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<br /> <br />not be a challenge for him. He indicated he would ask a lot of questions to learn what he can from staff. He <br />stated from his interactions with City staff, he knows them to be very hard working individuals. He indicated <br />he missed Janice. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen asked where Mr. Jones thought the City Council could improve the most and how <br />would you assist in improving that area. <br /> <br />Mr. Jones stated this was a great question. He believed that government in New Brighton was great. He <br />commented he has been happy with the New Brighton government. He explained services were being <br />delivered and things were good. He thought they could always listen better. He understood there has been an <br />outreach into neighborhoods but this could be done better. He explained he would like to see more <br />communication from the City Council. He knew there had been an uptick during the COVID-19 pandemic and <br />he liked this. He stated he would like to see the communication from the City Council increased through <br />videos or other messages. He commented on the importance of getting information out to residents and <br />understood things changed, which was a challenge. He indicated he would like to better understand the capital <br />expenditures of the City compared to other actions of the City Council. He believed the Council could do a <br />better job explaining what purchases were being made for capital expenditures and why these purchases were <br />being done at a certain time. However, he reiterated the Council was doing a great job with the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen stated the second part of this question was what would you do to assist in improving <br />that area. <br /> <br />Mr. Jones explained if he were appointed he would have a lot to learn. He indicated he would encourage some <br />communication changes. He stated he loved when Brian Strub was on Facebook because he provided <br />communication from the City Council. He believed people appreciated that. He reported he would ask enough <br />questions so that he understood the capital expenditures and learned why they were being made. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson thanked Mr. Jones for his responses. She asked if the Council had any follow up questions. <br />There were none. She then inquired if Mr. Jones had any follow up questions for the Council. <br /> <br />Mr. Jones questioned if the City provided any training or orientation provided to new Councilmembers. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson stated this was a great question. She noted the City had a lot of training that would be <br />provided. She discussed how well City Manager Massopust had been at establishing processes that assisted <br />with onboarding people. She commented this position was to fill a nine month gap and information would be <br />provided at a higher level to assist in getting through the next nine months. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen reported the League of Minnesota Cities had phenomenal education and training <br />materials available. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson stated the newly appointed Councilmember would meet with the leadership team and would do <br />a deep dive into budgeting. She indicated there would be a lot to learn in a very short time period. She <br />explained the City Manager would be the first point of contact for all City Councilmembers. She stated this <br />was a very important time for the City and once a new Councilmember was appointed this would be an all <br />hands on deck time for the City. <br /> <br />The Council thanked Ben Jones for applying. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson welcomed Ruben Vazquez and for being flexible in order to accommodate this Zoom meeting. <br />She discussed the process the Council would be following for the open seat and noted Councilmember Allen