Decades of relevant, local experience and proven community leadership
Elect Chris Pederson to the Medina City Council on November 5th
Testimonials from Medina Residents
Applying family values to local business and home life
Applying family values to local business and home life
“I’m confident that Chris Pederson will work tirelessly to ensure Medina continues to thrive. He’s a visionary leader who listens, cares, and takes action. Chris has always gone above and beyond to support neighbors, citizens and local businesses. I’m pleased to endorse Chris for city council!”
- Gavin Salsbery, entrepreneur and Medina resident living in Fields of Medina neighborhood
"Chris will bring real-world Development experience to the Council that it so desperately needs. As a former Planning Commissioner and someone who works in the development industry, I know someone with Chris' experience will be able to provide so much more context to a project, and can better explain the potential impacts to the residents who want to voice their opinions. He is also more equipped to know when the City's process is being followed correctly, and when it isn't. Residents are looking to grow their community in a way that not only benefits the City, but everyone currently living in it as well. There is no one better suited, or who personally cares more to make that happen than Chris Pederson."
-Peter Galzki, Civil Engineer and 5th generation Medina family currently living in Uptown Hamel
"I'm proud to support Chris Pederson for Medina City Council. As a local firefighter and Chris' neighbor and friend for over 10 years, I know he's friendly, trustworthy, and someone you can always count on. Chris genuinely cares about this community and I have no doubt he'll be a dedicated and effective leader who listens and gets things done."
-Richard Rubin, Firefighter for West Suburban Fire District and Medina resident living in Fields of Medina neighborhood
"I’m supporting Chris Pederson for Medina City Council due to his vast business experience and involvement in the community. Chris will do a fantastic job representing the community on the Medina City Council."
-Steve Heintz, CPA and business owner Medina resident currently living in Bridgewater
Applying family values to local business and home life
Applying family values to local business and home life
Applying family values to local business and home life
As the third generation of my family to live, work and raise a family in Medina, my first job was working at the family business, Highway 55 Rental. My dad wanted to instill a strong work ethic at a young age and I worked at the business for 13 summers prior to graduating from UW Madison. Throughout my life, about 25 years have been spent serving customers in various capacity as a second generation co-owner of a public-facing, 45-year-old Medina small business serving the customers across the greater Twin Cities metro. During this time I've gained a wide range of experience with community members of all ages as well as local non-profits and business owners alike to help plan their projects and most special occasions. This is in addition to managing a local staff and maintaining sound financials that have allowed us to serve customers 7 days/week for over 45 years.
This, along with nearly 60 years of family history to draw from, I've worked to diligently preserve the integrity and character of the area while promoting controlled growth development to ensure the prosperity for our City and surrounding communities. I currently reside in the Fields of Medina neighborhood with my wife, Kelly, daughter, Lexi, and son, Phoenix, along with our family dog, Foxy and pet frog, Leif.
Leading by example and dedicated to our community
Applying family values to local business and home life
History of active community engagement with Medina residents
As someone who believes strongly in leading by example, I’ve spent the past eight years volunteering on the Fields of Medina HOA Board, serving as President for the last six of them. During my time, I’ve worked alongside neighbors, fellow board members, service providers, city officials and neighboring HOAs to address challenges related to the irrigation system, common area maintenance, architectural change requests and encouraging new board members to join as positions became available.
I’ve actively led vendor contract negotiations on behalf of residents which directly resulted in saving the HOA tens of thousands of dollars in budget expenses and improving services while also maintaining consistently low HOA annual dues during my tenure on the board. Though I’m most proud of leading a board who has actively collaborated with homeowners on rules, regulations and bylaws to ensure they were up to date and reflected the current values of the people living there; especially given that most of the HOA rules and regulations were created without homeowner input and established by third party vendors working with the developer while the neighborhood was still being built.
Dedication to the local community is a virtue that most of us share in Medina, though believe few share a track record that reflects thousands of hours devoting the time and energy I have to prove it. From volunteering on the Medina Celebration Day committee, rallying support for the Three Rivers Park District Diamond Head Lake Trail, petitioning the city to expand residential rights and access to renewable energy and contributing thoughtful input to the city’s comprehensive plan are some examples.
Other examples include encouraging Medina residents to serve on the parks and planning commissions; many of whom were newer residents; most of which were appointed with some continuing to serve to this day. As someone with a multi-generational family history well-versed on the city’s heritage, traditions and values while also raising a young family in a newer Medina neighborhood, I bring a uniquely well-rounded perspective to City Hall.
History of active community engagement with Medina residents
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
History of active community engagement with Medina residents
The genuine love and thoughtful care I share for the Medina community has been built over decades of actively getting to know the residents and businesses of Medina. Though one of the most significant has been as an editor, volunteer writer and current publisher of the Medina-based magazine, LocalTies - Medina where I’ve dedicated the past 10 years to writing, procuring, editing and publishing stories by and about local residents, city staff, elected officials and business owners regarding their personal, public and professional experiences while living, serving, working and contributing to the community fabric that makes Medina so special; including a recurring column written by the assistant city administrator to educate and inform readership on city-related matters.
For the first 7 years, my role at LocalTies also including creating and organizing family-friendly events sponsored by local companies to build community connection among area residents, local businesses and drive awareness to city related matters. During this time, I was proud of being a part of multiple fundraisers for area non-profits and bring in thousands of dollars to benefit the some most vulnerable members of our community.
What began in July of 2014 when the first issue of Medina Living was published with the Hamel Rodeo on the cover, has seen significant changes over time. Including in 2017 when it became LocalTies Medina, when I helped found it as a new publication that was no longer owned and printed by an out-of-state corporation with distribution limited to Medina residents living within the Wayzata School District. Instead it would be operated locally, printed by a Medina based company and distributed to all Medina homeowners and businesses as it continues to be to this day. Though it is no longer published monthly as it was until 2021 due to COVID's impact on the ability to host LocalTies sponsored community events.
As the current sole editor and publisher, I take pride in continuing LocalTies Medina legacy as a bi-annual print and online publication that is mailed to all residents and businesses in Medina. The latest Fall/Summer 2024 issue was published as a special edition where I chose to expand the content to include local artists and emerging technology leaders located across the Twin Cities west metro and beyond. Content I believe will be especially appreciated by the many talented artists, craftsmen, local musicians, creative professionals and inspired entrepreneurs that Medina is lucky to have an abundance of.
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
I am a firm believer in "being the change" you want to see and for well over 10 years, Medina residents have been expressing the desire for more "things to do" including more restaurants, commercial retail and hospitality services in Medina. And rather than talk about it more or wait for someone else to spend their time, resources and risk on it, I chose to lead by example and actually DO something about it by submitting a concept plan to the City for a Planned Unit Development and have since had the project approved this year.
In order to receive that approval, I've spent the past 3 years gaining firsthand, real world experience working with the Parks Commission, Planning Commission, Medina City Council and City Staff to bring an amenity rich, hospitality focused development project permitted to be built along the Highway 55 corridor. It was approved earlier this year by the Council and has received extremely positive support and feedback from residents across greater Medina, city officials, local business owners and most importantly those living in the neighborhoods closest to it.
The approval process has required me to a lead a private team of architects, civil and structural engineers, general contractors, event venue coordinators, renewable energy experts, legal, finance and accounting consultants working hand-in hand with various City, county and State governing bodies such as the Army Corp of Engineers and local watershed districts. And am proud to have done so while preserving over 98% of the nearly 12 acres of wetlands that made up majority of the development site.
The purpose when I began this ambitious endeavor was to develop a walk-able, amenity rich hospitality destination that would help fulfill a long-standing, well-documented and publicly expressed desire by the majority of Medina residents for the types of services the development will offer the community. As a first time developer with a project located in the same City I'm raising my family and operating my business, I'm as committed as anyone to ensure it delivers the value and vision we set out to achieve as we move to break ground in the spring of 2025.
Answering when the community calls
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
Real world experience with locally impactful Medina based project
As a testament to being a trusted voice and knowledgeable resource capable of representing the dynamic needs of the Medina community, below is a non-exhaustive list of actual questions I've been asked by a wide range of individuals in the Medina community throughout time.
“What is happening at that farm across the street?”
“Where is the Medina compost site located?”
“My teenage son needs a job this summer, is 55 Rental hiring?”
“When is our irrigation system going to start operating properly?”
“Will our HOA dues go up next year?
“Should I be concerned about the letter I received about the proposed Automotorplex?”
“Why don’t we have more restaurants in Medina?”
“Who should I contact at the City regarding an issue I am having?”
“How do I submit a story to the Medina magazine about my neighbor?”
“Would your business be willing to sponsor the new grandstand at Hamel Park?”
“Can you help get the word out that Hamel Fire is seeking new volunteer fire fighters?”
“What are your thoughts on the 2050 comprehensive plan?”
“Is a water tower going to be located near our home?”
“Can I install an in-ground basketball hoop in my driveway?”
"We need more mulch in at the park, who should I contact at the City?"
"How do we make that train stop blowing its horn so much?"
Family man. Community volunteer. Experienced entrepreneur.
