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<br /> <br />Councilmember Allen asked what issues the City has long-term. <br /> <br />Ms. Fynewever stated the City was currently sitting in a good place with its water supply but encouraged the <br />City to stay adaptive in order to address concerns that arise. She recommended housing realities be considered <br />around affordable housing along with fair practices. She explained the City would also have to address some <br />of the long term projects addressed within the Comprehensive Plan. She suggested the City work with the <br />League of Cities in order to make sure New Brighton was a presence that matters in the north metro. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen stated the City Council currently enjoys a strong working relationship with each other. <br />He indicated it would be important to appoint someone who can work in such a manner. He asked how Ms. <br />Fynewever would develop and maintain strong and productive working relationships with the Mayor and City <br />Councilmembers. <br /> <br />Ms. Fynewever indicated part of this issue was personality and track record. She explained she has not <br />switched who she was and would not start because she had a new title. She would continue to maintain who <br />she was and how she worked on behalf of the community. She believed that good working relationships were <br />all about caring for people. She sent her condolences to the Mayor and her family for the recent loss in her <br />life. She commented as functioning leaders in the community people’s stories and lives matter. She <br />commented on how she led the school system by allowing people to have space and grace to be human while <br />also maintaining a bar of excellence. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen stated City Councilmembers have to work through conflict from time to time. He asked <br />how Ms. Fynewever would approach conflict with a fellow Councilmember. <br /> <br />Ms. Fynewever explained inquiry and humility were the first two words that came to mind for her. She <br />believed if she approached a conflict with a spirit of inquiry and a spirit of humility she would be able to move <br />out of defensive mode into a frame of mind where you can acquire information. She indicated conflict does <br />not have to get resolved with compromise, nor does it have to be resolved with complete agreement. She <br />stated conflict does not curate space for growth if the Council were to remain in it. She understood there was <br />value of finding forward movement and she was willing to stay in a productive struggle so long as the space <br />was not demeaning or demoralizing. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen questioned what Ms. Fynewever’s approach would be to work effectively with City <br />staff. <br /> <br />Ms. Fynewever stated would need to learn the system used to receive reports and what feedback loops were in <br />place. She indicated she knew a handful of staff members and through her interactions she learned staff was in <br />place to help us understand the inter-workings of the City. She understood she would need to learn more about <br />the things that were already occurring. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen asked where Ms. Fynewever thought the City Council could improve the most and how <br />would you assist in improving that area. <br /> <br />Ms. Fynewever believed that the City Council was a fairly strong and well-functioning organization at this <br />time. She indicated she would be redundant and state again the people of color in New Brighton need to know <br />they have a place and space that was of value and that they had a voice. She stated widening the opportunities, <br />whether that meant appointing a person of color or moving towards inclusivity so that New Brighton could be <br />anti-oppressive in what it does. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson thanked Ms. Fynewever for her responses. She asked if the Council had any follow up