[Music] I am Georgiana May and I am standing for election to the Falcon Heights City Council. I am standing for election because I believe in participatory democracy. My involvement in Falcon Heights as a resident of 35 years and my skill set as a scientist uniquely position me and qualify me for this position. I work tirelessly for the greater good. I previously served on the community engagement commission and have been actively engaged in the corridor development study and all conversations on policing. More recently, I was a member of the climate action team that developed the climate action plan. Currently, I serve on the state fair task force and the environment commission. In the larger community, I serve on the board of the friends of the Philando Castile Peace Garden, which seeks to maintain that peace garden as a beautiful uh healing and contemplative space for all. My leadership style is datadriven with a heart. I am a scientist. I am good at putting together information to address complex problems that may not have easy answers. Then I walk the talk. I do the work. I want your input and you will see me doornocking for critical issues as I have in the past. My priorities are are as follows. One, fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability together in the development of the golf course and redevelopment projects in Falcon Heights. On the golf course project, we will be producing several alternative scenarios for the mix of housing, commercial, and green spaces. The plan that we choose must produce the tax income needed to make the project financially responsible and to limit the cost burden to Falcon Heights. We have the opportunity to direct directly incorporate elements of the climate action plan which calls for pedestrian and bicycle accessibility, preservation of trees, the use of lowcarbon and renewable energy sources such as solar which will reduce energy bills. I do not support the use of nuclear energy. Second goal is improve green and garden spaces for all. I am a community and home gardener and serve on the environment commission. We are identifying locations for added community gardens that can help address issues of food sufficiency in Falcon Heights. We are working to clarify code regarding native plant and vegetable gardens so that property owners may decide for themselves the best use of their front yards. Third, I will work to continue to build a strong relationship with the St. Anthony Village Police Department. After much input from the community, we contracted with the St. Anthony Village Police Department for policing services. I attended all public sessions in both cities. The police service has been excellent. In the future, we must plan for the costs of increasing the police force to cover Falcon Heights. on the council. I will ask for and attend regularly regular reporting by the off by the police. I will also encourage each citizen to responsibly interact with the police so that they understand residents needs and so that res citizens or residents can appreciate the hard work that our police do. Fourth, I will be generating non- tax sources of revenue to keep property taxes low in the face of declining federal and state support. I work to develop innovative funding strategies. As a member of the state fair task force, I did the economic analyses that guided policy for the pay by mobile parking program. We gained feedback from residents and responded to their concerns. As a result of this first year of the program, we gained significant uh calming impacts. We paid for our expenses and we generated a new income source that may be used to lower property taxes for all. We will continue to gain input from residents and visitors to address concerns and we will improve signage to lower the number of parking tickets. I also have considerable grant writing skills. I'm working with the staff to gain grants for the climate action plan. I ask for your vote to serve as your council member. Moving forward together, we can address the challenges and opportunities ahead of us to maintain a safe, livable city. >> Hello, I'm Jim Mogan and I'm proud to introduce myself as a candidate for the Falcon Heights City Council. Almost a century ago, Falcon Heights was born. And since then, our beloved village has thrived as a warm, welcoming home for families, students, university faculty, and all who treasure the sense of community that we've built together. Today, we stand at a pivotal moment. The next hundred years of Falcon Heights will be shaped by how we approach one defining challenge, the thoughtful, balanced development of the University of Minnesota's less bolstered golf course. As a golfer, I share the sadness of losing this historic course and the green space it provided. But the university's decision has also creates an opportunity, an opportunity for Falcon Heights to usher in a new chapter of our history, one that welcomes new neighbors and builds a foundation for our city to prosper well into the future. The question is, how do we make sure this next chapter reflects the values that we all hold dear? I believe the answer lies in strong, experienced leadership. leadership that ensures life cycle housing with affordability at its core so that young families, longtime residents, and seniors alike can all find a home here. Environmentally sustainable development that reduces the tax burden, allowing us to grow wisely rather than expensively. Quality parks and green spaces for every neighbor, keeping alive the spirit of open, accessible community spaces and public safety that is strong, fair, and dependable so every resident, current and future, feels secure and respected. I believe I can help guide that vision into reality. For the past 25 years, I've practiced as a real estate and an environmental lawyer serving cities and counties across Minnesota. In that work, I've made sure developers deliver not just housing, but also parks, quality municipal infrastructure, and walkable neighborhoods, and that these improvements are paid for by the development, not by taxpayers. I've worked extensively with municipal finance using tax increment financing wisely to create developments that are true community assets. I've negotiated development agreements, minimum assessment agreements, and subdivision plat with the residents best interests at the center. I've also focused on protecting our natural resources, developing rules and regulations that safeguard surface water, support groundwater, prevent storm water pollution, and conserve both water and city services. My land use planning work has emphasized walkable, bikable, and transit friendly communities that create sustainable tax bases while in while minimizing environmental impact. That's the experience I bring and it's what I want to put to work for Falcon Heights. The university's decision to develop the golf course presents both challenges and opportunities that will define the city that we love. We are a small but proud community and meeting this moment requires vision, experience, and leadership. the kind that can collaborate with and when necessary stand up to developers so that what's built reflects our values, not just their bottom line. We have a chance to create housing that spans lifetimes, affordable, attractive, and anchored in the community. We have a chance to grow in ways that protect our environment and our finances. And we have a chance to welcome new residents, new friends into a Falcon Heights that is every bit as green, walkable, safe, and neighborly as it was when our city began. Our little village truly is at a crossroads. And I don't just mean Snelling and Larpender. I mean the crossroads of our past and our future. At this moment, Falcon Heights needs leaders who love this community, who listen to residents, and who bring the experience necessary to guide smart, valuesdriven growth. That is what I intend to do. My name is Jim Mogan, and I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote for the Falcon Heights City Council. Together, let's make the next hundred years as bright, if not as if not brighter, than our past. Thanks. [Music]