Bloomington, MN elections are tomorrow (11/5/19). For the first time in multiple decades you as a Bloomington resident have the opportunity to elect a new Mayor and to potentially help bring change to that the Bloomington City Council. We posed seven questions to all the candidates running. Their responses are below. We aren’t going to tell you who to vote for, but we hope that you will consider voting for those that support this effort to #savetheriverbottoms.
Tim Busse – Candidate for Mayor
1. The Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington is a natural flood plain. Do you support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington even though it is within the major floodplain of the Minnesota River? Why or why not?
Yes, I support the completion of the MN Valley State Trail. I believe it will be an asset and will make the Minnesota River Valley accessible to Bloomington residents who are otherwise not able to enjoy this great community amenity.
2. In it’s Jan 2019 10 year Capital Asset Needs Report, the Minnesota DNR reported over $445 MILLION in asset deferred maintenance and that over 100 miles of existing paved trails are in immediate need of rehabilitation. Do you feel it’s important that the DNR build more trails, or maintain the assets they are already responsible for?
I don’t believe this needs to be an either/or question: we can insist that the DNR do both. There is certainly a demand statewide for new trails, but the need for maintenance and care of existing trails is undeniable. There needs to be a balance and to reduce this issue to a one-or-the-other argument sells all Minnesotans short.
3. As stated above, the Minnesota DNR has a major deficit in funding for maintenance. As an elected representative of Bloomington, would you vote in favor of using Bloomington funding to go towards maintaining & repairing the proposed paved MN Valley State Trail?
As long as this project has been discussed, I have been clear in my position that Bloomington tax dollars will not go toward maintenance or repair of the MN Valley State Trail. This is a state project and the state of Minnesota is responsible for it. And to clear up a common misconception, the DNR cannot require Bloomington to allocate dollars for repair or maintenance of the Trail.
4. Given the growing popularity of natural trails would you support more research on natural trails before committing to furthering the paved trail in the MN River Bottoms in Bloomington?
Yes.
7. Would you support requiring the DNR to conduct a user study for the current trail from the Old Cedar Bridge to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge prior to any further encouragement of paving in the MN River Bottoms?
Yes.
Ryan Kulka – Candidate for Mayor
1. The Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington is a natural flood plain. Do you support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington even though it is within the major floodplain of the Minnesota River? Why or why not?
No I do not support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington. This project is environmentally, economically and recreationally irresponsible. The negative environmental effects are obvious when it comes to water/ground quality and the elimination of natural land. But, we have also seen the elimination of an incredible number of trees to make way for this project.
Additionally, in having many conversations with individuals that frequently use the natural river bottom trails, they simply don’t want a paved trail in that area. The current natural trail is one of the most used natural trails in our state and, as is the case for many other projects in Bloomington, no one cared enough to ask the people what they wanted.
2. In it’s Jan 2019 10 year Capital Asset Needs Report, the Minnesota DNR reported over $445 MILLION in asset deferred maintenance and that over 100 miles of existing paved trails are in immediate need of rehabilitation.
Do you feel it’s important that the DNR build more trails, or maintain the assets they are already responsible for?
When we hear from current council members and Bloomington officials that this project is a “state issue”, this is what they are referring to. It is the city’s position that the state of MN DNR is shouldering the responsibility to pay for and maintain the trail. I feel that it is essential that the MN DNR be able to adequately maintain current assets before considering more trail expansion. In business if you grow too fast and take on more clients/work than you are equipped to service, it leads to failure. What happens when the DNR never gets around to maintaining the MN Valley trail? Many are concerned that Bloomington taxpayer dollars will then be utilized to maintain a project that no one really asked for in the first place, and I share that concern.
3. As stated above, the Minnesota DNR has a major deficit in funding for maintenance. As an elected representative of Bloomington, would you vote in favor of using Bloomington funding to go towards maintaining & repairing the proposed paved MN Valley State Trail?
I would absolutely oppose Bloomington tax dollars going toward the maintenance and repair of the MN Valley State Trail.
4. Given the growing popularity of natural trails would you support more research on natural trails before committing to furthering the paved trail in the MN River Bottoms in Bloomington?
“Everything looks better paved…” is a famous quote from a few years ago by our current Mayor. I couldn’t disagree more, especially when it comes to our natural beauty that the MN River affords our city. In this case, and in all cases pertaining to major projects being considered in Bloomington, the city needs to do a better job at researching, assessing, and garnering more community input/engagement before pushing projects through.
7. Would you support requiring the DNR to conduct a user study for the current trail from the Old Cedar Bridge to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge prior to any further encouragement of paving in the MN River Bottoms?
A user study should have been one of the first items on the table before this project ever got underway. This is a basic fundamental in city planning, or doing market research when starting a new business venture. Who are our consumers and what do they want? It’s 101 stuff. In this way, a future user study is a bit of a backpedal, however I believe it is essential to conduct before allowing the project to continue on further in our city.
Shawn Nelson – Candidate for City Council – District 2
1. The Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington is a natural flood plain. Do you support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington even though it is within the major floodplain of the Minnesota River? Why or why not?
My priorities for trails in Bloomington include continuing to work with Three Rivers Park District to connect to the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail in Edina, to maintain our existing trails, many of which are not in good repair, and to provide a more connected network of trails that allows North-South and East-West travel within our community.
I believe that we may be able to partner with the State to meet some of our trail needs. Here are two examples of where I believe we might be able to work together. First, we should consider a bridge at Nine Mile Creek. Second, I would be interested in looking into trails along Old Shakopee between Bloomington Ferry Bridge and Lyndale, or a different route using City streets. This would benefit the community with improved trails and could continue the State Trail above the river bottoms, similar to where it runs alongside the highway and not next to the river in Shakopee. Ultimately, though, the MN Valley State Trail is a State decision, not a City decision.
2. In it’s Jan 2019 10 year Capital Asset Needs Report, the Minnesota DNR reported over $445 MILLION in asset deferred maintenance and that over 100 miles of existing paved trails are in immediate need of rehabilitation.
Do you feel it’s important that the DNR build more trails, or maintain the assets they are already responsible for?
That is a decision for the State of MN, not the City of Bloomington.
3. As stated above, the Minnesota DNR has a major deficit in funding for maintenance. As an elected representative of Bloomington, would you vote in favor of using Bloomington funding to go towards maintaining & repairing the proposed paved MN Valley State Trail?
It is not responsible to commit to voting a certain way prior to having all of the information. I did support making it explicit that the DNR is responsible for design, construction, and maintenance of the State Trail, and not the City of Bloomington. This is a State project and not a City project, and I would expect them to keep their commitments.
4. Given the growing popularity of natural trails would you support more research on natural trails before committing to furthering the paved trail in the MN River Bottoms in Bloomington?
First, it is important to note that the natural trails will continue to exist in the current DNR plans for the MN Valley State Trail. Second, I believe that natural trails, mountain biking, and other underserved amenities should be considered as part of the City’s Master Park Planning process that will start later this year. I would encourage everyone to get involved in that process.
My thoughts on continuing the MN Valley State Trail between Bloomington Ferry and Lyndale have been provided above.
7. Would you support requiring the DNR to conduct a user study for the current trail from the Old Cedar Bridge to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge prior to any further encouragement of paving in the MN River Bottoms?
The City can’t require a state agency to conduct a study. My thoughts on continuing the MN Valley State Trail between Bloomington Ferry and Lyndale have been provided above.
Susan Woodward – Candidate for City Council – District 2 (See questions above for reference)
I am not in favor of paving the trails. We are becoming a wetter climate. I am about to name the new ‘lake’ across the street from me. With out a doubt there is a trend towards more flooding here. Paving
trails would cause endless need for repair. The expenses would be burdensome. I absolutely do not want Bloomington to be involved in paying for this money sucking endeavor. Some people might site the disabilities act as a good reason to do it. There are other paved trails to use. What about the rights of the bicyclists with knobby tires? What about the rights of those of us who would be forced to pay for it? Who would push a wheel chair from the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to the Lyndale Ave. Bridge? People would have to put in an elevator to get a handicapped person down the long slope at old Hwy 18. If the handicapped want to have a better view, they can go up and over the bridge and down towards 13. It’s lovely there. I would love to climb Mt. Everest, but I realize that that is impractical. The world cannot bend to every perceived need at such a cost.
Follow-up:
I would not support wasting the money to study the current trail. Nature trails are precisely that. They are not the 35 W’s of the wilderness. If they have a deficit, why plan more deficit? They can take out the trails and leave them as nature intended.
Just in case I wasn’t clear the first time on where I stand.
Al Noard – Candidate for City Council – District 1
1. The Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington is a natural flood plain. Do you support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington even though it is within the major floodplain of the Minnesota River? Why or why not?
I do not support the paved trail being on a flood plain. It will require constant repair.
2. In it’s Jan 2019 10 year Capital Asset Needs Report, the Minnesota DNR reported over $445 MILLION in asset deferred maintenance and that over 100 miles of existing paved trails are in immediate need of rehabilitation.
Do you feel it’s important that the DNR build more trails, or maintain the assets they are already responsible for?
With the DNR’s budget consistently coming up short, trail maintenance is typically one of the first things to go leaving miles of trail in need of repair often leaving municipalities with the burden of covering the cost.
3. As stated above, the Minnesota DNR has a major deficit in funding for maintenance. As an elected representative of Bloomington, would you vote in favor of using Bloomington funding to go towards maintaining & repairing the proposed paved MN Valley State Trail?
Not being a supporter of the paved trail, I will argue against any budget increase for the maintenance of the trail.
4. Given the growing popularity of natural trails would you support more research on natural trails before committing to furthering the paved trail in the MN River Bottoms in Bloomington?
Being a frequent user of the trail along the river for the past 30 years, I have witnessed constant change in the trail with volunteers doing the maintenance of clearing downed trees, rerouting when flood waters deposit large trees in the path, along with building small bridges and a ferry over creeks, all at no cost to the city of Bloomington.
7. Would you support requiring the DNR to conduct a user study for the current trail from the Old Cedar Bridge to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge prior to any further encouragement of paving in the MN River Bottoms?
I would support a DNR study of the trail and an environmental study of the impact of a paved trail built through a wetland/natural springs.
Jenna Carter – Candidate for City Council – At Large
1. The Minnesota River Bottoms in Bloomington is a natural flood plain. Do you support the completion of the paved MN Valley State Trail in Bloomington even though it is within the major floodplain of the Minnesota River? Why or why not?
We have seen the impact water and flooding has had on the paved trails in other areas. For example, Fort Snelling recently re-opened after being closed for 6 months due to repairing the damage to the trails and buildings because of flooding. This concerns me because of the environmental impact of concrete and other materials going into the Minnesota River, but also because of the ongoing cost to maintain such trails. So although I’m supportive of trails, pedestrian infrastructure, and making sure our community as well as natural areas are accessible to people with mobility issues, in the future I would like to see us find alternatives to paving in the flood plain.
2. In it’s Jan 2019 10 year Capital Asset Needs Report, the Minnesota DNR reported over $445 MILLION in asset deferred maintenance and that over 100 miles of existing paved trails are in immediate need of rehabilitation.
Do you feel it’s important that the DNR build more trails, or maintain the assets they are already responsible for?
I would need more information on the projects and level of priority. It seems maintaining and improving current assets would be top priority, followed by new building, but I also understand it may not be that simple and straight forward.
3. As stated above, the Minnesota DNR has a major deficit in funding for maintenance. As an elected representative of Bloomington, would you vote in favor of using Bloomington funding to go towards maintaining & repairing the proposed paved MN Valley State Trail?
Bloomington residents have been told we will not have to pay to maintain the trail through local taxes. I would be an advocate to ensure that is and stays the case.
4. Given the growing popularity of natural trails would you support more research on natural trails before committing to furthering the paved trail in the MN River Bottoms in Bloomington?
My understanding is that the building of the Bloomington portion of the trail is under way and contractual agreements are in place. In general, research, assessment, data analysis and weighing the options should be done before significant public investments and decision making.
7. Would you support requiring the DNR to conduct a user study for the current trail from the Old Cedar Bridge to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge prior to any further encouragement of paving in the MN River Bottoms?
I am uncertain on this piece and would need more information.
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Brian Clemens – Candidate for City Council – At Large
Did not respond to our questions.