City Council member engages community
Park graduate Gregg Lindberg sees citizen collaboration as key
June 7, 2016
When not helping friends with do-it-yourself projects or spending time with his kids at a local park, City Council member Gregg Lindberg said he loves his hometown and listening to others.
Lindberg said hearing thoughts from people in the community makes up his primary role as a member of the City Council.
“I’m not going to be able to please everyone,” Lindberg said. “It’s always my goal to make people feel like they were heard.”
City Council member Anne Mavity said Lindberg is passionate about his role.
“Gregg is a thoughtful colleague who always comes prepared for doing the city’s business,” Mavity said. “He takes his city council responsibilities seriously and has devoted a great deal of time to meeting with residents individually to talk through questions and concerns.”
Lindberg, who works in human resources for Three Rivers Park District and teaches at various universities, said he sees his role in St. Louis Park’s community as a contribution to the future.
“(I value) being a part of decisions that truly shape our future, that will ultimately set St. Louis Park up for success 20, 30 years down the road,” Lindberg said.
Leadership in St. Louis Park isn’t new for Lindberg — he was president of Student Council at the high school before graduating in 2000. He said he always showed interest in leadership and public policy.
“I was always a politics and policy kid,” Lindberg said.
Growing up in the city he still calls home, Lindberg said his work on the City Council impacts future residents.
“My job is not about me and the decisions today; it’s more about the kids who grow up in St. Louis Park and choose to live here in the future,” Lindberg said.
Lindberg said his City Council colleagues would describe him as quiet, but confident.
“I don’t speak when I don’t need to, but when I do speak I have something important to say,” Lindberg said.
Mavity said the City Council members work well together.
“We have an extraordinarily high-functioning council. We do not always agree, but we respect each other and understand that our job is to come together, weigh the issues, disagree if we must, vote and then come back next week to do it all again,” Mavity said.
Lindberg said despite devoting many hours to politics, his family and community takes priority. Lindberg said his mother lives in the St. Louis Park home he grew up in, and he frequently visits Browndale and Rainbow Park to play with his young children.
As a City Council member, Lindberg works to regularly hear from his constituents.
“Usually I’ll have some sort of contact with a resident about an issue that’s important to them,” Lindberg said. “Really, it’s my job to be a listener.”
Information about Lindberg and the rest of the City Council is available on the city’s website.
