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NEW <br />BRIGHTON <br />building tomorrow today <br />Council Worksession <br />March 2, 2021 <br />5:00 pm <br />Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas <br />Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle <br />Councilmember Graeme Allen <br />Councilmember Pam Axberg <br />Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br />Absent: <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust <br />Guests in Attendance: Geoff Hollimon, Brian Raver, Michael Spooner, Lin Brown, JoAnn Lindman, Tim, <br />McQuillan, Todd Biedenfeld, Teresa Crowe, Ahmed Abdiwahed, Meghan Bakken, Leah Kuipers, Julia <br />O'Rourke and Laura Sokol -Kraft <br />Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held virtually. <br />Commission Interviews <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated the Council would be conducting Commission interviews at this meeting. <br />She explained the first person to be interviewed was Geoff Hollimon. <br />Councilmember Abdulle asked Mr. Hollimon to provide the Council with a brief history on his background <br />and community involvement. <br />Geoff Hollimon explained he graduated from St. Olaf during the Vietnam Conflict. He stated he joined the <br />Navy as a naval flight officer and enjoyed flying airplanes around. He survived two tours in southeast Asia and <br />became a flight instructor. He noted he retired as a Navy Commander in 1990. He reported he has lived in <br />New Brighton since 1987 when he took over the Navy recruiting district in this area. He stated he has a Master <br />of Arts in Instructional System Development from San Jose State University. He indicated he has been with the <br />Rotary since 1988, originally in Minneapolis and then in New Brighton. He explained he has been the <br />President of the Rotary club. He commented he was involved with the Educational Concerns for Hunger in <br />Fort Myers, Florida. He stated he ha a skill set and experience that fits the Commission, due to his military <br />experience. He believed the Public Safety Department was a tremendous organization and he had high praise <br />for Director Tony Paetznick. He indicated he enjoyed analyzing information and finding solutions. <br />Councilmember Allen asked what motivated Mr. Hollimon to serve on a City Commission. <br />Mr. Hollimon stated he has been on the Public Safety Commission for almost 10 years. He explained he <br />enjoyed the team, the Public Safety Department itself. He indicated he enjoyed the City and being a part of this <br />community. He reported this was the ideal place to live because you were only 10 to 15 minutes from <br />everywhere. <br />Councilmember Axberg stated each Commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council <br />