Kim Wilson
Name: Kim Wilson
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-730-5435
Website: kimwilsonforcouncil.com
Facebook Page: Kim Wilson for Council
Candidate Bio
I graduated from Woodbury High School in 1985, and returned in 1993 to raise my family. I have seen this community grow from a drive-through city to a destination hot spot for medical, retail and residents.
I was a self-employed court reporter, but when our family started to grow, we made the decision that I would stay home with the kids. Nineteen years later, I have five children and am a homeschooling mom.
I have had numerous volunteering opportunities through the years including:
- Squirt and Bantam/16U director on the Woodbury Hockey Board
- Baseball and soccer coach
- Sales Coordinator of the city-wide Lion’s Garage Sale Directories
- Currently certified coach for National Archery in the Schools (NASP)
For the past three years, I have attended the budget and council workshops and council meetings to gain a better understanding of how our local government works and have witnessed the strengths and areas that could be improved upon.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury?
Business in Woodbury is rapidly growing. New business opportunities are expanding, and the businesses that are here have remodeled, expanded and remained in Woodbury.
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, Woodbury?
I don’t believe the city should be offering incentives to locate in Woodbury, such as tax abatements, but I also don’t believe the city should be restricting or imposing extra taxes on certain types of industries, like an added “hotel tax.”
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 Woodbury?
I am NOT in favor of expanding the size of our local government.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Woodbury? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury 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, I do NOT support a minimum wage increase. The State and Federal government have laws in place that address that issue. If a business is going to not only survive, but thrive, they will have to offer competitive wages and benefits in order to attract and keep the type of employees they want.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
The business climate and economy are dictating the employment environment, and right now, if a business wants to keep employees, they will have to decide what they need to do to remain open and viable. I do NOT support any other proposals on businesses located in Woodbury, other than what is mandated by state and federal government.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Woodbury is working jointly with Cottage Grove to construct a new East Metro Public Safety Training Facility (HERO) center, which will offer new training opportunities for our public safety department. I would work closely with the Public Safety department; listen to the businesses and citizens to address any concerns they may have.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My first priority involving the budget would be accountability. In 2018, the council approved budget expenditures of $84 million. The 2018 adjusted budget expenditures now total $91 million.
The City planned three capital improvement projects, Public Works building, Ojibway Park, and HERO center, totaling approximately $15 million in the Capital Improvement Plan. In the end, the council approved the three projects with a budget of over $30 million. This is NOT responsible spending by our government.
The city needs to do a better job of not only identifying the future needs of the city, but also budgeting for those needs.
If projects are needed to be completed and costs have not been properly anticipated, an increase to the tax levy is not the first option. I would look within the government’s budget and spending to see where cuts can be made BEFORE burdening the taxpayers with government’s lack of planning.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Businesses need residents. Residents need businesses. The city needs both. A good mix is what makes a community desirable.
9. What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
The business and residential growth in Woodbury is growing and strong. I will look to future developments and make sure they are planned accordingly and offer a diversified use of our land.
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?
See answer 11
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Woodbury?
The City of Woodbury is unique in that it serves three school districts, 622, 833 and 834. It also has numerous private and charter schools within the city limits. One attracter to our city is our schools. As a council member, I will listen to the needs of the school districts and parents to make sure we are doing our part to provide safe transportation options for pedestrians and vehicles. I will work with the school regarding our public safety department and resource officers.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Responsible Growth. Woodbury is a rapidly developing and growing city. Growth is good, but it needs to be responsible. Growth without proper thought to the existing residents, growth without proper infrastructure planning, such as pedestrian mobility, traffic congestion, noise, water and sewer, is not responsible growth.
Expanding development means increased traffic trapping some residents in their neighborhoods with no safe means of entering or exiting their neighborhoods.
I will make sure our existing residents have the proper means to move in and out of neighborhoods in a safe manner before new developments are approved.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Budget - making sure our needs are taken care of first.
- Responsible growth – making sure infrastructure is in place and current residents are taken care of before new growth and development puts additional strain on our infrastructure.
- water quantity and quality
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Moving pedestrians and vehicles in a safe, efficient, timely manner.
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?
I will examine the services offered by our government and make adjustments as needed.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
- I will remain committed to Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in our local government.
- I will be an advocate for the people
- I will remain fiscally responsible making sure our tax dollars are spent on the things that are important.
- I will use common sense solutions for our growing city
- I will work for cleaner, safer, more affordable water in our community.
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-730-5435
Website: kimwilsonforcouncil.com
Facebook Page: Kim Wilson for Council
Candidate Bio
I graduated from Woodbury High School in 1985, and returned in 1993 to raise my family. I have seen this community grow from a drive-through city to a destination hot spot for medical, retail and residents.
I was a self-employed court reporter, but when our family started to grow, we made the decision that I would stay home with the kids. Nineteen years later, I have five children and am a homeschooling mom.
I have had numerous volunteering opportunities through the years including:
- Squirt and Bantam/16U director on the Woodbury Hockey Board
- Baseball and soccer coach
- Sales Coordinator of the city-wide Lion’s Garage Sale Directories
- Currently certified coach for National Archery in the Schools (NASP)
For the past three years, I have attended the budget and council workshops and council meetings to gain a better understanding of how our local government works and have witnessed the strengths and areas that could be improved upon.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury?
Business in Woodbury is rapidly growing. New business opportunities are expanding, and the businesses that are here have remodeled, expanded and remained in Woodbury.
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, Woodbury?
I don’t believe the city should be offering incentives to locate in Woodbury, such as tax abatements, but I also don’t believe the city should be restricting or imposing extra taxes on certain types of industries, like an added “hotel tax.”
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 Woodbury?
I am NOT in favor of expanding the size of our local government.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Woodbury? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Woodbury 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, I do NOT support a minimum wage increase. The State and Federal government have laws in place that address that issue. If a business is going to not only survive, but thrive, they will have to offer competitive wages and benefits in order to attract and keep the type of employees they want.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
The business climate and economy are dictating the employment environment, and right now, if a business wants to keep employees, they will have to decide what they need to do to remain open and viable. I do NOT support any other proposals on businesses located in Woodbury, other than what is mandated by state and federal government.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Woodbury is working jointly with Cottage Grove to construct a new East Metro Public Safety Training Facility (HERO) center, which will offer new training opportunities for our public safety department. I would work closely with the Public Safety department; listen to the businesses and citizens to address any concerns they may have.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
My first priority involving the budget would be accountability. In 2018, the council approved budget expenditures of $84 million. The 2018 adjusted budget expenditures now total $91 million.
The City planned three capital improvement projects, Public Works building, Ojibway Park, and HERO center, totaling approximately $15 million in the Capital Improvement Plan. In the end, the council approved the three projects with a budget of over $30 million. This is NOT responsible spending by our government.
The city needs to do a better job of not only identifying the future needs of the city, but also budgeting for those needs.
If projects are needed to be completed and costs have not been properly anticipated, an increase to the tax levy is not the first option. I would look within the government’s budget and spending to see where cuts can be made BEFORE burdening the taxpayers with government’s lack of planning.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Businesses need residents. Residents need businesses. The city needs both. A good mix is what makes a community desirable.
9. What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
The business and residential growth in Woodbury is growing and strong. I will look to future developments and make sure they are planned accordingly and offer a diversified use of our land.
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?
See answer 11
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Woodbury?
The City of Woodbury is unique in that it serves three school districts, 622, 833 and 834. It also has numerous private and charter schools within the city limits. One attracter to our city is our schools. As a council member, I will listen to the needs of the school districts and parents to make sure we are doing our part to provide safe transportation options for pedestrians and vehicles. I will work with the school regarding our public safety department and resource officers.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Responsible Growth. Woodbury is a rapidly developing and growing city. Growth is good, but it needs to be responsible. Growth without proper thought to the existing residents, growth without proper infrastructure planning, such as pedestrian mobility, traffic congestion, noise, water and sewer, is not responsible growth.
Expanding development means increased traffic trapping some residents in their neighborhoods with no safe means of entering or exiting their neighborhoods.
I will make sure our existing residents have the proper means to move in and out of neighborhoods in a safe manner before new developments are approved.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Budget - making sure our needs are taken care of first.
- Responsible growth – making sure infrastructure is in place and current residents are taken care of before new growth and development puts additional strain on our infrastructure.
- water quantity and quality
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Moving pedestrians and vehicles in a safe, efficient, timely manner.
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?
I will examine the services offered by our government and make adjustments as needed.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
- I will remain committed to Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in our local government.
- I will be an advocate for the people
- I will remain fiscally responsible making sure our tax dollars are spent on the things that are important.
- I will use common sense solutions for our growing city
- I will work for cleaner, safer, more affordable water in our community.