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What I said:

Make Richfield more inclusive with empowered, sincere public input.

What I did:

• Prioritized keeping public hearings open to in-person, written, and phoned-in feedback.
• Made myself widely available online, on the phone, and in-person. Responded to misunderstandings to get the facts of the City’s actions clear.
• Prioritized creating public hearings for land-use approvals only when such hearings could result in useful input and a change to project outcome — not creating a false illusion of input.

What I said:

Be a leader on safe streets, including reducing speeds on neighborhood streets.

What I did:

• Worked with council and staff to lower most of our streets to 25 mph.
• Active participant and advocate for Nicollet Avenue reconstruction, pushing for a safer, more attractive corridor.
• Helped gain improved lighting and pedestrian push-button flashers (coming late 2024) at 66th & Richfield Parkway.
• Member and active participant in the Richfield Safe Routes to School Committee.
• Provided guidance on and helped pass our Active Transportation Action plan.

What I said:

Support housing for all ages and abilities, while growing our tax base.

What I did:

• Helped lead our more-than-year-long process of “legalizing Richfield” — allowing duplexes and smaller lots, as we did when most of the community was built.
• Supported new housing projects, both in approval and funding, including supportive housing at 66th & Portland, deeply affordable housing at 77th & Pillsbury, and supported zoning changes to allow new mixed-income housing at the American Legion site.
• Served as a city council representative to the Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

What I said:

Show meaningful vision and high standards for redevelopment of the Hub.

What I did:

• We were not successful in bringing forward major redevelopment at the Hub during this term.
• However, we’ve made important progress in preparing ourselves for redevelopment. During my term:
  • Supported the 65th Street reconstruction project, including providing additional funding. This roadway project provides necessary infrastructure for redevelopment of the Hub.
  • When a preliminary concept for redevelopment was presented, I pushed hard toward a vision of a more walkable, long-term addition to our downtown.
  • Prioritized downtown Richfield as one of our key strategic priorities, including designating staff time toward creating a more extensive downtown strategy.
• I will continue to prioritize long-term, high-quality redevelopment at the Hub. Given economic conditions (high interest rates), it is less likely major redevelopment will occur here than it was in 2020.

Continue to advocate for a downtown for all

Downtown Richfield — the area of 66th & Lyndale — has improved over my first term, adding more homes and businesses.

But we have far more to do. A clear core of our city will create a stronger sense of community, and build pride in Richfield. It also makes practical sense: by continuing to build our tax base, we will keep property taxes affordable for homeowners. By welcoming more new neighbors and businesses, we will keep our city vital.

As I have throughout my first term, I will continue to work to ensure new growth makes for good neighbors to existing residents.

Support reinvestment in our parks

Electing candidates won’t be the only decision on make on November’s ballot. Richfielders will have the opportunity to vote for a sales tax referendum to support reinvestment in our parks — specifically a new Woodlake Nature Center building, replacement of the Veterans Park pool, and a new Community Center at Augsburg Park.

I support this initiative, and — if the voters approve it — I will work to ensure the projects serve the community and make the best use of the taxpayers’ dollars.

Work for good governance, up and down

Being on the Council has been a learning experience too — and one of the things I’ve learned in my first term is the importance of good governance, a well-organized city operation, and working cohesively as a team.

This is exemplified in the Strategic Plan we developed with staff. But there’s far more than that. I offered my expertise in IT and helped advocate for our transition to a more secure email and user system (Office 365).

During 2023, we worked to ensure our staff’s wages are competitive and appropriate, and that staffing is adequate to meet residents’ needs.

I continue to advocate for the City to improve its web presence to make us more effective for residents, and make it easier to access information.