2021-04-26 EC Minutes7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, MN 55427
763-593-8027 � TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov
Environmental Commission
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
city of
goldvall�
Y
April 26, 2021— 6:30 pm
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1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Seys at 6:30.
2. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Debra Yahle, Tonia Galonska, Jim Stremel, Dawn Hill, Shannon
Hansen, Wendy Weirich
Commissioners absent: Felix Fettig
Council Members present: Larry Fonnest
Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor;
Drew Chirpich, Environmental Specialist;
Story Schwantes, Green Corp Member;
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant.
3. Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Hill to approve the agenda for April
26, 2021 and the motion carried.
4. Approval of March 22, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Stremel, seconded by Commissioner Hansen to approve the minutes of
March 22, 2021 as submitted and the motion carried.
5. Old Business
A. EC/HRC Environmental Justice
i. Inequity Factors Weighted
1. 75% Social Factors
a. Affordable Housing — 40%
b. Lower Home Values — 25%
c. High Rentership —10%
2. 25% Environmental Factors
a. Less Tree Canopy— 15%
b. More impervious Spaces — 10%
The subcommittee divided the City into 4 areas — NW, NE, SW, and SE — and performed a
field investigation. Findings include:
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City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
April 26, 2020 — 6:30 pm
1. NW — No Immediate opportunities noted. Some greening with new development
along Winnetka possible.
a. Areas in the far NW are both businesses and some residential with close
access to the Medley Hills Park area
b. The area in the east of the quadrant appears to have close access to the
Pennsylvania Woods area
2. SW - Possible projects on private property at far west of quadrant. Better park
access and/or green space at Valley View Apartments also possible.
a. Golden Valley Road/169/Decatur area includes apartments surrounded by
industry with some tree separation; May be opportunity here, but on
private land.
b. Going west from Winnetka to Wisconsin/Boone south of 10th Avenue
North is apartments surrounded by impervious surfaces; Opportunities
here to increase access to Bassett Creek potentially.
c. Calvary Center Cooperative off of Rhode Island has a lot of impervious
surface, but fair number of trees.
d. Valley View Apartments on Golden Valley Road near Douglas has open
areas conducive to private land projects; Trees surround area, but not
very usable; Of note is Seeman Park across GV Rd.
3. SE -No immediate, easy opportunities noted due to impervious surfaces. Some
green space added to apartment complex facilities may be a possibility.
a. Apartments with a lot of surface area and impervious surfaces.
b. Valley Village Apartments in upper quadrant have access to Luce Line Trail
and Schaper Pond.
c. NOTE: Lower air quality issues in Xenia area.
d. NOTE: Interest from Open Space and Recreation Commission in work in
this area. Work along with them here? Add a small neighborhood park?
4. NE - Limited opportunities noted due to impervious surfaces with the possible
exception of connections to trails and St. Croix Park in upper portion of quadrant.
a. Apartment complexes on St. Croix Ave N with a lot of impervious surfaces
(and shopping center) surrounding the area; Possible longer term connect
to area trails and St. Croix Park.
b. Apartment complexes on Douglas Drive with some impervious surfaces,
but little opportunity.
c. NOTE: Remnant Parcel & Unimproved ROW #113 an opportunity?
iii. Should we add Air Quality Index to the Environmental Factors we're looking at on the
maps using the MPCA Air Pollution Score?
1. Score below 1 considered Good. All of Golden Valley is higher than 1.
Northern Part of the City is in the 2.0-2.9 range
b. Further South, near 1-394, is higher 3.0-3.9 and over 4.0 in SLP.
Bring to the sub -group to discuss modifying the map to include air quality index.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
April 26, 2020 — 6:30 pm
B. Hennepin County Climate Action Plan
i. Aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with an interim goal of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030.
ii. Hennepin County's goals are more ambitious than the State of MN's goals and position
Hennepin County as a leader on addressing climate change in the Upper Midwest.
iii. The board has established a new Director of Climate and Resiliency position.
MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Weirich to pass a resolution of
support to approve the Hennepin County Climate Action Plan as it is currently drafted and
recommend to the Council they work with Hennepin County to help implement the plan and
look for areas of alignment and partnership and the motion carried.
C. 2020 Annual Report and 2021 Work Plan
i. Presented to the Council on April 13t" at the Council Manager Meeting and they were
very supportive. It was formally received and filed on April 20.
ii. Should there be a small sub -committee formed to explore partnership with area schools.
Maybe figure out as a group exactly what the partnership should be before reaching out
to the schools.
iii. Items from the 2021 Work Plan that should be looked at first:
1. Curbside Recycling and Organics
2. PIE
3. Community Outreach (Environmental Justice/Climate Justice, Schools)
4. Environmental Resources Needs
5. Zero Waste Event
6. New Business
A. Stormwater Permit & Program
The City of GV just resubmitted its MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System)
application to the MPCA. The MS4 Permit allows municipalities and other organizations
to operate storm sewer systems, and outlines requirements for doing so, with an
emphasis on keeping phosphorus and other pollutants out of sewer systems and
waterbodies.
Now that it's submitted, once accepted by the MPCA it will be posted for public
comments through the State website. The City will share this on the City website
and social media.
ii. Communities now need to take additional measures to track and report all salt use in
municipal operations, train staff on salt use, draft and integrate a pet waste ordinance,
identify, target and reduce bacteria sources, provide more documentation and metrics,
and educate the public more on topics pertaining to water quality.
iii. We have one year to develop and update the stormwater program, including updates to
city code.
B. Program/Project Updates
i. DeCola Ponds SEA School — Wildwood Park Flood Reduction Study
1. A couple rounds of community engagement. Received a lot of good feedback.
City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting
April 26, 2020 — 6:30 pm
Working closely with the Bassett Creek Watershed Commission.
3. 3 different concept plans developed based on community input in 2020.
4. Will have a feasibility report within the next couple of months.
5. Flooded Structures
a. During a 10-year event — Reduce flood risk for 3 homes
b. During a 100-year event — Reduce flood risk for 10 homes
6. Some trees going to be "lost," could be transplanted to other areas. Spruce and
Pines were recently planted and could be moved.
7. New trees will be planted in other areas to replace removed trees. Hopefully a
1 replacement.
8. Some areas are wetter that will have wetland/shoreland plantings.
9. Prairie habitat is drier down by the school.
10. Challenging to find spaces to create flood storage and lower flood levels in fully
developed cities — GV, New Hope, and Crystal.
11. Comments from the community said save pickleball, wooded hills, sledding hill,
and playground.
12. Benefit for the community and the school with the outdoor educational aspect.
Medley Park Stormwater Improvement Study
1. In the engineering feasibility stage. Working closely with the Bassett Creek
Watershed Commission. Will go to the Watershed Commission in May/June.
2. 3 different concept plans developed based on community input late last fall.
3. Feedback showed people were excited for more water features, diverse ecology
and trail routes in the western portion.
4. Ball field will go away. No dog park being added. More area for flood storage.
Dozens of properties that flood near this park.
5. Improve water quality in Medicine Lake and other bodies of water downstream
and also reduce flood levels for homes nearby.
C. Council Updates
i. Thanks to all the Commission Members who sought reappointment. There will be no
new members in the upcoming year. Council is very impressed with the 2021 Work Plan.
D. Other Business
i. May meeting is traditionally a business meeting with the elections of the Chair and Vice
Chair and reviewing by-laws and doing some re -orientation of values and commitment
to equity.
7. Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to adjourn the meeting at
8:24 pm and the motion carried.
ATTEST:
Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Scott Seys, Chair