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Wendy Mihm-Herold. Executive Director Upper Explorerland RPC. What is the purpose.
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Wendy Mihm-Herold Executive DirectorUpper Explorerland RPC
What is the purpose • The Mississippi River Partnership was formed through HF 756 to serve as a forum for city, county, state, agriculture, business, conservation, and environmental representatives and other stakeholders to discuss and work together on matters relevant to the Mississippi River.
Vision & Goal Vision Preservation, enhancement, and intelligent use of the Mississippi river in the ecological and economic interests of the citizens of the state of Iowa. Goal Stimulate sustainable economic development initiatives and watershed management projects by local, state, and federal agencies, local communities, not-for-profit conservation organizations, and private landowners and other stakeholders along the Mississippi river.
What is the role of Mississippi River Partnership council • Educate on river related issues • Enhance communication • Develop a common agenda • Convene public and private stakeholders • Interact with state, federal and private agencies • Respond to common challenges and opportunities $$$ • Identify resources to support river related projects Investments Team • Mississippi River: our common Asset Long & Short Term • Share and build on existing initiatives
Structure Administrative Staff: Ex -Officio Until the Mississippi river partnership council provides for its permanent staffing and Support Chair Person The East Central Intergovernmental Association, in cooperation with councils of governments and county boards of supervisors in counties adjacent to the Mississippi river, shall be responsible for providing the council with administrative support. Governor appointees (6) Group I Representing Counties (10) Group II Representing Cities (10) Group III Representing State Depart.(4) Group IV Representing State & Senate (4) Group V • Soil and water • Business • Recreational • Conservation • Environmental • Agricultural • Allamakee • Clayton • Clinton • Des Monies • Dubuque. • Jackson • Lee • Louisa • Muscatine • Scott • Burlington • Bellevue • Clinton • Davenport • Dubuque • Fort Madison • Guttenberg • Lansing • Muscatine • Wapello • Agriculture and land stewardship • Natural resources • Economic development • Transportation • Iowa Senate • Iowa House Voting Non Voting Administrative Staff
Appointment of Voting members One nonvoting person appointed by the governor shall serve as the chairperson of the council How are they appointed Who do they represent Conditions Term in years • Soil and water conservation districts. • Business. • Recreational interests. • Conservation interests. • Environmental interests. • Agricultural interests (should be actively engaged in farming). shall reside in one of the ten Iowa counties bordering the Mississippi river. 3 Group I 6 members Governor Group II 10 members 3 County boards of supervisors • 10 counties bordering the Mississippi River Each member shall represent one county • 10 largest Iowa cities adjacent to Mississippi River Group III 10 members City council 3 • The department of agriculture and land stewardship. • The department of natural resources. • The department of economic development. • The department of transportation. Group IV 4 members 3
Terms for appointments • Note: • Members of the Mississippi river partnership council, other than members of the general assembly, shall be appointed to serve for three-year terms. However, among the initial appointments, the persons making the appointments of voting members shall coordinate appointments of members to serve terms for less than three years to ensure staggered terms. The persons making the appointments of voting members shall also coordinate appointments to meet the requirements of sections 69.16 and 69.16A.
Appointment of Ex-Officeo (Non-Voting) members How are they appointed Term in years The members may be appointed, one each by the majority leader of the senate, after consultation with the president of the senate, and by the minority leader of the senate, and by the speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the majority leader of the House of Representatives, and by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. None Group V 2 members from Senate 2 members from House Members shall receive compensation pursuant to section 2.12. The council may, at its discretion, appoint individuals representing federal agencies or other state agencies or commissions to serve as ex officio. None Group VI Others
How does the group operate • “Meeting schedule” • Council should at leastmeet every quarter • in one or more counties in first three years. • Council should at least meet two times in • a year after first three years. • The council shall meet at any • time on the call of the • chairperson. • “Voting” • A majority of the voting members of the council • constitutes a quorum. • Any action taken by the council must be adopted by • the affirmative vote of a majority • of its voting membership. Voting Meeting • “Administration” • Until the Mississippi river • partnership council provides for • its permanent staffing and • support, the East Central • Intergovernmental Association, • in cooperation with councils of governments and • county boards of supervisors in counties adjacent • to the Mississippi river, shall be responsible • for providing the council with administrative • support. • “By laws & State code” • The Mississippi river partnership • council may adopt bylaws and • rules of operation consistent • with this section. • The Mississippi river partnership council, including • any of its committees, Shall be subject to open • meetings and public records laws. Admin Code
Schedule & Tasks Aug 09 – Oct 09 Nov 09 – Dec 09 Jan 10 – Mar 10 Apr10 – Jun 10 1 4 Meeting with all stakeholders in four COGs First meeting 3 Form the group 6 Develop and initiate implementation plan • Update on local jurisdictions initiatives and projects • Approve Bi-laws • Education of the group • Get a draft issues that need to be addressed in the area from the group. • State and federal presentations • Brain storming the issues • Staff at each will be conducting meeting in their respective counties. • Gathering potential issues that need to be addressed • Requesting each county and city to provide their representative. • Requesting Governor’s office to provide the list of appointments. • Requesting state departments to provide their representatives. • Inviting list of Ex-office. • The group will formally convenience after Jan 1 following the appointment of required voting members. 2 Inviting respective Federal & State agencies 5 Prioritize opportunities/Develop Value Creation Agenda • COGs with help of acting group will invite Federal & State department officials to participate. • Create Strategy and Plan • Initiative Prioritization
Staff Upper Explorerland Regional Planning CommissionAllamakee and Clayton, Countieswww.uerpc.org Phone (563) 864-7551 East Central Intergovernmental AssociationClinton, Dubuque and Jackson Countieswww.ecia.org Phone (563) 556-4166 Bi-State Regional CommissionPhone (309) 793-6300Muscatine and Scott Countieswww.bistateonline.org Phone (309) 793-6300 Southeast Iowa Regional Planning CommissionDes Moines, Lee and Louisa Countieswww.seirpc.com Phone (319) 753-5107
Details of the Bill • www.ecia.org/mississippi_river_partnership.html • http://iowahouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hf_756-watershed_policies.pdf
Appointments • Appointments made by City Councils need not be City Council members. • Likewise, Boards of Supervisors need not appoint Board members. • The appointment of a citizen who has the confidence of all stakeholders and can advocate for the Mississippi Partnership's plans with his/her appointing body would also be appropriate. • In fact, a citizen make-up for the Council may make it easier to secure Foundation and other private support for the work of the Council down the road.
Appointments • There are a number of appointments to be made by the Governor and state department heads. • For this reason, all those stakeholders listed in the bill (business, recreation, agriculture, conservation, environment, transportation, economic development and others) should be invited to the public meeting.