City Beat: Our 2020 Year in Review-And Looking Ahead

January 8, 2021

Happy New Year! As we start 2021, we want to thank our 2020 City Beat readers and give a warm welcome to our new subscribers. If you know someone who's always looking for the inside scoop on City news, plus a bit of fun, share City Beat with them so they can sign up. See the link below.

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Image of fireworks on a dark background with the words Happy New Year! from the City of Red Wing

New Faces and Positions

It's a new year with a few new faces and positions around Red Wing's City Council table--and everyone is ready to work with you and listen to your ideas and thoughts. New Council President Becky Norton will preside over the first regular City Council meeting of 2021 this Monday, January 11. Norton received a unanimous vote at last Monday's organizational meeting and will take over from former president Dean Hove, who was elected Vice-President for 2021. Andy Klitze representing Ward 2 will begin his term as the sole new Councilmember. Red Wing also welcomes its new mayor, Mike Wilson. Meet all of our City Council members and Mayor on the City's website. Click each representative's picture to learn more about them and find their individual contact information. You can also email the full Council and Mayor.

2020: A Year in Review

It's been quite a year. Residents, elected leaders, and City staff worked together through months of uncertainty and concern. Events changed regularly and through it all, people remained focused on their neighbors, families, and community. Here are some of the many things we'll remember from 2020.

Image of brown notebook with 2020 Year Review on cover next to a cup of coffee

Council directed funds to help those with hardships from COVID-19. Funding continues in 2021 and will equal at least $1.2 million to small businesses and nonprofits through the Port Authority; $275,000 for help with individuals' rent, mortgage, and utility bills; $50,000 to help with food insecurity, $50,000 to assist with childcare costs, and $30,000 for homelessness support.
The City dedicated itself to more equitable policies and practices in every department. To that goal, the new community Advisory Team is working with the Police Department in the first chapter of this work.
Parks received major improvements. He Mni Can-Barn Bluff, Levee Park, and Memorial Park all received major enhancements, and the bike-pedestrian bridge was approved for the Upper Harbor area.
More voices joined our city government. The new Arts & Culture Commission and Youth Commission are two new ways where people of all ages and backgrounds can give input into how our City works.
Planning continued for the future: Council approved the City's first Climate Action Work Plan and also put in motion the Old West Main Street reconstruction project.
Workers ensured safety and services. City employees on the ground worked hard every day so vital services remained intact to serve all of us.

Channel 6: On-air and Online!

The Council Chambers now has new audio and video technology allowing hybrid meetings where some participants can be in the Council Chambers and others can be remote. Participation is easy: every meeting agenda has a Webex link and telephone number to join the meeting virtually or by calling in. Want to watch but not join? Tune in to cable Channel 6 or the Channel 6 live stream on the City of Red Wing's website to watch live, or watch meetings on-demand anytime in the meetings archive.

You can join the first regular City Council meeting of the year this

Monday, January 11, at 6 p.m. See you there!