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<br /> <br />was willing to help the City in any way possible. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ms. Sauter for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City <br />Clerk Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She <br />explained the next person to be interviewed was Ellen Weber. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg asked Ms. Weber to provide the Council with a brief history on how her personal and <br />professional experiences will help her be an effective commissioner, if appointed. <br /> <br />Ms. Weber stated she has served on a commission before. She noted this gave her some experience. She <br />explained professionally she has worked with youth, has been a case manager, has been a coach, worked with <br />families involved in child protection. She indicated she now works at Augsburg College as the operations <br />program assistant. This position focuses on communication and telling stories. She stated personally, she was <br />attending an antiracism whiteness class with her mom, where she was learning about generational trauma. She <br />believed she has learned how to be a better communicator from this class. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen asked what motivated Ms. Weber to want to continue serving on a City Commission. <br /> <br />Ms. Weber commented equity matters and now that she was a homeowner in the community, she wanted to <br />make a difference. She wanted to make sure she felt like she belonged, along with her neighbors around her. <br />She wanted to learn more about how the City works and to make it more accessible to others. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth stated each Commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City <br />Council that comply with policies, rules or ordinances already adopted by the City Council. She asked Ms. <br />Weber what she would do if she disagreed with a policy or ordinance already in place. <br /> <br />Ms. Weber stated she would ask questions and reach out if she had an issue and would want to learn more <br />about why the policy was in place. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle requested Ms. Weber speak to the City’s biggest opportunity and biggest challenges <br />in New Brighton. <br /> <br />Ms. Weber explained as the population and demographics change, she wanted to see the City addressing what <br />it means to belong and how are things accessible. She appreciated the fact the City was willing to apply for <br />grants in order to further advance the City, like with the banners, which would assist in creating a sense of <br />belonging. She stated a challenge was to combat systems of oppression that continue to marginalize folks. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ms. Weber for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City <br />Clerk Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She <br />explained the next person to be interviewed was Liza Allen. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen excused himself from this interview. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg asked Ms. Allen to provide the Council with a brief history on how her personal and <br />professional experiences will help her be an effective commissioner, if appointed. <br /> <br />Ms. Allen stated she does not have any experience with public safety but being a former commissioner on the <br />Planning Commission she learned a lot about processes. She believed this would help her. She stated she <br />wanted to learn more about the City through a new position. <br />