Kathleen A. "Kathy" Juenemann
Name: Kathleen A. "Kathy" Juenemann
Public Office Sought: Maplewood City Council
Candidate Bio
As I seek another term on the Maplewood City Council, I believe my past experience as high school teacher, longtime community activist (21 years), advocate for seniors (10+ years) and currently serving council member, gives me a broad knowledge base. A long term resident (43 years in our Parkside neighborhood), I bring historic perspective and a wealth of experience.
During my history on the council, constituents have described me as “knowledgeable,
thorough, trustworthy and dedicated.” I am known for my strength, perseverance and creative solutions when we are at an impasse. My dedication is proven by the fact that, since January 2002, I have missed only one meeting (January 26, 2018) due to being hospitalized. I consider it my responsibility to be a well-informed policy maker, resident advocate and strong representative of my city.
Many great things are happening in our city: redevelopment in Gladstone; new office and residential rentals near St. John’s Hospital and Maplewood Mall; redevelopment of Wakefield Park as a destination park; renovation of the Maplewood Nature Center; participation in the Rice-Larpenteur revitalization planning process; an extensive, active process developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan; transition to FT Fire and EMS Dept; a successful YMCA/MCC partnership, and much more.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
I describe our business climate in Maplewood as welcoming, inclusive, supportive, responsive to concerns and developing an expanding outreach.
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, Maplewood?
The city has a definite role in business attraction and retention. We have a contract with SPACC and WBCC to assist us with BRE programs. We have also established a MW Business Council which meets quarterly and includes our Legacy Businesses (St. John’s Hospital, MW Mall, 3M, No. St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School (#622) and Roseville Schools (#623), Interested small businesses, other stakeholders and elected officials.
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 Maplewood?
Our city mgr., asst. city mgr./HR director and our economic devel. dir. consistently prioritize business retention, expansion and recruitment. They have also hired a PT workforce development consultant.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Maplewood? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Maplewood 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?
No. Such issues apply to larger cities. If such issues are to be addressed by suburbs, it would have to be at county or state level.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No. (See response #4.)
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Our police chief and Director of Pub. Safety oversees police and fire/EMS. In 2017, MW Police Dept developed a strategic plan to address goals and operations; and we have transitioned to a totally FT Fire Dept. We have also established a citizens’ Police Advisory Committee.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Our city council (and my) budget priorities are financial, operational, and environmental sustainability. We work to maintain high quality city services and our high bond rating, while reducing our debt and keeping our operational budget sustainable. We have also adopted an official financial policies document.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Since the county sets all property values and tax rates, it is beyond our control to actually set limits. However we do our best, balancing needs and wants with a sustainable budget, to ensure the burden does not fall too heavily on our residents or our businesses.
9. What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
I have consistently tried to evaluate all projects - commercial and residential - for their economic value to, tax value to, and impact on our community. At this point in time we are focusing on redevelopment, particularly in the Gladstone neighborhood and MW Mall area.
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?
We currently have yearly updates presented to the city council by the superintendents of our 2 school districts, No. St Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (#622) and Roseville (#623). Our city mgr is reaching out to their offices/representatives to establish relationships/communications. Superintendents of both districts are holding quarterly updates with city management.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Maplewood Public Schools?
Our role with both of our school districts is to communicate with them regarding their needs, assist them with their programs when appropriate, and support them in their efforts to work with families.
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Our biggest challenge is reaching out and adapting to diversity changes in our community. Thus far our city staff is actively addressing racial equity. The Maplewood Police Dept. is doing personal outreach to communities of color; through our Parks and Rec. Dept. we are participating in Kid City, positive outreach to children through the arts, entertainment and laughter.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities:
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We have 2 important transportation priorities:
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?
We have already established shared relationships in IT, Pub. Safety, MCC/YMCA. I believe there is possibly a future collaboration, with a neighboring city or school district, for recreation programs/sports offerings.
Public Office Sought: Maplewood City Council
Candidate Bio
As I seek another term on the Maplewood City Council, I believe my past experience as high school teacher, longtime community activist (21 years), advocate for seniors (10+ years) and currently serving council member, gives me a broad knowledge base. A long term resident (43 years in our Parkside neighborhood), I bring historic perspective and a wealth of experience.
During my history on the council, constituents have described me as “knowledgeable,
thorough, trustworthy and dedicated.” I am known for my strength, perseverance and creative solutions when we are at an impasse. My dedication is proven by the fact that, since January 2002, I have missed only one meeting (January 26, 2018) due to being hospitalized. I consider it my responsibility to be a well-informed policy maker, resident advocate and strong representative of my city.
Many great things are happening in our city: redevelopment in Gladstone; new office and residential rentals near St. John’s Hospital and Maplewood Mall; redevelopment of Wakefield Park as a destination park; renovation of the Maplewood Nature Center; participation in the Rice-Larpenteur revitalization planning process; an extensive, active process developing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan; transition to FT Fire and EMS Dept; a successful YMCA/MCC partnership, and much more.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
I describe our business climate in Maplewood as welcoming, inclusive, supportive, responsive to concerns and developing an expanding outreach.
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, Maplewood?
The city has a definite role in business attraction and retention. We have a contract with SPACC and WBCC to assist us with BRE programs. We have also established a MW Business Council which meets quarterly and includes our Legacy Businesses (St. John’s Hospital, MW Mall, 3M, No. St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School (#622) and Roseville Schools (#623), Interested small businesses, other stakeholders and elected officials.
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 Maplewood?
Our city mgr., asst. city mgr./HR director and our economic devel. dir. consistently prioritize business retention, expansion and recruitment. They have also hired a PT workforce development consultant.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Maplewood? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Maplewood 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?
No. Such issues apply to larger cities. If such issues are to be addressed by suburbs, it would have to be at county or state level.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No. (See response #4.)
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Our police chief and Director of Pub. Safety oversees police and fire/EMS. In 2017, MW Police Dept developed a strategic plan to address goals and operations; and we have transitioned to a totally FT Fire Dept. We have also established a citizens’ Police Advisory Committee.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Our city council (and my) budget priorities are financial, operational, and environmental sustainability. We work to maintain high quality city services and our high bond rating, while reducing our debt and keeping our operational budget sustainable. We have also adopted an official financial policies document.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Since the county sets all property values and tax rates, it is beyond our control to actually set limits. However we do our best, balancing needs and wants with a sustainable budget, to ensure the burden does not fall too heavily on our residents or our businesses.
9. What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
I have consistently tried to evaluate all projects - commercial and residential - for their economic value to, tax value to, and impact on our community. At this point in time we are focusing on redevelopment, particularly in the Gladstone neighborhood and MW Mall area.
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?
We currently have yearly updates presented to the city council by the superintendents of our 2 school districts, No. St Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale (#622) and Roseville (#623). Our city mgr is reaching out to their offices/representatives to establish relationships/communications. Superintendents of both districts are holding quarterly updates with city management.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Maplewood Public Schools?
Our role with both of our school districts is to communicate with them regarding their needs, assist them with their programs when appropriate, and support them in their efforts to work with families.
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Our biggest challenge is reaching out and adapting to diversity changes in our community. Thus far our city staff is actively addressing racial equity. The Maplewood Police Dept. is doing personal outreach to communities of color; through our Parks and Rec. Dept. we are participating in Kid City, positive outreach to children through the arts, entertainment and laughter.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities:
- Continued efforts in reaching longterm financial, operational and environmental sustainability. Our regional leadership in environmental stewardship (stormwater management, living streets, energy conservation, etc.) contributes to operational and financial sustainability.
- Address diversity and economic stability through development and redevelopment, with emphasis on business/employment attraction and housing rehab. and affordability.
- Renewed efforts to support our public safety staff in reaching our common goals of community outreach and inclusiveness, efficiency and a safe, healthy community for all.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
We have 2 important transportation priorities:
- We must remain proactive in ongoing planning and future implementation of the Rush Line and Gold Line routing and stations.
- We must continue to maintain/reconstruct our streets and local infrastructure.
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?
We have already established shared relationships in IT, Pub. Safety, MCC/YMCA. I believe there is possibly a future collaboration, with a neighboring city or school district, for recreation programs/sports offerings.