Julie A. Eastman
Name: Julie A. Eastman
Public Office Sought: West St. Paul City Council - Ward 1
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-270-3392
Website: julieeastmanforwsp.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: @julieeastmanforwsp
Candidate Bio
Hi, I'm Julie, and I’m running to be your city council representative in Ward 1. I have lived here for 27 years. I have 30+ years of business leadership, community organizing, and volunteer experience. I'm a problem solver, so even with challenges like recessions and COVID, I'm not afraid to dive in, do the work, and collaborate to find a solution.
Since 2018, I have been active in helping residents stay informed and share their voice to create change, including: access to more information, empowering citizen participation, and making sure this City is welcoming to ALL.
Whether sharing cities' best practices for hiring a police chief, supporting a Pride Month proclamation, or attending meetings on Thompson Golf Course development, I research to understand issues, communicate concerns, and share information. This research includes policy, codes, details of city documentation, and attending committee, commission, and neighborhood meetings to hear all viewpoints. I believe our decisions need to be grounded in data and reality. I know how to do the job.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
a. We are seeing push for changes in our City that, until a couple of years ago, were not brought up at Council meetings, rather these topics were handled by larger cities, or at a state or national level. I will continue to support the changes being requested by our community which have included areas of inclusion/diversity, community policing, social justice and equitable access for ALL of our residents.
b. Over 40% of our population are renters, these numbers will increase as seniors (also a large population in WSP) look for alternatives to homeownership. Renters are the backbone for WSP’s businesses, both as employees and customers. It is important to ensure that renters are welcomed, included and valued for the contributions they bring to our City. We need to have renters engaged in our City and be represented in our committees and commissions as well as in elected offices. It is also important that our rental housing is affordable and in great condition.
c. As we are dealing with the effects of COVID and the recession, we face continued, significant challenges for our business owners, their employees and all neighbors directly impacted by job losses, declining incomes and rising stress levels as they are trying to manage to a new normal. We need to identify the right business projects and partners to have a balanced portfolio of businesses for the direction West St. Paul is going – not designed for where we were in the past. We also need to engage and communicate more with our residents to keep them informed about opportunities for them and their families.
How would you characterize the business climate in West St. Paul and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business development climate remains strong – including high levels of interest to locate businesses here. COVID and the recession have negatively impacted our restaurants and retail establishments and there are a few businesses that haven’t reopened yet following the shutdown. With many businesses continuing to have employees work from home, it could mean a shift away from traditional business properties.
Changes in the workplace post COVID will likely include: an acceleration toward a $15+/hour minimum wage, and expanded wage/benefit opportunities for workers in health care, child care, assisted living and other service industry jobs (such as hospitality, grocery and convenience stores) which are now deemed essential.
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, West St. Paul?
a. The City does receive strong interest for new business development. Opportunities include: Defining the right business development portfolio including metrics, and how we can increase jobs within the City.
b. An establishment of a community and business council. There are business associations and chambers, but having something that connects businesses and developers to the people who live and work here would be quite positive for all parties.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West St. Paul (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 West St. Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do support the expansion of wage/benefit levels and improving work practices, but the market and competitive changes (including societal changes) will dictate that businesses need to adopt changes much quicker and more thoroughly than proposals driven at a smaller city level. Once we are past COVID, the economy and employment levels will strongly improve in MN. Businesses will need to adjust their hiring practices and wage/benefit packages to hire the best talent so they can grow quickly.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
These issues have already been identified through work on the 2040 Plan and local revitalization plans. We also have a Public Safety Committee that reviews issues and reports findings to the Council. We need to determine and weigh the priorities and address those through project prioritization and budgets.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Review the financial strategic plan, given effects of COVID and the recession, for adjustments, which may result in focusing on balancing infrastructure improvements and accelerating debt repayment in the short term.
What will you do to expand West St. Paul’s tax base?
Create a business development portfolio plan that includes economic and community building targets such as: business mix, increasing small and women/minority owned businesses, job growth, customer traffic and tax revenues.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
As part of a community and business council, we could include educational institutions and organizations like the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council to participate on these topics.
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?
While an in-depth budget review might identify some opportunities for savings, I do not foresee any services being eliminated. We have a large and engaged group of volunteers in WSP that provide great benefits across our community and we recognize the significant value of all of their efforts every year. A discussion about additional areas for volunteer opportunities may be a good place to start.
We do share some services with other Cities such as Fire and Environmental/Recycling staff.
We also have partnerships for things like access/staffing for pools and sports related services (hockey rink, dome) that are done with non-profit/community groups which are a positive arrangement for the City. If there are additional opportunities for collaboration, I do not see any reason why we wouldn’t pursue this.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in West St. Paul?
We need to prioritize this as part of an economic business development portfolio which includes metrics.
What further policies can West St. Paul adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
a. We can review regulations and fees to see if temporary adjustments are needed.
b. Continue to support and communicate available business programs and grants.
c. Communicate and lobby for additional funding as needed with the State legislature.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I initiated and led the first-ever WSP City Council candidate forums in 2018. Voters need every opportunity to know their potential representatives and have access to that information. I did the research to be sure they were conducted fairly using best practices available. The attendance (in person and on social media) showed that people want to know what's going on and have a say in who represents them.
Public Office Sought: West St. Paul City Council - Ward 1
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-270-3392
Website: julieeastmanforwsp.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: @julieeastmanforwsp
Candidate Bio
Hi, I'm Julie, and I’m running to be your city council representative in Ward 1. I have lived here for 27 years. I have 30+ years of business leadership, community organizing, and volunteer experience. I'm a problem solver, so even with challenges like recessions and COVID, I'm not afraid to dive in, do the work, and collaborate to find a solution.
Since 2018, I have been active in helping residents stay informed and share their voice to create change, including: access to more information, empowering citizen participation, and making sure this City is welcoming to ALL.
Whether sharing cities' best practices for hiring a police chief, supporting a Pride Month proclamation, or attending meetings on Thompson Golf Course development, I research to understand issues, communicate concerns, and share information. This research includes policy, codes, details of city documentation, and attending committee, commission, and neighborhood meetings to hear all viewpoints. I believe our decisions need to be grounded in data and reality. I know how to do the job.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
a. We are seeing push for changes in our City that, until a couple of years ago, were not brought up at Council meetings, rather these topics were handled by larger cities, or at a state or national level. I will continue to support the changes being requested by our community which have included areas of inclusion/diversity, community policing, social justice and equitable access for ALL of our residents.
b. Over 40% of our population are renters, these numbers will increase as seniors (also a large population in WSP) look for alternatives to homeownership. Renters are the backbone for WSP’s businesses, both as employees and customers. It is important to ensure that renters are welcomed, included and valued for the contributions they bring to our City. We need to have renters engaged in our City and be represented in our committees and commissions as well as in elected offices. It is also important that our rental housing is affordable and in great condition.
c. As we are dealing with the effects of COVID and the recession, we face continued, significant challenges for our business owners, their employees and all neighbors directly impacted by job losses, declining incomes and rising stress levels as they are trying to manage to a new normal. We need to identify the right business projects and partners to have a balanced portfolio of businesses for the direction West St. Paul is going – not designed for where we were in the past. We also need to engage and communicate more with our residents to keep them informed about opportunities for them and their families.
How would you characterize the business climate in West St. Paul and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business development climate remains strong – including high levels of interest to locate businesses here. COVID and the recession have negatively impacted our restaurants and retail establishments and there are a few businesses that haven’t reopened yet following the shutdown. With many businesses continuing to have employees work from home, it could mean a shift away from traditional business properties.
Changes in the workplace post COVID will likely include: an acceleration toward a $15+/hour minimum wage, and expanded wage/benefit opportunities for workers in health care, child care, assisted living and other service industry jobs (such as hospitality, grocery and convenience stores) which are now deemed essential.
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, West St. Paul?
a. The City does receive strong interest for new business development. Opportunities include: Defining the right business development portfolio including metrics, and how we can increase jobs within the City.
b. An establishment of a community and business council. There are business associations and chambers, but having something that connects businesses and developers to the people who live and work here would be quite positive for all parties.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in West St. Paul (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 West St. Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do support the expansion of wage/benefit levels and improving work practices, but the market and competitive changes (including societal changes) will dictate that businesses need to adopt changes much quicker and more thoroughly than proposals driven at a smaller city level. Once we are past COVID, the economy and employment levels will strongly improve in MN. Businesses will need to adjust their hiring practices and wage/benefit packages to hire the best talent so they can grow quickly.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
These issues have already been identified through work on the 2040 Plan and local revitalization plans. We also have a Public Safety Committee that reviews issues and reports findings to the Council. We need to determine and weigh the priorities and address those through project prioritization and budgets.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Review the financial strategic plan, given effects of COVID and the recession, for adjustments, which may result in focusing on balancing infrastructure improvements and accelerating debt repayment in the short term.
What will you do to expand West St. Paul’s tax base?
Create a business development portfolio plan that includes economic and community building targets such as: business mix, increasing small and women/minority owned businesses, job growth, customer traffic and tax revenues.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
As part of a community and business council, we could include educational institutions and organizations like the St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council to participate on these topics.
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?
While an in-depth budget review might identify some opportunities for savings, I do not foresee any services being eliminated. We have a large and engaged group of volunteers in WSP that provide great benefits across our community and we recognize the significant value of all of their efforts every year. A discussion about additional areas for volunteer opportunities may be a good place to start.
We do share some services with other Cities such as Fire and Environmental/Recycling staff.
We also have partnerships for things like access/staffing for pools and sports related services (hockey rink, dome) that are done with non-profit/community groups which are a positive arrangement for the City. If there are additional opportunities for collaboration, I do not see any reason why we wouldn’t pursue this.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in West St. Paul?
We need to prioritize this as part of an economic business development portfolio which includes metrics.
What further policies can West St. Paul adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
a. We can review regulations and fees to see if temporary adjustments are needed.
b. Continue to support and communicate available business programs and grants.
c. Communicate and lobby for additional funding as needed with the State legislature.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I initiated and led the first-ever WSP City Council candidate forums in 2018. Voters need every opportunity to know their potential representatives and have access to that information. I did the research to be sure they were conducted fairly using best practices available. The attendance (in person and on social media) showed that people want to know what's going on and have a say in who represents them.