2016-04-25 EC Minutes GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting, Minutes
April 25, 2016
Commissioners Present: Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill, Tonia Galonska, Larry Johnson and
Jim Stremel
Staff Present: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist and Claire Huisman,
Administrative Assistant
Absent: Commissioners Debra Yahle and Tracy Anderson
Call to Order
Lynn Gitelis called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
Approval of Reaular Meeting Minutes
MOVED by Stremel, SECONDED by Galonska, and the motion carried unanimously
to approve the minutes of the March 28, 2016 regular meeting.
GreenSteps Cities Kick Off
The City of Golden Valley has been officially recognized as a Step One, Category "A"
participant in the GreenStep Cities Program. The League of Minnesota Cities will
recognize its new GreenStep members at their Annual Conference on June 15, 2016 at
3:OOpm at the River Center in St. Paul. All Commission members are encouraged to
attend and show their support of Golden Valley's accomplishment. (A reminder of the
date, time and p/ace will be sent to al/ Commission members as the time approaches.)
The City was also awarded through the MPCA Program, a GreenCorps Member to work
for Golden Valley for 11 months beginning September 2016. This person's main focus
will be to help City staff and the Environmental Commission with Resilience Planning
and GreenStep Actions.
Eric Eckman went through the GreenStep Cities Program website and discussed with
the Commission the next steps to begin in the program such as completing the
inventory to track current and planned actions, and the minimum requirements for step
recognition. Staff will provide periodic updates on the status of the inventory as we
move ahead in the program. Eckman walked the Commission through a couple
examples of best practices and actions to show how the process works.
The Commission discussed best practice #29 Climate Adaptation and Community
Resilience in more detail. The Commission decided to review actions 2-7 over the next
few weeks and come to the May meeting prepared to discuss which action the City
should focus on implementing next.
Comprehensive Plan Update
The community kickoff is tentatively scheduled for September 2016. The Environmental
Commission will help in developing various elements of the Comp Plan including:
Sustainability and Resilience; Water Resources and natural resource components of the
Parks chapter. Eckman discussed that the City applied for a MPCA Resilience Plan
grant and will find out the results of the grant awards in May. Eckman discussed the Met
Council's guidance on resilience planning and the minimum plan requirements. More
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Minutes of the Environmental Commission
April 25, 2016
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information on the Resilience Plan, including schedule and tasks, will be provided after
May.
As part of its continued research on Resilience and Sustainability, Chair Gitelis
recommended that the Commission consider the following:
• Invite the Fire Chief to present to the Commission on Hazard Mitigation and
Emergency Preparedness in relation to the Resilience Plan.
• Invite other representatives from cities who have successfully implemented a
Resilience Plan in their City to speak about their plans and programs.
• View some Case Study Webinars during a Commission meeting
There was some discussion about the upcoming community survey. Eckman explained
that the survey is going out soon and suggested that Commission members review the
results of the 2013 Community Survey and present any comments or ideas they have to
staff in the next couple days.
Proqram/Proiect Updates
Eric Eckman spoke to the Commission in further detail on the DeCola Ponds Study and
the Citywide Pond and Wetland Assessment. The complete program/project update is
on file.
The Bike/Ped Plan is accepting applications to be a member on their newly formed Task
Force. Information regarding this set up was requested to be sent to the Commission
members.
Chair Gitelis encouraged Commission members to attend the Annual City Commission
and Board Members Dinner to be held at the Brookview Golf Course on June 22, 2016.
Adiourn
MOVED by Hill, SECONDED by Johnson, and the motion carried to adjourn the
meeting at 8:30 pm.
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Claire Huisman
Administrative Assistant
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