2018.02.13 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Councilmember Burg asked if he was available in the evening hours for meetings. Mr. Santi stated he would be available for evening meetings. Mayor Johnson discussed the process the Council would be following for the committee member appointments. She asked if Mr. Santi had any questions for the Council. Mr. Santi stated he had no questions. Mayor Johnson encouraged Mr. Santi to reach out to the City Clerk if he had any further questions. Mayor Johnson welcomed Rachel Luong. Councilmember Allen asked Rachel to tell the Council a little bit about herself and her experiences in the community. Rachel Luong stated she has lived in New Brighton for a year and a half. She noted she lives on Long Lake and really loves the community. She indicated she grew up in northern Minnesota in a small town called Rice. She reported she went to St. Ben's for college and studied abroad in China. She stated she moved to Minneapolis after college and began working for Target at their headquarters. She commented she has lived in several areas around Minneapolis and was happy to be settled in New Brighton. Councilmember Burg asked why she had decided to apply to serve on a City Commission. Ms. Luong commented she wants to learn more about the City and follows the City Council members. She i believed serving on a commission would be a good first step to become more involved in the community. She commented on how the demographics of the City were changing as housing was turning over. Councilmember Jacobsen asked what the three most important responsibilities a commission member had to the community. Ms. Luong stated as a representative of a group she felt it was important to have a devil's advocate, which she typically was. She thought it was important to see all sides of issues, being out in the community, hearing from them and also being positive about the direction the City is headed. Mayor Johnson asked how she would respond if a member of the community were to contact her expressing opposition to an item being addressed by your commission. Ms. Luong stated she would encourage the person to come and participate in a meeting, to bring their opposition to the larger group. She commented that her perspective would not be enough and she would encourage them to be heard. Mayor Johnson asked if these actions would change if it was a lifelong friend. Ms. Luong stated she would try to understand where they were coming from, what their objections were but, in the end, she would encourage them to bring their concerns to the City. Councilmember Dunsworth reported each commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council. She asked how Ms. Luong would respond if she disagreed with a policy or Ordinance.