Kim Wilson
Name: Kim Wilson
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-343-2509
Campaign Website: kimwilsonforcouncil.wixsite.com/website
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: @kimwilsonforcouncil
Candidate Bio
I graduated from Woodbury High School in 1985. After a brief departure from the area for college, I moved back in 1993 to raise my family.
In November of 2020, I was elected to council and am finishing up my first term. While it has been a challenge, it is also rewarding.
I have worked hard for the community for the last four years. I have advocated for a “growth management” plan until the water treatment plant that will address the PFAS issues is operational. The plant is expected to be operational in 2028.
I will remain open and accessible to the public and am available for phone calls, meetings or just conversation.
I will remain open-minded while not compromising on values.
I offer a diverse voice on the council and will continue to ask the tough questions while seeking common-sense solutions.
I will continue to advocate for an open and transparent government.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would continue to listen to the public and work to gain an understanding of their wants and needs, their visions and desires for their community and neighborhoods. I would continue to be a conduit between the city and the residents. I would continue to ask tough questions and challenge the “city” to be more transparent and accountable to the residents.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Woodbury?
The biggest challenge for the City of Woodbury would be the attracting and retaining of good quality candidates for the public safety department; police, fire, EMS. Although we have a mutual aid agreement with Cottage Grove and Oakdale, those cities are also growing in population and the public safety staffing shortfall is being experienced by most cities.
The biggest opportunity in Woodbury, is just that…..opportunity. Woodbury offers opportunities for everyone, whether you’re an employee, business-owner, or a resident. Whether you’re a kid, an adult, or a senior, we have programs and outings, sports and activities through our Parks and Recreations department. Woodbury is home to many high-level medical facilities. We offer restaurants and shopping. Our businesses have the opportunity to network through our well-established and growing Chamber of Commerce. We also have an extensive parks and trail network for our walker, joggers, bikers and pickleballers to enjoy.
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?
Woodbury has received numerous awards as a great place to live and work. Our city planners work with businesses as they are searching for space to start up in our community. Once a business is open, we have a great partnership with the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. The “government” is also here to help with the things that fall into the government category, parking, traffic, ordinances, licenses, and of course, I would remain open to businesses contacting me with any questions or concerns they have regarding doing business in Woodbury. As always, if I can’t help, I will find someone who can.
The legislative session was a busy one. Do not underestimate the impact it has had on local governments, from Affordable housing to Zoning, and don’t forget the new cannabis laws. The intent may be good, but there are some unintended consequences when laws are passed with a high-level approach leaving each city wondering what that means to them, how that impacts their budget, and how it affects the long-range plans of city growth.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Woodbury?
Although, it seems the market has cooled in some areas, the business climate in Woodbury is still expanding with new businesses – retail, restaurants, medical and warehouses - relocating or opening in Woodbury, AND our existing businesses choosing to reinvest in their property and stay in Woodbury.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Woodbury has instituted several public safety measures to be more proactive, like our Flock License Plate reader cameras. The cameras capture the image of the rear license plate only, and if there are any alerts, such as felonies or amber alerts, the police are notified.
With the Gold Line projected opening in 2025, expanding residential and businesses, the most pressing issue for me would be to attract and retain quality public safety personnel.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The City of Woodbury has recently approved two affordable housing programs in 2024 totaling 489 new units. In addition to approving these projects, the city has also worked with these developers and applied for grants to help get these projects proper funding.
Woodbury also has a robust Housing and Redevelopment Authority. In 2024, the HRA has issued 24 first-time homebuyer loans and two neighborhood reinvestment loans which offers homeowners a lower interest loan to remove blight, make upgrades, and build equity in their homes.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Public Transportation is very important to not only my family but the entire community.
Through the years, I have been contacted by residents regarding snow packed bus stops, the unreliable services such as Metro Mobility, Transit Link, Uber, Lyft and taxis, along with gaps in our trail system for pedestrians to safely move along the major roadways. I will continue to work with the Met Council, share residents’ concerns, and help develop SAFE and RELIABLE transportation options and improve accessibility for all.
I’m happy to see our express bus ridership to Minneapolis and St. Paul has rebounded since Covid. I will advocate to keep the express services to St. Paul and Minneapolis.
While our express bus riders enjoy a safe area to park and board the bus, not every route has that some safety and access. I will continue to advocate for snow removal during the winter months along our regular bus routes so EVERYONE can have access to transportation without having to climb a snowbank or wait in an intersection for transportation.
In 2025, we have the long planned for Gold Line, the $500M bus line, which will connect Woodbury to St. Paul. This adds another mode of transportation for people to come and go from Woodbury.
While transit riders can enjoy the addition of the Gold Line to get them to Woodbury, they will then face the challenge of getting to their final destination if it is not in the immediate vicinity of the transit stops. The city is now faced with filling the bike and pedestrian gaps around the Gold Line to offer safe bike and pedestrian sidewalks and trails. The lack of reliable transportation to get riders to their final destination, such as Metro Mobility, Transit Link, taxis, Ubers, Lyft must be addressed.
Woodbury lacks reliable transportation for the seniors and others in our community. Metro Mobility and Transit Link are options but scheduling a ride is difficult and inconvenient which means people do not have the ability to get to their appointments, grocery store, transit stations and work.
Safety isn’t just for the riders of public transportation. It also means for those who live along the transit routes. We need to provide adequate measures to protect private property from noise, light and air pollution, loitering, and littering, such as abandoned shopping carts.
The Gold Line, Lack of reliable transportation within the city and the decline of public safety personnel mean there’s plenty of work to do in this area.
I plan to continue to work with Met Council on securing reliable transit options for everyone in our community while still preserving the safety and privacy of the homeowners along the routes.
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?
Temporary dollars should be spent on one-time projects. It would be irresponsible to use temporary dollars to try to fund long-term or on-going budgetary items. Examples of one-time projects, Use of temporary dollars for parks and trail funds to help projects advance, short-term or one-time training for employees.
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?
While local government can control local issues such as zoning, licenses, or ordinances, subsidies and wages are best suited for the state government.
One area where the City of Woodbury has led on is our Community Response team which includes a therapy dog and an embedded social worker. This program has been so successful, Washington County has a cost-sharing partnership with other cities and is investing and expanding the social work program county-wide.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-343-2509
Campaign Website: kimwilsonforcouncil.wixsite.com/website
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: @kimwilsonforcouncil
Candidate Bio
I graduated from Woodbury High School in 1985. After a brief departure from the area for college, I moved back in 1993 to raise my family.
In November of 2020, I was elected to council and am finishing up my first term. While it has been a challenge, it is also rewarding.
I have worked hard for the community for the last four years. I have advocated for a “growth management” plan until the water treatment plant that will address the PFAS issues is operational. The plant is expected to be operational in 2028.
I will remain open and accessible to the public and am available for phone calls, meetings or just conversation.
I will remain open-minded while not compromising on values.
I offer a diverse voice on the council and will continue to ask the tough questions while seeking common-sense solutions.
I will continue to advocate for an open and transparent government.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would continue to listen to the public and work to gain an understanding of their wants and needs, their visions and desires for their community and neighborhoods. I would continue to be a conduit between the city and the residents. I would continue to ask tough questions and challenge the “city” to be more transparent and accountable to the residents.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
- Public Safety. I would work towards a fully staffed public safety department. This isn’t just about the numbers. It is about being able to attract and retain good quality employees to join the Woodbury Public Safety Family. This is proving to be a challenge with the rapid decline in the job market and public hostility toward the police, fire and EMT in the last four years.
- Water and Growth: With the changing MDH and EPA guidance on PFAS, the City of Woodbury has adopted a “managed growth” strategy until the Water Treatment plant is closer to operational. I will continue to advocate for slower development until the water treatment facility is operational.
- Infrastructure funding: Woodbury is known for parks and trails. As our city ages, so does our infrastructure. While the city has imposed a utility franchise fee to help offset the tax levy for the parks and trails replacement fund, we continue to build neighborhoods with sidewalks. The sidewalk replacement is not accounted for in any replacement fund. We are now building retaining walls on city property along the newly constructed trails. These retaining walls are not accounted for in any replacement fund.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Woodbury?
The biggest challenge for the City of Woodbury would be the attracting and retaining of good quality candidates for the public safety department; police, fire, EMS. Although we have a mutual aid agreement with Cottage Grove and Oakdale, those cities are also growing in population and the public safety staffing shortfall is being experienced by most cities.
The biggest opportunity in Woodbury, is just that…..opportunity. Woodbury offers opportunities for everyone, whether you’re an employee, business-owner, or a resident. Whether you’re a kid, an adult, or a senior, we have programs and outings, sports and activities through our Parks and Recreations department. Woodbury is home to many high-level medical facilities. We offer restaurants and shopping. Our businesses have the opportunity to network through our well-established and growing Chamber of Commerce. We also have an extensive parks and trail network for our walker, joggers, bikers and pickleballers to enjoy.
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?
Woodbury has received numerous awards as a great place to live and work. Our city planners work with businesses as they are searching for space to start up in our community. Once a business is open, we have a great partnership with the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. The “government” is also here to help with the things that fall into the government category, parking, traffic, ordinances, licenses, and of course, I would remain open to businesses contacting me with any questions or concerns they have regarding doing business in Woodbury. As always, if I can’t help, I will find someone who can.
The legislative session was a busy one. Do not underestimate the impact it has had on local governments, from Affordable housing to Zoning, and don’t forget the new cannabis laws. The intent may be good, but there are some unintended consequences when laws are passed with a high-level approach leaving each city wondering what that means to them, how that impacts their budget, and how it affects the long-range plans of city growth.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Woodbury?
Although, it seems the market has cooled in some areas, the business climate in Woodbury is still expanding with new businesses – retail, restaurants, medical and warehouses - relocating or opening in Woodbury, AND our existing businesses choosing to reinvest in their property and stay in Woodbury.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Woodbury has instituted several public safety measures to be more proactive, like our Flock License Plate reader cameras. The cameras capture the image of the rear license plate only, and if there are any alerts, such as felonies or amber alerts, the police are notified.
With the Gold Line projected opening in 2025, expanding residential and businesses, the most pressing issue for me would be to attract and retain quality public safety personnel.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The City of Woodbury has recently approved two affordable housing programs in 2024 totaling 489 new units. In addition to approving these projects, the city has also worked with these developers and applied for grants to help get these projects proper funding.
Woodbury also has a robust Housing and Redevelopment Authority. In 2024, the HRA has issued 24 first-time homebuyer loans and two neighborhood reinvestment loans which offers homeowners a lower interest loan to remove blight, make upgrades, and build equity in their homes.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Public Transportation is very important to not only my family but the entire community.
Through the years, I have been contacted by residents regarding snow packed bus stops, the unreliable services such as Metro Mobility, Transit Link, Uber, Lyft and taxis, along with gaps in our trail system for pedestrians to safely move along the major roadways. I will continue to work with the Met Council, share residents’ concerns, and help develop SAFE and RELIABLE transportation options and improve accessibility for all.
I’m happy to see our express bus ridership to Minneapolis and St. Paul has rebounded since Covid. I will advocate to keep the express services to St. Paul and Minneapolis.
While our express bus riders enjoy a safe area to park and board the bus, not every route has that some safety and access. I will continue to advocate for snow removal during the winter months along our regular bus routes so EVERYONE can have access to transportation without having to climb a snowbank or wait in an intersection for transportation.
In 2025, we have the long planned for Gold Line, the $500M bus line, which will connect Woodbury to St. Paul. This adds another mode of transportation for people to come and go from Woodbury.
While transit riders can enjoy the addition of the Gold Line to get them to Woodbury, they will then face the challenge of getting to their final destination if it is not in the immediate vicinity of the transit stops. The city is now faced with filling the bike and pedestrian gaps around the Gold Line to offer safe bike and pedestrian sidewalks and trails. The lack of reliable transportation to get riders to their final destination, such as Metro Mobility, Transit Link, taxis, Ubers, Lyft must be addressed.
Woodbury lacks reliable transportation for the seniors and others in our community. Metro Mobility and Transit Link are options but scheduling a ride is difficult and inconvenient which means people do not have the ability to get to their appointments, grocery store, transit stations and work.
Safety isn’t just for the riders of public transportation. It also means for those who live along the transit routes. We need to provide adequate measures to protect private property from noise, light and air pollution, loitering, and littering, such as abandoned shopping carts.
The Gold Line, Lack of reliable transportation within the city and the decline of public safety personnel mean there’s plenty of work to do in this area.
I plan to continue to work with Met Council on securing reliable transit options for everyone in our community while still preserving the safety and privacy of the homeowners along the routes.
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?
Temporary dollars should be spent on one-time projects. It would be irresponsible to use temporary dollars to try to fund long-term or on-going budgetary items. Examples of one-time projects, Use of temporary dollars for parks and trail funds to help projects advance, short-term or one-time training for employees.
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?
While local government can control local issues such as zoning, licenses, or ordinances, subsidies and wages are best suited for the state government.
One area where the City of Woodbury has led on is our Community Response team which includes a therapy dog and an embedded social worker. This program has been so successful, Washington County has a cost-sharing partnership with other cities and is investing and expanding the social work program county-wide.