2020-05-18 EC Minutes7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427 City of
763-593-8027 I TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) www.goldenvalleymn.gov go I d en
Environmental Commission valley
May 18, 2020 — 6:30 pm
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
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1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Seys at 6:33
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Debra Yahle, Tonia Galonska, Dawn Hill, Jim Stremmel,
Wendy Weirich, Shannon Hansen
Commissioners absent: None
Council Members present: Larry Fonnest
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member;
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant
3. Resignation of Commission Member Susan Phelps
4. New Member Shannon Hansen
A. Shannon Hansen was given her Official Oath by Chair Seys
5. New Member Wendy Weirich
A. Wendy Weirich was given her Official Oath by Chair Seys
6. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremmel to approve the agenda of
May 18, 2020 and the motion carried with the following additions recommended by Eric Eckman
to the Commission:
- 5A. Annual Commissioner Re -Orientation
- 5B. Review Commission Bylaws
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
April 27, 2019 — 6:30 pm
7. Approval of February 24, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the minutes of
April 27, 2020 as submitted and the motion carried.
8. Old Business
A. Partners in Energy Update
i. 2-year Cooperative Program with Xcel Energy
ii. City is working on developing an Energy Action Plan
1. 6 months of planning
2. 18 months of implementation
iii. Currently entering the recruitment phase of a 12-14 member team.
Recruitment will start soon.
1. Commissioners Hill and Galonska interested in applying.
2. Possibly members from other various boards/commissions such as the
Human Rights Commission, Planning Commission, Rising Tides Task
Force.
3. Also recruit from Golden Valley businesses and institutions, Community
Organizations, Multi -Family Organizations.
4. 1-2 citizen members not currently serving on boards/commissions.
B. 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Work Plan
Presented May 12 at the Council/Managers meeting. Council members are
appreciative of the work done by the commission and excited for the proposed
work to come.
ii. Council will officially accept the 2019 Annual Report and approve 2020 Work
Plan at the May 19 meeting.
iii. At the June meeting we will discuss ideas for the cooperative project between
the Human Rights Commission and the Environmental Commission.
C. Curbside Organics Collection - Commission Summary Report
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremmel to approve the
Curbside Organics Collection Commission Summary Report and the motion carried with
the following changes:
Change the 2nd to last paragraph to reflect that 'the Commission took all public
comments into consideration when it made its recommendation, as the citizen
survey and open house were still ongoing.'
Delete 'and potentially offer first year assistance to low and fixed income
residents' from the last paragraph.
D. Curbside Organics Collection - Update on Public Input
i. The Citizen Survey Closes on May 20. As of this meeting there have been 236
responses. Here are the results:
87% of respondents are very or somewhat familiar with organics recycling
44% of respondents currently recycle organics at their home
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting 3
April 27, 2019 — 6:30 pm
27% of those recycling organics at home use curbside organics collection by
a hauler
2. Aspects of Organics Recycling Most Important to Respondents (out of 236):
a. Environmental Impact — 204
b. Cost of Service — 115
c. Creating a marketable product such as compost — 93
d. Transparent pricing — 77
e. Reducing the size of your trash bin — 75
f. Number of trucks on streets — 66
g. Storage of an additional bin — 50
h. Other - 12
3. Currently/Willing to Pay
a. 14% of all respondents currently pay a hauler to collect organics.
b. 60% of those without service would be willing to pay for curbside
organics collection (65% of all respondents support curbside
organics, either currently participating or willing to pay)
4. Monthly Cost People are Willing to Pay
a. $1 - $5 — 43 respondents
b. $6 - $10 - 56 respondents
c. $11 - $15 - 12 respondents
d. $16 - $20 - 5 respondents
e. Over $20 - 2 respondents
5. 72% of respondents would be interested in picking up finished compost
6. 64% of respondents support the City changing code to allow collection bins
to be visible from the street at all times
7. Virtual Open House —
a. Topics Covered:
i. What is Organics Recycling
ii. Benefits of Organics Recycling
iii. Recycling Methods
iv. Resilience & Sustainability Plan
v. Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan
vi. Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Policy Plan
vii. Hennepin County Ordinance 13 and Compliance Options
viii. Other Cities' Participation Rates and Costs
ix. Cart Comparisons
b. A "pay for your neighbor" program could be explored for feasibility
after Council gives direction on which type of program the City will
be implementing. The City would like to make organics recycling
accessible and affordable for all residents.
c. Once City Council gives direction on a program to implement, the
City will explore education campaign opportunities for the public to
City of Golden Valley
April 27, 2019 — 6:30 pm
9. New Business
Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
learn more about Organics Recycling. Volunteers could be part of
that effort.
d. Recycling MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities) are required to
recover a minimum of 85% of recyclable materials that enter the
facility. The State of Minnesota has strict requirements for MRFs
and does not allow the landfilling of recyclable materials.
e. The State of Minnesota places responsibility for waste disposal on
waste generators and producers. The resident would be considered
a waste generator and therefore responsible for the cost associated
with managing that waste. To incentivize waste reduction, recycling,
and organics recycling over landfilling, the State and County tax
landfilling services but not recycling and organics recycling services.
Waste reduction is indeed the best practice, but is not always
feasible for every scenario. The Environmental Commission's 2020
work plan includes exploring limitations on certain types of plastics
and containers.
A. Commissioner Re -Orientation
B. Review of Commission By -Laws
i. Eckman mentioned that Council will be considering the changes proposed by the
Commission in summer 2019 and will report back at the next meeting.
ii. No new changes proposed by Commission in 2020.
C. Election of Officers
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to re-elect
Commissioner Scott Seys as Chair and Commissioner Debra Yahle as Vice -Chair and the
motion carried.
D. Hennepin County Climate Action Plan
- County Wide Plan
Hennepin County is reaching out to Cities, Watersheds, Park Districts, and others to
understand issues and needs and find common interests and mutual goals. We're
experiencing climate change with wetter weather, warmer winters, and excessive heat
and drought now and in the future. DNR Office of Climatology is already seeing this and
has been for the last few decades. How do we respond to this at a local level? How do
we adapt? How do we prevent some of these issues?
- Focus areas prioritized by partners are:
Water, natural resources and land use
o Transportation and Infrastructure
o People: Health, behavior, & disparity reduction
o Buildings and energy
o Waste and materials
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
April 27, 2019 — 6:30 pm
- Staff will provide updates and announce any opportunities for input as the plan
continues to develop.
Program/Project Updates
Will a lack of a state bonding bill affect the project at Wildwood Park/SEA School?
1. The studying and planning will continue. Depending on how much/little
funding we get from a state bonding bill the project may have to be
completed in stages.
F. Council Updates
G. Other Business
10. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the
meeting at 8:33 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Scott Seys, Chair