Dan has long advocated for improved engagement of Roseville residents and businesses in local decision-making.  He knows that is key to our success as a community.  Dan is grateful for Roseville’s long tradition of such engagement, and believes that the City must continue to build on those past practices, and constantly improve and enhance engagement efforts.

As a councilmember he pushed for and got enacted increased notification distances for redevelopment projects.  He has also led efforts to implement open house requirements for redevelopment projects before they begin formal consideration by the City.

Dan worked with the rest of the city council to establish the Community Engagement Commission, and then to merge that commission with the Human Rights Commission due to their overlapping roles and missions.  He believes that the commission plays an important role in advising the City on whom to engage, when to engage with them, and how to do that engagement as significant decisions are made by the City.

A key to successful community engagement, Dan believes, is for that to be an essential part of the culture of the City government, from the city council to City management to every employee.  He continues to advocate for education and training at all levels related to the both the importance of and reasoning behind engagement, as well as what makes for successful engagement.

Important community engagement related priorities for Dan in the coming years include:

• Implementation of the joint community-based Rice/Larpenteur Vision Plan with St. Paul, Maplewood, and Ramsey County
• Continuing the Imagine Roseville community conversations on race and local government issues, including implementation of any recommendations
• Enhancing early neighborhood outreach when City financial assistance is sought for housing developments
• Seeking further ways to connect more people into City planning and decisions