2002-07-22 EC AgendaAGENDA
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road
Council Conference Room
Monday, July 22, 2002
7:00 P.M.
I. Call to Order
II. Approval of Minutes — April 22, 2002
III. Follow -Up to June 24th Parks Tour
IV. Progress Report Meeting for Natural Resources Inventory — Presented
by SEH (with Planning and Open Space & Recreation Commissions)
V. Other Business
VI. Adjourn
GAEnvironmental Commission\Agendas\072202.doc
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 22, 2002
Present: Richard Baker, Alicia Brown, Sue Hess, Dawn Hill, Alan Kuentz,
Jessica Roe
City Staff: Jeff Oliver, City Engineer; Tracy Pharr, Administrative Assistant
Absent: Al Lundstrom, Environmental Coordinator
I. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. Approval of Minutes — March 25.2002
No changes.
MOTION: Moved by Hess, seconded by Kuentz, approve the minutes of the
March 25, 2002 meeting as submitted.
III. Open Space Commission Park Tour
Pharr stated that City staff will lead a bus tour of City parks on Monday, June 24, 2002.
Commission Members interested in attending are asked to meet at Brookview at 5:15
for a small dinner. The bus will leave at 6:00. Oliver stated that if Commission
Members had any particular place they wish to visit, they should make that request in
advance of the tour. He continued that Schaper Park would be included. Brown
commented she would like to visit the General Mills area. Baker concurred, and added
that he would like to see the Sheriff's site. Hill stated she would like to see any trail
scheduled for paving this year.
IV. Natural Resources Inventory Update
Oliver noted that the City's Metro Greenways Planning Grant had been awarded by the
DNR. The amount was approximately $3,000 less than had been requested. Brown
asked if volunteers could make up for the shortfall. Oliver responded that the staff
would go through the plan with the consultants, and see if any changes or cuts could be
made without affecting the total outcome. Baker stated he would like the Commission
to comment on the Inventory. This item will be placed on the May agenda.
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V. Schaper Pond Water Quality Improvements
Oliver passed out copies of the Schaper Pond Storm Water Quality Improvement
Proposal. MnDOT will be installing a skimmer in the Sweeney branch of Bassett Creek
in conjunction with the TH100, Segment 1 construction project. Oliver described the
skimmer as an aluminum pontoon that will be fastened to the bridge, moving up and
down with water elevations, designed to remove floatables from a water body. Two flow
diversion options, an HD Flow Curtain Diverter, and a Living Compost Gabion, are
being considered to increase retention time in the pond.
Oliver told Commission Members that staff would like them to give feedback on which of
the two diversion options would be best for the City to pursue. The handout details the
positive and negative attributes of both options. These were discussed at length.
Oliver added background information on the specifics of this project, including the areas
being drained into Schaper Pond (near Teacher Federal Credit Union on Country Club
Drive, and a lot of the Highway 100 area) drains into Schaper Pond, physical description
of both options, and the viable life of both the flotation curtain and compost gabion.
Brown asked about the costs involved. Oliver responded that MnDOT would pay for the
construction, and if authorized and approved by the City Council, the City would be
responsible for the maintenance of the skimmer.
Baker asked if MnDOT and staff had particular recommendations on which option would
be best to pursue. Oliver answered that at this time neither party had made a
determination of which option is preferred.
Oliver concluded by stating that staff is looking for feedback from the Commission on
which of the two skimmer options to pursue.
MOVED by Hess, seconded by Hill, with motion for staff to consider the Living
Compost Gabion as the preferred option for the City for the Schaper Pond Storm
Water Quality Improvement Proposal. The motion carried unanimously.
Oliver stated that the Open Space & Recreation Commission would be commenting on
this item as well. Feedback and recommendations from both Commissions will be
forwarded to the City Council.
VI. Other Business
Items of Other Business:
• Baker stated he would like to visit the Commission's wish list items. Each
Member was asked if they had specific area of interest they would like to
address in the future.
GAEnvironmental Commission\Minutes\ECMinutes042202.doc
➢ Kuentz — coordination of the management plan for Golden Valley's
nature areas; quantifying reasons for having nature areas; review of
current practices; define roles of Commissions as relates to the plan;
recommend management practices; development of monitoring plan.
➢ Hess — restoration/creation of wetlands in areas not suited to building
(could be part of CIP); identify potential areas; find sponsors (i.e., Ducks
Unlimited); develop plan.
➢ Brown — environmental awareness education, through flyers, incentives,
schools, etc., in community.
➢ Roe — education of Golden Valley residents in environmental issues (i.e.,
water quality, lawn and tree maintenance, pest spraying, etc.).
➢ Hill — city-wide garbage hauling; looking at zoning ordinances, particularly
number of parking spaces per business.
➢ Baker — management for environmental friendliness of water retention
basins; wildlife habitat management as relates to water bodies.
• Reminder that due to the Memorial Day holiday, the May meeting will be held on
the third Monday in May (May 20), instead of the fourth Monday (May 27). The
meeting will be held in the Manager's Conference Room.
No additional business was addressed.
VII. Adjourn
The next scheduled meeting will be a joint meeting with the Open Space & Recreation
Commission for a tour of the City's parks. Commission Members should meet at
Brookview on Monday, June 24, 2002 at 5:15 p.m. Dinner will be provided, and
Members will board the bus at 6:00 p.m. to begin the tour.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
-'' Tracy Pharr
Administrative Assistant
Department of Public Works
GAEnvironmental Commission\Minutes\ECMinutes042202.doc