Kim Wilson
Name: Kim Wilson
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-343-2509
Website: Kimwilsonforcouncil.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: @Kimwilsonforcouncil
Candidate Bio
I have been a long-time resident of Woodbury, graduating from Woodbury High School in 1985 and returning in 1993 to raise my family. I have seen Woodbury grow from a drive-through city to a medical and retail destination.
Twenty-one years ago, when my family started to grow, I “retired” from my job as a court reporter and became a full-time homeschooling mom and active in the community and church.
Some of my community roles have included:
Five years ago I started attending city council workshops and meetings to learn more on how the City manages their budget, growth, water issues, aging infrastructure, assessments, taxes, and all the necessities that go along with living in a rapidly growing suburb.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Business and Community go together. A strong community attracts good businesses. Good businesses help a community remain strong. A good mix of retail, medical and restaurants means we can stay close to home.
Many of our local businesses are supportive and active in the community giving many of our working-aged youth their first jobs, supporting our youth and high school sports and clubs, serving as donation drop-offs for local charities, supporting community-wide garage sale, participation in Woodbury Days, and allowing non-profit groups to use their store entrances.
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, Woodbury?
Our city should continue to work to attract both developers of retail and housing BUT our city should NOT be giving tax abatements or creating TIF districts that puts the tax burden on the homeowners for the next 25 years.
The City and businesses need to have a working relationship to retain existing businesses in Woodbury. COVID-19 has hit our business community hard. I am grateful the City has supported the local bars and restaurants by allowing them to open non-traditional patios this summer as our state slowly reopens. The City needs to continue to be a partner in these tough times with the local businesses.
The City could be supportive of the new businesses that open in Woodbury by creating a “Welcome to Woodbury” page on the City’s website that each month features all the businesses that are opening.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do NOT support Woodbury specific employment-related ordinances. I believe in a free-market and capitalism. If a company treats its employees poorly, it has been my personal experience they will not survive, especially with a thriving economy. Low turnover, competitive pay, respect for employees will give a business a strong reputation and will attract and retain good, reliable employees.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
HOUSING:
The City of Woodbury has a good mixed use of housing options available to residents; apartments, townhomes, detached townhomes, affordable housing units, single-family homes, independent living communities, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities. I would continue to work with the community and listen to their concerns and needs as we move forward utilizing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan as a guide.
TRANSPORTATION:
As the City continues to grow and expand outward, moving traffic in an efficient way is becoming a problem. We need to look at traffic patterns and traffic controls and maximize their use to alleviate traffic problems.
While the City, County, State and Federal government continue to fund the 9-mile, 11-stop, 40-minute $461 million Gold Line BRT, a better use of taxpayer funds would have been to expand Express Bus Service from Woodbury to St. Paul and Minneapolis and build express/carpool lanes that can serve the entire area.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
EVERY citizen in Woodbury deserves to feel safe. I will always stand up for wrong and advocate for areas of improvement, but I will continue to Back the Blue.
Woodbury in partnership with Cottage Grove, has invested in the HERO training facility located in Cottage Grove. This facility will offer our Police, Fire and EMT the opportunity and duty to train more often and closer to home to better equip and prepare the Public Safety Department to provide and maintain a sense of security for everyone.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The City’s budget has grown over the past three years by almost $20 million
The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected the City’s budget. Although the long-term financial impact is not completely apparent yet, it is going to be necessary to look at the budget and separate out the City’s wants from the community’s needs in the next couple of years. If the City continues spending the way they have in the past, the taxpayers are going to pay a heavy burden.
Priorities for the Budget:
What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
Attract, support, and retain a good mix of businesses in the community. I do NOT support the creation of TIF districts. That expands the businesses but limits the tax base putting extra burdens on the taxpayers in Woodbury.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Woodbury is served by three school districts, 622, 834, and 833 along with charter and private schools. All three of these school districts need to have the support of the City to help them establish and maintain a quality education. Good schools are one of the reasons people choose Woodbury to call home.
While the City and the school districts can have a working relationship, the school districts have their own elected officials that make decisions directly affecting the schools.
However, as a council member, I would work with and listen to concerns of the citizens in Woodbury and work with the school board to:
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?
We do not really know how deeply COVID-19 has affected our budget. Until we have a clear understanding, the City needs to prioritize the projects they have planned. I would need to examine the complete budget of the City to determine what services could be cut back or eliminated. I am always a fan of the government tightening their belt first before going to the taxpayers.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Woodbury?
The City Council’s role is to foster ALL businesses in Woodbury equally. When all businesses succeed, our community succeeds.
What further policies can Woodbury adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The City can help businesses by sharing information regarding Federal, State and Local loan and grant options that are available.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a City Council member, I would:
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-343-2509
Website: Kimwilsonforcouncil.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: @Kimwilsonforcouncil
Candidate Bio
I have been a long-time resident of Woodbury, graduating from Woodbury High School in 1985 and returning in 1993 to raise my family. I have seen Woodbury grow from a drive-through city to a medical and retail destination.
Twenty-one years ago, when my family started to grow, I “retired” from my job as a court reporter and became a full-time homeschooling mom and active in the community and church.
Some of my community roles have included:
- Baseball and soccer coach
- Hockey Squirt director/16U director
- Lion’s Garage Sale directory coordinator
- National Archery in the Schools (NASP) coach
Five years ago I started attending city council workshops and meetings to learn more on how the City manages their budget, growth, water issues, aging infrastructure, assessments, taxes, and all the necessities that go along with living in a rapidly growing suburb.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Responsible Growth
- Planning, adopting, and adhering to a reasonable budget
- Clean, safe, affordable water
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Business and Community go together. A strong community attracts good businesses. Good businesses help a community remain strong. A good mix of retail, medical and restaurants means we can stay close to home.
Many of our local businesses are supportive and active in the community giving many of our working-aged youth their first jobs, supporting our youth and high school sports and clubs, serving as donation drop-offs for local charities, supporting community-wide garage sale, participation in Woodbury Days, and allowing non-profit groups to use their store entrances.
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, Woodbury?
Our city should continue to work to attract both developers of retail and housing BUT our city should NOT be giving tax abatements or creating TIF districts that puts the tax burden on the homeowners for the next 25 years.
The City and businesses need to have a working relationship to retain existing businesses in Woodbury. COVID-19 has hit our business community hard. I am grateful the City has supported the local bars and restaurants by allowing them to open non-traditional patios this summer as our state slowly reopens. The City needs to continue to be a partner in these tough times with the local businesses.
The City could be supportive of the new businesses that open in Woodbury by creating a “Welcome to Woodbury” page on the City’s website that each month features all the businesses that are opening.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do NOT support Woodbury specific employment-related ordinances. I believe in a free-market and capitalism. If a company treats its employees poorly, it has been my personal experience they will not survive, especially with a thriving economy. Low turnover, competitive pay, respect for employees will give a business a strong reputation and will attract and retain good, reliable employees.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
HOUSING:
The City of Woodbury has a good mixed use of housing options available to residents; apartments, townhomes, detached townhomes, affordable housing units, single-family homes, independent living communities, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities. I would continue to work with the community and listen to their concerns and needs as we move forward utilizing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan as a guide.
TRANSPORTATION:
As the City continues to grow and expand outward, moving traffic in an efficient way is becoming a problem. We need to look at traffic patterns and traffic controls and maximize their use to alleviate traffic problems.
While the City, County, State and Federal government continue to fund the 9-mile, 11-stop, 40-minute $461 million Gold Line BRT, a better use of taxpayer funds would have been to expand Express Bus Service from Woodbury to St. Paul and Minneapolis and build express/carpool lanes that can serve the entire area.
PUBLIC SAFETY:
EVERY citizen in Woodbury deserves to feel safe. I will always stand up for wrong and advocate for areas of improvement, but I will continue to Back the Blue.
Woodbury in partnership with Cottage Grove, has invested in the HERO training facility located in Cottage Grove. This facility will offer our Police, Fire and EMT the opportunity and duty to train more often and closer to home to better equip and prepare the Public Safety Department to provide and maintain a sense of security for everyone.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
The City’s budget has grown over the past three years by almost $20 million
The COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected the City’s budget. Although the long-term financial impact is not completely apparent yet, it is going to be necessary to look at the budget and separate out the City’s wants from the community’s needs in the next couple of years. If the City continues spending the way they have in the past, the taxpayers are going to pay a heavy burden.
Priorities for the Budget:
- Utilize the Capital Improvement Plan to prepare and plan for future growth and spending
- Publish a complete and transparent budget document that our taxes go to fund, such as the Gold Line BRT
- Make sure the needs of the community are funded properly, such as parks and trails, public safety, road maintenance and rehabilitation, water and sewer
- Adhere to the approved budget
What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
Attract, support, and retain a good mix of businesses in the community. I do NOT support the creation of TIF districts. That expands the businesses but limits the tax base putting extra burdens on the taxpayers in Woodbury.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Woodbury is served by three school districts, 622, 834, and 833 along with charter and private schools. All three of these school districts need to have the support of the City to help them establish and maintain a quality education. Good schools are one of the reasons people choose Woodbury to call home.
While the City and the school districts can have a working relationship, the school districts have their own elected officials that make decisions directly affecting the schools.
However, as a council member, I would work with and listen to concerns of the citizens in Woodbury and work with the school board to:
- Establish safe crossings for pedestrians to walk or bike to school
- Work with residents who reside next to the schools to alleviate parking and traffic concerns
- Work with the school on traffic patterns in and out of the school
- Work with the school board, the local schools and the parents to address any safety concerns with the schools.
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?
We do not really know how deeply COVID-19 has affected our budget. Until we have a clear understanding, the City needs to prioritize the projects they have planned. I would need to examine the complete budget of the City to determine what services could be cut back or eliminated. I am always a fan of the government tightening their belt first before going to the taxpayers.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Woodbury?
The City Council’s role is to foster ALL businesses in Woodbury equally. When all businesses succeed, our community succeeds.
What further policies can Woodbury adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The City can help businesses by sharing information regarding Federal, State and Local loan and grant options that are available.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a City Council member, I would:
- Be an advocate FOR the people
- Remain fiscally responsible
- Work for Cleaner, safer, more affordable water
- Use common-sense solutions for our growing city
- Work to restore Integrity, Transparency and Accountability to our local government