Advisory Boards & Committees
Serving on a Ramsey County advisory board is a great way to get involved with your local government and make a positive impact on your community. The board of commissioners appoint residents to serve in these important roles that help shape policy, review programs and plans, and represent families and residents in Ramsey County.
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Eligibility criteria
- Be a Ramsey County resident
- Reside in a district that is currently vacant
- Cannot serve on more than one board and one committee at a time
How to apply
Applications for advisory boards with current openings are now being accepted online. Ramsey County has updated the application and review process for this year's current openings. If you have already submitted an application before March 15, 2021, you do not have to re-submit the new application. A staff member may be contacting you for additional and follow-up information if needed. If you are an incumbent, and your term is expiring, you must apply. Please check with the Chief Clerk's office regarding term limits before applying. Thank you for your interest and patience.
Current openings
Community Health Services Advisory Committee
- 13 vacancies in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and at-large
- Applications due May 7
Parks and Recreation Commission
- 5 vacancies in districts 1, 3, 5, 6 and at-large
- Applications due April 23
Application process
- Applications are submitted by the designated deadline.
- Chief Clerk's office screens all applicants to ensure all eligibility criteria are met.
- Review team meets to review and select top applicants.
- Top applicants are recommended to the Board to further and review.
- Board appoints their selected applicants for each vacancy at the Board meeting.
Adult Services Committee
Represents adults ages 60 and older who have difficulty living independently or are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and persons between age 18 and 60 who have a major physical or neurological disability.
Visit the Adult Services Committee page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Capital Improvement Program Citizens' Advisory Committee (CIPAC)
Involvement provides an opportunity to participate in the planning process for Ramsey County's Capital Improvement Program. Committee members advise the county board in setting priorities on proposed capital expenditures within Ramsey County.
Visit the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee page or call 651-266-8041 for more information.
Capitol Region Watershed District Board of Managers
The district is led by a five-person Board of Managers that guides CRWD implementation of the goals and objectives set forth in its Watershed Management Plan. Board managers generally manage water and related resources in the Watershed District, which includes portions of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and Saint Paul. Board managers are residents of the watershed district and serve a three-year term.
Visit the Capitol Region Watershed District website or call 651-644-8888 for more information.
Chemical Health Committee
Represents low income adolescents and adults whose use of drugs or alcohol creates a situation where they are not capable of managing themselves or their personal affairs and they are unable to function effectively, including pregnant women who use drugs or alcohol.
Visit the Chemical Health Committee page or call 651-266-4423 for more information
Children's Mental Health Advisory Council
Represents families with a child who has an emotional disturbance or a severe emotional disturbance, an organic disorder of the brain or a clinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, memory, or behavior that seriously limits a child’s capacity to function in primary aspects of daily living.
Visit the Children's Mental Health Advisory Council page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Children's Services Review Panel
Represents children who are in need of protective services because a caretaker is unable to care for them or because they are a victim of abuse or neglect, children who are under state guardianship, adolescent parents and minors who are pregnant, children assigned by juvenile court for probation supervision, and children under age 10 who have committed a delinquent act or are runaways or truants.
Visit the Children's Services Review Panel page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Community Health Services Advisory Committee (Joint Ramsey County / City of Saint Paul)
The committee advises the Ramsey County Board and the Saint Paul City Council on public health programs and services; actively participates in policy development, determining community health needs and engages in public health advocacy.
Visit the Community Health Services Advisory Committee page or call 651-266-2454 for more information.
Corrections Advisory Board
Members advise and consult on critical corrections policy initiatives including the comprehensive plan for the development, implementation and operation of the correctional programs in Ramsey County. Formal recommendations to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners are made at least annually concerning the plan and its implementation during the ensuing year.
Contact: 651-266-2558
Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Board
Members must be veterans. Members direct operations of the camp, which is located on Big Marine Lake. The board is made up of representatives appointed by the Ramsey and Washington County Boards, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Visit the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association Board website or call 651-433-2699 for more information.
Extension Service Committee
Members encourage individuals and organizations to make the best use of activities in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, home economics, 4-H and related subjects.
Contact: 651-266-8014
Food and Nutrition Commission (Joint Ramsey County/City of Saint Paul)
Members focus on matters relating to the planning and policy, promotion of, access to and education regarding safe, affordable nutritious foods as well as the assessment of local food delivery systems.
Visit the Food and Nutrition Commission page or call 651-266-2454 for more information.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Committee
Represents individuals who have been diagnosed as having significant sub-average intellectual functioning and demonstrated deficits in adaptive behavior, which has manifest before their 22nd birthday, and/or related conditions of severe chronic disability attributed to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other conditions excluding mental illness.
Visit the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Committee page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Library Board
The Library Board is responsible for governing the suburban library system with branches in Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview and White Bear Lake; ensuring that the libraries are responsive to the needs of the community; ensuring financial resources to accomplish the strategic plan; and setting library policy. Members must be residents of suburban Ramsey County.
Visit the Library Board page or call 651-486-2201 for more information.
Low Income Committee
Represents individuals and families who need help meeting their basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, and medical care because their income falls below federal poverty guidelines.
Visit the Low Income Committee page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Mental Health Advisory Council
Represents adults with mental illness, an organic disorder of the brain or a clinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, memory, or behavior that seriously limits their capacity to function in primary aspects of daily living.
Visit the Mental Health Advisory Council page or call 651-266-4423 for more information.
Parks & Recreation Commission
Members serve as an advisory body to the county board on matters relating to planning, development and operation of parks, trails, open space and recreation areas.
Visit the Parks and Recreation Commission page or call 651-266-0300 for more information.
Personnel Review Board
Board members' duties include: to hear disciplinary appeals by veterans relating to discharge or suspension; to review other disciplinary appeals after an Administrative Law Judge has heard them; to hear non-disciplinary appeals; and to review the Human Resources department as directed by the county board.
Call 651-266-2730 for more information
Ramsey County Charter Commission
Members must be residents of Ramsey County. Duties are to: periodically review the Charter and propose necessary amendments; to review and recommend proposals from others; and has the authority to submit proposed amendments to an election.
Visit the Charter Commission page or call 651-266-8014 for more information.
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Board of Managers
The district is guided by five members who oversee the preservation and improvement of the water resources and related ecosystems in eastern Ramsey County and western Washington County. Four managers are appointed by Ramsey County and one by Washington County. The district includes portions of Gem Lake, Little Canada, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Roseville, Saint Paul, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake. Managers must be residents of the district and serve a three-year term.
Visit the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District website or call 651-792-7960 for more information.
Rice Creek Watershed District Board of Managers
Managers consists of five members - two are appointed by Ramsey County. The district includes portions of Arden Hills, Blaine, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville, St. Anthony, Shoreview, Spring Lake Park, White Bear Lake and the Town of White Bear. The managers govern the Rice Creek Watershed District and manage the water resources within it. Managers must be residents of the district and serve a three-year term.
Visit the Rice Creek Watershed District website or call 763-398-3079 for more information.
Valley Branch Watershed District Board of Managers
The district is led by a five-person Board of Managers that is responsible for the control and management of the water resources in the VBWD. The VBWD primarily lies in Washington County, but includes a portion of Ramsey County – the cities include parts of North St. Paul, Maplewood and White Bear Lake. Four managers are appointed by Washington County and one by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. Board managers are residents of the watershed district and serve a three-year term.
Visit the Valley Branch Watershed District website or call 952-832-2622 for more information.
Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) (Joint Ramsey County/City of Saint Paul)
This joint board provides broad community leadership in all areas of workforce development, develops a comprehensive countywide strategy to the community's workforce development needs under the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, and provides oversight and policy direction to the Workforce Solutions department. The 33-member WIB is comprised of business, education, labor, economic development, elected officials, state and county workforce development partners, and community-based organizations.
Visit the Workforce Innovation Board page or call 651-266-6004 for more information.