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personally did not know how to get there without a car. He discussed how small minute changes would assist <br /> in bringing more people out for biking and walking in the community. <br /> III Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Mr. Dummer 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. <br /> The Council further discussed the Commission openings for both adults and students. <br /> Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas explained the next person to be interviewed was Kena Abdissa. <br /> Councilmember Axberg asked Ms. Abdissa to provide the Council with a brief history on how her personal <br /> and school experiences will help her be an effective commissioner, if appointed. <br /> Ms. Abdissa thanked the Council for having her. She stated one of the school extracurriculars she is involved <br /> in is speech. She reported she was in the discussion category, which goes hand in hand with serving as a <br /> student representative on a commission. She commented on how she worked to provide solutions to a given <br /> prompt with people she has never worked with before. She stated she has fostered the ability to working with a <br /> variety of different peers and this would translate well to the student commission position. In addition, she has <br /> served on the school's student board since fourth grade, which has helped her work with different groups of <br /> people to solve problems. <br /> Councilmember Abdulle asked what motivated Ms. Abdissa to serve on a City Commission. <br /> Ms. Abdissa explained she has always wanted to pursue government. She indicated she was interested in this <br /> 11 more than her peers. She believed this would complement what she wants to pursue. She stated she was young, <br /> an immigrant, a female and a person of color which would help her bring in different perspectives to a City <br /> commission. <br /> Councilmember Dunsworth asked what are some specific goals Ms. Abdissa hopes to accomplish by serving <br /> on a commission. <br /> Ms. Abdissa reported she wanted to assist in representing those who were underrepresented. She wanted to be <br /> a voice for those who did not have a voice. <br /> Councilmember Allen requested Ms. Abdissa speak to the City's biggest opportunity and biggest challenges in <br /> New Brighton. <br /> Ms. Abdissa indicated New Brighton was a great place to live. She stated she just learned about the problems <br /> with the City's water and commented on how borrowing water from another community was a concern. She <br /> wanted to make sure residents were aware of this situation. <br /> Councilmember Allen explained that the City had been temporarily borrowing water from a neighboring City <br /> while the water treatment plant was being upgraded to address trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane (dioxane), a <br /> contaminant of emerging concern, that had been found in the water. He explained that the City was no longer <br /> borrowing water as the water treatment plant has a system in place that properly filters dioxane from the City's <br /> water supply. <br /> Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Ms. Abdissa 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. <br />