FORWARD TOGETHER

Public engagement from the recent Parks and Trails Master Plan effort was clear - let's focus on trail connections!

Arden Hills’ parks and trails are a big part of why families love living here, and public input from the parks and trails master plan effort was clear: better, safer trail connections are the top priority.

As a student athlete coach for the Mound View / Irondale / Totino Grace mountain bike team, and a daily user of our parks and trails, I support policies to help implement the City Parks and Trails Master Plan, for better, safer trail connections.

Many of us moved to Arden Hills for the outstanding schools and a better future for our children. Single Family homes in Arden Hills are highly sought after for this reason, and many homes are not turning over due to a lack of desirable housing options for empty nesters to downsize to a different housing type.

I support partnerships and city policies that encourage more housing options so we can get young families into our single-family homes, to keep our student numbers up and our schools strong.

City hall can directly incentivize land use to bring the goods, services, and housing options that we need closer to home, with more options and competition to help lower prices.

Let's get the data to identify what we’re missing and then implement land use policies that support and incentivize what we need closer to home.

Lets drive less and live more!

I support clear, long range fiscal plans for parks, trails, streets, and utilities; and long-term capital plans with realistic funding sources that spread out major work over time, so residents see fewer “spikes” in costs and more predictable, leveled-out investment over time.

Lets use the County's new budget visualization tools to better communicate where tax dollars are going, so we can improve transparency and trust in city government.

When it comes to taxes, let's think more creatively on how to guide land use that can bring us the goods and services we need closer to home while increasing the tax base to lower the tax burden on resident homeowners.

I support policies that encourage common sense sustainable solutions that cost less money to build and operate. From creative storm water management and plantings that enhance our streets and trails, to incentivizing green building and renewable energy solutions that save money over time, I will guide discussions and connect staff and council to the right people to get this done. Adding a rain garden costs significantly less money than an infrastructure upgrade; and certain geothermal applications cost less than the code minimum while saving significant operational costs over time. See the "About Ben" page to view the zero carbon and all electric communities that I've led and designed.

How a City Council acts and functions has a significant impact on our lives, as they determine the future of our City - all by a handful of elected officials and the economic and planning commissioners they appoint.

To encourage top talent to run for office, and to make it more attractive for residents to volunteer their time on these commissions, this needs to be a positive, fulfilling, and yes... FUN experience.

A positive City Council will improve the perception that Arden Hills is "good to work with" and "a good place to do business"; and this will bring better city function and more amenities to our community.