Meet Brenda
Re-elect Brenda Arden Hills City Council
I am Brenda Holden, My family moved to Arden Hills over 35 years ago. We live in the SW area of the City on Beckman Ave between Lake Johanna Blvd and New Brighton Road.
After several years of volunteer work on city committees, I joined the City Council in 2003 and have had the privilege to serve for the past 21 years. I retired as Director of Operations of the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System.
Arden Hills and its current residents are my priority!!
I am an experienced leader, open-minded, a good listener and an excellent problem-solver. I understand the City process, history, networks, and have the ability to partner with others. I retired as Director of Operations of the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System.
Residents asked me to run again because they believe in a diverse and balanced City Council, guided by independent-minded members with varied perspectives. This approach ensures fair and effective decision-making, avoiding control by any single group. I am not running as part of a slate or team.
I believe the Mayor’s duties should be restored since he was fairly elected. Having all “think alike council” means one person tells the others what to think and it is wrong.
I am committed to true transparency in governance, seeking open discussion at Council meetings of ALL City issues including TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons. I ask a lot of questions and engage with residents to arrive at the best and most informed decision. I'm dedicated to making sensible, proactive decisions to ensure a safe, active, and affordable community for all.
I am currently active in the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon-suburban Ramsey County which is for for Veterans and their families and AHATS bird conservation.
My former boards and committee participation include:
- TCAAP Joint Development Authority
- TCAAP Energy Resiliency Committee
- Lake Johanna Fire Department
- Northeast Youth and Family Services
- Minnesota Advisory Council on Patient Safety
- Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless
- Ramsey County League of Local Governments
- MN House Rabbit Society
- State of MN Combined Charities Chair
- The Arden Hills Parks Trail Recreation committee and the Financial Planning and Analysis Committee
- Communication committee
- Planning, and Economic Development Commissions.
- Purposed the South Shore Park and Trail with senior exercise equipment in exchange for a storm water pond.
Accomplishments
- I championed the creation of a long-term maintenance program that systematically reviews roads, trails, parks, sewer systems, water infrastructure, City facilities and equipment to reduce costs.
- I advocated for long-term budget planning and award winning transparent, understandable financial documents. I was instrumental in developing our City’s annual 10-year budget cycle plan.
- I worked with local businesses during COVID and the Lexington Ave reconstruct.
- I worked to get $2.1 million in state bonding and grants for City projects.
- Added 7.2 miles of trails in the last 10 years.
- Suggested tennis courts be lined for pickleball and that the City purchase nets.
Unfortunately, the my opponent's campaign is hitting a major low. Instead of talking about our differences my slate opponents are in attack mode. Which I must now respond to instead of sharing ideas and thoughts.
I do not encourage the dissmissal of volunteers from committees to get ahead or because our beliefs are different or are older. Nor have I stopped people from being on committees.
My opponet went after and received a party endorsement and party funding yet advertises that he is an independent.
I could make up alot of things BUT I'm proud of my record. Arden Hills is one of the most sought after community's in the metro area. The City has been listed by several organizations as one of the top places to live. We have wonderful parks, trails, lower tax rate, streets that get plowed, innovative ways to reduce salt on roads in winter, a maintance plan for all city equipment and facilities. This is what MY record is and my record will continue to expand as our City grows into the future.
I have yet to hear "fresh" ideas. The fresh council didn't plan the 5 new trail segments coming and set money aside for. Past councils are responsible for painted pickle ball lines on tennis courts and I had to ask for court nets.
I have never voted against a councilmember wanting to bring an issue forward to discuss.
I support ALL mental health clinics. I have never missed an opportunity to partner with anyone to save Arden Hills money or recieved funding. I have never banned councilmembers for their duties as committee liasion which is the norm now.
I have listed below what I have done and want to do.
Environmental Stewardship
I believe the City of Arden Hills has a role in protecting our environment. Currently, it is done through rain gardens, properly maintained stormwater runoff programs, the brine use on roads during winter and energy-efficient products. The City also regulates land development that requires limits on lot coverage, we have regulations for tree preservation and replacement as well as manage acres of parks and open space.
I initiated the City’s entrance into the GreenStep City program, that is environmental benchmarking program sponsored through the league of MN Cities. The City has received a grant to assist in the elimination of invasive species in City parks.
Protecting our environment maintains our QOL and property values. The City must continue to protect our environment and by using best practices for parks, City facilities, and developments.
Public safety
I will continue to work with the Sheriff Department so it proactively engages with all in our community, is transparent and provides information, while maintaining a high expectation of professionalism and ongoing training.
Support Sheriff Department in training for dealing with mental health, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. I support the new Lake Johanna fire station located in Arden Hills to ensure faster response times for our residents.
I also support the move to increase full-time fire staff to ensure staffing on all shifts, stabilize costs of hiring and training new firefighters. I know respond time is critical in both fires and medical emergencies. Our first responders can make all the difference in the time before an ambulance arrives.
Fire - I support the new fire station and movement to full-time staffing that will reduce response time to AH residents. I know respond time is critical in both fires and medical emergencies. Our first responders can make all the difference in the time before an ambulance arrives.
Sheriff - Encourage the Sheriff’s development and training of a mental health response unit to deal with mental health, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. Continue to work with the Sheriff Department so it proactively engages with our community, is transparent and provides information, and maintains professionalism, has ongoing training and knows residents.
Trails - I will continue to advocate for more trail segments. My efforts have contributed to significant enhancements, including 7.2 miles of new trails (with five more planned), and added pedestrian push button crossing walks on several county roads.
TCAAP/Rice Creek Commons
I support a vibrant development of the TCAAP property as a mixed-use business and housing development with diverse housing for all ages and income levels.
It is a unique opportunity that can benefit current and future residents and businesses if done correctly. It is vital that the development be fully vetted, is fiscally sound, avoids burdening current taxpayers, and does not jeopardize our City’s financial stability.
Currently, according to financial review, TCAAP will not pay for itself for at least 20 years. If not properly planned, developed, or financial reviewed there is the potential that current Arden Hills’ will need to pay for the development for years to come, thus ignoring or deferring issues that must be addressed in our existing developed portion of Arden Hills or increase taxes significantly.
TCAAP must be developed right, there is only one chance, the City cannot “go back” and correct “mistakes” as has been stated by some current elected officials.
Infrastructure
I support continued spending on the City’s aging infrastructure. The Council setting aside money for future cash expenditures on infrastructure rehab, rather than significant and costly borrowing for those needs.
Maintenance and upgrading the City’s aging infrastructure avoids expensive reconstruction and protects our environment from untreated wastewater & property damage.
A key initiative I championed was the creation of a long-term maintenance program that addresses roads, trails, parks, sewer systems, water infrastructure, City facilities, and equipment. This ensures that our assets are well-maintained and our City remains vibrant and functional.
Taxes
I have kept city taxes low through careful spending and sound fiscal policy. I support keeping taxes affordable so businesses with good jobs are secure within our community and low-income residents are not taxed out of our community.
I have and will continue to advocate for long-term budget planning and transparent, understandable financial documents. I was instrumental in developing our City’s annual 10-year budget cycle plan, which is crucial for strategic planning, economic development, and making informed decisions that impact taxpayers.
