2020-01-07 EC Agenda PacketREGULAR MEETING AGENDA
1.Call to Order
2.Roll Call
3.Approval of Agenda
4.Approval of November 25, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min)
5.Old Business
A.Organics Recycling Considerations (10 min)
B. Partners in Energy update (5 min)
6.New Business
A. Curbside Organics Program Pros-Cons (30 min)
B. SCORE Funding (5 min)
C.GreenStep Cities - City Hall Organics (5 min)
Action Requested
D. 2020 Work Plan Ideas (10 min)
E.Program/Project Updates (10 min)
F.Council Updates (5 min)
G.Other Business
7.Adjournment
January 27, 2020 – 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
1
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chair Seys.
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska, Dawn Hill, Susan Phelps, Joseph Ramlet,
Scott Seys, Jim Stremel and Debra Yahle
Commissioners absent: none
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Development and Assets Supervisor; Drew Chirpich,
Environmental Specialist; Emma Pierson, GreenCorp member and Claire
Huisman, Administrative Assistant
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremel to approve the agenda of November
25, 2019 as submitted and the motion carried.
4. Approval of Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the minutes of October
28, 2019 as submitted and the motion carried.
5A. Waste Hauling Ordinance Adopted
The Waste Hauling Ordinance was approved by the Council and will go into effect on April 1, 2020. The
Council made one change to the draft ordinance that was submitted which was to add Mondays along
with Fridays to be the only days allowed for hauling in the City.
6A. Curbside Organics Options
Emma Pierson presented to the Commission the different options that the city could take for curbside
organic collection. The collection options include:
• Require all haulers to provide curbside organic collection either by offering a separate bin or the
method by which a separate bag would be provided and then placed in the solid waste bin.
• Contracting citywide service gives two options: All-in (everyone is charged and given a bin but
they do not have to participate) or Opt-in (those who want to participate would pay an additional
fee).
November 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
2
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
G:\Environmental Commission\Agendas\2020\1-January\4 - ec-minutes-nov-25-19.docx
2
The Commission was asked to rate the various factors below in regard to curbside organic collection
options.
• Participation Rates – The goal for participation should be 100% and considered high priority. It
was suggested that everyone should pay instead of the opt-in option.
• Contamination Rates – The commission felt this was a high priority for consideration with cost as
well as in determining blue bag option or separate bin option. Staff will check with other cities
on how they handle contamination.
• Education/outreach opportunities – Education is a high priority with the commission and should
be offered to all residents to help increase the participation rate. Ideas included: compostable
mailings; Hennepin County workshops; possible grants for education; booth at Farmers Market.
• Number of Bins – This is a high priority in considering the organics program.
• Cost – cost is a very important factor and everyone should pay.
• Infrastructure Wear and Tear – High priority item. Staff will talk with haulers about their
infrastructure plan.
• Number of Trucks – High priority item.
• Staff Time – Medium priority item. Staff will check with other cities on how staff time has been
affected by their organics program.
• Availability of compost to residents – Medium priority item. Offer compost to the residents that
participate in the program. Commissioners felt residents should be able to pick up compost at a
local area such as Brookview. Staff will look to other cities on ideas for offering compost to
their residents.
• Collection Frequency – weekly collection is preferable.
• Density/Efficiency of route – They should go with the route that is the least expensive for the
hauler.
• Hauler Staff Time
• Tonnage Data Collection – County offers incentives to cities for resident participation in the
organics program.
• Recovery Rate – Blue bag vs separate bin. Also, what can be collected and how much is lost in
transit.
• End Product – The commission questioned, “How does contamination affect the end product?”
6B. City Hall Waste Sort
Emma Pierson gave a brief summary of the two recent waste sorts that she conducted in the City Hall
break room prior to implementing organic recycling collection within City Hall. The results showed that
after removing organic material and recyclables from the garbage only 7% of the 15 gallons of material
were actually trash, 86% were organic & 7% were recyclables and the second waste sort resulted in 18%
of the 11 gallons of material were trash, 73% were organic material and 9% were recyclables.
6C. 2020 Meeting Dates
MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve moving the regular
scheduled meeting on May 25, 2020 (Memorial Day) to May 18, 2020. Also approved to cancel the
December 2020 meeting and the motion carried unanimously.
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 25, 2019 – 6:30 pm
G:\Environmental Commission\Agendas\2020\1-January\4 - ec-minutes-nov-25-19.docx
3
6D. Program/Projects Update
The complete Program/Project Update is on file.
6E. Council Updates - None
6F. Other Business
Batteries are no longer accepted for disposal at City Hall. Alkaline batteries can be thrown in the trash
but rechargeable and lithium batteries are considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of
properly. Commissioners asked staff to look into offering hazardous battery disposal during Mighty
Tidy days or work with Tech Dump to offer a collection site for hazardous batteries. Also for Mighty
Tidy days, to add a drop off for sharps/needles.
7. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Ramlet, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at 8:10pm
and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member
Subject: Organics Recycling Considerations, Goals, Priorities, and Questions
Staff will provide a brief update on the organics matrix discussed by the Commission at its November 2019
meeting. Attached to this memo is the matrix and Hennepin County’s education requirements referenced
in the matrix.
5
Organics: Considerations, Goals, Priorities, Questions
Considerations Priority Goals/Desires Questions Answers/Staff Comment
Participation Rates High 100%, Everyone pays
model instead of opt-in
How will each option affect
SCORE Funds?
What could we use those
SCORE Funds for?
SCORE funds are affected by
number of participants
throughout the City. The higher
the participation, the more
funding you will receive.
SCORE funds can be used for
recycling education, events,
subsidizing curbside programs,
etc.
Education/Outreach
Opportunities
High Education to reduce/reuse
over recycle
Compostable Mailings
Could a County Staff Person
host workshops to educate
residents on organics?
Are there grants for education?
Education/booth at Farmer’s
Market?
Yes, the county does offer
speakers for recycling and
organics.
At this moment there are no
grants, however the County
provides materials like signage
and presentations. We are
required to use County
terminology on all materials for
outreach.
We can communicate with
Market in the Valley about any
booths we would like at the
market.
*If opting for a licensing
requirement, haulers would
have to adhere to the attached
Hennepin County Ordinance
13 Education Requirements
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Organics: Considerations, Goals, Priorities, Questions
Number of Bins High Concerned w/ Number of
Total bins
Educate residents about
options and implications
prior to sending out survey
question on # of bins
Bin storage ordinance
How will /does collection of
organics in a separate bin
affect size of trash
bin/collection frequency of
trash?
City Code Sec. 22-23 States:
“Containers shall be stored no
more than three feet from the
primary or accessory structure
and shall at all times be located
behind the front of the primary
structure.”
Participating in organics can
help you reduce the size of
your garbage container by
diverting waste to an organics
bin.
Cost High Everyone Pays, optional to
receive bin
What are neighboring cities
contamination rates?
Ask haulers what pricing would
be
How will each program be
affected by taxes?
Saint Louis Park: Curbside
Organized 1.76%
Contamination
Minneapolis: Curbside
Organized 0.47%-1.45%
Contamination (changes when
outreach is done)
Trash containers are taxed by
sales price, which is
determined by Haulers based
on the volume of containers.
County taxes 15.5% on trash
and the State taxes 9.75% on
trash. There are no taxes on
recycling or organics recycling.
If adding a separate organics
7
Organics: Considerations, Goals, Priorities, Questions
bin to your property, there will
be no additional tax to your
hauling, and you may be able
to reduce the size of your trash
bin, in turn reducing taxes. If
you are co-collecting in a
durable bag system, there is no
tax on the price to participate
in the organics program,
however, the volume of your
trash bin will likely stay the
same, causing no reduction in
taxes, depending on the
program.
Number of Trucks High No specific comment
Implementation High What is the timing on
implementing each program?
Timing depends upon what
decision City Council makes
and when. Must have curbside
opportunity available by
January 1, 2022.
Contamination
Rates
High Compare contamination of
Durable Bag v Separate Bin
There is no specific data
showing contamination
differences between the
programs. While discussing
options with haulers, some
have mentioned a durable bag
program is a risk; others like
the program.
Infrastructure Wear
& Tear
High Discuss infrastructure plan with
haulers
No specific comment
Staff Time Medium An organized system would
require more staff time
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Organics: Considerations, Goals, Priorities, Questions
End
Product/Availability
of Compost
Medium Coupon to participants,
annual/semi-annual pick up
site in Golden Valley
(Farmer’s Market, Mighty
Tidy Day) (do not want to
drive to SMSC)
Can there be an equitable
system w/ more compost going
to those participating at higher
rates?
Do haulers other than Randy’s
have the ability to provide
coupons?
There are no known methods
of accomplishing this.
Density/Efficiency
of Route
Low Least expensive route No specific comment
Hauler Staff Time Low Is Republic doing curbside bins
in other communities?
Discuss capability of organics
collection with trash haulers
lead to attrition?
Yes, Fridley and soon Richfield.
Tonnage
Data/Recovery Rate
Not
specified
No specific comment
Collection
Frequency
Not
specified
Weekly preferred Would yard waste co-collection
be an option? How could we
compost in Nov-April if this
were the program?
Cities and haulers have been
moving from yard waste co-
collect to separate bin
collection.
Hauler Questions in red
9
Hennepin County Education Requirements of Ordinance 13
Section 2: Subsection 2B
If opting for hauler licensing over citywide organized service:
Cities shall require Haulers to provide the following information annually, to the City:
• A description of how Organic Material will be collected.
• A communications plan that includes the method(s) and frequency of communications that
notify residents of the availability of Curbside Collection of Organic Material.
• Instructions on how residents sign up for the Curbside Collection of Organic Material.
• A Curbside Collection schedule or calendar.
• Instructions on how residents should prepare Organic Material for Curbside Collection.
• The number of participants and tonnage collected.
• The Organic Material Management Facility where Organic Material is delivered.
• The contact information of a representative who works for the Hauler who can respond to
inquiries related to the requirements of this Ordinance.
Section 2: Subsection 3: Education requirements
Cities shall:
• Use County terminology on promotional materials when describing Mixed Recyclables and
Organic Material guidelines, including the description of materials accepted and not accepted,
as well as preparation guidelines.
• Use images approved by the County if using images of Mixed Recyclables and Organic Material.
• Provide information on the City’s website, including materials accepted and not accepted, a
Curbside Collection calendar, and links to County resources on waste management.
• Provide a guide on Mixed Recyclables and Organic Material to residents each year. The guide
shall contain information on Curbside Collection, materials accepted and not accepted, and a
Curbside Collection calendar.
• Complete two educational activities each year to promote Curbside Collection. The County will
provide a list of activities to city recycling coordinators.
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos\Monarch Pledge & Bee City
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Subject: Xcel Energy’s Partners In Energy community collaboration program
Staff will provide a brief update on the City’s application to participate in the Partners In Energy
program.
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member
Subject: Curbside Organics Options: Draft Pro-Con List
The attached draft pro-con has been developed with guidance from the goals and priorities
established by the City Council in the Resilience and Sustainability section of the City’s
Comprehensive Plan and the Environmental Commission at the November 2019 commission
meeting. Additional guidance for best practices and goals was obtained from Hennepin County’s
Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2018-2023 (attached) and the MPCA’s Metropolitan Solid
Waste Management Policy Plan 2016-2036 (attached). Pertinent sections of these documents are
outlined below:
City of Golden Valley
https://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/planning/comprehensiveplanupdate/pdf/compplanchapters/7
-Resilience-and-Sustainability.pdf
Resilience & Sustainability Chapter of 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Goal 3: Promote Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Composting
Improve the efficiencies of solid waste removal
1.1 Meet or exceed goals included in the Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Master Plan
1.2 Review the frequency of waste and recycling pickups
1.3 Explore the potential of implementing organized collection systems, including residential, commercial,
and institutional source separated organics collection
1.4 Research options for improving the management of yard waste, woody brush, and soil
1.5 Take advantage of opportunities to expand the recycling program and recyclable products
Motivate residents, businesses, and institutions to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste
2.1 Continue to partner with other public entities to reduce costs and provide improved services
12
2.2 Create goals for solid waste reduction, recycling, composting, and organics recycling for City
operations as well as residential and commercial sectors
2.3 Provide education and incentives to residences and businesses to reduce waste and recycle
2.4 Require that City events are zero waste
2.5 Communicate with residents about events that promote waste reduction, such as Fix-it Clinics
2.6 Increase accessibility to composting and organics recycling
Hennepin County
https://www.hennepin.us/-/media/hennepinus/your-government/projects-
initiatives/documents/solid-waste-mgmt-master-plan-18-
23.pdf?la=en&hash=B2BC2A88B5F4A1EA6B5B0E9EB95B022F38471B46
Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2018-2023
Focus on Organics-page 15
Experience from these programs shows that the best results are achieved when organics
recycling is available citywide, the service is structured so that everyone pays by bundling
organics service with recycling or trash, and implementation is supported by a comprehensive
communications and outreach plan.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/w-sw7-21.pdf
Metropolitan Solid Waste Policy Plan 2016-2036
Metropolitan System Plan 2016-2036- page 15
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Achieving a 75% recycling rate is challenging but possible- page 19
To achieve the 75% goal, approximately 50% of the material currently going to waste to energy or
landfill would need to be diverted from these facilities. Given that 63% of the waste is currently
recyclable, nearly all of the available material would need to be recovered (Figure 7).
14
Collection Best Practices- page 27
Pair Bi-weekly trash collection with weekly recycling and organics collection
Organics Management- page 31
Providing curbside service to residents – so access is equivalent to curbside recycling or trash
collection – will be necessary if the 75% recycling goal is to be achieved.
By 2022, cities of the first and second class (as defined in Minn. Stat. § 410.01) should provide an
organized residential organics collection program.
Evaluate mixed waste processing for organics recovery- page 34
Meeting a 75% recycling goal in the TCMA will take a broad range of programs and policies to
achieve. Asking generators to source-separate their recyclables, including organics, is beneficial in
that the material collected is of a higher quality (less contamination), and thus can be used to
create more valuable and versatile products. Source separation is also emphasized as a priority
over processing by statute (Minn. Stat. 115a.02). Other processing technologies that are designed
to process MMSW by removing recyclables, and potentially organics that have not been source
separated, also need to be assessed for their effectiveness.
15
DRAFT Pros-Cons for Curbside Organics Options
Organized ‘All-in, Everyone Pays’ Program (Cart)
Pros Cons
• Increases participation
• No negotiation required for residents
o Lower cost w/ citywide contract
o Everyone pays the same fee
o Lower cost overall more
accessible for lower income
individuals to participate
• Higher density collection routes
• Option for bin tagging/education
• Can use certified compostable bags or
paper grocery bags
• City can manage education w/ help from
Hennepin County
• Consistent color bins throughout city
• Can reduce trash bin size and save money
as we divert waste to organics
• Additional bin on property
• Resident provides bags
• Additional cost to residents regardless of
participation
Cities that do this
St Louis Park, Minneapolis, Edina, Richfield (soon)
Costs
To be discussed In February
Organized ‘Opt-in’ Program (Cart)
Pros Cons
• Optional
• Option for bin tagging w/ education
• Can use certified compostable bags or
paper grocery bags
• Can allow for smaller trash bin to save
money
• Lower chances for participation to avoid
additional cost
• Additional bin to property
• Resident purchases bags
• Higher cost w/ less people participating?
(depends upon contract)
• No regulation/consistency of costs
between haulers
• Hauler is responsible for education
• Unknown amount of added trucks to
each street
Cities that do this
Robbinsdale (Spring 2020)
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License Requirement Organics Recycling Collection (Cart)
Pros Cons
• Optional
• Option for bin tagging w/ education
• Can use certified compostable bags or
paper grocery bags
• Can allow for smaller trash bin to save
money
• Lowers chance of participation
• Bin is not organics specific, limited/no
opportunity for tagging/education
• Hauler is responsible for education
• No regulation/consistency of costs
between haulers
• Additional bin to property
• Hauler is responsible for education
• Unknown amount of added trucks to
each street
Cities that do this
Costs
To be discussed In February
Costs
To be discussed In February
License Requirement Organics Recycling Collection (Durable Bag Program)
Pros Cons
• No additional bin on property
• Optional- no payment if choosing not to
participate
• Durable bags included in program fee
(limited amount)
• No additional trucks on streets
• Lowers chance of participation
• Bin is not organics specific, limited/no
opportunity for tagging/education
• Restricted bag size
• Mandated unorganized durable bag
hauling could provide capacity overload
for facilities that accept and sort bags
• Hauler is responsible for education
• No regulation/consistency of costs
between haulers
• Takes up room in trash bin; would not
decrease trash bin size
Cities that do this
Costs
To be discussed In February
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member
Subject: Hennepin County SCORE Funding
To help Cities with the operational expenses of facilitating a recycling program, Hennepin County
distributes funding known as SCORE funds. SCORE funding is calculated based upon the City’s
participation in residential recycling programs.
SCORE grants may be used for discounts to new customers, discount to existing customers,
referral incentives, City contract costs, education and outreach, compostable bags, kitchen
containers, carts, etc.
Here is a link to the Hennepin County SCORE Funding Policy: https://www.hennepin.us/-
/media/hennepinus/your-government/projects-initiatives/documents/residential-recycling-
funding-policy.pdf?la=en&hash=C7E0548E8C65B046208745CCEB3BC2598FB9EA5C
The following formula is used to determine the City’s recycling and organics SCORE grant
amounts in 2020:
Recycling: 50%
Organics: 50%
Recycling Grant Calculation 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐻𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑁𝑁ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅 𝐶𝐶𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐻𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑁𝑁ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅 𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅 𝐶𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅× 𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑆𝑆𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝑅𝑅𝑆𝑆 𝐹𝐹𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑇𝑇𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑇𝑇𝑁𝑁𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑅𝑅𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅
18
Organics Grant Calculation* 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐻𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑁𝑁ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑆𝑆𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅 𝐶𝐶𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝐻𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑁𝑁ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐻𝐻𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑆𝑆𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻 𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅 𝐶𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅× 𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜𝑤𝑤𝑇𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑆𝑆𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆𝑅𝑅𝑆𝑆 𝐹𝐹𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜𝐻𝐻 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑇𝑇𝑤𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑇𝑇𝑁𝑁𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑁𝑁 𝑆𝑆𝑁𝑁𝑅𝑅𝑇𝑇𝑅𝑅𝑤𝑤𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻
*Organics funding is capped at $25/household annually
In 2019, there was a total of $1,407,904 available to disperse to Cities for organics recycling.
There were 114 households participating in curbside organics in Golden Valley, and 59,339
households participating in curbside organics in Hennepin County. Based upon those numbers,
and the 50% allocation for recycling and 50% allocation for organics recycling in 2020, below is a
prediction for SCORE Funds in 2020. These figures assume that participation numbers at the City
and County level do not change.
Organics Grant in 2019 11459,339 × $1,407,904 =$2,705
$1,407,904 is 40% of total available SCORE funds
Projected Organics Grant in 2020* 11459,339 × $1,759,880 =$3,381
$1,759,880 is 50% of total available SCORE funds
*Overall funding and participation can fluctuate, this is an estimate of 2020 SCORE funding using 2019 participation
numbers.
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City of Golden Valley SCORE funds
Year Percent
Allocation
for Recycling
Recycling Grant Percent
Allocation
for Organics
Organics Grant Total
Recycling and
Organics
Score Grant
2017 80% $56,237 20% $569 $56,806
2018 70% $47,900 30% $1,622 $49,522
2019 60% $41,375 40% $2,705 $44,080
2020 50% $34,619* 50% $3,381* $38,000*
*Subject to change based on state funding and the number of households in each city
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member
Subject: Organics Recycling at City Hall, GreenStep Cities Best Practice 22
Organics recycling in City Hall was implemented in December 2019. City Hall has four waste sort stations
throughout: one in the staff break room, two outside each public restroom area, and one inside the
Council Conference room. Each waste station has an organics bin, recycling bin, and trash bin, all labeled
with Hennepin County materials. Below is a before and after of the staff break room waste station.
In addition to the actions described above, the City has completed additional actions under Best Practice
22 of the GreenStep Cities program. A summary of these actions is below.
After brief discussion, staff requests that the Commission consider making a motion to approve these
updates for entry into the GreenStep Cities website.
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Best Practice 22: Sustainable Consumption and Waste
Action 1: Improve City operations and procurement to prevent and reuse, recycling and compost waste
from all public facilities (including libraries, parks, schools, municipal health care facilities), and minimize
use of toxics and generation of hazardous waste.
One Star: Measure/audit waste generated; adopt goals for reducing the generation of overall solid waste;
goals for diverting a percentage of overall solid waste into recycling or compostables collection; goals for
specific waste streams such as public works waste, disposable cafeteria ware, waste from parks.
Two Stars: Describe actions taken, such as refurbishing office equipment, reusing building materials,
increasing e-commerce, getting off junk mail lists, collecting organic material and beverage containers from
parks.
Three Stars: Report measures that show goals were met by the reduced amount of waste generated, the
increased amount of waste diverted into recycling and compostables collection.
Existing entry:
The City recycles at our public buildings and facilities as well as at 5 parks throughout the City. In 2016,
additional recycling bins were added to 3 parks to accommodate the amount of plastic bottles and
aluminum cans that were being thrown away. The City has also taken steps to make recycling more
convenient for visitors of the parks by adding more signage and larger recycling containers for easy
dumping of material. Additional recycling carts are available for special events such as the farmers’
market, festivals, or other City events.
Woody organic material and yard waste produced by the City is trucked to the Shakopee Mdewakanton
Sioux Community Recycling Facility that turns this waste into compost and compost blends for retail and
wholesale purchase.
In 2016, Public Works staff collected 447.7 tons of leaves from City properties.
Proposed update:
In 2019, an internal organics recycling program was implemented within City Hall to divert waste from the
landfill in all restrooms, public areas, and the staff breakroom; compostable products to replace all
disposable service ware have been purchased.
Best Practice 22: Sustainable Consumption and Waste
Action 2: Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through
encouragement/implementation of one or more of:
a. Education on needless consumption, waste prevention and alternatives, including product
stewardship/producer responsibility.
b. Reuse options.
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c. Recycling / composting options.
d. Credits, fees.
e. Mandates, bans.
One Star: Post the CoolClimate household-level consumption-based GHG calculator on a city solid
waste/reuse/recycling page; education on reuse, recycling, composting; in-store recycling of thin plastic
bags & sale of reusable bags; non-traditional recycling/collection for reuse (e.g., ink cartridges, shoes,
batteries, clothes).
Two Stars: Public drinking fountains that encourage refilling water bottles; city ordinance on in-store fees
on plastic & paper bags; credits for use of reusable bags.
Three Stars: City mandated recyclable/compostable egg cartons, to-go packaging; bans on plastic straws;
county or city collection of clean Styrofoam from businesses and industry and use of a polystyrene densifier.
Existing entry:
City Hall has two public drinking fountains each equipped with water bottle refilling stations. These are
each near public restrooms in the highest traffic areas of the building, used by staff and visitors.
Proposed update:
The City of Golden Valley website has education regarding the CoolClimate calculator, how to compost at
home, upcoming recycling events, and how and where to dispose of hazardous and problem items.
Information regarding updates, changes, contamination, etc. are sent in bi-monthly newsletters.
Best Practice 22: Sustainable Consumption and Waste
Action 5: Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated
organics collection/management program.
One Star: Provide participant numbers and/or tons managed of one or more programs: food-to-people,
food-to-animals, compostables collection, and backyard composting. Mention any yard waste collection
program (note that it is banned by state law from landfills).
Two Stars: Organics collection by one hauler; drop-site collection of organics; facilitate multiple businesses
to collect compostables; include a public outreach program to prevent food waste.
Three Stars: Facilitate the logistics for more prevention of public/commercial food waste; manage organics
via small site composting or anaerobic digestion, and/or set and meet an aggressive program goal, such as %
residents/businesses participating or profitability of program; assist with or directly manage yard waste so
as to produce and sell a value-added wood chip (esp. from Ash) and/or compost product.
Proposed entry:
Organics recycling curbside is available through select residential trash haulers within the City of Golden
Valley, there are currently 114 participating households in curbside organics collection. All licensed
residential trash haulers are required to offer yard waste pick up. In 2018, haulers reported 267.7 tons of
yard waste collected, some haulers did not report.
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G:\Environmental Commission\Memos
Date: January 23, 2020
To: Environmental Commission
From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor
Subject: 2020 Work Plan Ideas
As stated in its bylaws, the Commission is required to develop an annual work plan for review and
approval by City Council. The draft work plan for 2020 will be based on the City’s 2040
Comprehensive Plan, GreenStep Cities Program, and the City’s potential acceptance into Xcel
Energy’s Partners in Energy Community Collaboration Program.
http://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/planning/comprehensiveplanupdate/
https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/best-practices
https://www.xcelenergy.com/working_with_us/municipalities/partners_in_energy
Attached is the 2019 work plan to get the conversation started. Commission members should
come to the meeting prepared to discuss the current work plan and any ideas for future items
they wish to have considered. There will be additional discussion and development of the draft
work plan at the February and March meetings, ahead of Commission approval in April and
Council consideration in May.
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2019 Work Plan
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PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES – January 2020
GREENCORPS
Community outreach -The MN GreenCorps Member has been meeting with restaurant managers and owners to help
with compliance to Hennepin County’s food waste requirements. City Staff has been in contact with Brookview to
improve their recycling program in public areas.
RECYCLING / ORGANICS / SOLID WASTE
Organics - Staff has been conducting stakeholder meetings with waste haulers to understand the logistics of
implementing an organics program and any opportunities and challenges they may face.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Pennsylvania Woods DNR Habitat Grant – The City Council recently approved a resolution authorizing staff to apply for
a habitat grant for areas of the Pennsylvania Woods Nature Area that are outside of the DeCola Ponds B and C Flood
Mitigation project boundaries. If funded, the project would involve the removal of buckthorn and other invasive species
and the planting and establishment of native vegetation.
Pollinators - Staff recently met with the Garden Club and People for Pollinators group to share information about the
upcoming plans for 2020. Consistent with the MOU executed last fall, the City will be promoting the Garden Club’s
events and activities in a variety of ways in 2020. The Garden Club website is https://gvgardenclub.com and the
Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Peopleforpollinatorsgoldenvalley/.
Lawns to Legumes- The Board of Water and Soil Resources has a program called “Lawns to Legumes” that will reimburse
people to convert portions of their lawn to pollinator habitat. The link to the program website is:
https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l . The Metro Area is the highest priority for the program, and the application deadline is
February 28th, 2020.
Student Essay Competition- Staff has been working on putting together an annual student essay competition. The
competition would be sponsored by the Environmental Commission, and prompts for the competition would center
around sustainability and the environment. The time for the release of the competition would be around Earth Day
(April 22, 2020).
WATER RESOURCES
Annual FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) Program Reporting – Staff completed its annual reporting to FEMA
summarizing the City’s activities supporting its higher standards of floodplain management. The City’s participation in
the program increases the community’s resilience to flooding, helps reduce flood risk, and ensures that eligible residents
can receive discounts up to 20% on their flood insurance premiums.
Annual Wetland Reporting – Staff completed its annual reporting of all activities and administration completed in 2019
under the Wetland Conservation Act. Staff completed notices of decision for projects and developments and landowner
contacts (calls, emails, site visits) to discuss wetland boundaries, benefits, and rules.
MS4 Permit Reissuance – MPCA is updating its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit that allows cities
to operate a storm sewer system and discharge stormwater into public water bodies. The public comment period on the
draft permit ended on January 11, 2020. After review and revisions by MPCA, it is anticipated that the permit will be
reissued in summer 2020. Following permit reissuance the City will have about 6 months to complete a document
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describing how it will become compliant with the new permit regulations, and then about 12 months to revise its
current program (including operations, procedures, ordinances, education, etc) to become compliant.
DeCola Ponds Flood Mitigation Projects - The DeCola Ponds B and C project is about 40% complete. The excavation and
utility work should finish up in March 2020, with trail construction in June 2020, and the City’s native vegetation
contractor seeding and planting trees, shrubs, and grasses starting in spring 2020.
The City and Bassett Creek Watershed are also beginning to look at the next project areas for flood mitigation. The
Wildwood Park/SEA School area has been identified as having potential for flood storage to benefit properties around
DeCola Ponds D, E, and F. A planning level study to understand opportunities and challenges and develop concepts is
programmed for this spring and will include engagement with the community and nearby stakeholders. The DNR is
supportive and has requested flood damage reduction grant funds in the 2020 state bonding bill for the next flood
mitigation project in Golden Valley. Look for more information on this in the coming months.
PLANNING AND ZONING AND DEVELOPMENTS
Dec 19, 2019
I-394 Mixed Use Property Rezonings—With the 2040 Comprehensive Plan moving towards adoption, the City must
bring its zoning into conformance with the approved land use plan. The first step will be rezoning properties designated
I-394 Mixed Use to either Mixed Use, Commercial, Office, or High Density Residential. The public hearings for these
properties are scheduled for the January 13 meeting.
800 Boone Ave North—Conditional Use Permit Amendment to remove a recently approved prohibition on the drop-off
and pick-up on Boone Avenue of clients at the adult day care. The applicant is requesting to be allowed to use the east
side of Boone Avenue only. The current condition requires all pick-ups and drop-offs to occur on-site. A public hearing
was held on December 9 and then the item was tabled to the January 13 meeting.
Tobacco Sales Restrictions—A Zoning Text Amendment to restrict the sale of tobacco products based on nearby uses
will be discussed at the January 13 meeting. Following recent City Council action to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco,
to raise the age of sales to 21, and to cap the number of City tobacco licenses, the Planning Commission will be looking
to create additional locational restrictions around schools, parks, and other youth-oriented centers. Scheduled for the
January 13 meeting.
Sweeney Lake Woods PUD No. 120—A Major PUD Amendment to subdivide properties with the existing PUD and
incorporate some portions of adjacent properties. The proposal would create three new single-family residential lots
and consolidate two others, resulting in a net increase of one lot. A neighborhood meeting was held on October 16. A
public hearing was postponed to January in order to allow for additional stormwater information to be collected.
Narrow Lots—At the Council/Manager meeting on October 10, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to
investigate a number of issues related to regulations for narrow lots (those under 65 feet in width). Staff has had
discussions with the Planning Commission about existing City regulations and invited area relators to discuss the housing
market in Golden Valley with the Commission on November 12. Representatives from three design/build firms attended
the December 9 meeting. A public forum has been scheduled for January 16 at 7 pm at City Hall. The goal is to send
recommendations for code amendments to the Council by March of 2020.
5410 Wayzata Boulevard (Good Day Café)—Site Plan Review for a property within the I-394 Mixed Use Zoning District.
The Planning Commission is required to review the reconfiguration of a parking lot and evaluate the proposal against the
development standards of the district and other City requirements. Tabled at the November 25 meeting to allow for
modifications to the site plan.
MHFA Building Capacity Grant—The City received a grant of $22,000 from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to
explore new methods of using surplus publicly-owned land, such as excess MnDOT right-of-way, for affordable housing.
The City will conduct legal research and hire a community engagement consultant to work with residents living around
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selected sites. The work product will include a Public Land Disposition policy. The City Council approved the contract
with MHFA at its December 17 meeting.
Sweeney Lake Woods PUD No. 120—At its December 17 meeting, the City Council overturned a denial by the Board of
Zoning Appeals for a variance from the minimum width of a private road within a PUD. After reviewing the proposal and
hearing from staff and the petitioner, the Council believed that the standards for granting a variance had been met. As a
condition of approval, any future homes constructed within the PUD will need to include a sprinkler system for fire
protection. The City Council approved the variance on a vote of 5-0.
Downtown Study—HKGi will provide the Phase II report to the City Council at the January 21 meeting. Phase III, which
will look at staging and implementation, including potential financial tools, is scheduled to begin in the first part of 2020.
Housing Strategic Plan—The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) hired Cathy Bennett of Bennett Community
Consulting to research and prepare a Housing Strategic Plan for the City. The Plan will identify housing needs and will
develop goals and priorities for the HRA over the next 5-10 years. It will include a recommendation of tools and
strategies available to the City to fulfill the housing vision. The work is scheduled to be completed prior to the HRA
meeting on April 21.
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