Mike Supina
Name: Mike Supina
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-706-0061
Campaign Website: www.supina4eagan.com
Twitter handle: @Supina4Eagan
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/supina4eagan
Candidate Bio
My involvement in local government began long ago through service on the Dakota County Public Arts Commission and Planning Commission, followed by the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission and Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission. I campaigned for council in 2020 with the guiding principles “Connect, Include, Sustain.” That wasn’t just a slogan; it represented how I intended to engage with those who live, work, and do business in Eagan, and my priorities once in office. Eagan has made great strides on each of these priorities in the last three years. We’ve hired a full-time sustainability coordinator, who has now begun the preliminary work developing a climate action plan. We’ve embarked on an ambitious DEI initiative, which is now about to enter its next phase. And by now everyone in Eagan has seen that we have begun building a new Art House which will become a creative connector for our whole region. Of course, it took a collaborative effort of council, staff, and community input to make these much needed and long-awaited projects finally happen. But it also can be said that when a candidate clearly articulates their priorities and those priorities resonate with voters, that can act as a catalyst for progress.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
• Work collaboratively
• Set an example of service
• Respond promptly to resident concerns
• Continuous learning
• Play the long game understanding that good things take time and patience
• Engage with nonprofits, service clubs like Rotary, DCR Chamber, and LMC
• Always show up (100% attendance at council meetings during first term)
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
First, I’d like to see the Climate Action Plan, DEI efforts, and Art House projects through to completion. Beyond that, I would like to be at the table for upcoming road and trail improvements to make Eagan an even more connected and bike/pedestrian-friendly community. And, as Eagan will soon be transformed by several large redevelopment projects, I want to be sure that what is built represents the types of jobs, industry, and housing compatible with the current character of our community, responsive to our community’s evolving future needs, and that keeps Eagan in a leadership position among our peer cities.
By being among the most fiscally responsible cities in the state and maintaining a healthy budget reserve, Eagan is less vulnerable to economic cycles than other communities.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Eagan?
There is only one possible response to this question - redevelopment. The commercial real estate environment has changed far more rapidly and drastically since 2020 than we or any other city had anticipated. With those changes come potential impacts to Eagan’s commercial tax base. But those changes also represent opportunities for redevelopment that will propel Eagan’s employers into new ways of working. Eagan’s city staff worked tirelessly to keep Thomson Reuters in Eagan after they announced the closure of their former headquarters complex. We’ve drafted a vision plan for the former Delta and Unisys sites near Eagan Central Park. And we’ve worked with potential developers for the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield headquarters site and I am optimistic that a new use will come along that will optimize the best attributes of that location. Employers, workers, and residents want to be in Eagan; we can facilitate that through redevelopment and in the long run it will benefit everyone.
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?
The principal function of government is to maintain a safe and orderly environment conducive for people and businesses to live, work, play, and create. Local government can’t create jobs, but it can create a framework that encourages employers to move or grow new jobs here, for example, with a reasonable tax levy relative to peer cities, with public amenities, with housing options appropriate to the available jobs, and with transit service near large employers.
I found that the outcomes of the 2023-24 legislative session largely aligned with my goals for making Eagan an even more welcoming and livable community.
How would you characterize the business climate in Eagan and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Eagan?
The best strategy for attracting new businesses, and retaining existing ones, is identical to attracting and retaining residents - remain ahead of the curve with regard to housing and transit options, public safety, sustainability, equity and inclusion, and community amenities. Eagan conducts a business survey every two years and the results consistently show a high level of satisfaction with the business climate in Eagan
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
The first step in understanding public safety challenges is to learn about them in-depth. I am a graduate of the Eagan Police Department Citizen’s Academy which is an eight-week program which teaches about the many aspects and challenges of police work. As a council member I have maintained a line of communication with our police chief to learn about new challenges and issues as they arise. The Eagan Police Department has also initiated an ongoing Community Affairs Group to help them solicit input and gauge public attitudes about local police-related issues.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The City of Eagan does not develop affordable housing but we collaborate closely with Dakota County in their efforts to do so. That collaboration can also extend to other nonprofit developers.
The city has also implemented a new rental licensing ordinance to ensure that rental housing in Eagan is safe and code compliant.
Lastly, Eagan and Dakota County both offer programs for home improvement for which many of our residents and homeowner associations are eligible.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
As Eagan has grown into a nearly fully developed community, it is clear that the function of the county roads that criss-cross our city must adapt. Access to homes, businesses, and places of worship occur directly from county roads. Children cross them, often unaccompanied, to access parks and schools. County roads can no longer be mini-freeways designed to convey the largest volume of traffic at the highest practical speed. I would like to see more collaboration between Eagan and Dakota County to rethink and, in some instances redesign, county roads throughout Eagan.
Beyond county roads, Eagan has been building new trails, roundabouts, and enhanced crosswalks to help pedestrians and cyclists navigate our streets more safely and I’d like to see that continue.
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?
My approach to temporary or one-time funding windfalls is to use them only for one-time budget items so that future budgets which do not include those revenues are not impacted by ongoing costs.
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?
Where the economic repercussions of a policy extend beyond city boundaries, my approach is that those issues are best handled at the state level to maintain an equitable competitive arena among businesses in nearby cities.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-706-0061
Campaign Website: www.supina4eagan.com
Twitter handle: @Supina4Eagan
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/supina4eagan
Candidate Bio
My involvement in local government began long ago through service on the Dakota County Public Arts Commission and Planning Commission, followed by the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission and Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission. I campaigned for council in 2020 with the guiding principles “Connect, Include, Sustain.” That wasn’t just a slogan; it represented how I intended to engage with those who live, work, and do business in Eagan, and my priorities once in office. Eagan has made great strides on each of these priorities in the last three years. We’ve hired a full-time sustainability coordinator, who has now begun the preliminary work developing a climate action plan. We’ve embarked on an ambitious DEI initiative, which is now about to enter its next phase. And by now everyone in Eagan has seen that we have begun building a new Art House which will become a creative connector for our whole region. Of course, it took a collaborative effort of council, staff, and community input to make these much needed and long-awaited projects finally happen. But it also can be said that when a candidate clearly articulates their priorities and those priorities resonate with voters, that can act as a catalyst for progress.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
• Work collaboratively
• Set an example of service
• Respond promptly to resident concerns
• Continuous learning
• Play the long game understanding that good things take time and patience
• Engage with nonprofits, service clubs like Rotary, DCR Chamber, and LMC
• Always show up (100% attendance at council meetings during first term)
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
First, I’d like to see the Climate Action Plan, DEI efforts, and Art House projects through to completion. Beyond that, I would like to be at the table for upcoming road and trail improvements to make Eagan an even more connected and bike/pedestrian-friendly community. And, as Eagan will soon be transformed by several large redevelopment projects, I want to be sure that what is built represents the types of jobs, industry, and housing compatible with the current character of our community, responsive to our community’s evolving future needs, and that keeps Eagan in a leadership position among our peer cities.
By being among the most fiscally responsible cities in the state and maintaining a healthy budget reserve, Eagan is less vulnerable to economic cycles than other communities.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Eagan?
There is only one possible response to this question - redevelopment. The commercial real estate environment has changed far more rapidly and drastically since 2020 than we or any other city had anticipated. With those changes come potential impacts to Eagan’s commercial tax base. But those changes also represent opportunities for redevelopment that will propel Eagan’s employers into new ways of working. Eagan’s city staff worked tirelessly to keep Thomson Reuters in Eagan after they announced the closure of their former headquarters complex. We’ve drafted a vision plan for the former Delta and Unisys sites near Eagan Central Park. And we’ve worked with potential developers for the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield headquarters site and I am optimistic that a new use will come along that will optimize the best attributes of that location. Employers, workers, and residents want to be in Eagan; we can facilitate that through redevelopment and in the long run it will benefit everyone.
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?
The principal function of government is to maintain a safe and orderly environment conducive for people and businesses to live, work, play, and create. Local government can’t create jobs, but it can create a framework that encourages employers to move or grow new jobs here, for example, with a reasonable tax levy relative to peer cities, with public amenities, with housing options appropriate to the available jobs, and with transit service near large employers.
I found that the outcomes of the 2023-24 legislative session largely aligned with my goals for making Eagan an even more welcoming and livable community.
How would you characterize the business climate in Eagan and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Eagan?
The best strategy for attracting new businesses, and retaining existing ones, is identical to attracting and retaining residents - remain ahead of the curve with regard to housing and transit options, public safety, sustainability, equity and inclusion, and community amenities. Eagan conducts a business survey every two years and the results consistently show a high level of satisfaction with the business climate in Eagan
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
The first step in understanding public safety challenges is to learn about them in-depth. I am a graduate of the Eagan Police Department Citizen’s Academy which is an eight-week program which teaches about the many aspects and challenges of police work. As a council member I have maintained a line of communication with our police chief to learn about new challenges and issues as they arise. The Eagan Police Department has also initiated an ongoing Community Affairs Group to help them solicit input and gauge public attitudes about local police-related issues.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The City of Eagan does not develop affordable housing but we collaborate closely with Dakota County in their efforts to do so. That collaboration can also extend to other nonprofit developers.
The city has also implemented a new rental licensing ordinance to ensure that rental housing in Eagan is safe and code compliant.
Lastly, Eagan and Dakota County both offer programs for home improvement for which many of our residents and homeowner associations are eligible.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
As Eagan has grown into a nearly fully developed community, it is clear that the function of the county roads that criss-cross our city must adapt. Access to homes, businesses, and places of worship occur directly from county roads. Children cross them, often unaccompanied, to access parks and schools. County roads can no longer be mini-freeways designed to convey the largest volume of traffic at the highest practical speed. I would like to see more collaboration between Eagan and Dakota County to rethink and, in some instances redesign, county roads throughout Eagan.
Beyond county roads, Eagan has been building new trails, roundabouts, and enhanced crosswalks to help pedestrians and cyclists navigate our streets more safely and I’d like to see that continue.
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?
My approach to temporary or one-time funding windfalls is to use them only for one-time budget items so that future budgets which do not include those revenues are not impacted by ongoing costs.
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?
Where the economic repercussions of a policy extend beyond city boundaries, my approach is that those issues are best handled at the state level to maintain an equitable competitive arena among businesses in nearby cities.