Zach Ostrove

What are the three most important outcomes you want West St. Paul to achieve during the next four years? What measurable result would tell residents you succeeded?

My three priorities are making sure infrastructure keeps up with growth, maintaining responsible municipal finances, and expanding recreation opportunities in West St. Paul. I want clearer planning for roads, drainage and wastewater so we are preparing for growth instead of reacting to problems afterward. I also want budgets that protect essential services, properly fund reserves and plan for major infrastructure without putting unnecessary pressure on taxpayers. For recreation, I would like to see a splash pad built and operational within the next four years. I also want to complete the necessary planning and identify funding and partnership opportunities to move an indoor swimming pool and multi-purpose sports complex toward reality.

How should West St. Paul balance keeping municipal taxes competitive with maintaining and expanding services? Identify one area of municipal spending you would protect and one you would examine most closely for savings or efficiencies.

Keeping taxes competitive matters, but I don't think keeping taxes artificially low helps residents if it means putting off necessary work that becomes more expensive later. I would protect spending on core infrastructure and essential municipal services. Roads, drainage, public works and public safety are basic responsibilities of the RM and need to be properly funded. For savings, I would look closely at administrative costs, consulting and contracted services. That doesn't mean assuming those expenses are unnecessary. It means regularly reviewing what we are paying for, whether we are getting good value, and whether there is a more efficient way to deliver the same result. Residents should expect Council to treat every tax dollar like it matters.

When the RM has an operating surplus or significant reserve funds, how should Council balance saving for future infrastructure, paying down debt, funding current projects and limiting future tax increases?

I don't think a surplus should automatically be spent just because the money is available, but I also don't believe reserves should simply continue growing without a clear purpose. The first question should be what we know is coming. West St. Paul is growing, and major infrastructure needs are going to come with that. I would prioritize maintaining appropriate reserves for planned infrastructure, addressing priority projects and managing debt responsibly. Borrowing can make sense for major infrastructure that will serve residents for decades, but it needs a clear repayment plan. If reserves are properly funded and there is genuinely excess money available, I would use it to reduce pressure on future tax increases rather than creating new ongoing expenses simply because we had a surplus.

West St. Paul continues to experience rapid residential development. What costs should new development be expected to carry, and what costs should reasonably be shared by the municipality as a whole?

I believe new development should pay for the costs it creates. Existing residents should not be left paying for infrastructure that is required primarily because of new development. That can include roads, drainage, wastewater and other infrastructure or upgrades needed to support additional homes and residents. At the same time, not every project benefits only a new development. If an infrastructure improvement also addresses an existing problem or provides a broader benefit to West St. Paul, I think it is reasonable for the municipality to contribute an appropriate share. For me, growth paying for growth means identifying the actual costs created by development and making sure those costs are allocated fairly, rather than simply passing them on to existing taxpayers.

What types of businesses and commercial development should West St. Paul actively encourage? How should Council balance expanding the commercial tax base with traffic, infrastructure, nearby neighbourhoods and community character?

I would like to see more businesses that give residents the option to shop, eat, access services and spend money within West St. Paul rather than having to leave the municipality. Restaurants, retail, medical and professional services, recreation and other businesses that serve our growing population can also help strengthen and diversify our commercial tax base. But where commercial development happens matters just as much as what is being built. Council needs to consider traffic, road capacity, servicing and the impact on nearby homes before approving development. I support expanding our commercial tax base, but it should be done thoughtfully and in locations that can support it without creating avoidable problems for surrounding neighbourhoods.

What are your highest infrastructure priorities for the next term? How should West St. Paul respond to increasing traffic and demands on roads, drainage, wastewater and other infrastructure as the municipality grows?

My biggest infrastructure priority is getting ahead of growth instead of continually trying to catch up with it. Before approving development that will add significant demand, Council should understand whether our roads, drainage, wastewater and other infrastructure have the capacity to support it and what improvements will be required. Traffic and road safety also need attention. I would support using traffic data and professional recommendations to identify problem areas and determine whether road design, intersections, signage, enforcement or other measures need to change. Drainage also remains a priority because failures can have serious consequences for existing properties. By the end of the term, residents should be able to see clear infrastructure priorities, timelines and funding plans rather than waiting for problems to become emergencies.

As West St. Paul grows, which municipal services need the most attention or investment — such as fire protection, community safety, public works, snow clearing, parks, recreation or bylaw enforcement — and why?

Recreation is one area where I believe our growing community needs significantly more investment. Within the next four years, I would like to see a splash pad built and operational in West St. Paul. I also want us to seriously explore an indoor swimming pool and multi-purpose sports complex. Those are much larger investments, and I would not promise construction without understanding the capital and long-term operating costs. I would pursue provincial and federal grants, partnerships and other funding opportunities to reduce the burden on municipal taxpayers. By the end of the term, I want the splash pad open and a realistic plan in place outlining what it would take to move the larger recreation facilities forward.

What do you believe is the single biggest issue facing Ward 4, and what specific result should residents expect from you by the end of the next term?

I believe Ward 4's biggest challenge is making sure growth does not outpace the infrastructure and neighbourhoods that have to support it. Growth itself isn't the problem. The problem is approving growth without adequately planning for what comes with it. Residents have raised concerns with me about roads, traffic, drainage and development. These issues are connected, and decisions made today can create infrastructure obligations that last for decades. By the end of four years, I want residents to see a much clearer connection between development approvals and infrastructure capacity, along with identified priorities and timelines for improvements in Ward 4.