EC_PC Joint Agenda 10-27-2025 October 27, 2025 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
1.Call to Order of Regular Meeting
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.Approval of Agenda
4.Oath of Office for Youth Commissioner
5.Approval of Meeting Minutes
5.A.Approve September 15, 2025 Minutes
6.Adjournment of Regular Meeting
7.Call to Order of Joint Work Session: Environmental Commission and Planning Commission
Work Sessions have an informal, discussion-style format and are designed for the Commissions to
obtain background information, consider policy alternatives, and provide general directions to
staff. No formal actions are taken at work sessions. The public is invited to attend Work Sessions
and listen to the discussion.
7.A.Missing Middle Housing Study
7.B.Climate Equity Plan
7.C.Staff Updates on Outdoor Lighting Code, Brookview Solar, Staffing, and Recent Events
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting October 27, 2025 — 6:30 PM
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
October 27, 2025
Agenda Item
5.A. Approve September 15, 2025 Minutes
Prepared By
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist
Recommended Action
Motion to approve the minutes.
Supporting Documents
Draft Minutes - 9.15.25
2
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 – Ethan Kehrberg,
Sustainability Specialist, ekehrberg@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8083.
Commissioners present: Sarah Drawz, Paul Klaas, Ellen Brenna, Adam Wold
Commissioners absent: Amelia Schulz, Hannah Byl
Council Members present: None
Staff present: Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist;
Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant.
Others present: Amy Fredregill, Consultant, WSB
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Klaas at 6:30 pm.
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Wold, seconded by Commissioner Brenna to approve the agenda
for September 15, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
After further discussion:
MOTION by Commissioner Drawz, seconded by Chair Klaas to add the Water Blessing as item
5.B. to the September 15, 2025 agenda and the motion carried.
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Drawz, seconded by Commissioner Wold to approve the minutes
of August 25, 2025 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Business
5.A. Update on Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek Co-Naming Policy
September 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
September 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm
2
• The City Council passed resolution 25-081 unanimously to approve co-naming Ȟaȟá
Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek at it’s 9-2-25 meeting.
5.B. Water Blessing
• The 3rd Annual Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ/Bassett Creek Water Blessing will happen Monday,
October 13, 9:30-12:00 at West Medicine Lake Park in Plymouth.
MOTION by Commissioner Brenna, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to approve allocating
$500 of the Environmental Commission budget to the Water Ceremony and the motion
carried.
5.C. Climate Equity Plan Update
• Amy Fredregill from WSB, the City’s consultant on the Climate Equity Plan, presented on
the draft plan/Template for the Climate Equity Plan and GV Climate Equity Plan Survey
Interim Results in the 9-15-25 EC Agenda.
o Landscape Scan is what the City is currently doing that’s relevant and what
several peer cities are doing, as well.
o The Vulnerability Assessment is climate conditions. How has the environment
changed because of climate change?
▪ The Social Vulnerability Assessment is the human focus. How humans are
doing with X3 heat, or flooding and droughts, and how they are being
impacted.
o The Golden Valley plan will focus mainly on the Vulnerability Assessment and
Green House Gases data, as well as the environmental side like water, current
climate conditions, wildlife, and forestry/vegetation based on a number of
models available.
o The focus areas could be in order of what we’re hearing most about from the
community, based on emissions impact, alphabetical.
o 210 responses to the survey as of September 8, 2025.
o Can we post the survey results or have them available for the community to see
just for transparency purposes? They can also be requested through a data
request.
o Sample Focus Area Outline for the Climate Equity Plan – Water
▪ Focus Area 1 – Water
• Vision
• Social Equity & Vulnerability Assessment
• Initiatives/Goals – City Operational & Community Actions:
o Could be water conservation, water quality, runoff,
buffers, habitat, water quantity, erosion, water access.
• Implementation Plan Matrix
o What is the action initiative?
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
September 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm
3
o What is the low-medium-high greenhouse gas emission
estimate?
o Cost – low-medium-high?
o How will we measure it?
o Timeline?
o Lead Role?
o Priority Level? We’ll have to decide what the top 3-4
priorities are per year because you can only do so much
with time and budget.
▪ Make sure goals are measurable.
▪ Keep it short, concise, and easy to understand.
▪ This plan is what we’re communicating to the public about what the City
is doing about climate, as well as what staff will be looking at with our
comprehensive plan and work plans year to year as what the Council and
Community, and Climate Equity Team have identified as top priority
goals.
• The Vision and Executive Summary are two of the first things in
the draft so they’re the first things people see when they open it
and read about what climate change is, what Golden Valley is
doing about it, what are the top actions, and how we’re using the
using and implementing the plan.
o How much information do you share without losing people
and how much do you keep to guide the work?
• Every 3 years a work plan could be made from this with those top
priority actions.
• The Committee has been working on setting up an arts event to engage the community
in the climate equity effort. For example, you could have artists talk about what climate
resiliency looks like in the eyes of the community. Look at different ways for the
community to express themselves.
o Ask students what climate equity means to them and possibly create art to show
this.
• Staff has been to many City events talking about the Climate Equity Plan and asking
people to take the survey.
o Maybe we could put a little flyer on all the tables at Brookview with the QR Code
asking people to fill out the survey while they wait for their food/beverages.
• The MET Council is requiring a look at Greenhouse Gas Emmissions. The nearest year
they have finalized is 2022. They should have 2023 numbers in a couple of months, and
2024 numbers next year some time.
o The City of Golden Valley had 414,908 Metric Tons of CO2 Emmissions which
equals almost 7,000,000 tree seedlings grown for ten years, or 124 wind turbines
running for a year.
▪ The transportation sector has been the number one source of
greenhouse gas emissions in the state for 7 years now.
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
September 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm
4
▪ Businesses are a close second.
o The City’s percentage of business/residential premises in Golden Valley is 90%
residential, 10% business based on numbers from our Energy Action Plan. Our
electricity and natural gas is around 70% business emisisons.
• From 1895 – 2024
o Average annual temp in East Central MN has increased by 3.5 degrees. Most of
that warming taking place during the winter with average winter temps
increasing by 5.6 degrees. There are an increasing number of observed extreme
precipitation events.
o Increased flood risk, prolonged dry spells, public health risks, natural resource
degradation, and air quality are top concerns for the vulnerability assessment.
• What are 4-5 Topics the Commission would like to see in the plan?
o Infrastructure
o Natural Habitat/Green Space
o Transportation
o Energy
o Environmental Justice/Social/Community Dynamics
o Waste Reduction
o Water
o Livability
▪ Hennepin County Ideas
• Energy, Water, and the Built Environment
• Waste and Materials
• Community Cohesion and Resilience
• Natural Systems
• Transportation
o The topics will be chosen by looking at the data and where the big greenhouse
gas emission are and then the community survey.
• Next Steering Committee meeting is September 30.
• Council Work Session on the draft on November 18.
• Plan finalization in December.
5.D. 2024 Recycling Report
• Staff reviewed the memo found in the September 15, 2025 EC Agenda packet.
• Ethan and Commissioner Byl are working to set up a meeting to discuss increasing
participation in the organics program.
5.E. Council Communications
• None
5.F. Commissioner/Staff Communications
• Outdoor Lighting Ordinance
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
September 15, 2025 – 6:30 pm
5
o Chair Klaas met with Ethan, Chloe McGuire, Assistant Police Chief Alice White, and
Planner Jacqueline Kraemer. The current Outdoor Lighting Ordinance is part of the
Zoning Code and any chances the EC recommends will need to go through the
Planning Commission.
▪ The police will not have any connection to this. They just want to make sure
there’s good lighting for citizens and officers.
o The technical issues are addressed in a redline version a Dark Sky consultant
provided for us, but that won’t be more widely distributed until it’s more refined.
▪ The effect of LED lights.
▪ What kind of Kelvin color do we want?
▪ Address and public safety concerns that may come from any proposed
changes.
▪ The operations of the process of administering approvals for lighting plans .
• Audubon Audit
o Brookview is busy with golf operations and solar right now. Fall/Winter will be a
better time. They have staff on hand who are willing to see what we’re doing and try
to document that and provide us with an update. They’re concerned about cost.
• Styrofoam/Single-Use Plastics, Bags, and Containers
o This would require a big lift and require a lot of collaboration with residential,
business, and support from the City. Would City Council support these efforts? An e-
mail was sent to Council Member Ginis to see if Council is interested. She
responded she wasn’t sure it’s the right time due to upcoming elections and new
council members. She said to keep up with staff efforts to decrease single use
products at City sponsored events and to possibly bring it to a work session after the
elections.
• Staff Updates
o Electric Vehicle and Equipment Showcase Event – September 30, 4:00 – 7:00, City
Hall Parking Lot.
6. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Wold, seconded by Commissioner Drawz to adjourn the meeting at
8:00 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Paul Klaas, Chair
7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
October 27, 2025
Agenda Item
7.A. Missing Middle Housing Study
Prepared By
Jacquelyn Kramer, Senior Planner
Summary
Golden Valley, like many first-ring suburbs in the Twin Cities region, is facing growing pressure to
expand housing options in response to shifting demographics, rising housing costs, and changing
household needs. While the city has long been characterized by its predominantly single-family
neighborhoods, there is growing recognition that this limited housing mix no longer meets the diverse
needs of current and future residents. Younger households, aging residents looking to downsize, and
workers seeking to live closer to employment centers all require more varied, flexible, and affordable
housing options than what is currently available. "Missing middle housing" refers to a range of multi-
unit or clustered housing types—such as duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and courtyard apartments—
that are compatible in scale with single-family neighborhoods but offer greater affordability and
choice. These housing types have historically existed in Golden Valley and surrounding communities
but have become increasingly rare due to zoning restrictions and development trends. This project
explores strategies to reintroduce missing middle housing into Golden Valley’s fabric in a way that
supports the city’s goals of strategic redevelopment, local control, and inclusivity.
Staff from Bolton & Menk will present the study and highlight the correlation of housing density and
environmental sustainability. They will then lead a high-level discussion on strategies to promote
environmentally friendly housing density. For further information on housing density and
sustainability, please see the resources linked below.
https://www.sierraclub.org/minnesota/blog/2025/01/environmental-case-urban-density
https://www.unsustainablemagazine.com/benefits-of-high-density-housing/
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10423
Recommended Action
Listen to the presentation from staff, hold a joint discussion between the Environmental Commission
and Planning Commission on the Missing Middle Housing Study and provide feedback on next steps.
Supporting Documents
Draft Presentation
8
MISSING MIDDLE
HOUSING STUDY
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
JOINT COMMISSION | OCT 27TH, 2025
9
Missing Middle Housing Study
Agenda
1. Study Recap
2. Density and Sustainability
3. City’s Powers and Process to Guide Desired Development
4. Example Zoning Tools and Discussion
10
Missing Middle Housing Study
Key Characteristics:
• Medium density - between single family homes and large apartment
buildings
• House-scale - retains the scale and character of single-family
neighborhoods
• Diversity of housing types - ADU’s, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, cluster
developments, and small apartments.
• Walkability - works best in walkable neighborhoods with some access to
transit
• Affordability - often more attainable to a broader swath of middle-income
folks than traditional single-family homes.
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Different ways to achieve the same housing outcome // Different environmental impacts
Conservation Development
source: better town toolkit
Land Use Efficiency
12
Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Mixed neighborhood housing densities
11 units
6.6 acres
13 units
3 acres
40 units
.4 acres
280
120
40
320
160
80
360
200
400
1:36 ratio
240
13
Small
Plex
Small
Plex
Town-
house
Town-
house
Medium PlexDuplex Medium Plex
ADUCourtyard
Density across a neighborhood
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Benefits
Natural Environmental
• Sprawl - Higher housing density can reduce sprawl and preserve
natural resources, lowering land ‘consumption’ and preserve
natural areas and habitats.
• GHG - Concentrating and mixing people and uses can promote
shorter travel distances and multimodal trips, thereby lowering
vehicle emissions and increasing walkability and transit usage.
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Benefits
Resource Consumption
• Infrastructure - Supports efficient infrastructure systems through
reduced needs, materials, and costs.
• Resource Efficiency - Multi-unity residential development enables
efficient energy usage and water distribution, decreasing resource
needs per person.
• Construction Materials: Lowers development costs and materials
consumption on a per person basis.
• Supply Chain and Deliveries: Density can create shorter delivery
and supply chain travel demands, reducing resource needs,
improves timelines, and can reduce costs.
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Livability Benefits
Development Efficiency
• Attractor - Necessary to draw and support jobs, stores,
entertainment, and other destinations to be viable.
• Housing Options - Generally offers more housing options at
more price points for more people - promotes inclusivity, housing
security, and stronger social networks.
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Livability Benefits
Quality of Place
• Connectivity - Allows for more people and uses to be located in
nearer proximity, promoting social inteactions and shorter travel
distances between destinations
• Tax Base - Generates a more effective tax base when measured
on a per acre basis.
• Community Character - Often results in a stronger and more
inviting built form and character - density can result in a built
environment that invites people to explore, spend more time, and
make connections with each other and the world around them.
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Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
(some) City Tools
• Zoning - land use allowances, site and building design standards,
density allowances, site improvement incentives
• Approval Processes - streamlining approval processes for desired
outcomes, adjusting fees
• Incentives and Financing - financial subsidies, grant applications,
land ownership, EDA/HRA driven developments, grant and loan
programs,
• Programming and Training - City-lead or supported
programming, technical trainings, resource guides for desirable
development and site outcomes
19
Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
(some) Strategies to Connect Density Allowances with Environmental Benefits
• Large mature front yard trees
• Native plant preferences
• Useable yard requirements
• Sidewalk requirements
• Increase allowable height
• Reduced parking requirements
• Solar panels or utility reuse
20
Missing Middle Housing Study
Housing Density and Environmental Sustainability
Question - what excites you about this?
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
October 27, 2025
Agenda Item
7.B. Climate Equity Plan
Prepared By
Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community Development Director
Ethan Kehrberg
Summary
The Climate Equity Plan is well underway, with a 3 month update attached to this case. Also attached
is a draft presentation with facilitated questions. At this meeting, city staff will provide a presentation
(which may be amended slightly from the draft attached) and request that the Planning Commission
and Environmental Commission work together on providing feedback.
Recommended Action
Listen to the presentation from staff, engage the Planning Commission on the Climate Equity Plan and
provide feedback on next steps.
Supporting Documents
Draft Presentation
Climate Equity Plan - 3 Month Update
22
Golden Valley
Climate Equity Plan
October 27, 2025
23
Climate Equity
•Climate change disproportionately
impacts vulnerable communities
•There is a long history of discrimination in land
use, housing, infrastructure
investment,transportation, exposure to air and
water pollution, and other factors that interact
with and are exacerbated by climate change
•Creating an equitable future requires equitable
implementation of sustainability,resilience,
and adaptation strategies to support
underserved and climate-
vulnerable communities
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The
Climate
Equity Plan
will:
•Set a clear vision for Golden Valley’s role in climate
action with a key focus on equity and ensuring a
healthy environment for future generations.
•Identify practical, impactful, and clear climate
adaptation and mitigation goals and strategies for both
City operations and the community at-large,
prioritizing meaningful and timely implementation.
•Address the social and environmental inequities
related to resilience and climate change.
•Address the anticipated requirements for the City’s
2050 Comprehensive Plan, as required by the
Metropolitan Council. The Plan shall include any data
provided in the Metropolitan Council’s Systems
Statements.
•Meet the City Council’s vision for a more equitable and
resilient future.
25
Reduce greenhouse gas
emissions Prepare for weather changes
Understand climate concerns
from the community,
including those most
vulnerable to the impacts
Work together to find
solutions
Create action steps to benefit
all who live, work,and play in
Golden Valley
Satisfy climate requirements
of Metropolitan Council’s
upcoming Comprehensive
Planning process
Broad Goals of the Plan
26
Draft Topic Areas
27
Natural Systems and
Water
Promote equita ble access to n ature through respon sible management
of the natural and built environment, advancing practices that protect
water quality and strengthen environmental resilience.
28
Community Cohesion
and Public Health
A con nected , safe, and inclusive commun ity that promotes wellb ein g
and public health by addressing the social, environmental, and
economic factors that shape quality of life for all residents.
29
Energy and the Built
Environment
Use (or design and a dapt) the b uilt environment in our community to
advance energy eff iciency and climate resilient municipal buildings,
facilities, and infrastructure powered in creasingly by renewable
energy and electrification.
30
Transportation
Sustainable a nd resilient tran sportation systems that provide safe,
connected, accessible, and af fordable mobility options for all while
supp orting electrification , green infrastructure, and green spaces that
are climate resilient.
31
Waste and Materials
Exp and op portunities for waste prevention , reuse, an d diversion, and
strengthen edu cation and engagement to reduce enviro nmental
impacts and foster a commun ity culture of resource conservation.
32
Timeline
•June -Released RFP for consultant to support development of plan
•July -Selected WSB as consultant
•July -October -Conducted community engagement, research, data analysis
•November 13 -Arts Event at Brookview to inspire action related to the CEP
•November-December -Draft the full plan
•February -March 2026 -Present plan to City Council for adoption
•Spring 2026 -Begin implementation
33
Initial Survey Findings
34
Initial findings and key themes
Initial findings and key themes:
1.Green space as community identity
2.Safety and stability as priorities
3.Intergenerational community
concerns
4.Transportation options
5.Emerging support for proactive climate action
35
We need your help gathering input
Survey is open through October 31, 2025
•Surveymonkey.com/r/ClimateEquityPlan
•Leveraging your relationships:
•Community Partnerships
•Who can you meet with, talk to?
•Activating engaged public
•Activating disengaged public
•Climate Equity Arts Event on November 13
36
Initial Climate Findings
37
414,908
Total 2022 Emissions MT
CO2e
Tree seedlings grown for
10 years
6,860,539 124
Wind turbines
running for a year=
38
Summertime precipitation is
projected to decrease with
longer dry spells. Water demand
in urban communities may
outpace supply causing water
stress.
Increased Flood Risk
High precipitation events
increase risk of flooding
exacerbated by impermeable
surfaces in urban spaces. Critical
infrastructure disruptions.
Prolonged Dry Spells
Natural Resource Degradation
Warmer surface waters increase
likelihood of algal blooms.
Increased spring precipitation
results in greater pest and disease
transmission for flora and fauna.
EAB impacts.
Public Health Risks
Heat exposure risk for those
most vulnerable increases and
habitat for vector-borne disease
carriers spreads. Wildfire smoke
and air quality impacts.
Air Quality
Increased ground-level ozone
and particulate matter from
windblown dust or wildfire
smoke.
39
Discussion Questions:
How do you see zoning and land use fitting in with
the Climate Equity Plan?
How can we make planning more sustainable and
resilient?
Any other feedback?
40
Thank You.
Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist
763-593-8083
ekehrberg@goldenvalleymn.gov
www.goldenvalleymn.gov
41
Three Month Update: Climate Equity Plan
The Golden Valley Climate Equity Plan effort is well underway, thanks to the support and
engagement of staff, elected officials, other City leaders, and community members. We
have been working with consultants at WSB to develop the plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, address climate vulnerabilities in our community, and build equitable resilience
and adaptation. The Climate Equity Plan (CEP) will meet the Metropolitan Council’s climate
requirements of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and will be a guide for continued
sustainability work in the city. You can find the webpage for the CEP here:
https://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/816/Climate-Equity-Plan
We are excited to share this update for the first three months of the project.
Community Engagement
The CEP survey opened on July 25 and can be found at
Surveymonkey.com/r/ClimateEquityPlan. We have over 300 responses so far, and we have
been promoting the survey online and at 8 local events. We have also completed
“intercept” pop-ups at Metro Transit Route 755 bus stops. We have proactively reached out
to multifamily property owners, businesses, community organizations, and email lists. The
survey will be open until October 31, and any additional support in reaching underserved or
vulnerable communities is appreciated.
The top themes heard so far are:
• Green space as community identity
• Safety and stability as priorities
• Intergenerational community concerns
• Transportation options
• Emerging support for proactive climate action
Data Collection
WSB has completed an existing conditions scan, including environmental and climate
data, as well as a peer city review. We are currently working on:
o Analysis of recently received community greenhouse gas data (2022) from
Metropolitan Council
o Analysis of significant City operational data, gathered by staff.
o Drafting climate conditions analysis
42
Environmental Commission
The Environmental Commission has met twice on this topic. WSB facilitated a meeting in
August to walk through project timeline, align on objectives, and provide survey information
for the commissioners to share. In September, they talked through the draft table of
contents, the GHG data, survey data (to date) and narrowing down plan topics. The
Environmental Commission has identified a point person, Commissioner Ellen Brenna, to
attend Steering Committee meetings and work closely with staff outside of group meetings.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee was launched and consists of department heads, other key City
staff, and Commission and Council liaisons. They have also met twice, with another
meeting planned later this year. In August, they talked through project timeline, project
team roles and plan goals, public engagement, and how to best share the survey. They met
in September to review the draft plan sections, table of contents, an outline of sample
topics, the initial greenhouse gas (GHG) findings, and survey data (to date). They also
provided WSB feedback on the draft vision statements for each topic area.
Save the Date
An arts event is planned for Thursday, November 13 at Brookview from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.
Perpich will be joining us and students will be attending to help engage residents and show
off their art skills! Please attend if you are able. We are excited to engage the community on
their vision for what climate equity looks like in a new way. More details to come.
43
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Community Development
763-512-2345 / 763-512-2344 (fax)
Golden Valley Environmental Commission Meeting
October 27, 2025
Agenda Item
7.C. Staff Updates on Outdoor Lighting Code, Brookview Solar, Staffing, and Recent Events
Prepared By
Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community Development Director
Ethan Kehrberg
Summary
Please review the attached staff updates.
Recommended Action
Receive staff updates and provide feedback.
Supporting Documents
Staff Updates (EC)
44
Date: October 27, 2025
To: Environmental Commission
From: Ethan Kehrberg, Sustainability Specialist and Chloe McGuire, Deputy Community
Development Director
Subject: Staff Updates
Staff Update on Process Required to Amend Outdoor Lighting Code
Staff wanted to provide a run-down on the required actions related to the Environmental
Commission’s item related to updating the outdoor lighting code. Outdoor Lighting is currently
Section 113 –153 of the City’s Zoning Code.
Updating the City’s Outdoor Lighting has not been indicated as a high priority City Code
amendment in the past. While this project appears relatively simple on the face, as staff have
continued to dig into this project, additional questions pop up. If this is a priority, staff would
advise that this would likely take over a year or year-and-a-half to complete based on the
scope. Staff would recommend the City engage a consultant to help advise on this work based
on the numerous moving pieces and unique scope. Based on recent consulting prices for code
amendments, staff would anticipate approximately $60,000 + for this work. The numbers would
be higher if staff requested additional code sections (e.g. site plan, site plan amendment)
sections of code are updated in tandem or if additional engagement (e.g. lighting contractors,
internal engagement) is completed by the consultant.
Because this is a joint work session with the Planning Commission, staff felt it prudent to
provide both commissions an update and receive any high-level feedback on the below
information.
Background
DarkSky, or more commonly typed as “Dark Skies” is an organization that focuses on
reducing light pollution. Their website is: https://darksky.org/. DarkSky focuses largely
on outdoor lighting as the key means to reducing light pollution but also has information
v
45
on satellites and other users. As it relates to outdoor lighting, DarkSky focuses on the
following five principles for lighting
1. Useful – Does the lighting have a specific purpose? If not, you should not put
it in.
2. Targeted – You should shield all lighting and ‘target’ it towards the area you
want to light. Dark skies compliant lighting requires fixtures provide their
backlight, up light, and glare (BUG) ratings. In many situations, their
recommendation for this lighting is that there is zero or minimal backlight, up
light, or glare.
3. Low Level – Lights should be as dim as possible.
4. Controlled – Lights should have timers and motion detectors, dimmed when
possible, and turned off when not needed.
5. Warm-colored – Warmer lights should be used whenever possible.
Internal Process
Below are the processes that staff have identified that would need to take place in order
to present a code for public consumption.
1. Planning Process
a. Background Research and Code Drafting – Staff would need to research
our peer communities and learn from their processes. Staff is familiar
with enforcing a Dark Skies compliant ordinance, and would want to talk
to a few other communities about how the project works in practice. Few
of our peer communities have true Dark Skies compliant lighting
ordinances. Staff’s research indicates that few communities within the
Twin Cities have Dark Skies compliant lighting, except the cities of
Richfield, Plymouth, and Lakeville, which require new lighting to be dark
skies compliant. After researching, staff would need to draft an updated
lighting section that includes permit processes. Planning staff does not
currently process lighting permits other than through the limited
oversight during a site plan review process. Any code changes would also
likely affect the current resident-requested streetlight process that is
directed by the Engineering Department in collaboration with Xcel
Energy. This process could also change under direction of Council.
b. Lighting Permit – Initial review of the ordinance changes, staff has flagged
that the city does not have a lighting permit or a lighting permit fee. This
process would need to be created, code amended, and fee schedule
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updated. This would need to run in tandem with this process, and would
also require legal and equity review (steps 2 – 3).
c. Site Plan Process – Initial review of this project has also indicated that the
City’s site plan review process does not sufficiently require lighting and
has other items staff would like to update. As this section of code touches
every built project, staff would like to update this section of code
regardless of the lighting amendment.
d. Site Plan Amendment Process – In addition to the above, staff has flagged
that the City should update the site plan amendment process. These
changes are required regardless of this code but should take place first.
e. Staff Training – As noted above, two staff members are familiar with
enforcing these types of ordinances in another community. Other staff
should attend trainings or webinars on enforcing and understanding
these requirements based on the complexity and uniqueness of these
requirements. It would be ideal if these trainings could happen prior to
code being drafted or finalized, so that the knowledge gained can be
incorporated into the draft code.
2. Legal Review – All code amendments require legal review, which can take a few
months to finalize. Since this type of code is so unique in the Twin Cities, we
anticipate legal review requiring additional research on allowable code
requirements.
3. Equity Review – All code requirements require internal equity review, which
typically takes about 45 days.
4. Internal Engagement
a. Parks – One of the largest lighting users is the Parks and Recreation
Department. Planning staff is familiar with how dark skies compliant
lighting regulations have impacted parks users in previous communities.
In previous communities, staff had to issue CUPs for parks lighting as dark
skies compliant lighting does not typically provide sufficient lighting for
large-scale parks, ballfields, and stadium lighting. Parks and Recreation
Department staff would likely want to engage the Open Space and
Recreation Commission (OSRC) and receive training on the impact of the
lighting changes prior to any code presented to the public.
b. Public Works – The Public Works Department installs lighting in the City.
Staff needs to complete additional engagement with Public Works to see
what lighting options exist that are Dark Skies compliant, where we order
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our lights, and the costs associated with the compliant fixtures and how
those will be funded.
c. Police – The Police Department speaks with residents, business owners,
and property owners often about safety and lighting. We had an initial
conversation with the Police Department if Dark Sky Lighting would be an
option for the City and how this might affect public safety. The Police
Department noted interest in learning more, but staff would need to
engage the patrol division in order to ensure that lighting changes would
not make their jobs more difficult day-to-day. In addition, cities generally
recommend more lighting as it relates to crime, so staff would want to
fully vet these regulations from a crime perspective in order to ensure
that residents would still feel safe and that public safety is kept at the
forefront.
d. Lighting Audit – Staff would want to have a full understanding of what
lighting other jurisdictions use along their roadways (Hennepin County,
MnDOT) and if these regulations would apply to those lights. Initial
research indicates that these types of lights are typically more impactful
than City lighting, but exempt from City lighting regulations. Staff would
want a full understanding of what lights this Code could impact, and if
this Code requirement would make a difference in the City.
5. External Engagement
a. Lighting Contractors – One of the largest challenges as it relates to these
types of lighting ordinances is implementing the code. Lighting
contractors, especially in the Midwest and Twin Cities, are not trained or
used to providing the required data on lighting specs and lighting permits
that these types of codes require. Prior to a significant code change, staff
would want to engage these contractors and typical users so we can
make the code functional for them. This type of code, in practice,
requires significant contractor training, back-and-forth on permits, cheat-
sheets, handouts, and FAQs. Staff would want to understand the needs of
our local contractors prior to implementation so that permits were as
efficient and seamless as possible.
b. Commercial Users – Staff would like to engage commercial users, who
often utilize large-scale lighting, to understand their needs and if these
types of regulations would work for their sites. Staff want to understand
the business perspective on lighting. We would want to understand what
type of lighting they have, why they chose that, and what the impact of
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these regulations would be in practice. This may affect signage lighting as
well and will require updates to the sign code. Additionally, we would
need to engage these users directly, so they understood the ‘triggers’
within the code that required lighting change to dark skies compliant
lighting. (Does switching out lightbulbs trigger it? Do only new pole lights
require it? Does a parking lot retrofit require it? Or is it only for tear-
down and rebuilds?) Commercial users certainly can comply with these
regulations, but we would want to understand the impact.
c. Multifamily Users – Apartment users also tend to utilize lighting in a more
significant manner and tend to struggle more to comply with these types
of lighting regulations than single-family homes. Staff would want to
speak to the property managers or owners of apartment buildings to
understand if their residents have requested additional lighting once the
buildings have been put in, if the lighting has deterred any crime, and
what their preferences are. Similar to the above, apartment buildings
certainly can comply with these types of regulations, but we would want
to understand the impact.
d. Lighting District Users – The City implements many streetlights via
lighting district agreements with private property owners. There are over
225 individual street lighting districts in the City. Staff have not been able
to fully engage internally on this item to understand the entire process,
but staff would want to understand each of those agreements and the
impact that a code amendment would have on the existing agreements
and new agreements.
External Process
1. Planning Commission – The Zoning Code is under the purview of the Planning
Commission. They hold all public hearings and make recommendations on all
changes to the Zoning Code, which is then moved to the City Council for final
decision. This would be the first step in the formal, external process.
2. Community Engagement – Staff would want to complete thorough community
engagement where we engaged residents on lighting regulations. We would
want to notify apartment users, single family homeowners, block club leaders,
and others not notified in the Internal Process noted abov e. Staff would want to
understand:
- How do residents feel about current lighting regulations?
- Do residents want more or less lighting?
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- Do residents relate lighting to their personal sense of security?
Through this community engagement process, staff would want to fully
understand the street lighting district requirements and City Council direction on
lighting in general.
3. City Council – City Council is the ultimate decision-maker for code amendments
and would need to approve/deny at a regular meeting. They would likely want at
least one work session on this amendment prior, due to the unique scope.
GreenCorps Service Term
David Smith began his 11-month Minnesota GreenCorps service term with the City of Golden
Valley on October 13, 2025. David will be helping with a variety of projects throughout the year,
including implementation of environmental plans, engagement at multifamily properties, zero
waste and recycling efforts, green infrastructure, GreenStep Cities, and other sustainability
initiatives.
Brookview Solar Update
Apadana, LLC is under contract to complete the solar panel project on Brookview. Staff are still
working towards a goal of finalizing the project in 2025, but are currently running into delays
with Xcel Energy, who must permit the project via interconnection agreements. The City
Council recently approved two interconnection agreements to continue the project moving
forward. Staff will continue to provide updates on the project.
EV & Electrification Event
On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the City hosted its third electric vehicle and electrification-
focused event. Numerous residents attended to show off their electric vehicles, and our Public
Works Department attended to highlight electric tool options.
Environmental Manager Hiring Update
Emma Rakestraw, PE, will start on October 27, 2025. Emma has been working at Jacobs as a
Resilience and Water Resources Engineer for the past 8 years, where she has worked on local
and national-level projects. She has over a decade of experience managing complex projects.
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