EC Minutes 12-16-20247800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427 { lh, o
763-593-80271 TTY 763-593-39681 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov go1dM!'*
.valley
Environmental Commission
December 16, 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 Yahle at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Debra Yahle, Sarah Drawz, Wendy Weirich, Tonia Galonska, Ellen
Brenna, Paul Klaas
Commissioners absent: Kari Cantarero, Amelia Schultz
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of December 16, 2024 Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Brenna to approve the
agenda for December 16, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Approval of November 25, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Klaas, seconded by Commissioner Weirich to approve the minutes
of November 25, 2024 as submitted and the motion carried.
6. Old Business
A. Haha Wakpadap/Bassett Creek 2024 Efforts
i. Subcommittee Updates:
1. 2025 Creek Clean -Up Event Planning
1. Sarah, Tonia, Eric, and Crystal met on Dec 2, 2024.
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
December 16, 2024 — 6:30 pm
2. Thinking about having residents go out independently on a
certain day to various areas where they can access the creek.
We could provide a list of places where parking is available, and
the banks are safer to access the creek. They collect their own
trash and bring it back to City Hall during a certain time window
to be weighed.
i. Would we use some budget to supply bags and
grabbers?
ii. Make it a competition over the weekend before Earth
Day?
3. In surveying possible sites (public access and no permission
needed), it doesn't look like there's a real need in planning this.
Possibly shift to invasive plant removal (buckthorn, garlic
mustard)? Possibly more debris after winter? Possibly find
ponds/wetlands not on the stream itself?
4. Not all public right of way along the creek.
5. It was mentioned that this could be a watershed cleanup, not
just the creek. All waters are connected to the creek and there
are many ponds and waterways that could use a cleanup.
6. Possibly reach out to the Minneapolis Park Board to piggyback
on their park clean up and promote cleaning up Theo Wirth
Park?
7. The subcommittee will continue to discuss.
ii. Watershed Map & Co -Naming Update
1. Bassett Creek Watershed will have its monthly meeting on Thursday,
Dec 19. The Education Committee reviewed the latest draft of the map
and co -naming recommendations and recommends the full commission
approve the map and the co -naming recommendations.
2. An update will be provided at the January EC meeting.
7. New Business
A. Annual Work Plan Ideas
i. The Commission puts items on the work plan they would like to work on. The
Chair presents the draft work plan to Council at a work session. There have
been things they've taken off in the past and things they've asked the
Commission to consider instead. The work plan is then finalized the next
month. The council can also add an item at any point during the year that isn't
on the work plan for the Commission to work on.
ii. Consider what kind of goals, policies, or mission would your work plan item be
fulfilling? What kind of council, organizational, or community goals would it be
fulfilling? Can you tie it back to something the community is already saying we
need/want?
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
December 16, 2024 — 6:30 pm
iii. Think about the impact to others within the group, to other
staff/departments/divisions, to other commissions.
1. Working with the Open Space & Rec or DEIC Commissions
2. The Lighting Ordinance, for example, requires a code change that
would involve the Planning Commission and City Council.
3. Formal policies, like co -naming, go to Council.
1. There is a standard format for policies. The Commission and
staff could draft the policy. Then it would go through legal -
equity review and then on to Council.
4. Think about budget and financial impacts.
iv. Ideas from Council Member Ginnis are included in the December 16, 2024
work plan memo.
v. Ideas from Commissioner Klaas are attached to the December 16, 2024 agenda
packet.
vi. Ideas from Commissioner Galonska were presented at the meeting:
1. Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
2. Draft a Climate Action Plan.
3. Continue support for the Tree Sale, Rain Barrel Sale, and Home Energy
Squad.
4. Work toward possibly becoming a Blue Zones Project Community.
5. Co -Naming Haha Wakpadaq/Bassett Creek.
6. Buckthorn & Garlic Mustard removal and update the City's Tree
Diseases, Pests, and Invasive Species webpage.
7. Continue to support County's Zero Waste efforts.
vii. Commissioners would like to put the following on the initial work plan list:
1. Commissioners would like to hear more about the Strategic Parks
Planning, and include it in the work plan if it involves natural resources
and the environment. Could partner with OSRC.
2. Drafting a co -naming policy for Haha Wakpadar)/Bassett Creek.
3. Urban forest management, planting more trees, and invasive species
management (especially buckthorn).
4. Organized solid waste.
1. Our work plan would say we want to do some research into
organized hauling with the goal toward a recommendation.
Then the Council can say yes or no.
5. Update the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
6. Draft a Climate Action Plan.
7. Look into getting Brookview Golf Course environmentally certified.
8. Continue support for the Tree Sale, Rain Barrel Sale, and Home Energy
Squad.
9. Work toward possibly becoming a Blue Zones Project Community.
10. Chloride Management Policy — The freshwater society has a model
ordinance to allow prioritizing environmental resources along with
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 4
December 16, 2024 — 6:30 pm
public safety. Seek to update the City's existing snow and ice control
policy.
11. Promote/educate about managed natural landscapes and planting for
pollinators.
12. Continue to support County's Zero Waste efforts through a variety of
actions.
viii. Staff hasn't received specific direction on work plan approach, process, or
content. Based on previous discussions, it seemed like commissions were going
to be asked to prepare shorter work plans with up to five action items. Those
items should be completed within a year or so. Staff will share any updates it
receives regarding work plan development.
B. Council Updates
i. None
C. Other Business
i. None
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Brenna to adjourn the meeting
at 8:21 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Debra Yahle, Chair