Jonathan Zagel
Name: Jonathan Zagel
Public Office Sought: Mendota Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-202-5498
Website: www.jonathanzagel.com
Twitter: @jonathanzagel
Facebook Page: Jonathan Zagel
Candidate Bio
Mendota Heights is a safe and friendly community, and I have a passion to give back and make our great city even better. My regular attendance of Council meetings has illuminated that many decisions made by the Council and related commissions are made on a case-by-case basis, without consideration of a broader strategic plan or adverse impacts to the city. I have extensive experience in accounting, leadership, and business in my role as VP of Accounting and Finance at Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota that will bring a unique and valuable skillset to the city council. I will move to establish best practices and address the concerns of our citizens in a strategic manner. I respect and value citizen input, ideas, and participation and, as a council member, my primary purpose will always be to serve my fellow community-members.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Mendota Heights?
The business climate in Mendota Heights is strong with great possibilities. We have healthy commercial development from our industrial areas to our small business-friendly Village and Plaza. While we are a fully-developed community, there is additional opportunity to attract additional amenities to serve both our residents and our businesses. However, it is imperative that we put a strategic plan in place to proactively attract businesses that match the character of our city. If we continue to wait for opportunities to come to us, we run a danger of being passed up in favor of the new Viking Lakes development in Eagan. This is also why it is necessary to work collaboratively with all of our neighbors to ensure that we are ahead of development plans and not forced to act reactively.
2. 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?
The city should take a leadership role in identifying new business development, and retention and expansion of current businesses. Various financing options are available to ensure any particular project will deliver the expected economic results to the city and benefits to its citizens. Citizens have expressed a desire for more restaurants, a grocery store, housing options for all stages of life, entertainment and other businesses that are appropriate for the city and its changing demographics. There is ample opportunity for redevelopment to bring many of these concepts together as areas in the city age or deteriorate. Small neighborhoods of mixed-use development can blend residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses, and can be built on sustainable principles and within areas that are already zoned for commercial or industrial use so that existing single-family neighborhoods are not impacted.
3. 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 Mendota Heights?
Our city has limited resources to devote to FTE for this nature. However, an evaluation of current business advocacy efforts is in order to understand the most effective ways to expand these efforts. Many functions, such as navigating the complex network of ordinances, rules and regulations within the city may be best implemented through the city website while other functions, such as marketing and advocacy, may require staff or outreach by our Mayor and Council. The city needs a well-developed analysis of this process, and a resulting strategic plan, in order to be most effective.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Mendota Heights? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Mendota Heights 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?
I support a regional effort to provide living wages to workers, which may work toward attracting top talent. This is another great opportunity to connect with our neighboring cities. While each city can address this topic alone, a patchwork of varying ordinances, minimum wages, and regulations will discourage business investment. Providing a level playing field will help attract business to the region, including Mendota Heights.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Mendota Heights (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 Mendota Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Regional efforts are the best way to tackle many employment related issues. Without a level playing field, a city can unintentionally push commercial enterprises away. It is important to understand the needs of a business and how it must be balanced with the needs of the community, including employees and contractors. However, I would not hesitate to support policy that addresses vulnerabilities within the business community and its workforce.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
It is imperative that the city continues to provide a safe environment for its citizens, which includes supporting our first responders, and ensuring safe roadways and adequate infrastructure. Working with our city’s chiefs of police and fire to maintain trust, and understand the technologies and resources necessary for their fleets to perform to the best of their abilities is crucial. Further, identifying incident rates and trends is crucial such that these data can be utilized to develop both short and long-term strategies for crime mitigation. These steps will help to inform our budget for crucial public safety services. . We must also ensure transparency, ease of access to city officials, and communicate concerns appropriately to our city’s residents.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
It is a priority to be fiscally responsible in our budgeting process while working towards our strategic goals. Having extensive experience in budgeting, I will revisit the budgeting process to assess how it weighs policy priorities against available resources. Criteria for evaluating each program can be established to regularly assess effectiveness and efficiency. I will also implement a plan to assess how state-of-the-art processes and technologies could improve service and cut program cost. If excess funds are identified, they will be redirected to where they could be used most effectively. It is of the utmost importance that the budgeting process include full transparency such that the city government can be held accountable.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
The city is principally funded by residential and commercial property taxes. As such, it is in the best interest of the city, its citizens, and businesses to maintain high property values. This is accomplished by serving the needs of our citizens at all stages of life as well as the needs of our business community. We want to provide ample opportunities for our population to live, work, and be entertained all within Mendota Heights.
9. What will you do to expand Mendota Heights’ tax base?
The tax base is expanded by providing ample opportunities for our population to live, work, and be entertained all within Mendota Heights. We will develop short and long-term plans for attracting top tier talent and businesses, while working with neighboring communities to develop regional strategies. Complementary plans can be developed with our neighbors to create sustainable economic growth for the region by establishing regular communication and taking advantage of the regional visibility created by the Viking Lakes development.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
ISD 197 pilots a program known as Warrior Seminar, which aims to provide students with exposure and mentoring in a wide variety of career opportunities. I have connected with representatives of this program to offer my own experience, and will encourage other opportunities as a city council member. The city can serve as an intermediary between business and education and partner with our schools and school district to help ensure that the proper pipelines are built to create a workforce suited not only for the job opportunities of today, but for the new jobs that will be created in the future.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Mendota Heights Public Schools?
One of the reasons that Mendota Heights is such a sought-after community, and why those who grew up here continue to return to raise their own families, are the top tier schools. As such, our city has a vested interest in working with our schools to support a strong relationship between the community and the district. Because our public school district serves a number of cities, it is another opportunity to work collaboratively with our neighbors to ensure the that we uphold our high standards for education.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Many of our city's challenges stem from a lack of proactive planning by our current Council. Instead, issues are often addressed reactively. It is imperative in the current 2040 Comprehensive Plan process that we identify long term strategic goals before any changes to the contentious zoning categories move forward. We can only continue cultivate the character of our city if development is within the guidance of a long term strategic plan.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
It is my priority to develop a long term focus so that issues are not approached reactively or on a case by case basis. Another priority is strengthening confidence in our city government by improving the citizen input process, establishing better methods of communicating information, developing best practices for city transactions, and improving on government transparency. Third, our green spaces are a great pride of our city. However, environmental degradation including fertilizer and pesticide runoff and spread of invasive species are a major concern. Environmental degradation negatively impacts land and water quality, property values and can adversely affect human health.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
One of the primary concerns I’ve heard from the citizens of Mendota Heights is traffic. With the new Viking Lakes development, as well as recently approved developments in our own city, it’s imperative that we work with MNDoT, Dakota County, and our neighbors to develop a proactive plan to address the traffic. We need to avoid a wait-and-see approach to implement a solid plan to keep our roadways safe.
15. 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?
It is important to balance the flexibility of providing city-based services versus the potential cost savings of regional efforts. As city council member, I will actively seek citizen input as the basis for cost-benefit analyses for a variety of city services. There is also opportunity to expand services by utilizing regional power if we are actively communicating with our neighbors.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As an employee of Better Business Bureau, I am part of an organization that embodies integrity, transparency and trust. As the Vice President of Accounting and Finance, I develop long term strategic plans and tactical steps, such as budgets, to achieve them. As the father of two young children, and as the husband of a woman who grew up in Mendota Heights, I have a vested interest in creating a long-term development plan that addresses not only the problems of right now, but also considers the consequences decades into the future. This is a unique skillset that I would bring to the city council that would serve the city well.
Public Office Sought: Mendota Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-202-5498
Website: www.jonathanzagel.com
Twitter: @jonathanzagel
Facebook Page: Jonathan Zagel
Candidate Bio
Mendota Heights is a safe and friendly community, and I have a passion to give back and make our great city even better. My regular attendance of Council meetings has illuminated that many decisions made by the Council and related commissions are made on a case-by-case basis, without consideration of a broader strategic plan or adverse impacts to the city. I have extensive experience in accounting, leadership, and business in my role as VP of Accounting and Finance at Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota that will bring a unique and valuable skillset to the city council. I will move to establish best practices and address the concerns of our citizens in a strategic manner. I respect and value citizen input, ideas, and participation and, as a council member, my primary purpose will always be to serve my fellow community-members.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Mendota Heights?
The business climate in Mendota Heights is strong with great possibilities. We have healthy commercial development from our industrial areas to our small business-friendly Village and Plaza. While we are a fully-developed community, there is additional opportunity to attract additional amenities to serve both our residents and our businesses. However, it is imperative that we put a strategic plan in place to proactively attract businesses that match the character of our city. If we continue to wait for opportunities to come to us, we run a danger of being passed up in favor of the new Viking Lakes development in Eagan. This is also why it is necessary to work collaboratively with all of our neighbors to ensure that we are ahead of development plans and not forced to act reactively.
2. 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?
The city should take a leadership role in identifying new business development, and retention and expansion of current businesses. Various financing options are available to ensure any particular project will deliver the expected economic results to the city and benefits to its citizens. Citizens have expressed a desire for more restaurants, a grocery store, housing options for all stages of life, entertainment and other businesses that are appropriate for the city and its changing demographics. There is ample opportunity for redevelopment to bring many of these concepts together as areas in the city age or deteriorate. Small neighborhoods of mixed-use development can blend residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses, and can be built on sustainable principles and within areas that are already zoned for commercial or industrial use so that existing single-family neighborhoods are not impacted.
3. 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 Mendota Heights?
Our city has limited resources to devote to FTE for this nature. However, an evaluation of current business advocacy efforts is in order to understand the most effective ways to expand these efforts. Many functions, such as navigating the complex network of ordinances, rules and regulations within the city may be best implemented through the city website while other functions, such as marketing and advocacy, may require staff or outreach by our Mayor and Council. The city needs a well-developed analysis of this process, and a resulting strategic plan, in order to be most effective.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Mendota Heights? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Mendota Heights 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?
I support a regional effort to provide living wages to workers, which may work toward attracting top talent. This is another great opportunity to connect with our neighboring cities. While each city can address this topic alone, a patchwork of varying ordinances, minimum wages, and regulations will discourage business investment. Providing a level playing field will help attract business to the region, including Mendota Heights.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Mendota Heights (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 Mendota Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Regional efforts are the best way to tackle many employment related issues. Without a level playing field, a city can unintentionally push commercial enterprises away. It is important to understand the needs of a business and how it must be balanced with the needs of the community, including employees and contractors. However, I would not hesitate to support policy that addresses vulnerabilities within the business community and its workforce.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
It is imperative that the city continues to provide a safe environment for its citizens, which includes supporting our first responders, and ensuring safe roadways and adequate infrastructure. Working with our city’s chiefs of police and fire to maintain trust, and understand the technologies and resources necessary for their fleets to perform to the best of their abilities is crucial. Further, identifying incident rates and trends is crucial such that these data can be utilized to develop both short and long-term strategies for crime mitigation. These steps will help to inform our budget for crucial public safety services. . We must also ensure transparency, ease of access to city officials, and communicate concerns appropriately to our city’s residents.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
It is a priority to be fiscally responsible in our budgeting process while working towards our strategic goals. Having extensive experience in budgeting, I will revisit the budgeting process to assess how it weighs policy priorities against available resources. Criteria for evaluating each program can be established to regularly assess effectiveness and efficiency. I will also implement a plan to assess how state-of-the-art processes and technologies could improve service and cut program cost. If excess funds are identified, they will be redirected to where they could be used most effectively. It is of the utmost importance that the budgeting process include full transparency such that the city government can be held accountable.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
The city is principally funded by residential and commercial property taxes. As such, it is in the best interest of the city, its citizens, and businesses to maintain high property values. This is accomplished by serving the needs of our citizens at all stages of life as well as the needs of our business community. We want to provide ample opportunities for our population to live, work, and be entertained all within Mendota Heights.
9. What will you do to expand Mendota Heights’ tax base?
The tax base is expanded by providing ample opportunities for our population to live, work, and be entertained all within Mendota Heights. We will develop short and long-term plans for attracting top tier talent and businesses, while working with neighboring communities to develop regional strategies. Complementary plans can be developed with our neighbors to create sustainable economic growth for the region by establishing regular communication and taking advantage of the regional visibility created by the Viking Lakes development.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
ISD 197 pilots a program known as Warrior Seminar, which aims to provide students with exposure and mentoring in a wide variety of career opportunities. I have connected with representatives of this program to offer my own experience, and will encourage other opportunities as a city council member. The city can serve as an intermediary between business and education and partner with our schools and school district to help ensure that the proper pipelines are built to create a workforce suited not only for the job opportunities of today, but for the new jobs that will be created in the future.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Mendota Heights Public Schools?
One of the reasons that Mendota Heights is such a sought-after community, and why those who grew up here continue to return to raise their own families, are the top tier schools. As such, our city has a vested interest in working with our schools to support a strong relationship between the community and the district. Because our public school district serves a number of cities, it is another opportunity to work collaboratively with our neighbors to ensure the that we uphold our high standards for education.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Many of our city's challenges stem from a lack of proactive planning by our current Council. Instead, issues are often addressed reactively. It is imperative in the current 2040 Comprehensive Plan process that we identify long term strategic goals before any changes to the contentious zoning categories move forward. We can only continue cultivate the character of our city if development is within the guidance of a long term strategic plan.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
It is my priority to develop a long term focus so that issues are not approached reactively or on a case by case basis. Another priority is strengthening confidence in our city government by improving the citizen input process, establishing better methods of communicating information, developing best practices for city transactions, and improving on government transparency. Third, our green spaces are a great pride of our city. However, environmental degradation including fertilizer and pesticide runoff and spread of invasive species are a major concern. Environmental degradation negatively impacts land and water quality, property values and can adversely affect human health.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
One of the primary concerns I’ve heard from the citizens of Mendota Heights is traffic. With the new Viking Lakes development, as well as recently approved developments in our own city, it’s imperative that we work with MNDoT, Dakota County, and our neighbors to develop a proactive plan to address the traffic. We need to avoid a wait-and-see approach to implement a solid plan to keep our roadways safe.
15. 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?
It is important to balance the flexibility of providing city-based services versus the potential cost savings of regional efforts. As city council member, I will actively seek citizen input as the basis for cost-benefit analyses for a variety of city services. There is also opportunity to expand services by utilizing regional power if we are actively communicating with our neighbors.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As an employee of Better Business Bureau, I am part of an organization that embodies integrity, transparency and trust. As the Vice President of Accounting and Finance, I develop long term strategic plans and tactical steps, such as budgets, to achieve them. As the father of two young children, and as the husband of a woman who grew up in Mendota Heights, I have a vested interest in creating a long-term development plan that addresses not only the problems of right now, but also considers the consequences decades into the future. This is a unique skillset that I would bring to the city council that would serve the city well.