Nora Slawik
Name: Nora Slawik
Public Office Sought: Maplewood Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-738-7099
Website: www.noraslawik.com
Twitter: @noraslawik
Facebook: Nora Slawik, Maplewood Mayor
Candidate Bio
I am serving my first term as Mayor of Maplewood since 2014. Prior to that I served seven terms in the legislature. Accomplishments include:
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
The business climate in Maplewood overall is good. This was affirmed in our 2017 SPACC partnership in our 2017 BRE program in the final report.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and how would your administration actively solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Maplewood?
The City of Maplewood is home to some of the most recognizable businesses in the region, including 3M, Maplewood Mall and HealthEast-Fairview’s St John’s Hospital and medical complex. The city is also host to a diverse collection of companies at all stages of growth.
Our companies in the communities are well positioned and planning for growth in both revenue and employees in the coming years. The City has an important role in attracting and retaining jobs, specifically:
3. Will you commit to hiring a business advocate as a member of your senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Maplewood?
The City recently signed a contract with the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) to assist Maplewood with our BRE and workforce development efforts. We are doing this as a temporary measure until we can go through our annual budget process to consider adding additional staff.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Maplewood? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Maplewood 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?
I do not support increasing the minimum wage in Maplewood.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do not support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
At our BRE visits we heard that Maplewood police, fire and EMS are well regarded. Businesses expressed an interest in meeting with the police more proactively. My strategy to address public safety concerns is to partner closely with the Maplewood Police Department and businesses. We would align with the Maplewood Police Department goals including:
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Maplewood conducts and annual budgeting process. My priorities for the budget include:
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
It is important that we have a diversified tax base in Minnesota. In Maplewood we work to keep our levy at a minimal increase for our residents to cover important budget items. We are interested in redevelopment of land and supporting commercial taxes that are not a barrier.
9. What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
In our Comprehensive 2040 Plan we outline how a strong, diversified economy in Maplewood is critical to the well being of the residents and to the fiscal strength of the City. Maplewood will be building on our economic strengths to support ongoing growth across different land uses, including retail, general commercial, mixed-use development and various forms of housing. Specifically we are working on:
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?
As outlined in our final BRE report the City will strengthen relationships with school district high schools as well as community and technical colleges to help broker workforce connections. We will expand ties and relationships to local schools in order to make sure that programs offered locally fit the needs of local employers for skilled workers.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Maplewood?
As the Mayor of Maplewood my role with the public schools to help create great neighborhoods, keep a supply of quality affordable housing and partner with the Superintendents of 622 and 623 to address concerns. As an example I attended a meeting hosted by the Superintendent of District 622 for realtors and elected officials. We discussed how investments by the district in our schools outward appearances could help families consider our district over newer, exurban districts. At the same time the City investment in affordable housing and rehab programs will help attract families interested in a range of housing options.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Maplewood is keeping our economy strong well into the future.
As stated before, Maplewood will be building on our economic strengths to support ongoing growth across different land uses, including retail, general commercial, mixed-use development and various forms of housing. Specifically we are working on:
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected? My top three priorities include:
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Our top transportation related priority is fixing our city roads. We have a faulty asphalt mix in much of our city and our roads are deteriorating more rapidly that than anticipated.
I will closely coordinate with state and county governments on the Gold Line and Rush Line to expand transit options in Maplewood and provide environmentally friendly transportation to get people to work, school and health appointments.
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?
Annually we evaluate if services should be cut back or eliminated. We will look at this again this year and see if there are efficiencies we can gain. We also look at shared services partnerships each year and decide whether to move forward on an annual basis.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I highly value the work of the SPACC and the positive partnership with the City of Maplewood on the BRE visits. In my second term I want to take the next steps with SPACC to build our economy and businesses for the future.
Public Office Sought: Maplewood Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-738-7099
Website: www.noraslawik.com
Twitter: @noraslawik
Facebook: Nora Slawik, Maplewood Mayor
Candidate Bio
I am serving my first term as Mayor of Maplewood since 2014. Prior to that I served seven terms in the legislature. Accomplishments include:
- Strengthened city services saving $500,000 in taxpayer dollars annually by initiating a partnership the YMCA to manage the Maplewood Community Center.
- Collaborated and participated in several visits with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce on a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program to visit a total of 24 Maplewood companies identifying recommendations such as brokering workforce connections and creating a system to track growth companies.
- Increased resident community engagement on public safety and cultural awareness through our Police Use of Force Task Force, our Kid City initiative with youth, and our 2040 Comprehensive Plan to address land use, economic development and transportation for the next 20 years.
- Implemented Parks and Recreation System Master Plan recommendations including:
- Opening an accessible playground at Goodrich Park
- Opening Tuj Lub Courts, a traditional Hmong game
- Approved Gladstone Savanna prairie restoration, trail system and playground
- Completed Safe To Schools by Weaver Elementary
- Opened Fish Creek site preservation, restoration and trail installation.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood?
The business climate in Maplewood overall is good. This was affirmed in our 2017 SPACC partnership in our 2017 BRE program in the final report.
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and how would your administration actively solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Maplewood?
The City of Maplewood is home to some of the most recognizable businesses in the region, including 3M, Maplewood Mall and HealthEast-Fairview’s St John’s Hospital and medical complex. The city is also host to a diverse collection of companies at all stages of growth.
Our companies in the communities are well positioned and planning for growth in both revenue and employees in the coming years. The City has an important role in attracting and retaining jobs, specifically:
- Maplewood created a system for tracking companies that are planning or positioned for growth and checking in on them with regular frequency:
- The City will establish a plan for ongoing business and retention and expansion visits and we are working with SPACC on a second year of visits.
- Foster relationships with high schools, community and technical college to help broker workforce connections
- Continue to engage in efforts to advance transit in the City
3. Will you commit to hiring a business advocate as a member of your senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Maplewood?
The City recently signed a contract with the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) to assist Maplewood with our BRE and workforce development efforts. We are doing this as a temporary measure until we can go through our annual budget process to consider adding additional staff.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in Maplewood? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in Maplewood 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?
I do not support increasing the minimum wage in Maplewood.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood (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 Maplewood and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I do not support any other specific employment-related proposals in Maplewood.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
At our BRE visits we heard that Maplewood police, fire and EMS are well regarded. Businesses expressed an interest in meeting with the police more proactively. My strategy to address public safety concerns is to partner closely with the Maplewood Police Department and businesses. We would align with the Maplewood Police Department goals including:
- Involve community partners in policing efforts to successfully communicate and problem solve
- Increase non-enforcement public contact and interaction such as community presentations and meetings
- Implement problem oriented policing strategies through data collection and analysis
- Strengthen police community outreach efforts such as Coffee With a Cop, Citizens Academy, Jr. Police Academy and National Night Out.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Maplewood conducts and annual budgeting process. My priorities for the budget include:
- Strengthening city services through responsible use of taxpayer dollars. My highest priority is making sure our public safety department including police, fire and emergency medical services are staffed and trained well.
- Promoting a thriving business economy focusing on supporting our legacy businesses of 3M, St. John’s Hospital and the Maplewood Mall and greater retail area as well as starting the next round of BRE visits. I will partner with SPACC to support the BRE targeted visits.
- Increase communications with residents by improving city publications, the website and the cable channel promotions.
- Supporting a sustainable environment and parks and trails initiatives such as the Gladstone Savannah.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
It is important that we have a diversified tax base in Minnesota. In Maplewood we work to keep our levy at a minimal increase for our residents to cover important budget items. We are interested in redevelopment of land and supporting commercial taxes that are not a barrier.
9. What will you do to expand Maplewood’s tax base?
In our Comprehensive 2040 Plan we outline how a strong, diversified economy in Maplewood is critical to the well being of the residents and to the fiscal strength of the City. Maplewood will be building on our economic strengths to support ongoing growth across different land uses, including retail, general commercial, mixed-use development and various forms of housing. Specifically we are working on:
- Redevelopment of Gladstone area. Frost-English Villages Phase I is completed and Phase II will be completed this fall.
- Conducting a market and land use study of Maplewood Mall and the St. John’s area to determine new commercial and housing opportunities as well as redevelopment that will spur continued economic growth
- Aligning lack of skilled workers to job opportunities
- Creating systems to track companies for potential growth
- Strengthen plans to retain existing businesses
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?
As outlined in our final BRE report the City will strengthen relationships with school district high schools as well as community and technical colleges to help broker workforce connections. We will expand ties and relationships to local schools in order to make sure that programs offered locally fit the needs of local employers for skilled workers.
11. What do you see as the mayor’s role with regard to public schools in Maplewood?
As the Mayor of Maplewood my role with the public schools to help create great neighborhoods, keep a supply of quality affordable housing and partner with the Superintendents of 622 and 623 to address concerns. As an example I attended a meeting hosted by the Superintendent of District 622 for realtors and elected officials. We discussed how investments by the district in our schools outward appearances could help families consider our district over newer, exurban districts. At the same time the City investment in affordable housing and rehab programs will help attract families interested in a range of housing options.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Maplewood is keeping our economy strong well into the future.
As stated before, Maplewood will be building on our economic strengths to support ongoing growth across different land uses, including retail, general commercial, mixed-use development and various forms of housing. Specifically we are working on:
- Redevelopment of Gladstone area. Frost-English Villages Phase I is completed and Phase II will be completed this fall.
- Conducting a market and land use study of Maplewood Mall and the St. John’s area to determine new commercial and housing opportunities as well as redevelopment that will spur continued economic growth
- Aligning lack of skilled workers to job opportunities
- Creating systems to track companies for potential growth
- Strengthen plans to retain existing businesses
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected? My top three priorities include:
- Strengthening city services through responsible use of taxpayer dollars. My highest priority is making sure our public safety department including police, fire and emergency medical services are well staffed and trained.
- Promoting a thriving business economy focusing on supporting our legacy businesses of 3M, St. John’s Hospital and the Maplewood Mall and greater retail area as well as starting the next round of BRE visits. I will partner with SPACC to support the BRE targeted visits. I will partner with county and state government to strengthen our transit options in the City to keep our economy strong.
- Increase communications with residents by improving city publications, the website and the cable channel promotions.
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Our top transportation related priority is fixing our city roads. We have a faulty asphalt mix in much of our city and our roads are deteriorating more rapidly that than anticipated.
I will closely coordinate with state and county governments on the Gold Line and Rush Line to expand transit options in Maplewood and provide environmentally friendly transportation to get people to work, school and health appointments.
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?
Annually we evaluate if services should be cut back or eliminated. We will look at this again this year and see if there are efficiencies we can gain. We also look at shared services partnerships each year and decide whether to move forward on an annual basis.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I highly value the work of the SPACC and the positive partnership with the City of Maplewood on the BRE visits. In my second term I want to take the next steps with SPACC to build our economy and businesses for the future.