Council seeks applicants for Regional Parks Commission

Applications due at the end of August

Contact: Bonnie Kollodge
(651) 602-1357

ST. PAUL - Aug. 7, 2007 - The Metropolitan Council is taking applications for four positions on the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission (MPOSC), which helps the Council develop long-range plans for regional parks, park reserves and trails.

The MPOSC includes eight citizen members who represent geographic districts across the seven-county metro area, and a chair that serves at-large. The regional parks system includes 49 regional parks and park reserves, more than170 miles of trails currently open to the public and six special recreation areas, including the Como Zoo and Conservatory.

Candidates must reside in the district for which they seek appointment. The Council is seeking applicants for four-year terms to represent:

District A (Council districts 1 and 2)

District 1 includes Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medicine Lake, Medina, Plymouth, and Rogers and the town of Hassan in Hennepin County.
District 2 includes Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop and Spring Lake Park in Anoka County, and Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Osseo and Robbinsdale in Hennepin County.

District B (Council districts 3 and 4)

District 3 includes Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland in Hennepin County.
District 4 includes Carver County, the Hennepin County cities of Minnetrista and St. Bonifacius, and Scott County.

District C (Council districts 5 and 6)

District 5 includes the Hennepin County cities of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield and Fort Snelling.
District 6 includes Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, St. Louis Park and a western portion of Minneapolis.

District D (Council districts 7 and 8)

Districts 7 and 8 include most of Minneapolis and St. Anthony.

For a map of MPOSC districts, see www.metrocouncil.org/about/ParksCommissionMap.pdf

Members of the commission do not receive per diem pay, but are compensated for mileage and parking. The commission meets once or twice per month.

Interested applicants should contact the Secretary of State's Office at (651) 297-5845 or visit the Secretary of State’s web site at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=5

Applications must be returned to the Secretary of State by the end of the business day on Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.

For more information on the MPOSC or regional parks, call the Council’s parks planner, Arne Stefferud at 651-602-1360, or visit www.metrocouncil.org/parks/parks.htm .

The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency for the seven-county metro area. The Council runs the regional bus and light rail system; collects and treats wastewater and manages water resources preservation; plans regional parks and administers funds that provide housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The 17-member Metropolitan Council is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Minnesota Governor.