As I mentioned back at the end of August, I will be posting the interviews I did with the two running for Apple Valley mayor this year. As promised in the comment section of the post linked above I am putting these up in the order they were received and Mayor Mary was the first to provide me with her answers.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Mayor Mary’s responses so read through what she has provided and comment on below!
LL: What are your top priorities for Apple Valley city government?
MM:
Increasing head of household jobs
Promoting economic development
Maintaining the Aaa Bond Rating
Keeping taxes as reasonable as possible
LL: What traits do you believe make for a good councilmember?
MM:
A good council member is a pragmatic decision maker who uses common sense. Along with those qualities they must be able to learn rapidly because they will have a steep learning curve.
LL: 3. Do you feel that Apple Valley does enough to involve the citizenry in its decision making processes?
MM:
Yes.
LL: What are some of the ways you solicit citizen input for government action? What are some other ways you think Apple Valley should go about doing this in the future?
MM:
Our City has a website that is being upgraded this year and will have more features to make it more user friendly. We encourage our newspaper to include stories about issues that are current and will send press releases to make them aware of public meetings. The city has a quarterly newsletter to inform citizens about current events upcoming programs.We encourage our citizens to give us input through surveys, e-mails, phone conversations, meetings in person, public hearings and public meetings as well as actively seeking members to serve on our committees and commissions.
Our Citizens Committees and Commissions include:
The Economic Development Authority
The Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, (which began in my first year of office)
The Planning Commission,
The Planning Commission,
The Urban Affairs Committee,
The Telecommunications
The Cemetery Commission
Gardenview Drive Ad Hoc Committee
LL: Given the economy’s effect on State funding for municipalities, what is your vision to secure Apple Valley’s economic standing long-term?
MM:
The City of Apple Valley has lost HACA, LGA and MVHC. Rather than becoming reliant on these funding tools from the state, the city has chosen to create a stable, secure financial operation that has earned us a Aaa Bond Rating. This is the highest credit rating achievable. There are 854 cities in Minnesota and only seventeen cities with this elite credit rating. Moody’s Investor Service stated that they “expect the city’s well managed financial operations to continue, given a history of structural budget balance” and noted that appropriate reserves were “maintained in light of limited state aid.” They also indicated they expect the “debt position to remain manageable” and noted positive key financial statistics such as: “a limited existing debt burden,” “debt burden below average for similar rated cities.” and the strength of the local economy.
LL: Do you have any innovative suggestions for economic sustainability?
MM:
The City of Apple Valley continues to be innovative through collaboration with other government entities. One example has been the creation of the High Performance Partnership (I was one of the original co-chairs). This collaboration created the Dakota Communications Center.The city of Apple Valley’s planning and economic development department has an excellent reputation for being easy to work with developers and business that wish to come into the city or to reinvest and expand in the city.
Apple Valley was highlighted in a National Publication “City and County Magazine”, with a feature article on “Sustainonomics.” The article referenced the forward movement the city is making in creating energy efficient strategies that improve the bottom line.
Apple Valley was named as one of the twentieth best cities to live in America in 2010, by Money Magazine. The city has steadily moved up the list from 28th, to 24th, to 20th. The national attention gets the attention of developers and businesses, and is positive for our existing business in the city.
LL: What is Apple Valley’s biggest asset?
MM:
Our citizens.
LL: What do you think about Apple Valley’s relationship with the business community?
MM:
Our relationship with the Chamber of Commerce/ business community is second to none. Give our President Edward Kearney a call and ask him how great it is!
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Reader submitted questions:
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LL: What should the City do in the Founders Circle area to encourage development – assuming that development here is a good thing – and what type of development should occur here? Should a new plan be developed entirely?
MM:
Development in the Central Village is a good thing. The plan was developed in a robust economy. Responding to the needs of the market place has been one of the tenants of our strategic plan, the 2030 Comprehensive plan. The plan is a good foundation and the city is poised to adjust to the market as it begins to recover. Clearly the economy is a challenge but the city has a great reputation for working with business development and is actively positioning for development as the economy improves. As a matter of fact, the city met with the bank that owns the land around Kelley Park today to begin positive movement in this direction.
LL: What are your thoughts on CDA (i.e. subsidized) housing and the Metropolitan Council’s guidelines that suburbs such as Apple Valley need more low-cost and senior housing?
MM:
Apple Valley has always had a balanced approach to housing. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan continues to support this balance of housing types. There is simply a shortage of money to build subsidized housing.
LL: What are your thoughts on the upcoming Cedar Avenue construction and the ever-increasing traffic volumes on CR42 and Cedar? Do you agree that traffic is the top issue facing Apple Valley residents?
MM:
Traffic management is one of the top issues facing our community. The Chamber of Commerce and the City of Apple Valley have successfully collaborated to make improvements to the Cedar Avenue Plan to support the businesses and residents along the corridor. I believe that the plan is better today because of our mutual effort.In a joint effort the City and the Chamber walked the corridor to survey the businesses and learn what their concerns were. The businesses were amazed by the concern and effort made by both the Cities and the Chambers, on their behalf.
A rapid bus transportation system is a key part to managing the traffic system.
LL: What should the City of Apple Valley do to maintain and improve transit service, especially in light of the Suburb Operator vs. Metro Transit war of words that has been stoked in the news lately?
MM:
The Metropolitan Council is responsible for funding the bus system. M.V.T.A. is responsible for the operation of the system. The transit system and operations are not part of the budget of the city.
LL: What are you doing/suggest be done to bring “head of household jobs” to the city?
MM:
The City of Apple Valley has guided 275 acres in our Comprehensive Plan, for a Mixed Business Campus. The City has been in discussion with potential developers looking at Apple Valley for their growth opportunity.Uponor’s North American Headquarters in Apple Valley has expanded four times in the last two years increasing both manufacturing and research and development jobs, bringing them to 336 jobs in Apple Valley. In a meeting with Uponor today they told us that their five year strategic plan includes substantial growth for their company in Apple Valley.
Our Community Development Department is actively meeting with developers to support the strategic plan of increasing head of household jobs in our community. We have spoken at conferences such as the “Urban Land Institute” and the Southern Twin Cities Realtors Association” about how Apple Valley has positioned itself for development now and into the future. We have been well received, increasing the activity amongst the development community and the City of Apple Valley.
The city is in the process of creating an economic development video that highlights our community assets.
Dakota Complaints Map
Dakota Inmate Dashboard
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September 9th, 2010 at 8:03 am
interesting responses. I am not sure how I will vote this fall and have voted for Mary Hamann-Roland in the past. I guess thats a little telling. Thanks for the interview.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Went to Crowded House last Sat at the zoo. She was there and seemed to be having a good time as evidenced by the big smile she displayed the whole time (even though the zoo lets knuckleheads stand in front blocking the view of the first 3 rows and she was in the first row). So she can’t be too bad!
Plus I like driving by the transit station on my way to work in the morning and chuckle. So I’d vote for her if I lived in AV.
September 9th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Apple Valley’s new slogan. At least we dont have Burnsville’s mayor.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:30 am
I had a lot of thoughts as I read this. I’ll see if I can remember them and not bore anyone reading them.
1. Too many typos. You had time to review this and send it in. It should be professional. No, good spelling and grammar aren’t requirements for public office but they don’t hurt either.
2. She talks about walking around to businesses to ask their thoughts on transportation. I can save her a lot of trouble: They don’t want any changes. They put their businesses where they are because of the transportation situation. If an overpass goes in at Cedar and CR-42, every business on that corner suffers while every driver applauds and says, “It’s about freaking time!!” So pick your poison: piss off the residents who are sick of the constant Apple Valley traffic jam or piss off the local businesses?
3. It’s “bus rapid transit,” not “rapid bus transportation.” Style points, perhaps, but the way it was worded made it look like she’s really not at all familiar with it. Case in point, if you Google “rapid bus transportation” the first response is the Wikipedia entry for “bus rapid transit.”
4. In reference to, “A rapid bus transportation system is a key part to managing the traffic system,” this fragment was very odd and needed more context. The question was about increasing traffic volumes and whether it’s a priority. Telling me that BRT (or RBT…) is the solution without telling me how BRT is going to become a reality isn’t helpful. Additionally, in the very next response she says transit isn’t her responsibility. It’s like saying, “We need a sound wall along Cedar Ave.,” followed by, “Sound walls are the state’s responsibility and my hands are tied.” Great, so we agree that a given problem exists but you have no solution for it…what’s the point of me knowing that?
5. Every mayor in America says their citizens are their city’s biggest asset. Give us something more tangible. “Our parks,” “All of the businesses allowing our residents to work in their own city instead of commuting,” “Our proximity to major transportation arteries,” etc. These are the types of answers we’re looking for. What makes people want to move to Apple Valley? Because I can find great citizens in a lot of other places.
I don’t have a problem with Mayor Mary’s politics in her responses. I just don’t think she did a very good job providing much insight. For being an incumbent who was able to carefully craft each response before turning them in, I guess I expected more. Maybe I’m just expecting too much.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Once again a good service to the voters… good job Bill.
Even despite a serious deficiency in its government, Burnsville also has the Aaa rating.
I see that there are 5 Minnesota cities in the top 20 of Money Magazine best places. Interesting that a magazine about money and investing would put 5 cities from MN in the top 20 given the complaints about MN being such a high tax state? I guess we must get high ratings for our hospitable weather? Go figure.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I have a real problem with that top 20 list and it’s not because so many South Metro cities end up on it. It’s simply because those come from analyzing data and not actually *living* in a particular place.
I have visited many places and know nothing of the numbers behind them but I can list off 20 places I’d much rather live based on actually being in those areas and not caring about the average median income vs. home price.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Thanks, Bill, for your work on this. Good questions, but unfortunately the answers lacked a lot of specifics. I couldn’t agree with Joey more on point #4.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Thanks for posting this Mr Bill. She’s smarter than I thought.. but it’s still all happy talk. My priorities for Apple Valley-
1) Traffic
2) Brownfields
3) The development in “center village” is horrendous. Not pedestrian/bike friendly.
4) Crime- this is a new one, but it’s becoming a bigger problem.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Thank you, Bill.
I agree with Sank’s list. I’ve watched moms with strollers and small children scramble across the traffic circle. I’m surprised something horrible hasn’t happened there. And I worry that some kid is going to fall into that giant pit.
I think it would be good for the community if more head of household jobs were available here. People just aren’t as connected to their cities, when they live half their day in another place. If they aren’t connected, they don’t feel as concerned about the city’s future. That can’t be good for the people, the city or society as a whole.
I agree with the Mayor’s statement that AV has a balanced approach to housing. While it’s expensive to live here, the city is more open to low income housing than most.
This is a really niggling point, but it struck me as I rode the bus home tonight and spotted her campaign sign. I WISH that she would not call herself “Mayor Mary.” It’s only my opinion, but I feel that it demeans the office.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Michele, I have noticed that women who run for office and have hypenated last names use their first name for some reason.
Margaret Anderson-Kelliher’s posters and billboards all used her first name. Mayor Mary is the same way. I am sure someone told them it makes them more approachable or identifiable, or they just realized that the hyphenated name looks silly on the billboards.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Her comments were interesting, but I would have liked to have seen more specifics (like when she talked about Uponor — that was good, and her replies needed more of that).
I agree about the “Mayor Mary” signs too. It comes across as trying too hard to be folksy.
September 10th, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] through what he has provided and comment on below! If you’re interested be sure to check out Mayor Mary’s responses as [...]
September 10th, 2010 at 7:38 am
When I see the words “Mayor Mary,” I usually then think of the song “Let it be.” Anyone else?
September 10th, 2010 at 8:19 am
When I see the words “Mayor Mary” it makes me think that perhaps the mayor of AV has some sort of deep seated Barbie fixation from her childhood that she has transferred to her real life: There is Flight Attendant Barbie; Aerobics Instructor Barbie, Veterinarian Barbie – why not Mayor Mary?
Of course, this could lead to a irritating local trend – what if, to distinguish Mayor Mary from all the other Marys in Apple Valley, we have to start calling people “Dollar Store Checkout Girl Mary” or “Bank Teller Mary” or “Divorce Lawyer Mary”?
Of course, she could also just be distinguishing herself from the Virgin Mary.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
My out-of-town relatives call Apple Valley the city of liquor stores and nursing homes with funeral parlors next to them………at least as we work ourselves to death in the private sector we won’t have far to go….ugh, looking out at Enjoy! or the City offices in my twilight years
September 14th, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] you know, I recently interviewed both Mayor Mary and opponent Ryan Moe about their campaigns for Mayor of Apple Valley. While I do not support [...]
October 3rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Here’s coverage of the two running for mayor as well as those running for council seats in Apple Valley: http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_16239325
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:39 am
[...] filled in circles avoiding another Lizard People debacle as people realized I voted not for Mayor Mary or Ryan Moe but for Mickey Mouse [...]