Laserfiche WebLink
Mayor Johnson and the rest of the Councilmembers welcomed Shauna Valdez. <br />Councilmember Jacobsen asked Ms. Valdez to provide the Council with a brief summary of her background <br />and any involvement she has had in the community. <br />Shauna Valdez explained she has lived in the City her whole life. She understood New Brighton was a safe <br />and beautiful community to live in. She indicated she received a great education. She stated some of her <br />hobbies include walking and biking at Long Lake. She reported she was a member at the NBCC where she <br />attends Zumba and other fitness classes. She stated she was at a point in her life where she could give back, <br />which led her to apply for the Public Safety Commission. <br />Councilmember Bauman asked why Ms. Valdez felt she would be a good person to represent the community <br />and advise the Council. <br />Ms. Valdez stated she understood the community well. She felt she had unique viewpoints to add to the <br />Commission. She believed the City did a good job at fostering community involvement as was displayed each <br />year during National Night Out, and she wanted to continue this effort through public planning if needed. She <br />stated she worked full-time as a counselor with individuals dealing with mental illness and chemical <br />dependency. She stated she wanted public officials to feel safe at all times and to have the proper tools to be <br />able to deescalate situations that could become violent. She stated she spoke Spanish fluently and has had <br />clients of many ethnicities. <br />Councilmember Strub asked what Ms. Valdez believed were the three most important responsibilities a <br />commission member has to the community. <br />Ms. Valdez thought the main thing would be to listen to the community. Listening to the needs of young <br />people and those communities that may not have a seat at the table. Also, to listen to the ideas, needs and <br />viewpoints of the public safety officials. Lastly, she would want to advocate for the City to use their funds <br />wisely to remain a safe City while not wasting public funds. <br />Councilmember Burg asked how Ms. Valdez would handle a situation where someone contacted her voicing <br />opposition to an item being discussed at your commission. She questioned if this would change if this person <br />was a family member or close friend. <br />Ms. Valdez stated she would listen and ask open ended questions. She indicated she would look at both sides <br />of the issue while having a calm conversation. She could then explain her viewpoint on the issue. <br />Councilmember Jacobsen asked how Ms. Valdez would represent herself in the public if there was a policy or <br />Ordinance she disagreed with. <br />Ms. Valdez commented she would back up her opinion with evidence using facts and analysis. She stated she <br />would listen to the community to see what they thought as well. <br />Councilmember Bauman stated based on how long Ms. Valdez has lived in New Brighton, she questioned <br />what the biggest challenges were for the City. <br />Ms. Valdez thought this was a good question. She understood the City was dealing with a water contamination <br />issue but was dealing with this through a new water treatment plant. <br />Mayor Johnson asked which of the following strikes her as the most interesting: land use and variance, <br />