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2021-10-25 EC Agenda Packet 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. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of September 27, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min) 5. Old Business A. Partners In Energy Update (5 min) B. Mn Cities Climate Caucus (10 min) 6. New Business A. Transportation Options (50 min) B. Program/Project Updates (5 min) C. Council Updates (5 min) D. Other Business 7. Adjournment October 25, 2021 – 6:30 pm REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting via Webex by calling 1-415-655- 0001 and entering access code 177 393 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 6:30. 2. Roll Call Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Dawn Hill, Wendy Weirich, Felix Fettig, Debra Yahle, Tonia Galonska Commissioners absent: Shannon Hansen, Jim Stemel Council Members present: Larry Fonnest Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor; Drew Chirpich, Environmental Specialist; Ethan Kehrberg, GreenCorps Member; Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant. 3. Approval of Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Seys to approve the agenda for September 27, 2021 and the motion carried. 4. Approval of August 23, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to approve the minutes of August 23, 2021 as submitted and the motion carried. 5. Old Business A. Partners in Energy Update i. Staff met with multifamily building owners and property managers on 9-9-21. ii. Presentations were done by City and Xcel staff. iii. 4,000 postcards about Home Energy Squad (HES) were sent to the oldest homes in the City at the end of Sept. Info about HES will be included in the next CityNews. iv. Social Media posts will also be done to advertise HES and Energy Month. v. Everything related to the PIE program will have both the Xcel Energy Logo and City logo. vi. HES is a separate agreement with CenterPoint and Xcel and is outside the PIE program so communications for this program will have the HES logo and the City logo. September 27, 2021 – 6:30 pm City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Sept 27, 2020 – 6:30 pm 2 vii. Working on having all of the information available for translation into other languages. viii. Also looking at a program with a 3rd party who works with CenterPoint Energy and conducts business efficiency audits. There is an opportunity there to partner and potentially buy down site visits. Possibly create a window cling “sticker” for the businesses door to recognize them as going through the program and making improvements. 6. New Business A. New GreenCorps Member, Ethan Kehrberg i. Ethan’s focus will be on the Air Pollution Reduction, Energy Action Plan Resilience and Sustainability Efforts, Organics Recycling, and GreenStep Cities. B. Water Resources – Neighborhood Flood Study i. Two items on the Commission’s 2021 Work Plan: 1. Help Update the City’s Stormwater Management Program and improve the City’s stormwater assessment score in GreenStep Cities as part of the City’s permit requirements with MPCA. 1. The public comment period on the MPCA closed at the end of August. Now we update the program and City Code over 12 months. 2. Look at long range needs for stormwater storage and consider how to use those needs to improve recreation and conservation. ii. The City’s proposed 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes a study of localized flood risk in 2022-2023. Staff is beginning to work on the scope of the project. It will look at the watershed’s modeled floodplain at the neighborhood level and help the City engage with residents, perform field surveys, determine food risk, identify potential solutions, develop informational mapping tools, and prioritize future investment. 1. The study will be 3 years – 2 years of study and 1 year of implementation of low- cost solutions. Hopefully we’ll get some grants for bigger projects. iii. There are over 300 properties in Golden Valley identified to have flood risk and many more people impacted by flooded streets, parks, and infrastructure. 1. The City and Bassett Creek Watershed (BCW) help manage these areas with respect to land use, development, and natural resources. iv. Understanding the flood risk and identifying possible solutions is critical to the City’s climate mitigation efforts, community resilience goals, and commitment to achieving more equitable outcomes. 1. It’s also an important part of the City’s participation in FEMA’s Community Rating System. It provides residents with lower flood insurance premiums. v. Areas with a lot of flood storage: 1. Brookview 2. General Mills Nature Preserve 3. Theo Wirth Park City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Sept 27, 2020 – 6:30 pm 3 vi. A lot of neighborhood parks were built before there was a lot of regulations. Now we’re looking to re-establish stormwater functions including flood storage in these parks. vii. The City has partnered with others such as the Watershed and Minnesota DNR Flood Reduction Program to purchase several properties over time to convert to green open space. The City has also worked with homeowners who voluntarily wanted to sell. Many were located adjacent to established nature areas. viii. The City adopted a floodproofing cost sharing program so there’s money devoted to helping residents recoup the cost of floodproofing their home. Up to 40% of cost, up to $50,000. ix. The study will look at the areas with multiple homes that are at risk. How can we lower flood levels in that area? The Medley Park Storm Water Improvement Project is one of those projects that will improve the flood risk to many homes. x. Possibly look into an online tool that will show residents the flood risk in their area with different levels of rainfall? Show effects of small and large storms. Include steps for the homeowner on mitigating the flood risk. Tell what city is doing to mitigate risk. xi. Zoning laws – are you allowed to get rid of your driveway and put in a green driveway? Maybe put in pavers instead of asphalt. Need more incentives and regulations to increase pervious (green) areas. xii. How can the City engage with residents? 1. In person and online. 2. Pop-up meetings in a park – meet people where they are. 3. Get community together. Help build community, find leaders. 4. Transparency. Walk people through the issues and solutions. 5. Neighborhood driven-not City driven-approaches xiii. Want to know how often the flooding could/has happened. xiv. Take a neighborhood approach. Go to the community with potential solutions and have the community/neighborhood discuss what should be done. Solutions should add value and benefit to the neighborhood. xv. Need to refine flood risk in neighborhoods based on additional study. xvi. Use the equity lense. Prioritize improvement areas based on environmental justice and the Inequities in Green Amenities map developed by the subcommittee of Commissions. Update this map based on the new census data. Identify those who are house burdened. xvii. Tie in community resilience and emergency management. C. MN Cities Climate Caucus (MNCCC) i. Focus on two areas 1. Influence state policy and regulations to help cities meet their goals. 2. Accelerate the learning and spread of city-level best practices and policy ideas. ii. The MNCCC is made up of elected officials from throughout the state, though appointed staff may participate as appropriate. iii. Meetings will be held, usually, no more than once per month. 1. City staff has tried to make most of the meetings. Council has not officially said we are a part of this group. City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Sept 27, 2020 – 6:30 pm 4 iv. Currently discussing a multi-City declaration to the climate emergency. Not every City has the same declaration. Each City creates their own. v. Would doing something like this add to the work staff is already doing? Maybe this is too much? Maybe do this if there are benefits to the City? Would this strengthen the need for additional resources? Maybe just monitor for now and receive updates? D. Program/Project Updates i. Another round of funding has been opened for the Lawns to Legumes program. 1. Applications due by Feb 15, 2022. Decisions made in March. 2. Info will be posted on social media and in the Newsletter. ii. Golden Valley Country Club Villas – Plans proposed for 7 units with some public amenities. E. Council Updates i. Council has approved a contract with a recruitment vendor of America’s Best Strategic Security Group to do a national search for our new police chief. They will be in town in October. Residents can meet the consultant at an open house on Oct 14 from 6-8 at Brookview. F. Other Business i. City staff sent a letter to all licensed trash haulers reminding them of the days/hours of operation. ii. Sharing garbage service with a neighbor is a gray area in the code. Nothing specifically prohibiting it – may need to request a waiver for this alternative. 7. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Fettig, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 pm and the motion carried. ATTEST: ________________________________ _______________________________________ Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Wendy Weirich, Chair Date: October 21, 2021 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: Partners In Energy – Implementation Update With guidance from the Environmental Commission, staff has been working with the Partners In Energy team and the City’s MN GreenCorps member to implement the energy action plan. Staff has the following updates to share at the October meeting. Energy Cost Burden and Residential Energy Efficiency: • Multifamily - GreenCorps member to follow-up with information for owners, managers, and tenants • Home Energy Squad (HES) Postcard o 4,000 postcards sent to oldest homes in the city o Social media posts to support mailing o HES in next newsletter article • PiE shared social media posts for Energy Month (Oct) o GV posting once a week about energy • Low-Income program flyers in English and Spanish, working on Russian translation (Energy Assistance Program and the Low-Income Home Energy Squad). Distributing flyers through various means and methods. o Distributed flyers (including Spanish) and LED kits to PRISM, will check back in one month • City posted that we have energy-efficiency LED kits to give away at city hall, first come first served. Business Energy Efficiency: • Exploring energy audits (gas and electric) for businesses with CenterPoint and Xcel. • Business outreach- flyer, business group presentations, energy info in inspections, tours o PiE created business flyer to share at business presentations, mailings, door to door. o Working on mailing targeting small-med sized businesses. Xcel to send directly, letter signed by GV mayor or city manager.  City has energy action plan, vision, goals, we need your help to achieve  Check out the programs and rebates right for you  Participate in the plan  Recognized as energy efficient business • Award/Recognition Program, examples for Businesses (based on Environmental Commission idea) o Something catchy and fun - Energy Action Hero with Giant "E"; or Energy Efficiency Expert o Recognition on city website o Develop a window cling - Ethan can support design, marketing, branding o Interested in a program for residents as well • Staff and Xcel to present energy action plan and programs at upcoming business organization meetings o Planning to present at GV Business Council on Dec 9. The rep from Mortenson (and member of City’s PIE energy action team) to participate. Renewable (Solar) Energy and EVs: • PiE team created flyer for in person events, etc. • EV charging station at Brookview is installed. Community Energy Action Planning Team: • Staff emailed community planning team providing update, asking for help and support, and suggesting an early 2022 meeting for a progress update at the half way point of the 18- month implementation phase of PIE. o At least one member is willing to help, especially with business outreach o Ethan work to find more volunteers Date: October 21, 2021 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: MN Cities Climate Caucus The MN Cities Climate Caucus (MNCCC) was formed to influence state policy and regulations to help cities meet their goals and to accelerate the learning and spread of city-level best practices and policy ideas. The group is made up of elected and appointed local officials around the state and meets about monthly. Recently, the group has been discussing an interest in coordinating a multi-city/entity declaration of a climate emergency. The group has a small team that put together a resolution template and a one-pager describing the benefits of adopting a climate emergency declaration. The resolution was presented for review at the MNCCC meeting on October 6th. A major point of clarification was that each city is unique and the resolution is customizable for each city. One city might call this a climate emergency and another might call it an extreme weather emergency or infrastructure crisis – but the goal is the same. At its September meeting, the Environmental Commission had many questions about the resolution and its potential benefits to the City. The Commission suggested staff continue to monitor and attend these meetings and bring information forward as it emerges. If interested, the Commission could consider making a recommendation to Council to adopt a customized resolution in the months ahead. Attached is the following for review and discussion at the Commission’s October meeting: • Informational Webinar invitation • Overview 1-pager • Customizable Resolution Template Subject: Webinar - MN local governments declaring a Climate Emergency together Local governments of all sizes, and in all regions of Minnesota, will join in declaring a Climate Emergency on January 24th or 25th, calling for immediate action at all levels of government to address the climate crisis. By acting simultaneously, these state-wide localities expect to amplify their impact, speaking together to urge local, state and federal action. Register and attend one of these two webinars to learn about the effort and how to get your city or county involved. • Monday, October 25th, 12:00 noon -1:00 pm • Thursday, October 28th, 5:00-6:00 pm Here's more information on the effort: • Overview 1-pager (attached) • Customizable resolution template (attached) Climate Emergency Declarations/Resolutions Minnesota Coordinated Effort “The time is now to come together as a united force, to insure a livable future for us, for your children, for your grandchildren, and for the generations to come. The time is now to create a sustainable future.” - From then high school junior Sophia Skinner before St. Louis Park City Council What we’re doing: • Local governments of all sizes, and in all regions of Minnesota will join in declaring a Climate Emergency on January 24th or 25th, calling for immediate action at all levels of government to address the climate crisis. By acting simultaneously, these state-wide localities expect to amplify their impact, speaking together to urge local, state and federal action. Why declare a Climate Emergency? • The dramatically evident shift in our climate IS an emergency! It’s here now; it’s going to get worse; and it’s impacting all regions of our state, country, and world. o The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently declared (August 21) that world leaders at all levels must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse emissions to prevent catastrophic impacts. • It’s impacting Minnesota now! Unanticipated occurrences of drought, higher annual temperatures and sustained heat waves, dangerous air quality, repeated incidences of “hundred year” floods, and forest fires of unprecedented size - are all happening now in Minnesota. • Opportunity to mobilize and magnify: Declaring an emergency will call attention to the issue and can mobilize people to action. Working together we can magnify our impacts on our own communities and on Minnesota. o Acting together will increase our visibility and leverage for state and federal assistance o This conspicuous action will provide bold local leadership in a way that connects to a larger statewide effort. People are empowered when they feel what they do matters and when they are part of something larger than themselves. The Climate Emergency declaration customizable template includes local, state, and global impacts, a commitment to local action, and a call for state and federal support. Background on “Climate Emergency” • Started in U.S. by The Climate Mobilization organization - calling for a mobilization of government and society to make significant progress on climate change by 2030 • 2000+ jurisdictions in 34 countries have declared a Climate Emergency, including three leaders in MN (Crystal Bay Township and Minneapolis in 2019, Duluth earlier this year). MN jurisdictions (partial list) considering being leaders and declaring a climate emergency: Bloomington, Columbia Heights, Edina, Golden Valley, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Lauderdale, Moorhead, Northfield, Robbinsdale, Rochester, St. Louis Park. Already declared: Duluth, Minneapolis, Crystal Bay Township. RESOLUTION DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN _______, MINNESOTA WHEREAS [Name of Community] has just this past year experienced numerous climate change related impacts including a record June heat wave, dangerous air quality from drought-fueled forest fires where even healthy people were encouraged to remain inside, and water restrictions from the same drought, making it clear that the climate crisis is not only a future issue — it is affecting us here and now; WHEREAS extreme weather will create new challenges for [Name of Community]’s infrastructure and finances and will pose a threat to the economic vitality of our residents and businesses; WHEREAS the greatest burden from an inadequate response to the climate crisis will be felt by historically marginalized or underserved communities as well as the youngest generation, including the children and grandchildren of [Name of Community]; WHEREAS in Minnesota, the ten warmest and wettest years ever recorded have all occurred since 1998, warming surface waters are leading to a significant loss of fish habitat for many prominent species as well as increasing the risk of harmful algae blooms, forests are changing as native northern species are strained by warming temperatures, crops are stressed by cycles of drought and floods, home insurance rates are rising far faster than the national average from an average of $368 in 1998 to $1348 in 2015, and faster warming winters are leading to new pests as well as shorter winter recreation seasons; WHEREAS, the bi-partisan Next Generation Energy Act, passed by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by then Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2007, committed our State to achieving to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and with interim goals of 15% and 30% below 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2015 and 2025, respectively, with cities being key drivers of achieving these goals; WHEREAS, our State did not meet its 2015 goal, and is not yet on track to reach our future targets; WHEREAS, in April 2016 world leaders from 175 countries, including the United States, recognized the threat of climate change and the urgent need to combat it by signing the Paris Agreement, agreeing to “pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius”; WHEREAS, we have already reached a temperature increase of nearly 1.1 degrees Celsius (nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit) as compared to pre-industrial times and the death and destruction already wrought by this level of global warming demonstrate that the Earth is already too hot for safety and justice, as attested by increased and intensifying wildfires, floods, rising seas, diseases, droughts, and extreme weather; WHEREAS, in August 2021 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change, released a report that stated “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere and land,” and that “Human influence has warmed the climate at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last 2000 years,” and “with every additional increment of global warming, changes in extremes continue to become larger”; WHEREAS, recent scientific research indicates that to achieve the goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions must be halved by 2030 and reach net zero global emissions by 2050; WHEREAS, a transition to a clean energy economy, if not carefully planned, would have a disruptive effect on impact on the livelihoods of many in our community while a well-planned transition may provide expanded job opportunities for local residents; WHEREAS, 2,012 jurisdictions in 34 countries including Minnesota leaders Duluth, Minneapolis, and Crystal Bay Township, have declared climate emergencies in order to focus attention on the need for rapid action to address climate change; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that [Name of Community] declares that a climate emergency threatens our city, region, state, nation, humanity and the natural world. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, [Name of Community] commits to working for a just transition and climate emergency mobilization effort and will [pick or create what works for your city]: • Create/Implement a Climate Action Plan • Create a Sustainability and Resiliency Committee that has purview to propose and implement responses and address solutions to climate impacts • Implement GreenStep Cities best practices related to energy, climate actions, climate adaptation and resilience, or other appropriate practices [use pulldown menu at this link for ideas] • Position city with shovel-ready (or identified) projects to take advantage of state and federal climate action funding opportunities BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, [Name of Community] calls on the Minnesota legislature and executive branch to immediately and aggressively support cities of all sizes around Minnesota to both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change including providing funding and resources for the development and implementation of climate action plans. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, [Name of Community] calls on the federal government to immediately commit resources to support the climate mitigation and adaptation efforts of cities large and small, to invest in the infrastructure needed for a sustainable future, to ensure that investment is at the scale needed, and to provide the necessary global leadership to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Reference links (delete this section before finalizing your resolution): • Duluth - Apr 2021 • Minneapolis - Dec 2019 • Crystal Bay Township - Apr 2019 • The Climate Mobilization - resolution template • City Climate Action Plans in MN - examples: Northfield, Red Wing, Rochester, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Grand Marais • Morris Model - Sustainability Strategic Plan G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: October 21, 2021 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: Transportation Options The Commission’s 2021 work plan includes actions involving transportation and reducing the community’s reliance on (gas-powered) vehicles: Transportation: • explore ways to reduce vehicle usage and expand transportation options in the City • support and contribute to the City’s Bus Rapid Transit efforts along Hwy 55 In addition to the work plan items above, the following are specific transportation-related ideas that were generated during the drafting of the 2021 work plan. These might also be helpful to think about as we explore transportation options in Golden Valley. o Work on having a local & affordable rideshare program specifically for low income households in Golden Valley that uses EV and/or hybrid vehicles. If this is not a true need due or if there is not enough licensed or insured drivers perhaps a local shuttle (EV and/or hybrid) to a grocery store and other retail stores. This could be a joint project with the DEI Commission. o Work on adding more bus routes in Golden Valley with EV and/or hybrid buses o Add busing for Loppet and MPRB Wirth Park events The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions affecting climate change in urban areas. In an effort to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and provide multiple modes of transportation and promote active living, the City and its governmental and non-governmental partners have been building out a network of transportation options. These options have emerged over the years as opportunities, technologies, and priorities have evolved. In order to explore ways to reduce vehicle usage and expand transportation options, we need to understand which options are currently available in Golden Valley and which are being planned for future implementation. Following is a summary of these options: Bike and Pedestrian System This system includes on-street bike lanes, signed bike routes, sidewalks, trails, ped bridges and tunnels/underpasses, ped crossings and other supporting infrastructure. Please read the Annual Implementation Report to the OSRC from April 26, 2021, starting on page 5, for detailed information on bike and pedestrian plan. Micromobility or Shared Mobility • What is it? o Short term use/rent of scooter, bikes or other vehicles for short trips. Can reduce trips by car and support access to/from transit (one solution to the “last mile” problem) • Is micromobility a city or government program? o It can be, and different models exist. NiceRide was a collaboration of government and private sector funding. It is very common for a private vendor to provide the vehicles and manage a program under an agreement with a local government. • How does micro-mobility work in Golden Valley? o In 2019 the City updated its right-of-way ordinance to clearly allow for commercial micro- mobility operations. Vendors are invited to apply for up to two licenses to operate in Golden Valley each year. In 2019 and 2021, approximately 50 scooters were deployed • What vendors have operated micro-mobility in Golden Valley? o 2018 – Lime Bikes deployed dockless bikes throughout Golden Valley. Lime also tested scooters for three weeks in the fall. The number of scooter rides in that period roughly equaled the number of bike rides for the entire season. o 2019 – Spin was the first and only company to be licensed under the new ROW ordinance, and deployed fifty scooters in Golden Valley. o 2020 – due to the pandemic, no vendors operated in the City of Golden Valley o 2021 – Bird is the only vendor to apply for a license and deploy scooters in Golden Valley. • What other cities provide for micro-mobility operations? o In addition to Minneapolis, St. Paul and the U of M, St. Louis Park also offers a vendor operated micro-mobility program each year. o Other communities (Fridley, Brooklyn Park, Hopkins) are looking at similar programs o Edina decided not to allow micro-mobility operations after 2018 when it entered into an MOU with Lime Bike. • Why do we see different vendors each year? o Golden Valley and other suburbs are small markets. It is unlikely a vendor not licensed in Minneapolis would deploy in Golden Valley due to the economy of scale. o The marketplace and industry have been changing quickly, and a number of companies have been purchased by larger firms such as Lyft and Uber. See website for more information: https://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/newsarchive/index.php/2021/05/24/bird-scooters-to-start- appearing-in-golden-valley-this-week/ https://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/about/transportation/index.php Transit Metro Transit operates several bus routes, services, and facilities in and around Golden Valley. (See map below from 8/21/21 or click here for a larger version. Go to metrotransit.org for details on each route.) Highway 55 BRT • BRT means Bus Rapids Transit • There are different types of BRT, but all include regular, frequent service with limited stops and LRT-like experience. • Effort to Date to Establish BRT on Hwy 55 o Highway 55 Transitway Corridor Study by the Met Council (2015)  Noted Hwy 55 is strong Employment Corridor, Reverse Commutes  Hwy 55 scored “High” based on study criteria o 169 Mobility Study by MnDOT (2018)  Stakeholders included Golden Valley  Recommendations included MNPass lanes and spot improvements on Hwy 169, and BRT on Hwy 55 o Metro Transit received $4.7M in federal funds in 2020 for all-day bus service on Hwy 55 o Expected to begin in 2025 and can demonstrate demand for BRT o City of Plymouth Study (2021) - BRT Stations + Land Use o 2020 to Present: Working group (Lead by Commissioner Fernando) of elected officials and staff from Hwy 55 cities, Met Council, Hennepin County, and state lawmakers meeting to discuss and take steps to advance BRT on Hwy 55  Hennepin County working to coordinate Cities, County, MnDOT, Met Council, Metro Transit o 2021 Legislative Funding of $250,000 to study BRT on Hwy 55. o First Kick-off meeting in late October and lead by Metro Transit. Metro Mobility Metro Mobility is a shared public transportation service (of the Metropolitan Council) for certified riders who are unable to use regular fixed-route buses due to a disability or health condition. Rides are provided for any purpose. Customers who are certified can call transportation providers to schedule their trips. Call 651-602-1111 (TTY 651-221-9886) Golden Valley service: Weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday 24 hours Trip Provider: TRANSIT TEAM: METRO WEST ZONE Phone: 651.602.1100 TTY: 612.332.5081 Email: WReservations@metc.state.mn.us FAX: 612.332.4116 MnPass and HOV 2+ MnDOT’s MnPASS is now E-ZPass! E-ZPass is the largest group of interoperable tolling systems in the country and is found in 19 states. Your E-ZPass tag works on all E-ZPass systems throughout the United States eliminating toll plaza stops. Minnesota E-Z Pass lanes: I-35W, I-35E and I-394 and more projects are planned E-ZPass Minnesota is a strategy to move more people during busy weekday commutes. E-ZPass lanes move more people by providing a designated lane that is free for buses, motorcycles, and vehicles with two or more people including children and infants (HOV 2+). Solo drivers pay a fee when they choose to use E-ZPass during peak hours in Minnesota. Outside of peak hours, all motorists can use the E-ZPass lanes. When the overhead sign says, “open to all traffic,” the lanes are free for all drivers—which is 90% of the time. E-ZPass Minnesota electric vehicle incentive This pilot program addresses a larger goal of trying to get more electric vehicles on the road in Minnesota by giving E-ZPass Minnesota credits to people who purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle between November 1, 2019 and October 31, 2022. The E-ZPass Minnesota incentive encourages those who are thinking about purchasing or leasing a vehicle to choose an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Go to the website for more information: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/ezpassmn/news.html Rideshare This includes Uber, Lyft, Taxis, Limos, other rideshare or carpool options. Many service providers are available and charge a fee per trip. Car-sharing service Car-sharing services are emerging as an alternative to owning your own vehicle. It is anticipated that these services will become more popular with affordability and space being an issue and as the insurance and automobile industries evolve. There are a couple services available in the state currently. HOURCAR is a nonprofit, non-EV car- sharing service that will now be adding EVs soon with a new program described below. Zipcar is a car-sharing service that has slightly higher prices, no EVs, and operates mostly in Minneapolis near the U of M and the downtown area. Aside from those two services, most everything else is the basic car rental services. The Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network is a new nonprofit car-sharing and community education program. Minneapolis and St. Paul are partnering with Xcel Energy, HOURCAR, and the American Lung Association, among others, to establish an EV car-sharing program in the cities and expand EV charging hubs. Over half of the hubs will be in neighborhoods where more than 50% of residents are black, indigenous, or people of color. Currently, there is a 35-square mile zone where the cars can be picked up and dropped off but people have the freedom to take the cars out of the service area as long as it is returned to a hub or curbside charger in the EV Spot Network. Members of the service would purchase an annual membership from HOURCAR and pay by the hour to use the EVs. This service provides better mobility, convenience, suppresses vehicle purchases, saves households money, improves environmental equity, and reduces emissions, pollution, and traffic. There are also plans to engage communities and include partnerships with local organizations to spread information about EVs and car-sharing. Currently, HOURCAR is the only electric vehicle car-sharing service in the metro area and it is in its early stages of implementation. Minneapolis and St. Paul are the only cities involved in EV car- sharing programs, but Edina, which has a lot of EV charging infrastructure, has shown some interest as well. Other suburbs adjacent to Minneapolis or St. Paul could explore the possibility of expanding HOURCAR’s service area into their communities. Land Use Land use and transportation are inexorably linked. The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan highlights areas of potential redevelopment that could support higher housing densities. These areas are generally located along high-frequency transit routes where residents could rely less on automobiles and more on the alternative options described in this memo. The graphic below shows these areas. Connected and automated vehicles MnDOT has good information on this emerging technology sometimes referred to as “driverless” vehicle technology. The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan Transportation chapter and Resilience and Sustainability chapter include policies to support the planning, design, and maintenance of infrastructure to accommodate emerging vehicle technologies such as connected and automated vehicles. Electric Vehicles (EVs) Golden Valley residents have proven to be early adopters and ahead of neighboring cities in the purchase of electric vehicles per capita. The Energy Action Plan discusses ways to prepare for and increase the number of EVs and charging infrastructure. GreenStep Cities Actions The City has completed many transportation related actions and tracked the metrics and progress in GreenStep Cities. GreenCorps Member Ethan Kehrberg is reviewing these items to determine which need updating and which new actions could be completed by the City. Metrics that have not been completed, and could overlap with EV goals: 1. Efficiently use your existing fleet of city vehicles by encouraging trip bundling, video conferencing, carpooling, vehicle sharing and incentives/technology. (BP 13: Efficient City Fleets, Action 1) 2. Retrofit city diesel engines or install auxiliary power units and/or electrified parking spaces, utilizing Project GreenFleet or the like. (BP 13: Efficient City Fleets, Action 6) Metrics that need updating: 1. Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions. (BP 13: Efficient City Fleets, Action 2) a. Last updated June 2017, 22 vehicles E85 compatible. 2. Install, assist with, and promote publicly available EV charging stations or public fueling stations for alternative fuel vehicles. (BP 23: Local Air Quality, Action 5) a. Last updated Jan. 2019, 1 EV charger at City Hall. Metrics that must be completed each year to be recognized at Step 5: 1. Improve average miles per gallon (MPG) for gasoline fleet (Metric 3.2) 2. Improve average miles per gallon (MPG) for diesel fleet (Metric 3.4) 3. Improve number of public electric vehicle charging stations (Metric 5.1) 4. Improve vehicle miles traveled per person, per day for City population (Metric 6.1) 5. Improve vehicle miles traveled per person, per day for City employees in single occupancy vehicles (Metric 6.2) Commissioners are asked to come to the October meeting with their comments and questions, and suggestions for which transportation options they might like to explore in more detail as part of the annual work plan. PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES – October 2021 RECYCLING At its October 19 meeting, the City Council will consider approving a new contract for residential curbside recycling and organics collection and a change to city code to allow waste containers to be stored within five feet of a structure and visible from the street. Organics cart rollout and education will follow in advance of the January 2022 launch. POLLINATORS Golden Valley Garden Club Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 6:30 p.m. (all online meeting - see WebEx invitation on website) Join us for a virtual tour of the brand-new University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences Conservatory and Botanical Collection. This biodiverse collection of plant species from around the world is the most diverse in the upper Midwestern United States, containing over 1,800 species of plants. The new building was completed in 2019 and has never been opened to the public. It also has four in-ground display plantings in its biome rooms from far flung places in South America. Presenter: Lisa Philander, Curator of the Conservatory and Botanical Collection Lisa worked at the Biological Sciences greenhouse (now the CBS Conservatory) while she studied for her degree in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Minnesota. Afterwards, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked in two botanical gardens, the Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills and the LA Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. She received a Masters degree in Ethnobotany from the University of Kent in Canterbury and Kew Gardens. Her graduate research surrounded medicinal plant use in the Western Cape of South Africa. Lisa's PhD is from the University of Arizona where she focused on ethnomedicine and the trade of medicinal plants. She has been back at the CBS Conservatory as the curator and director for the past 5 years, overseeing the building of the brand-new greenhouse. GREENCORPS UPDATE Last week, the City received 200 energy conservation kits with LED lightbulbs from Partners in Energy for Ethan, the GreenCorps member, to give out for free to residents at City Hall and future community events. PRISM received some of these kits and flyers to hand out at their facility to increase outreach. Over the past month, he has also sent out an energy efficiency survey to City employees, found boulevards around the city to order and display new GreenStep Cities signs, began outreach to school social workers and teachers, looked into fleet analysis for vehicle electrification, started conversations with the Mn Commerce Department RETAP program, and started development of a salt application calculator for residents and property managers to use in preparation for winter with the goal of reducing chlorides. DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT STUDY City Council will consider receiving and filing the Downtown Study Framework Plan at its meeting on October 19, 2021 (see agenda item pages 103-149 for more details). The Environmental Commission contributed to the drafting of the framework plan by reviewing and commenting on the study and developing a list of environmental goals and considerations to assist in future site design and area planning. The Commission will have opportunities to comment on individual implementation items, and codes that support those items, as they come forward to the Council in the coming years. PLANNING COMMISSION – October 15, 2021 6440 Wayzata Boulevard—Spire Credit Union is proposing to construct a new building with a drive-through on the southern 2/3 of this site, while the northern 1/3 would be retained by JJ’s Clubhouse for overflow parking. The proposal requires a minor subdivision and a Conditional Use Permit. Scheduled for the October 25 Planning Commission meeting. Updated Use Tables—Over the last year, staff has worked closely with the Planning Commission to draft updates and improvements to the use tables found in the Zoning Chapter of the City Code. The planned zoning text amendment will modernize language, address new uses, consider revisions to the Institutional Zoning Subdistricts, and ensure the City is compliant with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for November 22. CITY COUNCIL Downtown Study Framework Plan—At the October 19 City Council meeting, staff will present the Downtown Study Framework Plan, which summarizes the work done over the last four years around efforts to re-envision the four quadrants at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue North and Golden Valley Road. The Framework Plan includes concepts for key redevelopment sites and proposes implementation steps to move the plan forward. COUNCIL WORK SESSION At the Council Work Session on November 9, staff will update the Council on the findings from the Municipal Facilities Study, the investigation that has been done to date around Accessory Dwelling Units, an outline of the planned update to the City’s Sign Code, and a concept for Temporary Outdoor Service Areas. HOUSING At the Council Work Session on October 12, staff presented materials regarding a Section 8 Anti- Discrimination Ordinance, updates to the City’s STAR Program (Safe Tenant and Renter), and the outline of a proposed Public Land Disposition Ordinance which would prioritize the use of vacant City-owned land for affordable housing. 6300 Olson Memorial Highway—United Properties is proposing to reguide and rezone the vacant Optum site for Light Industrial use, and then to subdivide the lot into two lots (one north, one south) in order to redevelop the property as a business park with R&D, light industrial, warehouse, and office uses. Scheduled for the October 25 Planning Commission meeting. Golden Valley Country Club Villas—A Final PUD Plan has been submitted to complete the process of gaining approval for a seven-unit single-family development with a short public street in the northwest corner of the Golden Valley Country Club. The site has already been guided and zoned for Single-Family use, and a Preliminary PUD Plan was approved by the City Council in September. Scheduled for the November 8 Planning Commission meeting.