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2018-02-26 EC Minutes GOLDEN VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Regular Meeting, Minutes February 26, 2018 Commissioners Present: Lynn Gitelis, Dawn Hill, Larry Johnson, Joseph Ramlet, and Debra Yahle Staff Present: Eric Eckman, Development and Assets Coordinator; Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant Also Present: Council Member Larry Fonnest Absent: Commissioners Tracy Anderson, Tonia Galonska and Jim Stremel Call to Order Chair Hill called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Approval of Reqular Meetinq Minutes MOVED by Gitelis, SECONDED by Yahle, and the motion carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2017 regular meeting. 2018 Environmental Commission Budaet Ideas The Commission discussed event topics, event locations, and potential partners. After discussion, the group favored the topic of Sustainable Yards and Gardens, with an emphasis on reducing chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and chlorides) and other inputs. The classroom style educational event will be held at the new Brookview Community Center and a hands-on demonstration or tour may follow outside (depending on status of construction work). The Commission also discussed General Mills continued efforts to develop pollinator habitat on its campus, converting turf grass to native plantings and pollinator gardens. The Commission asked staff to engage with General Mills to learn more about their efforts and to see if there is an opportunity to partner at this year's event or in the future. 2018 Work Plan Priorities The Commission briefly discussed the remaining tasks on the 2017 Work Plan which include: • Removing barriers for vertical greenhouses/urban farming • Creating a broad pollinator policy for the City • Assisting in the preparation of the 2019 recycling contract The Commission agreed to carryover these items in the draft 2018 Work Plan. In addition, new ideas for the work plan emerged and include: • Continue working on GreenStep Cities Step 4 metrics to address climate-related impacts, improve the environment, and reduce energy and costs • Become involved in the City's discussion on organized solid waste collection GreenStep Cities — Step 3 Recoqnition & Proqram Staff Assessment The City has achieved Step 3 status in the program and will be recognized for its efforts at the June 2018 League of MN Cities Conference to be held in St. Cloud. The program staff assessment is on file. G:\Environmental Commission\Minutes�2018�2-February\02-26-18 EC Minutes.doc Minutes of the Environmental Commission February 26, 2018 Page 2 of 3 GreenStep Cities — Step 4 - Stormwater Eckman presented the next core topic, Stormwater, for advancement to Step 4. The measurement value for Stormwater is derived from the Blue Star Award Program assessment. City staff completed the online assessment and received a score of 63% which qualifies the city to earn the Blue Star Award thus satisfying the GreenStep Cities requirements for the core topic, Stormwater in Step 4. Eckman went through the questions on the assessment with the Commission to identify and discuss areas where the City can possibly make improvements to provide community benefit while achieving Step 5 in the GreenStep Cities program. MOVED by Gitelis, SECONDED by Ramlet and the motion carried unanimously to approve the entry for Step 4 Stormwater into the GreenStep Cities website. Program/Pro�ect Updates The complete Program/Project Update is on file. There was a question about the recycling information provided in the update. Staff will provide more detail in the recycling update for the next meeting. Council member Fonnest gave an update on the Blue Line LRT Extension. He stated that the Blue Line Extension is not included in the federal budget which only includes the LRT lines that have state funding and no apparent barriers. Golden Valley joined with other cities along the Blue Line to form a lobbying group. The group went to Washington to talk with congressional delegation and others at the Department of Transportation about the importance of the extension of the Blue Line LRT. Governor Dayton has stated that the Southwest LRT will come before the Blue Line Extension. There is no definite date for the build out of the Blue Line LRT but Met Council is planning that it will be operational in 2023. Golden Valley and its partner cities are committed to pushing this forward and making sure everything is ready. Other Business Council member Fonnest reminded the group of the joint meeting being held tomorrow night at Brookview at 6p and also the upcoming events at Brookview: • Mid-century modern architecture speaker on Saturday, March 3rd ' State of the County presentation on Tuesday, April 10th Fonnest also mentioned that the Council's top legislative priorities for 2018 include the underground pedestrian tunnel from Perpich Center for Arts Education to the north under Highway 55 and the DeCola Ponds Flood Mitigation bonding bill. Joe Ramlet spoke about attending a Legislative preview which was put on by a local non-profit called Environmental Initiative. Topics of conversation at the preview included: wastewater treatment; funding for public transportation may be lost; citizen commissions don't get enough credit for the work that they do; keeping up with technology; putting more local leadership into certain areas; and rural versus urban G:\Environmental Commission\Minutes\2018\2-February\02-26-18 EC Minutes.doc Minutes of the Environmental Commission February 26, 2018 Page 3 of 3 issues. He also stated that the School Board is looking into separating the position of School Trust Lands Director from the DNR and make it an independent position. Adiourn MOVED by Gitelis, SECONDED by Yahle, and the motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:38 pm. C�����. �GrtiO/jYIIGc� Claire Huisman Administrative Assistant G:\Environmental Commission\Minutes�2018�2-February\02-26-18 EC Minutes.doc