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In this Issue
I’d like to welcome you all to the launch of my community
newsletter. I’m starting this quarterly newsletter to check in with you about
the important work we are doing in the region.
I came to the Met Council in 2015 after several years of engagement
in my local community at the school, city and county level. I served multiple terms as chair of the Scott
County Human Services Resource Council, which develops and makes
recommendations to the Scott County Board on human services budget, programs,
needs, and priorities. Additionally, I served as Vice Chair of the Shakopee
Economic Development Advisory Committee. I am a member of the Shakopee School
District Guiding Coalition and the Scott County First Stop Shop Advisory
Board.
I am also a small business owner. In my profession, I use my training as an
engineer to assist medical device companies with strategic planning, business
development, product development and project management. I live in Shakopee with my husband and two
sons.
In District 4, I serve a large geographic district that
includes most of Scott and Carver Counties. The cities I represent include Belle Plaine, Carver, Chaska, Cologne,
Hamburg, Jordan, Mayer, New Germany, Norwood Young America, Prior Lake, Savage,
Shakopee, Victoria, Waconia and Watertown. I also represent 17 Townships.
Since joining the Council in 2015, one of my top priorities has
been to engage with the local governments and communities throughout my
district. This is the part of my public
service role that I love. I’ve found
that by developing relationships with the local leaders and community members, I
am more aware of the needs of the counties, cities and townships I
represent. I attend many city
council meetings and community events, as well as engage with mayors and city
councilors one-on-one over a cup of coffee.
While the Met Council operates a regional wastewater
treatment system and regional transit and helps fund a world-class system of
parks, you could say that planning was the first job we were given. When the Minnesota Legislature created the
Met Council almost 50 years ago, it gave us the mandate to assist communities
in the seven-county metro region with their planning.
One of the biggest planning challenges we work on with local
governments is housing. The Met Council
does not, and cannot, make housing decisions for communities. Our role is to help facilitate the planning
and development process. We provide planning resources and assistance to 181
cities in the region so they can make good planning decisions for the type of growth
that will benefit them locally and the region as a whole. Our Community Development Division works
closely with developers and local communities on housing and economic
development projects that accomplish important priorities set by local
leaders.
One way I’m doing this currently is through serving as a
member of a housing workgroup formed by the Scott County Association for
Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE). The
housing workgroup is a subcommittee of their 50 X 30 initiative. The initiative’s vision is that Scott County
residents are stable, connected, educated and contributing by taking an
integrated approach to working in the areas of housing, transportation,
workforce readiness and educational preparedness.
As a member of this workgroup, I’ve had the opportunity to
bring Council resources and research to the table that have advanced the
discussions around housing needs in Scott County. Our contribution, along with input from local
elected leaders, city and county planners, housing agency representatives and
developers, has led to a productive discussion about how to create housing
options that are available throughout a person’s lifetime. It is one example of how good collaboration
can lead to better discussions and improved efficiency by sharing resources and
knowledge.
Another way that
the Metropolitan Council is involved in housing is the Livable Communities
program. Through the Livable Communities
Act (LCA) Local Housing Incentives Account, we now contribute $2.5 million to
affordable housing projects in communities participating in the LCA. Since the LCA was enacted in 1985, LCA grants have helped create
or preserve over 20,000 affordable housing units and leverage billions of
dollars in additional public and private funds. This money supports development and redevelopment that links housing, jobs, and services and demonstrates efficient and cost-effective use of land and infrastructure.
I am proud to have the opportunity to serve as your representative on the Metropolitan Council. If you have any concerns for me about an issue that you or your community is facing where the Met Council might be involved, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely,
Deb
See the communities I represent and my full bio here.
The Metropolitan Council is inviting
community members to apply for openings on several advisory committees. The
application window is open for terms beginning in January 2017. Our district, District B -- includes southwestern
Hennepin County, all of Carver County and portions of western Scott County.
We have openings on the following committees/commissions:
We currently have an opening for District B on
the Metropolitan
Parks and Open Space Commission (MPOSC), MPOSC helps the Council develop
long-range plans for the metro area’s renowned system of regional parks, park
reserves and trails. To apply, visit the Secretary of
State’s website – there is both an online and paper application available. The
Chair position is also open. The priority
deadline for applications is Nov. 29.
There is also an opening for District B on
the Transportation
Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC) which advises the Council
on management policies for public transportation services in the region from
the perspective of riders with disabilities. The committee has 16 members: a
chair appointed by the Council, seven members selected by groups that advocate
for seniors and people with disabilities, and eight community members who
represent geographic districts in the region. The position is a two-year term.
The Chair position is also open.
To apply, visit the Council’s
website and download the application for appointment. (Some committees
may also require applicants to answer supplemental questions.) For more
information, or to submit your application, contact the Appointments
Coordinator by email, U.S.
mail or phone: 390 Robert St. N., St. Paul, 55101 or 651-602-1806
Apply today – priority will
be given to applications received before Nov. 29.
 Carver Crossing Grand Opening. On Monday Sept. 19, Chair Adam Duininck and I attended the Carver Crossing Grand Opening event in the City of Carver. Carver Crossing is a high-density, multifamily housing component of a neighborhood designed around a park- and-ride transit facility. Our Livable Communities program helped fund land acquisition, pedestrian connections including the construction of a trail, underpass and sidewalks, and public bike racks.
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The Scott County Association for Leadership
and Efficiency (SCALE) has an initiative whose mission it is for 50% of Scott County residents to live and work in Scott County by 2030. There are several work groups for the 50 X 30 project,one
of which is the housing work group in which I participate. There have
been several meetings so far. The group's mission is to look at
housing throughout the County. The
group is establishing their goals and has been focused on discussing the importance
of having a variety of housing options available. The Met Council has
provided support to this working group by providing data concerning current
housing stock in Scott County. Met Council staff member Libby Starling also
attended a meeting to provide some context for this data to help guide
decision-making.
Housing is particular concern in Scott County as 57% of senior
renters and 29% of senior homeowners pay more than 30% of their income on
housing. Meanwhile, since 2000, rental rates have risen by 13%, while renter
incomes have fallen 0.2%.
This group, of which I am a member, has a housing group whose mission is for 50% of Scott County residents to work in Scott County by 2030. There have been several meetings so far. The group's mission is to look at housing throughout a person's life and so it's important to have a variety of housing options available. The Met Council has provided support to this working group by providing data concerning current housing stock in Scott County. Met Council staff members Libby Starling and Tara Beard also attended a meeting to provide some context for this data to help guide decision-making.
The housing group meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month. Learn more about the Housing Working Group.
 In September, world-class golf came to the Twin Cities as Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska hosted the 41st Ryder Cup. Because there was no direct access for car traffic to the Ryder Cup, Metro Transit offered the only non-stop, direct service to Hazeltine. Metro Transit sold one-day roundtrip passes for $20, as well as Ryder Cup Ride Passes valid for unlimited rides on all Metro Transit buses and trains every day of the tournament. Over 6,100 tickets were sold and 14,000 rides were provided.
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Employee Recognition Week. October 3-7 was Employee Recognition Week at the Met Council and the week was filled with Council-wide and division specific celebrations. Each division selected staff to be recognized at the Employee Recognition Breakfast that took place on Monday, October 3rd at University of St. Thomas. Awards were also given out for employees with 25, 30, 35 or 40 years of service to the Council. Over 300 people RSVP’d for the breakfast where over 100 staff members were honored. Chair Duininck made remarks and was joined by myself, Council Members Jennifer Munt, Cara Letofsky and Wendy Wulff.
Three Rivers Park District Board Meeting. On Oct., 6 the Three Rivers Park Board District welcomed myself and Council Member Wendy Wulff, as well as Council staff Beth Reetz and Emmett Mullin to their committee meeting. The topic was “Metropolitan Council Updates”. We shared our desire to build a stronger partnership with them, as we work to implement the vision of the Regional Parks System together. The Park District board shared some concerns about recent Metropolitan Council initiatives, particularly around the Minimum Percentage for “Connecting People and the Outdoors” and the Regional Park System Equity Toolkit. The Three Rivers Park District Board expressed a desire to join us in this important work. At the conclusion of the meeting, I committed to continue the conversation and a desire for a stronger relationship.
Rail~volution.
On Oct. 9-12, I and several of my colleagues represented the Council and the Twin Cities
region at the annual Rail~volution conference
in San Francisco. The five-day conference shared best practices and
cross-pollinate ideas from across the country. In addition to Council Members,
there were over 40 representatives from our region at the conference including
a number of Met Council staff. The conference was a
great opportunity to learn from other regions but to also share the innovative
projects and programs we are implementing here in Minnesota.
Metro Transit Police Swearing-in Ceremony. On
Thursday, Nov. 10 Council Member Wulff and I attended Metro Transit
Police Department’s Swearing-In Ceremony for their 6th academy
class. General Manager Brian Lamb and Chief of Police John Harrington addressed
the graduates. The event was held in the Red Cap Room of the Union Depot in
Saint Paul.
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