EC Minutes 07-22-20247800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427 { I t
763-593-8027 1 TTY 763-593-3968 1763-593-8198 (fax) 1 www.goldenvalleymn.gov goldenN
valle
Environmental Commission Y
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
July 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
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 Yahle at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Debra Yahle, Sarah Drawz, Ellen Brenna, Wendy Weirich,
Paul Klaas, Tonia Galonska
Commissioners absent: Kari Cantarero
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Annie Knoll, GreenCorps Member;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of July 22, 2024 Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the
agenda for July 22, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried with the following change:
5. Approval of June 24, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
• Commissioners asked about how much of the $1,750 budget was used in the 2024
Spring Tree Trust Sale.
o Because we sold a few less trees than planned, we prorated the amount so it
ended up being a little less than $1,750. Both the EC portion and the portion
from the tree mitigation fund were decreased on a prorated basis.
o The remaining money that wasn't used is still available to use on other priorities.
If we don't use it in 2024, we would lose it. It doesn't roll over.
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the
minutes of June 24, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried.
93) This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-flour request. Please call
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
July 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
6. Old Business
A. Haha Wakpadaq-Bassett Creek 2024 Efforts
i. The Watershed Commission has been working on the advancement of
Environmental Justice and Land Acknowledgement Actions in our community
and that includes increasing awareness of the usage of Haha Wakpadaq and
the importance of clean water for all living things.
ii. The BCWMC approved the sponsorship of two events and formed sub-
committees to help plan the events — Creek Clean -Up and Water Ceremony
(now referred to as Water Blessing).
iii. Subcommittee Update
1. Creek Clean -Up
1. First meeting back in May. Sarah, Tonia, and Crystal attended.
2. Need to work on site location, date/time, name for the event,
opportunities for other partnerships, equipment needed,
promotion, educational opportunities.
3. EC is sponsoring and will be doing most of the work. Crystal and
the BCWMC will support. The Haha Wakpadaq Oral History
Project may have some money left over from their July 13 clean-
up to put toward this. Tonia will verify this.
4. Date — Next Spring with snow melt and before the leaves and
vegetation grow may be the best time. It's harder to see and
maneuver in the creek corridor when the vegetation is fully
grown. The creek tends to be clearer in the spring. It would also
allow time to organize and promote properly.
5. Location — Maybe spread the locations out to different
parks/areas. Volunteers won't be in one central location which
would impact resources, tables and promotional materials. Will
need to think about parking options.
6. How many volunteers?
7. Maybe make it a less formal event on Earth Day 2025 where
residents clean up their properties and neighborhoods, and
dispose of collected trash on their own. Volunteer forms and
background checks wouldn't be needed.
8. If it's more formal with specific sites:
i. Volunteers will need to 'register' by filling out volunteer
forms and background checks.
ii. The City would pick up any trash collected.
iii. If an organization is coordinating, they may need to
apply for a $50 Right of Way Temporary Access Permit.
2. Water Blessing
1. Scheduled for October 14, 2024, 10:00-11:00 at Bassett Creek
Park in Crystal.
2. EC is not leading the event —just supporting.
3. It's not planned yet who will be invited/included.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
July 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
4. $500 has been approved by the EC to help sponsor and support,
if needed.
iv. Watershed Co -Naming Update
1. The Watershed Educational Committee met and received historical
information from Jim Rock, one of the cultural advisors working with
the Watershed Commission on the Haha Wakpadaq watershed and the
importance of its location.
2. The information from Jim will go toward updating the new Watershed
map that will include a lot of Indigenous and cultural information.
3. The sub -committee within the Watershed will talk about dual naming
and what that will look like.
4. Where will it happen? It still hasn't been decided for sure.
1. The new map will have it.
2. The website.
3. Will the signs along County roads be changed?
5. Will the City follow the Watershed's lead on co -naming so it's
consistent?
1. Council member Ginis said Council gave direction to staff to use
the name Haha Wakpadaq along with the name Bassett Creek.
i. The City used it in an article last year [it was published as
Bassett Creek (Naha Wakpadan)].
ii. Communications staff received some guidance, but
nothing formal.
2. The Watershed Commission hasn't determined how it will be
done yet.
3. Could the EC make a recommendation to the Council based on
what the Watershed Commission and cultural advisors
recommend?
v. Dakota Plant Walks
1. The EC has been asked if they would be interested in partnering with
Dakota Plant Specialist, Tara Perron, who would lead some native plant
walks to look at native vegetation and talk about the importance of
different plants to the native community.
2. Two walks this fall and three next summer have been planned so far in
Minneapolis.
1. Most of this would be walks along the Mississippi River, but they
can happen anywhere in the Watershed or upstream with the
thought that it's all connected.
2. One of the 2025 summer walks is potentially going to be at
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Theodore Wirth Park, right
on the GV border.
3. Minnetonka Historical Society is one of the partners. Mississippi Park
Connection is also involved.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 4
July 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
4. Partnering would potentially involve advertising on City social media,
newsletter, and website. Also, the use of the GV Environmental
Commission's name on their materials as a sponsor. There isn't a dollar
amount being asked for at this point.
5. Maybe make a motion to approve the partnership with up to $500
worth of sponsorship if appropriate or if asked.
6. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is the
funding organization contributing $5,000.
7. Walks are open to the public, but may need to register.
8. The Hennepin History Museum is leading this, with funding from the
MWMO.
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Klaas for the Environmental
Commission of Golden Valley to partner on the Dakota Plant Walks with a discretionary budget
of $500, if necessary, and the motion carried.
7. New Business
A. Recycling Progress Report
i. Staff reviewed information found in the July 22, 2024 agenda packet.
ii. Tonnages and weights are down due to packaging being lighter. It doesn't
mean less is being recycled.
iii. Traditional Recycling Composition Study
1. Staff Member, Ethan Kehrberg, was at the composition study done by
Republic Services.
2. The 4% residual garbage number is one of the best the recycling auditor
has seen.
1. Mostly consisted of bagged material — possibly recyclable items
contained in a plastic bag — and food waste.
2. Can we put this out to the residents along with the education?
iv. Education, Outreach, & Future Initiatives
1. If you want to e-mail your neighborhood group, consider doing so as a
citizen, not an EC Member.
2. CCX Media — When they hear about something new when watching
council meetings or websites, they reach out to communities to do a
story. They did a story on organics in the early stages. We did an
environmental update with them in May.
3. We only get 1 page each newsletter (every two months) for everything
environmental — Forestry/Pollinators/Water
Resources/Sustainability/Recycling & Organics... We'll refer people back
to a City webpage for more information.
v. Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan
1. Bulk item reuse - City could explore promoting a specific day once a
year where residents would put out free items to give away.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
July 22, 2024 — 6:30 pm
B. GreenCorps Member Service Term Summary
i. GreenCorps Member, Annie Knoll, reviewed the information found in the July
22, 2024 agenda packet on what she's accomplished in the past 11 months
with the City.
ii. Tree Health & Emerald Ash Borer Outreach will be a big part of what our new
GreenCorps Member will do.
C. Council Updates
i. None
D. Other Business
i. Native Vegetation Permits - $100 — if more than 50% of your yard is native
vegetation.
1. Our rules are supposed to support our values and this doesn't exactly
reflect our values.
2. Staff is reviewing city code and state statutes regarding native
vegetation landscapes.
3. The Lawn Maintenance Ordinance is one that staff proposed in the EC
work plan as needing to be refreshed to reflect our values.
1. Starting to become tough to manage and enforce.
2. Look at Rain Gardens, too.
i. If it's in the public right of way, it's more complicated
with permits and agreements.
ii. If it's on private property, it's less complicated.
iii. If it's over 4000 square feet and over 30 Cubic Yards of
cut or fill, it will trigger a stormwater permit.
4. Native environments still need managing and can take a lot of work.
ii. Lead pipe survey
1. It's a public works initiative based on a Federal mandate.
2. Staff is not aware of City properties have lead service pipes.
1. Check with public works for more information on lead pipes.
8. Adjournment
MOTION was made to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 pm. After a 6-0 vote, the motion carried.
ATTEST:
CIS ..A.&
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Debra Yahle, Chair`
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