2025-05-19_EC Minutes7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427 cl f
763-593-8027 1 TTY 763-593-3968 1763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleyrnn.gov o rck
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Environmental Commission allcy
May 19, 2025 — 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 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 Vice Chair Drawz at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Oath of Office
A. New Commissioners Adam Wold and Hannah Byl were sworn in by Vice Chair Drawz.
4. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Sarah Drawz, Paul Klaas, Ellen Brenna, Adam Wold, Hannah Byl
Commissioners absent: Amelia Schulz
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
5. Approval of May 19, 2025 Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Wold to approve the agenda
for May 19, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
6. Approval of March 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner By) to approve the minutes of
March 24, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
7. Business
A. Commissioner (Re) Orientation
Staff reviewed the New Board/Commission Member Welcome Packet found in
the May 19, 2025 EC Agenda as a reminder of the City's Values, Welcome
Statement, and Guiding Principles, and a reminder of the roles and
responsibility of commission members.
This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call
763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats
may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 2
May 19, 2025 — 6:30 pm
ii. Commissioners were reminded to use their City e-mail for commission -related
communications, and to e-mail the staff liaisons instead of the entire group so
you don't violate open meeting laws.
iii. City's core set of values — Communication, Community, Inclusion, Integrity,
Respect, Innovation, Courage, and Accountability.
iv. We use Robert's Rules of Order — It's not necessarily spelled out in our by-laws
but may be in City Code. It's something local governments typically use.
B. Election of Officers
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Byl to appoint
Commissioner Paul Klaas as Chair and Commissioner Adam Wold as Vice Chair
and the motion carried.
C. Review Commission Bylaws
i. Staff asked the Commissioners if they had any questions about the Commission
Bylaws found in the May 19, 2025 Agenda Packet. It's required we review
them every three years.
1. Attendance is taken at meetings. There are some rules about how
many meetings Commissioners should attend each year. The City
wants them to be actively participating in and helping to conduct City
business.
D. Haha Wakpadar)/Bassett Creek Subcommittee Update: 2025 Watershed Clean-up
Event
i. It was an event to help clean up the creek and honor the importance of water
to the indigenous communities that used to live in this area.
ii. Participants met at City Hall to get supplies like grabbers, gloves, and reflective
gear for safety. There was a map available to show where the creek runs
through Golden Valley, what areas are available for clean-up, and which areas
had a higher volume of trash to pick up.
iii. There were at least 30 community members who participated.
iv. The Oral History Project and Bassett Creek Watershed staff set up tables with
information.
v. It seemed people weren't very interested in the educational materials because
they were there to grab the materials they needed to get out and pick up
trash.
vi. Would need to decide by December if the Commission would like to do this
again.
MOTION by Commissioner Wold, seconded by Commissioner Byl to dissolve the Haha
Wakpadar)/Bassett Creek Subcommittee and the motion carried.
E. Annual Work Plan Development
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
May ? Q, 2025 — 6:30 pm
i. Staff asked Commissioners to review and confirm the final ranking of the seven
high priority items and discuss Potential EC Project Leads for each item. These
will make up the Annual Work Plan.
ii. Commissioners decided to leave the order of the seven high priority as is and
to spend time filling in the Potential EC Project Leads.
1. Draft procedure or Policy for Co -Naming Flalia Wakpadap / Bassett
Creek.
1. EC Lead — Commissioner Klaas
2. Update the City's Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
1. EC Lead — Commissioner Klaas
3. Assist with Developing Climate Equity Plan.
1. Taking all the information from the existing Resilience and
Sustainability Plan, GreenStep Cities Steps, and Energy Action
Plan and rolling it into one reimagined plan along with new
information.
2. An RFP went out to find a consultant to help lead the City in the
development of this plan.
3. There will be surveys and open houses for residents to
participate.
4. EC Lead — Commissioner Brenna
4. Sponsor 2026 Spring Tree Sale.
1. EC Lead — Commissioner Brenna
5. Apply in 2025 and Host We Are Water Minnesota's Traveling Exhibit in
2026.
1. The application deadline is June 26.
2. EC Lead — Commissioner Byl
6. Perform Audit of Brookview using Audubon International
Environmentally Responsible Golf Course Criteria.
1. We will look at spending $1000 of the EC budget to have the
initial audit done. The $500/year would be if we're certified and
want to maintain that certification.
2. EC Lead —Commissioner Wold
7. Continue Supporting Hennepin County's Zero Waste Efforts by reducing
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) Council
Communications.
1. EC Lead — Commissioner Drawz
iii. Once we hear more information from leadership on what the draft work plan
should look like, we'll transfer the information from the matrix to the work
plan. In the meantime, Commissioners can start to research and discuss the
top 7 items.
F. Council Communications
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 4
May 19, 2025 — 6:30 pm
i. None
G. Commission Communications
i. Tonight's meeting will be Staff Liaison Eric Eckman's last meeting. He has
taken a new position and his last day with the City of Golden Valley will be May
30, 2025. Ethan Kehrberg will most likely be taking over as staff liaison.
ii. The Commissioners shared their appreciation for the work done by former
Commissioners Debra Yahle, Tonia Galonska, Wendy Weirich, and Kari
Cantarerro.
8. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Wold, seconded by Commissioner Byl to adjourn the meeting at
8:02 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant
Paul Klaas, C air