Operation Metro Surge and Immigration Enforcement
How are managing through this crisis
o With colleagues, we have directed the City to create and publicize Immigration resources webpage (www.newbrightonmn.gov/immigration).
o Currently, we are distributing information to residents by leveraging our multifamily, faith, and business community partnerships.
o Reviewing safety and public safety policies and increasing resources in response.
o I have been speaking out against Operation Metro Surge and collaborating with other elected officials, local law enforcement agencies, our School Districts and community at arge to better understand how our community is being affected and how to best respond.
Issues
Housing policy and action plans
o Upgraded and modernized City inspections for rental properties, including apartmentbuildings, single-family homes, and short-term rentals. We created a system thatraises the living conditions for residents who rent or lease.
o Since 2018, partnering with developers to create almost 400 below-market costhousing units, 53 market-rate townhomes and 100 market-rate rentals.
o We are currently creating a comprehensive City housing policy that will allow us touse funds to further improve housing in New Brighton.
Significant, generational investment in parks & trails
o After years of community conversations, phase 1 of the City’s long-term park improvement plan is nearly complete. Almost half of the City’s parks have or will experience a generational upgrade with designs and amenities recommended by those who use them.
o We have added and repaired multiuse paths and trails around the city, helping betterconnect pedestrians and bikers around the city and to regional networks.
Increased, intentional community engagement & communication
o The City is taking a more proactive approach to reaching out to local businesses tohelp establish relationships, get feedback, and share information.
o Increased resources toward the City’s quarterly Newsletter, social media presence,connecting the City and residents, businesses and non-profit community.
o Increased opportunities for the community to come together. In 2017, the city had 5community-wide events, last year we had 50+.
Increased City financial stability to secure a brighter future!
o New Brighton has increased its bond rating in the past 6 years, to AA+, reflectingstrong budgetary performance and robust management practices.
o Continued long-term planning to repair and replace the City’s infrastructure, to notonly meet today’s needs, but help us be more resilient moving forward.
o Continually maintained debt levels lower than many surrounding comparable cities.