With the upcoming elections two seats are open on the Medina City Council with the departure of Jeff Pederson and John Anderson. Thank you, Jeff and John, for your service to Medina – we wish you both all the best.
The four Medina City Council candidates met with me at Roberts of Medina Entertainment Center in mid-August to share their individual perspectives on a variety of topics. In addition to the information provided in this issue, visit the LocalTies Facebook page and LocalTiesMedia.com for details on a more in-depth discussion with each candidate on a special Medina City Council Election podcast.
What neighborhood do you currently live in and what brought you to Medina?
Joe Cavanaugh
The Lakeview Neighborhood (off Holy Name on the north side)
I’ve lived there for 18 years, my family has always been in Medina. My grandfather bought a farm 70 years ago so we’ve been in the community a long time.
Peter Galzki
Elm Creek Neighborhood
I am originally from Maple Grove in a development that attended the Wayzata Public Schools. After several years away I wanted to come back to start a family in a home located in the Wayzata School District.
Robin Reid
Independence Beach near Lake Independence
In 2000 we were looking for an unusual house, we hadn’t been looking in this area because we’d heard it was all big estates. But this house came up on the market, our realtor sent us a picture and we said, ‘that is it!’ We love it out here.
Stacia Whelan
The Reserve at Medina
My husband and I both grew up around the area, I grew up in Maple Grove and my husband is from Plymouth. When we were deciding on our forever home, we were driving home from the cabin on 116 admiring all the farmland and natural resources, and I just loved it. We stumbled across the Reserve – part of the neighborhood was established already and that drew my husband to it.
Where are your favorite places in Medina or Hamel?
Peter Galzki
Favorite places: Roberts for dinner, Medina Entertainment Center for bowling, some late nights grabbing a drink at Inn Kahoots. Also Baker Park, I have camped there as a kid.
Joe Cavanaugh
Baker Park, I love to rollerblade, I love to walk, and we’ll boat on Lake Independence. And of course Peg’s Countryside Cafe.
Stacia Whelan
I’ve only lived here for six months, because of the coronavirus we’ve spent most time here in the parks and trails. With our 18 month old daughter, and me being pregnant, being outside and able to spend time with our families there is huge. A big reason for me to run for City Council is to be an advocate for the parks and trails.
If you could change in our zoning code, what would it be and why?
Joe Cavanaugh
I’d make it a little easier for alternative energy. For example, with solar, if we can do it in a way that didn’t affect the neighbors, make it more accessible. We started a community garden on our farm, my dream would be to have some kind of community solar.
Peter Galzki
I currently serve on the Planning Commission so we’ve had a lot of people spend a lot of time and effort on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, I believe everything has been zoned appropriately so no changes at this time. Of course we make small changes to keep it up to date and relevant for development in the area.
Robin Reid
I think senior facilities could be in residential areas because they’re quiet. We’ve (the Planning Commission) debated about whether they should be in commercial areas or not. I’m willing to be fairly liberal to place senior living facilities and assisted living in residential areas because they’re very quiet, they don’t generate a lot of traffic, and it’s a nice atmosphere for the people who live there.
Stacia Whelan
That is an interesting question. I don’t have an answer for that, but I will research it!
If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of public infrastructure in the City (like a road or a bridge), how would you evaluate if that project was worth implementing?
Joe Cavanaugh
First I’d look at the needs of the community, if it’s a needs issue, a safety issue, if there is widespread support for it. Then I’d look at the feasibility of what the cost benefit is, make an assessment, look for other opinions as well and try to make the best decision for the community.
Peter Galzki
I would draw on my experience as a civil engineer, I have worked on those types of projects. The biggest thing is to get public input about it first. The City has a list of needs and projects they’d like to see, but I’d like to also see if it presents an opportunity for something that wasn’t on the radar. If that is the case, I would get a lot of public input and opinions. It’s important to be transparent so people feel they have a voice.
Robin Reid
You need to evaluate it. First, is there any reason not to do it? Secondly, what does it add to the City? And thirdly, what does it do for the City as a whole?
Stacia Whelan
I’ve learned the most from talking with residents to better understand their needs and wants. This would be a pretty big leadership position for me so I’ve thought about the leaders I’ve had that have impacted my life. They have fostered a community where I’ve felt heard and supported, that’s what I would want for myself as a council member for Medina. I would definitely start with connecting with the residents to better understand if they agree with it. The benefits they would see and just go from there, laying the groundwork of really pushing through with an initiative – if the residents aren’t for it, it may not be beneficial for the community.
Where do you see the biggest area is needed for improvement and what should we do to get us there?
Joe Cavanaugh
The City of Medina needs to be careful in managing the budget, making sure we keep our taxes down and in line. Prior to this we’ve done a really good job of managing those costs and keeping property taxes livable, I think we do have the risk of those property taxes taking a hike as a result of road costs, of different pressures [as a result of] COVID, and different aspects of the budget that have been growing. I would not necessarily improve but manage the budgets, make sure that long term we’re forecasting properly, that we’re prepared so we don’t all of a sudden find ourselves with surprises.
Peter Galzki
Probably the Uptown Hamel Area. I see that as the centerpiece of the City. Bringing in some kind of development but making sure it is the right type of development. Everyone would like to see a restaurant there, and to bring in small shops, retail space or commercial (properties). The other part of that is the Hamel Fire Department, I’d like to set up fundraisers to find ways to give back to departments that need funding and depend on donations to keep going.
Robin Reid
Hamel has a lot of potential. The City has tried to do things to encourage businesses to open there, but it is not the ideal location. We need a more aggressive effort to develop that area, it’s such an opportunity, it’s very charming.
Stacia Whelan
One of the biggest areas for improvement is the residents want a community, they want to feel connected, building relationships with their neighbors, etc. Small businesses and commercial areas are really good ways to foster that. Medina is in such a unique place. I want to preserve the natural resources and green spaces we have while strategically thinking of ways we can foster that community whether it’s around a restaurant or even a park or a trail.
What business background are you bringing to the table?
Joe Cavanaugh
First of all, I’m a CPA, I spent six years in public accounting. I own my own medical business now, we’ve survived through a complete shutdown (COVID), we’ve been able to keep all our people and not make drastic changes to the business. At the end of COVID I think we’ll be in a stronger position. If you look at all the candidates, they’re all good. They all bring special qualities to the team. Medina will be lucky to have any one of them. What sets me apart is the experience and the fact I’ve served on the City Council for four years. At the time I didn’t run for a second term because we went abroad for work, now I have a window of time to do this again.
Peter Galzki
I don’t have a strong business background, but I have a strong development backgound. As a civil engineer I’ve worked on a lot of public and private site development, roadway construction, underground utility projects and transit projects as well. Drawing on that and utilizing a lot of the resources that we have as a City, I’d be able to bring my piece to the table to know what kinds of development would work well and what areas we might be able to do that in.
Robin Reid
30 years of marketing & communications for technical and manufacturing companies. I have an MBA in marketing, I’m fairly business savvy. I’m sympathetic to the businesses. I’d like to see more business development along the corridor here. The Automotorplex is a great example of a newer business in Medina. It’s in a great location, it looks nice – that’s the kind of development I’d like to see.
Stacia Whelan
My background is around analytics, I have my masters in data science. I really focus on data and like diving into the numbers and thinking strategically, but I also have a creative side to my personality. I like looking at things from the big picture and being innovative. I’m also really passionate about local non-profits, through the years my roles have included soliciting sponsorship donations and mentoring elementary and high school kids.
If you could change one thing on the Comprehensive Plan, what would it be?
Joe Cavanaugh
I would take another look at the Comprehensive Plan to make sure we have balanced growth and to make sure that long term we’re not going to have a lot of infrastructure costs and will need to find ways to pay it. We need balance between everything, not all residential and not all commercial but a balance between the two.
Peter Galzki
The only thing I might like to see is a little less of the high density development. We do have those in the appropriate areas if we are moving forward with it, but every single time we have a project come we have pushback from residents feeling like it’s going to detract from the rural feel of the town. The biggest comment is, “We don’t want to be Plymouth, we want to be Medina, our own city.”
Robin Reid
I actually think the Comprehensive Plan is fine as it is, there has been a lot of thought put behind it. There’s nothing that needs to be changed.
Stacia Whelan
I think the Comprehensive Plan is a wonderful foundation, I’ve spent a lot of time looking at it. I don’t know that there is anything I would change, I’m supportive of all the time and research that has gone into the Comprehensive Plan, but I would prioritize it in a way to reflect the voices of our residents. From the people I’ve talked with, roads and safety are a big thing that most are concerned with whether it’s Hackamore and 47 and having paths on each side – which I know is an initiative that is currently in progress – or the road from 55 to 6, those can be prioritized in a way where we accomplish the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and that matter most to the Medina residents.
How do you see the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder affecting cities like Medina?
Joe Cavanaugh
That is a difficult and sensitive question for all of us. I think that we are lucky in a small community like Medina, not to have many of the problems experienced in larger cities like Minneapolis. Shortly after George Floyd was killed, I spoke with a former Medina Police officer about how our police force is prepared and how we have handled interactions with our minority neighbors. I was impressed by the level of professionalism he described from our force. While there is always room for improvement, I believe our police force is one of the best in the state and is well prepared to handle all situations in a professional and courteous manner with all of our residents and visitors. As a city councilor, I would always be available to any resident to discuss any concerns that they may have.
Peter Galzki
Luckily we haven’t seen a lot of that, but it does bring the issue up, especially when it comes to the public and our police department. It’s making sure there is a lot of communication between the residents and their concerns, with public safety and the police department. I think that transparency and letting people be involved such as community groups working in tandem with the City and their departments is important. We want to make sure these issues don’t continue like we’ve seen in Minneapolis and St. Paul, there seems to be a lot of issues that are recurring cyclically. What is the root of the problem? We need to talk about it and come to a solution to prevent this from happening again. Transparency with the community and concerned citizens is crucial.
Robin Reid
I would like to see a more diverse population, more Blacks and Hispanics. People are more comfortable around people of different backgrounds if they’re around them. I would like to see more affordable housing, we need more of a variety of housing options for working people. It’s best if that happens organically, I’d like us all to be more receptive to diversity.
Stacia Whelan
There have been a lot of times throughout the last months where I’ve felt disconnected from Minneapolis. My husband and my church is in the North Loop of Minneapolis, so we’ve been there a few times to drop off donations, especially right after [the George Floyd protests]. It was interesting listening at the City Council meetings to police officers talking about the protests around our area which have been peaceful and on a much smaller scale. I think the aftermath of all those events, in terms of Medina, has opened up the conversation and allowed people to talk about diversity, inclusion and race in a way that they’ve never been able to before. I’ve had conversations with my neighbors, who I don’t really know, about it. I don’t know that it would have ever been brought up without events like this happening. For our City it is a way to bring up dialogue, how we can make Medina better, more diverse, inclusive. It’s an interesting time, a time of change that I think everyone had to go through.
Why are you running for the City Council?
Joe Cavanaugh
When I was on the City Council a number of years ago, I really enjoyed it. Why I enjoyed it was I got to meet my neighbors, I still run into people at Peg’s and Hy-Vee from that experience on the City Council. In addition to that, you can mold how you see the City growing, and lastly, I think I am in a special position to help manage and forecast the growth and the budget, making sure we do it in a thoughtful way. Making sure we don’t have surprises five or ten years from now.
Peter Galzki
The biggest reason I’m running is I have a young family and I would like to play a part in what the City of Medina is doing with responsible development. Having served on the Planning Commission for the past two years and with my civil engineering background I have a unique perspective. Unlike most of my counterparts in the engineering world, I actually enjoy speaking with people! Because I love the City so much I have the responsibility to make sure I’m there to give the citizens a voice and they have someone there to not only give a really good speech but who also has a good understanding of how the system works. When I get my packet for the Planning Commission, I start reading it and I really get into it because with my civil engineering background and my site background I completely understand everything that’s put in front of me, what people are trying to do, how to interpret plans, that’s what I do for a living. The biggest thing is I don’t have an agenda. I don’t have a certain topic that I’m getting involved with the City Council to influence or change. I like what the City Council has been doing, their vision and I’d like to continue with that and make sure as an impartial person to see it through and make sure we don’t have anything like that come up.
Robin Reid
I’ve been involved with the City for close to 15 years. I’ve been on the Parks Commission and now on the Planning Commission. The experience and background from the Planning Commission are very valuable and I’m ready to take the next step up to City Council.
Stacia Whelan
I want to be involved in the city that I live in and the city that I chose to raise my children in. There is something really special about knowing the community that your children will grow up in. When I think back to my childhood and the impact it left on me, I just want a positive community for my children and for them to be proud to live in Medina. Another reason I’m really interested in running is I think I bring a unique perspective, having a female voice and female representation on the board. I know in the past there have been a lot of females that have been a part of the City Council, I think that’s amazing and it’s great that Kathy Martin is our mayor. That’s really empowering and inspiring for me. I hope I can bring a unique perspective being a new resident, being a female, being a mom, being young. I want to respect and preserve everything that’s amazing about Medina and why people choose to live here while also thinking strategically and critically, challenging the viewpoints of others so our community can be the best it can be.
MEET THE MEDINA CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Sunday, October 11 3:00 pm
Fields of Medina Park Pavilion | 1200 Meander Road, Medina
• Each candidate has approximately 5 minutes to speak
• Rain or shine
• Social distancing rules apply
