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2017-03-27 EC Agenda Packet AGENDA GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION March 27, 2017, Monday @ 6:30pm Council Conference Room (across from Council Chambers) Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Rd 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of February 27, 2017 (5 min) 3. Sustainability & Resilience Plan -Goal setting exercise with Great Plains Institute (90 min) 4. 2017 Annual Report and Work Plan discussion (15 min) 5. Program/Project Updates (5 min) 6. Commission Member Council Reports 7. Council Updates 8. Other Business (5 min) a. Election of Officers in May 9. Adjourn This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call 763-593-800b(TfY: 763-593-3968)to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may inclutle large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc. GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Regular Meeting, Minutes February 27, 2017 Commissioners Present: Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill, Tonia Galonska, Larry Johnson (arrived at 6:42pm) and Jim Stremel, Staff Present: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist, Hannah Garry, GreenCorps Member and Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant Also Present: Council Member Larry Fonnest Absent: Commissioners Debra Yahle and Tracy Anderson Call to Order Lynn Gitelis called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Approval of Reaular Meetina Minutes MOVED by Hill, SECONDED by Stremel, and the motion carried unanimausly to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2017 regular meeting. Approval of Joint meetinq Minutes MOVED by Hill, SECONDED by Stremel, and the motion carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2017 joint meeting. AAproval of Citv Code and Bv-Laws MOVED by Stremel and SECONDED by Galonska to approve the revision of the City Code and By-Laws of the Environmental Commission that includes language for a youth member to serve on the Commission for a term of one year. Staff was tasked with verifying that the Environmental Commission monthly meeting time is written correctly in the current version of the By-Laws. GreenStep Cities Inventorv MOVED by Hill and SECONDED by Galonska to approve for entry into the GreenStep Cities website with the revisions as discussed, Best Practice 12- Mobility Options Action 1-Promote walking, biking and transit use and Action 4- Promote carpooling or ridesharing. GreenStep Cities Proqress Presentation Hannah Garry gave an overview of the City's progress to date working under the GreenStep Cities program. Golden Valley entered the program in April 2016 with a Step One recognition. The City will receive recognition for becoming a Step Two City in June 2017. The City will continue working on the inventory of its current best practice actions and anticipates completion of the inventory in late 2017. 2017 Work Plan Discussion began to determine the Commission's 2017 Work Plan. Potential ideas included: Complete the Resilience and Sustainability Plan; Work on the Comprehensive Plan; Complete the GreenStep Cities inventory; New GreenStep initiatives such as Sustainable Purchasing Policy, Green Business Development, Energy/Climate Action, and Vertical Greenhouses; Develop a broad policy on pollinators and habitat and a possible ban on neonicotinoids. G:\Environmental CommissionWgendas�2017�3-March\02-27-17 EC Minutes.doc Minutes of the Environmental Commission February 27, 2017 Page 2 of 2 It was requested to add more recycling initiatives to the Work Plan, such as organics/composting and textiles. Proqram/Proiect Updates The complete program/project update is on file. Brief update was given on the DeCola Pond F Dredging Project which is being delayed due to the weather conditions. Council Updates Council Member Fonnest reported that the Council has been working on goals and priorities that may involve the Commission in the upcoming year. Adiourn MOVED by Johnson, SECONDED by Stremel, and the motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm. w,� :�; Claire Huisman �'���. . Administrative Assistant .� � ��. ���. � � �.. � �, _� � �� �. �� �y���.t� � � � ; ��� \. ., �,;`m. ��� �'; � '° � �� �x �.�� �£� .. � � . `'i..,�':. w�" . �� � ��� �� �Y ��� �y \ �'+�\i �. �� . ``.+.Qr;` .vC.`�v����:.. . G:\Environmental CommissionWgendas�2017\3-March\02-27-17 EC Minutes.doc �i�y �f �� � � otden o � � �vau �t ,� . V+�,. ��,� Physical Development Department 763-593-8030/763-593-3988(fax} Date: March 23, 2017 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist Subject: Sustainability and Resilience Plan - Goal Setting Exercise with Great Plains Institute For the past few months the City has been working to develop its first Sustainability and Resilience Plan. Once completed the plan will be included as a chapter in the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. With the assistance of its consultant, Great Plains Institute,the City completed a vulnerability assessment analyzing its current conditions, which was reviewed and commented on by the Commission at its January meeting. As part of its engagement strategy for the plan, the City distributed a survey to residents on sustainability and resilience in order to assess community goals and concerns. The survey responses have been tabulated and will be used to help identify goals and objectives that will be defined within the plan. Please review the attached summary of the survey responses and key findings for the March meeting. An additional element of the City's engagement strategy for this plan is hosting two focus group meetings. The first focus group included representatives from organizations that serve vulnerable populations (residents who are low-income, over 65 and living alone, those with limited mobility, and those who do not speak English well) and was held in early March. The results of that focus group meeting will be presented at the Commission's March meeting. The second focus group meeting includes the Environmental Commission and will be held during the Commission's March meeting. G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Sustainability and Resilience Goals Focus Group Agenda Focus Group Meeting City Hall Golden Valley, Minnesota March 27, 2017 6:30 - 8:00 PM Problem Statement: The City has completed a resilience assessment to identify the strengths and weakness of its built and natural infrastructure, population vulnerabilities, and potential economic disruptions. This information, along with community feedback, will serve as the basis to set goals for the community to increase its resilience and sustainability. Focus Group: The focus group includes members of the Environmental Commission. Goal: The goal of the focus group is to identify goals and objectives that would enhance the resilience and sustainability of the City. The goals will be included in the City's Sustainability and Resilience Plan, and considered for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Agenda 6:30 Introductions and Agenda Review 6:35 Overview of Sustainability and Resilience Plan 6:45 Questions Exercise 6:50 Activity#1: Success Spectrum. 7:25 Activity#2: Recommendations 7:50 Wrap-up 8:00 Adjourn Golden Valfey Resilience Survey: Summary and Key Findings BACKGROUND To help the City of Golden Valley plan for a more resilient and sustainable future,a survey was developed to better understand the City's strengths and weaknesses with respect to environmental, economic, and social stresses.This voluntary survey was made available to the community through the City's newsletter,website,and Facebook page. Overall 124 people responded, of which 120 live in the City, 21 work in the city,and 3 spend time in the City but live elsewhere (respondents could check all that applied). PERCEPTION OF IMPACTS AND RISKS "Select which climate-related impacts you think are likely to affect Go/den Valley." The top 5 selected from a list of 7 (respondents could select more than 1)were: 1. Power outages from extreme weather events(70 votes or 56%). 2. Increased road maintenance (pothole repair,snow and ice control)due to increase in winter precipitation and freeze-thaw cycles(62 or 50%). 3. Increased risk of flooding and diminished surface water quality from heavier rainfalls(54 or 53%). 4. Invasive species and habitat changes(52 or 42%). 5. Diminished air quality(46 or 37%). � "Rank the importance of non-climate vulnerabilities that cou/d affect Golden Valley." Respondents indicated that they are most concerned about aging and deteriorating infrastructure.With 85 people (70%)who indicated that aging infrastructure is either"most important" or"important," it stands out that this is an area of concern. Respondents were equally concerned about lack of access to healthy food (59 votes or 49%)and lack of social connectedness(56 votes or 46%) indicating both areas are either"most important" or"important." Economic turbulence or lack of job/housing opportunities was supported with 42 votes(35%), indicating it is an important vulnerability for the City. LEVEL OF CONCERN "Is Go/den Valley adequately addressing its vu/nerability to climate and non-climate disruptions?" Interestingly, 54 (45%) respondents indicated that they were unsure if the City is adequately addressing climate change.Yet,47 (39%) agreed and 20(16%) disagreed to some extent.This might suggest that the City should pay particular attention to communication strategies in order to inform citizens about its efforts to address resilience and sustainability. "The City is well prepared to respond to the potential effects of extreme weather and dimate-related events." Again, 51 people (42%) indicated that they were unsure if the City is well-prepared, while 43 agreed (36%) and 27 (22%) disagreed to some extent. ASSESSMENT OF CITY PRACTICES "Indicate your satisfaction with the City's natural infrastructure(i.e. trees, native landscaping)." Respondents were mostly satisfied with the maintenance of urban forests and planting of natural landscaping(65 and 56 satisfied votes respectively). For the installation/maintenance of rain gardens and the management of invasive species residents were mostly neutral (62 and 56 neutral votes respectively). Each of the four natural infrastructure areas received between 15 and 26 votes for dissatisfaction. Suggestions to improve natural landscaping include: improving stormwater management for better water quality; providing training on rain garden construction; replacing trees more aggressively; rebuilding wetlands and wildlife corridors;taking a targeted and aggressive approach to invasive species removal; and focusing efforts on constructing pollinator friendly habitat. "Indicate your satisfaction with the City's built infrastructure(i.e.streets and waterlines)." Overall most respondents indicated they were satisfied with the four built infrastructure areas: maintenance of roads, maintenance of stormwater sewers, maintenance of drinking water infrastructure,and maintenance of wastewater infrastructure. Over 60%of respondents said they were either"very satisfied" or"satisfied"with these areas. Dissatisfaction was very low(less than 6% in all but one category).The highest level of dissatisfaction (15%)was in the maintenance of roads area. Although in this section respondents indicated they are mostly satisfied with maintenance of built infrastructure, it is important to note that in the first section of the survey respondents said that increased road maintenance and aging infrastructure is of high concern when thinking about the potential impacts from climate-related changes.Therefore,the importance of this area should not be overlooked. "Indicate your satisfaction with the City's social and economic well-being." There was a high number of neutral votes across the five areas. In particular, energy bill-pay assistance, employment related services, and economic competitiveness received 87, 79,and 59 neutral votes respectively. Residents were most satisfied with weather-related emergency communication systems and neighborhood connectedness,with 69 and 60 satisfied votes respectively. To foster social and economic well-being, respondents suggested the City could facilitate relationship building between members of the community across age and ethnicity, such as fostering connections between elders and youth in the community. In addition,one respondent suggested promoting more economic diversity by making it easier for small businesses to succeed. Others recommend keeping taxes low for residents, increasing density at hub locations, expanding opportunities to walk to stores, and attracting more/smaller grocery stores. 2 DETERMINING CITY GOALS AND PRIORITIES "Indicate which goals and priorities wou/d best help the City improve sustainability efforts." After combining the number of respondents who indicated that a goal was either"very important" or "important,"the top 5 goals of 9 were: 1. Increase native landscaping for pollinator habitat(94) 2. Increase walking and biking infrastructure(86) 3. Increase urban tree canopy coverage (83) 4. Increase surface water quality(82) 5. Increase water conservation (79) Increasing renewable energy for public buildings also had strong support from the public(78 supporting votes)as did increasing renewable energy for private buildings(68 supporting votes).The goals with the least support were increasing infrastructure for electric vehicles and purchasing electric vehicles for City fleet. Other goals that respondents identified include: exploring curbside composting; shifting to a single trash hauler; prioritizing invasive species removal; partnering with area businesses; limiting pesticide and chemical use throughout the city; and promoting bike sharing. HOW CAN THE CITY SUPPORTYOUR EFFORTS? "Which sustainability topic areas have you taken action on?" Just over 50%of respondents indicated they have participated in planting natural landscaping(including pollinator habitat) (61),and have implemented renewable energy and/or energy efficiency actions(58). Nearly 45�0 of respondents indicated they have participated or volunteered in community events(49), have conserved water in some way(49), and have taken advantage of alternative transportation (48). 30%(33)said they have a home emergency preparedness checklist. Other examples of actions residents have taken include carpooling, utilizing home smart technology, diverting rainwater from stormwater system,and reducing household waste. "1 feel the City offers the resources 1 need to live a sustainable lifestyle." About half of respondents(54 or 54%) said that they agree with this statement to some extent, a quarter said they disagree to some extent(23%), and a quarter were unsure (24%). "Which topic areas are you most interested in receiving assistance or information from the City?" Respondents are most interested in receiving assistance or information about natural landscaping (51 most interested votes or 46%). Closely following was interest in alternative transportation (33 or 31%), renewable energy(33 or 31%), programs to increase community connectedness(28 or 26%),water conservation practices(24 or 22%), and emergency preparedness checklist(19 or 43%). Some respondents said they would like to see expanded public transportation or car sharing options to support 1-car households and expanded waste and recycling programs to include more materials. 3 "What can the City do to further support a more resilient and sustainable Go/den Valley?" There were a whole range of ideas on what Golden Valley can do to further support sustainability in the community.Supporting renewable energy development was mentioned several times,especially through reducing the costs of renewables. In addition,energy efficiency in public buildings and homes was of interest to respondents. Second,there were numerous comments related to local business development.Several people said they would like more grocery stores and smaller grocery stores that could increase food access to residents,especially by way of walking or public transit.And, creating a "downtown" character would help in attracting and fostering a small business community. Third, respondents commented about walking and biking options.There were people both in support of more biking and walking infrastructure as well as those who are opposed and concerned about shared road space between cars and bikes.A number of people said they would like to be able to walk to more places around the city. Composting and curbside pickup is something that residents would like more information about and access to. In addition,some residents mentioned a desire for the city to explore organized recycling and waste pick-up to reduce wear and tear on the roads. There were several comments related to what the City should do around water quality and conservation. Examples include lawn watering limits, reduce lawn chemical use,train residents on rain garden installation, and improve infrastructure to deal with stormwater and flooding. Lastly,there were general comments about strengthening city ordinances to reflect sustainable best practices; expanding relationships with organizations and area businesses to achieve goals; and increasing opportunities for the community to get involved through volunteering.There were also a handful of comments to keep or lower taxes for residents in the pursuit of new initiatives and stay true to the suburban feel of Golden Valley. It should be noted that because of the diversity of sustainability- related interests from the community, it is important that the City consider efforts that span multiple topic areas and reach a broad range of citizens throughout the process. 4 ���y ��� CITY OF GO�LDEN VALLEY r: " � ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ������ ANNUAL REPORT & 2017 WORK PLAN ���' '��j Ma 9, 2017 � y �°� D RAFT In accordance with Section 2.50, Subd.4 of the Golden Valley City Code, and the bylaws of the Environmental Commission,the Golden Valley Environmental Commission submits the following summary of its 2016 activities and accomplishments, and the proposed work plan priorities for 2017. Major accomplishments in 2016 include: GreenStep Cities Progress Since entering the GreenStep Cities program in April 2016,the City has completed and uploaded documentation for 23 actions meeting minimum requirements for 8 best practices and qualifying for Step 2 status.These actions describe practices and policies that the City has already put into place and serve as a benchmark for future progress.See the attached document summarizing Golden Valley's GreenStep Cities inventory progress for more information. Climate Adaption and Community Resilience(Best Practice 29) As part of an effort to increase the City's resilience to climate and weather related events,the Commission provided input on two actions under GreenStep Cities Best Practice Number 29, Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience.The two actions relate to the City's emergency management plans and strategies to protect residents as well as built/natural infrastructure in extreme weather events.Guest presenters included the City's Fire Chief John Crelly.Through review of these actions,the Commission was able to make recommendations on the City's practices and communication strategies to increase community resilience. Sustainability and Resilience Plan The Commission identified development of the City's first Sustainability and Resilience Plan as its top priority for 2016. In late 2016,the Commission began working with a consultant to develop a risk and vulnerability assessment to describe existing conditions within the City. In addition to the comprehensive plan community kickoff meeting held in September,two focus group meetings were held to gather input on needs and goals.The Commission will continue to work on developing the plan in 2017 including implementation strategies for adapting to and mitigating climate impacts.Once completed,a compacted version of the plan will be included as a chapter in the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan update. Pollinators The Commission thoughtfully reviewed and discussed proposals for City involvement in non-profit programs that benefit pollinators and habitat (Mayor's Monarch Pledge and Bee City USA) but ultimately was not able to support participation in the programs due to concern over the narrow focus of the programs and the City resources required to administer.The Commission acknowledged the importance of pollinators, habitat,awareness, and reduced pesticide use.They acknowledged that the City has done a significant amount of work with respect to pollinators and that it can continue its good work without the formality of the new programs.The Commission expressed an interest in possibly creating a more broad policy regarding pollinators in the future.They also expressed their appreciation for the Garden Club's interest in increasing pollinator habitat and awareness and may work with the Garden Club to achieve mutually beneficial goals in the future.A summary of the City's pollinator actions is attached to this report. (This is not attached yet, but will be for the final report in April) 2017 Work Plan The Commission proposes the following work plan priorities for 2017: 1. Complete the Sustainability and Resilience Plan; and condense and insert into 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update 2. Continue work on other chapters of 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update 3. Complete GreenStep Cities Inventory of current best practice actions 4. Complete new initiatives within GreenStep Cities program,consistent with Sustainability and Resilience Plan, possibly including: a. Sustainable Purchasing b. Green Business Development c. Energy and Climate related actions d. Removing barriers for Vertical Greenhouses/Urban Farming 5. Pollinators a. Create a broad pollinator policy b. Possible ban on neonicotinoids/coated seeds 6. Recycling a. Explore organics options b. Explore textile options PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES—March 2017 ENERGY Solar SolSmart program One building inspector and the City's Minnesota GreenCorps member attended a training held by SolSmart Program technical advisors in March.The workshop covered permitting and inspection practices that can be employed to streamline and expedite solar energy installations. Solar Projects Over the past few years,the City has worked with Sundial Solar to identify and implement solar panel installations throughout the City. Currently the City has worked to install solar panels on two buildings on the City Hall campus: Public Safety and Park Maintenance. The arrays planned for the Utility and Street Maintenance buildings are currently waiting for final engineering and are expected to be installed in the next few months. The Golden Valley Reservoir was also selected as a possible location for solar panels and the City is currently working through a feasibility process with various stakeholders. Staff presented the potential reservoir project to City Council at the March 14 Council Manager meeting and Council supported moving ahead with the design.Staff is working with Sundial Solar on the final design and engineering for the reservoir. The project will go back to City Council for final approval. Community Solar Challenge While working with Sundial Solar,the City was informed of a community solar program which is part of the SunShot Initiative program run by the Department of Energy. Solar in Your Community Challenge is a prize competition aimed at expanding solar electricity access to all Americans,especially underserved segments such as low and moderate income households. In order to make solar more accessible and inclusive for every American,the challenge works to spur the development of new and innovative solar projects. The City's role would be to publicize the opportunity and provide communication to residents and businesses. Participation in the initiative would allow the public to purchase solar power from newly installed panels and receive solar credits on their energy bills, allowing residents to participate in the cost saving and benefits of solar energy. Participation in this initiative would help fulfill two GreenStep Cities Actions: • BP26(4)-Support or create a program that enables community members to participate in a community renewable energy project. • BP26(5)- Install a public sector renewable energy technology. It would also fulfill the SolSmart Metrics: • CE-8: Install or lease land for solar development on brownfields,and/or other underutilized properties. • MDF-5: Install solar capacity on local facilities. • U-5: Launch and support a utility-provided community solar program. Staff will provide updates to the Commission as this potential program is explored further by staff and Sundial Solar. NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN Wildlife Staff responded to a complaint regarding the feeding of wildlife in one of the City's nature areas.An informational letter was sent to nearby residents outlining the specific problems associated with the feeding and providing information about the City's goals and objectives with respect to protecting and managing wildlife. Upon receipt of the letter,the individual feeding the wildlife met with staff and it appears the issue has been resolved. RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN A focus group with representatives who serve vulnerable populations in Golden Valley(low-income,over 65 and living alone,those with limited mobility, and those who do not speak English well)was held at the beginning of March to help the City better understand the concerns and challenges around impacts on vulnerable residents as a result of extreme weather events. Participants raised questions about communication and outreach methods, preparedness,and prioritization of resources as they relate to vulnerable residents.They also offered recommendations for increasing the resilience of vulnerable residents and the improving the services they rely on. Information from this focus group,an additional focus group being held at the end of March, and the results of the community survey will inform the City as it determines goals and objectives for the Resilience and Sustainability plan. WATER RESOURCES Following the release of the November 2016 flood insurance maps for Hennepin County, staff continues to field questions and provide information and technical assistance to property owners working with their lenders on the need for flood insurance. PLANNING AND ZONING AND DEVELOPMENTS See attached �'�����st ,��«, �. ' , � � ��� ��,�������� �,; • �_ ����.� �� Th+� P1� ��n+� Repor# The Planning Report is published twice a month to keep City Council Members and Commissioners apprised of current applications, to summarize action taken, and to report on items related to the physical and economic development of Golden Valley. MAR 22, 2017 �"����tef�'�,�', �uC3��'`��1���f.��'� 7155 Medicine Lake Road (Tactical Urban Combat)—Conditional Use Permit to operate an indoor paintless paintball facility in an existing building in an Industrial zoning district. Hours of operation would mainly be evenings and weekends, with some daytime appointments available. Scheduled for the March 27 meeting. ����o ������.3�� Youth Members on City Boards and Commissions—The Council approved (3-1) the Second Consideration of a City Code amendment that would allow youth to serve on various City Boards and Commissions. This included recommendations on mentoring by current Commissioners. The Zoning Code was also amended (3-1) to allow youth membership on the Board of Zoning Appeals. E ����"` t =.;k# ,�°,���.¢�E�� �������:���� 1509 Alpine Pass—Variance from the maximum impervious surface percentage allowed in order to construct a home addition and associated driveway expansion. The Zoning Code limits the impervious surface percentage to 50% of the lot area; the applicant is requesting a variance to go to 52.55%. Discussed on February 28 and tabled to the March 28 meeting. ����� �r�������������r� Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force—The final Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Task Force meeting took place on March 8. At the meeting, the Task Force unanimously recommended approval of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which includes a list of recommended improvements with a corresponding map, a list of funding sources and partnership opportunities, and a policy plan (which includes goals, objectives, and policies). These documents will be reviewed as part of the Transportation Chapter by the Planning Commission and City Council on July 10 and 11, in accordance with the Comp Plan Conversation schedule. Task Force members are interested in continuing an ad-hoc committee to provide feedback as the plan is implemented. 2040 Comprehensive Plan—The second Comp Plan Conversation will take place on April 12. A mini Open House focusing on Housing will be held from 6-6:30 pm in the Council Conference Room. At 6:30 pm, staff and consultants will discuss topics in the proposed Housing chapter with the Planning Commission. Other Commissioners and members of the public are welcome to attend this hour-long session. For a complete schedule of all of the Comp Plan Conversations planned in 2017, visit the Community Engagement section of the 2040 Comp Plan web site: bit.ly/GV2040CompPlan. Urban Land Institute Workshop—The Golden Valley City Council, Planning Commission, and City leadership will be participating in an informative workshop hosted by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) on the evening of June 21. ULI's "Navigating Your Competitive Future" workshop involves a panel of experts in commercial real estate, residential real estate, real estate finance, and city planning. They will provide strategies that can position Golden Valley to attract the highest quality redevelopment projects. The workshop offers the opportunity for meaningful dialogue on the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. This workshop was last completed in 2012. Additional information about current development projects may be found on the �`itv website.