EC Minutes 07-24-20237800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427 t�y/
763-593-80271 TTY 763-593-39681 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.govgoldv
valle
Environmental Commission
July 24, 2023 — 6:30 pm
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting by calling 1-415-655-
0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642.
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any
items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison - Eric Eckman, Environmental
Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Hill at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Dawn Hill, Debra Yahle, Wendy Weirich, Tonia Galonska, Sarah Drawz, Paul
Klaas, Kenna Brandt
Commissioners absent: Ellen Brenna, Rachel Zuraff
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of July 24, 2023, Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the agenda for
July 24, 2023, and the motion carried.
S. Approval of June 26, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to approve the minutes of June 26,
2023, as submitted and the motion carried.
6. Old Business
A. Land Acknowledgement- Exploring Haha Wakpadaq / Bassett Creek
L Last year we hosted Crystal Boyd for a discussion with the EC about the Haha Wakpadaq
/ Bassett Creek Oral History Project. It's now wrapping up and will be available soon
through the Hennepin County History Museum.
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
July 24, 2023 — 6:30 pm
2
ii. From the oral history project came an idea to bring people together, build relationships,
and explore the use of the Dakota name for Bassett Creek.
iii. Eric and Tonia attended the first Community Gathering at Valley Presbyterian Church
and summarized what they learned.
1. Watershed attended the event.
2. Book Recommendations
1. What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota
Homeland
2. Spirit Car
3. Braiding Sweetgrass
3. Crystal Boyd mentioned they are excited about the EC's work and involvement.
4. They are interested in informally using the Haha Wakpadaq name verbally and in
print, as well. Print it as Haha Wakpadaq / Bassett Creek.
1. Could we make a statement of support for this?
5. The Mississippi Park Connection may be ready to host a joint creek clean-up next
spring if we would be interested in working with them. Crystal can help set this
up.
6. There is a language dictionary being put together online to help people
pronounce indigenous words. Also, a short pronunciation video for the creek will
be online.
7. The relationship and what the names mean is really about nature and the
connectiveness and being connected to everything in nature, plants, trees,
animals; all are relatives.
1. Mississippi River -Dakota name translates to Falls River
2. Bassett Creek - Dakota name translates to Falls Creek
8. New naming policy in the City News — Naming new community assets —
Parks/Buildings/Streets — and possibly renaming existing community assets. May
be a movement away from naming community assets after people. The
community is being asked to provide input and ask questions.
9. There is a long process to rename a MnDNR public waterbody, like renaming
Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska.
10. 70 different community groups were asked to attend the community gatherings.
What's being asked right now is to think about how to incorporate the Dakota
name verbally or in writing. Maybe update maps and signs to include both
names?
11. Do we want to invite Crystal back to present on this new idea/topic?
1. Maybe this should be a joint meeting. Maybe bring 2-3 commissions
together to talk about it.
12. There are nine communities in the Bassett Creek Watershed. The majority of
Golden Valley — about 95% is within the Bassett Creek Watershed. The other 5%
is in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed. Maybe GV will be a leader and say within
our City limits our signs will acknowledge we are on Dakota lands. Or maybe we
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
July 24, 2023 — 6:30 pm
3
7. New Business
might say we'll do something within our City border to recognize the Watershed
and the Creek and use the Dakota name for Bassett Creek.
13. Who do we think should also be involved?
1. Commissioner Weirich will connect Crystal with Three River Park District.
2. Commissioners to forward materials to anyone they think should be
involved.
14. Open Space and Rec Commission is heading up the naming policy.
15. Maybe EC is tangentially related to this because we care about the water itself?
Maybe renaming and using it in print feels bigger than us? We're tied in with the
relationship we have with the water? The health of land, water, and wildlife is
extremely important. We're all connected.
16. The European concept is that we are stewards of the environment (and that we
own land and have water rights in some areas). The Indigenous people are
relatives to the environment.
A. Annual Energy Report
L Staff member Kehrberg reviewed the City Energy Report attached to the agenda. It
focuses on what we're doing as a City.
ii. The City started tracking its energy usage in the Minnesota B3 Benchmarking program in
2005. Our new baseline for data is 2019 consistent with the community's energy action
plan.
1. 22 active buildings in the City being tracked.
iii. All B3 data is public so we can look at and compare with other cities. Is the energy usage
in other cities going up, too?
iv. City Hall is the least efficient City building and is significantly less efficient than other
similar sized public buildings in MN.
1. We had RETAP come out and do an assessment of City Hall last year.
1. City Hall is currently getting anew, high efficiency boiler installed.
2. Installing programmable thermostats.
3. Insulated our water heater and pipes.
v. We have done a lot of upgrades in the last few years with a combination of City funds,
federal and state grants, and private partnerships.
vi. Brookview is constructed to meet bronze level LEED certification. The City has to pay an
annual fee to be certified. The Commission discussed and recommended not paying for
the certification and plaque a few years ago.
vii. Golden Valley does not participate in any utility subscription programs to buy energy
from solar or wind. A few years ago, Council said they weren't interested in spending
more to pay for renewable energy sources constructed outside of the community.
viii. Xcel Energy tracks energy savings as 111 year savings. They can't count it one year after
someone makes an efficiency improvement. People likely will not undo a change
they've made, however, so the savings should continue for years. There should be much
more savings than reported.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 4
July 24, 2023 — 6:30 pm
ix. Plan to publish the Energy Action Plan Progress Report on the website annually.
x. Ethan will hopefully hear from CPE in August and hopes to have a report for the
September meeting.
B. Work Plan Prioritization
Prioritize looking into City -contracted waste hauling after the new council starts in
January 2024.
Prioritize exploring rooftop solar options at Brookview.
1. This maybe more of a priority in order to take advantage of available tax credits
and grants.
iii. Prioritize working with emergency management to identify public warming and cooling
centers in the City. Add poor air quality alerts to this, as well.
iv. Prioritize working to address climate change related impacts, improving the
environment, and reducing energy consumption/costs.
1. Address community -wide outdoor lighting changes/light pollution.
2. Work with the Planning Commission to change the lighting ordinance?
C. Program/Project Updates
i. Hennepin County's Stop Food Waste Challenge starts in August.
ii. The updated composting ordinance went to Council for its first reading on July 18 and
was approved. It will go back on August 2.
D. Council Updates
i. None
E. Other Business
i. No current watering restrictions and no planned restrictions staff are aware of.
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to adjourn the meeting at 8:32
pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Dawn Hill, Chair