2002-03-25 EC Agenda PktAGENDA
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road
Council Conference Room
Monday, March 25, 2002
7:00 P.M.
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes — January 28, 2002
III. Visit by New Mayor, Linda R. Loomis
IV. Election of Officers for 2002
V. Bassett Creek Inventory Project
VI. Other Business
VII. Adjourn
GAEnvironmental Commission\Agendas\032502.doc
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Minutes
January 28, 2002
Present: Richard Baker, Sue Hess, Dawn Hill, Alan Kuentz
City Staff: Al Lundstrom, Environmental Coordinator; Jeff Oliver, City Engineer;
Tracy Pharr, Administrative Secretary
Absent: Alicia Brown, Jessica Roe
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 7:07 p.m.
Immediately following the call to order, David Fellman announced he had submitted his
letter of resignation to Mayor Linda Loomis. After the announcement, Fellman excused
himself from the meeting. Fellman's resignation will be acted on by Council.
II. Approval of Minutes — November 26, 2001
No changes.
MOTION: Moved by Hess, seconded by Baker, approve the minutes of the
November 26, 2001 meeting as submitted.
111. 2002 Meeting Schedule
Meeting dates for 2002 were decided upon as follows:
February 25 June 24 October 28
March 25 July 22 November 25
April 22 August 26 December 16
May 20 September 23
IV. Natural Resources Inventory Grant Application Update
Lundstrom distributed copies of the submitted Natural Resources Inventory Grant
Application. The review process for the grant is approximately one to two months.
Lundstrom noted that the inventory would be in a user-friendly software format, and
placed on the City's website.
Hill asked about the status of the grants with the current State budget issues. Baker
commented that there had been a freeze on grants, but this had since been lifted. He
noted that to the best of his knowledge, thus far, there would be no impacts to this
program. Lundstrom added that it was his understanding that the money had already
been appropriated and budgeted for this year's grants.
GAEnvironmental Commission\Minutes\ECMinutes012802.doc
V. Update of Status of Gypsy Moths in Golden Valley
Lundstrom distributed a news release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
about finding gypsy moths in Golden Valley. Lundstrom also noted an additional
infestation at Lake Harriet in southwest Minneapolis. The infested area in Golden
Valley will be the largest site that the Department of Agriculture has ever treated. There
will be two aerial applications, seven days apart, of Baxillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki
(BT). The applications will take place treetop high, in early to mid-May at 5:30 am,
contingent upon wind and weather conditions. There will be a public meeting on
February 11, 2002 at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis Park. Information will
also be distributed by direct mail.
VI. Draft Revision of the Stormwater CIP
Lundstrom commented that the 5 -year CIP is reviewed, revised and updated each year.
He distributed copies of the CIP. Hill asked why it was a draft. Lundstrom responded
that it was contingent upon Council approval.
Lundstrom noted there is no 2005 project. The Natural Resources Inventory is
scheduled for 2002. Lundstrom commented the Residential Storm Sewer
Improvements for 2002-06 are typical for the Pavement Management Program.
The Bank Stabilization Project at Bassett Creek Park is a new addition for 2002. This
was added to help maintenance crews and equipment to remove sediments and
improve the water quality of the pond. Lundstrom commented that the City had met
with the Watershed engineers about the City's maintenance of the main stem of the
watershed and whether the right things are being done.
Hill asked if the City was still waiting to buy the property at the intersection of Boone
Avenue and Golden Valley Road. Oliver responded that the City has money available
should the property become available at the right price. Currently, the price is too high
to justify purchase for flood storage.
Lundstrom noted the Stream Bank Stabilization Project for Bassett Creek in 2003. He
commented that this was based upon, and budgeted in, the Bassett Creek Inventory
that was completed as part of the 2001 CIP. City staff did this inventory, took
photographs, compiled databases, noted all erosion sites, etc. Baker asked if the
Commission could see this inventory. Lundstrom said he would bring it to the next
meeting.
Lundstrom continued by addressing the Golden Hills Drive Pond located near Holiday
Inn Express. He stated that since the City advocates buffer zones and planting native
vegetation to improve water quality, the City wants to take its regional ponds and set a
good example by demonstrating these practices. Hill asked if it was really necessary to
wait until 2006 to spend the $15,000 budgeted for this project. Oliver stated that the
City has four times more project demand than dollars in the Stormwater Management
GAEnvironmental Commission\Minutes\ECMinutes012802.doc
Fund. Kuentz asked if this item could be moved up earlier in the Plan. Lundstrom and
Oliver agreed that it would be possible. Baker asked if the Council would be hesitant to
spend these funds with the current budget issues of the State. Oliver responded that
the primary funding for these projects comes from the Stormwater Utility Fund
(residents' quarterly utility bills). He continued that the Council might approve this CIP,
but that this doesn't necessarily mean that everything would be implemented.
Lundstrom concluded by stating that the Council would consider the CIP in March.
VII. Other Business
Items of Other Business:
• Hill stated she would like to offer up electing a new Chair for the Commission for
2002, should anyone else be interested in the position.
• Commission Members filled out forms to update their contact information (as
available to the public, and regarding duties as Commission Members).
• Baker asked about filling the spot vacated by David Fellman. Oliver responded
that someone from the City Manager's office would see to this.
• Hill commented she wondered if the Commission would like to offer the new
Mayor an invitation to "meet and greet" Commission Members. All other
Commission Members agreed. Hill will offer an invitation.
No additional business was addressed.
VIII. Adjourn
The next scheduled meeting will be on February 25, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
ZLAM4 � R�-�
Tracy Pharr
Administrative Secretary
Department of Public Works
3
Memorandum
PIT rbwnllv� City Administration/Council
763-593-8006 / 763-593-8109 (fax)
Date: February 21, 2002
To: Boards and Commissions
From: Linda R. Loomis, Mayor
Subject: Appointments and Reappointment Process
This is a message from the City Council to update you on the status of appointments to
boards and commissions. With three new members, this Council has a lot of work ahead of
us. First we need to get up to speed on current operations and then we need to take on a
multitude of new tasks including hiring a new city manager. Among all these tasks, we are
trying to determine how best to approach appointments to boards and commissions.
The boards and commissions that serve the Council and the community are very important to
us, so we would like to be deliberate in our appointment process. After some discussion, we
decided to stage the period of appointments over a longer time period than in past years,
which requires your cooperation and support. Current members are requested to extend
their service past the normal term ending in February. Such an extension is allowed under
City Code as commissioners and board members serve until successors are appointed and
qualify. For those of you who are willing to be reappointed, this should not be a hardship, as
you have already indicated a willingness to extend your service. I would like to ask that
anyone who anticipated ending service in February call me to indicate if this extension of
service is possible.
Commonly the Council has made appointments to all of the Boards and Commissions at the
second meeting in February. We will be dealing with each board and commission
individually, and hope to stage the process so that existing vacancies that have left the group
shorthanded will be addressed first. On this basis we know that we will first interview for the
Human Rights Commission.
Because we have three new members we have decided to interview as a Committee -of -the -
Whole and to speak with members who wish to be reappointed as well as new applicants.
Staff will be contacting those members whose terms will expire to set up an interview. We
would like to know all of our commissioners, and individual Council liaisons will also attend
one of your meetings in the next few months to get to know all of the members and discuss
issues currently before you.
Thank you once again for your service. Please call me if you have any questions about our
process or wish to inform me about concerns related to extending your service past February.
You can reach me at home, 763-545-4659 or at city hall, 763-593-3990. Please leave me a
voice mail message if you do not reach me in person.