Guiding Principles of the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council

Guiding Principles

1. Promote effective investments in geospatial information
2. Promote geospatial information as a shared public resource
3. Support the establishment and use of geospatial standards and best practices
4. Champion collaboration among geospatial practitioners and related stakeholders
5. Educate and inform policymakers about the value and use of geospatial technology
6. Provide a forum for ideas and issues to be shared and acted upon by the geospatial community
7. Encourage all council sectors to contribute to the state geospatial infrastructure
8. Encourage all council members to communicate outcomes with relevant stakeholders
9. Encourage geospatial education at all levels
10. Advocate for free and open geospatial data
     

Examples of Coordination

• Advising, supporting and making recommendations to MnGeo
• Creating, endorsing and advocating for standards
• Defining policy requirements and driving policy decisions
• Representing the geospatial community
• Advocating for project priorities
   

Authorization

Legislation passed in 2009 as 16B.99 subd. 8; later reauthorized as 16E.30, subd. 8
 

Membership and Expectations

Members are appointed to the council via the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State's Open Appointments process.

Term of office for current appointed members: July 1 of the starting year through June 30 two years from the starting year
Appointing Authority: State Chief Information Officer
Compensation: None

Appointed member categories

Representing Minnesota's geospatial community:

• 2  State government representatives
• 1  Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium representative
• 1  MetroGIS representative
• 1  Twin Cities metro (7-county) regional government representative
• 1  Greater Minnesota regional government representative
• 1  Twin Cities metro (7-county region) county representative
• 1  Greater Minnesota county representative
• 1  Twin Cities metro (7-county region) city representative
• 1  Greater Minnesota city representative
• 2  Higher education representatives
• 1  K-12 education organization representative
• 2  Federal government representatives
• 1  Tribal government representative
• 1  Nonprofit organization representative
• 2  Business representatives
• 1  Surveyor community representative
• 3  At-large representatives

In addition to the appointed members, the council includes the state chief geospatial information officer as a non-voting, ex-officio member.
 

Expectations

Council members are expected to:

• Support the Council's mission
• Prepare for and be active in Council meetings. These quarterly meetings are typically scheduled on Wednesdays from 10 to noon.
• Be an ambassador representing your sector stakeholders and other stakeholders with whom you are connected (e.g., professional groups)
  • Speak for stakeholders at Council meetings
  • Carry Council news and proposals back to stakeholders
  • Collect stakeholder views on complex issues, either from individuals or existing umbrella organizations
    
   

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