Additional Q-and-A with PG Narayanan

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.

PG Narayanan

Website: www.pgforep.com

Narayanan is a 25-year Eden Prairie resident who lives at 17995 Cascade Drive and has served six years on the City Council. He and his wife raised two children in Eden Prairie and they now have grandchildren in EP.

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In addition to serving on the City Council, Narayanan has been vice chair of the SouthWest Transit Commission; vice chair and chair for two years of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation; and a member, vice chair and chair of the city’s Human Rights & Diversity Commission.

A former assistant commissioner for the State of Minnesota, his community involvement has included volunteer work and/or leadership in the TPT public television board, the India Association of Minnesota, Eden Prairie Rotary and Eden Prairie Lions Club.

Narayanan says his six years on the council have prepared him to effectively fill another four-year term. At the deadline for this publication, he had not received group endorsements or funding.

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?

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NARAYANAN: Climate change is an urgent and real challenge, evidenced by extreme weather events, rising sea levels and melting polar ice. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate carbon emissions.

I advocate for incorporating sustainable practices into new housing developments. This includes equipping every new home with the infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) charging and ensuring roofs are designed to support solar panel installation. Additionally, expanding the availability of EV charging stations in apartment complexes, businesses, and public areas is crucial.

Furthermore, my fellow City Council members and I are committed to increasing tree planting in all new development projects. By working with city staff and developers, we aim to enhance our green spaces and contribute to a more sustainable future for our community.

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?

NARAYANAN: As a founding leader of the affordable housing initiative with the Eden Prairie Community Foundation and a key City Council member who helped establish the Affordable Housing Task Force, I am deeply invested in addressing this critical issue. Recognizing that there are no immediate solutions, we must explore successful strategies from other cities, adapting their innovative ideas and policies to our local context.

We also need to leverage TIF more effectively in our negotiations with developers to secure a greater number of affordable units. By employing these strategies and fostering strong partnerships, we can make meaningful progress toward increasing affordable housing in our community.

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?

NARAYANAN: My fellow City Council members and I are committed to incorporating community feedback into our strategic planning and budgeting processes. We continuously enhance our parks and expand recreational activities to better serve our residents. Recent improvements include the Round Lake Pavilion, Staring Lake Pavilion and new splash pads.

In terms of city activities, we are dedicated to enriching our community events, such as PeopleFest, Night to Unite and the Pop-up Splash Pad events featuring police and firefighters. We are also working to expand initiatives like Art in the Park. By regularly reviewing and refining these activities, we aim to foster stronger connections with our police and fire departments and provide a diverse array of engaging experiences for our residents.

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

NARAYANAN: As an engineer with a master’s in Electrical Engineering, I’m trained to approach decisions with objectivity and logic rather than emotional responses. My method involves actively listening to residents, fellow City Council members, and staff to gather diverse perspectives. I seek clarification when needed and consider all viewpoints before making informed decisions. This objective approach ensures that my decisions are grounded in rational analysis and aligned with the best interests of our community.