2016.02.23 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Quade stated the landscape of New Brighton has changed quite a bit since he was born into the community. He believed the City had to maintain its park system because it was a draw. It was his opinion that the City's vast park and recreational programming brought people into the community and he wanted to see this maintained. He stated he enjoyed visiting the City's small community parks. Mayor Johnson thanked Mr. Quade for his time and noted she would be in touch. Mayor Johnson welcomed Dania Miwa to the meeting and thanked her for being willing to serve the City as a commissioner. Councilmember Strub asked what are two or three of the most important responsibilities an advisory commission member has to his or her community. Dania Miwa believed it was important to know the community you live in. She stated she moved to New Brighton in 2005 and had no plans to leave. She thought of the Planning Commission as an overseeing group that made recommendations for the City. She wanted to be a resident that could assist the City with making good choices. Councilmember Burg asked why Ms. Miwa would be a good person to represent the opinions and concerns of the City New Brighton. Ms. Miwa stated this was a great questions. She explained she was really involved in her neighborhood association and has been working for the past 11 years to push native plantings, which were more sustainable. She indicated her association was located on a floodplain, which has provided her a great deal of experience with the watershed district. Through her work and leadership on her neighborhood association she believed she could greatly benefit the City has a commissioner. Mayor Johnson requested Ms. Miwa briefly describe any experiences she had related to development and redevelopment. Ms. Miwa commented she had no direct experience with development or redevelopment. Rather, after serving with her association, she had an interest in further serving the community. Councilmember Bauman asked if there was a newer development project that she was aware of in the City. She questioned what Ms. Miwa thought about this development and if it was good for the community. Ms. Miwa discussed the new bank that was being redeveloped near her home. She believed this was an asset to the community, along with the restaurants and health club. She appreciated the revitalization of this area of the City and looked forward to the old Champp's restaurant being reopened. Mayor Johnson asked how Ms. Miwa would handle a really close friend or person within the community that was against a planning case. Ms. Miwa stated as a consultant she worked to gain perspective and did not allow personal opinions to cloud her judgement. She stated she worked to do her due diligence in order to find proper solutions. Mayor Johnson thanked Ms. Miwa for her time and noted she would be in touch. Mayor Johnson welcomed Graeme Allen to the meeting and thanked him for being willing to serve the City as a commissioner.