2017-07-24 EC Minutes GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting, Minutes
July 24, 2017
Commissioners Present: Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill and
Larry Johnson
Staff Present: Eric Eckman, Public Works Specialist; Claire Huisman, Administrative
Assistant
Also Present: Council Member Larry Fonnest and Abby Finis, Great Plains Institute
Absent: Commissioners Jim Stremel and Debra Yahle
Call to Order
Chair Hill called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
Approval of Reqular Meetinp Minutes
MOVED by Gitelis, SECONDED by Galonska, and the motion carried unanimously
to approve the minutes of the June 26, 2017 regular meeting.
Resilience and Sustainabilitv Plan
Abby Finis presented the Resilience and Sustainability Draft Plan for the Commissions'
review and discussion. Comments included the following:
• A description of the GreenStep Cities program and relation to the Resilience Plan
should be added to the Introduction.
• Possibly include the implementation strategies of each goal under the "goals,
objectives, and policies" section instead of a separate implementation section.
(Staff to check with Planning and Communications on this formatting.)
• Implementation strategies should be rearranged in a logical order and should
follow that order in Table 1: Summary of Implementation Strategies.
• It was noted that the subject of automobiles affecting the environment and
infrastructure will be discussed in the Transportation Chapter of the Comp Plan.
• Goal 2 should reference "State Building Code" within its implementation
strategies.
• Under Goal 5, the language regarding "fuel/charging stations" will be changed to
"alternative fuel/charging stations" or similar language.
• The question "What is an energy/climate action plan?" should be modified and
placed in a more appropriate area of the plan and not between Goals 1 and 2.
• In Table 1, change the column labeled "Ongoing?" to something more
appropriate.
• Several punctuation and spelling errors were noted and will be corrected.
MOVED by Galonska, SECONDED by Johnson to approve the draft Resilience and
Sustainability Plan as amended and submit to City Council for approval and
incorporation into the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Motion passed with 4 yes and 1 no.
GreenStep Cities Inventorv— Tabled
Review Best Practices 1, 2, 3, 14, 20, 23, 26, 27, 28
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Minutes of the Environmental Commission
July 24, 2017
Page 2 of 2
Proqram/Proiect Updates
Eckman discussed Xcel Energy's Community Energy Report for 2016 and showed
graphs comparing the data on energy consumption and CO2 emissions with the 2015
report. These graphs will be added to the website under Solar Energy.
A group of volunteers has adopted a small open space in the Bassett Valley to remove
noxious weeds and invasive species and replace with native shrubs, perennials and
grasses. It was suggested by Commissioner Galonska to take before and after pictures
of this project for a future article which would aid to encourage more volunteer groups.
Also discussed was the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board's pilot project to utilize goats
to control invasive vegetation species in its park system.
Council Updates
Council member Fonnest stated that the Council approved a $3,500 budget for the
Environmental Commission to use in 2018 for programming and educational purposes.
Other Business
Commissioner Johnson told of his idea to possibly work with the Planning Commission
to host an educational Buckthorn public event.
Adiourn
MOVED by Galonska, SECONDED by Anderson, and the motion carried to
adjourn the meeting at 8:31 pm.
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Claire Huisman
Administrative Assistant
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