Jeff Nath
Name: Jeff Nath
Public Office Sought: Mendota Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-801-8123
Website: nathformhcouncil.com
Twitter: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Nath-for-Mendota-Heights-City-Council
Candidate BioI grew up in Mitchell, SD, (home to the World's Only Corn Palace). I made my first big move away from Mitchell when I started college at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, earning a BA in History. I then attended the Hamline University School of Law earning my JD in 2007. After graduation, I moved to the Cathedral Hill area of St Paul. Later, my wife and I moved to White Bear Lake, where I opened my own law practice, which I run to this day. In 2012, we moved to Milwaukee where my wife completed afellowship program. When her fellowship was nearing its end in 2015, we began to look for a place to put down permanent roots in the Twin Cities. After searching the area, we chose Mendota Heights as it was the perfect location and community for us to join. We have lived here ever since. I reside with my wife Katie and our dog Selby. I continue to practice law as a solo practitioner handling all manner of legal matters as well as being a qualified mediator and arbitrator in the state of Minnesota
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My first priority as a member of the city council will be to create a more interactive process for citizens' voices to be heard. Having two sides talk past each other does not foster a harmonious community. I will work to have open interactions with our residents when issues arise, making sure that all voices are heard and responded to in a productive manner. My second priority will center around maintaining the positive vibe that the city of Mendota Heights currently offers, guiding it toward a future that preserves that unique community feeling. Finally, I will take an extensive review of our city code, do research on why certain measures have been taken, and adjust our laws and regulations to ensure a concise guide is available for all citizens and future decision makers
How would you characterize the business climate in Mendota Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Mendota Heights is robust. There are numerous and diverse businesses in our city and few empty storefronts or unoccupied spaces. Business and community go hand in hand. The success of our businesses improves the lives of all who live here. We should explore additional ways to promote our current success.
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, Mendota Heights?
I strongly believe that a good city government should foster an environment that is positive for business owners. That being said, free enterprise will drive investment and growth of business, but the city must act as an arbiter to prevent situations of over development or harm to the community. This balancing act requires that the city not lean too hard to one side or the other. Each project should be evaluated by our planning committee and its opinion and the opinions of citizens at large must be respected by the members of the city council.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
The past few years have seen a dramatic shift in power from the employer to the employee in hiring and job retention. I donot believe it is the local government’s place to interfere with the self-correcting course of free enterprise. I fear interference at the city council level could bring a host of unintended consequences. We can create a city that is desirable for people to move to and live in, a place where people will want to put down roots and stay. Such a community will naturally create a positive environment for labor and increase the labor pool in our area.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Mendota 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 Mendota Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
At such a local level in our smaller community, I will be extremely cautious of any proposal that interferes in business-employee relations. These issues are better left to the state and federal governments, as they have the resources to (hopefully) properly enact any changes and ensure the results will be positive.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
We have an exceptional and responsive Police and Fire department in Mendota Heights. The best possible thing we can do is continue to provide them with the resources they need. Any specific strategy beyond that would come from public safety officials themselves to address needs they identify. When presented with safety concerns, it is the job of the city council to respond to these issues and provide the assistance needed to support our public servants. This also comes back to the continuation of Mendota Heights as a very positive and stable community. That environment is what will help keep crime low, maintain neighbors looking out for each other, and ensure a prosperous future.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Mendota Heights offers a unique community in that the vast majority of its housing is single family. It is possible that there is more demand for living arrangements than there are houses available, creating positiveincreases in housing values while also potentially leading to barriers to entry for younger families. We will need to be mindful of how housing will develop in the near future. Over developing beyond our infrastructure capacity, which we currently are nearing, will be detrimental. As such, I would like to ensure that zoning rules are followed and exceptions are not made for expedience or for short sighted gains.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
A community as small as Mendota Heights does not have much in the way of organic public transportation. For the most part it does not sufferfrom its absence. We enjoy an excellent city road system and numerous high quality biking and walking trails. My only proposal will be to continue a high level of maintenance on the existing infrastructure we control and to collaborate with MNDOT about improving the flow and safety on road surfaces we do notcontrol. Situations where people cannot get out of their neighborhood due to high traffic volumes, or are fearful of crossing the road to a park because of fast and frequent traffic are unacceptable and require immediate action which I will champion as a member of the Mendota Heights City Council.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
First and foremost my budget priority will be to fund the essential needs of the city. These are Police, Fire, Services, and Infrastructure. After that, we should look to provide positive experiences for our citizens through public projects and events to support the community while maintaining a balanced budget with room for investment and modest growth.
What will you do to expand Mendota Heights’ tax base?
If we want to increase our tax base, we need to increase the desirability of living and establishing businesses in our city. If we keep investing in what we already have achieved, we will safely and steadily increase our tax base without selling out the virtues of what makes our city great in the first place. Slow and steady wins the race.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce? Education is the best investment in our future that we can make. My goals will be to keep our students engaged and interested in our community. We also should explore giving students first hand experiences with city government and services. Offering tours of city facilities will provide opportunities for youth to witness how the city works. Growing up with a positive view of the community will increase the likelihood that young people will seek to work and live here in the future. If the community fosters a positive perception among students, they always will carry that in their hearts and minds as what defines a good city. No matter where they go, that idea will be positive for all.
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?
Our community understands that we are interconnected with all our neighbors and it makes sense that we would share services with each other. It is wise to not double up on services in two cities whose only border is the center stripe of a street. To that end, we should look for any efficiencies that we may not already have, and continue with what we currently do, be that Police coverage or sports programs.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Mendota Heights?
Any business looking to come to our city should be given opportunities to do so. We should also recognize the historic impediments that exist to minority and women owned businesses and work to ensure such malfeasance does not continue. It is the job of the City Council to promote diversity through ensuring equity not just equality in its policies.
What further policies can Mendota Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a city government, we should follow the guidelines put forth for controlling any pandemic, but also be quick to lift restrictions when they no longer are required. We also can work with businesses for tangential exemptions to help them if those guidelines threaten the ability to do business. These of course, would be on a case by case basis and take into account the health and safety of the community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Our city is unique, beautiful, and a great place to live. It is what led my family to choose to live here. What I bring to the table is a fresh perspective to look upon the issues, a wealth of experience living in many different communities, and a stern eye toward rules, codes, and laws. A city should work for its people. Mendota Heights is a beacon of what a great community can be. I want to continue that positive environment for the future to maintain what we have that is working correctly and to invest in fixing what requires adjustment.
Public Office Sought: Mendota Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-801-8123
Website: nathformhcouncil.com
Twitter: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Nath-for-Mendota-Heights-City-Council
Candidate BioI grew up in Mitchell, SD, (home to the World's Only Corn Palace). I made my first big move away from Mitchell when I started college at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, earning a BA in History. I then attended the Hamline University School of Law earning my JD in 2007. After graduation, I moved to the Cathedral Hill area of St Paul. Later, my wife and I moved to White Bear Lake, where I opened my own law practice, which I run to this day. In 2012, we moved to Milwaukee where my wife completed afellowship program. When her fellowship was nearing its end in 2015, we began to look for a place to put down permanent roots in the Twin Cities. After searching the area, we chose Mendota Heights as it was the perfect location and community for us to join. We have lived here ever since. I reside with my wife Katie and our dog Selby. I continue to practice law as a solo practitioner handling all manner of legal matters as well as being a qualified mediator and arbitrator in the state of Minnesota
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My first priority as a member of the city council will be to create a more interactive process for citizens' voices to be heard. Having two sides talk past each other does not foster a harmonious community. I will work to have open interactions with our residents when issues arise, making sure that all voices are heard and responded to in a productive manner. My second priority will center around maintaining the positive vibe that the city of Mendota Heights currently offers, guiding it toward a future that preserves that unique community feeling. Finally, I will take an extensive review of our city code, do research on why certain measures have been taken, and adjust our laws and regulations to ensure a concise guide is available for all citizens and future decision makers
How would you characterize the business climate in Mendota Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Mendota Heights is robust. There are numerous and diverse businesses in our city and few empty storefronts or unoccupied spaces. Business and community go hand in hand. The success of our businesses improves the lives of all who live here. We should explore additional ways to promote our current success.
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, Mendota Heights?
I strongly believe that a good city government should foster an environment that is positive for business owners. That being said, free enterprise will drive investment and growth of business, but the city must act as an arbiter to prevent situations of over development or harm to the community. This balancing act requires that the city not lean too hard to one side or the other. Each project should be evaluated by our planning committee and its opinion and the opinions of citizens at large must be respected by the members of the city council.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
The past few years have seen a dramatic shift in power from the employer to the employee in hiring and job retention. I donot believe it is the local government’s place to interfere with the self-correcting course of free enterprise. I fear interference at the city council level could bring a host of unintended consequences. We can create a city that is desirable for people to move to and live in, a place where people will want to put down roots and stay. Such a community will naturally create a positive environment for labor and increase the labor pool in our area.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Mendota 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 Mendota Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
At such a local level in our smaller community, I will be extremely cautious of any proposal that interferes in business-employee relations. These issues are better left to the state and federal governments, as they have the resources to (hopefully) properly enact any changes and ensure the results will be positive.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
We have an exceptional and responsive Police and Fire department in Mendota Heights. The best possible thing we can do is continue to provide them with the resources they need. Any specific strategy beyond that would come from public safety officials themselves to address needs they identify. When presented with safety concerns, it is the job of the city council to respond to these issues and provide the assistance needed to support our public servants. This also comes back to the continuation of Mendota Heights as a very positive and stable community. That environment is what will help keep crime low, maintain neighbors looking out for each other, and ensure a prosperous future.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Mendota Heights offers a unique community in that the vast majority of its housing is single family. It is possible that there is more demand for living arrangements than there are houses available, creating positiveincreases in housing values while also potentially leading to barriers to entry for younger families. We will need to be mindful of how housing will develop in the near future. Over developing beyond our infrastructure capacity, which we currently are nearing, will be detrimental. As such, I would like to ensure that zoning rules are followed and exceptions are not made for expedience or for short sighted gains.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
A community as small as Mendota Heights does not have much in the way of organic public transportation. For the most part it does not sufferfrom its absence. We enjoy an excellent city road system and numerous high quality biking and walking trails. My only proposal will be to continue a high level of maintenance on the existing infrastructure we control and to collaborate with MNDOT about improving the flow and safety on road surfaces we do notcontrol. Situations where people cannot get out of their neighborhood due to high traffic volumes, or are fearful of crossing the road to a park because of fast and frequent traffic are unacceptable and require immediate action which I will champion as a member of the Mendota Heights City Council.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
First and foremost my budget priority will be to fund the essential needs of the city. These are Police, Fire, Services, and Infrastructure. After that, we should look to provide positive experiences for our citizens through public projects and events to support the community while maintaining a balanced budget with room for investment and modest growth.
What will you do to expand Mendota Heights’ tax base?
If we want to increase our tax base, we need to increase the desirability of living and establishing businesses in our city. If we keep investing in what we already have achieved, we will safely and steadily increase our tax base without selling out the virtues of what makes our city great in the first place. Slow and steady wins the race.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce? Education is the best investment in our future that we can make. My goals will be to keep our students engaged and interested in our community. We also should explore giving students first hand experiences with city government and services. Offering tours of city facilities will provide opportunities for youth to witness how the city works. Growing up with a positive view of the community will increase the likelihood that young people will seek to work and live here in the future. If the community fosters a positive perception among students, they always will carry that in their hearts and minds as what defines a good city. No matter where they go, that idea will be positive for all.
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?
Our community understands that we are interconnected with all our neighbors and it makes sense that we would share services with each other. It is wise to not double up on services in two cities whose only border is the center stripe of a street. To that end, we should look for any efficiencies that we may not already have, and continue with what we currently do, be that Police coverage or sports programs.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Mendota Heights?
Any business looking to come to our city should be given opportunities to do so. We should also recognize the historic impediments that exist to minority and women owned businesses and work to ensure such malfeasance does not continue. It is the job of the City Council to promote diversity through ensuring equity not just equality in its policies.
What further policies can Mendota Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a city government, we should follow the guidelines put forth for controlling any pandemic, but also be quick to lift restrictions when they no longer are required. We also can work with businesses for tangential exemptions to help them if those guidelines threaten the ability to do business. These of course, would be on a case by case basis and take into account the health and safety of the community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Our city is unique, beautiful, and a great place to live. It is what led my family to choose to live here. What I bring to the table is a fresh perspective to look upon the issues, a wealth of experience living in many different communities, and a stern eye toward rules, codes, and laws. A city should work for its people. Mendota Heights is a beacon of what a great community can be. I want to continue that positive environment for the future to maintain what we have that is working correctly and to invest in fixing what requires adjustment.