4. Discussion on expiring terms on Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District BoardStaff Report
Date of Meeting: August 1, 2018
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Expiring term on the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District Board
Background: The terms of office for Jackie McNamara, Forest Lake, and Wayne Moe, Scandia, on the
Comfort Lake -Forest Lake Watershed District, will expire on September 23, 2018. The process for
appointment calls for the County Board to select watershed district managers from lists of nominees
submitted by the municipalities. The City list must contain at least three nominees for each manager's
position to be filled. If no list is submitted or if the list is not received 60 days prior to the manager's
term of office expiring, the County Board will then proceed to appoint a manager through its open
appointment process. In either event, the County Board shall make its appointment 30 days prior to
the term expiration.
If the Council wishes to submit a list of nominees for consideration or wishes the incumbent to be
considered for reappointment, the City's list needs to be sent to the County prior to August 3, 2018.
Information on the vacancy including the application was put on the City's website and Facebook page
on July 191h with a deadline of July 27th to submit the application to the City for consideration to be
nominated by the Council.
Jen Oknich has submitted an application to the County Board and has requested that the Council
recommend her for appointment. The City has not received other applications or requests for
recommendations. A copy of her application follows this report.
Issue: Doe the Council wish recommend the reappointment or provide a listing of nominees for the 2
positions?
Options:
1. Take no action and allow the County Board to fill through lists from other municipalities or open
appointment.
2. Take action to recommend 1 or both of the incumbents
3. Take action to recommend the appointment of Jen Oknich
Recommendation: Option 3
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LIST EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION OR SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WOULD RELATE TO THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER:
Background
I have a background in watershed management, hydrology, water quality, ecology, state and
local water resources regulations and organizations, application processing and enforcement,
and the importance of community involvement. Much of my background centers on the
interaction between communities and our natural resources. I especially love outreach -
getting people excited about learning more and caring for our environment; and helping them
feel empowered through stewardship.
Work Experience
For the past four years, I have worked collaboratively with the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as the
Wetland Hydrologist on projects regulated by the Clean Water Act. I facilitate interagency
coordination on permitting policies and decisions, especially technical water resources issues.
For five and a half years at Sherburne County, I administered the Wetland Conservation Act,
shoreland ordinance, and floodplain ordinance; I managed the water quality program, and
floodplain map modernization program; I reviewed building and development projects for
environmental compliance; I coordinated outreach, permitting and enforcement with multiple
agencies; I taught environmental subjects and regulations through public speaking, newsletters
and community outreach; and I was a member of the Water Plan Advisory Committee. Our
department worked closely with elected board officials. My position was entirely aimed at
ensuring the public understood, upheld and valued our local and state natural resources
regulations.
As Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Monitoring Data Coordinator (three years), I taught
water quality data management to individuals and organizations. Data I collected and
processed were used in countless lake and stream improvement plans. I developed a
wonderful network of relationships with water quality volunteers and professionals throughout
the state.
Working with the Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Wetland Health Evaluation
Program, Enviroscience and the U.S. Forest Service (combined eleven years), I located,
delineated and assessed ecosystem health for use in natural resources management plans.
I have also worked in various GIS, environmental research, customer service, and watershed
district positions — all important in my overall understanding of the technology, data and
approaches to caring for our communities.
Education and Professional Certifications
I have an MS in Bioproducts and Biosystems Science, Engineering and Management (ecosystem
restoration) and a BS in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies with an emphasis in
Hydrology (and an undeclared emphasis in GIS) from the University of Minnesota.
I also have a graduate certificate in Stream Restoration from the National Center for Earth -
Surface Dynamics; a certificate in Ecosystem Restoration (UMN), and spent many years as a
Certified Erosion Control Installer (UMN). I am a Certified Floodplain Manager (Association of
State Floodplain Managers) and Certified Wetland Delineator (Minnesota Wetland Delineator
Certification Program).
ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE: PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN
SUPPORTING OR DIRECTING A COMMITTEE, ASSOCIATION, BOARD, COOPERATIVE,
COMMISSION, CLUB, OR OTHER GROUP:
I have leadership experience spanning a wide variety of organizations, throughout my life.
Most recently, I served as a manager on Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District's board,
and board member of the Minnesota Wetland Professional Association, and Bone Lake
Association. During my undergraduate education, I held office in five student groups, and was
presented the H. Schmitz Leadership Award. I was co -president of the Environmental Studies
Club, volunteer coordinator of Habitat for Humanity, office manager of the Society of Women
Engineers, treasurer for Women in Natural Resources, and student -faculty board
representative. My leadership positions in organizations go further back, into high school as
well.
Beyond leadership positions in committees, boards, and clubs, I am a member of a large
number of professional organizations as well, including the Minnesota Native Plant Society,
Society of Wetland Scientists, Association of State Wetland Managers, Partnership for River
Restoration and Science in the Upper Midwest, Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers,
Association of State Floodplain Managers, Minnesota Association of Professional Soil Scientists
and Ecological Restoration Training Cooperative.
NATURAL RESOURCES BACKGROUND: PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY INVOLVEMENT OR SPECIAL
INTEREST YOU HAVE HAD IN WATER, SOIL, FISH AND WILDLIFE, RECREATION, OR OTHER
NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES.
I hope the answers to the remainder of these questions satisfies this question.
PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT WHAT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE CARRIED
OUT WITHIN THE WATERSHED DISTRICT:
I believe that one of a watershed's greatest strengths is its ability to inform, engage, and
empower its residents to preserve and restore the quality of their natural resources. Fostering
a community -wide ethic of stewardship can make limited watershed resources stretch farther,
build excitement and a sense of ownership over a healthy human/natural habitat, and can
eventually become a self-perpetuating way of life.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER?
I believe that solid public policy enables us to protect and improve our community and
environment. I thoroughly enjoyed serving for five years as a manager on Ramsey Washington
Metro Watershed District's board. I would like to continue serving the people of Minnesota as
a manager on Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District's board.