Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee seeks applicants

The Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee.
“The Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee plays a critical role in helping us achieve the vision Minnesotans have for use of the Parks and Trails Legacy Funds and creates an accessible and equitable, integrated system of state and regional parks and trails in Minnesota,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr.
The purpose of the Legacy Advisory Committee is to promote and coordinate implementation of the 25 Year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan. Funding recommendations for individual projects is not a part of this committee’s work. Find the plan at www.legacy.leg.mn/funds/parks-trails-fund/plan.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, Dec. 14.
The committee is made up of 17 members, including, to the practical extent possible, diverse geographical and demographic representation. The committee has a mixture of park and trail professionals and Minnesota residents. Committee members should have expertise in two or more of the four strategic pillars of the plan:

• Connect people and the outdoors.
• Acquire land and create opportunities.
• Take care of what we have.
• Coordinate among partners.

Terms are two years with the option of being reappointed a maximum of three terms. Meetings are scheduled every two months around the state and can be attended remotely.  
Interested individuals may complete the application form online at
www.legacy.leg.mn/ptlac/member-application or print it out and return it to Paul Purman, Department of Natural Resources, Box 39, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155. Anyone with questions can contact Paul via phone at 651-259-5643 or email at paul.purman@state.mn.us.

Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee seeks applicants

The Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee.

“The Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee plays a critical role in helping us achieve the vision Minnesotans have for use of the Parks and Trails Legacy Funds and creates an accessible and equitable, integrated system of state and regional parks and trails in Minnesota,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr.

The purpose of the Legacy Advisory Committee is to promote and coordinate implementation of the 25 Year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan. Funding recommendations for individual projects is not a part of this committee’s work. The plan can be found at www.legacy.leg.mn/funds/parks-trails-fund/plan.

The committee is made up of 17 members, including, to the practical extent possible, geographical and demographic representation. The committee has a mixture of park and trail professionals and citizens. Committee members should have expertise in two or more of the four strategic pillars of the plan:

• Connect people and the outdoors.
• Acquire land and create opportunities.
• Take care of what we have.
• Coordinate among partners.

Terms are two years with the option of serving two terms. Meetings are scheduled every two months and are located around the state and can be attended remotely.

Interested individuals should complete the application form online
(www.legacy.leg.mn/parks-and-trails-legacy-advisory-committee-member-application) or send applications to Darin Newman, Department of Natural Resources, Box 39, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155 or email to: darin.newman@state.mn.us.

The deadline for applications is Monday, Dec. 22. 

Dept of Human Services seeks Medicaid Citizens' Advisory Committee applicants

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is looking for up to 10 individuals to serve on the Medicaid Citizens’ Advisory Committee (MCAC). The committee’s purpose is to ensure that continued high-quality health and medical services are provided to low-income people.

The committee, which represents Medicaid clients, advises DHS and helps define what the Medicaid program should be in relationship to future health care and technological needs. Specifically, the committee explores designated problem areas, evaluates department programs, makes specific recommendations and resolutions, and contributes to the formulations of department policy and standards.

New members will be appointed for the years 2014 and 2015. Committee meetings are typically held quarterly at DHS' Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, Minn.

Medicaid (Medical Assistance) clients will be given preference, but members of consumer groups, health care professionals and others interested in serving on the MCAC should submit a letter of interest to apply for committee membership. Letters of interest should be sent to:

Sean Barrett, Federal Relations, Health Care Administration
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64983
St. Paul, MN 55164-0983

Applicants also may email letters of interest to sean.barrett@state.mn.us. Letters of interest will be accepted until the end of the business day Monday, Feb. 24, 2014.

Employees of the state of Minnesota (except for Department of Health employees) and private individuals or organizations under contract to DHS for administrative services will not be appointed to the committee.

Contact Sean Barrett at 651-431-2298 for more information. TTY users can call using their preferred relay service.

MDA seeking candidates for Ag Water Quality Cert Advisory committee

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking candidates to serve on an advisory committee to help develop the Minnesota Agriculture Water Quality Certification Program. The new program is the result of a January 17 agreement by Governor Mark Dayton and federal officials, with the goal of enhancing Minnesota’s water quality by accelerating adoption of on-farm water quality practices.

The committee will provide recommendations to MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson regarding the development of the program, as well as its particular features and focus. The committee will be convened and staffed by MDA, and will serve at Commissioner Frederickson’s discretion. Committee composition will be established by Commissioner Frederickson, with membership from the following:
• 2 farmers or ranchers;
• 2 representatives of general farm organizations;
• 3 representatives of commodity or livestock organizations;
• 1 representative of agriculture-related business;
• 1 representative of crop consultants or advisors;
• 2 representatives of environmental organizations;
• 2 representatives of conservation organizations; and
• 2 representatives of local government units.

In addition, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, the University of Minnesota Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will be invited to provide technical support.

Commissioner Frederickson will select members following the open appointment process in Minnesota Statutes 15.0597. Ideal candidates will have relevant experience and expertise in agriculture, conservation and/or water quality management. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant experience and expertise in agriculture and water quality; experience in agricultural, conservation or water quality program implementation; and experience in Minnesota. In addition to the committee members, MDA may ask other technical experts to attend meetings to provide support. The committee will serve for the length of time necessary for development and early implementation of the program, but not more than two years. The first meeting will be held in early June.

Applications for the committee will be accepted by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office from March 5 through April 16, 2012. The application can be submitted online at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=5. MDA’s website has more details about the committee at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/awqcprogram.aspx.

Gov Dayton Announces Membership of Transportation Finance Advisory Committee

Feb. 23, 2012 - Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the members of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner’s Transportation Finance Advisory Committee. Governor Dayton announced the establishment of this group on January 12.

About the Advisory Group, Governor Dayton said, “After traveling the state and meeting with business owners across Minnesota over the past several months, I have been reminded of how essential transportation infrastructure is to business success in Minnesota. Workers need to be able to get to and from work, and businesses need to be able to get goods to and from their markets. We must either improve our transportation systems or else suffer the consequences of their decline. I have asked Commissioner Sorel to gather the best and the brightest minds together to help us find new, innovative ways to finance improving our transportation systems.”

The Advisory Committee will identify investment opportunities to support a thriving economy and a high quality of life for Minnesotans over the next twenty years, select and analyze the potential of various revenue sources and non-traditional approaches to transportation financing, as well as examine opportunities for public-private partnerships to invest in transportation improvements. The group will also help develop a strategic marketing plan to obtain public support for the investment plan and any additional steps needed to obtain the funding.

MnDOT will staff and facilitate the Advisory Committee meetings, according to MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel. “We are bringing together a cross section of some the best in transportation and finance from across the state,” Sorel said. “The intellectual synergy of these people should lead us to some new ways of thinking about how we finance transportation in Minnesota. The group will prepare a written report of its recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2012.

Members of the Advisory committee and their affiliations include:
• Tom Sorel, Commissioner, MnDOT
• Mark Phillips, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Susan Haigh, Chair, Metropolitan Council
• Cal Brink, Executive Director, Marshall, MN Chamber of Commerce
• Charlie Zelle, President and CEO, Jefferson Lines
• Dan Riley, Vice President, Property Development Operations, Target Corporation
• Art Rolnick, Senior Fellow, University of Minnesota (formerly with Federal Reserve)
• Corey Hoeppner, Director, RBC Capital Markets
• Shawn Mason, Mayor, International Falls, MN
• Adolph Ojard, Executive Director, Duluth Seaway Authority
• Shar Knutson, President, AFL-CIO
• Peter McLaughlin, Commissioner, Hennepin County
• Toni Carter, Commissioner, Ramsey County
• Harlen Madsen, Commissioner, Kandiyohi County

Four Minnesota state legislators, two from each house and selected by legislative leadership, will also serve on the group.