9-22-14 Agenda Packet AGENDA
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road
Council Conference Room, Monday, September 22, 2014
7:00 PM
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes —August 25, 2014
3. New Proposals For Greener Practices
4. Program/Project Updates (Staff)
a) TMDL
b) Ill
c) Private Development Update
d) Decola Ponds
e) Recycling Update
f) Wetland Management
g) Bottineau Transitway
h) Community Center Update
5. Natural Resources Management Plan
6. Commission Member Council Reports (Commissioners)
7. Other Business
8. Adjourn
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GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Minutes
August 25, 2014
Present: Commissioners Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Lynn Gitelis, Dawn
Hill, Larry Johnson, Jim Stremel, Debra Yahle; Eric Eckman, Public
Works Specialist, Veronica Anderson, SEH and Lisa Nesbitt,
Administrative Assistant
Call to Order
Stremel called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes —July 28, 2014
MOVED by Gitelis, seconded by Galonska, and the motion carried unanimously
to approve the minutes of the July 28, 2014 meeting.
Natural Resource Management Plan
Veronica Anderson handed out a draft survey for review (on-file). After
completing the survey themselves, commissioners gave the following
suggestions:
• The introduction paragraphs are lengthy.
• Question #7 feels more regulatory vs. preservation. Change the word
"environment" to "natural resources".
• Make questions #3 the first question
• Create a place for free text. After the questions, have a text box with the
question "why".
• Question #4 — add 0 as a stand along option
• Add a description next to the name of each nature area. If it is on the
website, link to a map.
• Add the choice of"Maybe" to the question regarding interest in volunteer
opportunities.
Suggestions for the delivery of the survey include the CityNews, Facebook and
the city website. There is also a Facebook page called "I love Golden Valley"
where one of the commissioners can post a link to the survey. Gitelis suggested
handing out the survey at Golden Valley Days however due to staff constraints
for entering the information and staffing the table at the event that may not be
possible.
Veronica Anderson also passed out a draft of the Table of Contents, a draft of
the Goals, Objects and Policies and a sample of the individual site information
(all on-file). These documents will be sent to the commissioners in a Word format
so they can make changes and send back to staff. These items will be discussed
at the October meeting as Veronica will not be in attendance.
Minutes of the Environmental Commission
August 25, 2014
Page 2 of 2
New Proposals for Greener Practices
Commissioners shared ideas for greener practices. The ideas will be added to
the current list and will be reviewed again. This item will be placed first on the
agenda for the next meeting to allow additional time for discussion.
Program/Project Updates
Summary on-file.
Commission Member Council Reports
None
Other Business
None
Adjourn
MOVED by Hill, seconded by Anderson, and the motion carried to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm.
Lisa Nesbitt
Administrative Assistant
PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES–SEPTEMBER 2014
TMDL
No updates
I/I
No updates
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
601 Boone Avenue North (TruStone)—CUP. Construct new bank building with drive-thru.
Planning Commission recommended approval on August 25. Scheduled for City Council on
September 16.
221 Sunnyridge Lane—Minor Subdivision. Consideration of revision of the approved Preliminary
Plat. Planning Commission recommended denial on August 25. Scheduled for City Council on
September 16.
9191 & 9393 Wayzata Boulevard (Porsche)—Final PUD Amendment. Construct a new building
for the Porsche dealership to the west of the existing Audi dealership. Planning Commission
recommended approval on August 25. Scheduled for City Council on September 16.
9130 & 9220 Olson Memorial Highway (Golden Villas)—Preliminary PUD Plan. Redevelopment
of two parcels for a 162 unit apartment building. Planning Commission recommended approval
on August 25. Scheduled for City Council on September 16.
305 & 345 Pennsylvania Avenue South (Laurel Ponds)—Rezoning, Preliminary PUD Plan.
Rezone from Mixed and Single Family (R-1) Residential to Moderate Density (R-2) Residential;
demolish existing buildings and construct 30 single family homes. Planning Commission
recommended conditional approval on July 28. On August 19 the City Council approved a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The Rezoning and Preliminary PUD Plan have been tabled
to September 16.
7475 Country Club Drive (Golden Valley Senior Living)—Final PUD Amendment. Expand and
reuse vacant building for senior care. Scheduled for Planning Commission on September 22.
7200 & 7218 Harold Avenue (Marie's Woods)—Preliminary PUD Plan. Demolish two single
family homes and construct five single family homes. Scheduled for Planning Commission on
September 22.
200 Meadow Lane North—Minor Subdivision. Split one lot into three. Planning Commission
recommended approval on September 8. Scheduled for City Council on October 7.
1801 Noble Drive—Preliminary PUD Plan. Subdivision to create three residential lots with a
shared driveway. Scheduled for Planning Commission on October 13.
6701 Country Club Drive (Struthers Parkinson's Center)—Preliminary PUD Amendment.
Construction of outdoor memory care walk and building expansion. Scheduled for Planning
Commission on October 13.
108 Brunswick Avenue North—Minor Subdivision. Split one lot into two. Scheduled for Planning
Commission on October 13.
4600 Olson Memorial Highway (Room & Board)—Preliminary PUD Amendment. Incorporate
new property to the north into the existing PUD and modify parking. Not yet scheduled for
Planning Commission.
3.9.4 Apartments—Final Plat, PUD Permit, Development Agreement. Ruling against Applicant
at Minnesota Court of Appeals returns case to lower court. Applicant is considering a stand-
alone option for only the north parcel (Mayfair Apartment site).
DECOLA PONDS
On Friday, September 12th, Barr Engineering, the City's consulting engineer for the Medicine
Lake Road and DeCola Ponds Flood Mitigation Study presented the summary of phase one of
the study to the Cities of Crystal, New Hope and Golden Valley. This included the results of the
flood modeling based upon the new Atlas 14 rainfalls, a survey of properties that were
potentially impacted by flooding to determine low openings, estimation of the market values of
flood prone properties. This portion of the study confirmed that there are 41 properties that may
be subject to flooding in the study area, and need to provide significant storage volumes for
floods in order to reduce the risk of damage. The study also looked at the potential impacts of
reducing impervious surfaces within the subwatershed and the impact on flood levels. An across
the board reduction of impervious surfaces through street narrowing and smaller parking lots of
6% resulted in minimal flood reduction levels, and a reduction of 25% resulted in a flood level
reduction of up to 0.25 feet, but not enough to remove any properties from flood risk. A meeting
with staff from the three Cities is scheduled in October to begin brainstorming potential projects
for evaluation throughout the subwatershed.
RECYCLING UPDATE
No updates
WETLAND MANAGEMENT
No updates
BOTTINEAU TRANSITWAY
The METRO Blue Line Extension (Bottineau) was given approval to move into the New Starts
project development phase. September TAC and station area planning focused on a market
analysis and development opportunities around the station areas. A public workshop is being
planned for November 12 to share concept alternatives with the community.
COMMUNITY CENTER TASK FORCE
Suggestions for Greener Practices - Commission
• Expand recycling programs
o Business and Multifamily
o Work with Hennepin County and MPCA
• Reconsider organized solid waste hauling and collection of organics
• Encourage Bokashi home composting
• Work with school districts and school bus companies to identify greener practices
• Look at solar options
• Educate residents through the CityNews and website, on better practices (e.g.
water conservation).
o Home water audits
• Explore Hennepin County zero waste program for City events
• Develop a sustainability plan
• Electric or hybrid "bus", small van that makes regular, strategic "circle" route of
Golden Valley to encourage people to walk a few blocks to get on the bus and go
to town (post office, library, city hall, etc) rather than get in a car to drive for
errands.
• "Scum Check" vs. IPM and disciplined less use of chemical pesticides, herbicides
• CSA and fresher vegetables delivered via less over the road trucking
• "Safe Streets" and more walking to school
• Check in on implementation of rain water diversion system
• MnASAP support—e.g. one hour of Blue Angel fuel runs an ordinary car 10,000
miles. Less pollution and divert money to veteran care
• "Points" for trees growing or planted on south side of homes
• Reimbursement on storm water fees for things such as rain barrels or rain
gardens
• Bees & Monarchs - education on how to save the bees i.e. the threat of using
chemicals on lawns & flowering plants & stop cutting down milk weed for the
Monarchs. Allowing citizens to have bee hives, however I am concerned for
immediate neighbors to a hive that have bee allergies & the bee keepers will be
fined if they use toxic chemicals on their lawn & gardens. Perhaps we should get
more information from Bees Kneez in Eloise Butler/Theo. Park & see if they want
to use some of our parks for some of their hives.
• On/in our parks, small parcels of lands, etc. the city could plant some native
prairies instead of paying for up keep of the turf and when our city has empty lots
for sale the owner of the land would be required to plant a native prairie to help
with erosion and wildlife.
• Offering incentives/education on gravel or paver driveways vs. an asphalt or
cement driveways that allow for water run-offs.
• The city could use bat houses vs. spraying for mosquitos and offer
incentives/education for our citizens to do the same. For an incentive we could
work with the G.V. stores that sell bat houses to offer a discount the G.V.
citizens.
• Incentives/education for employee & apartment gardens (i.e. General Mills giving
garden)
• Add a Hennepin County Medicine Disposal Drop Box in Golden Valley
• Have an incentive for citizens to use compost bins, rain barrels, converting lawns
or portions of lawns to native prairie or rain gardens. Especially to offset the fee
of having a professional plan being submitted to the city for a rain garden, of
which I see the purpose for.
• Apply a fee if citizens are using non-organic/hazardous chemical(s)/non-
environmentally friendly weed prevent/fertilizer especially if used on lawns right
next to bodies of water
• Have an incentives for hanging clothes outside to dry in summer or maybe just
education on reverting back to what our mothers/grandmothers use to do that are
environmentally friendly in newsletter &/or f.b.
• Compostable trash bins, recycling bins or zero waste bins in all public areas
(including strip malls) and fast food restaurants
• Restaurants to phase out styrofoam by a certain date
• Organics collection
• More trash & recycle bins in nature areas
• Continue working on idle-reduction especially at our schools (i.e. buses and
traffic control police)
• Nice Ride Minnesota recently announced the launch of its newest initiative: the
Nice Ride Neighborhood Program. Utilizing the same orange bikes that hit the
streets in Bemidji last month, the pilot program will be working to provide a
resource for creating 140 new cyclists in the neighborhoods of North Minneapolis
and Frogtown/East St. Paul. Perhaps Golden Valley could be a part of this.
Suggestions for Greener Practices — Mayor
1. Green fleet of cars
2. Reduce traffic, growth of car usage
• Limit parking spaces for large businesses or create "parking fee" like park
development fee.
• Create goal with larger companies to reduce employee car usage by
certain date (e.g. reduce car usage to work by 10% every 3 years, look at
incentives)
• Additional Metro Transit routes/increase usage at GM, Tennant,
Mortenson, Honeywell
3. Protect residents/community from cloudburst storm water runoff with additional
green spaces (e.g. additional green medians, change code for more water
absorbing trees, etc.)
4. Encourage more recycling/composting — residential and commercial
5. Designated eco-mixed use areas
• Solar powered sidewalks (Netherlands)
• Green housing
• Community gardens
6. Grocery/Convenience store bag fee
• Revenue goes to park improvements, environment (composting, recycling,
creek/lake improvements)
7. Incentives for solar power, geo thermal
8. Community gardens
9. Water conservation initiatives
10.City operates on renewable energy (10-20% solar in 5 years)
11.Work with local large businesses to learn of their best green practices to be
shared with others, plan for additional green practices for future (e.g. reducing
VMT to/in GV, look at alternative transportation)
Suggestions for Greener Practices — Council
• Provide composting bins
• Provide financial encouragement for recycling
• Possible reconsideration of organized hauling for garbage/recycling/composting
• As fleet ages, consider replacing with energy efficient vehicles
• Consider community solar groups
• Provide discount on building permits as an incentive for energy efficient buildings
• Consider charging a nominal fee for plastic/paper bags and dedicate funds for and
dedicate funds for environmental concerns
• Discuss bee-keeping