Workgroup Eval&Audit 051017 Link2AppA

Appendix A METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PROGRAM EVALUATION AND AUDIT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT METROGIS OCTOBER 17, 2005 INTRODUCTION Background MetroGIS is a voluntary, unincorporated collaboration of government interests from the Twin Cities area, including cities, counties, school districts, watersheds, and state and federal agencies. Counties play an especially prominent role as the source of much of the data that is being integrated into a regional dataset under shared standards. Academic institutions, non-profits, utilities, and private organizations are also involved in MetroGIS. The concept of a regional GIS for the seven-county metropolitan area was first suggested by a Metropolitan Council representative to the GIS/LIS state conference in September of 1995. The Council held a series of meetings to assess the need and support for a metropolitan GIS in December 1995. Representatives of 22 public, non-profit and private sector organizations attended. The bulk of the attendees became the first MetroGIS Coordinating Committee. The group agreed on a set of strategic issues and statement of intent that was honed into the mission statement for MetroGIS. (MetroGIS Website, “MetroGIS History”) On February 8, 1996, the Metropolitan Council voted to approve a Community Development Committee recommendation to approve the interim plan for MetroGIS, appoint a Council member to the project, and approve its role as the facilitator of that effort. ...