Candidate responses to a 23 issue questionnaire assembled by RCCFOG with input from the community
The office the candidates are running for appears in parenthesis after their name.
Question 1: Should Roseville's Ethics Commission be reinstated?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): I favor reinstatement of an ethics commission, but with changes to the structure to ensure that the commission's authority is clear and defined in accordance with the law. While an ethics commission charged to oversee the city's elected officials should be an effective way to ensure compliance with the city's Code of Ethics, the existence of a commission does not relieve every citizen of his or her responsibility to hold their elected representatives to the very highest ethical standards.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes, It should never have been dissolved in the first place and the timing of the dissolution was completely wrong.
Question 2: Should Roseville have a community center?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): Roseville cannot "have" a community center unless the citizens of Roseville choose to raise their own taxes to pay for it. I do not think that now is the right time to ask the citizens of Roseville to vote to raise their taxes for this purpose, for the following reasons: (1) the recent state economic forecasts are still pessimistic about the state's economy; (2) from the 2003 Legislature, we have learned what level of cuts can be directed at local governments when the state is faced with a serious budget deficit. They've cut cities once (Roseville lost $1.4 million) and they could do it again; and (3) the citizens just voted to increase their taxes to pay for the improvements to the public safety and police buildings. Those increased taxes will first show up on our 2004 tax bills. Until that increase is absorbed by families in Roseville, I don't believe that we should ask the voters to take on another tax increase
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Personally I believe we should have one. However that decision should be left up to the voters. The economic reality is that with the state of the economy and our level of bonded indebtedness the possibility of such a referendum will have to wait a few years.
Question 3: Would you work toward more affordable housing for seniors so that there homes would be available for young families?
Klausing (mayor): Yes, but I don't see the goal as getting seniors out of their homes but rather giving them options
Pust (mayor): I would work to increase the availability of affordable housing in Roseville at every opportunity. I would not work, however, to pressure our community's seniors to move out of their homes in favor of "young families." We should honor the decades of investment that our seniors have made in our community, and support those who choose to stay in their homes for as long as they are safely able.
Affordable housing is a basic human need. Most reliable sources define "affordable" housing as housing that does not require more than 30% of a family's gross/net income. In all of the development, redevelopment and planning that the city undertakes, we should remain mindful of the need to increase the stock of housing options affordable to residents of Roseville no matter what their age or income level.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): No, I believe we have enough senior housing. There is a need to have all ages represented in our City. The question of what is affordable is also a subject of much debate. I don't think we should always be sending the message of getting the seniors out of their home, for many of them their current housing ,a single story rambler all on one floor rambler may be the best age in place residence for them. If anything we should be exploring way to support them staying in their homes.
Question 4: Should efforts be made to add turn lanes throughout the city at busy intersections?
Klausing (mayor): I don't know. It would depend on the intersection and the engineering report
Pust (mayor): Turn lanes improve safety and traffic flow on busy streets. The city and the county have done a good job of adding turn lanes during normally-scheduled road improvements where appropriate. I support the continuation of these cost-effective efforts
Ihlan (council): I believe that the city government ought to pay more attention to traffic issues, with input from residents and local businesses. However, without further information, I can't say whether or not it would be a good policy to add turn lanes at intersections throughout the city. There might be other design alternatives to reduce congestion and delay, and there may be other transportation issues the city needs to address - for example, encouraging other modes of transportation, and making our streets pedestrian and bicycle friendly so that fewer cars are on the roads.
Maschka (council): Yes and we are moving more and more to that approach as we re-stripe and re-construct our streets.
Question 5: Should the Roseville City Council take a leadership role in getting highway 36 expanded from 2 to 3 lanes each way from I35W to I35E?
Klausing (mayor): No, at least not based on what I know currently. I am concerned that a 3rd lane will simply mean more traffic in Roseville.
Pust (mayor): Traffic on Highway 36 has continued to increase over the past several years, and the effects of that increased traffic are endured by both Roseville and non-Roseville drivers alike. While Roseville has an interest in this problem, it doesn't have the ultimate authority to solve it. That rests with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MDOT), which plans to expand Highway 36 in approximately 2016 after the Rice Street bridge and the Lexington Avenue bridge have been replaced.
While I would support Roseville being involved in the planning for MDOT's proposed expansion, I do not believe Roseville should offer up any significant public funds to try to get the project moved up on MDOT's schedule. The traffic problem on Highway 36 is a regional problem in the state. It should be solved with input from all communities in the region and funded by the state, not by Roseville's taxpayers
Ihlan (council): Please see my comments for #4 above. Without further information, I am not sure whether widening Highway 36 is the best alternative to deal with traffic congestion. Creating new lanes on Highway 36 could actually cause traffic to increase. However, I am not opposed to the Roseville city council taking a leadership role in analyzing the problem and exploring possible solutions.
Maschka (council): Yes we should however our success with MDOT has been less then effective. In addition our state legislative delegation has been of no help on these matters. Unless we get some Federal dollars from some place I don't know how we get this done.
Question 6: Would you support a review of ambulance service in the city
Klausing (mayor): ? Toward what end?
Pust (mayor): Yes. This issue has generated a significant amount of public discussion due to the increasing average age of our community's population and the corresponding need for emergency medical services. Roseville should have ambulance and first responder services that are available and accessible to residents within the recommended response times. A review of current service will tell us if we are appropriately meeting our citizens' needs in times of crisis.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes as part of the over all review of how we deliver public safety we need to look at how we should deliver this service and if we should change the manner in which we deliver
Question 7: Should only the Full Council interview and appoint commission and citizen advisory committee members?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): I favor full council participation in all important decisions, including appointment of commission and citizen advisory committee members
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes, the full council should interview and appoint citizen advisory commissions. That is how the system is setup, but the mayor and supporter changed it. As a result we have lost an incredible amount of experience on our advisory commissions. While new blood is good not having enough members with experience is worse.
Question 8: Would you favor a review of the new street assessment policy?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): City policies should meet the needs of the community and comply with applicable law. The city changed its street assessment policy in 2002. While I am not interested in revisiting every decision made by the city council in the last 2-4 years, as mayor I would seek the recommendation of the city staff concerning the ramifications of this policy change with respect to: (1) the extent of any additional financial burden borne by the city taxpayers as a result of the 2002 change; and (2) the equitable split of cost allocation between residential, commercial and other property.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): I would favor a return to the one we had. Changing the assessment this late in the street reconstruction program was a complete injustice to everyone who has paid their share to this date
Question 9: Would you favor a reinstatement of work sessions to be held separately from the regular Council meetings?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): I favor reinstatement of separate work sessions that are publicly announced and open for public participation as a way to increase the involvement of citizens in the decisions of their government.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes the major thing we have lost is good process, work sessions give a forum to discuss things in more detail and in a more informal setting.
Question 10: Do you favor acting on items of council business only when public prior notice is given?
Klausing (mayor): Yes although there may be the very rare situation where immediate action is required.
Pust (mayor): Yes. Requiring prior public notice ensures that the community's citizens have an opportunity to be heard by their elected decision-makers on issues that are important to them. For the past several years, our city council has often taken action without public input and after very limited public debate. Roseville needs new leadership that understands that it is the citizens - not the elected officials - that are the important voices in government.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): I have always favored that.
Question 11: Should tax increases be held to the change in the cost of living?
Klausing (mayor): Yes although there may unique situations requiring higher increases.
Pust (mayor): Tax increases should be avoided if at all possible, in any amount. I would not favor any increase in taxes without broad public discussion and consideration of all other, reasonable alternatives for meeting the community's prioritized needs. Taxes are not "government money; " taxes are "the people's money." The people should decide if, when and in what degree they want to invest more of their money in their community.
Ihlan (council): Not necessarily. All other things being equal, this is a sensible principle. However, there may be special circumstances that could require a larger increase in a given budget year. In addition, if there are significant decreases in available funding from state, federal or other sources, it may be necessary to have a larger increase in local taxes to continue to provide necessary city services.
Maschka (council): Yes, it has always been my yard stick and in fact in real dollars the cost of government has decreased in Roseville over the last ten years.
Question 12: Do you agree that the Council should be policy making only and the city manager is responsible for administration?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): Roseville's citizens chose to create their community as a "Plan B city" under Minnesota law. In a Plan B city, the council should be policy-making only and the daily administration of the city should be directed by the city manager.
Ihlan (council): Yes -but the city council needs to provide clear, adequate guidance on the policies the city manager and staff administer.
Maschka (council): Yes, I understand the system of government we work under.
Question 13: Should the city's reserve funds be used only for the purposes for which they were established?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): The city's reserve funds should be used in accordance with the purposes for which they were established and in compliance with the law.
Ihlan (council): Yes. I think the city should strive to maintain its reserves, and to draw on them only sparingly, for the purposes for which they were established.
Maschka (council): Yes, especially the funds set aside for the permanent maintenance of streets.
Question 14: Is there a need for an official city council meeting parliamentarian?
Klausing (mayor): No
Pust (mayor): There shouldn't be. Some have suggested that the current city council would have done a better job for citizens if it had had a parliamentarian to restore order in meetings and keep the council on task. I disagree. We don't need a "meeting cop;" we need new leadership to focus on the serious business of the city
Ihlan (council): It depends on how the new council works together. If there are frequent disputes over parliamentary procedures, it might be useful. It might be even more useful to have a meeting facilitator or mediator present, depending on the nature of the disputes.
Maschka (council): No, we have one in the city attorney we just need a mayor who understands that.
Question 15: Should Roseville continue to have a Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA)?
Klausing (mayor): Yes. I was opposed to its creation but since the council has created it I think we ought to at least see if it can be of some value.
Pust (mayor): The current city council created the HRA just over a year ago. Already, the HRA has come to the council to request a significant budget increase. While it is too early to assess the HRA's ultimate usefulness, we should examine closely its work in the next year to ensure that it is serving a necessary public need. If it does not show an appropriate return on investment in that timeframe, we should determine whether it is merely the latest example of unjustified growth in government.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): I did not support the creation of the HRA. I believe it was a solution that was determined before we figured out what the problem was and what tools we already have available to solve the problem. When setup we were told we could transfer some housing funds into the program and this would take care of the program for a number of years. Now one year into the program we have a proposed budget of approximately one million dollars and a proposed levy of $490,000. These programs have a way of taking on a life of their own and can quickly consume large dollars.
Question 16: Should any individual council member lobby on the city's behalf without the authorization of the whole council?
Klausing (mayor): No
Pust (mayor): No
Roe (mayor): No. Any lobbying before the legislature on the behalf of the city must be done as the result of a vote of the council, and must be done by a representative that is authorized by a vote of the council
Ihlan (council): No
Maschka (council): No
Question 17: In cases of council vacancies would you favor an election?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): Minnesota law allows city councils to enact local ordinances requiring special elections to fill vacancies in elected positions. As mayor, I would propose and work for passage of such an ordinance to ensure that all the citizens of Roseville have the opportunity to choose who represents them.
Two current council members, Tom Kough and Craig Klausing, are running for mayor in this race and are not resigning their council seats. Because neither of them (or their fellow council members) have sponsored and passed a special election ordinance in Roseville, the citizens will not have a chance to elect their successor on the council if Mr. Kough or Mr. Klausing is successful in their bid for mayor. Instead, the four remaining members on the council will pick someone to appoint to the council, and that person will serve for two years without ever having been elected by the people. While this might be in the self-interest of these council members, it does not appear to me to be in the best interest of the citizens of Roseville.
Ihlan (council): Yes. (An interim appointment might be necessary pending an election.)
Maschka (council): Generally I would favor an election for terms of a year or more. I think the appointment process works well and saves money where the unexpired term is a year or less.
Question 18: Would you support a new community visioning process similar to the 1990 Vista 2000?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): As mayor, I would work every day to increase citizen involvement in government. The people of the community should have a strong voice in the decisions that affect their lives in Roseville. The Vista 2000 process was an excellent example of how to engage community members in strategic planning for their city, and one that should be recommenced.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes, I think it is time we re-visit this process.
Question 19: Have you reviewed the city's Comprehensive Plan and do you support it?
Klausing (mayor): Yes. I don't claim to be familiar with every aspect of it.
Pust (mayor): I have and I do. I also support the process by which the Comprehensive Plan is amended and changed over time to ensure that it represents the current needs and plans of the city.
Ihlan (council): Yes and Yes
Maschka (council): Yes, But, I think it is important to understand this is a framework document not document written stone.
Question 20: Do you favor a change in the Twin Lakes plan allowing "Big Box" retail?
Klausing (mayor): No
Pust (mayor): The Twin Lakes property should be redeveloped in a manner that supports the growth of business in the city and increases the city's tax base and stock of affordable housing. The latest plan for the development, however, relies heavily on a "big box" retail anchor, most likely Costco. This proposal has generated significant resistance from neighbors and others raising legitimate concerns about increased traffic on the already-stressed Fairview and County Roads C and D; negative environmental impact on Langton Lake; and an undesirable increase in retail business. In an attempt to meet the concerns raised by Roseville citizens, the developer has tabled the proposal for several months.
I applaud the individuals who respectfully raised their voices in concern, which is not only the right but the responsibility of interested citizens. I also applaud the developer, Roseville Properties, for listening to the residents' concerns, taking them seriously and trying to take them into account in their planning.
My own questions about the proposal have not yet been sufficiently answered, including the following:
What is the plan for handling the increased traffic flow on the major existing streets without causing unmanageable commuting delays for local residents?
What planning has been given to transit needs associated with the proposed development, and who will pay for meeting those needs?
How much of the proposed residential housing will qualify as "affordable housing" available to Roseville citizens, and how does that percentage relate to the city's existing housing needs?
What happens if Costco pulls out - either now or after five years of operation? Will the city be left with a huge warehouse-type space and roads leading nowhere?
What affect will the proposed increase in retail space have on Roseville's existing businesses, including Rosedale and HarMar?
If the developer does not have the capacity to fund the project without reliance on the city's use of its condemnation powers and/or authority to create a tax increment financing district, what return on investment will the Roseville taxpayers see on their investment of public funds in this project - and when?
I cannot support the proposed development unless and until these questions are answered to my satisfaction and there has been a city-wide public discussion of the pros and cons of the proposal resulting in a consensus regarding what is best for the city's taxpayers.
Ihlan (council): No. The current Master Plan for the Twin Lakes area specifically recommends against big-box retail development. I do not favor amending the Master Plan to allow big-box retail development.
Maschka (council): This is one of the most difficult issues facing the city. It presents an opportunity to create a very unique place, with both retail, housing and offices. The problem is the amount and type of retail needed to make the concept work. In its present form I think the housing component is needed and is very good . I currently have a problem with the amount of retail. My hope is that with the time we now have, that we can work on the concept and find a way to bring all the elements together to make it work. At this point in time it is a concept worth exploring, but it needs more work and input. The housing component would be a great asset to the neighborhood and the city. We can always wait but, with the amount of vacant office now available because of the economic down turn it will be some time before any development occurs.
Question 21: Do you support the continuation of Roseville having a city primary election?
Klausing (mayor): Yes
Pust (mayor): Yes. I will always support the right of Roseville citizens to be actively engaged in the efficient selection of their elected representatives.
Ihlan (council): Yes
Maschka (council): Yes, And I voted to continue the current primary.
Question 22: Do you favor code changes to address the increasing noise levels from vehicles, stereos, etc. in our neighborhoods?
Klausing (mayor): ? I need more information on this
Pust (mayor): Enacting more government regulation is not the most efficient way to reduce disruption in our neighborhoods. More regulation leads to more public investment in compliance measures. When we are trying to do more with less as a result of state budget cuts to local government, it will be difficult to expect an increase in resources related to code compliance. Instead of passing additional regulations, as mayor I would work with neighborhoods and community members to identify the sources of the problem and design effective solutions that can be accomplished with existing resources.
Ihlan (council): I am in favor of considering code changes to address noise issues. I can't express an opinion on any specific changes without more details.
Maschka (council): Yes, I would be willing to look at it, but from experience with similar problems we have had in other parts of the city it is a very difficult problem to deal with and prosecute.
Question 23: Will you accept campaign contributions from people who have or could reasonably be expected to do business with the city?
Klausing (mayor): No as to people having business with the city.
Pust (mayor): I do not accept campaign contributions from people who have or could reasonably be expected to do business with the city.
Ihlan (council): I think this principle is probably too broad, because almost anyone who lives or works in Roseville might reasonably be expected to have some business with the City, and that would make it effectively impossible to accept contributions from anyone except complete outsiders with no connections to Roseville. But I understand the concerns behind the question, and here's how I would address them: 1. I have stated publicly that I do not intend to accept campaign contributions from any of the real estate developers having an interest in the pending Twin Lakes development proposal. 2. In the event that some person who contributed to my campaign makes some request for city council action, I will disclose my potential bias/conflict of interest, and abstain from voting on the matter if appropriate. 3. I intend to voluntarily disclose the identity of anyone who contributes more than $100 to my campaign, even though this is not currently required under applicable state law. I also propose that Roseville should adopt its own ordinance requiring similar disclosure.
Maschka (council): No, I will not.