Council candidate profile: Alice Gruber
Woodbury should manage its growth in the near term and plan for its residents’ long-term needs, Alice Gruber said.
Woodbury should manage its growth in the near term and plan for its residents’ long-term needs, Alice Gruber said.
Gruber said Woodbury officials need to prepare for when the city’s young residents are older and their service needs change. That preparation includes encouraging construction of elderly housing, she said.
It is good that local officials are involved in the regional Gateway Corridor Commission studying regional transit options, Gruber said, but Woodbury also should look at public transportation within the city. It may not be needed now, she said, but it will be increasingly necessary.
“When your population ages, people like more public transportation,” she said.
In the short term, Gruber said Woodbury must be cautious in its approach to more residential growth, given the economic uncertainties.
“I think we should proceed slowly,” Gruber said, but added that she is not “anti-development.”
If the City Council decides to reduce city spending, Gruber said she would look at delaying some maintenance work, trimming any overtime and mowing city property less frequently. She said she also would ask whether some employees’ hours could be cut. That would reduce expenses but prevent layoffs, she said. Gruber said she “wouldn’t want to touch” public safety with spending cuts.
Gruber said she decided to run for Woodbury City Council in part because her two boys are in school and she has the time to contribute.
“I feel like I should be involved in some way,” she said.
Gruber said she has no major complaints about how the city operates and would not joint the council with any pet issues.
“I wouldn’t want to see any big changes,” she said. “There’s no big problems here, so it’s just making sure the quality of life is maintained, but also being forwarding thinking.”
Alice Gruber
Age: 44
Occupation: Part-time tax preparer.
Family: Married, two sons.
Woodbury resident: Five years
Civic involvement: School volunteer
Tags: city council, election
More from around the web
RSS Feeds