Loading...
9.g Discussion on recommendation for appointment to Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District Boardl i SCANDU Staff Report Date of Meeting: August 21, 2018 To: City Council From: Neil Soltis, Administrator Re: Expiring term on the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District Board Background: The terms of Wade Johnson, Joel Stedman, and Andrew Weaver on the Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District Board expired on June 21, 2018. Dave DeVault has resigned earlier this spring. At this time Wade Johnson and Andy Weaver will be reappointed as managers, so the other 2 terms on the table are Dave DeVault's vacancy and Joel Stedman who is not seeking reappointment. Paul Richert has applied for a position on the Board of Managers. The District has requested that the City of Scandia to provide its endorsement of candidate Paul Richert as Manager to the Board of the Carnelian -Marine - St. Croix Watershed District and forward any recommendation to Alyssa Soderlund at Washington County Administration. A copy of Paul's application follows this report. Issue: Doe the Council wish recommend the appointment of Paul Richert? 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 the appointment of Paul Richert Recommendation: Option 2 IN WHICH COMMISSIONER DISTRICT DO YOU RESIDE? District 1 IF YOU RESIDE IN A TOWNSHIP, PLEASE LIST: New Scandia_ LIST EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION OR SHILLS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WOULD RELATE TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER: Education: B.S. Wildlife Management, University of Minnesota Employment: Retired Most Recent employment: I worked at the Regional Office for the Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for 14 years (2000-2014). I worked in the Division of Migratory Birds as an assistant Joint Venture (JV) Coordinator for the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region JV. I was primarily responsible for reviewing and assisting partners (e.g. DU, Pheasants Forever, TNC etc.) with North American Wetland Conservation Act grants and prepared or coordinated environmental reviews for projects that received funding. I also worked in the Division of Ecological Services as one of the Regional Environmental Review Coordinators. This work primarily consisted of being a liaison with FWS field offices and various state and federal agencies throughout the eight states in our Region. Previous employment: I worked as a wetland biologist/ecologist for 20 years (1980-2000) with the St. Paul District, Army Corps of Engineers. I implemented regulations pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. My primary duties included identifying and delineating wetlands and writing and reviewing environmental assessments and impact statements pursuant the NEPA. Upon completion of that review I made recommendations on whether to issue or deny the permit. I was also part of an interagency team that taught wetland delineation classes with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Board of Water and Soil Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interests: My professional interests are aquatic and terrestrial habitat protection and restoration. I believe these interests are consistent with the mission of the Watershed District. I enjoy hunting and fishing with our children and grandchildren. I dabble in wildlife photography and picture framing and matting. My wife and I have been trying to see as many National Parks as possible. AVAILABILITY: WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND REGULAR WATERSHED DISTRICT MEETINGS AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS? Yes. I have attended numerous meetings and I am a member of the citizen advisory committee for the watershed district. kgtm Watershed Districts ..r coolty Brown's Creek Carnelian-Marine- APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT St. Croix TO WATERSHED DISTRICT Comfort Lake -Forest Lake Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Rice Creek South Washington INSTRUCTIONS: Valley Branch 1. Write the name of the Watershed District you are applying for in the space above. 2. All applicants will be interviewed by the County Board of Commissioners. 3. Review and Read the Notice of Rights Identified on the back of this form. (Please Print) NAME. Richert Paul Douglas Last First Middle ADDRESS: 12255 205' St. N., Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047 Street City State Zip TELEPHONE: 651-433-1303 cell. 612-240-1972 Home Business FAX NO: E-MAIL ADDRESS:grand ma06*msn.com IN WHICH COMMISSIONER DISTRICT DO YOU RESIDE? District 1 IF YOU RESIDE IN A TOWNSHIP, PLEASE LIST: New Scandia_ LIST EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION OR SHILLS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WOULD RELATE TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER: Education: B.S. Wildlife Management, University of Minnesota Employment: Retired Most Recent employment: I worked at the Regional Office for the Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for 14 years (2000-2014). I worked in the Division of Migratory Birds as an assistant Joint Venture (JV) Coordinator for the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region JV. I was primarily responsible for reviewing and assisting partners (e.g. DU, Pheasants Forever, TNC etc.) with North American Wetland Conservation Act grants and prepared or coordinated environmental reviews for projects that received funding. I also worked in the Division of Ecological Services as one of the Regional Environmental Review Coordinators. This work primarily consisted of being a liaison with FWS field offices and various state and federal agencies throughout the eight states in our Region. Previous employment: I worked as a wetland biologist/ecologist for 20 years (1980-2000) with the St. Paul District, Army Corps of Engineers. I implemented regulations pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. My primary duties included identifying and delineating wetlands and writing and reviewing environmental assessments and impact statements pursuant the NEPA. Upon completion of that review I made recommendations on whether to issue or deny the permit. I was also part of an interagency team that taught wetland delineation classes with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Board of Water and Soil Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interests: My professional interests are aquatic and terrestrial habitat protection and restoration. I believe these interests are consistent with the mission of the Watershed District. I enjoy hunting and fishing with our children and grandchildren. I dabble in wildlife photography and picture framing and matting. My wife and I have been trying to see as many National Parks as possible. AVAILABILITY: WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND REGULAR WATERSHED DISTRICT MEETINGS AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS? Yes. I have attended numerous meetings and I am a member of the citizen advisory committee for the watershed district. ELIGIBILITY: DO YOU HOLD ANY ELECTED OFFICE, OR ANY APPOINTED POLICY-MAKING POSITION WITH THE COUNTY, STATE, OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? _No_ IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE: PLEASE DESCRIBE ANY EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN SUPPORTING OR DIRECTING A COMMITTEE, ASSOCIATION, BOARD, COOPERATIVE, COMMISSION, CLUB, OR OTHER GROUP: I have no direct experience related to the above headings. However, as a wetland ecologist/biologist with Corps of Engineers I was occasionally called upon to review the work of co-workers and make recommendations to my superiors on whether to support their findings and recommendations or suggest an alternative course of action. As a regional environmental review coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), I worked with field offices covering the eight states within Region 3 of the FWS. This included providing documentation to field offices that would support FWS policies and positions on issues to be communicated to other state and federal agencies. I was also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on proposed changes to federal agency regulations that may or may not be consistent with FWS policies and regulations. 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. See experience, education or skills response above. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAS ABOUT WHAT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE WATERSHED DISTRICT: I believe educating citizens about how their actions or past actions may effect water quality and fish/wildlife is important. While eliminating any and all impacts to the environment is unrealistic, it is important to provide information on ways to avoid or minimize the effects being proposed. Regarding past actions that were previously unregulated or reviewed that resulted in water quality degradation and/or a corresponding decrease in aquatic and terrestrial habitat and wildlife diversity, it is important to provide information and incentives to landowners to improve those conditions. A critical piece of improving or protecting water quality and associated upland habitats is prioritizing what actions should be taken and where. I believe the watershed district (WD) is currently doing this and I believe I can help continue this effort with my background and on-going interests in the mission ofthe WD. WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER? Although I am retired, I still have a personal and professional interest in protecting our environment. I believe my education and career experiences would help provide sound advice to the administrator. HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED A VIOLATION NOTICE FROM A WATERSHED DISTRICT FOR ANY ACTIONS YOU HAVE TAKEN ON YOUR PROPERTY? YES X NO DO YOU OWN ANY COMMERCIALANDUSTRIAL OR DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY IN THIS WATERSHED DISTRICT? NO ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY CURRENT OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IF YOU ARE APPOINTED AS A WATERSHED DISTRICT MANAGER? No NOTICE OF RIGHTS Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Washington County is required to inform you of your rights as they pertain to private data collected from you. Private data is available to you, Washington County Administration, the department to which you are applying, and other entities as authorized by law, but not to the public without court order or your written consent. The purpose of the collected data is to determine your eligibility to participate on a commission or advisory board. Furnishing the requested data is voluntary, although refusal to supply the data may make you ineligible for an appointment. Names and home addresses of applicants for appointment to and members of an advisory board or commission are public, as are rank on eligibility list, job history, education, training and work availability. Once you are appointed, the data about you that is public is listed in Minn. Stat. 13.43, subd. 2. All other data about you as an applicant or board or commission member is private. RETURN THIS APPLICATION TO: WASHINGTON COUNTY 6/7/18 Aud Z"ent Office of Administration Date Signature of Applicant 14949 62nd Street North P.O. BOX 6 Stillwater, MN 55082-0006 (651)430-6015 If you need assistance due to disability or language barrier please call 430-6000 (TDD 439-3220) AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER