EC Minutes 01-22-20241800 Golden Valley Road Gr.)lden'Vallf:y,1,1N 55427
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January 22, 2024 — 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: Sophia Ginis
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of January 22, 2024 Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the agenda
for January 22, 2024, and the motion carried.
S. Approval of November 27, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to approve the minutes of
November 27, 2023, as submitted and the motion carried with the following change:
• Commissioner Brenna was present at the November 27, 2023 meeting.
6. Old Business
A. Haha Wakpadaq/Bassett Creek Effort
i. Staff met with Crystal Boyd and Laura Jester from the Watershed to talk about the
next steps.
ii. DEIC is going to talk at their next meeting about partnering on a community
presentation from Ho -Chunk members about their history in Minnesota, the west
metro specifically.
1. The DEIC is not asking the EC to partner or help pay for a room for this event.
J This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
/63-593-8006 (T I T: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats
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City of Golden!.- Regular
January 22, 0Y. prn
iii. Possibly partner on a community creek clean-up or a water ceremony in 2024,
depending on work plan priorities.
7. New Business
A. GreenStep Cities
MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve posting
the GreenStep Cities Best Practice Actions 6.5, 13.1, and 18.1 to the website, and the
motion carried with the following update:
• Amend Action 18.1 to include the programmable solar trail lighting.
B. 2024 Work Plan
Typically, we start our work plan ideas/brainstorming discussion in January. This year
we are waiting for the Council goal session to be completed (happening Jan 30) for
guidance on our work plan. We'll talk more about our 2024 Work Plan at the
February and March meetings.
1. It's possible we'll be asked to shorten our work plan and focus on 3-4 items.
2. There maybe more active engagement by the commission members to lead
projects and do more work outside of meetings, and less involvement from
staff.
ii. Commissioners may form small subcommittees. We will need to check the open
meeting laws with regards to working/talking/meeting outside of monthly meetings.
iii. Things to think about when considering work plan items:
1. Outcomes/Impacts to the community and community engagement.
2. Equity and Environmental Justice.
3. Impacts to other departments and divisions —not just environmental staff.
4. Does it require policy or code changes that go to Council?
iv. Review of Progress on 2040 Comprehensive Plan and other guiding plans
1. Staff comments are in red in the 1-22-24 agenda.
2. Chapter 7: Resilience and Sustainability Chapter
1. This was developed with the help of a GreenCorps Member and a
consultant and a grant back in 2017/2018.
3. Chapter 6: Parks and Natural Resources Chapter
1. EC was instrumental in this working with Open Space and Rec and the
Planning Commission.
2. Focus on Sustainability and Natural Resource implementation actions.
3. Staff did not comment on the capital reinvestment section because it
is focused on Park & Rec items
4. Staff collaborates with Parks & Rec and Park Maintenance staff quite a
bit on projects, programs, resources.
4. Chapter 5: Water Resources
1. A lot of focus on water resources in the early years of this
commission. Many other issues and priorities have come up since
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
January 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
then that have gained importance, and so much work has been done
on water resources collaboratively, that it seems the commission is
less focused on water now.
2. A lot of the implementation actions are complete or currently
happening at the City level and Watershed level.
v. Energy Action Plan
1. Not a chapter in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
2. The first page included in the 1-22-24 agenda packet includes
programs/initiatives the City was working on or was planning to work on that
are being tracked with our own metrics outside of the Partners in Energy (PIE)
Program.
3. The second page includes the PIE implementation plan and focuses more on
CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy tracking in collaboration with the City.
4. How can the City incentivize and/or require more EV charging stations? Staff
discussed recent actions that can help accomplish that.
vi. Climate Emergency Declaration
This can be found on the City website.
2. It talks about our commitments as we work toward a clean energy economy.
3. Many items are ongoing as regular business. Others are things we could
consider that aren't quite done yet or need to take more steps toward
improving.
4. Consider the development of a Climate Action Plan for the community. There
is public money to assist communities with developing Climate Action Plans.
1. Include GreenStep Cities, Natural Resources Management Plan,
Energy Action Plan, Organics, Pollinator Resolution.
2. We need to hear from Met Council what they'll require for the next
Comprehensive Plan update. Resilience/Sustainability was optional
last time.
3. There are example plans/models available. We haven't really
explored them yet.
C. Program/Project Updates
I. Sanitary Sewer Inflow & Infiltration Grants
1. Clear water flows in pipes to the St. Paul wastewater plant to be treated and
then discharged into the river and that results in less pipe capacity for
development and extra costs for communities. The grant money will be used
to upgrade utilities to reduce the amount of clear water entering our pipes.
2. Approximately 90% of homes/businesses fail their first I&I inspection.
D. Council Updates
i. Mayor Harmon was sworn in as Mayor, and Council Members Ginis and Harris
started their next 4-year term at the January 2, 2024 Council meeting.
ii. Council Member Ginis will continue as the liaison to the EC as well as the Planning
Commission.
City of ..eCommission Regular
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iii. Conditional Use Permits being reviewed by Council —Needed when a business wants
to do something that makes sense, but the area zoning does not permit it.
1. Allow an aerial acrobatics studio on Boone Avenue.
2. Auto shop/dealer will move to a new location.
iv. Discussed and approved the legislative agenda.
v. Winter Market in the Valley on Sunday's at Brookview, 10:00 —1:00.
vi. January 24 — GV Fire Department promotion ceremony — 7:00-8:00 — Brookview
Bassett Creek Room.
vii. No joint meeting with Council and Commissions this year.
E. Other Business
i. No updates on student members — What is being done to recruit?
1. Applications are held and applicants are contacted when there are vacancies.
2. Commissioners can spread the word about the openings and encourage
students to apply.
ii. Star Tribune article — Recycling is Real, Twin Cities counties tell residents in new ad
campaign - January 18, 2024.
iii. Wildones.org
1. Free webinar— Cultivating Change —January 25, 2024—Talking about how
native gardening can address climate challenges.
iv. Can we include the name Haha Wakpadaq along with the Bassett Creek room name
at Brookview?
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Klaas to adjourn the meeting at
8:21 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant
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Dawn Hill, Chair