Laurie Elliott
Name: Laurie Elliott
Public Office Sought: Newport City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-458-5885
Candidate Bio
• Currently serve on the Newport Planning Commission.
• Have worked in local government for 25+ years at the City’s of Moorhead (City Manager’s Asst), Maplewood, and Shoreview (Human Resources).
• Served on two League of Minnesota Cities policy committees (Service Delivery and HR/Data Practices).
• 25-year Newport resident.
• My education includes Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration.
• I bring a solid understanding of local government operations and would like to get more actively involved and be a strong leader for Newport. This is a great City and there are many exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
• I’m level-headed and believe in working together to find solutions and solve problems.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Newport?
The City recognizes the importance of helping existing businesses and bringing in new businesses to the community. It broadens the tax base and brings services and jobs closer to our residents. The City has had some recent commercial and residential success stories and this points to Newport’s healthy business climate. The City should continue to place a high priority on retaining and growing our key businesses and attracting new businesses to our community.
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, Newport?
Added housing in Newport provides a larger workforce for businesses to draw from for their employee needs. Washington County has an “Open to Business” program that helps businesses in the county, or new businesses looking to locate in the County. We can work with the County to make sure their staff fully understands all that Newport has to offer, and that this information is passed on to potential businesses.
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 Newport?
Business development was difficult during the economic downturn. In the past few years we’ve seen Newport successfully build work force housing, add a transit station, approve a proposal for another apartment building, and other small businesses have joined the Newport community. Newport has been able to add businesses without the expense of a business advocate. Business owner input can be solicited while regulations are being introduced or updated.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Newport? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Newport 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?
The Minnesota legislature has addressed the minimum wage issue on a state-wide level. If Newport businesses believe paying a higher wage is in their best interest for recruiting and retaining employees, they are in the best position to make that decision and understand how it would affect their bottom line. The City does not need to be involved with this issue.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Newport (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 Newport and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Most businesses in Newport are small operations and mandatory regulations are especially burdensome to these owners, both through the added monetary cost and the time for administrative tracking. This would also create work for Newport’s very small staff to track compliance and deal with penalties for non-compliance. The City does not need to create employment-related regulations for businesses.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Having experienced the Newport Fire Department in action, I’d say they were well-trained, professional and responded very quickly. On the Police/Sheriff side of public safety, drug use and domestic violence are two examples of the challenging areas they must deal with. We need to support the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by encouraging ongoing training in these areas including de-escalation techniques.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Maintain a reasonable tax levy while delivering the services residents need and want.
Maintain and improve the City’s bond rating, which results in lower interest rates when borrowing and a significant tax savings to the community.
Continued maintenance of the City’s infrastructure and addressing storm water issues.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Both play a vital role in a well-rounded City and each are essential to diversifying our tax base. Commercial business brings important jobs into the community letting more residents work closer to home. It’s important to recognize the link between business and economic development and cities overall quality of life - business and jobs are the economic foundation for the community. High priority needs to be placed on retaining and growing our key businesses and attracting new businesses that provide quality jobs and services for the community.
We need to promote the City’s strengths such as easy transportation access to the community, a variety of structures and locations available for large and small businesses, land available for additional residential development, our close proximity to the airport and Mall of America, access to the river for recreational activities and more.
9. What will you do to expand Newport’s tax base?
Support residential and commercial development projects. Work on policies that help projects move forward. Work with staff and Washington County to find businesses and developers for both residential and business growth. And promote Newport as a great place to live, work and do business.
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?
The City isn’t specifically involved in the education business, but we should support education that includes teaching skills for the 21st century, preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, and teaching vocational skills because the trades are hurting for skilled workers.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Newport Public Schools?
Cities typically partner with schools for a variety of things such as recreation programs. The City should support the school district where possible.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Funding our current and future needs while keeping property tax increases at a reasonable level is our biggest challenge. This includes construction of a new City Hall/Fire Station, maintaining our infrastructure, addressing storm water issues, the riverfront park project, and more. We will need to seek State and Federal dollars where available, apply for grants where appropriate, partner with other communities, and pursue best value bidding for construction projects.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Keeping property tax increases at a reasonable level, the future construction and funding of a new City Hall and Fire Station, and finding ways to attract new businesses to Newport to broaden our tax base. Continued maintenance of the City’s infrastructure, addressing storm water issues, and managing future development are also concerns.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Additional bus routes from the Transit Station to include a midday and evening route. An airport route so residents could access the airport, additional bus routes and the light rail system from a secondary location other than downtown St. Paul. Also, transportation options for seniors.
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?
A decision to cut services would need to be evaluated with input from the residents, and/or business owners, affected groups or experts on the subject before being eliminated. Joint service agreements would need to be studied to determine the costs, benefits, and desired results. I wouldn’t make any specific suggestions in this area without first doing my homework.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I’d like to be a new voice for residents and businesses on the City Council. Thank you for reading and please vote for me on Election Day, November 6, or during early voting.
Public Office Sought: Newport City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-458-5885
Candidate Bio
• Currently serve on the Newport Planning Commission.
• Have worked in local government for 25+ years at the City’s of Moorhead (City Manager’s Asst), Maplewood, and Shoreview (Human Resources).
• Served on two League of Minnesota Cities policy committees (Service Delivery and HR/Data Practices).
• 25-year Newport resident.
• My education includes Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration.
• I bring a solid understanding of local government operations and would like to get more actively involved and be a strong leader for Newport. This is a great City and there are many exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
• I’m level-headed and believe in working together to find solutions and solve problems.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Newport?
The City recognizes the importance of helping existing businesses and bringing in new businesses to the community. It broadens the tax base and brings services and jobs closer to our residents. The City has had some recent commercial and residential success stories and this points to Newport’s healthy business climate. The City should continue to place a high priority on retaining and growing our key businesses and attracting new businesses to our community.
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, Newport?
Added housing in Newport provides a larger workforce for businesses to draw from for their employee needs. Washington County has an “Open to Business” program that helps businesses in the county, or new businesses looking to locate in the County. We can work with the County to make sure their staff fully understands all that Newport has to offer, and that this information is passed on to potential businesses.
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 Newport?
Business development was difficult during the economic downturn. In the past few years we’ve seen Newport successfully build work force housing, add a transit station, approve a proposal for another apartment building, and other small businesses have joined the Newport community. Newport has been able to add businesses without the expense of a business advocate. Business owner input can be solicited while regulations are being introduced or updated.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Newport? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Newport 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?
The Minnesota legislature has addressed the minimum wage issue on a state-wide level. If Newport businesses believe paying a higher wage is in their best interest for recruiting and retaining employees, they are in the best position to make that decision and understand how it would affect their bottom line. The City does not need to be involved with this issue.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Newport (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 Newport and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Most businesses in Newport are small operations and mandatory regulations are especially burdensome to these owners, both through the added monetary cost and the time for administrative tracking. This would also create work for Newport’s very small staff to track compliance and deal with penalties for non-compliance. The City does not need to create employment-related regulations for businesses.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Having experienced the Newport Fire Department in action, I’d say they were well-trained, professional and responded very quickly. On the Police/Sheriff side of public safety, drug use and domestic violence are two examples of the challenging areas they must deal with. We need to support the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by encouraging ongoing training in these areas including de-escalation techniques.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Maintain a reasonable tax levy while delivering the services residents need and want.
Maintain and improve the City’s bond rating, which results in lower interest rates when borrowing and a significant tax savings to the community.
Continued maintenance of the City’s infrastructure and addressing storm water issues.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
Both play a vital role in a well-rounded City and each are essential to diversifying our tax base. Commercial business brings important jobs into the community letting more residents work closer to home. It’s important to recognize the link between business and economic development and cities overall quality of life - business and jobs are the economic foundation for the community. High priority needs to be placed on retaining and growing our key businesses and attracting new businesses that provide quality jobs and services for the community.
We need to promote the City’s strengths such as easy transportation access to the community, a variety of structures and locations available for large and small businesses, land available for additional residential development, our close proximity to the airport and Mall of America, access to the river for recreational activities and more.
9. What will you do to expand Newport’s tax base?
Support residential and commercial development projects. Work on policies that help projects move forward. Work with staff and Washington County to find businesses and developers for both residential and business growth. And promote Newport as a great place to live, work and do business.
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?
The City isn’t specifically involved in the education business, but we should support education that includes teaching skills for the 21st century, preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet, and teaching vocational skills because the trades are hurting for skilled workers.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to Newport Public Schools?
Cities typically partner with schools for a variety of things such as recreation programs. The City should support the school district where possible.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Funding our current and future needs while keeping property tax increases at a reasonable level is our biggest challenge. This includes construction of a new City Hall/Fire Station, maintaining our infrastructure, addressing storm water issues, the riverfront park project, and more. We will need to seek State and Federal dollars where available, apply for grants where appropriate, partner with other communities, and pursue best value bidding for construction projects.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Keeping property tax increases at a reasonable level, the future construction and funding of a new City Hall and Fire Station, and finding ways to attract new businesses to Newport to broaden our tax base. Continued maintenance of the City’s infrastructure, addressing storm water issues, and managing future development are also concerns.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Additional bus routes from the Transit Station to include a midday and evening route. An airport route so residents could access the airport, additional bus routes and the light rail system from a secondary location other than downtown St. Paul. Also, transportation options for seniors.
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?
A decision to cut services would need to be evaluated with input from the residents, and/or business owners, affected groups or experts on the subject before being eliminated. Joint service agreements would need to be studied to determine the costs, benefits, and desired results. I wouldn’t make any specific suggestions in this area without first doing my homework.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I’d like to be a new voice for residents and businesses on the City Council. Thank you for reading and please vote for me on Election Day, November 6, or during early voting.