2019-11-25 EC Minutes 7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley,MN 55427 CItJ 0J
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valley
Environmental Commission -
November 25,2019—6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 7800 Golden Valley Road
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).
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes 2
November 25, 2019—6:30 pm
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 3
November 25, 2019—6:30 pm
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.
Scott e�! , Chai
ATTEST:
Claire Huisman, Administrative Assistant
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