10-21-10 Agenda Connection Project Board of DirectorsAGENDA
Envision Connection Project Executive Board
October 21, 2010 7 pm, Brookview Community Center, Conference Room
Board of Directors: Linda Loomis, Chair, Linda Gitelis, Sharon Glover, Jim
Heidelberg, Cindy Inselmann, Helene Johnson, Philip Lund,
Dean Penk, Marshall Tanick, Blair Tremere. Luke Weisberg.
Staff:
Sandy Werts.
1. Call to Order/Introductions/Roster Update
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Approval of the Minutes of September 16, 2010
4. Proposed Community Foundation/Non-Profit
a. Transitional Board
b. Next Steps
5. Bridge Building Activities
a. Lilac Planting Recap
b. Valley Volunteer Day
c. Bridge Builders Quarterly Meeting
d. Envision Award
e. Ice Cream Social
f. Buckthorn Busting
g. Garden Club
h. Neighbors Helping Neighbors
i. After School in the Valley
j. Natural History Museum
k. Memorial Day Parade
6. Valley Days
7. Communications
• Taste of Golden Valley
8. Recruitment of Members to the Executive Board
9. Golden Valley's 125 Year Anniversary
10. Future meetings
November 18, December 16
11.Adjournment
Envision Connection Project
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, September 16, 2010 7 pm Brookview Community Center, Conference Room
Present: Linda Loomis, Chair, Lynn Gitelis, Sharon Glover, Jim Heidelberg, Philip Lund, Blair
Tremere.
Absent: Cindy Inselmann, Helene Johnson, Dean Penk, Marshall Tanick, Luke Weisberg.
Staff: Sandy Werts.
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:12 pm by chair Linda Loomis.
II. Approval of Agenda
The Agenda was approved as printed.
III. Approval of Minutes of August 19, 2010
The minutes were approved as written. Moved by Heidelberg and seconded by Tremere, the
minutes were approved unanimously.
IV. Proposed Community Foundation/Non-Profit
a. Transitional Board -Tremere reported that there was a good turnout for the first
meeting. The committee is moving ahead with planning in order to incorporate in
January. There vvas a comprehensive discussion on the details. Penk and Lund set up
a subcommittee structure on topics to be covered. The subcommittees are 1)
Registration, 2) Board Structure, 3) Operations/directors/marketing, 4) Dispersement of
Funds/fiduciary
b. Next Steps -Sharon Glover will .contact Penk to get updated.
V. Bridge Building Activities
a. Lilac. Planting- A meeting of the Lilac Project Committee is coming up on Monday,
September 20.
Lund needs some backer boards to put up another set of signs. He is moving them
every three or four days.
Blair reported that he has not received any cash contributions. Possible sponsors were
identified and letters were sent. He has not made follow-up calls. About $400 to $500
is needed. The food is covered -coffee and granola bars for snacks and lunch. Werts
will a-mail the board the promotional information.
b. Envision Award -Marian Helland will receive the Envision Award at the September 21
Council Meeting. Chris Jordan will present the award during the 6:30 to 7pm portion of
the meeting. Board Members should try to attend the meeting.
Phil Lund submitted a nomination for the Kelly Drive Pumpkin Growers Association to
receive the award. Tremere, Gitelis and Heidelberg reviewed the nomination and
added "Recreation" as one of the Envision Categories this event addresses.
Motion: It was Moved by Tremere and seconded by Heidelberg that the Envision Award
be awarded to the founding members of the Kelly Drive Pumpkin Growers association,
with the addition of recreation to the categories it satisfies. The motion passed.
Lund would like the award presented at the Festival on October 9, besides at the
Council Meeting.
c. Bridge Builders -The quarterly meeting will be held at Byerly's on October 23 from 10
am to noon. A tour of the facility is scheduled prior to the event. Werts will work with
Tanick to send out a notice for the event.
d: Ice Cream Social-Lund will work with Jeanne Andre to get a final accounting on the
money.
e. Dog Park- This item will be dropped off the agenda, until someone steps forward to do
the work.
f. Buckthorn Busting- Tremere is requesting a grant. from the Watershed District. He
said there is a group in the city working on "buckthorn" busting. The DNR website has
good information about clearing buckthorn.
g. Garden Club-Loomis reported that the Garden Club weeded the medians on
Winnetka on September 11. They collected 23 bags of weeds.. The club is working with
the city to get residents to adopt plots. Jeanne Andre and Lynn Gitelis attended the
community garden "weed and feed on September 14 at Valley Presbyterian Church.
On September 28 The Alliance for Sustainability is getting churches together to start
community gardens.
h. Neighbors Helping Neighbors-No report.
i. After School in the Valley-Loomis contacted librarian Mary Anderson and offered to
write a grant application to Hennepin County for funds for youth and teen programming.
She reported that the YMCA isn't involved as it has been in the past.
Loomis was contacted by a resident of the Common Bond complex about a need for
programs at the site. She has talked to recreation supervisors Brian Erickson and Andy
Soltvedt about offering programs. at Valley Square Commons.
j. Volunteers in the Valley-this wil( be part of the 125 Anniversary Celebrations.
Jennifer Lara is spearheading this one-day volunteer event. The committee will be
looking for projects to get residents involved.
k. Natural History Museum-No report.
I. Memorial Day Parade-No report.
6. Valley Days
No report.
7. Communications
Loomis reported that the September/October Newsletter will be out in two weeks.
8. Recruitment of members to the Executive Board
9. Golden Valley's 125t" Anniversary
The initial meeting is set for October 22 at 7 pm in the Council Chambers. An invitation letter
has been sent and ten RSVPS' have been received.
In conjunction with this Mayor Loomis has called a meeting of the Faith Community for 3 pm
the same day. She is also trying to have a meeting with area businesses.
10. Future Meetings
Meetings will be held at Community Center. Future Meeting dates are: October 21, November
18 and December 16.
11.Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Sandy alerts, Volunteer Coordinator
BRIDGE BUILDERS foster community engagement by
initiating projects based on their special interests, or
helping with other initiatives.
VALLEY VOLUNTEER DAY
HELP PROMOTE HEALTHY, FUN, '
BEAUTIFUL LIVING IN GOLDEN VALLEY
In conjunction with'Golderti Valley's 125th anniversary, Bridge
guilders wants to establish an annual city-wide clean-up day in
October 2ot1. Nelp us plan this event and make it a success!
We need:
• ideas to help improve our community that can be accomplished.
in one day with the help of many
=::individuals, neighborhoods, #riends to volunteer their time fora
few hours on one single day
-sponsors (local businesses) to help facilitate this da~+ so it can
run smoothly
WALL IDEAS WELGOME» wALLAGES NEEDED
Contact: 1~ N N E ~.'~'' N~
Sandy Werts ~~lc~en
Volunteer Coordinator vct~jet~
swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov .~_>~--- -~~~°
763-5t2-2341 ~,,, .- _
Phone:
Email:
BRIDGE BUILDERS foster community engagement by
initiating projects based on their special interests, or
helping with other initiatives.
VALLEY VOLUNTEER DAY
HELP PROMOTE HEALTHY, FUN:,
BEAVTIFVI LIVING IN GOLDEN VALLEY
In conjunction with Golden Valley's 125th anniversary, Bridge
Builders wants fo establish an annual city-wide clean-up day in
<:October 2ott. Nelp us plan this-event and make it a success!
We need:
• ideas to help improve our community that carr be accomplished
in one day-with the help:: of many
• individuals, neighborhoods, friends to volunteer their time for a
few hours on one single day
• sponsors (local businessesjto help facilitate this day so it can
run smoothly -
~ALt IDEAS. WELCOME^• ^~ALL AGES NEEDED
Contact: ~'~ N ~'~"'~ ~~
Sandy Werts ~~jc~en
Volunteer Coordinator _ ucllje~
swerts@goldenvalleymn.gov _ - - -
763-512-2341 ,.-
Name:
Phone:
Email:
Suggestions for projects, groups, and a new name for an Annual Suggestions for projects, groups, and a new name for an Annual
Volunteer Day: Volunteer Day:
•
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loin us for an evening Filled with music, ~;
conversation, and great Food From a variety of
Golden Valley restaurants. ~ silent auction will
feature theme baskets donated by local businesses. `~
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~~ ~ Wednesday, November 10, 2010 ~~ ii
a
5:30-8 pm
Metropolitan Ballroom
y4 ,;,,~ 541 8 Wayzata Blvd
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.Tickets: $20
Available in advance at
Brookview community center (763-512-2345), Best Wishes
F~ora~ (763-593-1777), Golden /alley city Fall (763-593-8000),
or at the door ~
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~~TI NG
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To: Golden Valley 125th Anniversary Celebration Planning Group
From: Marshall H. Tanick
Date: October 11, 2010
Re: Upcoming Planning Meeting
The next meeting of the 125th Anniversary Planning Group is
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Brookview Community Center
200 Brookview Parkway
From
7 to 8:30 pm
In the Willow Room
Refreshments will be served
This is an important meeting. At this meeting events will be determined
and the planning process will begin. If you are unable to attend, please
send someone from your organization. You are also welcome to bring a
guest and invite anyone else you think should be involved.
The Agenda will include:
• Identification Of Principal Events And Community Events To Be
Branded
• Selection Of Specific Anniversary Events
• Implementation Plans and Process
The notes from the initial meeting are attached.
I look forward to moving ahead on developing the celebration activities.
Please R.S.V.P. to Sandy Werts at swerts ~goldenvalleymn.gov or call
her at 763-512-2341. We would like to get an a-mail address for everyone
for future correspondence.
Meeting Notes
Golden Valley 125t" Anniversary Celebration
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 7 pm, City Council Chambers
I. Welcome and Introductions
Moderator Marshall Tanick welcomed those in attendance and introductions were
made. A list of those in attendance is attached to this document.
II. Purpose of Meeting
Tanick explained the purpose of the meeting is to start talking. about Golden Valley's
125 Anniversary. There are a number of activities that already occur that can be
branded as a125 Anniversary activity such as Golden Valley Days and a new "day of
service" that is being discussed. He would like to emerge from this meeting with some
possible concepts and planning groups.
III. What We Can Do and How Can You Be Involved
This will be the discussion for the evening. Hopefully participants will leave with ideas
to consider and talk about with their organizations
IV. Idea. Exploration
Tanick asked the group to suggest possible events that could occur in the coming
year. Ideas suggested are
• Elementary essay contest
• History bus tour to 1D0 year old houses
• Geocaching event
• Commissioning a mural
• Golden Valley Hall of Fame
• Golden Valley Goes to War Exhibit or presentation
• Music in the Parks
• Famous Legal Cases
• GV Historical Society monthly programs
• Look at the future
• Tour of Golden Valley High School -now Breck School
• Tour of Golden Valley Lutheran Junior College -now Perpich Center for the
Arts
• Sports Teams -Little League
• Neighborhood History -Night to Unite
• Corporate History
o General Mills
o Liberty Carton
o Honeywell
o Tenant
• Future
o Service Club/Chamber
^ Lunch with afuturist - "Tomorrow's golden Valley"
^ State Demographer
• Honor oldest residents
• Look at diversity in Golden Valley
• Native American History in Golden Valley
• Golden Valley and Cars
• KARE 11
• Golden Valley Celebrates
• Library
• Antique Road Show
• Cemetery Tour
• Service Day
• Music Festival ,
V. IdeaAdoption
Tanick again emphasized that current community events or programs could be
branded as a 125 Anniversary event. An example suggested -the Spring Fling and
Auction sponsored by the Golden Valley Women's Club planned for April 30, 2011
Ideas emphasized included:
• GV Historical Society Monthly meetings since they are already planned
• Neighborhood History
• Corporate History
o General Mills had an archivist.
• Library Involvement
• Service Day
VI. Coordination Group
Tanick asked for people to serve on Coordination Group and who should be involved.
The groups suggested are:
1. Golden Valley Historical Society
2. Scouts
3. Invite those who couldn't make it tonight
4. General Mills archivist and external relations
5. Sharon Soike
6. Perpich Center
7. Little League -Peter
8. GV Country club
9. Faith Community
VII. Time Line
• Coordination Group Meet would meet again by the end of October -suggested
dates are Wednesday, Oct 27 or Thursday, Oct 28
• Finalize ideas by November 15
VIII. Resource Development
• Funding -How to raise money to fund activities. Some suggestions were
prints and note cards featuring Golden Valley sites; donations from General
Mills or Banks.
• Facilities -What facilities are available to host activities? The GV Country
Club and Brookview Community Center were suggested.
• Other organizations or people to include -Tanick suggested those in
attendance to go back to their organizations and see what they would like to
do.
IX. Summary/Next Steps
Tanick summarized. the points of the meeting. Everyone will be sent the notes from
the meeting.
A suggestion was made that new city stationary should say something like "Golden
Valley Celebrates 125 years".
A suggestion was made to have a play created about Golden Valley.
The actual date of incorporation is December 16, 1886
X. Adjournment
It's a Scary Time to Be a Weed
BY ANNE MnRn: Cxn~R
They come to hiking trails and aban-
doned lots armed with shovels, chain
saws and souped-up fazm equip-
ment-all in the name of wrestling
weeds.
Volunteers are reclaiming public
parks and carving out nature trails in
spaces overrun by innocent-sounding
plants like Tree of Heaven, multiflora
rose and purple loosestrife. Gardeners
call these "invasives," and the volunteer
azmies aim to cleaz them out. Most of
the weeds are non-natives and may
have entered the U.S. as a seed, tucked
inadvertently into cargo, or as a pretty
garden addition-and have since made
a mess. "When I was a kid, you could
see straight through any woods. Today,
you can't. It's just blocked" with weeds,
says Marc Imlay, a retired biologist who
volunteers from five to 40 hours a
week clearing invasives from parks in
the Washington D.C. area.
Portland, Ore., funds the "No Ivy
League," which organizes volunteer
"work parties" on some Saturday morn-
ings to remove English ivy in the Forest
Park area. Recently, a singles group of
community volunteers in Washington
D.C. pulled weeds in the Potomac River
Gorge for the Nature Conservancy.
In Maryland's Montgomery County, a
"Weed Warrior" program trains volun-
teers to recognize invasives so they can
get to work pulling them up in 400
county parks. Begun in 1999 with a
handful of participants, the program
now numbers 700 certified warriors,
says forest ecologist Carole Bergmann,
who runs it. Volunteers train with pazk
officials before heading out, and they
are encouraged to wear the group's hat
while in the fie]d.
There are about 5,000 invasive plant
species in the U.S. today smothering
trees, trails and even waterways. Lack-
ing the predators and pests of their na-
tive climates, these tough plants can
run rampant in thew adopted homes,
often surviving and even thriving in
poor soil and little water. As housing
developments and other new infrastruc-
ture disturb landscapes and create
clearings, the problem is getting worse,
scientists say. Climate change has en-
couraged the kudzu vine, widely known
as "the vine that ate the South," to
climb as far north as New England.
In 2004, neighbors in Cheverly, Md.,
became interested in a five-acre stretch
of woods running alongside a nearby
creek. "Nobody ever used them because
they couldn't get through the junk to
see these beautiful trees and streams
and pond," says Cathy Smith, a free-
lance writer. Invasives including Chi-
nesewisteria and Japanese stilt grass,
plus trash that had snuck in from a
busy highway, were ovemimring the na-
tive plants.
That fall, Ms. Smith and her husband
put a notice in the town newsletter ask-
ing neighbors to help them cleaz weeds
and build a trail. To their surprise,
about 15 people showed up on a Satur-
day morning. "It was a whole lot of
people we would have never met before,
but who were all interested in having a
Please turn to the next page
Mike Callahan, mayor of Cheverly, Md., wrestles a multiflora rose with a weed wrench.
'~ '~~A- D ~ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. ~
It's a Scary Time to Be a Weed
Continued from theprior page
place to take their kids and walk
the dog," says Ms. Smith. "Peo-
ple brought weed whackers,
chain saws, and we hacked our
way through very dense, over-
'grown woods."
Today, a regular weed-cleaz-
ing takes place on the last Satur-
day of every month. The group
calls themselves Friends of
Lower Beaverdam Creek, Ms.
Smith says, and brings plenty of
coffee. Now, the trail is almost a
mile long and growing. Home-
made markers point to native
trees such as paw-paws and
birches that once were choked.
Volunteers have noticed a return
of buds and butterflies.
' '9t's really become part of our
community," says Mike Callahan,
Cheverly's mayor, of the woods.
"They did this on their own. The
only thing the town ever pro-
vided them was space in our
newsletter." Because of the
patchwork of town and county
ownerships in the woods, plus
the local utility company's right-
of-way in certain sections, volun-
teers were probably the only
ones who could have got the job
done so quickly. "The town
would have been paralyzed by
the process," the mayor says.
The difference between a
"weed" and a flower is, of
course, often in the eye of the
beholder. There aze native spe-
cies-black-eyed susans, for ex-
ample-that might aggressively
"naturalize," seeding and spread-
ing if left to their own devices,
and some gardeners might start
to think of these plants as weeds.
But volunteers concentrate on
non-natives because of their per-
sistence: They will completely
overpower less-competitive spe-
cies if not kept in check.
Aggressive weeds threaten to
muscle out some native species
that provide food and habitat for
buds and other fauna. In West-
ern states, invasive cheatgrass
contributes to grassland fires
that destroy sagebrush, an im-
portant • food source for the
Greater Sage-Grouse, a large na-
tive bird whose numbers are
dwindling. "We're talking about
a total transformation of an eco-
system," says Richard Mack,
ecology professor at Washington
ONLINE TODAY: See photos of
eradication efforts and a video
about 'Kudzilla' at WSJ.com.
State University, Pullman.
The economic impact of in-
vasive plants-from re-
moval efforts to agri-
c u l t u r a l r~` •
losses-totals ~ ~
about $34 billion a ~~'
year, says David Pi- ~
mentel, Cornell ,,.,~
University profes-
sor of ecology
and agriculture. 3~.
A handful of resi- \}
dents in Spartan- ~ t' ~'
burg, S.C., got to- ~,~
gether in 2004 to
fight kudzu. "In "'"""'
the first years,
our No. l obstacle
was that folks had ac-
cepted kudzu as being inevitable
and unstoppable," says Newt
Hardie, the group's 75-year-old
co-founder. Now, the Kudzu Co-
alition has about a dozen regu-
lars, many of them retired scien-
tists, engineers and machinists.
The group assesses sites, clears
them alone or with other groups
and helps other neighborhoods
start weed-wrangling efforts.
Signs around Spartanburg
identify areas where the coali-
tion has made its mazk. Group
members helped a colleague re-
rig his skid-steer loader to han-
dle the oceans of aggressive
vines. Paul David Blakeley, the
owner, carved a Mohawk haircut
out of red wood, affixed it to the
hood and emblazoned the ma-
chine with the name "Kudzilla."
The coalition has made an im-
pression beyond that of just an-
other well-meaning group.
James H. Miller, research ecolo-
gist at the U.S. Agriculture De-
partment's Forest Service
in Auburn, Ala., says
he once thought ~
kudzu could be erad- ~~
icated only by corn- ,t~,~
pletely removing r""' r,''j~l
the root system. i ,~ ~`
To his surprise, t. j
the Spartanburg ~ "'~'"-- t . _
group reported ` ~ -~ .
success by attack- ~`_~
ing the "crovrn,» '~- ` ' ' t
where roots x
and plant-
tops come ;
together, ~ ~..
making removal Q; ~ .
less laborious. (
That method "is ''~ ' ,~
in my recommenda-
tions now and being
used by teams in na-
tional forests treating
sensitive areas," Dr. Miller
says. ,
Garden Invaders
Here are some common
invasive plants, and ideas on
what gardeners can do about
them.
I ' :_ ; (Hedera helix)
Origins: An evergreen vine
found on the ground or
climbing up trees and fences.
Probably introduced to the U.S,
by European immigrants.
Location:
Commonly invasive
and West coasts.
on the East
Removal Tips: Remove by
hand-pulling or with a lawn
mower or weed whacker.
Broken stems grow new roots.
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)
Orgins: A weedy grass with
drooping tips. It probably
arrived from Eurasia in
contaminated grain.
Location: Highly.flammable, it
is a mayor cause of grassland
fires in Western states.
Removal Tips:
Can be hand-pulled but large
areas may require herbicides.
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
Origins: The vine, native to
Asia, has dark leaves and
fragrant purple flowers.
Location: Notorious in the
Southeast for how quickly it
blankets an area, killing
vegetation underneath.
Removal Tips: Get rid of the
'crown'-the knobby connection
of roots to plant tops.
Purple loosestrtfe
(Lythrum salicarla)
Origins: Native of Eurasia, it
shoots up a magentatolored
flower spike in summer.
Location: Present in every state
except Florida. Multiplies fast;
threatens some federally
endangered plants.
Removal Tips: Hand-pull or
spot treat with herbicide.
~ I ' ~s';iu! ~ raa~ (Rosa muftiflora)
Origins: Thorny shrub,
introduced from Japan in 1866.
Produces clusters of white
flowers in early summer.
Location: Present in much of
the U.S., especially in woodsy
areas. Forms dense thickets
that choke out native plants.
Removal Tips: Cutting or
mowing at the rate of three-to-
six times per growing season,
for two to four years, has been
shown to be effective.
Note: Consuh your local unlversxy extension
seMCe before resorting to herbiddes.
Source: Wall Street Journal reporting Plant
Conservation Alliance, Washington D C
(http J/www nps.gov/plants/alien
3