2019-02-25 EC Minutes
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair Hill.
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Dawn Hill, Joseph Ramlet, Scott Seys, and
Jim Stremel
Commissioners absent: Lynn Gitelis and Debra Yahle
Council Liaison: Larry Fonnest
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Development and Assets Supervisor (arrived at 7:05pm), Drew
Chirpich, Environmental Specialist and Claire Huisman, Administrative
Assistant
3. Approval of Agenda – No motion recorded.
4. Approval of Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Seys to approve the minutes of January
29, 2019 as submitted and the motion carried. Chair Hill commented that along with the request to find
out where Simple Recycling Co. does its sorting, she also wanted to know the pr ocess for determining
what items are kept and/or rejected. It was decided not to amend the minutes at this time.
5. Old Business – No items.
6A. GreenStep Cities – Step 4 Metrics – Green Buildings
After a brief discussion of Step 4 Optional topic area, Green Buildings, led by Drew Chirpich, the
Commission made the following motion.
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Stremel to approve the Performance
Metrics entry for Step 4 Green Buildings as amended into the GreenStep Cities website at the time when
all core topic areas and optional topic areas are completed and the motion carried. The amendment
included adding verbiage on Data Element 2.7 to state that this element included “Energy Star” rated
buildings only.
6B. 2019 Commission Sponsored Workshop
Chirpich presented information on the next MetroBlooms workshop called Healthy Soils. The base cost
to the Commission is $1500 which includes a Q&A group discussion after the presentation.
MetroBlooms advises charging $15/person to attend the presentation. They feel this will insure that
those who have signed up to attend will actually show up. Commission members feel $15/household is
more of a fair price. It was also suggested by Commissioner Seys to change the name of the wo rkshop to
February 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Feb 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
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something more appealing to the public. This workshop would take place at Brookview in the spring of
2019.
MOTION by Commissioner Ramlet, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve hosting the Healthy
Soils Workshop and the motion carried.
6C. 2019 GreenCorps Application
MOTION by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Ramlet to support the application to
the MPCA GreenCorps for the placement of a GreenCorps member with the City of Golden Valley and
the motion carried. If selected by MPCA, the GreenCorps member would work at City Hall full-time from
September 2019 to August 2020 to assist the City with waste reduction, recycling, composting/organics
management goals, objectives and implementation actions.
6D. Program/Project Updates
Items discussed:
• The City was awarded a $50,000 DNR’s Conservation Partner’s Legacy (CPL) grant with a required
$5,000 match from the City for the Bassett Creek Nature Area to aid in removing invasive species and
restoring with native species.
• The WasteZero Contract is still under review by WasteZero.
• DeCola Ponds B & C Improvement Project held an open house on February 6. Eight people
attended and four comments submitted, most in support of the project.
• Kings Valley Pond Maintenance Project is substantially complete. Restoration and touch-up in the
spring.
• Limebike has removed its bikes and scooters for the winter but will be back in the spring through
2019.
• The year-end recycling report for 2018 showed that the community had a 92% recycling
participation rate.
The complete Program/Project Update is on file.
6E. Citywide Pollinator Policy
Eckman discussed with the Commission, the creation of a Citywide Pollinator Policy in the form of a
resolution which would be adopted by council. Resolutions from other Cities in the metro area on the
protection of pollinators and their habitats were presented to aid in the draft of the resolution for
Golden Valley. The volunteer group, People for Pollinators Golden Valley (sponsored by the Golden
Valley Garden Club), would like to assist the City with the resolution and implementation of pollinator
actions within the community. A draft of the resolution will be presented to the Commission at next
month’s meeting. Comments from Commissioners included:
• Does the volunteer group need to be a legal “non-profit”?
• Craft language in the resolution to allow for the dismissal or change of the volunteer group.
• What if the volunteer group was to disagree with certain City decisions?
• Would the volunteer group request money for their services?
• Appoint someone to perform an advisory role to keep the group focused.
• Resolutions get forgotten over time. Create a policy or plan that would stay in effect. Also, require
an annual report from the volunteer group.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Feb 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
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• Does the City make sure that plantings come from approved nurseries?
• The 4 points under “Practice” in the Current Pollinator Activities in Golden Valley should be
included in the resolution.
• Bring in volunteer group to discuss the draft resolution with the Commission.
• Does the Commission want an outside group to take over? Or would the City delegate certain tasks
for them to manage?
• The resolution should have language stating that the City will also use best practices for project s
within the City that require plants, trees, sod, etc.
• Tie this with GreenStep Cities to satisfy a Best Practices Action Item to move the City forward in
Step 5.
6F. 2019 Draft Work Plan
Eckman presented 12 plan ideas for the 2019 Work Plan which wil l need to be finalized and presented to
the Council in May. The Commission decided to keep items one to five on the top priority list along with
item nine; complete a ready and resilient guide for the community. It was noted that item seven,
revising City code to remove barriers to producing local food, will be handled by the Planning
Commission when they revise zoning codes. Item six, revision of City code to allow temporary use of
goats for vegetation management, will be moved down to last on the list. It was also suggested to move
item 10, solar and wind ordinances, up on the list as well.
6G. Council Updates
Council member Larry Fonnest gave a brief update to the Commission regarding waste and recycling
hauling. He stated that the Council will make a decision by summer of 2019 as to what direction the City
will take on the solid waste hauling issue. Also, the League of Women Voters will be holding a public
forum to give their report on residential waste hauling and recycling after conducting surve ys with
residents and visiting waste and recycling facilities within the metro area.
6H. Other Business – No items
7. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Anderson to adjourn the meeting at
8:25pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
______________________________
Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant