CMAL Observer Schedule 2008-2009

Observing public meetings is an important function of LWV.  In CMAL, local LWVs are assigned one or more weeks and are asked to select two meetings of regional importance to observe.  Meetings could be of the Metropolitan Council, or any of its committees, Watershed Districts, Metropolitan Airport Commission, or any other government organization that covers a large area in the Twin City metropolitan area.

When it is your LWV's week to observe, CMAL asks that you select two meetings to observe during your week.  Always verify with the agency that the meeting you plan to attend is being held and the time is correct.  The Met Council sometimes cancels meetings.

Note that Met Council Meetings are now on their website, so you may observe at home!  It's not quite the same as being there in person, so you may want to contact your Met Council Representative afterwards with a question so he or she knows you are watching.

If your schedule presents a conflict, ask your CMAL alternate or other local LWV members to attend in your place.  The more people involved in observing, the more information we all share.  Also, feel free to contact another LWV to trade weeks if that is more convenient.

Several LWVs have been assigned two weeks and are listed with an asterisk.  For one of your weeks feel free to find a watershed meeting or other local informational meeting that might be closer to home and still of regional interest.

If you cannot find someone to observe a meeting, go to the Met Council website or the MAC website and read minutes from a meeting held during your week, summarize and send them to CMAL as an observer report.

Your LWV's participation in observing is crucial to keeping all local LWVs in the metro area informed about regional issues.

Please fill out the CMAL Observer's Form so it can be included on this website for all LWV members and the public to read.

Questions?  Contact Kathy Klein

• Met Council

  New Met Council Location:

  390 Robert Street North (between 5th and 6th streets)

  map

  Please verify the meeting location on the Met Council website before attending.

• Metropolitan Airports Commission
• Watershed Districts and Water Management Organizations:
  • Basset Creek Water Management Organization
  • Black Dog Water Management Organization
  • Browns Creek Watershed District
  • Capitol Region Watershed District
  • Carnelian-Marine Watershed Disrict
  • Carver County Water Management Organization
  • Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District
  • Coon Creek Watershed District
  Grass Lake Water Management Organization
  • Elm Creek Water Management Organization
  • Gun Club Lake Water Management Organization
  • Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
  • Lower Mississippi Water Management Organization
  • Lower Rum River Water Management Organization
  • Lower Saint Croix Water Management Organization
  • Marine on Saint Croix Water Management Organization
  • Middle Saint Croix River Water Management Organization
  • Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
  • Mississippi Water Management Organization
  • Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
  • North Cannon River Water Management Organization
  • Pioneer-Sarah Creek Water Management Organization
  • Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District
  • Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
  • Rice Creek Watershed District
  • Richfield-Bloomington Water Management Organization
  • Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District
  • Scott County Water Management Organization
  • Shingle Creek Water Management Organization
  • Six Cities Water Management Organization
  • South Washington Watershed District
  • Sunrise River Water Management Organization
  • Upper Rum River Water Management Organization
  • Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization
  • Vermillion River Water Management Organization
  • Valley Branch Watershed District
  • West Mississippi Water Management Organization

• Wear your LWV button to all meetings.  Remember, observers are to be seen, not heard.  If action is needed, it should be initiated by the Action Chair.
• Pick up meeting agenda and supporting reports, documents, etc. from the meeting
• Use the form, or the meeting agenda to make notes.
• After the meeting, fill out the Observer's Form.  You might want to familiarize yourself with the form before the meeting.
• Note any matter on which you think CMAL action should be taken and notify Lois Quam of any item needs CMAL's immediate attention.  It is important that observers do not take action themselves.
• Fill out the CMAL Observer's Form or if you do not have internet access:
  • Mail your typed Observer Report within a week to: Kathy Klein:  8200 Hadley Avenue South; Cottage Grove, MN  55016

  and

  • Mail your Voucher within a week to:  Tricia Gunderson:  390 Harriet Avenue; Shoreview, MN  55126-3916

Things to Note in Meeting

• Important discussion:  Were there discussions about important issues?
• Decisions made:  Did the board or committee make decisions?
• Other comments:
  • Openness of the meeting - Was the process clear?  Could you hear what everyone was saying?  Could you see the overheads?   Was access to the meeting easy?
  • Were copies of background material available to the public?
  • Did the meeting follow the agenda?
  • What was the mood of the meeting?

Please note that your observations are critical to CMAL.  What you observe is posted on our CMAL website where it is available to all LWV members and to the public.  What you write helps all our LWVs, as well as CMAL, determine which issues need to be addressed and which issues are at the forefront of the governing body's agenda.

Thank you!