042715 ER MinutesGOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Minutes
April 27, 2015
Present: Commissioners, Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Lynn Gitelis,
Dawn Hill, Larry Johnson, Jim Stremel, Council Member Larry
Fonnest; Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist; and Lisa Nesbitt,
Administrative Assistant
Absent: Commissioner: Debra Yahle
Call to Order
Stremel called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes — March 23, 2015
MOVED by Hill, seconded by Gitelis, and the motion carried unanimously to
approve the minutes of the March 23, 2015 regular meeting.
Chair and Vice -Chair Elections
MOVED by Galonska and seconded by Stremel, and the motion to elect Gitelis
as Chair and Hill as Vice Chair carried unanimously.
Draft Environmental State of the City
Eckman reviewed the item to be included in the Environmental State of The City
report that will be presented at the May 12, 2015 Council/Manager meeting. A
copy of the final report will be sent to the commissioners prior to the meeting.
Staff also committed to sending a reminder for the date of the meeting.
Program/Project Updates
The complete program/project summary is on file. Additional discussion included:
DeCola Ponds — Commissioners Hill, Gitelis and Anderson expressed their
dissatisfaction in the lack of communication regarding the status of the study.
They felt that the commission should have been more informed of the details of
the study especially prior to the recent neighborhood meeting.
The commission requested staff look at ways to improve communication to
residents and commissions regarding meetings and projects.
Metro Blue Line Extension — Galonska reported that the community working
group met for the last time the week of April 20th. The group reviewed the draft of
the station area planning report. Once the report is published, possibly in early
May, a copy will be given to the Environmental Commission, Planning
Commission and Open Space and Rec Commission for review and comments. It
will then be forwarded to City Council. There will be a community open house on
June 4th at the Urban Research and Outreach Center at 2001 Plymouth Ave,
Minneapolis. Currently both Golden Valley stations are included in the report.
The City has indicated however that is only one station is to be built it would be
the Golden Valley Rd. station. Johnson asked if there was discussion about the
two railways connecting. Galonska said the topic was not brought up at the
meeting. Fonnest reported that Hennepin County has purchased one of the three
key properties in Crystal where the corridor will connect. The governor has asked
Minutes of the Environmental Commission
April 27, 2015
Page 2 of 2
for a full Environmental Impact Statement to be produced. The legislator is
working to pass a law to preclude eminent domain by the railroad on land that is
owned by a public entity.
Commission Member Council Reports
Johnson reported that he attended the meeting regarding the Bakken oil trains
running through the City as did council member Fonnest. Both believe there is
reason for the City to be concerned about these trains running through the City.
According to Gitelis there is a lot of information regarding this topic on the City of
Crystal website.
Other Business
The May meeting will be cancelled.
Adjourn
MOVED by Anderson, seconded by Johnson, and the motion carried to adjourn.
Lisa Nesbitt
Administrative Assistant