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<br /> <br />Mayor Johnson welcomed Chris Becker. <br /> <br />Councilmember Burg asked Chris to tell the Council a little bit about himself and his experiences in the <br />community. <br /> <br />Chris Becker stated recently, there has been a lack of involvement on his behalf in the community. He stated <br />he and his wife used to serve with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. He noted he used to work with the White Bear <br />Chamber of Commerce. He noted he was the Vice Chair with this organization in 2005 and 2006. He <br />explained since this time he has been growing his career and growing his family. He stated how was a time <br />where he felt more comfortable career-wise and he had more experience to offer the community. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked why he had decided to apply to serve on a City Commission. <br /> <br />Mr. Becker stated he wanted to serve the community and had the dedication to participate in this type of <br />position. He commented he was also interested in learning more about how local government operated. He <br />believed this would be a good introduction for him. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson asked why he would be a good person to represent the community and advise the City Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Becker indicated he was 36, which meant he was a millennial. He noted he has a son that was two years <br />old. He commented he has never been involved in the community. He explained he used to live downtown <br />and was not a part of the community. He stated he has not been involved and saw that he had an opportunity at <br />this time. He indicated he was the Chief Operating Officer of a medium sized debt collection company. He <br />reported he was used to working under policy and procedure. He stated he was objective and did not care how <br />things went so long as the right decision was made. He noted he generally had a utilitarian approach to things. <br /> <br />Councilmember Burg asked what the most important responsibilities a commission member had to the <br />community. <br /> <br />Mr. Becker stated the guidance to the City Council was interesting to him. He saw Commissioners as being <br />the research element. He noted he lived responsibly and would hold other members of the community to this <br />same standard. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked how he would respond if a member of the community were to contact him <br />expressing opposition to an item being addressed by your commission and what if this person was a long-time <br />friend. <br /> <br />Mr. Becker stated he had experience dealing with confidential matters. He explained he would refer the person <br />to a PR contact as he does with all corporate matters. He indicated he would listen to the opposition and then <br />refer them to the proper resource. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson reported each commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council. She <br />asked how Mr. Becker would respond if he disagreed with a policy or Ordinance already in place. <br /> <br />Mr. Becker indicated he would have to ask questions and to try and learn what his ability would be to change <br />things. He stated he would try and learn more about the situation, why things were the way they were. He <br />commented in the end, if there was nothing to be done, he would accept things. <br /> <br />Councilmember Burg asked what the City’s biggest challenges were. <br />