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EC Agenda 9-19-20227800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, WIN 55427 763-593-8027 � TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov Environmental Commission REGULAR MEETING AGENDA city of goldvall� Y September 19, 2022 — 6:30 pm City Hall Council Conference Room Remote Attendance: Members of the public may attend this meeting by calling 1- 415-655-0001 and entering access code 2460 528 0986. 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. Approval of Agenda 5. Approval of August 22, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min) 6. Old Business A. Environmental Justice Collaboration (5 min) B. Land Acknowledgement Actions (5 min) 7. New Business A. Discuss No Mow May Initiative (30 min) B. Program/Project Updates (5 min) C. Council Updates (5 min) D. Other Business (5 min) 8. Adjournment This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call 763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc. 7800 Golden Valley Road I Golden Valley, RUIN 55427 CZJ 0J 763-593-8027 I TTY 763-593-3968 1 763-593-8198 (fax) I www.goldenvalleymn.gov golden,,,,,, va Environmental Commission August 22, 2022 — 6:30 pm 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. Collaborators —14 Narrators. The Church and Hennepin History Museum are official partners. A lot of support from the GV Historical Society and the BCWMC. 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. This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call 763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc. 6 City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting August 22, 2022 — 6:30 pm 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 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 try of goldeno-gleir valley Date: September 16, 2022 MEMORANDUM Physical Development Department 763-593-8030 / 763-593-3988 (fax) 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 will work with the Commission to develop a Pro/Con matrix to work through the various issues and options available that could achieve the objectives of the No -Mow May Initiative. Commissioners are being asked to read about the No -Mow May Initiative online and come to the meeting prepared to discuss their thoughts, questions, concerns, and how the City might participate in this initiative. GAEnvironmental Commission\Memos No Mow May— Other Cities Edina https://www.bettertogetheredina.org/no-mow-may Copy of Resolution: https://ehq-production-us-california.s3.us-west- 1.amazonaws.com/9848d6bee67fd7097c2alc98f33eel9allf9272a/original/1648229864/ff22eb468d24 707fdaca311e4bc69be0 Resolution 2022-34 No Mow May.pdf Edina City Council passed a Resolution of Support for No Mow May 2022(External link) on March 22nd, temporarily suspending its Turf and Weed ordinances related to lawn height for participating properties. Properties must comeback into compliance by June 15, 2022. Registration closes May 15th for the 2022 No Mow May program! Sign up by May 15th to ensure your yard is included in No Mow May this year. Missed out on Edina No Mow May signs this year? Participants can print a free sign from Bee City USA's No Mow May website(External link) to display. 1182 residents registered online. West St. Paul https://www.wspmn.gov/946/No-Mow-May Copy of resolution: https://wspmn.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/ 05052021- 963?packet=true The City began celebrating No Mow May in 2021 by passing a No Mow May Resolution. This initiative is promoted through Bee City USA. residents can obtain a free reusable yard sign from the front desk at City Hall (1616 Humboldt Ave), 1 sign per address or download and print your own. If you plan to print your own sign please register your address here. The City will refrain from enforcing weed and lawn height ordinances for residents that participate Rochester https://goviaunch.com/projects/rochester-mn-launched-the-no-mow-may-campaign-to- provide-habitat-for-pollinators The City of Rochester's Department of Parks and Recreation launched the "No Mow May" campaign to encourage homeowners not to mow their lawns for a month. The campaign was created to provide habitat and refuge for pollinators by allowing grass to grow. During the one - month campaign, the city has relaxed an existing ordinance which normally requires residents to keep vegetation under 12 inches. Residents will still be expected to pull weeds in their yard during the campaign There are two options of signs to post. These can be printed and posted or a laminated copy can be picked up at the park and Recreation office in City Hall. Please call for availability before arrival. (507-328-2525) St. Louis Park https://www.stiouispark.org/Home/Components/News/News/1026/18 The City of St. Louis Park is not promoting No Mow May in the city. Instead, the city has undertaken the following pollinator initiatives: Provide a Native Vegetation Permit (Ord. Sec. 34-118), which allows homeowners to convert their lawns to native pollinator -promoting plants and exempting them from the tall grass ordinance. PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES — September 2022 GREENCORPS PROGRAM GreenCorps Member Mars Muehleis will be starting his service term on Monday, September 19th. His service term will be running approximately one year and concluding in August of 2023. He will be on various environmental initiatives including recycling and solid waste, energy, environmental justice and equity, and replacing and increasing the City's tree canopy in light of losses due to Emerald Ash Borer. Staff plans to introduce Mars at the October Commission meeting. 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 will begin this fall with research, field work, and public engagement and wrap up in spring 2023. Construction is scheduled for fall 2024. Medley Park Stormwater Improvement Project Award of contract is scheduled for September 20, 2022. Construction is slated to start in November and continue through summer 2023 with 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 90% plans are now available on the project webpage and an informal open house is scheduled for September 29, 2022 at Brookview. RECYCLING Republic Services will begin formal participation studies of the traditional recycling and organics recycling services next month. The organics recycling program continues to go well, with no rejected loads reported recently. Republic Services truck drivers did identify and tag a couple of bins for contamination last week. Here's a snapshot of tonnages collected so far: Tons of materials collected by Republic Services in Golden Valley 2022 Month January Recycling 147.40 Organics 9.48 February 123.94 36.34 March 128.43 28.75 April 183.22 52.75 May 137.93 44.57 June 146.24 41.80 July 155.26 42.21 August 142.32 41.56 September October November December Totals 1,164.74 297.46 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. The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) will work with staff to complete an assessment of Golden Valley City Hall in the next few weeks. The assessment will audit the building's efficiency and will result in a report with recommendations for potential retrofits or improved practices. OUTREACH Sunday, September 25 is GV Foundation Sustainability Day at the Golden Valley Farmers Market. The City will have a presence at the event, along with Xcel Energy, Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE), and other environmental or sustainability organizations. The City is working with the Partners in Energy team to give away 50 free Home Energy Squad visits at the event, in addition to the LED lighting kits and educational resources.