The Woodbury Cottage Grove League of Women Voters held a question and answer session with candidates for the Woodbury City Council on September 12th. Voters will elect two council members to four-year terms that begin in January.

Six of the eight candidates attended the forum including:

• Murid Amini: Woodbury resident for 20 years

• Timothy Brewington: Woodbury resident for 11 years

• Dave Hoelzel: Woodbury resident for 13 years

• Temmy Olasimbo: Woodbury resident for 18 years

• Donna Stafford: Woodbury resident for 35 years

• Kim Wilson (incumbent): Woodbury resident for 31 years

You can watch the forum here. The following are brief summaries of the candidates’ responses to questions about several issues impacting the city.

Top Two Issues

Wilson: Public Safety and Staffing. We need to bring up staffing levels for the Public Safety Department and also ensure that we retain staff.

Brewington: Public Safety and affordable housing

Amini: Adequate management and oversight of the pretty hefty investments that we’ve made in the water treatment plant as well as Central Park and the upcoming Public Safety campus.

Stafford: Public safety, affordable housing and transport for seniors

Hoelzel: Water implementation. Current city council has done well in getting the plan designed but now we have to implement it.

Olasimbo: Public safety, staffing, and housing. Currently young people can rent but not buy.

What proposals would you support to decrease crime and promote public safety?

Brewington: Public safety should mutually share information to build relationships with the community.

Wilson: If you have relationships with the community, a lot of crimes can be stopped before they happen.

Amini: Focus on training police, invest in resources like license plate readers, and invest more in social work and mental health resources for the police force.

Stafford: Ensure that the community has faith in our public safety team. Also get neighbors together with public safety like they do with Night to Unite.

Hoelzel: Agree with what others said. He saw technology in action on a ride-along with a police officer and belies we can make technology a proactive tip for the community. Need more discussions for public safety on the Gold Line.

Olasimbo: Dialogue between police and city officials. Allocating budget for safety personnel.

What can the city council do about housing affordability?

Hoelzel: As a part of its 2040 Comprehensive plan, Woodbury has a commitment to 50/50 housing. That means 50 percent of larger homes and 50 percent of townhome/apartment building type.

Olasimbo: Create some lending options. Give grants instead of loans to those who are trying to build their first house.

Wilson: We have an HRA program in our city that provides financing to low- and moderate-income first time home buyers. And also low-interest reinvestment loans for people to fix up their homes. In 2024, the city just approved 489 more affordable housing units.

Brewington: The city should put funds back in HRA. We need to offer developers incentives to increase diversity of housing options, like smaller houses within Woodbury.

Amini: Agree with the above points. Also, avoid single source developers. With control over zoning and permits, force the developers to follow rules so that they don’t build only $700,000 homes.

Stafford: Communicate properly about the programs we have through HRA and HUD that would allow young people to live in Woodbury and continue living here when they retire.

What do you plan to do to support safe air, water, and soil in our community?

Amini: Work with the water treatment facility to ensure the health of the community. More opportunities for recycling and for citizens to start composting.

Brewington: The Woodbury Park Commission is working on environmental stewardship, including looking at what tools will help us. Invite the community to give us input.

Hoelzel: Encourage “green” behavior and use of solar energy.

Wilson: Continue to implement smart irrigation, toilet replacement, and stormwater reuse programs. Need to tackle noise pollution.

Stafford: Fully support solar. Continue with FoodScraps for compost.

Olasimbo: Ways to sustainably maintain clean air and water. Emphasize ways to prevent further water contamination.