2015-11-23 EC MinutesG:\Environmental Commission\Minutes\2015\112315 Minutes.doc
GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting, Minutes
November 23, 2015
Present: Commissioners: Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill, Debra Yahle, Tonia
Galonska, Larry Johnson, and Jim Stremel; Eric Eckman, Public
Works Specialist; Council Member Larry Fonnest and Physical
Development Director, Mark Nevinski
Absent: Commissioner Tracy Anderson
Call to Order
Lynn Gitelis called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Regular Commission Meeting Minutes of October 26, 2015
Minutes will be approved at the next meeting on December 14, 2015
MOVED by Stremel, SECONDED by Hill to approve changing the By-Laws
to reflect the commissions new meeting time of 6:30pm beginning with the
January 2016 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Natural Resources Education/Communication Plan
The list of 12 natural resource based educational topics was reviewed. A
meeting was held with Communications and Forestry staff to discuss moving
forward with these topics for the next year and to provide to the public the
educational information for each topic as it pertains to the current season.
Topics will include: Buckthorn removal; Emerald Ash Borer; Dutch Elm and Oak
Wilt Diseases; Wet Lands (buffer requirements, etc); Pollinator’s & Bees; Urban
Wildlife. Information will be provided through the City’s website, Facebook,
newsletters, etc. The prospect of providing workshops for the public is also being
considered.
Comprehensive Plan update
Eckman presented the Comprehensive Plan Update Overview from the Planning
Manager, Jason Zimmerman. It was noted that the last update to the Plan was in
2008. Commissioners are encouraged to browse the City’s current Comp Plan
as well as those of other cities and to consider ways to improve or enhance the
current plan. Also to consider, how can the City involve the public?
The required elements in the plan include: Land Use; Housing; Parks & Trails;
Transportation; Water Resources (waste water, water supply & surface water);
Implementation (how to carry out the plan over the next 10 to 20 yrs). Some
possible chapters to add would include: economics; and resilience (climate
adaptation, energy sustainability, disaster recovery).
Commissioners expressed a desire to have more joint meetings with other
Commissions to discuss the Comp Plan and its various elements.
Also discussed – Thrive MSP 2040, a regional development guide which
documents the Metropolitan Council’s vision for the metro area for the next 30
years. This guide gives each city a community designation to help them with