Additional Q-and-A with Mihajlo Babovic

Here’s candidate Q-and-A content in addition to what appeared in EPLN’s print Voter Guide, mailed to Eden Prairie homes in early October. We are repeating the Voter Guide’s introduction of the candidate.

Mihajlo Babovic

Hiawatha Avenue resident Babovic has lived in Eden Prairie for nearly one year. Practicing law for the past decade has given him experience understanding and arguing on law and policy, which would be valuable in serving on the Eden Prairie City Council, he said.

“I have been learning more about the city by reading City Council minutes and the weekly reports to prepare myself to best serve the community,” Babovic said about his preparations as a candidate.

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He did not report having received endorsements or donations from groups.

EPLN: Eden Prairie has a Climate Action Plan that has a goal of achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Do you support the plan, and are there any changes you would propose?

BABOVIC: It is important to work toward achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible.  While climate change is a global issue, real change is affected at the local level, and an aggressive plan to adopt clean/renewable energy is massively important to the future sustainability of our community and ecosystem. Frankly, I think carbon neutrality by 2050 is far too slow.

I understand that change of this degree cannot be immediate, but the local governing body must strive to achieve important goals quickly and efficiently, paving the way for the community at large to follow. Climate-friendly energy sources are increasingly affordable, opening the door wide for residents and businesses to adopt them now, rather than waiting until it’s too late.

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I would propose increases in education regarding the impact of climate change and the availability and cost of climate-friendly alternatives. This could inform both the city and the public as to the ideal plan of action, including how quickly relevant measures might need to be implemented. It’s impossible to get ahead of the curve on climate change, but swift action is necessary at this stage, even if it’s inconvenient.

EPLN: The City of Eden Prairie uses an Inclusionary Housing Policy to ensure that a small number of affordable units are part of any new multi-family housing development. What additional measures, if any, should the city OK to create more affordable housing for Eden Prairie’s workforce, including young teachers, police officers and health care workers?

BABOVIC: Affordable housing is, of course, an important element of any city and requiring multi-family developments to offer such units provides a much-needed help to Eden Prairie’s essential workforce. Rather than push the burden onto residents through potential tax increases or other costs, I would push for employers to offer fair wages to their employees that are consistent with market demands, increased inflation and cost of living. 

This is particularly true as it applies to teachers, police officers and health care workers. These service industries are fundamentally important to any community: educating its children and keeping all residents safe and healthy. It would be appropriate to revisit how workers in these fields are being compensated, and to consider passing legislation which requires a minimum wage overhaul to address the demands of today’s economy.

EPLN: In the city’s 2023 resident survey, when asked what they like least about Eden Prairie, respondents cited as No. 1 the need for improved or additional activities, shopping, dining, recreation, and parks. What should the City Council do to address this desire?

BABOVIC: Eden Prairie lacks a solid footprint of local businesses in the hospitality and entertainment industries. I know Eden Prairie to be a wonderful and multicultural city that could offer a wide variety of dining and entertainment options that can’t be found in the neighboring suburbs. I would propose an incentive package geared to dynamic businesses in those industries, which could provide a unique but local feel to the city. Eden Prairie already has the infrastructure to support such businesses and a variety of open commercial spaces for them to occupy.

Improvement of recreation and parks would seemingly prove more difficult. However, while Eden Prairie has a lot of open green areas, the city is difficult to navigate by anything but car.  While there are beautiful and well-maintained paths around Purgatory Creek and Staring Lake, I think an extension of bike paths across a greater portion of the city would offer recreational activities as well as make the city more navigable outside of a motor vehicle. There’s so much wonderful natural beauty in Eden Prairie, much of which could be explored and utilized by the community, but it’s incumbent on the city to make it accessible.

EPLN: How would you maintain impartiality and fairness, even when faced with issues that may conflict with your personal beliefs?

BABOVIC: The job of a public servant is less about one’s personal beliefs than it is about making sure that the community they serve is heard and represented. It is important to have the ability to put aside your own thoughts and to understand and cooperate with those that you might fundamentally disagree with. This is a challenge that I’ve faced throughout my entire career as an attorney, and I believe I am fully capable of setting aside my own goals and opinions to understand and participate in the role which I am there to play.

In many ways, what I personally think doesn’t matter as a City Council member. I don’t view this job as one where I would advance my own interests, but rather one where I could help give the community a voice in order to make Eden Prairie a better place to live for all of its residents. In the event of a conflict or disagreement, I would work hard to understand the basis of the difference, and respectfully work with all involved to reach an agreement for the benefit of the community.