Statement Honoring Jimmy Smith for His Service as Chairman of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
July 13, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jimmy Smith, chairman of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (NCIRWMP) Policy Review Panel for 7 years, honoring his dedication to, and his achievements toward, healthy North Coast communities and ecosystems.
Mr. Smith has become known for his inclusiveness, diplomacy, and transparent leadership style through his work on the Policy Review Panel. He played a critical role in shepherding the North Coast through its first project prioritization process, helping the panel make difficult policy decisions to reduce the NCIRWMP's priority funding list from $50 to $25 million.
Mr. Smith led the panel through the unanimous adoption by the region's seven county Boards of Supervisors of the first and second phases of NCIRWMP. His leadership was instrumental in securing more than 70 signatories to the NCIRWMP Memorandum of Mutual Understanding.
Mr. Smith hosted the NCIRWMP's first Integrated Regional Water Management Conference, bringing more than 250 attendees to the North Coast region, representing over 50 entities comprised of local governments, tribes, legislators, agencies, watershed groups, providing a greater awareness of water management issues, watershed functions and future policy and funding opportunities.
Mr. Smith's oversight of the NCIRWMP top ranked proposals has brought more than $41 million to the North Coast. He worked for months on behalf of the entire North Coast community during the 2008 California "bond freeze" to minimize economic impact on disadvantaged communities and to ensure that the North Coast's priority infrastructure and environmental projects were able to move forward. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize my friend Jimmy Smith for his dedication and contributions to the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and dedication to our community.
Mr. Smith has become known for his inclusiveness, diplomacy, and transparent leadership style through his work on the Policy Review Panel. He played a critical role in shepherding the North Coast through its first project prioritization process, helping the panel make difficult policy decisions to reduce the NCIRWMP's priority funding list from $50 to $25 million.
Mr. Smith led the panel through the unanimous adoption by the region's seven county Boards of Supervisors of the first and second phases of NCIRWMP. His leadership was instrumental in securing more than 70 signatories to the NCIRWMP Memorandum of Mutual Understanding.
Mr. Smith hosted the NCIRWMP's first Integrated Regional Water Management Conference, bringing more than 250 attendees to the North Coast region, representing over 50 entities comprised of local governments, tribes, legislators, agencies, watershed groups, providing a greater awareness of water management issues, watershed functions and future policy and funding opportunities.
Mr. Smith's oversight of the NCIRWMP top ranked proposals has brought more than $41 million to the North Coast. He worked for months on behalf of the entire North Coast community during the 2008 California "bond freeze" to minimize economic impact on disadvantaged communities and to ensure that the North Coast's priority infrastructure and environmental projects were able to move forward. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize my friend Jimmy Smith for his dedication and contributions to the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and dedication to our community.
Issues:Energy & Environment