Rachel
Lucas

How should the council set the property tax levy, and what would you cut or add?

Their pick: Raise it only after trimming costs.

We shouldn't stagnate progress in our city, but we need to ensure money is being spent wisely. Periodically checking for ways to reduce costs, coupled with applying for grants should be done prior to increasing property taxes.

What should the city do about a community center and the grant funds?

Their pick: Pursue a new community center with outside grants.

If elected, I would fully support additional public spaces and increasing access to current ones. With the loss of our community center, an alternative third space accesible to the community should be a priority.

Should the city-owned 3rd Street lots go to student-built housing or stay planned as park space?

Their pick: Keep them as park land.

Per my speech to council on 7/21/26: Parks enhance the quality of life for all citizens, boost the local economy by attracting visitors and increasing local property values, and build a sense of community and belonging. Environmentally, parkland combats air and water pollution, decreases the urban heat island effect, reducing strain on our electric grid, and aids in flood resilience. Parks and Rec have already spent funds on plans to transition this land into a beautiful nature-scaped park as was approved by council and workshopped with citizen feedback. Accordingly, I believe it would be short sighted to sell this public land. It would waste the tax payer dollars spent on this park planning, and the community would forever lose public land in an area that would especially benefit from additional green space. I believe there are other ways in which North St Paul can support the student build housing program.

What housing types and lot rules should the city allow?

Their pick: Allow more types of housing.

I believe the city should make it easier for additional housing types to be built- ADUs (both attached and detached), multiplexes, new single family homes, and remodels or additions to existing homes. This could be done through city-approved building plans of these structures, which minimizes approval time, decreases permit costs, and reduces the city's time and costs to process the accompanying paperwork. Overall, this would save the resident and city time and money by streamlining the process to build additional housing. New housing units and remodeled or expanded current homes would also increase the city's base of total property value. This would help offset future costs and minimize future property tax increases.

How should the city pay for future street and utility projects?

Their pick: Mix bonds with current cash.

My goal would be to find the perfect balance of fulfilling needs, watching the budget, but also doing what we can do to improve citizens' lives.