EC Minutes 11-27-20237800 Golden Valley Road 1 Golden Valley, MN 55427 i?, 11, [ ' l
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November 27, 2023 — 6:30 pm
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Microsoft Teams by calling
1-872-256-4160 and entering access code 587 275 181#.
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, Ellen Brenna
Commissioners absent: None
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of November 27, 2023, Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to approve the agenda for
November 27, 2023, and the motion carried.
5. Approval of October 23, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Klaas, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to approve the minutes of October
23, 2023, as submitted and the motion carried.
1. Old Business
A. Recap Bees and Goat Grazing ordinances
i. The Goat Grazing ordinance passed unanimously. A permit will be needed.
ii. The Beekeeping did not pass. It did not make it to the second reading.
1. The Council had too many concerns and asked the EC to possibly review it again
in the future.
a. They want to wait for new and emerging science and see what the data
show. Is beekeeping helpful, neutral, or harmful to native bee
populations?
AWMIThis document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
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City of Gulden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 2
November 27, 2023 — 6:30 pm
2. Staff was neutral on the topic and worked with the Commission to draft an
ordinance that was practical and enforceable, if the Council wanted to move
forward.
3. The City will continue to plant native vegetation and pollinator -friendly habitats
and work with the Garden Club to provide education and outreach.
4. The ordinance before the Council was just for the private sector. There was no
intent for the City to own or operate any hives.
B. Haha Wakpadaq/Bassett Creek Effort
i. Staff was present at the last gathering at Valley Presbyterian Church. The DEIC had at
least one commissioner present. The BCWMC Commissioner and Alternate
Commissioner were there.
ii. A lot of momentum to continue the conversation about using the Dakota name Haha
Wakpadarj for Bassett Creek either as a dual naming approach or potentially as the only
name Golden Valley uses.
iii. Not only is the name, Haha Wakpadaq, important to the Dakota people, so is protecting
and improving the water and adjacent lands.
iv. Eric, Seth (DEIC), Crystal, and Laura (BCWMC) will meet to discuss the next steps.
v. Joint DEIC/EC Meeting:
1. The joint meeting and the previous presentation from Crystal to the EC were
similar. DEIC members may be hearing it for the first time.
2. It was good to hear the thoughts of the DEI Commissioners.
3. Maybe the DEIC can take more of a lead role and get support from the EC?
a. EC can co -host or support the quarterly forum — Building and Equitable
Golden Valley.
b. EC can support Water Ceremony and possibly creek clean up in 2024.
4. The watershed is working on a new foldable map of the watershed. They are
committed to using the name Haha Wakpadaq. It will tell stories from an
Indigenous perspective and include more facts.
5. The watershed commission of 9 cities is the one that looks at the entire creek,
the lakes, and wetlands within the watershed. The City has a commissioner and
alternate commissioner on the BCWMC.
a. We have a surface water management plan (updated every 10 years) that
lays out what the City of Golden Valley will do with our water resources
and what we commit to do.
b. We do give input on the BCWMC 10-year plan and other water related
initiatives.
C. Organics Recycling Participation Plan
i. Staff reviewed actions taken to support the launch of the Organics Recycling Program
and to maintain and increase participation as well as the Strategies to Increase Organics
Recycling Participation 2024-2026 (through the end of the current contract).
EnvironmentalCity of Golden Valley • R Regular Meeting
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1. New Residential Buildings — Does the City educate the builder on things they
could be offering? Composting? Organics? Recycling? Salt management?
a. PUDs get amenity points. They need to get so many amenity points and
there are a number of environmental actions they can take to achieve
their points.
b. 'By right' projects only need permits to build.
i. Our environmental staff has a seat at the table of the
development team and can talk to the
developers/engineers/architects and suggest and encourage ideas
about items not required of the builder.
c. Emphasize the 'why' to residents.
d. Maybe put a challenge out there to make it a competition with peer
cities?
e. New residents are not contacted by Republic since they wouldn't know
about the new resident unless they also use them for trash hauling.
i. Possibly work with utility billing to inform new residents when
they call in to set up utilities.
f. Reach out to Hennepin County to see if they have a display we could put
at the library?
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Brenna to approve the
Increase Organics Recycling Participation Plan 2024-2026 with the following changes, and the
motion carried.
• Emphasize the 'why' to residents.
• Possibly put a challenge out there to make it a competition with peer cities.
• Be sure to get information to new residents about the program — possibly work with
Utility Billing to get the info out when new residents call in to set up utilities.
• Work with Hennepin County on possible displays for the library.
2. New Business
A. IRA Ambassador program
I. The IRA Ambassador program was created by The Clean Energy Resource Team (CERTs)
after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The goal of the program is to get
more detailed information to community leaders who want to have more expertise
about the new legislation.
ii. Meant to be a way to spread the word about available rebates, tax credits, and other
incentives for energy and environmental projects.
iii. Anyone can become an ambassador.
iv. If commissioners want to become an ambassador, it is up to them which e-mail they use.
It is suggested they use their own personal e-mail since they will be a member as a
citizen, not a commission member.
v. The City has at least one ambassador.
City of oaEnvironmental
November ! . pm I
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B. Federal and State Energy Incentives
i. Staff gave an update on the legislation being passed at the State and Federal Level about
different residential and commercial tax credit opportunities as outlined in the Agenda
Memo.
1. Some of the rebates are retroactive for at least a few months.
2. The City will be looking to take advantage of the Minnesota Solar Grant Program
for Public Buildings.
3. The Statewide Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking will incentivize building
owners to make improvements because tenants will be able to look for more
energy efficient buildings to help lower costs and energy bills.
4. The Energy Code, statewide, is being updated more frequently with more
rigorous energy standards for new development.
C. Program/Project Updates
L DeCola Ponds Flood Reduction Project (SEA School-Wildwood Park)
1. Mostly done. Just a few punch list items remain for spring.
2. The Pipe Replacement Project is also pretty much wrapped up for the year. It
was the third flood mitigation project implemented since 2016. The second
project that received state money.
3. The new water feature is empty and should mostly be dry. It will fill up with
water from the streets when it rains, and with spring run-off.
D. Council Updates
L None
E. Other Business
December EC meeting
MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to cancel the
December 18, 2023 meeting, and the motion carried.
6. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at 8:25
pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
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Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant
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Dawn Hill, Chair