Jeffrey Dains
Lauderdale City Council
A former Mayor of Lauderdale now serving as Lauderdale City Council member
To reach Jeff, call (651) 645-7068 or email jeffreydains@gmail.com
My Pledge
I believe our citizens need to have confidence that their government is working for them, knowing that their officials are cooperating to get the job done efficiently and are always striving to watch that tax dollars are spent wisely. I pledge to work hard and make sure that the City government is working effectively for our citizens.
My life in Lauderdale:
Lauderdale offers the best of small town living with all of the big city amenities nearby. This was a big factor in our move here in 1986. Lauderdale was just the place for my spouse Anna and I to raise our two children. My enthusiasm for Lauderdale has grown with each passing year. I have always been committed to preserving our small town feeling as we continue to be a successful, thriving community.
Increased vision loss caused me to step down as Mayor. But my love for the City and deep interest in City government has led me to remain in a City Council position. Now I dedicate much of my Council time to committees that benefit the City.
Committee and Board Memberships
Current:
- Representative
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) - Representative
Metropolitan Council Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee
Past:
- City Representative
League of Minnesota Cities - City Representative
Ramsey County League of Local Government - City Representative
North Suburban Cable Commission - City Representative
St. Paul Regional Water Board
Career Experience
- Staff representative
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - Representative
St. Paul Regional Labor Federation - Executive Director
Minnesota Public Employees Relations Board, Bureau of Mediation Services
During my time in Office:
- Installed a picnic shelter and new playground equipment, reconstructed the tennis courts and paved the hockey rink in our main park.
- Created two new parks: a dog park and Skyview Park.
- Established a volunteer Parks and Events Committee to oversee civic events such as Day in the Park, National Night to Unite, the Farmers Market and the annual Halloween party. Our volunteers are fantastic! Please join them!
- Promoted our civic events to include all residents.
- Achieved environmental standards to become a Minnesota Green Step City
- Established the Lauderdale Nature Area so that everyone can enjoy a wild area and its wildlife in the middle of an urban environment.
- Provided more frequent recycling pick up and expanded diversity of recyclable materials.
- Reconstructed the majority of the City’s infrastructure, including roads, sewers, and storm water system.
- Safeguarded our City finances despite cuts in Local Government Aid from the State. The City is on a solid financial footing. We have continued to manage the City with a reasonable budget as we provide the best possible services to our residents.
My Goals for the City
Green Sustainability:
- Preserve and increase green spaces and parks, which will help diminish the impact of climate change and create cleaner air for us all.
- Expand environmental programs to include recycling more materials and promote tree replanting and pollinator-friendly landscapes.
- Safeguard our water quality in my role as member of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization.
- Help develop the new environmental and sustainability commission.
- Revise zoning ordinance to make it more eco-friendly for property owners.
Lifestyle Sustainability:
We have finished construction of all the city-owned roads in Lauderdale. But as you can see in the photo we have a remaining problem area: Eustis Street from Larpenteur to Como Avenue. This is a county-owned road! My goal has been to pressure the County to fix the road and create a walkway and bicycle lane. Fulham Street, another county-owned road, is another concern we plan to address.
I will continue to foster the expansion of the tax base by encouraging development that offers the best quality of life for our residents.
In my role as a member of the Metropolitan Council Transportation Accessibility Committee I am working on expanding bus service to our community.
Social Sustainability:
I will continue to support our volunteers’ efforts to organize community events. We must ensure that all residents are included in our City’s events, particularly new residents.
I will continue to support our Neighborhood Watch Groups and encourage increasing the number of block parties for National Night to Unite.
I will continue to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in our City.
Public Safety Sustainability:
Fire Department
The St. Paul Fire Department provides us with improved fire and safety services. SPFD is one of the best-trained and best-staffed fire departments in the state of Minnesota. The Council has taken steps to contract with the SPFD. Its Como Avenue station is close to the City of Lauderdale.
Police
Policing and police reform are subjects of great importance to everyone. Our City is served by the St. Anthony Police Department. I believe they serve us well and we have a good working relationship with them. Four years ago we established the Tri-City Police Working Group comprised of residents, city officials and police which initiated the use of body cameras and collaborative reform around Department of Justice recommendations for police forces.
Ensuring public safety is one of the primary functions of the City Council. Our goal is to offer the best public services to our residents. I will continue to make this our most important priority.