Minneapolis City Council Ward 7 Candidate Questionnaire

Jeffrey Alan Wagner

 Email: jeffwagner.mrtc@gmail.com or call 612-226-4742

 Website: www.rockthecouncilwithjeff.com

 Endorsements: None.

Michael J. Katch

Email: Michael.Katch2009@gmail.com or call 612-332-1108

Website: www.Neighbors forKatch.org

Endorsements: Independence Party, Minneapolis Republican Committee, Libertarian Party, New Broom Coalition

(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article inadvertently omitted responses submitted by Michael J. Katch. His responses are included below.)

Lisa Goodman

Email: cmlisa07@yahoo.com or call 612-227-9102

Website: None.

Endorsements: DFL Party, Sierra Club, DFL Feminist Caucus, Stonewall DFL, Teamsters DRIVE, Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades, Service Employees International SEIU, MN Woman's Political Caucus, International Union of Operating Engineers- Local 49 

What's one burning issue that's prompted you to run for this position (25 words):

Wagner: I don't have one burning issue. HOWEVER: I would help to forward the momentum the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District's (DID) & the visible change they've made.  

Katch: I believe that our city is being mismanaged by bureaucrats who are either incompetent or are using their power to make their cronies wealthy.  

Goodman: I felt local government was not being as responsive to the public as I would have expected and I have made that a top priority.  

Since 2003, the city has increased the amount of taxes it levies on property by 8 percent annually.  Do you favor continuing this policy, or do you favor a lower or higher amount of property tax increase?  What specific increase would you support, and what budget adjustments would you make in light of your choice? (100 words)

Wagner: Obviously we need to look at the books again and promote transparency. I can't state improvise enough. + The city council has blocked the board of estimates from conducting it's annual audit of the city budget for the past 2 years. So independent audits is an idea worth reviewing and in my opinion, a must.    

Katch: I support a property tax freeze at current 2009 levels. I believe that as many of us do with our own budget, our city leaders must set aside the cost of police, fire protection, snow removal, and garbage pickup, just as the rest of us set aside the cost of rent or our mortgage. Once these line items are paid, we must then repair our infrastructure such as streets and bridges. We then must make sure our traffic controls are in working order and our street lights are operational. The lowest priority would be economic development-social programs.

Goodman: I do not favor the 8% tax policy. Property taxes are regressive and local government can't rely on increasing that source to fund basic services. Many residents want the City to do more but tax less, it's impossible to do both. I hope the city can get to a point where a 4-6% increases can sustain the current level of services. Decreasing our annual pension liabilities, controlling employee health care costs and collaboration with the County and Park system on services need to be seriously addressed in an effort to reduce redundancy among levels of government.

With state aid declining and property taxes rising, should the city diversify the taxes and fees through which it derives income?   If so, how?  (100 words)

Wagner: The recession speaks for it's self. We have to be careful and in touch with the wards, and even beyond. There is a bigger picture. We want to clean the city without cleaning it of it's culture and have the ability to attract independent business with a desire to make downtown their permanent home.  My approach will involve those who have fresh ideas and are still in tune with the community.  I will not pretend to have all the answers, but I will seek out & listen to the ideas around me and let my instincts drive me towards solutions that are fair.

Katch: Our city must think outside of the box when it comes to the revenue side of the balance sheet. We must engage in more public-private partnerships such as harnessing the Mississippi River for power generation and operate small business incubators in our downtown entertainment district. Furthermore, we must make sure that all entertainment taxes and sales taxes are available for use on general fund expenses. We cannot maintain a convention and entertainment district if the revenue that this district generates will not cover its share of common area cost. The dedication of these funds has led to waste.  

Goodman: We must work with the State to diversify funding for local government so we rely less on property taxes by restructuring to allow Minneapolis to keep more of the sales tax generated in our City. Minneapolis is the economic engine of the region and we need to access revenue generated in our city to provide services that keep the city strong. A wholesale reduction in LGA forces an increase in property taxes. A statewide solution to fund local government is needed. Moving towards charging fees for services is a back door tax increase that I do not support.

The council is considering how to use the property taxes from its older development districts.  This tax increment by law may only be used to pay for Target Center debt and for neighborhood revitalization, or alternately, the tax base in these districts can be returned to the general tax base. What percentage would you allocate to each of these three purposes? (100 words)    

Wagner: I lean towards city revitalization, however if the public would like to hear the ideas of the 'Target Corp' I would be open to hearing what they would be willing to do for the greater good of the city. Some of my ambitious ideas regarding embracing technology & inspiring more community involvement will keep all sides on there toes. This is an issue that might light the fire in the community, if they are made aware of its urgency & participate in the process.

Katch: The idea that these funds are any different than any other monies the city spends is an accounting fiction. The only reason not to re-certify the redevelopment district is if we have no use for the money that we are collecting that would otherwise go the Minneapolis Public Schools. As the school board has increased its levy last year and with state government unallotment, I see the city in greater need of these funds to offset what the city is assessing in special assessments for sidewalk and street maintenance. Under the law reauthorizing this district, this expenditure would be allowed.

Goodman: I believe the pre 1979 TIF districts should be decertified and the entire amount calculated back to the total tax base to grow the tax base so the tax rate increase can be more modest. Neighborhood organizations are a basic service delivery model in the city and their operations should be funded out of the general fund. Target Center debt needs to be repaid in full because it's a drain on the general fund, the quicker the payoff the more available for city services. Both should compete with all other city services for funding in this economic environment.

Council members may collect up to $400 monthly as a car allowance.  Would you do so or collect a lesser monthly allowance (how much?) or collect only per-mile payments for actual miles driven?  Explain your choice.  (50 words)

Wagner: This is a bull [expletive] question. I could pay my own gas. This goes along with my willingness to promote pay cuts. Obviously I would need to get around. However: why shouldn't I take the bus?! After all the downtown route is only $.50. Seeing as how I live, shop & generally hang out in downtown, why should I have such a high gas expenditure? Obviously I will need to go out to other areas in the ward & to the state Capitol and when these times come my team/friends will drive me or I'll take the bus like lots of people downtown do.

Katch: I think council members earn a generous income and do not need any per diem at all for transportation. They only need to travel to city hall, which I intend to walk, and to the neighborhood meetings in their ward. I wouldn't object to providing council members an MTC pass.

Goodman: I use the auto allowance as I frequently use my personal car for city business. The allowance is a pre tax payment so it amounts to less than $250 per month. I have collected receipts and tracked mileage in the past a monthly payment is comparable.

What are three specific things that you'd like to accomplish in your ward by the end of your four-year term? (50 words)

Wagner: I want to promote the thriving art & music scene inside and outside of the city. I would like to see more small business thrive in the downtown area. I would also like to promote & improve the relationship between the community & law enforcement. There has been critique in some circles and sometime not enough praise. We have a safe & wonderful city, and although there is always room to improve, we should be proud of the work being done to keep it safe. 

Katch: I would like to see our downtown district vibrant with all sorts of one-of-a-kind entertainment establishments. I would like to see entertainment and lodging taxes lower the burden that has been placed on our residents. I would like to see our city as the safest in the USA.

Goodman: Continue the progress made on the Riverfront by supporting & facilitating urban scale development on remaining surface parking lots. Adopt a comprehensive downtown strategy for private/public partnerships on urban greening and reforestation efforts. Lead the effort to adopt neighborhood alternatives promoting green energy with expanded use of residential level solar & wind energy

What's one specific city-wide accomplishment you'd like to make happen by the end of your term? (25 words)

Wagner: In general I want to end the hidden agenda, make the position transparent and restore faith in the city council.

Katch: I want to stop property tax increases by reinventing our city's accounting methods, so that we simplify and combine our books to further our priorities

Goodman: Continue to pay down debt, preserve our triple A bond rating and advocate the reform needed to diversify the sources of funding for local government.