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create a process, as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has done, to bring together leaders in the field with the shared goal of establishing new standard measures and processes for greening communities. The STAR framework will represent a roadmap that guides local governments as they implement sustainability and climate -related initiatives. Similar to LEED, STAR will include tiered levels with classification based on actions achieved in congruence with a given level. STAR will also draw on the extensive experience of ICLEI in building online tools and tracking systems to assess the progress of cities in reducing carbon emissions. The current timeline calls for rolling out the program in 2010. It appears that the STAR Community Index program will be most appropriate for large metropolitan cities such as Minneapolis and St. Paul. Review of state programs providing technical and financial assistance The workgroup conducted a review of existing State of Minnesota technical and financial assistance programs related to sustainability, Although many programs were found, there was no single generally recognized source of information for all of the programs, though many of them are listed on the MPCAs NextStep sustainable communities Web site at www.nextstep.state.mn.us (see Appendix D for a list of the programs, with more complete information on the Web). Review of existing local government efforts within Minnesota The workgroup also conducted a review of 70 Minnesota cities with existing sustainability initiatives, interviewed 24 of these cities, and wrote case studies on 16 of the most innovative programs. These case studies represent a diversity of approaches and demonstrate the commitment of local governments to sustainability efforts. Appendix F has a list of the cities reviewed, with the complete case studies available on the Web (www. clemenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps). Size of cities in Minnesota Over 80% of Minnesota's 5.2 million residents live in cities of some size. Of the approximately 850 cities in Minnesota, the majority have very small populations. Figure Two (next page) demonstrates that nearly half of Minnesota's city population lives in cities with under 25,000 residents, and nearly 1 million people (24% of all city dwellers) live in cities of under 10,000 residents. Implications for GreenStep Program Design The foregoing research has led us to the following conclusions regarding our approach to program design: 1. GreenStep should focus on actions (a prescriptive "best practice" approach) to reduce greenhouse gases and achieve other environmental outcomes. 2. Within city operations, the largest opportunities for greenhouse gas reduction are in energy conservation in city buildings, street lighting, and other city facilities. Best practices for city operations should focus on these areas. Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 7