Election 2012: Ward 2 Candidates Address Issues Stillwater Faces

There will be a primary election Tuesday, Aug. 14 for an open seat in Ward 2 on the Stillwater City Council.

Ward 2 residents Tom Corbett, Ted Kozlowski and Cassie McLemore each participated in forum Tuesday at the Stillwater Public Library to address questions regarding their candidacy and some of the issues facing the city of Stillwater.

Below is a snippet of sound bites and brief recaps of the candidates’ responses to the questions.

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The General Election is Tuesday, November 6. Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.Click here for information about absentee voting.

Tom Corbett: Business Attorney for Target Corporation

Facebook: Corbett for Council

Website: www.corbettforcouncil.com

Email: Tom@corbettforcouncil.com

Ted Kozlowski: Entrepreneur, President of DemandQuest Marketing Institute

Facebook: Ted for Stillwater

Website: http://tedforstillwater.com

Email: tedforstillwater@gmail.com

Cassie McLemore: Freelance Web Designer and Marketer

Facebook: Cassie For Council

Website: http://www.cassieforcouncil.com/

Email: cassieforcouncil@gmail.com

Why do you want to be a member of the Stillwater City Council?

Ted Kozlowski: “I just love this town. I grew up in Stillwater. After high school I lived in several different cities and a couple different countries and coming back here with my wife and two sweet babies, it’s just amazing to see this town from a parent’s eyes, from an adult’s yes, I’m just crazy about this town.”

Because Kozlowski runs the Stillwater, MN Facebook page and is visible as a Board Member at Valley Outreach, he said he’s been a “sounding board” for residents whether the issue is backyard chickens, stop signs or sandwich boards on Main Street.

“For some reason people come to me with those issues and I’d like to be in a position to address them.”

Kozlowski said as a council member one of his biggest concern is the future of redevelopment of downtown with the new bridge.

“I see Stillwater as being at a little bit of an apex where we can change for the better or for the worse, and I want to be in on the decision-making process.”

Cassie McLemore: “The biggest reason is that I love Stillwater. I’ve been here since 2003 and remember coming here as a child. I’ve always enjoyed this town, the people and how the everyone in this community interacts.”

While working in downtown Stillwater for the past three years, McLemore said having contact with business owners and residents has helped her understand some issues because people have come to her and told her things they would like to see changed or moved forward.

“I’ve been encouraged by different business owners in town to become a member of the City Council, and have always been someone who gets involved, so it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time.”

Tom Corbett: Grew up in Lakeville, lived in Minneapolis and moved to Stillwater with his family seven years ago when they were searching for an “unique community in Minnesota where there was a beautiful natural environment and historic homes.” The couple was looking for a city with sidewalks, front porches where people get to know their neighbors and shopping nearby.

“I see this as an opportunity to give back and contribute to the community. We’re all relatively young—in our 30s—and one person told me you want to remodel your house while you’re still living in it. So many people get involved after they finish their career and are starting to wind down, but it’s also exciting to get involved when you’re in the prime of your career and see what impacts you’ve had 10, 20, 30 years out.”

What are your personal and professional experiences that qualify you to be on the Stillwater City Council?

McLemore: Has lived and worked in Ward 2 for the past nine years. She has helped produce Harvest Fest, Summer Tuesdays and other events that “bring the community together.”

By working downtown, McLemore said she is familiar with some of the issues during that time period, and that has given her some insight into what downtown is facing, as well as the differences between what downtown businesses and community members want for the downtown district.

“There is sometimes a disconnect from what you want for a business and what you want as a community. Having been in both of those areas, it gives me some insight to what some issues are and how we can come together to compromise.”

Personally, McLemore said being a member on various boards has taught her the importance of working together, compromising, strategic planning and problem solving.

Corbett: Has sat on the Stillwater Public Library Board since 2009, which has about a $1 million dedicated budget from City Hall annually.

“That’s a significant line item for the city. I’ve enjoyed that experience, being entrusted with public funds, entrusted with an institution that is over 100 years old and trying to find the next steps forward for that institution to be successful in the future.”

Corbett also sat on the Stillwater Charter Commission from 2006-2009.

As an attorney, Corbett said he has worked with all types of businesses and nonprofit organizations.

“I work in Minneapolis, but I believe I’ve had significant experience and volunteer hours in Stillwater, as well.”

Kozlowski: Is the Vice Chairman on the Board at Valley Outreach. He said the nonprofit is very personal to him and feels he has developed professionally as a board member.

“It’s an unique organization. We feed people, put clothes on their back and give them money when they need help.”

Kozlowski said his role has helped him develop good ties to the community and develop relationships with businesses that support Valley Outreach.

“I think this job requires passion for Stillwater and I’ve been such a supporter of Stillwater from the Facebook page to giving people tours and directions when I was 12 years old downtown on my skateboard. It’s not a job where you’re paid very much, so that passion is a requirement.”

Kozlowski said he has owned and sold several successful businesses, so at this point he said he has had “very significant management experience.”

What do you think are the three top issues facing the city of Stillwater?

Corbett:

1. Sensible Public Development: Downtown is going to change a quite a bit with the bridge going in. It’s going to change the way cars, pedestrians and bicyclists move through, and come to, Stillwater. “We have the opportunity to change the face of downtown Stillwater a bit for good or bad, so we need to make the right decisions.”

Parking ramps and park improvements are setting Stillwater up to be a première destination city, he said, but it is a matter of looking at other projects—like the fire station and armory—and making sure dollars are being spent appropriately.

2. Fiscal Responsibility: Corbett said he sees the city spending has gone up over the last 10 years. “The city is growing at about 20 percent, but spending is much more than that. Eventually, that will be a strain on tax dollars.”

3. General Good Governance Issues: Corbett said he believes the City Council needs to be a model for the type of discussion that happens in Stillwater. City Council members, even if they disagree with one another, need to treat each other with a respect for differing viewpoints. “That only adds to the decision making process and credibility the City Council has with residents.”

Kozlowski:

1. Open Government: The level of decorum between the city council members right now “is a little bit alarming to me,” Kozlowski said. “It’s frustrating. When people start asking me about issues in Stillwater it’s really because they don’t feel they have access to city government.” As a council member, Kozlowski said he may not be able to change that, but could bring “visibility to the issue.” When City Council members can’t communicate with one another, and “blast each other in the press, it doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies and is something I’d like to try to remedy.”

2. Fiscal Responsibility: In relation to the Armory Project, Kozlowski said he’s not sure the council is make the “deliberate decisions,” they were elected to make and that “worries me.”

3. The future of Downtown: “There are a lot of expectations with what the bridge is going to do to downtown. I think most people think it’s going to be a positive change, but I’m also worried there might be some consequences to not having the traffic.”

McLemore:

1. Economic Development: McLemore said one issue is the economic development of downtown with the new bridge and making sure it is done in a way that makes sense for downtown businesses and the community.

2. Event Fatigue: McLemore said as a council member, she would look at what kinds of events are being run downtown. There is a need to maintain some type of events, she said, because they bring people downtown to see all the great shops and restaurants.

3. Fiscal Responsibility: McLemore said with housing valued down, the city council needs to make sure they are spending money wisely on city projects.

How would you maintain communication with Stillwater residents?

Kozlowski: Runs the Stillwater, MN Facebook page with more than 13,000 members, most of who are Stillwater residents.

In addition to online feedback from residents, Kozlowski said he would work with the media and have a “finger on the pulse of comments” written on news articles about Stillwater. He also has a phone line and voicemail dedicated to constituents.

“I want to keep it as open and accessible as possible.”

McLemore: McLemore said she would use Facebook and her website to communicate with constituents.

She said she would be transparent, open, accessible and present in the community, so residents felt “they could come to me with issues.”

Corbett: Communication is easier than ever with technology.

The ward system allows constituents to get a hold of their representative and share their thoughts, Corbett said. He would also like to take the opportunity to teach residents how to interact with city government by showing up at council meetings, commissions and various public forums.

What do you think a major summer festival should look like in Stillwater?

Corbett: When reading that the city recently approved a $15,000 festival survey, Corbett said he was concerned, because he believes council members are constantly hearing from community member who tell them what they love or hate about Lumberjack Days.

The council members should have an opinion, Corbett said, and that is a chance to lead.

“It’s not a bad idea to get a survey for the temperature, but there is probably a better way to spend $15,000.”

Corbett said Lumberjack Days needs to be at scale, have the support of Main Street and the residents of Stillwater.

“People don’t enjoy picking beer bottles out of their gardens and yard. Lumberjack Days has occasionally gotten out of hand.”

Corbett said the city needs to do their diligence figuring out what organization will run the future event and make sure that group has the “financial wherewithal to not bounce checks to youth athletic associations.”

“I believe there is an ordinance in Stillwater with an additional fee for bounced checks. I think agenda item No. 1 might be to get the checks that bounced from Lumberjack Days, put them in a frame and put them up in City Council at City Hall, so we don’t make that mistake ever again. It was a bit ridiculous how Lumberjack Days breathed its last breath.”

Kozlowski: Kozlowski said he “absolutely loved Lumberjack Days” and doesn’t think it should be that challenging to have a multi-day festival that is good for locals, kids, families, as well as nighttime entertainment.

Regardless of people’s feelings about Lumberjack Days, Kozlowski said it brought a “ton of money in to Stillwater” and kept people coming back.

“I like having Stillwater visible in the metro area and I think Lumberjack Days does a good job of that. I think it would be a shame not to do Lumberjack Days in the future.”

Kozlowski said there is an easy way to do Lumberjack Days right, and history supports that.

“It wasn’t until the last several years, starting with Lenard Skynard, which was a brilliant idea, that Lumberjack Days changed.”

Growing up, Kozlowski said he enjoyed the log rolling, ax throwing, family-focused events and live music “that put Stillwater on the map.” He said he would like to see the festival come back in that shape.

That said, it is the council’s responsibility to make sure the people organizing the event have experience, have demonstrated success and are financially sound before bringing 50,000 people with them.”

McLemore: McLemore said Lumberjack Days is an important event, but it has “gotten too big, too crazy and is too much of a free-for-all party.”

She believes it is important to “keep Stillwater on the map” and have an event like Lumberjack Days of the past with log rolling, family events and music.

“One thing I loved about Lumberjack Days was that I could walk down and enjoy it. Who else has that in their community? However, I don’t want to be picking up beer bottles. I don’t want that crazy event, but I do like having something that keeps us relevant and keeps people coming to Stillwater.

What should the City Council’s role in moving forward with a new festival?

McLemore: The City Council’s role should be listening to the community, giving them a voice and trying to keep personal opinions out of it, since the council represents the people. The council should also engage the public and have an open forum to discuss it.

Corbett: First the City Council should establish what the criteria for a new festival are. Then it should be open up for different organizations to pitch ideas and give proposals explaining why they should organize the event. We need well thought out proposals from a number of sources to compare them and make the right choice.”

Kozlowski: The City Council should not be in the event planning business. It is not the council’s role to define what a festival should be, but rather set the criteria based on public input, public safety officials feedback, downtown business owners and the other stakeholders. The council should then interview promoters, vendors and productions companies to put on that event.

Each of you said people have encouraged you to run for this seat. Has any member of the City Council asked you to run, and if so, who asked you to run?

Kozlowski: “No. I don’t know the mayor or anyone else on the council.”

Corbett: “No. I learned the seat was opening at the 11th hour and chose to run. If Micky Cook was running for re-election, I would not have thrown my hat in the ring.”

McLemore: “No. I haven’t been encouraged to run by any council members.”

The Stillwater City Council, on a 4-1 vote, attempted to give $80,000 to the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing. The state auditor said the method was illegal. Do you agree or disagree with the City Council’s position that it had to help the Coalition to do this?

McLemore: McLemore said she is not “entirely certain” how the city should have handled that situation. “Personally, I support the bridge, but as the city, I’m not sure how it should have been handled.”

Corbett: The City Council is well within its right to engage groups to promote—and move along—city initiatives that are supported by the majority of the City Council.

“I did not agree that it could be done on a handshake basis. Just from an internal controls perspective, an $80,000 agreement needs to be in writing and signed by the city, the mayor and the group to explain the scope of services that will be provided. Regardless of supporting the bridge or not, if you spend $80,000 you need a contract that says what you’re getting in return.”

Kozlowski: “The first thing that came to my mind is ho much are we paying the City Attorney for bad advice? Giving $80,000 to a lobbyist in the manner in which it was given was a big mistake and the auditor showed that was the reality of the situation.”

The City Council has the right to engage with groups that will move the city forward, but the bridge is a state and federal project—that arguably will benefit Stillwater—and it is not even in the city of Stillwater.

You’ve all said Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development are top issues facing Stillwater. With those two things in mind, what is your definition of a better Stillwater?

Corbett: There are certain types of development a city needs to do and residents are seeing that with the improvements to infrastructure, whether it is parking, streets, riverfront issues or things that contribute to the uniqueness of Stillwater.

“I’m a little skeptical of the ability of cities to do economic redevelopment and be very intentional about what they want to go on Main Street.”

There are tools the city can use, but residents saw with the downtown condos that when the city plans for what downtown should look like, sometimes the city can get it wrong.

“We can think there is going to be a condo boom until the end of time, and suddenly realize our projections were off. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it is better to invest in opportunities everyone can enjoy that contributes to Stillwater as a river city, and let business decide what should go on what block and what visitors and residents of Stillwater want to spend their money on.”

Kozlowski: The condo point is a good one, Kozlowski said. The city was excited about those condos, and look how that turned out.

“We were going to have thousands of people walking around, shopping, eating and drinking and was going to be a wonderful influx in revenue, but that didn’t really materialize. There are people there, but I don’t think it had the intended consequences.”

Stillwater needs a comprehensive economic redevelopment plan, and Kozlowski said, it is well within the responsibility of the city to put that together and figure out what is going to make Stillwater a better place for the long-term.

Some projects in the past—like tearing Main Street up for the water project—had “drastic consequences” on downtown, Kozlowski said. The project closed Main Street for about a year and that’s when “we lost a lot of the mom-and-pop shops residents were using.

Antiques stores started moving onto Main Street and people started moving up the hill because Oak Park Heights had a really good economic development plan to get business from downtown to move up the hill, he said.

“I think we missed the boat on that, the city was too busy focusing on building Oak Glen and other things, I don’t think made a whole lot of sense. We’ve proven over 30-40 years that a lot of times when it comes to making big decisions, we get it wrong, so I would like to see something more comprehensive, intelligent and forward looking that details what we want downtown to look like and what we want the top of the hill to look like.”

McLemore: McLemore said she would start by looking at similar places—with a river, bike trails and vibrant downtown—and see what benefits and challenges they have had and how it could be done in Stillwater.

“We need to see what works and what doesn’t, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

By researching similar cities, the council could make “smart decisions” with respect to fiscal responsibility. The council would also be tasked with awarding the right people get the contracts and making sure city funds are “well spent so that it is enjoyed by the community, as well as the tourists that come to Stillwater.”

What is your take on the Armory Project and proposal to relocate the fire station? What do you think of the proposed spending? And what do you think the Stillwater Fire Department should look like?

Kozlowski: “The armory is a tough issue.” After talking with a couple of firefighters, Kozlowski said they tell him the service area is massive, and he agrees.

There is definitely a need for a station downtown and maybe something up the hill, he said. With the armory project, gymnasium and everything else going on up there, he’d like to see “a better use of the space.”

“The money part does scare me a little bit. I’d like to see where the money is coming from, how we plan on spending it and if it makes sense in relation to the rest of the city budget.”

Kozlowski said he would like to see something come of the armory space, but the cost of the project and “lack of any evident planning on behalf of the City Council” when spending “a significant amount of taxpayers’ money scares me.”

McLemore: McLemore said she due to the massive service area, she feels it is important for the fire department to have a station up on the hill while maintaining a presence in downtown.

“We need to make sure the space is being utilized and the money is spent wisely.”

Corbett: “Stillwater is a high-service city and has highish taxes because of that.”

The city has a library and its own police and fire, so much so, that they service other communities.

“The growth is not happening downtown, but when those homes went in, I think they knew where the fire department was, because it is in downtown Stillwater.”

Concerns about response times are being brought up now because of the Armory Project, Corbett said. The Armory Project came along and the city said here’s an opportunity to move the fire station.

“When those properties were built that would have been an opportunity to note we may need a future fire station here, so maybe we should recoup money for that from the developers. But that’s water under the bridge.”

Corbett said he is in favor of keeping the fire station downtown. He said that will impact response times elsewhere in the city—and acknowledges that it is a fairness issue—that will continue to be discussed as the city expands its boundaries through annexation. The council will have to look at this issue moving forward, but Corbett said it is important to note the number of calls the firefighters respond to on the river.

“Let’s make a fact-based decision” after figuring out where the alarms are coming from. “This obviously has big implications for safety.”

Is it important to have consensus on the Stillwater City Council or dissent?

McLemore: The City Council needs to be able to communicate, work together, be polite and respectful.

“We don’t necessarily have to agree on everything, but there needs to be a level of respect.”

Corbett: The Stillwater Public Library Board, which Corbett is a member, is a consensus board, he said, even if something isn’t unanimous—that is documented in the minutes—but everyone has to “be on the bus” to support the library.

“City Council is different.” It is the role of the mayor to decide how important consensus is, he said. If the mayor decides he or she only needs 2 or 3 votes to get things done, then there is going to be split boards.

As a city council member, the job is to represent the residents in your Ward, take a stance on issues and try to lead, he said. If there is a minority on a particular issue, the councilmember is well within their right to explain and represent the people with that viewpoint.

Kozlowski: “Dissent is very important on the City Council, in city government and in government in general—and I think it is very important with this council.”

“Some of the perception is that it is a rubber stamp right now and while it might not be fun to be the dissenting voice all of the time, it gives more visibility to issues people may not otherwise hear about and that’s my primary concern—is that people know what the city council is doing, where the positions are and sometimes the best way to be heard is to have some dissent on the council, whether that comes from me or somebody else on the council.”

Kozlowski said on the other boards he sits on, he “almost gets queasy” when everyone is in agreement.

“I want to opposition on some level. There has to be a counter argument and I want to hear those before making decisions.”