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EC Agenda 11-25-2024 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Microsoft Teams by calling 1-872-256-4160 and entering access code 910 737 312#. 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 2. Land Acknowledgement We acknowledge and honor the Dakota nation, on whose ancestral land the City of Golden Valley is built, and whose land resources we use. We commit to counteracting the erasure of the cultural practices and presence of the Dakota people through education and by amplifying a wide range of indigenous voices. 3. Roll Call 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Approval of October 28, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min) 6. Old Business A. Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek 2024 efforts (10 min) i. Subcommittee Updates 1. 2025 Creek Clean-up Event Planning ii. Watershed Map & Co-Naming Update iii. Heritage Partnership Program Grant Opportunity Action Requested 7. New Business A. Forestry/EAB Update – Guest Presenter Diana Preisen (30 min) B. 2025 Commission Meeting Dates (5 min) Action Requested C. Environmental Justice Priority Areas Map (10 min) D. Council Updates (5 min) E. Other Business (5 min) 8. Adjournment November 25, 2024 – 6:30 pm City Hall Council Conference Room 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 Vice-Chair Drawz at 6:30 pm. 2. Land Acknowledgement 3. Roll Call Commissioners present: Sarah Drawz, Ellen Brenna, Wendy Weirich, Kari Cantarero, Paul Klaas, Tonia Galonska, Amelia Schultz Commissioners absent: Debra Yahle Council Members present: None Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor; Gunnar Laughlin, GreenCorps Member; Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant. 4. Approval of October 28, 2024 Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the agenda for October 28, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried. 5. New Member, Amelia Schultz A. New youth member, Amelia Schultz, was sworn in and introduced. 6. Approval of August 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Klaas to approve the minutes of August 26, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried. 7. Old Business October 24, 2024 – 6:30 pm City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting October 28, 2024 – 6:30 pm 2 A. Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek 2024 Efforts i. Subcommittee Updates: 1. Clean-Up Event 1. Sub-Committee hopes to meet one more time before the end of the year. 2. There would be more work and money involved if the City sponsors/helps plan. 3. Possibly looking to tie this into Earth Day 2025 and just encourage/educate/promote residents to clean up on their own. 4. Could we partner with the One Good Deed group from the farmers market? 2. Water Blessing 1. At least 100 people and sponsors attended. 2. There were at least 3 media outlets there. 3. The full $500 allocated by the EC was used for the event. 4. The EC would be interested in sponsoring again. 5. Location was great – Accessibility, parking, trail access, natural amphitheater, pond/wildlife. This event may continue to travel around the watershed to bring awareness. 6. One negative take away is the combining of the water blessing with political campaigning (hearing from those running for office). Might be more impactful and respectful keep these activities separate. ii. Watershed Co-Naming Update 1. The Education Committee will meet on November 12 and vote on the recommendations sent to them by the Sub-Committee. They will then send them to the Watershed Commission for consideration. 2. The recommendation is to co-name as Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek. 3. The Commission will discuss if they would like to recommend formalizing this with Council, as well. Possibly partner with the DEIC on a recommendation. 4. The new co-naming will be on the Watershed map (hopefully approved at Nov 12 meeting and available in the new year), public facing documents, informational signs at road crossings and project sites, and hopefully at parks and businesses (like Utepils), the Watershed website, and Watershed letterhead. 5. Use Dakota artwork on signs and website. 6. Will not be changing the legal name of the watershed management organization at this time, but dual naming will be incorporated into anything not legally impacted. 7. We’re not sure what other cities will be doing. iii. Collaboration with DEIC City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting October 28, 2024 – 6:30 pm 3 1. A sub-committee of the DEIC and EC worked together to create the Environmental Justices Priority Areas Map. 2. One of the DEIC members spoke with Eric about getting together again to collaborate on shared interests. 1. Co-Naming effort? 2. Paid Cultural Advisors Policy? 3. Updating the Environmental Justices Priority Areas Map? 4. Identifying a location with cultural advisors along the stream for an education, cultural, natural, or art installation. It could be an area for learning, reflection or healing. i. Maybe add native plantings/medicine garden? B. Energy Action Plan Progress Report i. Staff and Commissioners discussed the draft report found in the 10-28-24 agenda. Once finalized, staff will work with Communications staff to promote/publish the information on the website, social media, in the newsletter. ii. Focus Areas – 1B – Educate Clients - Whose Clients? 1. Goes back to the Energy Action Team and the Energy Action Plan who created the plan. Possibly came from the Xcel Reps. Not sure if this can be changed efficiently in plan, but we can change it in progress report. iii. A lot to be proud of: 1. Ahead of schedule in a lot of areas. 2. Compare nicely to other counties/cities in MN. iv. We are meeting and exceeding targets. v. Bright Spots: 1. Supporting energy burden households 2. Home Energy Squad program vi. The only area we seem to be struggling a little is in First-Year Energy Savings. May not reach this one. 1. The Partners in Energy Team, made up of experts from the Center for Energy and Environment, CenterPoint, Xcel, came up with the numbers/goals based on what a community the size of Golden Valley can expect to achieve. 2. The utility companies have said that when people are subscribing to their programs and doing some of the improvements the utility companies are aware of and reporting, a lot of the big-ticket items/savings have already been done. 3. We’ll need to see some much bigger first year improvements by businesses. 4. Maybe the experts weren’t quite right in their estimate of what they thought the first-year energy savings would be or they figured more businesses would be doing more investing early in the plan cycle. The pandemic and inflation have likely impacted this effort as well. City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting October 28, 2024 – 6:30 pm 4 5. We still have time to get a little more on track with this. vii. It would be interesting to see the graphs annually rather than cumulative to match it up with residential vs business sign-ups so you can see where the boosts are coming from. C. Hennepin County 2024 Solid Waste Management Plan i. The State of Minnesota put forth a new statewide plan earlier this year. ii. The County is turning to the cities to ask how they can help achieve compliance with state plan. Where can the County lead? Where can cities lead? iii. Commissioners were encouraged to take the County’s survey. iv. Feedback collected through early September. v. We could use the County’s help on #23 – Banning (or charging fee for) single use items. vi. Excited to see #33-34 - Contracting for waste collection. 1. This whole process takes time. It may not happen when the city’s current recycling contract ends in 2026. vii. Excited to see #10 – Put more effort/education into the Zero Waste Plan. viii. Could #26 happen in Golden Valley? Maybe have a Second-Hand Sunday at the farmers market? Each month could be a different theme? ix. HERC – County board approved a plan for the closure of the HERC. Several actions need to happen before initiating full closure. See information on County website. 8. New Business A. New GreenCorps Member, Gunnar Laughlin i. The City’s new GreenCorps member, Gunnar Laughlin, was introduced and talked about what he will be focusing on. He will focus mainly on outreach to multi-family residences about environmental and sustainability efforts. B. Organics Tour & Composition Study i. New ideas for education: 1. No plastic labels on top of egg cartons. 2. No glass! 3. No plastic bags – only compostable bags. ii. Anyone can schedule a visit/tour at the Shakopee SMSC facility. iii. The facility will be moving sites in 2025 and will be using a completely different compost method. The new facility will have three times the capacity of the current site and will be more efficient. iv. They have a new piece of equipment that can take recalled food from stores that is still packaged and separate the food from the packaging so all the recalled food can be composted. v. The threshold for rejected loads is 5% contamination. There can be no glass. 1. The facility will contact Republic about a rejected load and Republic lets the City know about it. Republic will either pick the load up and bring it City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting October 28, 2024 – 6:30 pm 5 to a landfill or pay the facility to do it. Republic pays the costs associated with contamination, not the City. 2. Rejected loads aren’t common. About 1-2 loads per year. C. Home Energy Squad (HES) i. Council approved the new agreement with Home Energy Squad. $5,000/year over 2 years will go into the program for cost sharing. ii. Hoping that more townhouse and condo units will apply. Also, more renters. iii. Information about the program will go in the next newsletter, on social media, and the website. iv. Center for Energy and Environment had a booth at the Sustainability Day at Market in the Valley. 1. Could they do a different day (not Sustainability Day) so it reaches different people at key times of year? Maybe one early season and one late season. D. Council Updates i. None E. Other Business i. Work Plan: 1. Staff thinks we should have an annual work plan. We’ll start working on the 2025-2026 work plan in January to present to council in April. There isn’t clear direction yet on what the planning process and approach will look like or how much Council & organizational priorities will influence our work plan. 2. Can start thinking about a work plan. The downside is, we could get direction from the City Manager, Leadership Team, and Council with specific actions/priorities they want us to work on that do not match up with what we’ve discussed. 3. Hoping for more answers soon. ii. December meeting is December 16 (confirmed). We’ll look at 2025 dates in November. 9. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Schultz to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 pm and the motion carried. ATTEST: ________________________________ ____________________________________ Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Debra Yahle, Chair Date: August 26, 2024 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Supervisor Subject: Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek - 2024 Actions The Environmental Commission’s work plan includes the advancement of environmental justice and land acknowledgement actions in the community. This includes increasing awareness and usage of the Dakota name for Bassett Creek (Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ) and the importance of clean water for all living beings. Earlier this year, the Commission approved the sponsorship of three events in 2024-2025. • Water Blessing on Indigenous Peoples' Day • Creek Clean-up in Golden Valley (potential partner One Good Deed near Earth Day?) • Dakota Native Plant Walks The EC is also following and discussing the BCWMC effort to study and recommend co-naming opportunities for Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek. The EC is receiving updates on BCWMC progress, discussing recommendations and new ideas, and plans to consider a recommendation to the Golden Valley City Council in the near future. Related to co-naming is an opportunity to participate in the Heritage Partnership Program Grant. This is likely to involve supporting the planning and installation of interpretive signage that incorporates Indigenous history and language across the watershed. No financial or time commitment has been identified at this time. Grant application and administration would be led by Crystal Boyd and a collaboration of Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ Oral History Project partners. Staff and sub-committee members will be present to give updates and receive feedback on these items. Following discussion, the Commission is being asked to consider participating in the Heritage Partnership Program Grant in 2025. Date: November 22, 2024 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Supervisor Subject: Forestry & Emerald Ash Borer Update The Environmental Commission’s work plan includes studying ways to mitigate the loss of trees due to emerald ash borer, climate-fueled drought and other factors, especially in environmental justice priority areas. City Forester Diana Preisen will be on hand to provide a status update and engage with Commissioners on current and future opportunities to remove and replant trees in Golden Valley. Following discussion, Commissioners may consider providing additional ideas as well as guidance on a tree planting goal for the next 5-10 years that could be incorporated into a future climate equity plan or comprehensive plan update. For reference, Hennepin County has a goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030, and the United States has a goal of planting 1 billion trees by about 2030. Date: November 22, 2024 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Supervisor Subject: 2025 Environmental Commission Meeting Dates In order to update the City calendar for Boards and Commissions, staff is requesting the Environmental Commission review the following proposed EC meeting dates for 2025. As a reminder, the Commission typically meets the fourth Monday of each month. Below is a list of proposed meeting dates. (The nearest holiday or event is provided for reference). • January 27, 2025 • February 24, 2025 • March 24, 2025 • April 28, 2025 • May 26, 2025 (Memorial Day May 26; consider meeting May 19) • June 23, 2025 • July 28, 2025 • August 25, 2025 • September 22, 2025 (Rosh Hashanah Sept 22-24; consider meeting Sept 15 or replace meeting with field tour) • October 27, 2025 • November 24, 2025 • December 22, 2025 (Hanukkah Dec 14-22) Staff are requesting that the Commission discuss dates, make changes where necessary, and approve the EC meeting dates for 2025. Date: August 26, 2024 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Supervisor Subject: Environmental Justice Priority Areas Map The Environmental Commission’s work plan includes the advancement of environmental justice, climate justice, and equity in the community. This includes reviewing and updating the Environmental Justice Priority Areas Map from time to time. The map was developed in collaboration with the DEIC to bring awareness about the inequities in green infrastructure and to help guide planning, programming, partnership, decision-making, and investment in the community. The map was recently used in grant applications, program planning, and determining eligibility for discount pricing during the 2024 spring tree sale. With new data, tools, and map layers emerging each year, it is important for Golden Valley to review all available data and update its map accordingly. Additionally, the Commission may want to incorporate a note of acknowledgement that Golden Valley is on Dakota homeland. Commissioners are welcome to review the current map, research any new and emerging data, and come to the meeting prepared to discuss the map, potential updates and map layers to consider, and the process for making updates (which could include subcommittee collaboration with the DEIC). CITY OF CRYSTAL CITY OF ROBBINSDALE CITY OF MINNEAPOLISCITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK CITY OF MINNEAPOLISCITY O FST. LOUIS PARKCITY OF ROBBINSDALECITY OF CRYSTAL CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK CITY OF NEW HOPE CITY OF PLYMOUTHCITY OF MINNEAPOLISCITY OF ST. LOUIS PARKCITY O FPLYMOUTH456766 456770 456766 456740 456740 4567156 4567102 §¨¦394 §¨¦394 Æÿ55Æÿ55 Æÿ100 Æÿ100 £¤169 £¤169 Winnetk a Ave NDouglas Dr NDouglas Dr NMedicine Lak e Rd Glenwood Ave Duluth St G o l d e n ValleyRd Olson Memorial Hwy Environmental JusticePriority Areas 6-7 4-5 3 2 1 1 (a ir qua lityonly) Scoring based on point system below. Social Factors – 1 point each • Afford a ble Multi-Fa m ily Re nta l Hous ing : Includ e s s ubs id ize d hous ing a nd na tura lly occurring a fford a ble hous ing . Sum m a rize d by He nne pin County pa rce l.• Afford a ble Owne r-Occupie d Hous ing : Sing le fa m ily hom e s , townhom e s , a nd cond os with ind ivid ua l owne rs hip in which the He nne pin County 2021 e s tim a te d m a rke t va lue is cons id e re d a fford a ble a ccord ing to Me tro Council’s 2021 purcha s e a fford a bility. Sum m a rize d by ce ns us block whe re ove r 50% of hom e s a re cons id e re d a fford a ble to purcha s e (80% AMI or lowe r; va lue d be low $316,000).• N on-W hite Popula tion: Are a s whe re the non-white popula tion is g re a te r tha n 30%. Sum m a rize d by 2020 ce ns us block g roup.• R e nte r Occupie d Hous ing : Are a s we re ove r 30% of hom e s a re a re nta l. Ba s e d on re nta l pe rm its a cros s hous ing type s includ ing s ing le -fa m ily a nd m ulti-fa m ily hous ing . City d a ta s um m a rize d by ce ns us block. Environmental Factors – 0.5 points each • Dis ta nce from Pa rks a nd Schools : Are a s tha t a re ove r 1/4 m ile from a public pa rk or s chool. • Tre e Ca nopy: Are a s with le s s tha n 40% tre e ca nopy. Ba s e d on the Unive rs ity of Minne s ota ’s Dig ita l Cons e rva ncy for La nd Cove r a na lys is (2016) s um m a rize d by ce ns us block.• Im pe rvious Surfa ce : Are a s with g re a te r tha n 50% im pe rvious s urfa ce e cove ra g e . Ba s e d on the Unive rs ity of Minne s ota ’s Dig ita l Cons e rva ncy for La nd Cove r a na lys is (2016) s um m a rize d by ce ns us block.• Extre m e He a t: Are a s id e ntifie d a s 10 d e g re e s hotte r tha n s urround ing a re a s . Sa te llite d e rive d d a ta from La nd s a t 8 The rm a l Infra re d Se ns or im a g e ry ta ke n d uring a he a twa ve on 7/22/2016. • Incre a s e d Flood Ris k: a re a s cove re d by flood wa te r in a 1% a nnua l cha nce flood e ve nt. Ba s e d on the BCW MC flood m od e l.• Dim inis he d Air Qua lity: a re a s within 300 m e te rs of a MPCA pe rm itte d a ir e m itte r, or within 500 m e te rs of a hig hwa y ba s e d on g uid a nce from the Am e rica n Lung As s ocia tion. 0 1,800 3,600900 Fe e t IPrint Date: 8/16/2022Sources:-Sources are listed under each social and environmental factor-City of Golden Valley for all other layers.Maps showing each of the social and environmental factors above can be obtained by contacting the Physical Development Office at 763-593-8030.