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serve as an advisory body to City CoUncil on matters relating to the preservation of Ramsey's <br />natural environment. The next Step in the:process is to establish the membership number and <br />representation on the Board and direct staff ~to proceed to advertise to fill the positions. The <br />Board discussed membership and representation at their December 14, 2004 meeting. They have <br />recommended that the Environmental Policy Board be established with 7 voting members; 1 <br />from each of the 4 wards and 3 .at large. ~11 7 members should be residents of the community. <br />There should also be two non-Voting, ex~°fficio members representing City Council and City <br />Staff. In furtherance of the Board's commitment to education on environmental matters, they are <br />requesting Council's approval to have a'. non-voting student intern position available on the <br />Board. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen explained regarding the student position, there are many high school <br />students taking honors courses or have an interest in this issue. Regarding a representation by <br />wards, this board has been established since the Council adopted a ward system and it made <br />sense to follow that ward system. The Ward sYStem would ensure geographical representation <br />from all sections of the City, which is important to the group. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec inquired if a vacancy would remain open for more advertising if there were only <br />one candidate from a ward and the Council did not feel the person was a right fit for the Board. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen responded in the affirmative. <br /> <br />Councihnember Jeffrey commented he likes the idea of one representative from each ward and <br />three representatives at large. He questioned if this would set a precedent for other commissions <br />and boards. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig expressed concern that the Council has had difficulty getting people to <br />serve on some of the Commissions and a Ward system would restrict the available pool to a <br />smaller group of people. He stated he agrees it is not a bad idea, especially with the diverse <br />demographics. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook stated he is not sure the ward system will work in a situation where the <br />Council is asking for vOlunteers to serve On a commission. There are a lot of other aspects of <br />someone's life that determines Why you think a certain way, other than where you live in the <br />City. He expressed concern that this CommissiOn utilizing a ward system would set a precedent <br />for other commissions and stated the representation should not be based on a ward system. <br /> <br />Councihnember Strommen explained the BOard discussed concerns about the possibility of not <br />having an adequate number of people apply. They felt strongly enough that they wanted a <br />mechanism to ensure representation from different parts of the City. It becomes the Council's <br />job to identify good people and try~to recruit them. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec suggested they proceed with the ward representation, and that it can be reviewed if <br />it is not working. <br /> <br />City CounCil/January 25, 2005 <br /> Page 16 of 24 <br /> <br /> <br />