Learn about my priorities for Mill Creek: parks, trails, and green spaces, business and economic recovery, and smart growth.
Parks, trails, and green spaces
One of the many things that became clear to me in the last year is how lucky we are to live in a community with access to parks and trails. Specifically, I am grateful our community values these resources. Playgrounds for my kids, trails for walking, and bike paths are essential to my family. I love the parks so much that I have served on the Parks & Recreation Board for the last three years.
I want to continue to advocate for safe, well-maintained, and accessible parks and trails in Mill Creek. That means finding opportunities to expand our green spaces and proactively identify updates to existing spaces. It means working with each other to understand how parks are being used and what is missing. We need to have conversations on a consistent basis. It also means collaborating with our county and state government to achieve the goals of our green projects.
Business and economic recovery
Our community and businesses have been hit hard due to the economic impact of COVID-19. We need to take steps to promote the existing businesses in our community to help in their success and that of their employees. This includes recreational programs, sporting events, and community events that feature local businesses. We need to highlight these businesses, events, and programs that are available to seniors, families, and children here in Mill Creek. It is what makes us great and gets residents to shop and stay local.
We also need to promote Mill Creek as a place for new businesses to open to help diversify the places our community has for shopping, eating, and entertainment. That includes supporting small businesses, even those without a storefront, to ensure everyone is included.
Smart growth
Our city has grown since incorporation in 1983, both in terms of geographical size and population. As we continue to expand, we have to make sure that the decisions we make as a city align with the needs of our residents and our vision as a city. We need a healthy and vibrant Mill Creek.
That means we need to build a culture in City Hall that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of residents and businesses. We need to develop, consistently review, and update plans to maintain aging infrastructure. We also need to engage our residents through forums, focus groups, and steering committees to plan what our future as a city looks like. When elected, I will work with city staff to make sure we are working to not just be transparent about the city’s plans but also proactively engaging with residents on issues that matter most to them.