EC Agenda 05-19-2025 May 19, 2025 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
1.Call to Order
Remote Location: Due to out-of-state travel, Commissioner Klaas will be joining via Teams in
accordance with Minnesota Statutes§ 13D.02 from the following location:
Hanover Inn, Business Center, 2 E. Wheelock Street, Hanover NH 03755
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.Oath of Office
3.A.New Members - Hannah Byl, Adam Wold
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Meeting Minutes
5.A.March 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes
6.Business
6.A.Commissioner (Re)Orientation
6.B.Election of Officers
6.C.Review Commission Bylaws
6.D.Haha Wakpadan/Bassett Creek Subcommittee Update: 2025 Watershed Clean-up Event
6.E.Annual Work Plan Development
6.F.Council Communications
6.G.Commission Communications
7.Adjournment
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting May 19, 2025 — 6:30 PM
1
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting May 19, 2025 — 6:30 PM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
3.A. New Members - Hannah Byl, Adam Wold
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Supporting Documents
Oath of Office - Hannah Byl
Oath of Office - Adam Wold
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OFFICIAL OATH
State of Minnesota )
)ss
County of Hennepin )
I, Hannah Byl, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United
States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and that I will faithfully discharge the
duties of the office of Environmental Commission Member of the City of Golden Valley,
Minnesota, to the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God.
_______________________________
Hannah Byl
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______ day of_____________, 2025.
__________________________________
Sarah Drawz, Vice-Chair
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OFFICIAL OATH
State of Minnesota )
)ss
County of Hennepin )
I, $GDP:ROG, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United
States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and that I will faithfully discharge the
duties of the office of Environmental Commission Member of the City of Golden Valley,
Minnesota, to the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God.
_______________________________
Adam Wold
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______ day of_____________, 2025.
__________________________________
Sarah Drawz, Vice-Chair
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
5.A. March 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Recommended Action
Motion to Approve March 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Supporting Documents
March 24, 2025 Meeting Minutes
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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 774 327 980#.
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, Tonia Galonska, Paul Klaas, Amelia
Schultz, Wendy Weirich, Ellen Brenna
Commissioners absent: Kari Cantarero
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Gunnar Laughlin, GreenCorps Member;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
4. Approval of March 24, 2025 Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Brenna to approve the
agenda for March 24, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Approval of February 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Weirich, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the
minutes of February 24, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
6. Old Business
A. Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek 2024 Efforts
i. Subcommittee Updates:
1. 2025 Creek Clean-Up Event Planning
1. The date is officially April 19, 2025, 10:00 – 12:00.
March 24, 2025 – 6:30 pm
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
March 24, 2025 – 6:30 pm
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2. The Communications Department is working on the flyer. They
also drafted an article for the Newsletter.
3. Staff are working on having a map available.
4. Still need to finalize with the Watershed and the Oral History
Project.
i. The Watershed will have their maps available as well as a
game and a cutout for photo ops.
5. There will be a waiver for participants to fill out.
6. Reached out to Pow Wow Grounds for muffins/tea. Also
reached out to Native Indigenous Food Lab in Global Market for
sunflower cookies.
7. Would like to have at least 4 members of the Commission to
help with set up and answer questions.
B. Annual Work Plan Evaluation & Prioritization
i. Commissioners ranked their 7 high priority work plan items from the Draft
2025 Work Plan:
1. Draft Procedure or Policy for Co-Naming Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett
Creek.
1. Commissioner Klaas will help lead this.
2. Update the City’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
3. Assist with Developing Climate Equity Plan.
1. The City Council has allocated $40,000 to begin work this year
and an additional $40,000 to continue work next year. Staff
have begun talking with other cities and counties to research
what needs to be done to begin developing the plan.
4. Sponsor 2026 Spring Tree Sale.
5. Apply in 2025 to Host the We are Water Minnesota Traveling Exhibit in
2026.
1. Applications open in the spring and fill up fast.
6. Perform an Audit of Brookview Golf Course using Audubon
International Environmentally Responsible Golf Course Criteria.
1. It is separate from the National Audubon Society.
2. Pay $1,000 up front to do the audit, which includes the first year
of membership, then $500 each year to renew the membership.
Brookview could decide not to become certified after the audit
depending on what needs to be done.
7. Reduce Styrofoam and Single Use Plastics, Bags, and Containers
(restaurants, stores, etc.), and Explore Implementing a Potential City-
Wide Fee on Certain Products.
1. Will take a lot of relationship building with businesses because it
will change how they currently do business.
2. It might be nice to do this as part of a coalition of western
communities or as part of a waste reduction initiative from the
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
March 24, 2025 – 6:30 pm
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County. We don’t want to scare off a business from choosing to
be in another city vs Golden Valley because of a ban.
3. St. Louis Park requires compostables.
4. It is a part of the Hennepin County Zero Waste project.
ii. Promote and educate about managed natural landscapes and planting for
pollinators is currently a Medium Priority. Should it be moved to high priority?
1. The Garden Club does a very good job and has already taken the lead
on this. Maybe Commissioner Weirich can talk to them to see if there
are ways we can support them.
iii. What is the Commission’s current budget balance and the budget for next
year?
7. New Business
A. GreenStep Cities Update
i. Staff reviewed the information found in the March 24, 2025 Agenda.
ii. 3.1 – Annual vehicle miles traveled for gasoline fleet – Why was there such a
huge increase?
1. We hired quite a few police officers recently. For a while we were using
Hennepin County officers.
iii. We really need to be a little bit more aggressive in encouraging people to plant
the right trees in the right spots.
iv. We’ll hear back from the program about if we achieve Steps 4 & 5 again and
staff will bring the report as well as their full comprehensive state report back
to the Commission.
B. Organics Recycling Drop-Off Pilot
i. Staff reviewed the information on the Organics Recycling Drop-Off Pilot
Program at Fire Station #2 found in the March 24, 2025 Agenda.
ii. Information will be added to the website. We’re slowly sharing information so
we’re not getting more than we can handle or the wrong kind of materials.
iii. Fire Station #2 was chosen because of the number of multi-family residents
within walking distance. There’s also easy access with the parking lot and
sidewalks. Staff also looked at Medley Park, City Hall, the Library, Fire Station
#3 in the NE corner of the city as possible locations for future sites.
iv. Drop off is open to anyone.
v. Since Fire Station #2 already had an organics cart, there are no additional fees
for this program.
C. GreenCorps Updates
i. Staff reviewed the information provided in the March 24, 2025 Agenda.
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
March 24, 2025 – 6:30 pm
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D. Council Updates
i. None
E. Other Business
i. None
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Klaas, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to adjourn the meeting
at 7:23 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Debra Yahle, Chair
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
6.A. Commissioner (Re)Orientation
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Summary
At its annual business meeting each May, the Commission will review the orientation materials for
Boards and Commissions including the commission’s structure, member roles and responsibilities,
open meeting law, and the City’s values. Commission members are asked to review the attached
materials ahead of time and come to the meeting with their questions and comments.
Supporting Documents
Board and Commission New Member Packet
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New Board/Commission
Member Welcome Packet
Hello, and welcome to the City of Golden Valley as a new Board/ Commission member. We are
thrilled to have you join us. This packet includes important information to help you navigate
your new role. When you arrive for your first meeting you will receive a new member
orientation, where we will go over a lot of the information in this packet, and you will have an
opportunity to ask any questions.
Table of Contents
Council, Board, and Commission Guiding Principles ………….………………… pages 2-10
The Guiding Principles apply to all members of the Council and each appointed member
of a board or commission. The “Principles” document details the values and standards of
conduct expected for each member, outlines communication structure, and identifies and
addresses conflict of interest.
Guidelines for Advisory Boards and Commissions …………………….…….… pages 11-16
The “Guidelines” were developed to help board and commission members with the structure
and procedures of City Boards and Commissions. Topics include “terms of office,”
“attendance,” and more!
Minnesota Government Data Practices Act ……………………..………….………. page 18
The Data Practices Act presumes that all government data are public. This one page guide
shares the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” of the Data Practices Act.
Open Meeting Law ……………………………………………………….………………….….. page 19
All of the City’s meetings abide by the State of Minnesota’s Open Meetings Law. This one-page
gives the “who, what, when, and why” of the open meeting law. It is crucial that board and
commission members understand that this law applies to all types of “meetings” including
phone calls, emails, and texts!
Robert’s Rules of Order……………………….………………………………....…….. pages 20-21
The City conducts business at Council meetings and Board/Commission meetings using Robert’s
Rules of Order. This “cheat sheet” should help you understand the structure, including how to
handle a motion, and how conduct business during meetings.
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Council, Board, and Commission
Guiding Principles
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 3
Adopted by City Council - February 16, 2016
I.General Policy Statement & Objective
The purpose of this document is to establish guiding principles for the Golden Valley
City Council (the “Council”) and Golden Valley City Boards and Commissions. These
principles apply to the members of the Council and the Mayor as well as the appointed
members of the City’s Boards and Commissions, each of the foregoing being referred to
in this document as a “Member.”
II.Values
The City of Golden Valley has determined the following as our core set of values:
•Communication
•Community
•Inclusion
•Integrity
•Respect
•Innovation
•Courage
•Accountability
III.Standards of Conduct
1.A Member must not use his or her official position to secure special privileges or
exemptions for the person or others.
2.A Member must not act as an agent or attorney for another before the Council or
a board or commission in a matter where a conflict of interest exists or may exist.
3.A Member must not knowingly accept or solicit, directly or indirectly, a gift or loan
for himself, herself, or another if this is prohibited by law.
4.A Member may accept compensation or expense reimbursement for the
performance of the person’s public duties only from the sources listed below. A
Member must not solicit or accept compensation or expense reimbursement for
the performance of the person’s public duties from any sources other than:
a.compensation and expenses paid by the City;
b.compensation and expenses from other employment, if the person
happens to conduct public business while being paid for the other
employment and if the other employment does not interfere with,
influence, or compromise the person’s public position; or
c.compensation and expenses paid by another governmental agency or
municipal association to a Member who serves as a City representative for
that agency, but only if the City does not also pay the person for the same
activity.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 4
5.A Member must not use public money, time, personnel, facilities, or equipment
for private gain or political campaign activities except when:
a.the use is required or authorized by law; or
b.the use is not greater than that allowed for members of the general public.
This paragraph does not prohibit correspondence at any time to individual
residents in response to the resident’s specific inquiries.
6.A Member must not disclose to the public, or use for the private gain of self or
others, information that was gained by reason of the official’s public position and
that is not public data or was discussed at a closed session of the Council.
Further, a Member must not disclose information received, discussed, or decided
in conference with the City Attorney that is protected by the attorney/client
privilege, unless a majority of the Council has authorized that disclosure.
7.A Member must not enter into a contract with the City, unless in accordance with
law. A Member who has a proprietary interest in an agency or company doing
business with the City must make known that interest in writing to the Council
and the City Clerk.
8.A Member must not intentionally violate a provision of the City Code or the City
ordinances.
9.Council Members are expected to be prepared for Council meetings and
Council/Manager meetings by reading agenda packets and requesting further
research in advance of the meetings.
10.The Mayor and Council Members direct City staff, contract employees, and
consultants only through the City Manager, as established by the requisite
majority vote. At Council meetings, the Council may express concerns and may
provide staff specific direction, provided that the direction is the consensus of the
Council. The City Manager will request further clarification if he/she feels it is
required so there is a clear understanding of what the Council’s expectations are
in terms of the actions to be taken by staff.
11.Members shall conduct themselves in such manners as to obey and adhere to
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13D, the Open Meeting Law.
12.Members’ duties shall be performed in accordance with the process and rules of
order established by the Council or the City Code.
13.Public resources that are not available to the general public (e.g., City staff time,
equipment, supplies and/or facilities, etc.) shall not be used by the Members for
private, personal, or political purposes.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 5
14.It is the responsibility of Council Members to publicly share, with all other Council
Members, information they have received from sources outside of the public
decision- making process, which pertains to a topic under consideration.
Whenever possible, new information or data obtained by Council Members,
pertinent to a topic being discussed, will be distributed through the City Manager
to other Council Members.
IV.Communications
As elected officials, Council Members have a responsibility to communicate information
to the public. Communicating accurate, timely, and professional information is
important to ensuring the quality and credibility of information being provided to the
public.
Public Record: Communications (electronic or written) involving Members are public
records (with a few exceptions as stated by the Minnesota data practices act—
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/dataprac.pdf). Communications not considered
public record may still be public information (i.e., email, text messages). Those
interested in copies of these items must file a public disclosure request. Requests for
private data or information outside of the scope of a Member’s role should be routed to
the City Manager.
Align With Minnesota Open Meeting Law: Information posted or responded to
should be done in alignment with the open meeting law: (See
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf). Members should generally act with
caution when using electronic means to communicate with one another. Members who
wish to share information with other Members should do so through the City Manager.
Materials relating to agenda items for City business (including email) must be provided
to the public at the meeting. Email or social media communications shared among
three or more Members should take place at an open meeting. Example of a violation:
A Member posts a comment on a Facebook page about a proposed ordinance. A
second Member comments that they agree and a third Member clicks the “like” button.
Citizen Questions, Comments, and Concerns: It’s important that Members direct
citizen questions, comments, and concerns to staff. Doing so ensures requests are
routed to the appropriate staff person and holds accountability that proper follow‐up is
made and the task is completed. In addition, since some requests cover multiple
departments there may be a request history that will be useful as staff works to resolve
the issue.
Electronic Communications: Generally, the Golden Valley City Council receives
agenda materials, background information, and other meeting information via email
and/or the list serve. Contact the City Manager if there are questions about these
items.
Social Media: Since social media is an effective and frequently chosen communication
tool among the public, the City of Golden Valley has its own official social media pages.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 6
Communication Tips for Email and Social Media Public Perception: Members are
public officials representing the City of Golden Valley and its policies and perspectives.
Official Versus Individual Perspectives: Since the public connects City officials to the
City of Golden Valley, it’s important to clarify official perspectives from individual
perspectives.
Public information: Any published content, written or electronic (email, for example),
may be considered public information or considered covered under the Minnesota data
practices act. Informal messages not related to a public official’s role, such as meeting
notices, reminders, telephone messages, and informal notes, are not public record.
Large Outreach: Information posted on social media is public and is online for a long
time. Both email and social media posts can be quickly shared with other audiences,
making it important to post professional messages and avoid political comments.
Discoverability: Generally, email is removed from the system every three years. Email
is discoverable in litigation, making it important to use it cautiously. When seeking legal
advice or to discuss matters of pending litigation or other “confidential” City business,
ensure emails are sent to only those intended because the attorney‐client privilege
protecting the document from disclosure may be waived.
Media Relations - Media Inquiries: Members are strongly encouraged to refer all
media inquiries to the City Manager prior to Council discussion and vote on an item.
After a vote has been taken, individual Members may comment on their decision. It’s
understood that individual Member decisions may not be reflective of the Council’s
majority vote.
Following these guidelines is important to the democratic process because it helps
avoid creating the public perception that a vote or decision has been made on a topic.
That perception may discourage the public from engaging in the democratic process.
City Manager’s Role: The City Manager communicates on the City’s behalf in
interviews, publications, news releases, on social media sites, and related
communications. The City Manager is in the best position to provide a response
because many issues involve multiple departments or work may already be in progress.
Many times, a department director will handle interviews and communications on behalf
of the City Manager.
When the media calls about:
1.Upcoming agenda items, issues, or discussion topics: Wait to provide information
until the topic is voted on. This communicates that a decision has not been made
and allows the public process to work by keeping the topic open for citizen input.
If a Member discusses the issue with media before a decision is made, there is
potential that the public may be confused about the Council’s direction. This may
create a public perception that a vote or decision has been made on a topic and
discourage the public from engaging in the democratic process.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 7
2.Routine or public information (i.e., a meeting time or agenda): Provide media with
the information and notify City Manager.
3.Other information: About potential litigation, controversial issues, an opinion
about a City matter, or if unsure of the type of question, it’s strongly
recommended to work with the City Manager on these topics. The City Manager
typically works with staff on these issues and can present the discussion scope
or topic.
V.Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest
So that citizens may have the utmost confidence and trust in the integrity of their City
government, and to protect the City’s interest and its citizen’s interests, Members must
disclose and avoid conflicts of interest that arise in performing their official duties. To
this end, the below principles provide Members guidance for identifying, addressing,
and disclosing conflicts of interest. This guidance supplements, not supplants, the
responsibilities Members have under law with regard to conflicts of interest. Members
should consult with the City Manager and/or City Attorney with questions or concerns
they may have regarding conflicts of interest (whether the conflicts are real or
perceived, potential or in existence), and not participate in or take any official action on
a matter until such questions or concerns are resolved with the City Manager or City
Attorney.
1.Identifying Legal Conflicts of Interest
A “legal conflict of interest” exists when, in the discharge of official duties, a
Member participates in a governmental decision, action or transaction that:
a.affects the person’s financial interests or those of a business with which
the person is associated, unless the effect on the person or business is no
greater than on other members of the same business classification,
profession, or occupation; or
b.affects the financial interests of an organization in which the person
participates as a member of the governing body, unless the person serves
in that capacity as the City’s representative.
2.Identifying Financial Interests
A financial interest is any interest, including loans, which may yield, directly or
indirectly, a monetary or other material benefit to the Member (other than
monetary or material benefits authorized by the City in accordance with law). A
financial interest of a Member or Member’s employer (other than the City), his or
her associated business, or his or her spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling
or child, and their employers or associated businesses shall also be considered a
financial interest of the Member. The following assets shall not be considered a
financial interest for purposes of this section:
a.ownership of shares in a diversified mutual fund;
b.membership in a pension plan or employee benefit plan;
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 8
c.ownership of bonds or publicly traded securities; and
d.ownership of a whole life insurance policy.
3.Addressing Legal Conflicts of Interest
a.When a legal conflict of interest exists, except as permitted by law, a
Member must disclose the potential conflict of interest for the public
record, in the manner described in Section VI below, and refrain from
participating in the discussion and from voting on the matter. To
participate or participation, for the purposes of this document, means
making the decision, taking action, entering into a transaction, providing
advice or a recommendation, introducing, sponsoring, debating, voting on,
approving, and investigating the decision, action, or transaction.
b.A Member shall not participate in making, or attempt to use his or her
position to influence, any City governmental decision, action, or
transaction in which the Member knows or has reason to know that he or
she has a legal conflict of interest.
4.Non-Legal Conflicts of Interest
a.Members may face situations in performing their official duties that raise,
or are perceived to raise, a conflict of interest but which do not fall within
the above description of a legal conflict of interest and are otherwise not a
conflict of interest regulated by law. These types of conflicts are referred
to, for purposes of this document, as “non-legal conflicts of interest.”
b.While non-legal conflicts of interest may be different in nature or degree
from a legal conflict of interest and other conflicts of interest regulated by
law, they can nevertheless impair, or give the appearance of impairing, a
Member’s independence of judgement and/or harm the City’s interests
and the interests of the citizens.
c.The significance of non-legal conflicts of interest often depends on the
facts and circumstances involved in each situation, and thus it is difficult to
establish bright- line rules regarding when such conflicts must be
disclosed and necessitate a Member to refrain from participating in a
matter. Therefore, Members are entrusted to use their best judgement
regarding such situations with the aim of upholding the principles
established under this document and the highest possible standards of
ethical conduct, and with the understanding that public disclosure of non-
legal conflicts of interest, by itself, helps maintain citizens’ trust and
confidence in the integrity of City government.
d.To this end, if a Member recognizes that his or her participation may
create a non-legal conflict of interest, he or she should (i) discuss the
matter in advance (to the extent possible) and in confidence with the City
Manager and/or City Attorney regarding the appropriate action to take;
and/or (ii) disclose the conflict in accordance with Section VI below and, if
necessary, refrain from participating in the matter.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 9
e.Without limiting the foregoing, a Member may participate in a City
governmental decision, action, or transaction involving an organization or
entity that the Member, or his or her partner, spouse, partner, domestic
partner, sibling, or child is an officer, director, board member, or trustee of,
if the Member does not have a legal conflict of interest in the governmental
decision, action, or transaction. However, the Member must disclose his or
her affiliation with the organization or entity as though it were a legal
conflict of interest, in the manner described in Section VI below.
f.Similarly, a Member may participate in a City governmental decision
involving a person related by family to the Member, other than his or her
parent, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, or child, if the Member does not
have a legal conflict of interest in the governmental decision, action, or
transaction. However, the Member must disclose his or her relationship
with the related person as though it were a legal conflict of interest, in the
manner described in Section VI below.
VI.Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
If a Member, in the discharge of his or her official duties, recognizes that his or
her participation in a matter would create a legal conflict of interest, or a non-
legal conflict of interest that should or must be disclosed, the Member shall
disclose the conflict of interest as follows:
a.The Member shall disclose the conflict of interest to the City Manager and
his or her fellow Members as soon as he or she becomes aware of the
conflict. If a Member becomes aware of a conflict during a meeting of the
Council or a committee or board, the Member shall immediately disclose
the conflict of interest orally.
b.In the case of a legal conflict of interest, a Member must also prepare, on
a form prescribed by the City Clerk, a written statement describing the
matter requiring action or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of
interest, or as otherwise required by law. In the case of a Council Member,
the written statement shall be distributed to the other Council Members
and Mayor and filed with the City Clerk. Likewise, in the case of a Member
of a board or commission, the written statement shall be distributed to the
other Members of the board or commission and filed with the City Clerk.
After the first time the Member has orally disclosed a conflict of interest
and filed the disclosure form, the Member may subsequently orally
disclose a conflict by referring to the filed form. Because Members may
not attend all meetings, oral disclosure may consist of the written
statement being read into the record by the presiding Member at the first
regular meeting after the form has been filed. All written statements shall
be filed and distributed within one week after the Member becomes aware
of the legal conflict of interest. In the case of non-legal conflicts of interest
that a Member discloses, the Member may file a written statement
regarding the conflict.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES 10
c.If a Member does not participate in any discussion or vote on a matter due
to a conflict of interest, he or she shall be counted present for the
purposes of establishing a quorum to carry on the business of the Council,
board, or commission, but shall be considered disqualified for the purpose
of establishing the number of votes necessary to pass motions or
resolutions.
VII.Hearing
Any person may file a written complaint with the City Clerk questioning a Member’s
adherence to the principles stated in Section III through VI above. After reviewing the
complaint, the Council may hold a public hearing only if: (1) a neutral third-party
designated by the City Attorney, advises the Council that the allegations state a legally-
recognized violation of the law or a legally-recognized conflict of interest; or (2) a neutral
third-party designated by the City Attorney, advises the Council that the complaint has
been lodged in good faith and that the alleged violation is related to the accused
Member’s role as a Member.
Prior to the hearing, a letter will be sent to the accused Member stating the alleged
complaint. At the hearing, the accused Member shall have the opportunity to be heard.
If, after the hearing, the Council finds a violation of the principles stated in Section III
through VI above, the Council may, by a majority vote, censure the accused Member.
The accused Member shall not participate in the Council’s decision to censure.
VIII. Shared Values Statement
I affirm that I believe in and am committed to upholding the values as stated in this City
of Golden Valley Guiding Principles.
Signature ____________________________________ Date: _____________________
Printed Name: ________________________________
Refusal to sign City of Golden Valley Guiding Principles:
Signature ____________________________________ Date: _____________________
Printed Name: ________________________________
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11
Guidelines for Boards and
Commissions
21
Guidelines for Boards and
Commissions
Introduction
The City Council wishes to express its appreciation to the many citizens who take time away from their
personal and professional lives to serve the community through their membership on the Council’s
advisory groups. Golden Valley has had a history of extensive citizen involvement. At present
approximately 60 advisory commission, board, and committee members participate in providing
specialized expertise so that Council decisions can be made with more complete background and
knowledge than would otherwise be possible. The Council and the entire community benefit from this
invaluable service.
Golden Valley is a statutory city. The legislature established it as a city in the early 1970’s. The State
Statutes provide: “In any such city, there shall be…no administrative board or commission…the Council
shall itself perform the duties and exercise the powers and shall govern and administer the functions for
which no independent boards are authorized by statute. The Council, may, however, create boards or
commissions to advise the Council with respect to any municipal function or activity or to investigate
any subject of interest in the City.” This Council, and others before it, recognizes the many advantages to
be gained from this approach.
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to the Council’s advisory boards and commissions.
The Council is directly responsible for the actions of its advisory boards and commissions. It is hoped
that through these guidelines the expectations of the Council will be clearly understood and followed.
The Mayor and Council Members welcome any request for discussion or clarification of information that
is contained in these guidelines. The goals of the Council are better communication with its advisory
commissions and better service to the citizens of Golden Valley.
Current Golden Valley Boards and Commissions
The Golden Valley City Council currently has seven standing advisory commissions. They are:
•Board of Zoning Appeals
•Police Employment, Accountability, and Community Engagement Commission
•Environmental Commission
•Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission
•Human Services Commission
•Open Space and Recreation Commission
•Planning Commission
Short term advisory committees are appointed as needed.
These Guidelines for Advisory Boards and Commissions apply to each of these groups as appropriate and
as permitted by the laws and ordinances which establish them.
I.Legal Basis of Advisory Boards and Commissions
Boards and commissions are authorized to exercise all duties which the Council has legally assigned to
them. They are frequently authorized to conduct research and make recommendations. It should be
remembered, however, that advisory boards and commissions may not make decisions on behalf of the
Council. In many cities, it is routine practice for the Council to accept an advisory recommendation if the
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commission has done a thorough and competent job. It must be emphasized, however, that it is the
Council's final decision on the matter and not simply the commission recommendation which is effective
to bind the municipality. No recommendation of any advisory commission takes effect unless it has been
adopted by formal action of the Council. These advisory commissions may be organized in any manner
deemed appropriate by the Council. The City Council may create and dissolve them, appoint persons to
serve on them, and exercise powers of general supervision over them.
II. Open Meeting Law
All meetings of all public bodies in Golden Valley must be open to the public. There can be no such thing
as a “closed”, “private”, or “executive” meeting or session. The only exceptions that have been
recognized in the past are certain disciplinary actions conducted by the Police Civil Service Commission
and some personnel and legal matters before the Council.
The Minnesota Statute requiring City Council meetings to be open to the public has been in existence for
many years. A 1973 amendment and court decisions and rulings by the Minnesota Attorney General
have made commissions, subcommittees, and other public bodies subject to the statute. Any person
violating the open meeting requirement is subject to civil penalty.
Commissions and committees should be careful to observe the requirements of holding all meetings in
public places and posting notices of meeting dates and times at the City Hall. Scheduling of meetings
with the Manager’s Office will help prevent conflict with other groups over meeting times when public
participation is particularly desired. Commission, board, and committee meetings will not be held on
designated legal holidays or recognized religious holidays.
Any questions regarding the meaning or application of the Open Meeting Law should be directed to the
staff liaison. The staff liaison will seek such advice from the City Manager, in conjunction with the City
Attorney as may be necessary.
III.Commission Organization and Procedures
A.Term of Office: Appointments to commissions are made effective May 1 of each year. The length
of each appointment is provided in the governing ordinance or resolution and is designated by
the Council at the time of the appointment. Each permanent advisory commission should elect
officers no later than its second meeting after May 1 in each year. Chairpersons of special
committees may be appointed by the Council.
Voluntary resignations from a commission should be communicated by letter or email from the
person resigning to the Staff Liaison.
Chair and Vice Chair: The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected from the Commission
membership by its members at its regular Annual Meeting. Members may only serve two
consecutive years as the chair and vice-chair of any board or commission.
B.Meetings: Meeting times and locations are set according to each commission's bylaws. Each
commission should defer to the Council's meeting policy for meetings which occur on or near
recognized holidays. A quorum of the board is made up of a majority of members currently
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appointed. All meetings will be conducted in accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law
and the City Code. The proceedings of meeting should be conducted using standard
parliamentary procedure.
C.Attendance: Members are expected to attend all meetings, including the annual board and
commission joint meeting. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, they should contact the
staff liaison, who will inform the chair. If a quorum cannot be attained, the meeting will be
canceled. Staff liaisons will track attendance at each meeting. Each April, the City Manager’s
office will review attendance records for the preceding calendar year (April-March) and send a
standardized letter of warning to any member that has missed:
•two consecutive or three total meetings for groups that meet once a month; or
•two consecutive or five total meetings for groups that meet twice a month.
Because attendance is so important to the work of the City’s boards and commissions, the
City Manager may ask the member to explain the reasons for their absences. If circumstances
prevent the member from committing to consistently attending future meetings, the
member may be asked to step down. The City Manager will not ask the member to step
down if their inability to attend meetings is due to health reasons. If the member’s
attendance does not improve within 3 months after receiving a warning, the City Manager or
their designee shall ask the member to step down. If the member chooses not to step down,
the Council may take action to remove the member.
D.By-Laws or Rules of Procedure: Each commission shall follow By-Laws or Rules of Procedure
governing its work. Proposed amendments to By-Laws or Rules of Procedure should be
submitted to the Council for review and approval prior to implementation.
E.Orientation: Staff liaisons, in conjunction with the City Manager’s department, will provide
orientation for new board and commission members. The staff Liaison for each Board or
Commission will provide the new member with meeting information, discuss expectations, and
review pertinent issues with them prior to the next meeting of the Board or Commission.
F.Acting as a Private Citizen: A commission member testifying before the Council as a private
citizen should clearly note before testimony that he/she is testifying as a private citizen.
G.Expenditures: Each Commission is authorized to incur those specific expenditures included in its
final budget, as adopted by the Council. Any other expenditures require specific Council approval
prior to the time the obligation is incurred. Council approval is necessary prior to solicitation of
funding from outside sources for any purpose.
H.Minutes: A person will be provided by the City to take minutes for the advisory boards and
commissions. Minutes serve the dual function of making an historical record of commission
proceedings and of informing the Council regarding the commission’s activities. The minutes
should, therefore, contain an accurate report of the sequence of events and names of citizens
who appear and are heard. In addition to the formal action of the commission, a summary of the
reasoning underlying such action should be included in the minutes.
I.Staff Liaison: A staff liaison is assigned to each commission. The purpose of this is to provide
direct information to each commission regarding City policy and practices within its area of
interest. Duties of the staff liaison are, in general, to facilitate or assist in the meetings, record 14
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attendance, provide information and direction as requested by the commission, and to serve as
a conduit for information and assignments from the City Council and the City Manager. Staff
liaisons shall communicate all requests from a board or commission to the City Manager,
appropriate Department Head, and the Council, as requested. It is also the responsibility of the
staff liaison to inform the City Manager of any problems or issues that may arise.
The City operates under the “Plan B City Manager” form of government, in which all employees
are hired and supervised by the City Manager, who in turn is responsible to the Council. Neither
the Council nor any commission member has the authority to direct staff personnel. Any
commission recommendations for modification of City policy and practices should be directed to
the Council. The liaison will periodically inform the Chair on the members’ attendance,
particularly when warnings must be sent as provided in Section III.C, and copy to the City
Manager to forward to the City Council.
J.Council Liaison(s): Each year, at its organizational meeting, the Council shall assign one or more
liaisons to each Board or Commission. The Council Liaison(s) will meet at least annually with the
Board or Commission to which he or she is assigned. These meetings can serve as an informal
means for the exchange of information between the Council and the Board or Commission, but
all formal communication shall follow procedures as outlined in Section IV.
K.Subcommittees: From time to time, the Council may appoint subcommittees of certain
commissions in order that special attention be concentrated in specified areas. At the same
time, the Council also wants the opinion of the commission regarding each subcommittee’s
recommendations.
Each subcommittee should submit any report or recommendations intended for the Council,
first to the Commission for review and comment. Such review and comment should take place
at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission. If it does not, the report or
recommendation of the subcommittee shall be forwarded to the Council without Commission
consent.
The subcommittee report or recommendation, together with the commission’s comments,
should be submitted to the Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting. As in the case of
commission presentations, a spokesperson for the subcommittee should attend the Council
meeting and be prepared to make a presentation and answer questions.
The Commission is free to appoint subcommittees of their membership as the commission sees
a need.
IV. Communications To and From Commissions
A.Council Requests to Commissions: From time to time, the Council will refer items to
commissions for recommendation. The purpose of such a referral is to assist the Council in
gathering all pertinent facts and sharpening the issues. The referral will be communicated to the
board or commission by the staff liaison. The Council would request a written report from each
commission with regard to each such referral. The report should set forth all the pertinent facts
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and detailed recommendations from the commission. The report should be submitted to the
City Manager the Wednesday before the Council meeting so that it may be included in the
agenda.
Any time a commission report comes before the Council, one representative of the commission
should be present to make a presentation and answer questions. In the event there is a
difference of opinion on the commission, a minority report may be presented in the same
manner.
B.Commission Requests to Council: Any commission request or recommendation for Council
action or legal opinion should be communicated from the staff liaison to the City Manager,
giving a full explanation of the background of the matter. Along with the request, the
commission should submit or refer to the pertinent portion of its minutes on the subject.
The request should be delivered to the City Manager on the Wednesday before the Council
meeting. A presentation for the commission should be made by a representative from the
commission. A minority report may also be presented.
C.Communications with Those Other Than City Council: Based upon past experience, the Council
believes that there is some potential for misunderstanding regarding communications with
persons and governmental units or agencies other than the City Council of Golden Valley. It is
essential that members of commissions understand and observe appropriate policies and
practices in this regard.
The essential principle involved is that the Council alone has the responsibility and authority to
adopt the decisions, policies, and recommendations of the City of Golden Valley. The Council
values the opinions and advice of its commissions and invites the communication of the same to
the Council. The Council will take such opinions and advice into account in formulating the City’s
official position.
This method of proceeding does not preclude a commission from gathering such information as
may be pertinent to its activities. Commissions are free, without prior Council approval, to
gather information consistent with their annual work plan or other direction given by the
Council.
The matter of distribution of information to the public is one that is not capable of specific rules
of practice. In general, any such communication which purports to, or has the effect of
communicating an official City position or decision, should be submitted to the Council for prior
approval. Other types of communications, which are purely informational and do not involve
unresolved questions of City policy, may be disseminated without prior Council approval.
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Minnesota Data Practices Act
Minnesota Open Meeting Law
Robert's Rules of Order Cheat
Sheet
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The Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statues, Chapter 13) presumes that all government data are public. State or Federal law must specifically classify data for the government to limit access. The Act also describes government’s duty to respond to data requests made by a member of the public or by the subject of the data.
W H O ?
The Data Practices Act applies to government entities in
Minnesota, but does not apply to the Legislature or to the
courts. Anyone can make a request to view or receive
copies of government data. Public data are available to
anyone for any reason, and private or non public data are
available if the requestor is the subject of the data being
requested. Confidential or protected non-public dtata are
available only to those government employees who require
access to it for work-related reasons.
W H A T ?
“Government data” means all data collected, created,
received, maintained or disseminated by state or local
government, regardless of its physical form, storage media, or
conditions of use. Paper documents, email, CD-Roms,
videotape, and computer files are all forms of “government
data.”
W H E N ?
Government must respond to a request of public data
within a reasonable amount of time. Government must
respond to requests for data immediately or within ten
business days.
W H Y ?
The Act seeks to balance three principles: 1) Government’s
need to have data to do its work; 2) The need to maintain an
accountable and transparent government; and 3) The need to
protect individual privacy rights.
H O W ?
Step 1: A person submits a data request to the
Responsible Authority for the government entity that
maintains the data. If the request is for private
information, the government entity may ask for proof of
identity.
Step 2: The government entity retrieves the responsive
data, if it has any.
Step 3: The entity reviews the requested data. If the
government entity denies access to any of the requested
data, it must inform the requestor of the specific law that
justifies the denial.
Step 4: The government entity provides access to the
data and collects copy costs, if copies are requested.
H O W M U C H ?
Government may charge limited amounts for copies.
Inspection of government records is always free. Government
may never charge for the cost of separating public and not
public data (i.e. redaction).
For members of the public: If the request is for 100 or
fewer printed black and white pages: no more than $0.25 per
page.
For all other requests (including electronic data):
Actual cost of searching and retrieving the data, and for
making the copies.
For data subjects: For all requests: Only the actual cost of
making the copies. Government may not charge for search
and retrieval time.
DATA PRACTICES
MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT DATA PRACTICES ACT
651-296-6733 or 800-657-3721
info.ipad@state.mn.us | mn.gov/admin/data-practices
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OPEN MEETING LAW
W H O ?
The Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13D) requires meetings of public bodies to be open to the public.
The law also identifies limited times when a public body may or must hold a closed meeting, and the requirements for doing
so. The Open Meeting Law does not address administrative concerns like agendas, meeting minutes, or parliamentary pro-
cedure (such as Roberts Rules). There may be other laws public bodies have to follow that affect how they conduct their
meetings.
Public bodies: public bodies are defined in the law and included State-level public bodies and local public bodies (such as
county boards, city councils, and school boards). State public bodies and local public bodies have different requirements.
The law also applies to committees, subcommittees, boards, departments, or commissions of public bodies.
The public: The public has the right to attend open meetings to observe the decision-making process of its governing bod-
ies. The Open Meeting Law does not require that public bodies allow public participation at the meetings, but it does not
prohibit public participation, either.
A public meeting occurs whenever a quorum (majority) of the public body is present and discusses official business. There
are three types of meetings: regular meetings, special meetings, and emergency meetings. A meeting or a portion of a
meeting may be closed if the circumstances allow or require closure. Those meetings must be recorded (except those
closed for discussions protected by attorney-client privilege).
Every public meeting must be properly noticed. The Open Meeting Law has different requirements for notifying the public
regarding when and where meetings are to take place depending on the type of meeting to be held:
Regular meetings: Public bodies must have a schedule of regular meetings.
Special meetings: Any meeting not on the regular schedule or that takes place at a different time, date, or location, than a
regualr meeting requires a special meeting notice.
• The notice must include time, date, location, and purpose of the special meeting
• The public body must post the notice at least three days before the meeting
• A public body may only discuss matters related to those listed on the notice.
Emergency meetings: Special meeings urgent circumstances do not allow for the three-day notice, such as in the event of a
natural disaster. No additional notice is required, except that public bodies must make a good faith effort to notify media that
have requested notice.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has stated that the purpose of the Open Meeting Law is to:
• Prohibit public bodies from holding secret meetings where they may hide their decision making process from the public
• To allow the public to be informed
• To allow the public to present its views to their public bodies
W H A T ?
W H E N ?
W H Y ?
651-296-6733 or 800-657-3721
INFO.IPAD@STATE.MN.US | MN.GOV/ADMIN/DATA-PRACTICES DATA PRACTICES
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ROBERTS RULES CHEAT SHEET To:You say:Interrupt Speaker Second Needed Debatable Amendable VoteNeeded Adjourn "I move that we adjourn" No Yes No No Majority Recess "I move that we recess until…" No Yes No Yes Majority Complain about noise, room temp., etc. "Point of privilege" Yes No No No Chair Decides Suspend further consideration of something "I move that we table it" No Yes No No Majority End debate "I move the previous question" No Yes No No 2/3 Postpone consideration of something "I move we postpone this matter until…" NoYes YesYesMajorityAmend a motion "I move that this motion be amended by…" NoYes YesYesMajorityIntroduce business (a primary motion) "I move that…" No Yes Yes Yes Majority The above listed motions and points are listed in established order of precedence. When any one of them is pending, you may not introduce another that is listed below, but you may introduce another that is listed above it. To:You say:Interrupt Speaker Second Needed DebatableAmendable Vote NeededObject to procedure or personal affront "Point of order" Yes No No No Chair decides Request information "Point of information" Yes No No No None Ask for vote by actual count to verify voice vote "I call for a division of the house" Must be done before new motion No NoNoNone unlesssomeone objects Object to considering some undiplomatic or improper matter "I object to consideration of this question" YesNo NoNo2/3Take up matter previously tabled "I move we take from the table…" Yes Yes No No Majority Reconsider something already disposed of "I move we now (or later) reconsider our action relative to…" Yes Yes Only if original motion was debatable NoMajorityConsider something out of its scheduled order "I move we suspend the rules and consider…" NoYes NoNo2/3Vote on a ruling by the Chair "I appeal the Chair’s decision" Yes Yes Yes No Majority The motions, points and proposals listed above have no established order of preference; any of them may be introduced at any time except when meeting is considering one of the top three matters listed from the first chart (Motion to Adjourn, Recess or Point of Privilege). 2030
PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING A MAIN MOTION
NOTE: Nothing goes to discussion without a motion being on the floor.
Obtaining and assigning the floor
A member raises hand when no one else has the floor
•The chair recognizes the member by name
How the Motion is Brought Before the Assembly
•The member makes the motion: I move that (or "to") ... and resumes his seat.
•Another member seconds the motion: I second the motion or I second it or second.
•The chair states the motion: It is moved and seconded that ... Are you ready for the
question?
Consideration of the Motion
1. Members can debate the motion.
2. Before speaking in debate, members obtain the floor.
3. The maker of the motion has first right to the floor if he claims it properly
4. Debate must be confined to the merits of the motion.
5. Debate can be closed only by order of the assembly (2/3 vote) or by the chair if no
one seeks the floor for further debate.
The chair puts the motion to a vote
1. The chair asks: Are you ready for the question? If no one rises to claim the floor, the
chair proceeds to take the vote.
2. The chair says: The question is on the adoption of the motion that ... As many as
are in favor, say ‘Aye’. (Pause for response.) Those opposed, say 'Nay'. (Pause for
response.) Those abstained please say ‘Aye’.
The chair announces the result of the vote.
1.The ayes have it, the motion carries, and ... (indicating the effect of the vote) or
2. The nays have it and the motion fails
WHEN DEBATING YOUR MOTIONS
1. Listen to the other side
2. Focus on issues, not personalities
3. Avoid questioning motives
4. Be polite
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
6.B. Election of Officers
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Summary
The Commission will elect officers of Chair and Vice-Chair from the Commission membership. The
Chair and Vice Chair positions rotate, and members may only serve two consecutive years as the Chair
or Vice-Chair.
Chair responsibilities include:
Work with staff liaison to develop meeting agendas.
Conduct and preside at all meetings in a productive and time-efficient manner.
Ensure the Commission conducts its activities within the stated mission and bylaws of the
Commission.
Appoint Commissioners to subcommittees.
Monitor and ensure the progress of the Commission.
Report to the City Council.
Vice-Chair responsibilities:
Perform the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair.
Perform all other duties as prescribed by the Commission.
Recommended Action
Motion to Approve the Election of Officers of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Environmental Commission.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
6.C. Review Commission Bylaws
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Summary
In accordance with the Environmental Commission Bylaws, the Commission will review its bylaws
every three years. The bylaws were last updated in December 2021 to reflect the addition of a second
youth member, and were last reviewed by the Commission in 2022.
Article V: Amendments and Revisions states, "Members may present recommendations for changes
and amendments. These bylaws can be altered or amended at any regular monthly Commission
meeting with a majority of members present, provided that notice of the proposed changes and
amendments is provided to each member at least 10 business days before the meeting. The Council
must review and approve any changes to, and has final authority regarding, these bylaws."
Commission members are asked to review the attached bylaws and come to the meeting with their
questions, comments, or proposed amendments for consideration at a future Commission meeting.
Supporting Documents
Environmental Commission Bylaws
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BYLAWS
Environmental Commission
Article I: Purpose, Mission, and Duties
The Environmental Commission shall be an advisory commission to the City Council on matters relating to
the environment and human health. The Commission shall:
• develop and make recommendations to educate the public on environmental regulations, policies,
practices and tools
• develop and make recommendations as an advisory review body for amendments to or revisions of
the City’s Surface Water Management Plan and provide advice as requested by the Council on other
city programs and initiatives
• review and make recommendations regarding the city’s existing environmental ordinances, policies,
and guidelines
• develop and make recommendations on management practices for the City’s nature areas, public and
private ponding areas, and other such city-owned properties as directed by the City Council
• develop and make recommendations regarding waste reduction, recycling, and organics/composting
• review and make recommendations on the City's resilience and sustainability policies and actions to
address climate variations
• participate, as directed by the City Council, in local activities initiated by other public and quasi-public
agencies regarding environmental issues
• advise and recommend such other functions or procedures as may be assigned to them by the City
Code or the Council
Article II: Membership, Appointments, Terms, and Officers
A. Membership
The Commission shall consist of seven regular members, and two voting youth members. Regular members
shall be residents of the City. Youth members shall live or attend school within Golden Valley, the
Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins School District and be enrolled in school grades 9 through 12. A
vacancy shall be deemed to exist if a member ceases to meet the residency requirements.
B. Appointments and Terms
Appointments are made effective May 1 of each year. The Council shall appoint regular members of the
Commission for three-year staggering terms. Youth members shall be appointed for a one-year term. The
terms of Commission members shall be fixed and determined at the time of appointment by the governing
ordinance. Emphasis in appointments will be made based on knowledge of environmental issues and their
relationships to the natural environment and the quality of life in the City. The City Council shall appoint
the members of the Commission and to fill vacancies for unexpired terms.
C. Officers
The Commission shall elect officers of Chair and Vice-Chair from the Commission membership by its voting
members at its regular annual meeting, (no later than the second meeting after May 1 in each year). The
Chair and Vice Chair positions rotate, and members may only serve two consecutive years as the Chair or
Vice-Chair. Should the office of Chair or Vice-Chair become vacant, the Commission shall elect a successor
from its membership at the next regular meeting and such election shall be for the unexpired term of said
office. Officers may also delegate the duties of their position to other Commissioners as deemed
appropriate by the Commission.
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BYLAWS – Environmental Commission 2
Amended and approved December 7, 2021
Chair responsibilities include:
• work with staff liaison to develop meeting agendas
• conduct and preside at all meetings in a productive and time-efficient manner
• ensure the Commission conducts its activities within the stated mission and bylaws of the
Commission
• appoint Commissioners to subcommittees
• monitor and ensure the progress of the Commission
• report to the City Council
Vice-Chair responsibilities:
• perform the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair
• perform all other duties as prescribed by the Commission
Article III: Meetings and Attendance
A. Meetings
All meetings of the Commission shall be conducted in accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law
and City Code. This means all business and discussion occurs at a meeting which has been posted and is
open to the public.
The presence of a majority of all regular members currently appointed to the Commission shall constitute
a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes.
In the event a quorum is not reached, a smaller number of members may meet to have info rmal
discussion, however, formal action shall not be taken and must be reserved for such time as when a
quorum of the Commission is reached. A quorum of the members should not discuss Commission business
by email, forms of social media, telephone, or informal meetings. Commission meetings may be cancelled
by the staff liaison if there are no items on the agenda for discussion.
The proceedings of meeting should be conducted using standard parliamentary procedure.
i. Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the Commission shall be held on the fourth Monday of the month at City
Hall at 6:30 pm. The Commission may, by a majority vote, change its regular meeting dates for any
reason provided proper public notice of the changed meeting is provided.
ii. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the commission shall be a regular meeting, typically the first meeting after
May 1 of each year, at which time elections will be held.
iii. Special Meetings
A special meeting may be called by the Chair or whenever three members request the same in
writing. Staff shall give notice to each commissioner, at least three days prior to any special
meeting, of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.
35
BYLAWS – Environmental Commission 3
Amended and approved December 7, 2021
B. Attendance
Members are expected to attend all meetings. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, they should
contact the staff liaison, who will inform the chair. If a quorum cannot be attained, the meeting will be
canceled. Staff liaisons will track attendance at each meeting. Each April, the City Manager’s office will
review attendance records for the preceding calendar year (April-March) and send a standardized letter of
warning to any member that has missed:
• two consecutive or three total meetings for groups that meet once a month; or
• two consecutive or five total meetings for groups that meet twice a month.
Because attendance is so important to the work of the City’s boards and commissions, the City Manager
may ask the member to explain the reasons for their absences. If circumstances (other than health
circumstances) prevent the member from committing to consistently attend future meetings, the member
may be asked to step down. If the member’s attendance does not improve after receiving a warning, the
Council may take action to remove the member.
Article IV: Rules
A. Recordkeeping
All minutes and resolutions shall be in writing and shall be kept in accordance with City procedures,
Minnesota Statute and Rules regarding preservation of public records and the Minnesota Data Privacy Act.
B. Work Plan
The Commission will draft an annual work plan that details activities and projected timelines for the
upcoming year.
• The Chair may appoint Commissioners to be primarily responsible for each work plan activity.
• The Commission may establish subcommittees to oversee work plan activities. The
subcommittees will be chaired by Commissioners appointed by the Chair.
• The Commission’s work plan will be submitted to the City Council, typically during the first
quarter of the calendar year. The Chair and/or Commissioners will attend a Council/Manager
meeting to discuss the annual work plan with the City Council.
• The Commission’s work plan must be agreed upon by the City Council.
C. Annual Report
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the City Council summarizing the past year's activities.
The report may highlight information the Commission feels appropriate to convey to the City Council.
D. Performance of Duties
Commissioners are expected to adequately prepare for meetings. Commissioners unable to complete an
assigned task should notify the commission chair or subcommittee chair as soon as possible. The
Commission staff liaison may ask the City Council to review a Commissioner’s appointment based upon its
assessment of significant non-performance of duties.
Article V: Amendments and Revisions
The Commission will review these bylaws no later than the second meeting after May 1 every three
years. Members may present recommendations for changes and amendments. These bylaws can be
altered or amended at any regular monthly Commission meeting with a majority of members present,
provided that notice of the proposed changes and amendments is provided to each member at least 10
business days before the meeting. The Council must review and approve any changes to, and has final
authority regarding, these bylaws.
36
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
May 19, 2025
Agenda Item
6.E. Annual Work Plan Development
Prepared By
Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Summary
As stated in its bylaws, the Commission will develop an annual work plan for review and approval by
City Council. The Commission will evaluate and prioritize ideas, discuss resources needed, and
transform ideas into specific actions and strategies for the plan. At the May meeting, Commissioners
will review and confirm the final ranking of high priority items and discuss potential project leads and
subcommittees.
Supporting Documents
DRAFT 2025 Work Plan Matrix
37
EC Priority
L, M, H
EC
High
Priority
Rank 1-7 Work Plan Idea
City 2030
Strategic
Directive
2025 City
Priority?
Action or Goal in
Existing Plan Outcome / Success
Action is a
recommendation, code
change, plan, policy,
procedure,
education/information,
event, or sponsorship
Potential EC
project lead Staff project lead
Departments/
Divisions involved
Approximate
staff time
L, M, H
Approximate
Cost/Budget
$, $$, $$$
Project
timeline Notes
H 1 Draft procedure or policy for co-naming
Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ / Bassett Creek
Stay at the
forefront of
advancing equity
and inclusivity by
fostering strong,
welcoming
relationships with
community
EC work plan
More aware and
educated public, honor
Dakota people, increase
and normalize use of
Dakota placenames
procedure or policy Paul Eric
Environmental,
Communications,
Equity, Legal
M $8 mos
H 2 Update the City’s outdoor lighting
ordinance
Prioritize quality
infrastructure
designed to last,
emphasizing
environmental
sustainability and
climate resiliency
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
Update and modernize
ordinance, reduce light
pollution, improve
health of all living beings
code change Paul Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Engineering,
Communications,
Equity, Legal,
Planning
Commission
H $$
Depends if
larger city
engagement
effort, min 6
mos
H 3 Assist with developing climate equity plan
Stay at the
forefront of
advancing equity
and inclusivity by
fostering strong,
welcoming
relationships with
community
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
comprehensive
inventory, analysis,
policies, and actions to
improve community
health, resilience, and
sustainability
plan development Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Equity,
Environmental,
Public Works,
Communications
H $$
Depends on role
of EC, min 2
mos
H 4 Sponsor 2026 Spring Tree Sale
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Natural
Resources
Management
Plan
Plant more trees,
improve environment
and human health
event, sponsorship Diana
Public Works,
Environmental,
Communications
M $$8 mos
H 5 Apply in 2025 and host We Are Water
Minnesota’s traveling exhibit in 2026
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Surface Water
Mgmt Plan
Informed public, less
pollution, improved
water quality
event, sponsorship Kari Eric Environmental,
Communications L $3 mos
H 6
Perform audit of Brookview using Audubon
International environmentally responsible
golf course criteria
Strategically use park
land to offer diverse
amenities that fulfill
community needs
while advancing
environmental goals
Parks & Natural
Resources
Chapter of Comp
Plan
Brookview GC becomes
more naturalized and
sustainably managed
than current conditions,
imporved water quality
and biodiversity
recommendation, best
practices, more?
Janelle/Greg, Golf
staff
Park & Rec, Golf,
Environmental,
Communications,
OSRC
L $5 mos
Simplified by only
requesting Audubon
Society to perform
audit, and possibly
develop plan.
Actions/improvemen
ts/certification could
come later.
38
H 7
Continue supporting Hennepin County’s
zero waste efforts with a. below:
a. Reduce Styrofoam and single use
plastics, bags, and containers (restaurants,
stores, etc), and explore implementing a
potential city-wide fee on certain products
(carryover from 2023-24 plan)
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
EC work plan,
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
Reduce styrofoam and
plastic waste, improve
environment
recommendation, code
change Sarah Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Finance,
Communications,
Equity, Legal
H $$12 mos
Might be more
effective with larger
coalition of western
suburbs (or as part
of a waste reduction
initiative from the
County) for
consistency in
neighboring
communities and
businesses aren’t
incentivized to look
outside of GV.
M
Research and provide recommendations
on organized solid waste and yard waste
collection (carryover from 2023-24 plan).
Focus on environmental aspects.
Prioritize quality
infrastructure
designed to last,
emphasizing
environmental
sustainability and
climate resiliency
EC work plan
Sufficient data available
and research conducted
to make an informed
recommendation to
council
recommendation Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Public Works,
Communications,
Finance, Equity,
Legal
H $$
Depends if
larger city
engagement
effort. Min 6
mos, could be
more than 12.
Need Council
direction on EC's
role, work product.
M
Increase organics recycling participation
with new initiatives (like education along
with puchasing and offering free bags)
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
Increase organics
tonnage, reduce waste,
improve diversion rate,
informed public
recommendation,
education/information Paul Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Communications
L $$2 mos
M
Promote and educate about managed
natural landscapes and planting for
pollinators
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Natural
Resources
Management
Plan
Informed public, more
natural landscapes, less
manicured turf
education/information Wendy Eric
Environmental,
Engineering,
Planning &
Sustainability,
Communications
M $3 mos
Could lead to
updating lawn
maintenance code,
would require more
time. Work with
Garden Club on
pollinator initiatives.
M
Continue supporting Hennepin County’s
zero waste efforts with c. below:
c. Look into Market in the Valley hosting
Second Hand Swaps each month (each
month a different category like Winter Gear,
Art Supplies, Media, etc.)
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
Reduce waste, increase
reuse
event,
education/information Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Communications
L $3 mos
M
Explore and understand potable water use
in the community; research conservation
measures like a lawn watering ordinance
(carryover from 2023-24 plan)
Prioritize quality
infrastructure
designed to last,
emphasizing
environmental
sustainability and
climate resiliency
EC work plan,
Surface Water
Mgmt Plan
Conserve water, improve
environment
recommendation, code
change Ellen Tim/Util Sup, Eric,
Caleb
Public Works,
Environmental,
Engineering,
Finance,
Communications,
Equity, Legal
H $$$
Depends on
larger city
engagement
effort, min 8
mos
M Work toward becoming a Blue Zones
Project Community
Retain and actively
engage local
businesses,
recognizing their
role as vital
community
members
_Achieve Blue Zones
Community certification recommendation, plan Kari Ethan
All Depts,
community
organizations,
community
volunteers
H $$$36-60 mos Similar to Partners
In Energy program
39
Provide recommendations on urban forest
management, with a focus on a. or b.
below:
L a. Plant more trees, sponsor/host a tree
planting event
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Natural
Resources
Management
Plan
Plant more trees,
improve environment
and human health
recommendation,
education/information,
sponsorship
Ellen Diana
Public Works,
Environmental,
Communications
M $$8 mos
L
b. Update educational materials on
invasive plant species (i.e. buckthorn
management)
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Natural
Resources
Management
Plan
Remove invasive
species, increase
biodiversity and
ecosystem health
education/information Diana, Drew
Public Works,
Environmental,
Communications
M $$4 mos
L Assist with strategic parks planning (natural
resources components)
Strategically use park
land to offer diverse
amenities that fulfill
community needs
while advancing
environmental goals
Natural
Resources
Management
Plan
comprehensive
inventory, analysis,
policies, and actions to
protect and improve the
natural environment
plan development Janelle/Greg, Eric
Park & Rec,
Environmental,
Public Works,
Engineering,
Communications,
Equity
H $$$
Depends on role
of EC, min 4
mos
Need direction on
EC's role, tasks.
L Review and update the City’s winter
maintenance chloride management policy
Prioritize quality
infrastructure
designed to last,
emphasizing
environmental
sustainability and
climate resiliency
Surface Water
Mgmt Plan
Policy is updated to
reflect current
operations,
demonstrates
leadership, potential for
less pollution and
improved water quality
policy Ellen, Kari Tim/Marshall
Environmental,
Public Works,
Equity, Legal
M $8 mos
L
Continue supporting Hennepin County’s
zero waste efforts with b. below:
b. Investigate possibly joining the Hennepin
Recycling Group joint powers organization
consisting of Brooklyn Center, Crystal and
New Hope
Foster
partnerships with
nearby
jurisdictions to
collaboratively
tackle
infrastructure
challenges
affecting Golden
Valley
_Sufficient data available
and research conducted
to make an informed
recommendation to
council
recommendation, possible
future agreement Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Communications,
Finance, Equity,
Legal
H $$
Depends if
larger city
engagement
effort, min 6
mos
L Host 2026 Earth Day Fair or Environmental
Day Fair
Leverage City
events and
projects to reflect
our environmental
values
Resilience &
Sustainability
Plan
More aware and
informed public,
improve environment
event, sponsorship,
education/information Ethan
Planning &
Sustainability,
Environmental,
Communications
H $$
Depends on
partner
organizations,
min 8 mos
40