to live. Our infrastructure, quality of life, and health care systems are models for the nation. We were recently ranked 6th best state for business in the nation. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-is-ranked-6th-in-the-nation-for-business-a-new-study-finds/
Minnesota was also recently found as the best state for independent retailers. The accomplishments of that session will support the qualities that make Minnesota attractive to businesses and residents.
How would you characterize the business climate in Inver Grove Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
The business climate in Inver Grove Heights is full of potential. We need more residents to be both customers and employees. Retail and restaurants, in particular, are interested in cities that are growing. We are currently behind our neighboring cities in residents and businesses. With some targeted and smart development, our potential can be realized or even exceeded. Beyond growth in residents and businesses, we can also help support businesses by improving roadways, the community center, parks, and trails. We improve our business climate by providing and protecting what residents need, such as safe schools. This fall, in school District 199, we have an opportunity to help fund another Security Resource Officer (SRO) by passing the upcoming referendum. We can make Inver Grove Heights a safe place for people to thrive by continuing to invest in our police force and fire department.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
First and foremost, we need to listen to the community. As I travel our city and speak with residents, I hear a lot of concerns about traffic, especially speeding. We as a City Council can work on speed management countermeasures. The next step would be to engage with our officers to see what they need to address these concerns. The police department does a remarkable job with community engagement. I would intend to engage with the officers frequently as a member of the Council.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing supply and housing options. More development. More supply will bring down prices. More variety will help current residents move to the housing option that fits their needs and stay in Inver Grove Heights.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We are rightfully proud of our trails here in Inver Grove Heights, however, we can and must do better in connecting them. We can do more in connecting our existing walk ways and trails to make our city even more walkable and bikeable. We also need to look into more measures to address residents’ concerns with the speed of traffic. Eventually, I would be interested in more routes for public transportation as we increase our density in certain areas of town.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
Ensuring we did not budget on-going investments with one-time funds is key. In budgeting, we should look to sustainable sources of funding for on-going investments. Smart, thoughtful budgeting is essential as we grow.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Finding a solution to the Uber/Lyft wages issue was critical for our city and Dakota County. Our county government made it very clear to the public and stakeholders that their partnership with Uber/Lyft assists many residents with mobility and transportation access. Childcare and access to affordable daycare is a crucial issue for families with young children. Trust me, as a father of a four-year-old, finding a great, local, and affordable daycare is essential. It is an issue at the city, county, and state level. There should be no geographic limit to solutions. However, where a city can take the lead is directing its own development. Staking a claim on an identity and using knowledge of local dynamics to make the best decision on land use and location for housing, businesses, and amenities. Recently, we were able to approve preliminary plans for a daycare in the northwest area of town. There was discussion of a day care on 80th street. Continuing to encourage and proactively seek such developments will help our city address child care needs.