2020.04.28 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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make sure the City was advancing towards its priorities. Mayor Johnson thanked Ms. Axberg for her responses. She asked if the Council had any follow up questions. There were none. She then inquired if Ms. Axberg had any follow up questions for the Council. Ms. Axberg questioned what the Council saw as the biggest challenge in the coming months. Councilmember Jacobsen stated he saw this as COVID-19 as it would impact finances and the City’s 2021 budget. He saw this as an immense challenge. In addition, he wanted to work to keep residents feeling a part of the community even when people are not allowed to congregate. Councilmember Allen commented on how park programming may have to change given social distancing requirements. He indicated the City was going to have to rethink how to provide services. Mayor Johnson agreed stating one of the things the City has been good at was keeping New Brighton in a good financial position. She did not want to see the City falling back into a poor financial standing. Mayor Johnson commented further on the process the Council would be following for the appointment and thanked Ms. Axberg for being willing to step forward. Mayor Johnson welcomed Nasreen Fynewever to the Zoom meeting. Councilmember Allen asked what motivated Ms. Fynewever to apply to become a City Councilmember. Ms. Fynewever stated this was the one City Council she has worked closely with in her adult life. She discussed the equity work she had done at Irondale High School where she encouraged interaction with the Council, Mayor and students. She explained her civic involvement grew from that experience to task force work. She indicated this was a Council she cared about getting bridged to 2021. She commented after Councilmember Burg stepped down, she saw this as a time and place for her to step up in order to fuse together what has to get done in the coming months. Likewise, she supported the Council having a person of color appointed to this position. She believed it was important for the community to see that persons of color can have a seat at this table and may encourage people to get on the ballot. Councilmember Allen stated one of the most important actions the City Council does was approve the annual budget. He asked what Ms. Fynewever’s philosophy would be when it comes to developing and approving the annual budget. Ms. Fynewever indicated she would want to be fiscally responsible and forward thinking for the residents of New Brighton while also remaining in alignment of the Comprehensive Plan. She explained the City would have to be sensitive to the shifts and changes that would occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated her mindset would be to let governing frameworks guide actions while also leaning into learner agility and be in the learning process on where the budget stands. She reported she was currently a principle in a grade 6 through 12 system and annual budgets were not beyond her purview. Councilmember Allen stated besides COVID-19, what issues does the City need to address in the near term. Ms. Fynewever stated she would like the City to be addressing the continuation of some of the development plans within The Exchange and the elementary site. She believed the continuing voice of inclusive community and the work being done alongside law enforcement and parks would assist in creating a sense of place and sense of home for the community.