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EC Agenda 10-24-2022 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Webex by calling 1- 415-655-0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642. Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison – Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084. 1. Call to Order 2. Land Acknowledgement 3. Roll Call 4. New Youth Member - Kenna Brandt (5 min) 5. Approval of Agenda 6. Approval of August 22, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min) 7. Old Business A. Environmental Justice Collaboration (5 min) B. Land Acknowledgement Actions (5 min) 8. New Business A. Introduce GreenCorps Member Mars Muehleis (5 min) B. Quick EAB update (5 min) C. No-Mow May Initiative (25 min) D. Program/Project Updates (5 min) E. Council Updates (5 min) F. Other Business (5 min) i. Commissioner Term Limits 9. Adjournment October 24, 2022 – 6:30 pm City Hall Council Conference Room G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: October 19, 2022 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: Youth Member Kenna Brandt In late 2021, City Council approved the addition of a second youth member to the Environmental Commission. The Commission is being asked to welcome Kenna Brandt as its second youth member. Chair Weirich will conduct the oath of office. OFFICIAL OATH State of Minnesota ) )ss County of Hennepin ) I, Kenna Brandt, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Environmental Commission member of the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota, to the best of my judgment and ability, so help me God. _______________________________ Kenna Brandt Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of October, 2022. __________________________________ Wendy Weirich (Chair) PLEASE NOTE: This is the oath of office that will be provided for you to read and sign at Environmental Commission meeting. If you object to the oath on religious grounds and would like to substitute the word “swear” for the word “affirm”, and/or the phrase “so help me God” for the phrase “and this I do under the penalties of perjury” please notify Tara Olmo at tolmo@goldenvalleymn.gov by 4:30 pm on 10/18/2022 so the amendment can be prepared. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend th3is meeting via Webex by calling 1-415- 655-0001 and entering access code 1773 93 4642. Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any items on the agenda should contact the staff commission liaison – Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor, eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov, 763-593-8084. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Weirich at 6:33 pm. 2. Roll Call Commissioners present: Wendy Weirich, Tonia Galonska, Dawn Hill, Debra Yahle, Jim Stremel, Scott Seys Commissioners absent: Rachel Zuraff; Shannon Hansen Council Members present: Kimberly Sanberg Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor; Carrie Nelson, Engineering Assistant. 3. Approval of Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Seys to approve the agenda for August 22, 2022 and the motion carried with the following change: • Move 7A to #5. 4. Approval of June 27, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the minutes of June 27, 2022 as submitted and the motion carried with the following change: • Change Hilll to Hill under 3. Approval of Agenda 5. Land Acknowledgement Actions – Bassett Creek Oral History A. Commissioners watched a Power Point presentation given by Crystal Boyd about the Bassett Creek Oral History Project. i. Collaborators – 14 Narrators. The Church and Hennepin History Museum are official partners. A lot of support from the GV Historical Society and the BCWMC. ii. Is there a need to change the name of Bassett Creek Watershed? 1. Finish transcript and interviews to see if this is a priority of the Native people. August 22, 2022 – 6:30 pm City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting August 22, 2022 – 6:30 pm 2 iii. Release party? 1. June 4 was supposed to serve this purpose. There will be a press release to share all the info. The Hennepin History Museum will have all the info on site and will have it in the archives. They are working on having the recordings and transcripts online as well. iv. Looking to use indigenous graphic designers and web developers to help build a page on the City website for the Land Acknowledgement. v. Possible for an opportunity to put an article in the City Newsletter. vi. Future BAEGV forum topic. 6. Old Business A. Environmental Justice Collaboration i. Commissioners discussed the updated final version of the Environmental Justice Prioritization Map. 1. The Map online has been fixed so everything shows up! 2. The map is done by Census block. Certain developments without many factors may show up in an area with multiple factors because it’s located in a census block with a lot of factors. These areas can be dug into more deeply to identify which locations could benefit from an EC project. 3. The map will now go to the subcommittee and DEIC for their input. Once we have their approval we can possibly move forward with a joint resolution. 4. Should we put the Land Acknowledgement Statement on the map somewhere? 1. Statement is more specific to the Native population and the map is focused more on prioritization of resources to address inequities with respect to green infrastructure and climate impacts. 2. We can discuss this with Kiarra. Perhaps a separate map effort would be appropriate. ii. Could we tie into the DEIC’s November event or possibly into future quarterly events? iii. Should we look at updating the map every 4-5 years? 1. Yes, or sooner if the data warrants it. iv. Could the EC/DEIC partner on a monument or stone to be place near City Hall or Bassett Creek talking about the Dakota people and the importance of Bassett Creek and the Watershed. This will be discussed with Kiarra and the DEIC and brought back to the EC. 7. New Business A. Program/Project Updates i. 2024 Bassett Creek Restoration Project - Regent Ave to GV Rd 1. Same as Briarwood stream project? 1. Briarwood was restored about 2010. This project is further east. 2. This will be both private and public land and the study will prioritize areas needing the most restoration. There are areas where people are losing property and soil is being deposited into the stream. 3. The Watershed approved starting a feasibility study. City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting August 22, 2022 – 6:30 pm 3 4. The Watershed will be leading this project and the City will be collaborating. 1. The City will help lead the public engagement. 5. Construction will start fall/winter 2024. B. Council Updates i. The City of Golden Valley and its Public Works Department received a Chloride Reduction Leadership Award from Bolton & Menk for its industry leading work in chloride reduction. ii. The Affordable Housing Project will look at using remnant parcels given to the City from MnDot and will focus on Single Family Homes and the Land Trust Model for ownership. iii. Our new Police Chief, Virgil Green, was sworn in on September 6, 2022. C. Other Business 8. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Stremel to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 pm and the motion carried. ATTEST: ________________________________ _______________________________________ Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Wendy Weirich, Chair G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: October 19, 2022 To: Environmental Commission From: Drew Chirpich, Water and Natural Resource Specialist Subject: No-Mow May Initiative Over the last few years Golden Valley has implemented policies and practices supporting pollinators and their habitat. In a continuation of these efforts, Golden Valley is exploring the feasibility of participating in the No-Mow May Initiative. The intention of a No-Mow Initiative is to allow temperatures to remain above 50 degrees for a period of about a week so that ground nesting insects including various bee species can wake from hibernation prior to being mowed. Delaying mowing also allows beneficial forbs to bloom to provide habitat and food sources to insects in the spring when food sources are sparse. Delaying mowing may also bring long grass, noxious weeds, and other concerns that can impact code enforcement and maintenance operations. Staff engaged with Commission members at the September meeting, and met with staff from multiple departments to work through the pros and cons of various alternatives. Staff has developed a Draft Resolution for the Commission’s review, that achieves the objectives of the No-Mow May initiative and addresses other issues that may accompany this effort. Following discussion, staff requests that the Commission consider approving the resolution and forwarding it to City Council for adoption. CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY RESOLUTION NO. 22-__ RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT NO MOW MAY INITIATIVE WHEREAS, the Golden Valley City Council approved Resolution No. 19-56 endorsing pollinator friendly policies. WHEREAS, the Golden Valley City Council recognizes that bees and other pollinators are integral to pollination of plants in order to grow a wide diversity of essential foods including fruit, nuts and vegetables; and WHEREAS, pollinator populations are threatened due to habitat loss, neonicotinoid use, pathogens and parasites; and WHEREAS, recent research suggests that bee pollinators make use of no mow spaces as key floral resources during early spring in the upper Midwest United States; and WHEREAS, pollinators and floral resources have a positive relationship, where the increase in pollinators can increase the amount of flora and vice versa; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds it is in the public interest and consistent with adopted City policy for the City to demonstrate its commitment to a safe and healthy community environment through the implementation of initiatives that help increase the pollinator population. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota, To continue its efforts to become a pollinator friendly City by ensuring best management practices for management of vegetation, and To continue to identify actively maintained areas that could be converted back to vegetation favorable to bees and other pollinators, or left natural to promote nesting areas for bees, and To proclaim May 1st-31st as “No Mow May”, and encourage all residents of the city who wish to participate in this initiative to register with the City and refrain from mowing their lawns in the month of May to provide vital early spring flowers for bees that emerge from hibernation, and To temporarily suspend enforcement for No Mow May registered participants of Golden Valley City Code requirements in Sec 10-89, specifically that “No owner or occupant shall allow any turf grass, weeds, native vegetation [not covered by a native vegetation permit] or rank vegetation to grow to a height greater than eight inches on a majority of any lot or parcel of land” from May 1 to June 1, while continuing to enforce the Minnesota State Mandate regarding the management of noxious weeds, and To continue enforcement of the above City Code requirements for any properties not registered for No Mow May, and To develop a registration portal online for those interested in participating in this initiative, where participants will be required to register and where interested parties can learn about the importance of creating and maintaining a pollinator friendly landscape. Adopted by the City Council this __th day of __________, 2022. Shepard M. Harris, Mayor Attest: ______________________________ Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk (SEAL) PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES – October 2022 GREENCORPS PROGRAM GreenCorps Member Mars Muehleis started their service term in September and will be serving with the City until their term concludes in August of 2023. They will be on various environmental initiatives including environmental justice and equity, replacing and increasing the City’s tree canopy in light of losses due to Emerald Ash Borer, energy, and recycling and solid waste. WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES 2024 Bassett Creek Restoration Project (Regent Ave to Golden Valley Rd) – The BCWMC approved a feasibility study for a stabilization and restoration project on Bassett Creek from Regent Ave to Golden Valley Rd. This study began this fall with research and field work, and public engagement is forthcoming. The study will wrap up in spring 2023. Construction is scheduled for fall/winter 2024. Medley Park Stormwater Improvement Project The contract was awarded on September 20, 2022. Construction is slated to start in November and continue through summer 2023 to complete trail paving, installation of solar LED lights, restoration, and planting. More information is available on the project webpage. DeCola Ponds SEA School-Wildwood Park Flood Reduction Project - 90% Plans The City hosted an open house on September 29, 2022 at Brookview, and Robbinsdale Schools hosted an open house for the playground design at SEA school on October 12. The 90% plans are available for viewing on the project webpage. Project bidding and award of contract is slated for later this fall. RECYCLING Republic Services began formal participation studies of the traditional recycling and organics recycling services this month. Both the traditional recycling and organics recycling programs continue to go well, with very few issues reported to the City and no contaminated loads recently. Mighty Tidy Clean-Up Day was held at Brookview Park on Saturday, October 8th and it was successful again this year. Partner organizations were there to collect and recycle technology, lightbulbs, paper for shredding, tires, and scrap metal. Republic Services was also there to collect bulk waste like mattresses, sofas, and other items. Staff are currently tallying up the final numbers from the event. ENERGY Staff are engaging in more energy outreach as heating season approaches. Businesses, schools, and energy- burdened households are among the priorities as the City works to reduce costs and make progress on the goals in the Energy Action Plan. To help with residential energy efficiency, the City received 100 additional LED lighting kits from Xcel Energy to distribute through events and other outreach. Staff recently met with a couple of leaders on the Golden Valley Business Council to develop strategies for business engagement. Staff will be presenting at the business council meeting later this month. The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) worked with staff to complete an assessment of Golden Valley City Hall in October. The assessment audited the building’s efficiency and will result in a report with recommendations for potential retrofits or improved practices that will save energy and money long term. OUTREACH On Sunday, September 25, the Golden Valley Community Foundation hosted Sustainability Day at Market in the Valley. The City has a presence at the event, handing out free LED lighting kits provided by Xcel Energy, free Home Energy Squad visits from CEE, and additional sustainability resources about recycling, chloride pollution, and energy programs. The City of Golden Valley Is Paying Half the Cost for a Home Energy Squad Visit for Residents. Free Visits Are Available to Income-Qualified Households. Schedule a visit online or Call 651-328-6220. Hundreds of people attended the Market in the Valley, but a smaller proportion wandered over to the sustainability section of the market under the water tower. Many representatives got up to give a brief speech about their topic, encouraging people to stop by their table to pick up resources and have a conversation. Attending organizations included Xcel Energy, CEE, Bassett Creek Watershed, a solar group, local businesses, and other organizations. There were also a few Golden Valley residents who brought electric vehicles to display near the sustainability area. Approximately 50 LED lighting kits were given away, a handful of people signed up for Home Energy Squad visits, and lots of resources and information about mixed recycling and organics recycling were shared with attendees.