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2016-04-25 EC Agenda Pkt AGENDA GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION April 25, 2016, Monday Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Rd Manager's Conference Room (next to Council Chambers) 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of March 28, 2016 3. GreenStep Cities - Kick Off a. Recognition at LMC Conference b. Category Determination c. Inventory d. Best Practice example e. Best Practice #29 Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience 4. Comprehensive Plan Update a. Overall schedule b. Resilience plan element 5. Program/Project Updates 6. Commission Member Council Reports 7. Council Updates 8. Other Business 9. Adjourn This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call � 7b3-593-800b (TTY: 763-5933968)to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may inclutle large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette,etc. GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Regular Meeting, Minutes March 28, 2016 Commissioners Present: Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill, Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Larry Johnson and Jim Stremel Council Member Present: Larry Fonnest Staff Present: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist and Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant Absent: Commissioner Debra Yahle �� ,\. Call to Order �� Lynn Gitelis called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. �� ,�� Approval of Reqular and Joint Commission Meetinq Mi f� , `"�� MOVED by Stremel, SECONDED by Hill, and the motion c��iet� unanimat�sly to approve the minutes of the January 25, 2016 regular meeting��id the February 29, �� 2016 joint commission meeting. �`� �`�:� �:_. Comprehensive Plan Update Chair Gitelis reiterated that the EC's focus on the Comprehensive Plan will be the new Resilience Plan Element along with the V1(��3e"s�urces chapter. ,�� ,. �� GreenStep Cities MOVED by Hill, SECONDED by Galonska and the motion carried unanimously to approve as presented the Resolution authorizing the City of Golden Valley to participate in the MN GreenSteps Cities Program. The first�est practice the Commission will work on is Resilience and Climate Ad�ptafiie�r�, followed by Water, Energy, and/or possibly others as may be directed by Co�cil.�� ,� ��. ,�, � �� MPCA Grant for R��i��ence��nnin in Com rehensive Plan MOVED by Hill, SECOND�D b�;�tremel and the motion carried unanimously to support the Cify in applyinc� fo�"��e MPCA Resilience Planning Grant. The maximum grant amount is $15,000 with a matching funds requirement of 25%. The grant funds would allow��1 party to�help lead and facilitate City staff through the Resilience Planning pro \�s. MN GreenCorps��opram MOVED by Johnson, SECONDED by Stremel and the motion carried unanimously to support the City in its participation in the 2016-2017 GreenCorps Program and to authorize staff to draft a letter of support to be signed by Chair Gitelis and presented to the Council. This program would provide a GreenCorps member to help City staff and the Environmental Commission with Resilience Planning, GreenSteps Cities actions, Home Energy squad promotion, B3 Benchmarking efforts and community outreach for natural resource initiatives. G:\Environmental Commission\Minutes\2016\3-March\032816 Minutes.doc Minutes of the Environmental Commission March 28, 2016 Page 2 of 2 Environmental Commission Annual Report and Work Plan MOVED by Anderson, SECONDED by Galonska and the motion carried unanimously to approve the EC Annual Report and Work Plan as amended. Changes included: under "Accomplishments," adding Participation in Bottineau Station Area Planning Committee; under "Recommendations for 2016 Work Plan Priorities," making the Comprehensive Plan Update as #1 and the GreenSteps Cities Program as #2; adding additional verbiage to the GreenSteps Cities item "c" to include "water & energy"; adding Blue Line LRT Review and Comment on FEIS as #3; making Natural Resources Plan Implementation #4. ��:.. ,�� 2016 Environmental State of the City MOVED by Stremel, SECONDED by Hill and the motion car��ed unanimously to approve the 2016 Environmental State of the City Report. Proaram/Project Updates Eric Eckman presented Energy Updates on the Gities consumption data using the MN B3 Benchmarking program. The report looked at'the last ten years of electricity consumption of city buildings; CO2 emiss�Qr�s Qf city buildings and traffic signal �� electricity consumption. He also provid, a short surr�mary on the 2015 Recycling ��: Program. The complete program/projec��pdate is ot� file. �,, �, Council member Fonnest conveyed his e'nth��sm in Golden Valley's involvement in the GreenSteps Cities and commended #he EC members for their time and efforts in this program. He stated he would talk with the Council on getting items of interest to the Environmental Commiss�ra in a tir�ely�manner for their involvement and recommendation. �� . � �:::, Adjourn � MOVED by Hiil, �vECONDED k�r Stremel, and the motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 pm. �.� � ,�,� � � �s ��\ �.; ��, � Claire=hJuisman Administr�tive Assistant G:\Environmental Commission\Minutes\2016\3-March\032816 Minutes.doc C i�� c)�� . _.�.� � ��1�C�+�YI �:.. . . x�� ..� � . �C�. �'� Physical Development Department 763-593-8030 I 763-593-3988(fax) Date: April 22, 2016 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist Subject: GreenStep Cities City Council adopted a resolution of support to participate in the GreenStep Cities program at its meeting on April 19, 2016. The resolution appoints staff to coordinate the program on behalf of the City and to work with the Environmental Commission to plan, promote and implement best practices. As we begin work within the GreenStep Cities framework there are a few items of business that need to be completed: • Determining the City's Category level • Completing an initial inventory to determine the City's Step level • Adding information to the GreenSteps website http://�reenstep.pca.state.mn.us/ The Category questionnaire was completed by staff and is attached for reference. It appears we are Category A. Staff is beginning to work on the inventory to track current and planned actions and to gauge the City's step level. As part of this effort staff will lead the Commission through an educational exercise that looks at one best practice in greater detail. We may also preview best practice #29 Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience if time allows since it plays into the sustainability and resilience chapter proposed as part of the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update. The full draft inventory will be available at the meeting for reference and may be briefly discussed at each meeting until completion when current actions are entered into the GreenSteps website. G:\Environmental Commission\Memos\GreenStep Cities kickoff_0425.docx Determining a City's GreenStep Category Questions Answers 1 Approximately how many public buildings does '"" " . " the city own? 2 Approximately how many paid full time equivalent(FTE) staff does the city have? For how many separate departments (public 3 works,planning, etc) does the city have paid staff? Does the city have fixed route transit service(bus 4 or rail)with at least two separate routes that - �i �-�° � • make more than one local stop? Exclude dial-a- � „ �.. � ride, paratransit. Is the city required to have an MS4 (Municipal 5 Separate Storm Sewer System)permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency? 6 Does the city operate a centralized wastewater treatment facility that serves most residents? Does the city operate a drinking water treatment 7 facility that serves most residents? 8 How many distinct commercial areas and industrial parks does the city have? 9 Is the city part of a metropolitan area? If the city is not part of a metropolitan area, does � � .��;� '� i�:�;: 10 it share a border with more than one other incorporated city? If so, does the city have the largest population among the adjoining communities? 11 Does the city administer a zoning ordinance? Your City is a Category A City Community Engagement Plan (Draft) City of Golden Valley Comprehensive Plan Update In preparation for the update to the City's Comprehensive Plan,staff has prepared a plan to ensure that the community is wel/engaged throughout the process. The following content outlines staff's goals and proposed timeline for communication efforts. Goals and Intent 1. Build a base of community support by collaborating on certain elements of Comprehensive Plan Update 2. Maintain multiple lines of communication among all parties involved 3. Use innovative and creative strategies to engage a diverse group of residents in the Comprehensive Planning process 4. Communicate technical information in meaningful ways 5. Document and monitor the outcomes of this process to improve the process and inform future efforts Goal 1: Collaboration with Community Members Throughout the process of community engagement, it is important to collaborate with other, and potentially unrelated, programming in Golden Valley. The City will take advantage of existing networks, programs, and meetings in order to educate residents about the process and their role in it. Ongoing Review of Documents 2016-2018: • Planning Commission (4th Monday of month) • Open Space Commission (4t" Monday of month) • Environmental Commission (4th Monday of month) • Teen Committee (4th Monday of month at Brookview) Information Provided at City-Related Events in 2016: • Board of Zoning Appeals (4th Tuesday of month) • Human Services Fund (2"d Monday of month at Brookview) • Human Rights Commission (4th Tuesday of month) • Run the Valley Race and Walk (April) • Concerts in the Park (summer) • Public Safety Open House (June) • GV Fire Relief Association Street Dance (June) • Ice Cream Social (July) • Golden Valley Golf Classic (July) • GV Arts and Music Festival (September) • Winter Family Festival (January) • Brookview Meltdown Fat Bike Snow Race (January) Information Provided to Other Groups 2016: � Golden Valley Garden Club • Valley Community Garden Potlucks • Market in the Valley (Sundays from May through October) • Golden Valley Orchestra Goal 2: Multiple Lines of Communication The following will provide ways for the City to share information City Website • News stories on homepage • Regular updates to Project webpage • Updated Plan uploaded to website and comment form available • City Calendar Email Notifications (Gov Delivery) • Notification of Open Houses • Notification for Review of Plan Updates at City Commissions • Notification of draft available online for comment Comprehensive Plan in a Box • Box of information and tools for facilitated discussion sent to local groups in order to solicit feedback at various points in the process (like Envision in a box) Facebook and Twitter • Notification of Open Houses • Notification that updated Plan available online for comment City Newsletter • General overview of Comp Plan provided in November/December 2015 • Overview of Scope of Work and Schedule, List of Upcoming Open Houses Cable News Segment � General Overview of Scope of Work and Schedule, List of Upcoming Open Houses Sun Post • General Overview of Scope of Work and Schedule, List of Upcoming Open Houses Strategically Place Signs • Post signs in areas of focus to inform public that long-term visioning is underway • Road signs on major arterials notifying public of upcoming open houses Photo Contest • Great places theme in City Photo Contest in 2016; photos used in Comprehensive Plan Goal 3: Engage Diverse Groups Be innovate and strategic Community Survey • Survey conducted in May 2016 Youth • Schools and churches • Brookview community events • Little League Seniors � Brookview community events, Senior Housing Day Programs • Flyers and/or listening session at 55+ residential buildings Courage Center • Special event such as an Open House at Courage Center Traditionally Underrepresented People • Personal interviews • Flyer at Public Library, PRISM • Flyers at apartment buildings Small Business Owners • Focus group • Personal interviews • Surveys Major Employers • Focus group • Personal interviews • Surveys Renters • Survey or listening sessions hosted by property manager • Flyers in apartment building lobbies Bicyclists • Signs posted on major bike routes • Focus group • Online surveys and mapping tool Civic Groups • Golden Valley Rotary Club presentation • TwinWest Chamber of Commerce presentation Faith-Based Groups • Presentation or flyers at local places of worship Goal 4: Communicate Technical Information • Infographics • Visual Preference Surveys for Areas of Future Growth Goal 5: Monitor Outcomes • Post-meeting surveys • Track attendance at meetings • Record all feedback received and how it was incorporated • Publish outcomes in Comprehensive Plan Potential Challenges • Time commitment from volunteers • Lack of knowledge on some technical issues • Child care at open houses • Evening meetings will conflict with other evening schedules c:tf y vf �ry� O�G��Yt �z � �� z _ � � r . � � VC�. �'� Physical Develop►ment Department 763 593-803Q/763 593 3988{fax) Date: April 21, 2016 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist Subject: Comprehensive Plan Update Attached is the draft schedule and community engagement plan for the City's upcoming Comprehensive Plan update. The community kickoff is tentatively scheduled for September 2016. The Environmental Commission will play an integral part in developing the new Sustainability and Resilience Plan element as well as updating the Water Resources elements and the natural resource components of the Parks chapter. The City has applied for a grant to hire a consultant to assist with the Sustainability and Resilience Plan and we should know more about the grant awards in May or June 2016. In order to prepare for the upcoming goal-setting exercise and community meeting, the Commission may want to begin looking at the Metropolitan Council's web site for guidance on the Resilience Chapter, including the minimum requirements and "Get more out of your plan" sections (attached). In addition, to get the conversation started, below are links to other cities sustainability and resilience plans. Falcon Heights h(I p://wv��w.bel lerenerg,y.orK;(iles/CilywideResilien;eAnaly�isfinaLpdf Burnsville http:l/WWw.rr7ctrocouncil.or��landbook/Filcs/13urnsville�Sustainubility Guide I'I�n.aspx St.Anthony htt �:' w�vw.ci.�aint arrtharr .y rrrrr.us;vcrtical/sitc�/%/13�f D4/1F139 1)4�G 4F68_{3/�79, 7c001�3C`In670%�/I) u�oGdlSaint �,nth�n��__Vill��=c Sustain�bility_I%lu_n� St.Louis Park resilience guide h�lip:�/��v�w._<.Iloui�parl<.or�iweb�files/file/ir,/2Q15_reacJy� ar�d_resilienl_guidF_(inal.pd( We will briefly discuss the Sustainability and Resilience Plan and schedule at the April meeting and in more detail in May. 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Resilience looks at the world and sees that the future of a changing climate has arrived. It focuses on adapting to protect our health and strengthen our communities,while choosing safe sources of energy to safeguard future generations from more damage to the climate. Many sustainability best practices are also resilience best practices, providing co-benefits to reduce risk,develop public amenities,decrease GHG emissions, improve air and water quality,and more. For an introduction to Best Practice 29,watch the video recording of the February GreenStep Workshop/Webinar Risk, Resilience & Adaptation. Met Council website Resiliency is having the capacity to respond, adapt, and thrive under changing conditions. Consideration of vulnerabilities-and responses to those vulnerabilities-will strengthen your community's ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts. Resiliency includes planning for more severe weather and prolonged heatwaves, for improved health of your residents, and planning for economic strength and diversity.As you may recognize from these examples, many elements that your community already includes in its plan and in actions it has already undertaken, address some resiliency issues. MPCA website Resilience is the ability to bounce back quickly from an adverse situation. A community is resilient when it is able to effectively to prepare for and recover from difficult situations. Some significant current challenges facing Minnesota communities relate to extreme weather and other impacts which appear to be related to climate change. A community's assets help to increase its resilience.These assets represent a strength of a community. Creating assets for climate resilience may be straightforward (such as planting trees)or less direct (such as creating neighborhood block groups). Community assets for resilience can: • provide places where people gather and recognize neighbors • offer safe and durable shelter to withstand extreme weather • generate renewable power • absorb rainwater to reduce flooding and replenish aquifers • use vegetation to provide shade and improve air quality • build social networks to support people in need due to extreme weather • bring healthy local food to underserved areas Investing in these assets to strengthen community resilience provides multiple benefits for human health, the economy and the environment. And these help to build the relationships and social fabric that research has shown are the important for communities to prepare for and recover successfully from challenges such as extreme weather events. Minimum Comprehensive Plan Elements Local Planning Handbook Optional Resilience Chapter This section provides resources for communities working to integrate strategies into local comprehensive plans ta be more resilient in the face of a changing climate.As communities adjust to increasingty extreme weather events,stress on public facilities,and higher costs of services,there is growing need to not only plan for these events,but to also reduce the impacts through conscious climate adaptation and resillence planning. Moreover,resiliency also considers reducing green house gas(GHG)emissions so that the extent af climate change does not exceed the capacity to adapt and become resilient. Thrive MSP 2040 encaurages planning for climate change as part of your comprehensive plan update. Climate miti�ation strategies such as promoting land use and development patterns will contribute toward achieving Minnesota's adopted greenhouse gas emissions goals.Climate adaptation strategies such as recognizing changing rainfall patterns that require additional storm water management capacity acknowledge the new and growing risks associated with climate change. Not all consequences of climate change are environmental;societal and economic challenges will need to be addressed as well. Resiliency is having the capacity to respond,adap#,and thrive under changing conditions.Consideration of vulnerabilities-and responses to those vulnerabilities-will strengthen your community's abifity to prepare for and respond to climate impacts. Resilienry includes planning for more severe weather and prolonged heatwaves,for improved health of your residents,and planning for economic strength and diversity.As you may recognize from these examples, many elements that your community already includes in its plan and in actions it has already undertaken,address some resiliency issues. Infrastructure &Environrr�ent Clirr�ate change has the potential to have major impacts on urban infrastructure and environmental assets. Increased precipitation may require additional on-site capacity to manage storm water,and off- site inflltration and storage to free capacity on storm water conveyance sy�tems.Community forests wil! help mitigate urban heat island effect.Multi-modai transportation networks wili reduce greenhouse gas emissions from mobtle sources and diversify#ravel options for local residents. Integrated electric distribution grids will enable ful! use of local energy efficiency and renewable energy systems. Natural resource design standards wili make naturai systems and eco-rystems more resilient to development. t�J Minimum Requirements: • None. ,�; � Get More Out of Your Plan: . Evaluate the recommended sustainability and resiliency practices adopted by other communities through the GreenStep Cities program.Consider recommending participation in GreenStep Cities as an implementation strategy in your Plan. . Explare RELi,the new Resiliency Action List,a national ANSI pilot consensus standard containing direct value credits which are part of an accompanying Green+ Resilient Finance Standard. Discover strategies to create safer,heaRhier and more productive communities that can better handle weather extremes,econamic turbulence,and crisis conditions.RELi incarporates many sustainability approaches from various leadership standards,plus additional actions specific to resilient communities. • The Geor�etown Climate Center houses a wealth of resources additional climate adaptation information and resources that can help you get started. Energy Infrastructure & Resources � Minimum Requirements: * Local governments in the seven-county metropolitan area are required by state law to include an element in their Plan for protettion and development of access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems. � Get More Out of Your Plan: Energy Efficiency and Conservation • Consider implementing policy options contained in the Georgetown Climate Center report,"MN Options to Increase Climate Resilience in Buiidings." • Explore including supportive goals and policies for capturing your community's energy efficiency resources through encouraging sustainable building design,such as Saint Paul's Sustainable Buildin�policv- • Engage your energy utilities in your Plan process,speciftcally to develop partnership opportunities for enhancing local participation in energy efficienty and renewable er�ergy pragrams.Consider recommending a formal collaboration with the utility as an implementation step,similar to the Clean Ener�v Partnership in Minneapolis or participating in a Partners in Ener�v initiative with Xael Energy program. • Explore adopting a commercial building benchmarking ordinance such as has been implemented by the City of Minneapolis. . Consider Property As$essed Clean Energy(PACE)as implementation tool in yaur Plan. PACE is a financing toal that allows property owners to access competitive private financing through a partnership with loca!governments and the St. Paul Port Authoritv. Building owne�s who use � :�.� PACE financing for their energy improvements pay back the financing through property taxes,as a voluntary special assessment.Consult the Authority about Joint Powers Agreement oppartunities. • Review Minnesota Housing's"H�me Fix Uq Fund"to address weatherization and energy conservation in existing buildings. • Adopt policies supporting enhanced partnership in developing local energy systems that support local generation,micro-grid deveiopment,and district heating systems that use of city rights-of- way. Renewable Energy e Evaluate options for implementing your policy for solar by reviewing local examples of ordinances,such as Falcon Hei�hts' ordinance or Rosernount's ordinance. Include developing a solar ordinance as an implementation strategy in your plan. • Identify areas of potential solar production in your community using the University of Minnesota's solar mappin�tool {also available on the Council's mapping tool).This tool shows solar radiatio�potential taking into account shading from trees and buildings,topagraphy, weather conditions,and the changing sun angle over the year. • Assess best practices for addressing solar energy development in your comprehensive plan.The Minnesota Grow Solar PJanning/Zoning/Permitting 7oolkit contains best practices and model ordinances that are specific for Minnesota communities. • Solar Outreach Partnership{SolarOPsj hosts information and rewurces to facilitate solar energy adoption for focal governments,including workshops,peer-to-peer sharing,research,and online tools and reports. • Consider incorporating planning policy ideas and examples on energy efficiency and renewabfe energy from around the country and incorporate into your plan.The American Planning Association has compiled a large number of examples that provide direction on how to address energy resources in your comprehensive plan.The solar ener�y PAS examples and the PAS report are free of charge,the energv/ciimate and wind examples are available for sale at the APA website. Healthy Communities The health and welfare of residents Is a priority for all cities.Fostering healthy communities through better food choices,complete streets,and encouraging active living can strengthen a population and reduce the impact of climate related events like prolonged heat waves.The urban heat lslend is a specific climate adaptation health risk that can be addressed in your plan.The urban heat island effect can increase temperatures several degrees higher than the less developed areas around them and can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand,air conditioning costs,air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality,and water quality. Resiliency issues and oppartunities related to heafthy community transportation(Healthy Environment, Bicycling ;� and Walking�and access to recreation and green space�Regianal and Local Parks and Trails)are addressed in the Transportation and Parks elements of the Handbaok. � Minimum Requirements: • None � Get More Out of Your Plan: • Explore opportunities to integrate heat island mitigation strategies into the local comprehensive plan,education and engagement efforts,and other plans and ordinances. • Consider opt+ons for cool pavement alternatives for road construction. • Consider expansion and maintenance of vegetated open space and green infrastructure installatian to improve water quality and manage stormwater,like the Cit of Ma lewood. • The EPA has a number of resources that explain risks of heat island and the tools for reducing heat island efFects.Consider developing policies in your Plan specific to reducing heat island risks. • Consider conducting a Health Impact Assessment(HIA)of your existing plan as part of the development of your 2040 plan, like the City of St.Louis Park. • Consider how your community oould prepare for the health vulnerabilities to climate�hange identified in the Minnesota Climate Change Vufnerabilitv Assessment prepared by the Minnesota Department of Health. � Consult GreenStep Cities best practices#11,#12,#16,#23,and#27 regarding Healthy Community for goals and strategies that can be incorporated into your Plan. A diverse local economy that strategically uses local resources is less vulnerable to economic volatility and regional or global recession. Minimizing exposure of city budgets to the risk of property value fluctuations or development cycfes will help cities be better prepared for circumstances beyond normal operations. In addition,socialiy�ohesive and engaged communities are better positioned to respond to natural and economic crises. Planning for regular engagement wfth residents and businesses,and measuring progress toward goals{and communicating prog�ess ta residents)will help create a strong network during and after critical weather or environmental events or economic crises. In addition, integrating hazard mitigation into the local comprehensive plan establishes resilience as an overarching community value to avoid increased hazard vulnerability by guiding future growth and development away from areas with known hazards(e.g. increasing flood plain size,steep slopes,etc.)or otherwise finding solutions to address them. Economy&Society u Minimum Requirements: * None � Get More Out of Your Plan: • Consider alternatives to the traditional planning and pubiic outreach process. Ideas include morning meetings,childcare,venues which are already gathering locations/events,social media, "meeting in a box",on-line resources. * Consider planning for the most vulnerable of yaur population in al!aspects of the comprehensive pfan,as climate can have varying impacts on vulnerable populations such as elderly,young,and impoverished populations. = GreenStep City Best practice#24,8enchmarks and Community EnAat;ement, provides best practices examples of how communities can set benchmarks,measure progress,communicate to residents and businesses,and foster a trust relationship with people in the community through communication and engagement. • Many local governments have a Federal Emergency Management Agency�FEMA)approved hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible for federai disaster mitigation assistance funds. Consider integrating yaur hazard mitigation plan into your comprehensive plan to help yau assess your community's vulnerabilities and incorporate reslljency inta your plans. FEMA's fact sheet cailed InteRratin� Hazard Miti�ation into the Comprehensive Plan provides a good starting point. • Additional GreenStep Cities best practices that address the Economy and Society component of community resiliency include Best Practice#25 Green Business Develooment,#27 Local Food, and#28 Business Svner�ies. PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES—April 2016 NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN Bassett Creek Nature Area This summer Minnesota Tree Trust will be working in the Bassett Creek Nature Area to maintain and improve the natural surface trails and remove invasive and unwanted vegetation in the park.There is also a volunteer project slated for May to pick up litter and debris in the woodland areas and remove buckthorn along the trail. RECYCLING Staff received complaints regarding park visitors throwing pet waste and other garbage into the recycling in the new parks that were added to the recycling in the parks program. Staff added more garbage receptacles and more signage to reduce the waste entering the recycling. WATER RESOURCES 2016 Bassett Creek Native Vegetation Project Contract was awarded to Applied Ecological Services. It is expected that the contract will begin with soil preparation in the next couple weeks. The contractor will work to establish native vegetative buffers along the corridor where the stream restoration project took place over the winter. Adopt-a-Pond Program Staff has been receiving applications from residents who are interested in adopting a pond in Golden Valley. Similar to adopt-a-park, residents adopt-a-pond to complete routine maintenance (litter and debris removal, invasive species abatement) and report any non-routine maintenance that staff will need to complete. We are hoping this will increase awareness about the importance of water quality and result in fewer pollutants and illicit discharges reaching the City's water bodies. Citywide Pond and Wetland Assessment The 2015-2016 assessment has been completed and planning has begun to determine which ponds will need to be dredged for water quality purposes in the next few years. Results of the study will be shared in an upcoming newsletter article and on the City's water resources webpage. Long-Term Flood Damage Reduction Study for Medicine Lake Road &Winnetka Avenue Area (includes DeCola Ponds neighborhood) Staff presented the draft report to the City Council at its April 12 work session.A neighborhood meeting was held April 14 to present the findings to the neighborhood.The PowerPoint presentation from the neighborhood meeting will be posted on the City's website and will be forwarded to the Environmental Commission once posted. Follow-up information is being sent to residents regarding setting up meetings with staff to discuss specifics about their properties.A three-city council meeting is tentatively scheduled for late May to consider approval of the draft report. Schaper Pond Diversion Project The water diversion baffle was installed over the winter. It is performing as designed and water quality testing in Sweeney Lake has begun.The contractor has some final touch up and restoration work to complete this spring. Shoreland and Floodplain Management training Staff attended this annual training administered by the MnDNR.The DNR is working on a new model shoreland ordinance which may be ready by the end of 2016.This potential ordinance update may be a future topic for the Environmental Commission. PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS Current Applications 6100 Olson Memorial Highway—Conditional Use Permit and rear and side yard variances to allow the installation of a cell tower in an Industrial zoning district. Scheduled for Planning Commission on April 25 and Board of Zoning Appeals on May 24. 2415 & 2445 Winnetka Ave—Rezoning and General Land Use Map Amendment. Proposal to rezone 2145 Winnetka Ave from R-1 Single Family Residential to Commercial and 2445 Winnetka Ave from Business and Professional Office to Commercial, and to redesignate both properties from Low Density Residential to Commercial Retail/Service. Recommended for denial (6,-0) by the Planning Commission on March 14. Scheduled for City Council on May 3. Wayzata Boulevard &Tyrol Trail—Redesignating and rezoning a MnDOT-owned property back to Low Density Residential use and R-1 Single Family Residential zoning in anticipation of sale. Planning Commission recommended approval (6-0) on April 11. Scheduled for City Council on May 3. Mortenson (700 Meadow Ln N)—Major PUD Amendment to construct a new parking ramp. As part of a planned expansion, including a fourth building on-site, the existing parking ramp would be demolished and a slightly taller one would be constructed. Scheduled for Planning Commission on May 9. Other R-2 Zoning District—Zoning Text Amendment to update and revise the R-2 section of the Zoning Code. Planning Commission discussed on April 11. Scheduled for public hearing at Planning Commission on May 9. Temporary Events—Zoning Text Amendment to remove this section from the Zoning Code, as it will now be covered under the Special Events section of the City Code. Scheduled for Planning Commission on May 9.