Candidate Information
* Incumbent
|
The
Roseville City Council recently approved a preliminary tax levy increase
of 7.5 percent. Do you feel this is an appropriate percentage? Why or
why not? |
Do
you believe Roseville has adequate housing for its senior citizens? What
role should the City Council play in this area? |
Do
you believe residents should be held to a time limit when addressing
council members at City Council meetings? Why or why not? |
| Joy
Anderson Joy Anderson, 54, is married to Drake with three children. She is self-employed and attended the University of Minnesota. |
The city budget is one of the most
important jobs before the council. Without a process that includes
five-year projections outlining potential changes in revenue and debt,
it is impossible for the council to formulate meaningful long-range
plans and maintain the financial health of the city. The current
proposal of a 5 percent levy increase without staff reductions appears
acceptable. Now, the council needs to do its next job, fix the process! |
Roseville has adequate and varied senior housing. It is the City Council’s responsibility, as long-range planners, to ensure that Roseville’s housing stock supports a balanced, multi-generational community. It is the council’s responsibility to develop a plan to ensure this goal and to approve only development and redevelopment opportunities consistent with this goal. | To attract families, perhaps we should
develop something similar to Owasso Hills at Twin Lakes rather than
another retail center. Instead of trying to limit the time residents have to address the council, the council should provide more opportunities to engage citizens in problem solving and planning. The council should offer more and varied times and places for citizens to address their government. Our citizens are our most valuable resource. We should learn how to take advantage of this resource, not try to find ways to eliminate it! |
| Amy
Ihlan Amy Ihlan is seeking her second term on the Roseville City Council after being elected to fill a vacancy in 2003. Ihlan, 45, is married to Geoffrey Gorham with a 10-year-old daughter. She works full-time as an attorney at Briol and Associates, PLLC. Ihlan has a Ph. D. in philosophy from the University of Minnesota. |
I believe the council should increase our
overall city tax levy no more than 5 percent. It is possible to achieve
this without cutting any city services or staff, through a combination
of eliminating new spending, deferring some capital expenditures, and
drawing slightly on reserves. If re-elected, I will take leadership in
long-range strategic planning for the city budget, so that future
property tax increases are as small, predictable, and affordable as
possible. |
Housing isn’t adequate unless neighborhoods are safe, welcoming and liveable. We need to keep Roseville a great place to live. As a council member, I put neighborhoods first. I’m a strong advocate for reducing traffic, promoting public transit, making our streets safer for walking and biking, and preserving parks and natural spaces. I’ll continue to be a fiscally responsible leader, to make sure public money is spent wisely for important community needs, not private profit. | I am not opposed to reasonable time limits
for public comments at council meetings. However, I think the council
should do more to encourage public participation throughout city
government, and invite public input on important issues. Too often,
Roseville residents’ sincere and compelling presentations at meetings
are simply ignored. The council’s responsibility is to represent the
public interest, not special interests. Council members should respect
and pay attention to citizens’ concerns. |
| Tom
Kough* Incumbent Tom Kough, 73, is married to Carol and is finishing his first term on the Roseville City Council. He has four children, including one who is overseas in Iraq. A part-time employee at General Mills as a steam engineer, Kough has an associate’s degree from Albert Lea Vo-Tech in steam engineering and served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Virginia. |
The 7.5 percent levy is too high. I believe Roserville can cut back on its spending in all departments, especially in economic development where we are spending a tremendous amount of consulting fees. I have initiated a motion to reduce the levy amount to 5 percent or under, and that is supported by at least three council members. The city manager has been directed to present a levy and budget that will meet this goal. | We need to continue to develop affordable housing for our seniors, in order to give them options to live and stay in Roseville after they sell their existing homes where necessary for health reasons. The city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority needs to promote programs to assist and finance the improving and updating of seniors’ older homes for resale. We have a housing resource center which has many alternatives. | No, I don’t believe in setting time
limits. The public forum is an opportunity for citizens to present their
concerns. Every opportunity should be provided to hear them out. The
reason given for limits is that the Council meetings are too long.
Council meetings are too long because the council members are talking so
much, and thrashing over old issues. |
| Gale
Pederson Gale Pederson is seeking her first-term on athe Roseville City Council. Pederson, 52, is married to Roy and with three adult children. She works full-time as an X-ray technician at Rosedale Medical Center. She has an associate’s degree in lab/X-ray from Northwest Clinical Laboratory Technology. |
The 7.5 percent “not to exceed” tax levy is only a starting point for budget discussions. I would like to see the council get closer to a 5 percent tax levy, provided this would not reduce the essential city services our residents need and want in our community. We need to make sure that all of the city’s financial responsibilities are met and that residents know what they are getting for their tax dollars. | Roseville has a fair amount of senior housing currently. Our seniors and empty-nesters are younger, healthier, and far more active than in the past, and they are choosing to stay in their homes longer. I feel the City Council needs to look at all of the housing options available in our community to assure that there is enough affordable housing available for all of our residents, seniors, families, and new residents to our community. | Yes, I feel there should be a time limit when residents address the City Council for public comment. I feel that our residents have a right to discuss the any and all issues that concern them with their elected officials, and that’s why they were elected in the first place, but it should be done in a timely fashion, and should address only the issue at hand. |
| Tammy Pust Tammy Pust is seeking her first term on the Roseville City Council. Pust, 47, is divorced with three children ranging in age from 13 to 19. She works full-time as a partner at Jesson and Pust, P.A. She has a juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School. |
To ensure that Roseville remains a great
place to raise a family, start a business and enjoy retirement, we need
to make sure it remains an affordable place to live. Recognizing the
soaring fuel and health care costs that drive the city budget ever
upward, I would only support the lowest possible increase in the tax
levy that will provide necessary and cost-effective services — in the
range of 3.5 to 5 percent. |
The issue isn’t adequacy — it’s
affordability. Many seniors choose to stay in their homes longer than
they would like because new housing units are too expensive. Others are
comfortable where they are and would not choose to move no matter the
cost. The council should serve as an information source regarding
financial choices available to seniors, and should encourage the
development of a balanced mix of housing options affordable to both
seniors and young families. |
ouncil meetings should be run efficiently
so as to be respectful of people’s time and to ensure
cost-effectiveness. If citizens are unruly, repetitive or disrespectful,
time limits can help restore order and allow the community to get its
business done. But the council should be wary of overusing time limits
lest it lead to the effect or perception of limiting public debate and
citizen involvement in government — both of which are inappropriate. |
| Dan Roe Dan Roe is seeking his first term on the Roseville City Council. Roe, 37, is single and works full-time as a sales manager at Dynamic Air. Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in mechanical engineering. |
I join the majority of the City Council in
believing that 7.5 percent is not an appropriate one-year levy increase.
With new costs coming on-line for law enforcement dispatching, and
shared facility maintenance costs with the Roseville school district, we
will have to look at doing other, more optional, new spending later when
it is more financially feasible. I support efforts to keep the levy increase at 5 percent or less. |
Roseville has a great deal of housing for
seniors, including the homes that many live in now, and want to stay in
as long as possible. The key as to whether our senior housing is
adequate is whether the available options cover the range of the
marketplace. Are the options affordable? Do they cater to the needs of
our senior population? The City Council must understand these questions,
and target projects to fill unmet needs. |
Residents should not normally be held to a time limit, because I believe that public comment is not a bad thing. However, when a large number of people want to speak, I would consider an appropriate time limit, and a limit on the number of times one person can speak, so that all can be heard within a reasonable time. Also, council members should keep their comments brief, to allow more time for residents. |