HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packets - 2013/02/04CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA
MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL
Monday, February 4, 2013
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Flaherty, Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller
PUBLIC COMMENT
Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight's agenda. Before speaking, please give your
full name and address for the minutes. Also, please limit your comments to three minutes.
Agenda Items Discussed by Consensus
1. 2012 Citizen of the Year Discussion
2. Continued County Road 10 Corridor Discussion
3. Review and Discuss Sustainability Issues
Next Work Session: Monday, March 4, 2013, at 7pm
Next City Council Meeting: Monday, February 11, 2013, at 7pm
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of Mounds View Staff
Item No: 1
Meeting Date: February 4. 2013
Type of Business: Work Session
Administrator Review:
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Desaree Crane, Assistant City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: 2012 Citizen of the Year Award
Introduction:
The City of Mounds View Citizen of the Year Award recognizes ordinary citizens who have
demonstrated initiative to improving the community. Past recipients of this award include:
2004:
David Jahnke
2005:
Frank Silvis
2006:
Ed Lanz
2007:
Don Hodges
2008:
Barbara Haake
2009:
Diane Wuori
2010:
Jean Miller
2011:
Jerry Skelly
Nominations are open to the public and the award is subject to the following guidelines below:
Eligibility:
Nominees must be a Mounds View resident, business owner or land owners. Current elected
officials, City employees, City contractors, or past Citizen of the Year Award recipients are not
eligible.
Selection Criteria:
Courage: Exemplifies courage and determination to follow one's own values.
Initiative: Demonstrates drive and initiative in his/her approach and overcoming
challenges on the way.
Time Commitment: Volunteers a significant amount of time and energy to the betterment
of the City of Mounds View and its residents; more than just financial
contributions.
Effectiveness: Generates positive results for the community.
Unselfishness: Does not expect anything in return for his/her actions, i.e., financial
compensation, fame or political notoriety.
Item 02
February 4, 2013, Work Session
Page 2
Discussion:
This award is currently scheduled to be awarded at the Monday, April 29, 2013, Town Hail Meeting,
located at City Hall. Below is the timeline for applications and City Council approval. Staff will
advertise on the City's website, City's Facebook page, and submit press releases to the Sun Focus
and the Bulletin.
Applications Available at City Hall & on the City Website:
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Applications due to Assistant City Administrator:
Friday, March 8, 2013
Applications to the City Council for Review: -
Mon, April 1, 2013 (WS)
2012 Citizen of the Year Awarded by City Council Resolution:
Mon, April 8, 2013 (Council Mtg)
2012 Citizen of the Year Award Recipient Contacted:
Tue, April 9, 2013
2012 Citizenship Award Plaque Ordered:
Tue, April 9, 2013
2012 Citizenship Award Presented to Recipient:
Mon, Apr 29, 2013
Recommendation:
Staff wanted to inform the City Council that Staff is starting the process for the 2012 Citizen of the
Year Award. Applications for the 2012 Citizen of the Award will be available at City Hall and the
City's website starting on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Aaaub a6AL
Desaree Crane
MjNUDS VfE-W
City of Mounds view Staff Report
Item No: 2
Meeting Date: Feb 4 2013
Type of Business: Work Session
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: James Ericson, City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Continued and Ongoing Discussion Regarding the County
Road 10 Corridor
Introduction:
The City Council added this issue as a standing agenda item for work sessions in 2013
until some resolution is achieved or plan adopted relating to the Co. Road 10 Corridor.
Discussion:
At the January work session, the City Council reviewed the 2002 Corridor Improvement
plan and made recommendations regarding goals and objectives. In addition, the
Council discussed available unobligated TIF dollars and how much would be eligible for
enhancements and improvements in the corridor. Staff confirmed that, with very little
exception, TIF cannot be used for landscaping or other beautification efforts. Other
funding sources would need to be indentified for such purposes.
The Council also discussed utilization of TIF dollars for acquisition of parcels in
association with proposed or anticipated redevelopments within the Corridor. Real
estate acquisitions, site clearance, utility work are all eligible TIF expenditures.
In addition, the Council reviewed potential median enhancements such as berms
planted with trees. Originally Ramsey County indicated trees would not be acceptable
within the median for safety purposes. I had reported subsequently that the County
Engineer provided a contrary response which was interpreted to mean that trees
WOULD be permitted (such as what was done on Highway 96) however, apparently,
the corridor would first need to be converted to an "urban section" (with curbs and
gutter) to make this a reality—a very costly endeavor.
Finally, the Council requested copies of the 2006 Premium Stop Redevelopment plan
which is attached to this report. The Premium Stop plan illustrates redevelopment
scenarios on the south side of County Road 10 between County Road H2 and Woodale
Drive.
SIGNAGE UPDATE:
At the Jan 28, 2013 Council meeting, Mayor Flaherty reported that Bob Benke,
Research & Advocacy Services Director for the North Metro Mayors Association, would
be following up with MnDOT regarding the cost to replace signs on MnDOT controlled
corridors. While there is no response from that inquiry yet, I can add that I have
provided updates on the issue to Ramsey County Commissioners McGuire and
Huffman. I have suggested to both Commissioners that perhaps the County cover the
costs of replacing signs within the corridor.
County Road 10 Report
February 4, 2013
Page 2
Recommendation:
Review the attached information and provide direction to staff.
Respectfully submitted,
Javlxu
James Ericson
City Administrator
Attachments:
1. 2006 Premium Stop Redevelopment plan
Item No: 3
Meeting Date: Feb 4, 2013
Type of Business: Work Session
City of Mounds View Staff Report
ONNEOF
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: James Ericson, City Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Review the Saint Anthony Village Sustainability Plan
Introduction:
The City of Saint Anthony Village recently partnered with students from the University of
Minnesota to explore and plan for sustainability initiatives. The report addresses the
process used to create the plan including a history of sustainability initiatives already
employed by the City, such as its involvement with the GreenStep Cities program.
Discussion:
The report outlines a series of goals, objectives and strategies for implementing
"greener" and more sustainable practices. Many of the goals and objectives can be
applied in other communities as well, especially when large infrastructure projects are
being planned and developed.
Recommendation:
Review the Saint Anthony Village Sustainability Plan and the Minnesota GreenStep
Cities Report and discuss potential cost-effective actions that can be pursued to
enhance and improve sustainability efforts in the City of Mounds View.
Respectfully submitted,
James Ericson
City Administrator
Attachments:
1. Saint Anthony Village Sustainability Plan
2. Minnesota GreenStep Report
3. LMC Report: Cities Display Green Leadership
Saint Anthony Village
Sustainability Plan
UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA
M(nnesota
GreenStepCitles
Silverwood Aegioual Park — Great Hall
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following participants in the sustainability workshops and show out
gratitude for their dedication, new ideas, and resources toward the goal of a more sustainable
community.
representatives of the city of St. Antbory:
jery Faust- Mayor of St. Antbory
Hal Gray- City Council member
jan Jenson- City Council member
randy Stille- City Council rnevrber
jim rotb- City Council member
Mark Casey- City Manager
Barb Suciu, City Clerk
Jay Hartman, Director of Public lhorks
Sustainable Connnunities class members fiom the Univer:riiy of Minnesota:
Ben Biancini, Julie Erdmann, Adam Iversen, Alexa $erson, Erin Kindell, Tyler Lang, Faith Lindner, Libby Norris, Mei
Vang, Lindsay Wallner, Lauren Wimler, Ben Zientara
The staff and director of Silveravood Park facilities
And a vey warm thankyou to the residents ivbo participated in the workshops
Table of Contents
I Introduction and Vision of Sustainability...................................................................
1
1 Introduction and Purpose of the report........................................................
1
2 A Vision for the Future....................................................................................
2
II Sustainability and the ABCD Planning Process.........................................................
3
1 Definition of Sustainability..............................................................................
3
2 Introduction to the ABCD Strategic Planning Process ..............................
4
III History of Sustainability in St. Anthony Village.........................................................
5
IV Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for Success............................................................
6
1 Transportation...................................................................................................
6
2 Utilities................................................................................................................
8
iEnergy Use...........................................................................................
8
ii Recycling and Waste Reduction........................................................
10
iiiComposting..........................................................................................
11
3 Natural Resources.............................................................................................
12
i Surface Water Management...............................................................
12
iiLandscaping..........................................................................................
14
iiiLocal Foods..........................................................................................
15
4 Housing...............................................................................................................
18
5 Neighborhood Development..........................................................................
21
6 Public Awareness..............................................................................................
22
VSummary...........................................................................................................................
23
VIAppendix..........................................................................................................................
24
APolicies................................................................................................................
24
BAdditional Resources........................................................................................
26
I Introduction and Vision of Sustainability
1 Introduction and purpose of the report
In the fall of 2012, St. Anthony Village residents and public officials collaborated with Sustainability
Studies minor students from the University of Minnesota to undertake a project to foster the growth
of sustainable initiatives in the community. The project was the focus of the Sustainability Studies
capstone class for the fall semester. The instructors of the class arranged two public meetings at
which residents and officials from the community came together with students and discussed a
vision of sustainability for St. Anthony Village.
The community's passion for and dedication to sustainability were already evident, demonstrated
publicly in June, 2012 when the city achieved the highest certification from Minnesota's GreenStep
Cities program, which recognizes cities for their sustainable achievements and assists them in future
efforts. This student -city partnership project was designed to further galvanize an interest in
sustainability by focusing on more comprehensive sustainability planning, encouraging a broader
level of resident participation, and encouraging collaboration with the nearby cities of Falcon
Heights and Lauderdale.
In the meetings, attendees were informed about what sustainability means, and students led
discussions about how concerned residents can successfully employ these concepts of sustainability
in their communities and educate others. Students moderated conversations about what a
sustainable society looks like and what can specifically be improved in the community regarding
sustainability.
Students gathered input from the community members during the two meetings and developed this
report from the acquired information. After the community meetings, students spent time
organizing the input from the residents, and combined those thoughts with knowledge gained
during their sustainability education at the U of M. This report is the result of that process,
providing a vision of what a sustainable St. Anthony Village would look like in 2030, and proposing
specific goals, objectives, and strategies to achieve that vision.
We hope this document will encourage residents and city officials to continue the conversations that
were begun during our two meeting, and that St. Anthony Village's commitment to sustainability will
continue long into the future.
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2 A Vision of the Future — Saint Anthony Village, 2030
Theyear is 2030. It is a September afternoon in the City of St. Anthony Village. Children are
getting out ofschoolfor the day, walking and biking home with theirfriends and neighbors. It
is rush hour, but the majority of traffic is pedestrian traffic. Wide 'greenways"for bikers are
in full use, and a network of expanded sidewalks provides access to major business districts.
As residents return to their homes after work, they gather with neighbors at community
gardens to reap the daily benefits of the fresh produce they have planted. Parents stop by the
market to pick up a few necessities beforegathering their children, who have spent a short
time at their neighbors' houses aftergetting out ofschool for the afternoon. The business
districts are busy with customers. Businesses are doing well, due to the strong financial
returns they are now receiving after the initial investments in energy efficiency 20years ago.
Solar panels and small wind turbines are seen everywhere around town at businesses and
private family homes. These are some of the key elements that have allowed the City of St.
Anthony to go completely off thegrid. Extra money is coming into the City due to the
additional power produced by the City that is being sold to neighboring communities.
As evening arrives, families stroll out to the parks and lakes, where they enjoy taking in the
natural habitat of the thriving ecosystem of the lakes and surrounding prairie and forest
areas. Another day draws to a close in this village -like community in the midst of a big city.
Residents appreciate how lucky they are to take part in this progressive community—a
community that has achieved an unmatched level of sustainable practices while fostering a
small-town "village" atmosphere. People know that if City leaders and citizens work together
to achieve a common vision, they can make this vision a reality. Citizens embrace the City of
St. Anthony Village—where progressive thinking and small-town living coincide.
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II Sustainability and the ABCD Planning Process
1 Definition of Sustainability
Sustainability was best defined by the U.N.'s Brundtland Commission in 1987 as "meeting the needs
of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." This definition creates a broad understanding which has since been refined, notably by Karl -
Henrik Robert and his colleagues at The Natural Step, who developed four basic Sustainability
Principles. These are:
"In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to ysteniatically increasing...
1. ...concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust;
2. ...concentrations of substances produced by society;
3. ...degradation by physical means;
and, in that society...
4. ...people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet
their needs."
These principles have become widely used, and have been adopted by the American Planning
Association. The principles were employed by the students in the development of this report, and
must be employed to help guide the hand of development in order to ensure sustainability.
Principle 1 refers to substances we extract from the Earth's crust, like fossil fuels, heavy metals like
cadmium and mercury, and radioactive nuclides. The Natural Step calls for a systematic reduction in
the use of fossil fuels, and for increased efficiency in the ways we use, reuse, and manage
concentrations of other materials.
Principle 2 refers to synthetic materials and how they interact with the natural environment,
including how much energy it takes to make them and how, or if, they decompose. The Natural Step
encourages the use of substances that are naturally occurring or that break down more easily and
innocuously in nature.
Principle 3 refers to how the actions of humans physically degrade the complex, interrelated web of
systems that make up the natural environment. We must practice careful management of
ecosystems, and be cautious about modifications including further development that could alter the
way these systems function together.
Principle 4 refers to the way society functions to help or hinder each person as they struggle to meet
their fundamental needs. We must ask ourselves whether we would like to be subjected to the
conditions our actions create for others.
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2 Introduction to the ABCD Strategic Planning Process
Implementation of the principles of The Natural Step relies on a process that includes developing a
vision of the outcome of sustainability actions, assessing the current situation, and designing actions
that will lead to the envisioned result. Like the Sustainability Principles outlined above, the ABCD
process includes four main steps to achieve its results. These are:
Step A: Building a Shared Understanding and Vision
Step B: Assessing the Current Reality
Step C: Brainstorming Actions to Close the Gap
Step D: Prioritization
The process by which this Sustainability Plan was developed for Saint Anthony Village included the
first three steps. The meetings that were held with City leaders and residents were designed to foster
a partnership framework within which a shared understanding and vision was created (Step A). At
the first meeting, students listened to the ideas and concerns of the assembled Saint Anthony
delegation, and used that input to generate the shared vision above.
With those steps complete, the students shared the vision with residents and city leaders at the
second sustainability seminar, and then discussed the ideas in the vision with residents. Students
shared their knowledge with the participants, and further explored the desires of the community.
Information learned during this meeting was also used by students to gain a better understanding of
the current reality in the community (Step B).
Armed with this knowledge and the input of residents and city leaders, the students designed the
following sections of the document. As a team, they brainstormed actions that would help Saint
Anthony Village reach the goal of executing its vision for the future (Step C). Now, it is time for the
residents and city leaders in Saint Anthony to take ownership of the continuing process of refining
and implementing the actions presented below.
The ABCD planning process is intended to provide a framework from which organizations can
develop a vision and design strategies that will help make that vision real. It is important to note that
the process is flexible in that it is possible to refine each part in order to continue to work toward
achieving success. No single step within the process is intended to be static. The vision must be
shared by all the stakeholders involved, the assessment of reality must include the best information
available, and the brainstorming and prioritization of actions must be an ongoing process that
includes new ideas, technologies, and changes in law. With continued focus on a shared vision, it is
possible to achieve great things. Indeed, such achievements are the goal of the process. Only by
beginning with such a vision can we design a path to make it real.
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III History of Sustainability in Saint Anthony Village
Saint Anthony Village has a proud history of working on environmental sustainability issues. The
City worked diligently during the early part of this decade to implement sustainable practices and is a
leader among Minnesota sustainable cities, especially in the areas of city-wide green space and water
use. The crowning achievement of Saint Anthony Village in these areas is Minnesota's first multi -
source parkland watering system, which saves 7 million gallons of potable water every year. Because
of its commitment to sustainability, the City of Saint Anthony Village was recognized by the
Minnesota GreenStep Cities program in June of 2012 for its achievements in sustainable best
practices and was awarded GreenStep 3, the highest GreenStep honor.
The GreenStep Cities project came about as a result of steps taken by the Minnesota State
Legislature, which in 2008 directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to recommend a list of
steps cities could take, on a voluntary basis, to become more sustainable. The program, which
partners with city councils all over the state, makes best practices available to cities which are meant
to reduce a city's carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption, and foster social well-being. The
program awards cities for their progress, recognizing the implementation of certain numbers of best
practices as Step 1, 2, or 3. The city council of Saint Anthony Village found that much of what had
already been done to make the city sustainable was included in the program, and attained Step 3
status after only 2 years in the program.
This vision statement and sustainability plan will help to ensure that Saint Anthony Village does not
lose sight of the goal of true environmental, social, and economic sustainability and stays at the
leading edge of nationwide sustainability trends. When the GreenStep Cities program introduces the
upcoming Step 4, Saint Anthony Village will be ready to achieve that next level of excellence and
beyond, and continue to be an example to other Minnesota cities.
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IV Goals, Objectives, and Strategies for Success
1. Transportation
The Saint Anthony Village of 2030 will be quite different from that of 2012. A city full of young
families whose adult members work either within the city, from home, or in downtown Minneapolis
will need a diverse, carbon -neutral transportation infrastructure. People will rely on transportation
options that carry them over local streets while they do their shopping, bring their kids to school,
and enjoy local parks and other entertainment options. The city recognizes the importance of
carbon -neutral transportation options, and must therefore build a strong bicycle infrastructure as
part of the main thoroughfare that carries residents through the city. Electric bus service will
increase to serve those who can't ride bicycles, or for use on days with inclement weather. The
citizens of Saint Anthony Village will get around town using their feet, bicycles, and use personal
motor vehicles sparingly. Speed limits on city streets will be low, and crosswalks will be wide.
Pedestrians and cyclists will take precedence over cars, and networks of walking paths will join
neighborhood units together.
Goal: Create a community in which individuals don't have to use motor vehicles to meet
their basic transportation needs.
Objective: Create a series of commuter trails and bike lanes to make bicycle
commutes an easy and attractive option.
Because of Saint Anthony Village's unique shape, the city would be best served by a large
greenway running north -to -south alongside Silver Lake Road. This road serves the entire
community, and it runs right down the middle for the entire length, never more than 'A mile
from any other point in the city. Residential streets with bike lanes would lead commuters
right to the greenway, which would fink up with the Minneapolis Diagonal Trail that runs
along the south edge of highway 88.
Strategy: Team up with community businesses and other local governments
to make this a reality.
Businesses in the community will be happy to see a greenway running down the
center of Saint Anthony Village. Local businesses might be willing to sponsor one leg
of the greenway, or even the whole thing. Advertisements and naming rights can
really help generate revenue for the project. Bike parking takes up much less space
than automobile parking, so it behooves the shops within Silver Lake Wage and
also Saint Anthony Shopping Center to cater to those individuals. Partnership with
Minneapolis to ensure that bike commuting infrastructure is complete all the way to
downtown Minneapolis is essential --Hennepin Avenue where it meets Stinson
boulevard is the ideal place for new bicycle lanes separate from car -traffic areas of
streets. These lanes will lead Saint Anthony commuters to the very edge of
downtown.
Strategy: Make dedicated bike lanes on streets that are wide enough.
Bikes aren't feasible on mixed-use roads unless drivers of automobiles understand
that they need to share the road. Some streets in Saint Anthony village are wide
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enough for dedicated bike lanes. To make bike commuting attractive for the
community, 33rd and 39th Streets and Stinson Boulevard will have dedicated bike
lanes and signage that alerts drivers to the need to share the road. As road
reconstruction projects are undertaken over the next 20 years, bike lanes will be
added to appropriate streets, in pursuance of this goal.
Strategy: Make bike sharing a reality for all residents who need it.
Bike -sharing programs have become very popular in large cities recently. Notably, in
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Nice Ride operates a non-profit bike -sharing program.
This program allows citizens and visitors alike to buy short or long-term
subscriptions to its network of bike sharing terminals throughout the city. As of this
writing, in November of 2012, Nice Ride makes 1,300 bikes available at 145 stations
throughout the Twin Cities. Nice Ride has reported over 570,000 individual trips
taken by its subscribers since it began offering the service in 2010. Expanding this
service into first -ring suburbs like Saint Anthony makes great sense, and, combined
with the focus on bike transportation made clear in this document, will enable all
residents to have access to a bike at any time.
Objective: Make the community more walkable.
Saint Anthony Village prides itself on being a walkable city. As it looks toward the future, it
will make walling as major a priority as it does biking. The city is small, and residents can
walk across the city in a matter of half an hour. This fact is embraced in our plan. Residents
of the city currently have concerns about crossing some busy streets—notably 37th Avenue
and Silver Lake Road—both major thoroughfares that currently carry cars through the city.
Part of the strategy to reduce car traffic by promoting bike transportation will reduce the
problem of difficult street crossings, but further steps must be taken to promote walking.
Strategy: Ensure most streets have sidewalks on both sides.
This is the simplest strategy to ensure that pedestrians feel welcome and are able to
access all parts of the city. As street redevelopment takes place, sidewalks must be a
priority. Furthermore, some sidewalks can be widened into paths that can
incorporate both pedestrians and cyclists.
Strategy: Implement safe cross -walks on major streets.
Pedestrians need safe ways to cross major thoroughfares, something they currently
don't have enough of in Saint Anthony Village. Dedicated crosswalks lit by in -
pavement LEDs and lighted signs that can be activated by people waiting to cross
will be placed at intersections along Silver Lake Road that are adjacent to parks,
schools, churches and stores. At the busiest intersections, pedestrians will have the
ability to activate stop lights and walk signals by pushing buttons.
Future Progress
• Establish a timeline for which sidewalk additions must be completed
• Measure the number of commuter trails and bike lanes that are added
• Track when safe cross -walks (equipped with in -pavement LEDs) are added to major
thoroughfares
• Ensure the maintenance of bike lanes, commuter trails, and sidewalks
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2. Utilities
i. Energy Use
Renewable energy is an important issue for the city of Saint Anthony Village to focus on to meet
their goal to be a sustainable city in 2030. Energy use is an important concern as the push for
alternative, cleaner sources of energy becomes more prominent. The goal for more sustainable
energy use for Saint Anthony Village is twofold. The first part of this is a transition from current
sources of energy to site-based, renewable sources. This means increased development of wind and
solar energy infrastructure, and as new technologies arise, the city can evaluate and adjust its plans to
best meet its energy goals. The second focus of more sustainable energy use is energy efficiency,
with a goal of greatly reducing total energy use. An advantage of this dual focus is the ability to
concurrently implement both large- and small-scale measures.
Goal: Reduce Overall Energy Use by City Departments by the Year 2030
Objective: Transition to more efficient energy use
Strategy:
Over the next ten years, the City of Saint Anthony Village will begin to replace
outdated mechanical systems, appliances, and light fixtures with more energy-
efficient options. The City will continue to look at LED and CFL bulbs for use in
parks, parking lots, and roads. Working with others, the city may also promote
incentives for business to make changes. When mechanical systems in city facilities
need replacement, the city will replace such systems with energy-efficient ones that
will save money in the long term.
As the second part of this strategy, Saint Anthony Village will additionally renovate
and retrofit existing structures to improve energy efficiency. Part of this work will
involve ordinance updates that promote the use of more sustainable building
materials and methods. Buildings consume roughly 40 percent of the U.S.'s overall
energy. This is due in part to inefficient building systems, including insufficient
insulation and inefficient mechanical systems.
Further research and testing of the efficiency of existing structures is needed to
assess the current state of city buildings. This information can then be used to
update and renovate existing structures to function more efficiently and better meet
the needs of the citizens of Saint Anthony Village. The U of M has recently re-
commissioned many buildings as part of its It All Adds Up program, and its Energy
Management group can be a valuable asset in exploring these options.
As opportunities arise and through working with others, the city may also promote
incentives for business and residents to make changes to improve energy efficiency.
Goal: Reduce Dependence on Outside Energy Sources
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Objective: Promote Localized Green Energy Technology in the Public and Private
Sectors
Strategy:
The city's initial focus will be on rewriting local ordinances regarding solar panels,
wind turbines, and geothermal hearing systems. The city will review, and, if
necessary, update these ordinances to remove barriers to the implementation of
these technologies, and will create regulations for the installation and functioning of
these systems. This will mean developing a special permitting process that makes
applying for residential solar electric systems easy—possibly using the City of
Minneapolis as a model.
Information about incentives for solar electric or heating systems, including Xcel
Energy's Solar*Rewards program and federal and state incentives, will be made
available as a link or a document on Saint Anthony Village's website. Following this,
the city will gather information on the feasibility of solar panels, wind turbines,
geothermal heating and other green energy technologies for Saint Anthony Village's
civic structures. From this data the city can make decisions on economic viability of
these systems for specific buildings.
Strategy:
The city will coordinate with nonprofits like Minnesota Renewable Energy Society to
help educate the public about renewable energy options. This will include
community workshops on the feasibility and advantages of solar panels, wind
turbines, and geothermal heating for individual and multi -unit housing, as well as
programs that promote renewable energy awareness in schools. This will be
supplemented by making material available online for citizens to reference.
Strategy:
The City of Saint Anthony Village will create a page on its website with information
for businesses and residents on steps and changes they can make to improve the
efficiency of their buildings. This will include links to resources such as the U.S.
Department of Energy's Energy Saver's booklet and Green Builder's Homeowner
Handbook. Another feature of the website will be statistics and graphs on the energy
use and efficiency of highly used civic buildings that will give the city a way to track
their changes throughout the process and foster community involvement in these
alterations.
Future Progress
• Track the energy use and energy bills for City buildings, residents and businesses
• Ensure ordinances are created that allow for sola panel and wind turbine use on individual
properties
• Track residents that switch to energy efficient appliances and create incentive programs for
their use
• Generate timelines for switching street lighting to LED lights
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ii. Recycling and Waste Reduction
It is imperative that St. Anthony Village addresses how they will manage their waste in efforts to
have a more sustainable future. The St. Anthony Village of 2030 will implement goals moving
towards zero -waste future, such as increased recycling, composting, and overall prevention of waste.
An example of this could be a goal for St. Anthony in 2030 where 75% of all waste produced will be
recycled and composted. In order to do this, the City would need to implement certain changes to
how they manage waste:
Goal: Improve the efficiency of Solid Waste Management in Saint Anthony Village
Objective: Reduce the garbage haulers in St. Anthony
The most viable option to achieve this would be done by exploring the option of moving to
a single hauler system for St. Anthony. To achieve this, the City could coordinate with the
surrounding communities of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale to use the same haulers to
increase efficiency.
Single Hauler Benefits:
• A Single hauler system can also pick up yard waste and implement a composting
program
• Compost goes toward other community projects (e.g. community gardens or can be used
by individual residents)
• Reducing the number of garbage haulers will decrease the amount of truck traffic going
through the neighborhood during the week
• Will effectively decrease noise, congestion, pollution, and damage to streets
• A Single garbage hauler system can increase efficiency; only one truck needs to go
through the city and collect residential and business waste
• Expand electronics and appliance recycling services
• A single garbage hauler system can decrease garbage bills by an average of 25% (more
efficient amore garbage per mile)
Strategy:
Work both individually and with Falcon Heights and Lauderdale to explore options
to coordinate haulers within and between communities. This can increase the
efficiency of waste management practices by reducing the amount of haulers moving
through the City.
Goal: Saint Anthony Village will strive to increase recycling rates and reduce waste in City
facilities, residential, and commercial areas.
Objective: Increase the percentage of residents and businesses that recycle and use
companies that will take all type of products for recycling, such as electronics and yard waste.
Strategy
In order to increase recycling rates for the City as whole, public space recycling can
be improved, so that resources consumed outside the home can still be managed.
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Strategies for City Facilities
In order to increase the amount of recycling and reduce waste in City facilities, it is
important to establish a baseline of waste generated. Rcontainers and signage needs to be
consistent throughout City buildings and staff will be trained on recycling procedures.
Strategies for Residential/Commercial
The city of Saint Anthony Village can increase residential recycling rates through education
and outreach in the community. The City can better advertise recycling opportunities to
increase awareness. The City could explore the option of sponsoring events for electronic
recycling, where items are collected and brought to the following facilities:
• A -Plus Appliance
• ARCA
• Certified Recycling
• JTs Advanced Recyclers
This can increase recycling rates and increase education and awareness for residents and
businesses throughout the City.
iii. Composting
Goal: The 25% of waste that comes from food scraps could be kept out of landfills with
increased composting. Compost, a nutrient rich dirt -like substance, can be used to grow
healthy food and other plants, increasing ecosystem services that benefit residents.
Objective: Increase the amount of composting on a City-wide level
In order for these goals to be obtained and successfully practiced, St. Anthony will need to
implement and practice policies that encourage recycling and composting on both public and
private levels. Policies can be created that encourage prevention of waste. This will help
reach the goal to have 75% of waste produced be recycled and composted.
Strategy:
Applying composting sites near community gardens so that compost does not have
to be transported.
Strategy:
Compost sites can first be implemented in small, high-density areas with higher
populations to compost. Compost bins can be provided to residents or businesses
from their garbage hauler for more convenience to the residents.
Strategy:
Workshops will be used to teach residents how/what to compost. Surrounding
communities (such as Roseville) lead as an example of successful composting
programs.
Future Progress
• Monitor the amount of recycled products and compost
• Assess facilities recycling and implement program to reduce, reuse and recycle for all
facilities
• Conduct assessment of solid waste and recycling system
• Steadily increase the quality of compost by educating residents on compost process
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3. Natural Resources
i. Surface Water Management
Goal: Take action as a community that is cognizant -of the effects -of surface water runoff
and its implications on the environment.
Objective: Increase the number of best management practices (BMPs)
Proper management and treatment of water resources is an important aspect of sustainability
regarding the environment, water security, and water quality. St Anthony has made great
strides in the past increasing the treatment of surface waters throughout the city and will
build upon these foundations through a greater implementation of best management
practices (BMPs). Innovative water use, such as the city's water reuse system for a local
park, has paved the way for the community's future water resource aspirations. The goal for
the year 2030 is to increase the number of BMPs and provide more advanced treatment and
management of storm water, decrease the amount of runoff draining into the natural water
system, and establish innovative methods for tackling water use and water quality issues.
This will reduce surface runoff and also assist in preventing the pollution of the city's
watersheds through lakes, streams, groundwater, and wetlands.
Examples of BMPs include
• Rain Gardens
• Bio Swales
• Bio Infiltration/Filtration Basins
• Retention Ponds
• Green Roofs
• Rain Barrels
• Natural Wetlands/Natural Landscaping (see Landscaping below)
• Storm -water Collection and Reuse
Strategy: Engage the community
To obtain these goals, both the public and private sector will need to take action. In
regards to the private sector, community members will be encouraged to participate
by implementing natural grasses and natives plants in their yards due to new city
policies (see Landscaping for more information). The city will encourage the use of
residential rain barrels through the use of incentives to collect and reuse storm water
for watering small gardens, plants and yards. Programs will be in place to further
inform and increase the education and awareness of storm water management for
community members and residents. Educational programs will also be initiated in
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the local schools to ensure that all age levels are involved. By coordinating with the
watershed district and other interested parties, the City will strive engage the
community in these issues.
Strategy: City implementation
In the public sector, the city will implement more BMPs to reduce the amount of
storm water runoff, and increase infiltration. Rain gardens, bio swales and
infiltration basins will be implemented along boulevards, city streets, and around the
parking lots of both city facilities and commercial buildings per a new city
policy. During future remodeling and retrofitting projects of public facilities, the city
will ensure that surface water management is a top priority by implementing large
scale collection and reuse systems and green roofs into the plans.
In addition, the city will make a conscience effort to minimize the untreated runoff
entering into Silver Lake. An extra emphasis will be placed on education for residents
of lakefront properties — this direct runoff from lawns is untreated and often very
polluted. Also, the city will better manage the MS -4 outfalls running into the lake. A
proposal for iron -enhanced sand filtration systems will decrease the amount
phosphorous in the lake and help sustain a thriving ecosystem as well as a safe and
enjoyable recreation destination.
Strategy: Incentives, programs, and partnerships
Additionally, the city will encourage practices that responsibly benefit the storm
water system. The city will implement an "adopt -a -sewer -program," where residents
can volunteer to be in charge of keeping sewer gutters free of debris. This program
will drastically reduce the contaminated organic matter that makes its way into the
lakes and rivers. Also, the city has begun planning with Walmart to incentivize the
use of rain barrels to utilize rainfall in a sustainable fashion.
Future Progress
• Measure runoff amounts and sediment levels in runoff
• Increase education in best management practices so that individual residents can learn the
purpose of rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs, etc.
• Measure the amount of residential rain barrels in St. Anthony
• Track for an increase in BMPs around St. Anthony
o Retention ponds, rain gardens, infiltration basins, etc.
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ii. Landscaping
Goal: Use landscaping techniques that minimize the use of resources and increase natural
habitat and green space.
Objective: Native plants replace turf grass
Landscaping is an important element that will lead to a more sustainable future for the City
of St. Anthony Village. Landscaping is crucial to the success of St. Anthony as a sustainable
community because it can be implemented in large scale and small scale situations. The
ultimate goal for sustainable landscaping is to reduce the amount of turf grass in square
footage in half by the year 2030. Additionally, the square footage of native plantings in the
city will be doubled. This goal pertains to improving the overall environmental sustainability
of the city. Reducing turf grass and increasing the amount of native plantings will have
many direct environmental benefits including:
• Reducing the amount of water needed for watering purposes
• Reducing pollution caused by chemical runoff from fertilizers and other chemicals
• Improving the water quality by reducing storm water run-off into the sewer system
• Reducing CO2 emissions caused by lawnmowers
• Increased plant and animal diversity
Along with the direct environmental benefits listed above, there are also indirect economic
and social benefits that will derive from this change in landscaping. These indirect benefits
include:
• Economic benefits due to the reduction of maintenance costs that are part of
maintaining turf grass lawns (Examples: lawn mowing, watering and sodding/seeding
and re -seeding)
• Reduction in noise pollution due to less lawn mower use.
Strategy: the city will lead by example
In order to achieve these goals and aforementioned benefits, there are several action
steps suggested for the city to take, both on the public and private levels. On the
public level, the city of St. Anthony itself will have a "no -turf' policy for all city run
buildings. This policy will not strictly prohibit the use of turf grass in the
landscaping of city and public buildings, but will only allow abundant turf grass to be
planted in permitted situations. For example, abundant turf grass will still be
permitted in sports fields, playgrounds, and schools where it is appropriate and
necessary to have grassy areas for recreational uses. On city -run facilities where turf
grass is not necessary, an effort will be made to minimize turf -grass landscaping.
New buildings will include natural and native plantings as part of the landscaping
plan. Existing sites will go through landscaping updates in which turf grass will be
replaced with native and natural plantings over a given period of time. Boulevards
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and planters along roadsides will be replaced from turf grass to natural and native
plantings, keeping the plants at a low level that will not obstruct the field of vision
for road users.
For private building and home owners, programs will be in place to encourage the use of
natural plantings instead of turf grass. Creating ordinances that require specific square
footage of native plantings to be used as part of landscaping is an option for encouraging
homeowners to replace turf grass with native plantings. Another option would be
establishing programs with local nurseries and garden stores that provide discounts for
residents who are replacing turf grass with native and natural plantings. Native plantings are
often looked at negatively; as some people think they look too wild and unkempt. In order
to change citizens' minds about this negative perception, neighborhoods can have
community workshops that provide information on the benefits of native plantings versus
turf grass and tips for gardening and upkeep of native plants. The process of implementing
native plantings and reducing the amount of turf grass used in landscaping will be a gradual
transition, easing the community into a new landscaping aesthetic. As the city and citizens
begin to make the transition, it is the hope that those who are reluctant will become
accustomed to the new look and gain an appreciation for the environmental benefits that
come from reducing turf grass
Future Progress
• Measure the overall reduction of turf grass in St. Anthony
• Track the increase in native plant vegetation around the City in individual lawns and
commercial businesses
• Track success of natives by measuring: amount of water needed for watering, sediments in
runoff, water quality
• Create programs that encourage native planting of individual lawns
iii. Local Foods
Goal: Provide the community with opportunities to produce and sell locally grown foods.
Objective: Community focus on local foods
It is important to get St. Anthony Village residents thinking about the food they eat, where it
comes from, how it is grown, and how their food choices impact their surroundings. The
result is consumers advocating for food that is healthy, sustainably produced, and locally
grown. Local foods and a strong "local food system" can promote healthy people and
communities, equitable distribution of food resources, a sustainable environment and a
thriving economy.
Possible local food resources:
• Farmers' markets and mini markets.
• Community gardens.
• Natural food grocery co-ops.
• Numerous regional CSA (community supported agriculture) farms with local drop-off
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points serving St. Anthony Village residents
• Local restaurants serving local food.
• Rich environment of local food -supporting non-profit organizations.
• Local food -focused educational opportunities.
• Urban gardening -focused youth training programs.
• Strong community support for local food values and activities.
Strategy: Get more people involved with a CSA
Community -supported agriculture (CSA) is a relatively new socio-economic model of
food production, sales, and distribution aimed at both increasing the quality of food
and the quality of care given the land, plants and animals - while substantially
reducing potential food losses and financial risks for the producers.
This will be done by the following steps:
• St Anthony Village needs to establish a system of weekly delivery or pick-up of
vegetables, flowers, fruits, herbs and even mills or meat products, from farms
that are nearby. The City can assist in this effort by coordinating CSA drop off
sites in local parks or helping local restaurants and businesses get involved.
Residents can look at a variety of Minneapolis resources such as their CSA
directory, or they can contact a farm directly and set up a community drop off
site.
Objective: Educate city residents about sustainable growing methods.
Strategy: The City can implement a local foods event on Earth Day focusing
on backyard organic gardening. This would include:
• Growing foods without using any of the prohibited materials that are listed
in the USDA organic standard rules. This includes: synthetic pesticides or
fertilizers, fumigants, solid waste from sewage disposal, and genetically
modified seeds.
• Use integrated pest management systems
e Focus on biodiversity as a means for pest and disease control.
• Focus on crop rotation, which means yearly rotation of crops that are not in
the same family
• Use compost to feed the plants instead of using synthetic fertilizer
Objective: Start a community garden in your area
"A QUICK GUIDE TO FINDING GARDEN SPACE IN MINNEAPOLIS"
http: / /-,vww.gardeningmatters.org/sites /default/files/land_sheet_for_hubs.i3df
This is a great resource for finding a shared growing space that residents in St. Anthony
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Village can use to grow their own, local, sustainable foods. Or even better, they can start
their very own community gardens. This resource offers suggestions on finding adequate
garden space and ways to use the site for long-term sustainable use.
Strategy: Find a space that is accessible to the local community.
Possible suggestions: city owned land plots (near the railroad tracks), rooftops, and
privately owned land such as around churches, schools, restaurants etc. Bio -
intensive growing methods can produce a large amount of produce with very little
space. With city permission, residents could also plant fruit trees in community
green spaces.
Objective: Create a Yard to Garden Program.
Strategy: Connect people who want to garden with people who have
backyards.
Gardening pages can be incorporated into the city website so that people have a way
to network. Some of the common interests from residents in the community are
connecting older residents with youth who would like to grow food, and people who
simply do not have the time to garden, but would like to share space for access to
organic, local produce.
Objective: Incorporate local foods into the schools and community
The school would be a good place to have a community garden or a sustainable agricultural
curriculum. This teaches the younger generations about sustainable food systems and also
greatly increases the chances of the youth in the community to make healthy, food choices.
Strategy: The Food Project has a great curriculum to use with youth.
Workshop 1: Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Workshop 2: Soil Sleuths
Workshop 3: Compost happens
Workshop 4: Wayward Weeds
Workshop 5: Insects-Ploration
Workshop 6: Trace the French Fry
Workshop 7: Food Systems Debate
Objective: Residents involvement in a farmers market
Strategy: Find open space that is within walking distance for majority of the
community.
Residents can set up ride shares or seek out public transportation to existing farmers
markets in the Twin Cities area. Purchasing food from local farmers supports the
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local economy and helps farmers to retain their livelihood. Farmers markets provide
the opportunity to connect with the local families who planted and harvested the
food. Farmers markets dramatically reduce the journey that food takes to your table
and avoid costly, wasteful packaging and emissions.
What the City can do:
• Acquire city garden plots that can then be leased out to residents
• Encourage local foods in restaurants
• Implement electronic benefits transfer system into all farmers markets so that
residents who use food stamps can buy fresh fruits and vegetables
Future Progress
• Progress can be measured by tracking the amount of farmers' markets, community gardens,
natural and food grocery co-ops, and regional community supported agricultural farms
• Initiate policies that allow for more community and individual gardens, as well as co-ops and
CSA's
4. Housing
Being that St. Anthony Village has gone through a complete "suburban life cycle," meaning that a
majority of its housing was built between 1950 and 1970 and is now in need of redevelopment, the
original residents of these homes are moving into retirement facilities and younger families are
moving into these houses. This transition period is the perfect opportunity for St. Anthony Village
to redevelop in a sustainable manner.
Goal: Create a community in which there is a full range of sustainable housing options for
individuals of all ages.
Objective: To maintain and redevelop existing housing stock in an efficient manner.
According to the St. Anthony Village's 2008 Comprehensive Plan, "as determined by the
Metropolitan Council, 77 percent of St. Anthony owner -occupied housing and 45 percent of
its rental units are considered affordable." Thereaxe many options for the city to increase its
housing affordability, particularly in its rental sector.
Strategy: Implement Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are also known as auxiliary apartments, garden
cottages, or carriage houses. They are additional living units that have separate
kitchen, sleeping and bathroom facilities. ADUs can be a converted garage, an
addition to a garage, or a new building. The benefits of ADUs are that they allow for
an increase in affordable housing opportunities by providing an increased number of
affordable apartment rental units, an increase in homeownership opportunities by
providing prospective homeowners with an additional source of income that lowers
their effective mortgage payments (in communities where this is legal), ADUs
provide proximal housing to family members or others needing assistance in daily
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living, allowing them to maintain their independence and thus lowering the need for
and the costs of nursing home care, and these units increase housing density without
requiring high-rise construction.
Further information can be found at http://-,vww.nextstep.state.mn.us/
Strategy: Maintaining the Lowry Grove mobile home park
Most of the mobile homes do not meet current federal standards in St. Anthony
Village; therefore, it would be in the city's best interest to ensure that the homes are
meeting safety and livability standards.
Strategy: Home energy audits and renovations.
Renovating "suburban lifecycle houses" built during between 1950 and 1970 with
efficient and sustainable materials, products and appliances (Energy Star appliances,
for example) and taking advantage of home energy audits to gage what steps could
be taken to improve these older housing units. Home energy audits require filling
out an application and are a set fee; however, if there is enough interest in St.
Anthony Village to have city-wide audits in residential, office, commercial, and
community space, perhaps the energy provider would be willing to negotiate the cost
of the audits.
Strategy: Provide builders with incentives to build maximum density housing,
infill projects, and life -cycle housing.
Incentives for builders could include building permit fee discounts, expedited permit
reviews, and grant or tax breaks.
Strategy: Apply for community -wide grants.
The Metropolitan Council is an excellent source that provides information about
affordable housing and has a number of options for communities to become
engaged. St. Anthony could consider applying for the Livable Communities
Demonstration Account (LCDA) grant and the Local Housing Incentive Account
(LHIA) grant.
The LCDA funds development and redevelopment projects that achieve connected
development patterns linking housing, jobs and services, and maximize the
development potential of existing infrastructure and regional facilities. Funding has
enabled cities and developers to expand options available in the market, like
transforming an outmoded shopping center into a neighborhood center with new
housing opportunities, retail and commercial services, and public spaces. Funded
projects include a variety of small-scale and large-scale developments throughout the
region, serving as destinations for daily activities, such as work, errands, shopping
and entertainment. Development grants provide funding for basic public
infrastructure and site assembly to support development that will be completed
within two years of the grant award. Pre -Development grants will assist cities with
activities such as detailed redevelopment designs and economic feasibility analysis to
prepare projects to compete for grants in the Development category. Applicants Nvill
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choose one of the two grant categories for each project submitted.
The Local Housing Incentive Account (LHIA) helps expand lifecycle and affordable
rental and ownership housing development and preservation in the region. Grants
awarded from this account must be matched on a 1:1 ratio by the recipient
community with local dollars for affordable housing activities, and may be used for
costs associated with projects that help municipalities meet their negotiated LCA
housing goals. This program is conducted in coordination with Minnesota Housing
Farther information can be found at http://www.metrocouncil.org.
Objective: To provide the community with housing that is in close proximity to
office, commercial, and civic spaces.
Strategy: Developing mixed-use buildings that would include residential, office,
commercial, and civic uses would reduce energy use and increase cost -efficiency.
Implementing mixed use housing in St. Anthony Village by 2030 would have many
positive effects upon the community for residents of all ages. Socially, developing
multi -unit housing would allow for citizens to become even more engaged with one
another and would allow for increased diversity within the city. Economically, this
would be a much more affordable option for young couples who are looking for
housing within the area prior to investing in a first home. Multi -unit housing is also
a great fit for single people, young families, and for senior citizens. The 2008 St.
Anthony Village Comprehensive Plan states that "38 percent of the population is
above 64 years old," and to have amenities within walking distance would be very
convenient for this particular population. The compact, efficient land use would
offer an excellent opportunity for short commutes to work and convenience
shopping. Walking, biking, and short trips all would benefit individual lifestyles and
reduce traffic congestion and energy consumption for transportation. Overall, the
city of St. Anthony Village would reap the benefits of developing multi -unit housing
because of wider variety of housing options and the range of rent costs that would
allow for greater flexibility beyond the typical single homes that make up most of St.
Anthony presently.
By maintaining and redeveloping existing infrastructure through implementing
Accessory Dwelling Units, renovating houses built during the 1950's to the 1970's
with efficient materials and appliances, taking advantage of home energy audits in
both homes and in the workplace, by providing builders with incentives for doing
affordable housing projects, applying for grants that would benefit the community as
a whole, and by developing mixed -used buildings, the city of St. Anthony Village
could be a thriving community that prides itself on providing its residents of all ages
with sustainable and affordable housing options.
Future Progress
• Establish home energy audits and renovations to implement energy efficient appliances
• Increase the number of affordable house units
• Increase the amount and quality of mixed-use building in St. Anthony so that housing is
close in proximity to office, commercial and civic spaces
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5. Neighborhood Development
Goal: Increase amenities and green space accessible by walking or public transit to a greater
number of residents in St. Anthony Village
Objective: Infill existing developments with green space, local businesses, grocery
stores, pharmacies, community centers, etc.
With the economic and environmental costs of automobiles and the massive issues with
sprawl, multi -use developments will be critical in city. Although St. Anthony Village is largely
developed, there is potential for infill developments, which would provide a more amenities
within walking distance. By infilling and decentralizing, the community would utilize existing
space and infrastructure to redefine neighborhoods without demolition or complete
redevelopment. These developments, along with more bike and pedestrian infrastructure,
will connect neighborhood units and make them easily accessible without an automobile.
Strategy: Engage and educate residents, schools, and community groups
Educating the community about neighborhood units and public transportation
would make them more accepted once development begins. Forming smaller
communities for each neighborhood unit and hosting community activities or events
would also be helpful with education and development. Promoting biking, walking,
and busing, and educating about different forms of transit will help reduce
automobile -use and utilize the proximity of amenities.
Strategy: Identify vacant lots/buildings, promote these spaces to businesses,
and alter zoning laws accordingly
In order to reach the goal of increasing amenities, the city of St. Anthony Village will
need to complete certain steps at the municipal level. Organizing and taking
inventory of public spaces and community centers within the community and
promoting local businesses will help infill more organically. Potential incentives
(grants, tax credit, etc) for developers or local businesses may also be helpful to
initiate new infill developments within the community. Since these neighborhood
units will be mixed-use developments, altering the current zoning laws may be
necessary to make this acceptable.
Strategy: Develop green space in every neighborhood—community gardens,
rain gardens, park space, etc
Again, zoning laws and inventory of open spaces will be necessary to developing
more green space in the community. Involving the neighborhood residents in the
development of green space is crucial since they can help inform what type of space
would be most useful to their specific area. Forming smaller committees for each
neighborhood and hosting community activities or events would be helpful to spread
awareness and help initiate development. Residents may be willing to donate a
certain parcel of land for green space development, gardening, etc.
Future Progress
• Measure the sustainability of infill development in the City
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• Continue inventory of public spaces to use to redevelopment
• Measure and maintain green space added to neighborhoods in the City
6. Public Awareness
Goal: Increase public awareness about sustainability among residents in St. Anthony Village
to create an actively involved and progressive community.
Objective: Educate City Staff members and St. Anthony Village residents on both
global and local sustainability issues, and continue to make sustainability a priority
in the future.
Strategy: Hold initial sustainability workshops and/or open houses for City
Staff, Council, and appointed commissions.
By organizing various workshops or open houses for City Staff members, the leaders
in the community will be fully knowledgeable before educating the remaining St.
Anthony Village citizens. Consulting with various nonprofit organizations such as
Alliance for Sustainability may be helpful for structuring and hosting beginning
workshops. It may be beneficial to also incorporate leaders from other communities
or larger organizations that would be open to participating.
Strategy: Expand beginning workshops to residents, businesses, and schools.
Once the City Staff completes the initial workshops, leaders can begin holding events
and workshops for the greater community. Incorporating as many residents,
businesses, and schools as possible would be helpful to bring about a greater
awareness to the City of St. Anthony Village and make sustainability a priority for all.
These workshops can begin with a broad subject area and eventually narrow to
waste, housing, food, water, energy, etc. Bringing in outside professionals or
organizations may help provide new or specialized information.
Strategy: Continue to incorporate sustainability in existing events, host new
events in the future, and form new organizations/committees.
Keeping St. Anthony Village residents up-to-date with relevant global and local
sustainability issues will continue to create a progressive community that is
concerned with the environment, social equity, and the economy. Encouraging
residents and community leaders to form groups, nonprofits, and organizations
related to sustainability will benefit the community as a whole and may help advocate
for beneficial policies or decisions related to St. Anthony Village in the future.
Future Progress
• Incorporate sustainability topics in City facilities and create sustainability
messages/concepts for City residents
• Establish sustainability events and workshops for residents of the City
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V Project Summary
The students from the University of Minnesota came together with city council members and
residents of St. Anthony Village to initiate a sustainability vision and action plan for the community.
By incorporating the wishes of the community, the student's ideas on sustainability, and the four
principles adopted by the American Planning Association, the students personalized a well-rounded
plan that addresses the economy, equity, and environment of the community. The vision statement
is intended to provide an overarching goal to motivate the community, while the detailed goals and
strategies attempt to provide realistic benchmarks to achieve sustainability in the future. With goals
and strategies for transportation, energy use, waste, natural resources, landscaping, food, housing,
neighborhood development, and community engagement, St. Anthony Village will be more
sustainable in every facet of the community. With the Step 3 Green Step program completed and the
vision/action plan for sustainability, the community will maintain the high quality of life and well-
being for residents while also continuing to attract newcomers because it is engaged and proactive.
The action plan aims to incorporate sustainability into the foundation of St. Anthony Village,
bettering both the resident's lives and the environment which surrounds them. Although progressive
changes will be made, St. Anthony Village will still retain its small-town, village -like atmosphere
which residents strongly value.
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VI Appendix
A Policies
Policies can be used to help encourage sustainable practices. Listed below are examples of
environmental policies that are currently used in cities throughout the country. More information
can be found regarding policies, enforcement, and implementation at:
http://www.epa.gov/statelocalcfmate/index.htrnl (Environmental Protection Agency)
http://www.nrdc.org/enterprise/greeningadvisor/default.asp (Natural Resources Defense Council)
http://www.Imnc.org/page/l/home.jsp (League of Minnesota Cities)
http://vrwxv.ncpa.org/about/ (National Center for Policy Analysis)
Sample Policies:
No -Idling Policy (from the EPA)
• Cars cannot idle with engines running for more than two minutes when fully stopped. This
includes cars waiting to pick up passengers, idling outside of stores, or warming cars up in
the morning.
• Exceptions to this rule includes extreme weather or safety conditions
• Benefits:
Eliminating idling from the city of St. Anthony will reduce carbon emissions,
improving the air quality of the city, the city's carbon footprint, and fossil fuel use.
Will make St. Anthony a healthier city
Encourages people to walk or bike
Indoor Air Quality Policy:
• Requires periodic testing for radon, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCS) and
other harmful air emissions in public buildings
• Requires low-VOC options such as low VOC paints, building materials, and cleaning
products
• Benefits:
o VOCs are extremely harmful to people's health and are more prevalent in buildings
today than one might think. They are a common factor in the cause of Sick building
syndrome
o The reduction of VOCs and testing for harmful indoor air emissions will increase the
health and safety of those in public buildings
o Additionally, it will benefit the greater environment by using more natural products
Water Usage Policy:
• Encourage the replacement of inefficient plumbing fixtures with new low -flow options
including:
o Toilets
o Sinks
o Water heaters
o Showers
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o Limit the amount of water that can be used for watering grass
o Limit watering hours to the evening or overnight, when water is more likely to reach
the soil rather than be evaporated.
o Encourage the use of rain barrels
Benefits:
o These policies can help to reduce the amount of water used by the city and its
citizens
Landscaping Policies:
• Limit the percentage of turf grass that can be used on private residences and public spaces
• Encourage the replacement of turf grass with native plantings
• Limit the amount of pesticides and chemicals used on landscaping
• Benefits:
o These policies will help to reduce dependency on water and harmful chemicals that
pollute the city's water reserves and local lakes.
o Increase overall green space
o Reduce negative effects that come with lawn mowing and maintenance such as
additional chemical use, carbon emissions and noise pollution
Bike Rack Policy:
• Require every public building that provides services to citizens to provide a bike rack outside
the building
• Benefits:
o Encourages alternative forms of transportation and reduces dependency on cars
o Adds to the overall health of the city, by encouraging a more active lifestyle and
reducing carbon footprint and CO2 emissions
Single -Hauler Garbage Policy:
• Require the use of a one single waste hauler company for the entire city
• Benefits:
o Reduces the amount of heavy truck traffic on city roads
o Reduces wear and tear to the roads caused by heavy trucks
o Increases safety of pedestrians
o Reduces carbon emissions caused by large trucks
o Composting Policy:
o Allows for private residences to maintain an active compost pile in specific locations
of the yard
o Benefits:
o Encourages use of natural composting
o Reduces waste
o Creates nutrient rich soil that can be used for many purposes
11!0
OM
M 25
B. Additional Resources
Listed below are examples of various non-profit organizations and additional resources that may be
helpful with policy reform, community education/organizing, or general guidance for planning and
executing the vision:
1. Non-profit Organizations
http://www.afs.nonprofitoffice.com/ (Alliance for Sustainability)
http://-kvww.usgbcmn.org/ (USGBC Minnesota Chapter)
http://wtv\v.cnu.org/ (Congress for the New Urbanism)
http://wNvw.sustainableworks.org/ (Sustainable Works: Environmental Education & Action)
http://sustainableconnections.org/about/vision/index_html(Sustainable Connections)
2. Other
http://-,vww.usclimatenetwork.org/ (U.S. Climate Action Network)
http://wNvw.globeafliance.org/home.aspx (GLOBE Alliance: Global Leadership in Our Built
Environment)
http://www.c4bb.org/ (Coalition for Better Buildings)
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
. ain tho�ry 26
ot la e(J
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
A report to the Minnesota legislature regarding Green Star award expansion and a
program proposal to assist local governments in taking the next step to implement carbon
reductions and other environmental actions
February 2009
Acknowledgements
This report is the culmination of a large collaborative effort of many individuals and organizations dedicating their time
and skills to develop this program proposal. In particular, the Advisory Committee (see Appendix B for a list of members)
was very helpful in providing overall direction for the program. Four technical committees (see Appendix C) also met
numerous times to develop a draft of the core program requirements. Finally, the Workgroup Committee members, listed
in alphabetical order below along with their respective organizations, met over 15 times to craft the proposed program.
WORKGROUP COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Name
Judy Thommes, Carl Nelson
Melissa Pawlisch, Joel Haskard
Lola Schoenrich
Hue Nguyen, Craig Johnson
Chris Gilchrist
Philipp Muessig
Diana McKeown, Agatha Vaaler
Dan Thiede, Luke Ekelund
Joanna Vossen, Brendon Slotterback
Organization
Center for Energy and Environment
CERTs/University of Minnesota Regional
Sustainable Development Partnerships
Great Plains Institute
League of Minnesota Cities
Minnesota Department of Commerce,
Office of Energy Security
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Prevention and Assistance Division
The Green Institute
The Minnesota Project
Urban Land Institute MN
Brian Ross (CR Planning) also participated in the development of the program, and was enormously helpful in leading
the Land Use Planning Technical Committee and drafting the best practices, along with John Bailey of 1000 Friends of
Minnesota. Nancy Miller (independent consultant) assisted with the program name selection process. Both the Office of
Energy Security and the MPCA were helpful in dedicating staff to complete this project. The League of Minnesota Cities
and The Green Institute provided meeting space for the dozens of meetings that were held. Thanks to Jennifer Harmening
for assisting with copy editing. Funding for this work was provided by the MPCA, The Green Institute through a U.S.
Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement, and RE -AM$ a collaboration of over 70 nonprofits and 14 foundations
working to create a clean, modern, efficient energy system in the upper -Midwest.
Chief author: Carl Nelson, Center for Energy and Environment, 612-355-5871, cnelson@mncee.org
Full report, appendices and further information available at: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps
February 3, 2009
Senator Pretmer Solon
Chair, Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Senator Rosen
Ranking Minority Member, Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Representative Hilty
Chair, House Energy Finance and Policy Committee
Representative Westrom
Republican Lead, House Energy Finance and Policy Committee
RE: Report on Green Star Award Expansion
Dear Senators and Representatives:
As required by Laws of Minnesota 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13, we are transmitting the report, Minnesota GreenStep
Cities. The report was prepared by Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Center for Energy and Environment. It is
the result of an extensive research and program design process with stakeholder participation from the League of Minnesota
Cities, city officials, Minnesota Project, Green Institute, utility companies and others.
This report provides recommendations to assist and recognize local governments that take actions to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and achieve other environmental outcomes. The report represents a good start in identifying a wide range
of possible options local governments could take to improve their environmental footprint. Of the recommendations
themselves, no attempt has been made to prioritize based on benefits or cost-effectiveness. In moving forward at this
time, we need to carefully consider the pace and resources required. Development of tools to measure success should be a
priority.
We look forward to discussing this report with you. In the meantime, please contact David Benke, Director of MPCAs
Prevention and Assistance Division, at (651) 757-2221 with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Paul Eger
Commissioner
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
W, i Zid-,
William L. Glahn
Director, Office of Energy Security
Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce
ffice of
Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency¢curlty�
Table of Contents
SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................................1
BACKGROUNDAND RESEARCH............................................................................................................................2
Approachto program development...........................................................................................................................3
Review of related programs and initiatives.................................................................................................................4
Resolutions and statements of commitment.......................................................................................................4
Greenhouse gas inventories and plans............................................................................................................... 5
Process -oriented or best practice sharing programs.............................................................................................6
Prescriptive action -oriented programs................................................................................................................6
Review of state programs providing technical and financial assistance..........................................................................7
Review of existing local government efforts within Minnesota......................................................................................7
Sizeof cities in Minnesota.......................................................................................................................................7
Implications for GreenStep Program Design...............................................................................................................7
PROGRAMDESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS..............................................................................................................9
Best practices should be straightforward and selected using simple criteria...................................................................9
Program should be built around required and optional best practices in four areas.........................................................9
Program should take a tiered approach, focusing first
on cost-effective options for greenhouse gas reductions.............................................................................................
11
Local governments that meet criteria should be recognized by the state......................................................................
11
The MPCA Prevention and Assistance Division should administer
GreenStep as a public-private partnership...............................................................................................................11
Program should be called "GreenStep Cities.................................:...........................................................................13
NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................................14
Refineprogram design..........................................................................................................................................14
Startbeta version of program.................................................................................................................................14
Conduct additional analytic work to assess impact of best practices...........................................................................14
Monitor development of STAR Community Index and other programs.........................................................................14
Assemble an advisory committee and technical committees......................................................................................15
APPENDICES (full versions available at: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps)
A. Legislative language.........................................................................................................................................16
B. Advisory Committee members...........................................................................................................................17
C. Technical Committee members..........................................................................................................................18
D. Summary of Existing State Programs Related to Sustainability for Local Governments..............................................19
E. Summary of Draft Best Practice Requirements from Technical Committees.............................................................24
F. List of Case Studies of City -Level Sustainability Efforts in Minnesota.......................................................................25
Summary
This report outlines the recommendations for developing a "Green
Star Award Expansion' for Minnesota cities and communities to
help meet the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, as
required by the Laws of Minnesota 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13.
We recommend this concept be developed into a program called
"GreenStep Cities." The plan for this program was collaboratively
developed by a broad public-private partnership, and represents the
work of dozens of people spending hundreds of hours contributing
to the effort. In this era of concern for spending public dollars
wisely, we believe this program would achieve efficiencies by
developing common and effective approaches for local governments
to save energy while also achieving other beneficial environmental
outcomes.
The workgroup recommends focusing existing efforts at the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Prevention and Assistance
Division under the umbrella of the GreenStep Cities program. This
would be developed as an action -oriented voluntary program for
local governments, starting with cities, that provides a cost-effective
and simple pathway to encourage the adoption of sustainable
development best practices focusing on greenhouse gas reduction.
It would also be an avenue for providing technical assistance
to local governments from state agencies, utilities, nonprofit
organizations, and others.
This program would have the following goals and outcomes:
• Achieve meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases and other
positive environmental outcomes;
• Provide assistance for local governments to achieve best practices
in energy use reduction and sustainable development;
• Provide a "Pathway to Sustainability" that is cost-effective,
pragmatic, and achievable for all cities;
• Identify specific existing state agency staff and others who are
committed to and technically able to help cities implement each
specific best practice;
• Promote innovation;
• Inspire and assist residents, businesses, and community
institutions to take action; and
• Recognize local governments for their past accomplishments and
their new efforts spurred by the program.
Program Design
Program design elements are included with this report to improve
the ease with which a program could be implemented quickly
and utilize/benefit from federal energy efficiency funding. The
worlcgroup recommends that the program have the following
characteristics:
• Best practices should be straightforward and selected using simple
criteria;
• Program should be built around required and optional
best practices in four practice areas (buildings & facilities,
transportation, land use planning, and environmental
management & economic development);
• Program should take a tiered approach, focusing first on cost-
effective options for greenhouse gas reductions;
• Local governments that accomplish an initial set of best practices
should be recognized for a period of three years by the state;
• The MPCA Prevention and Assistance Division should
administer the program as a public-private partnership by
reprioritizing work of existing staff; and
• Program should be called "GreenStep Cities."
Next Steps
The worlcgroup recommends the following as the next steps for
implementing the program:
• Refine program design;
• Start beta version of program;
• Conduct additional analytic work to assess the economic,
energy, greenhouse gas, and other environmental benefits of
implementing each best practice;
• Monitor development of STAR Community Index and other
programs cities may be looking at; and
• Assemble an advisory committee to help set the program
requirements and advise on program implementation.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 1
Background and Research
ocal governments have long
been recognized as key
actors in the effort to reduce
greenhouse gases and achieve other
beneficial environmental outcomes.
Their influence extends from their
own operations to the community as
a whole.
For example, buildings are the single largest source
of greenhouse gas emissions, and energy use from
city and county buildings represent about one-fifth
of all public building greenhouse gas emissions in
Minnesota) There are enormous opportunities
to reduce environmental impacts within local
government operations, and local governments
most directly control local development patterns,
which can have large implications for greenhouse
gas emissions and other environmental impacts.
Local governments are also the closest and most
accessible unit of government to individuals and
businesses whose actions can reduce greenhouse
gases. Local government leadership can set the tone
and influence the actions of entire communities and
they are well-positioned to help lead community-
wide efforts.
Yet despite this potential, local governments have
not had as much success in this area as might be
hoped, and several obstacles commonly discourage
them from embracing a leadership role. Cities,
especially midsize and small cities, lack the staffing
resources to research, plan, and implement new
sustainability initiatives. While the will might
exist, the pathway and simple steps to get there
are less clear. There is no single clearinghouse of
information for all Minnesota cities that contains
a set of best practices and how to implement
them. We found numerous examples of innovative
individual actions that local governments are
taking (see Appendix F), but it was raze to find -
local governments that comprehensively addressed
reducing global warming and other environmental
impacts within government operations and
throughout the community.
Partially inspired by the now -defunct Minnesota
Star Cities program and initially referred to as the
"Green Star Cities Initiative," GreenStep Cities was
conceived in 2007 by the volunteers and staff of the
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) partnership
as an action -oriented program with the following
mission:
A voluntary program for all Minnesota cities to
identify, support, and recognize implementation of
set ofsustaintable development best practices focusing
on greenhouse gar reductions that lead cities beyond
compliance and encourage a culture ofinnovation.
In addition to the environmental benefits, it was
anticipated that the direct benefits to cities of
implementing the best practices promoted by the
GreenStep Cities program would include:
• Reduced energy costs. A focus on cost
effectiveness, particularly energy efficiency,
will result in cities saving money, and be a
demonstration of fiscal responsibility to their
constituents.
• Improved quality of life and desirable places
to live and work for residents. Environmental
characteristics of a community are increasingly
important for residents and businesses. An
environmental program such as the GreenStep
Cities program can be part of a city's broader
effort to attract and retain businesses and residents
by malting the city an attractive place to live
and work. A GreenStep Cities recognition could
provide instant and credible advertisement of a
city's effort to become more sustainable.
1 Based on information analyzed by the Weidt Group, considering less than half of existing public buildings. L. Grecian, T.
McDougal, L. Steidel, J. Stieff. "Minnesota B3 Benchmarking Results: prioritizing the energy savings opportunity in Minnesota
public buildings."ACEEE 2008 Summer Study Conference Proceedings.
2 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
In 2008, the Bike Edina Task Force organized a well -attended community bike ride with Mayor
James Hovland to encourage bicycling in Edina.
• A simple pathway for going green. Especially
for cities without large staffing, the program
can provide a simple guide for identifying and
implementing effective actions to increase
sustainablity.
In the 2008 legislative session, this concept was
formalized in state statute with the passage of Senate
File 3096 (as found in the Laws of Minnesota
2008, Chapter 356, Section 13), which requires
a report to the legislature by February 2, 2009,
with recommendations on program design. The
legislation refers to expanding an existing Green
Star award program, already existing in state
statute, which was created to encourage Minnesota
industries to comply with state and federal laws.
(We believe, for reasons explained later in this
report, that the program would be better referred
to as "GreenStep Cities,' and refer to it as such
throughout the rest of the report.) The legislation
requires that the program focus on actions that help
meet the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction
goals (15% reduction by 2015; 30% by 2025;
80% by 2050). The report is to be prepared by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and
the Minnesota Office of Energy Security (OES), in
collaboration with CERTs. The report is to include
recommendations for:
1) Criteria for actions to be included;
2) What entity/entities would issue the award;
3) Length of time the award could be displayed;
4) Existing state financial and technical assistance
available to cities;
5) Sources of funding needed to implement the
program; and
6) Other issues that need to be resolved in order to
implement the program.
This report addresses all of the issues raised by
the legislation (see Appendix A for the complete
legislative language).
Approach to program
development
In the spring o£2008 The Green Institute,
coordinator for the Twin Cities region of CERTs,
was awarded a grant from the MPCA to coordinate
development of the program recommendations in
partnership with other stakeholders. The project
was consciously organized as a broad, collaborative
public-private partnership. A workgroup was
formed to coordinate the project, and met over 15
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 3
Background and Research
times throughout the spring, fall, and winter of
2008 to help develop the program. This workgroup
included the following organizations:
• League of Minnesota Cities
• University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable
Development Partnerships
• Minnesota Office of Energy Security, Department
of Commerce
• Pollution Prevention and Assistance Division,
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• The Minnesota Project
• The Green Institute
• Center for Energy and Environment
• Great Plains Institute for Sustainable
Development
• Urban Land Institute MN
In order to get input from a broader group of
stakeholders, an Advisory Committee was convened
in September and December 2008 to advise on
overall program design questions. In addition, four
technical committees were convened to determine
the specific best practices to promote within four
best practice areas (see Appendices B and C for a list
of Advisory Committee and Technical Committee
members).
Review of related programs
and initiatives
The workgroup team conducted a survey of related
existing and planned programs and initiatives at the
local government or community levels. These can
generally be divided into four categories, although
in reality many efforts are a combination of one or
more of the below categories.
RESOLUTIONS AND
STATEMENTS OF COMMITMENT
Many cities and counties have made various
resolutions and commitments to reduce greenhouse
gases and achieve other environmental goals.
Most of these resolutions have as a primary goal
influencing state or federal policy. The resolutions
suggest implementation of local government
actions, although they do not represent detailed
action plans in and of themselves. The most popular
of these resolutions is the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement, initiated by Seattle Mayor
Greg Nickels in 2005. An individual mayor, or
mayor and city, can voluntarily commit to this
agreement, which includes the following provisions:
• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets
in their own communities, through recommended
categories of actions ranging from anti -sprawl land
use policies to urban forest restoration projects to
public information campaigns;
• Urge their state governments, and the federal
government, to enact policies and programs
to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emissions
reduction target of 7% reduction from 1990 levels
by 2012 as suggested for the United States in the
Kyoto Protocol; and
• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan
greenhouse gas reduction legislation.
This resolution has been adopted by 37 cities
in Minnesota .2 Also in 2005 the Sierra Club
launched its Cool Cities campaign empowering
local residents and cities to work more closely with
one another to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2007, the Sierra Club expanded its efforts
to Cool Counties whereby counties commit to
reducing their own contributions to climate change
by modifying internal operations, demonstrating
regional leadership to achieve climate stabilization
and protect our communities, helping communities
2 Cities signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement include: Apple Valley, Aurora, Austin, Bemidji, Buhl, Burnsville,
Chisholm, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hibbing, Hutchinson, International Falls, Lake City, Mahtomedi,
Milan, Minneapolis, Mountain Iron, Nevis, Oak Park Heights, Park Rapids, Red Wing, Rochester, Rosemount, Roseville, Sauk
Rapids, St, Cloud, Saint Paul, Sunfish lake, Tower, Turtle River, Virginia, White Bear lake, Winona, Woodbury
4 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Figure l: Minneapolis Greenhouse Gas Emissions from City Operations (2006)
Buildings 48%
Solid Waste <1%
Streetlights and Signals 22%
— Water and Sewer 18%
vel uCles 120/
Source: Minneapolis Carbon Footprint Project Report, draft 121112008.
become climate resilient, and urging the federal
government to support their efforts. Hennepin
County was one of the initial signatories and other
counties are considering participation.
GREENHOUSE GAS
INVENTORIES AND PLANS
Larger cities have conducted detailed greenhouse
gas inventories, not only of their own operations,
but also citywide. The goal of these inventories is
to identify areas on which to focus efforts, to track
results, and to develop a basis for a greenhouse -gas
action plan. The most comprehensive and widely
used framework for developing these plans is
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection program.
ICLEI has a worldwide network of participating
cities, and provides technical help and guidance for
developing action plans. Ten cities in Minnesota are
members of ICLFL
In Minnesota, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth,
and approximately five other cities are known to be
developing greenhouse emissions inventories and/or
action plans. The workgroup reviewed some of these
plans as well as several other cities nationally, and
offers the following observations:
• For cities with adequate resources, emissions
inventories can be an effective tool for identifying
and achieving consensus on the opportunities for
greenhouse gas reductions.
• A standardized greenhouse gas emissions inventory
and protocol for cities across the country is
still evolving and could reduce the cost, but
developing an accurate greenhouse gas inventory
at the local level can currently require significant
resources which could instead be devoted to direct
actions. These inventories duplicate some state
and federal inventory efforts.
• The largest opportunity for greenhouse gas
reduction within city government operations is
generally city buildings, followed by streetlights
and signals, water and sewer treatment, and
city vehicles. Figure 1 presents the City of
Minneapolis's greenhouse gas emissions for city
operations, which illustrates this point. Focusing
on implementation of best practices in these
operational areas provides direct savings and puts
local governments in a position to lead by example
and to encourage the entire community to take
action.
Minnesota Green Step Cities Program Proposal 5
Background and Research
• While ICLEI and others are developing
more streamlined strategies for developing
the inventories, for midsize and smaller cities
there may be more effective ways to analyze
opportunities than developing a city -specific
emissions inventory. While accurate tracking
of results is important, impacts of individual
best practices can be tracked independently of a
comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory. See the
Next Steps section for our recommendations for
further research and analysis.
PROCESS -ORIENTED OR BEST PRACTICE
SHARING PROGRAMS
Several programs for local governments do not
prescribe a specific solution, but rather focus
on the process to achieve goals that are set by
the local government. The Eco -Municipalities
program provides a framework for cities to
establish and track progress on self -defined goals.
There are 68 municipalities worldwide in the
Eco -Municipality Network and 25% of them are
located in Sweden. Wisconsin leads the North
American Eco -Municipality movement, with 21
eco -municipalities. Municipalities must pledge
to commit to the "Natural Step Framework"
in a sustainability plan before becoming "Eco -
Municipalities." The network (called SEkom)
is governed by a board of politicians from nine
Swedish eco -municipalities and is administered
by a committee of civil servants. Indicators are
used by the Eco -Municipality Network (a.k.a.
SEkom) to compare eco -municipalities worldwide
on environmental performance. A set of indicators
for economic or social progress has not yet
been established, though developing both is an
intention. The Swedish Parliament established
16 Environmental Goals for 2020 in 1999 with
articulated interim targets and progress reports.
The Minnesota Sustainable Investment
Partnership is working in Minnesota to promote
land use changes at the local level as a greenhouse
gas reduction strategy. They produced ABriefzng
Paper and 2008 Legislative Call to Action, which
6 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
articulated a strategy to encourage, reward, and
support better land use practices statewide, and to
create cross -silo leadership within state government
to better align existing state and local investments—
without increases in spending. Similarly, the
Urban Land Institute is working on developing an
initiative to encourage best practices within land
use development. While the Minnesota chapter of
the Institute is actively engaged in this effort, it will
have national scope.
Finally, launched in 2007, the National Association
of Counties (NACo) Green Government Initiative
provides comprehensive resources for local
governments on all things green, including energy,
air quality, transportation, water quality, land use,
purchasing, and recycling. According to NACo,
they intend through the program to: increase
education and outreach on all things green, help
educate counties and help them educate the public,
promote environmentally preferable purchasing,
facilitate an open dialogue with the private sector,
and reverse misinformed opinions that green
techniques are too costly or of lesser quality.
PRESCRIPTIVE ACTION -
ORIENTED PROGRAMS
The Florida Green Building Coalition has created
what appears to be the nation's most complete
existing prescriptive program for local governments
in Florida called the Florida Green Local
Government Standard. This standard presents a
comprehensive list of criteria, organized in terms of
local government department functions. It focuses
on improving environmental performance through a
number of mediums (energy, water, air, land, waste),
and evaluates environmental practices within city
operations, incentives and ordinances to foster green
practices, and educational activities to improve the
environment.
ICLEI is currently developing a national program
as part of a broad partnership called the STAR
Community Index. The STAR program will
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
Background and Research
Figure 2:
Minnesota's Total City Population by City Size
5,000,000
4,500,000
CITY
NUMBER
4,000,000
SIZE
OF CITIES
944,241
3,500,000
■
>100,000 ..................5
3,000,000
75,000-99,999.........12
2,500,000
25,000-74,999.........18
.e
2,000,000
10,000-24,999.........58
_
011,000,000
5,000-9,999 .............49
1,500,000
®
❑
2,500-4,999 .............83
34 864
289,500
❑
1,000-2,499 ..........122
500,000
196,111
177,994
❑
<1,000 ..................508
0
SOURCE. League
of Minnesota Cities
3. GreenStep should make extra efforts to include
midsize and small cities. Although we believe
large cities (over 75,000 residents) could
benefit through participation in a program like
GreenStep, most of these cities already have
sustainability initiatives, and other national
programs exist or are being developed to serve
them. However, midsize and small cities could
benefit greatly from a program to help achieve
sustainability goals.
8 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
4. The program should begin by addressing the
specific needs of cities. Developing a program
to simultaneously address neighborhoods,
townships, cities, and counties was considered
but found to be too complex to do initially. Later
GreenStep could be expanded to include other
sectors.
Program Design Recommendations
he workgroup recommends
creating an action -
oriented program for local
governments in Minnesota with the
following goals:
• Provide a "Pathway to Sustainability" that is cost-
effective, pragmatic, and achievable for all cities.
• Achieve meaningful reductions in greenhouse
gases and other positive environmental outcomes.
• Provide assistance for local governments to
achieve best practices in energy use reduction and
sustainable development.
• Identify specific existing state agency staff and
others who are committed to and technically
able to help cities implement each specific best
practice.
• Promote innovation.
• Inspire and assist residents, businesses, and
community institutions to take action.
• Recognize local governments for their past
accomplishments and their new efforts spurred by
the program.
The Workgroup Committee and Advisory
Committee discussed whether to expand the
program to sustainability questions beyond
greenhouse gas emissions. The consensus was that
local governments would find it valuable to include
a broader range of sustainability issues, and thus
the program should be expanded, but still retain
its primary focus on greenhouse gas reductions.
The following represent specific program design
recommendations.
Best practices should be
straightforward and selected
using simple criteria
The workgroup developed the following criteria in
order to select best practices:
1. Have potential to achieve significant
reductions in greenhouse gases and other positive
environmental outcomes. Local governments should
not spend scarce resources on actions that have
minimal impact on achieving energy reductions or
other outcomes.
2. Be appropriate actions for local government.
Best practices cannot be implemented unless local
government can control or predictably influence
actions within its territory.
3. Simple. Maintain ease of participation and
implementation for all cities, especially for smaller
and midsize and outstate cities.
4. Proven. A "consensus of experts" in development
of best practices will be required for the program.
5. Practical. Focus on practical, cost-effective
strategies that give the most "bang for the buck."
6. Effective. Focus on strategies that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve other city
sustainability goals.
7. Save money. Saving resources can save money;
this program will focus on efforts that accomplish
both.
Program should be built
around required and optional
best practices in four areas
Best practices, sometimes referred to as best
management practices (BMPs), are actions that
have been demonstrated to help communities
achieve sustainability goals. A best practice must
be an implementation strategy designed to achieve
outcomes. These strategies generally fall into four
areas:
1. Encouragement/education: using publicity efforts,
social marketing, appealing to economic self-interest
where applicable, or similar efforts that attempt to
change behavior or influence decisions of city staff,
residents, or businesses to meet sustainability goals.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 9
Program Design Recommendations
Sartell installed rainwater gardens in the yards of 51 residents as part of their street reconstruction projects
in two neighborhoods adjacent to the Mississippi River to replenish the soil, improve water quality, bring in
native plants, and bring neighbors together.
2. Incentives: offering individuals or businesses
something of value to influence key decisions or
change behavior to be more sustainable.
3. Regulation: using local government regulatory
powers to require, determine, or direct sustainable
decisions or behavior of residents or businesses.
4. Public ownership/management: focusing
on malting more sustainable investment or
management decisions that are entirely within the
public sector.
Hybrid strategies, such as incentive regulation,
exist, but these four types define nearly all types of
strategies that delineate actions cities would take.
The action must result in measurable progress
toward sustainability goals. Measurement—for
example, conducting a carbon baseline assessment—
is not an implementation strategy unless it is tied
explicitly to some specific action to be taken. The
action must be demonstrated to be achievable. A
best practice is not theoretical. Costs and benefits of
10 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
best practices need to be clearly identified, though
measurement may be difficult and cities may
find benefit from working with local educational
institutions to complete measurements. Note that
measurement is not the same as requiring cost-
effectiveness. A best practice needs to help achieve
a sustainability goal, but an individual best practice
does not necessarily have a positive economic
payback. Implementing a cluster of best practices,
however, should in the aggregate have a net positive
economic payback.
The following are the recommended categories of
best practices, with the scope of each category listed.
1. Buildings and Facilities: City buildings, public
housing, other city facilities such as drinking water
Plants, street and building lighting, private buildings
(residential, commercial, and industrial), green
building programs (LEED, MN GreenStar Homes,
B3, MN Sustainable Buildings 2030 Standard),
permit incentives, city financial assistance, building
codes.
Program Design Recommendations
2. Transportation: City fleets, green infrastructure,
complete streets, bike paths, public transit (bus,
vans, train, streetcars), private transit (car sharing,
on -demand carpooling, cabs, car rental), walking/
biking, telecommuting, TDM (transportation
demand management), traffic signal coordination,
roundabouts, traffic calming.
3. Land Use Planning: Comprehensive plans, form -
based zoning, transit -oriented design, density and
mixed uses, city expansion zones, parking, infill
development, planned unit developments, inter-
regional corridors, green infrastructure and carbon
sequestration, working landscapes, local food,
landscaping performance standards, urban forests,
low -impact development, conservation design and
subdivisions, eco -industrial development, historic
preservation.
4. Environmental Management and Economic
Development: Wastewater, stormwater, surface
water, groundwater, solid waste management
(purchasing, reuse businesses, composting, landfill
methane, recycling), renewable energy generation,
local food, tourism, public outreach, education and
involvement programs, tracking and benchmarking
progress.
The four technical committees have all met
several times and produced draft best practices, a
summary of which is in Appendix E. The full draft
of best practices is available on the Web (www.
cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps).
Program should take a tiered
approach, focusing first on
cost-effective options for
greenhouse gas reductions
Although the required and optional best practices
have not yet been fully defined, it is anticipated
that there would be different achievement levels,
such as "Step One," "Step Two," and "Step Three,"
for progressively higher achievements. The first
tier would focus almost exclusively on actions that
result in greenhouse gas reductions that could be
implemented cost-effectively by all cities. Successive
tiers would focus on additional environmental
issues (such as water and waste reduction), and
successively deeper actions to cut greenhouse gases.
Local governments that meet
criteria should be recognized
by the state
The workgroup recommends that a city completing
a minimal number of best practices would
be recognized by the State of Minnesota as a
Minnesota GreenStep City for three years. Yearly
recognition might happen at an event such as the
annual League of Minnesota Cities conference.
Realizing that it could take several years to complete
the actions, particularly if they require capital
budget allocations, cities would formally enroll in
GreenStep after completing the minimal number
of best practices and be recognized by the MPCA
as a program participant. After being recognized as
a GreenStep City, work on more challenging best
practices would begin, and a city would have three
years to demonstrate it had completed all of the
additional best practices to be re -recognized as a
GreenStep City at the end of the three-year period.
It is anticipated that most of the administrative
activities would take place on-line.
The MPCA Prevention and
Assistance Division should
administer GreenStep as a
public-private partnership
The program administrator would need to fulfill the
following functions:
• Confirm that participating cities meet program
requirements and process any required paperwork
• Convene technical and advisory committees that
would update the best practices on a periodic basis
• Facilitate technical and financial assistance for
program participants (but not necessarily be the
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 11
Program Design Recommendations
provider of technical assistance)
• Provide information resources on the program,
including Web site
• Promote information -sharing between program
participants
• Market and promote the program and the cities
participating in the program
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's
(MPCAs) Prevention and Assistance Division has
conducted a number of activities that make them
ideally suited for administering this program. This
includes administering the Governor's Awards for
Pollution Prevention, overseeing the Minnesota
Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), and
organizing the annual Eco Experience and Living
Green Expo at the State Fairgrounds. The Division
has active programs and expertise in greenhouse
gas reduction, green building, energy, and local
government assistance, most recently organizing
with four local government associations a
conference on local government opportunities for
energy efficiency in St. Cloud. Over 325 staff and
elected officials from cities, counties, schools, and
townships attended this conference.
It is anticipated that administering the program
would take between 1.5 and 2 full time staff
equivalents. Given the current economic
environment, it is unlikely that new state funding
would be made available for this effort. For
this reason, it is recommended that the MPCA
consolidate existing staff resources that provide
assistance to local governments under the GreenStep
Cities umbrella. These efforts could be further
leveraged by organizing the program as a public-
private partnership to fully utilize the potential
of other groups that could help administer the
program. While the MPCA would have primary
control of the program, a public-private partnership
would contribute significant involvement of
nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions,
and others with an interest in seeing the program
12 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
succeed. The MCPA could help manage partner
involvement through the creation of an advisory
committee or committees to channel their
participation.
For example, the Clean Energy Resource Teams
(CERTs) could play a key role. Over the past six
years the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
have established a network of community members
around the state who have helped develop
clean energy projects, and who are promoting
sustainability issues more broadly. We see CERTs as
an organizing body to connect communities to the
GreenStep Cities program and to encourage cities
to take part in GreenStep as a simple, practical,
effective way to kick-start sustainable development
actions in both metro and smaller Greater
Minnesota cities.
CERTs could work to help cities track their
progress and connect them to technical resources
to implement best practices. The CERTs statewide
presence and connections with technical resource
providers can help build capacity of cities statewide
to achieve these best practices. One possible
initiative would be to have CERTs facilitate "Clean
Energy Design Teams" as part of a city's GreenStep
efforts to promote and mobilize community-
wide participation. This would be modeled on
the successful Minnesota Design Team program.
Finally, CERTs can serve as a feedback mechanism
to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and
the Green Star Steering Committee, reporting
challenges communities encounter as they work to
implement select benchmarks, possible areas for
program improvement, and success stories. CERTs
could highlight city actions via case studies and their
Monthly Update, and could help to ground -truth
city actions and accomplishments.
Utilities could also be important partners. Recent
legislation has significantly increased utilities' need
to develop programs that save energy. Because of
its focus on greenhouse gas reduction and energy
Program Design Recommendations
Elk River's new LEED Gold certified library, which opened its doors in the fall of 2007, features natural
daylighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and adjacent rain gardens.
conservation, GreenStep may offer utilities an
opportunity to work with cities to reduce their
energy usage.
Program should be called
"GreenStep Cities"
The program was originally named "Green Star
Cities" and was intended to complement four
other Minnesota programs with similar names.
The "Green Star Award Expansion" legislation
specifically mentions expanding the "Green Star"
name. The existing Green Star Environmental
Audit Program is run by the MPCA to encourage
businesses such as gas stations that may be in
noncompliance with environmental laws, to
achieve compliance. Minnesota GreenStar Certified
Homes and Remodeling, an existing green home
certification program was initially supported by the
MPCA and is now its own organization. GreenStar
Homes has submitted a trademark application for
the "Minnesota GreenStar" name, and intends
to use this trademark status to protect its brand.
Already, there has been some confusion between
the various programs even in the conceptual stage
of what was originally referred to as Green Star
Cities. In addition to serving different markets,
Minnesota GreenStar Homes and Green Star Cities
have distinct philosophies; the Homes program
focuses on rigorous standards to ensure market
differentiation, while the Cities program emphasizes
ease of entry in order to maximize participation.
In contrast to both of these efforts that emphasize
voluntary solutions, the MPCA Green Star
Environmental Audit Program focuses specifically
on compliance issues. The two other programs with
similar names are the Star Lakes program created
by the Legislature in 2008, and the now -defunct
Star Cities program. Additionally, the STAR
Community Index is expected to become a national
standard in a few years.
In order to avoid confusion and possible legal issues,
the workgroup concluded that a new name would
be best for the program. After much deliberation,
research, and consideration of multiple options, the
name "GreenStep Cities" was chosen as the best
alternative. Should the program be expanded to
other jurisdictions (counties, townships), the name
could be expanded as well (GreenStep Counties,
GreenStep Communities). As an alternate, the old
Star City name could be used and a new Minnesota
Star City program could be created.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 13
Next Steps
n order to proceed with
development of the program,
the workgroup recommends and
intends to work to implement the
following next steps.
Refine program design
While draft best practices have been developed by
the technical committees (see Appendix E), these
require further refinement and review before the
program begins. As the work of the four technical
committees has not yet been collectively reviewed,
potential overlaps and gaps must still be addressed.
Creating an online users guide for program
participants is also necessary prior to program
implementation.
Start beta version of program
Once program design has been completed, release
a "beta' version of the program for cities. This
program would be open to all cities, but with the
caveat that there will be some program details that
still need refining. A number of cities are already
interested in helping evaluate and improve the
program. The initial experience of these and other
cities during the first year would be used to further
refine the program for broader implementation
in 2010, and to better define the program
administration and relationship with the STAR
Community Index. If the program is successful
with cities, it could be expanded to counties or
townships. Because counties and townships have
different jurisdictions and cover different issue areas,
it recommended that separate best practices be
developed if these units of government are to enter
the program.
14 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Conduct additional
analytic work to assess
impact of best practices
This analysis would include developing estimates
of potential for greenhouse gas reductions through
GreenStep Cities efforts in order to link the
program to state greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The work of developing these estimates should
help ensure a solid basis for measuring results from
the program, an important and ongoing analytical
need for the program. In addition, the development
of greenhouse gas inventory "templates" or other
tools for cost-effectively identifying greenhouse
gas reduction opportunities could reduce the need
for cities to develop individual resource -intensive
inventories, while providing proven methods for
accomplishing greenhouse gas reduction. This mol
could provide this information based on several
select characteristics of the city; e.g., size, whether
they have a water treatment plant, and other
differentiating factors.
Monitor development of
STAR Community Index
and other programs
Currently the GreenStep Cities Initiative offers
a unique opportunity for Minnesota local
governments. However, there may also be
opportunities as the national STAR Community
Index is developed to partner with that larger effort.
Already members of the GreenStep workgroup are
in contact with staff for the Index.
Assemble an advisory
committee and
technical committees
The advisory committee would meet during the
beta phase to help set the program requirements
and advise on program implementation. The
advisory committee should represent a broad range
of stakeholders, including city administrators,
elected officials, city residents, members of the
Clean Energy Resource Teams, and nonprofit
organizations. The advisory committee could be
chosen from among those advising on this report
(see Appendix B), or new members could be
selected. Suggested composition is the following:
• Ten members: identified by the League of
Minnesota Cities
• Three members: identified by MPCA & Office
of Energy Security (a third agency could also be
represented)
• Seven members: representing the seven Clean
Energy Resource Teams statewide
In addition to this overall advisory committee, four
technical committees, chosen for expertise within
specific issue areas, should continue to refine the
best practices. This "consensus of experts" is critical
to the program design.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 15
Appendices
A. Legislative language
[Excerpted from Senate File 3096 (Minnesota Statutes 216C.43))
Sec. 7. REPORT; GREEN STAR AWARD EXPANSION.
8.19 The Pollution Control Agency and the Office of Energy Security in the Department
8.20 of Commerce shall, in collaboration with the clean energy resource teams (CERT's),
8.21 submit a report by February 2, 2009, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
8.22 senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy
8.23 policy that makes recommendations regarding how to expand eligibility to receive the
8.24 Green Star award, described in Minnesota Statutes, section 114C.25, to include cities and
8.25 communities that take action to help meet the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction
8.26 goals established in Minnesota Statutes, section 216H.02, subdivision 1. The report must
8.27 address, at a minimum, the following issues:
8.28 (1) the criteria for actions cities and communities must take in order to receive a
8.29 Green Star award;
8.30(2) what entity or entities would issue the award;
8.3](3) the length of time during which the award may be displayed;
8.32(4) existing state financial and technical assistance available to communities and
8.33 cities to assist them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
8.34(5) sources of additional funding needed to implement the program; and
8.35(6) any other issues that need to be resolved in order to implement the program.
16 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Appendices
B. Advisory Committee members
Name
Mary Hamann -Roland
William Spitzer
Sandy Colvin Roy
Victoria Reinhardt
Janet Streff
Dave Berke
Julie Skallman
John Wells
Jay Trusty
Tom Harmening
Mayton Eckles/Jennifer McLoughlin
Ellen Richter
Paul Drotos
Ken Saffert
Patti Gartland
Jim Hunt
Dave Engstrom
Mark Blaiser
Organization
Apple Valley Mayor
St. Charles Mayor
Minneapolis City Council
Ramsey County Commissioner
MN Dept. of Commerce, Office of Energy Security
MPCA, Prevention and Assistance Division
MN Dept. of Transportation
MN Environmental Quality Board
Southwest Regional Development Commission
St. Louis Park City Manager
Woodbury Engineering & Public Works
White Bear Lake Assistant to the City Manager
Redwing Infrastructure Coordinator
Mankato City Engineer
Sartell City Administrator
Mahtomedi Environmental Advisory Commission
MN Association of Small Cities
MN Chamber of Commerce—Waste Wise, Energy Smart
Lisa Frenette
Builders Association of Minnesota
Sheldon Strom
Center for Energy and Environment
Bob McLean
Hunt Utilities Group
Susan Hubbard/Tim Brownell
Eureka Recycling
John Bailey
1000 Friends of Minnesota
Terry Gips
Alliance for Sustainabflity
Caren Dewar
Urban Land Institute MN
Janne Flisrand
Michelle Schroeder
Kim Pederson
MN Green Communities & Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
Izaak Walton League, MN Division
Otter Tail Power Company
Gary Connect
Great River Energy
Bill Black
Minnesota Municipal Utility Association
John Carmody
Center for Sustainable Building Research
Brian Hammarsten
Xcel Energy
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 17
Appendices
C. Technical Committee Members
BUILDINGS & FACILITIES
(staffed by Carl Nelson, Center for Energy and
Environment)
• John Carmody, Executive Director, Center for
Sustainable Building Research, U of MN
• Jim Geibel, Energy Manager, City of Saint Paul
• Kathy Larsen, Housing Programs Coordinator,
City of Saint Louis Park
• Gayle Prest, Sustainability Manager, City of
Minneapolis
• Sheldon Strom, Executive Director, Center for
Energy and Environment
TRANSPORTATION
(staffed by Diana McKeown, The Green Institute
and Metro CERT and Lissa Pawlisch, UMN
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships,
CERTs Coordinator)
• Annette Bair, Southwest RDC and SW CERT
• Wayne Hurley, West Central Initiative Foundation
• Barb Thoman, Transit for Livable Communities
• Steve Lawerence, Fleet Manager for City of
Brooklyn Park
Frank Duoma, Assistant Director of the State
and Local Policy Program at the Humphrey
Institute of Public Affairs and Research Scholar
at the Center for Transportation Studies at the
University of Minnesota
LAND USE PLANNING
(staffed by Brian Ross, CR Planning)
• John Bailey, 1000 Friends of Minnesota
• Caren Dewar, Urban Land Institute MN
• Jay Trusty, Executive Director, Southwest Regional
Development Commission
• Paul Hetland, City of Freeport Administrator,
Stearns County Municipal League
• Julie Farnham, Bloomington Planner
18 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT &
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
(staffed by Philipp Muessig, MPCA Prevention and
Assistance, and Agatha Vaaler, The Green Institute)
Water subcommittee
• Anne Gelbmann, MPCA
• Jill Sinclair, City of Chanhassan
• John Wells, MN EQB
• Bill Dunn, MPCA
• Cindy McComas, MnTAP
Solid Waste subcommittee
• Susan Hubbard, Eureka Recycling
• Mark Blaiser, MN WasteWise/Energy Smart
• Sue Bast, City of Burnsville
• Cities and Counties Involved in Source Reduction
and Recycling
Economic and Community Development
subcommittee
• Ellen Richter, City of White Bear Lake
• Tim Nolan, MPCA
• Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center
• Terry Gips, Alliance for Sustainability
• Don Hickman, Initiative Foundation
• Mark Lofthus, Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development
Appendices
ri
NAME TYPE OF AID DESCRIPTION
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 'l
Dam Safety
Grant
To improve the safety and condition of publicly owned dams and
water level control structures.
Flood Hazard Mitigation
Grant
To provide technical and financial assistance to local governmental
units for conducting flood damage reduction studies and for
planning and implementing flood damage reduction measures.
Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program
Grant
To preserve, protect, develop and where possible restore or enhance
coastal resources along Minnesotan North Shore of Lake Superior.
Remediation Fund
Grant
To acquire, protect, and restore natural resources, compensating
the State of Minnesota for damage to resources from the release of
hazardous substances from closed landfills.
Metro Greenways Protection & Restoration
Grant
Protect, connect, restore, and manage a regional network of natural
areas, parks, and other open spaces interconnected by ecological
corridors in the seven county metropolitan region through
collaborative public/private partnership.
Natural and Scenic Area
Grant
To increase, protect, and enhance natural and scenic areas.
Federal Recreational Trail Program
Grant
To encourage the maintenance and development of motorized,
non -motorized, and diversified trails by providing funding
assistance.
Off -Highway Vehicle Damage Account
Grant
The Off -Highway Vehicle Damage Account makes funds available
to repair damage to private or public lands caused by Off -Highway
Vehicle (OHV) operation in unauthorized or unpermitted areas.
OHV damage typically involves soil disturbance, erosion, or
rutting, but may also include damage to vegetation or property.
This account is funded by an appropriation from the dedicated
OHV accounts, and is administered by the DNR Division of Trails
& Waterways out of its Area Offices all across Minnesota.
Environmental and Conservation
Grant
10 encourage the enhancement of fish, wildlife, and native plant
Partnerships
habitats; research and surveys of fish and wildlife directly related
to specific habitat improvement projects; and to encourage
environmental projects and related education activities through
cooperation by private organizations and local governments.
Community Forest Bonding Grants
Grant
Removal, disposal, and replacement of dead or dying shade trees
located on public property that are lost to forest pests or disease.
Minnesota ReLeaf Program
Grant
To assist Minnesota communities with planting and caring for their
trees, to increase energy conservation, to reduce atmospheric carbon
dioxide, and to achieve other environmental benefits.
Community Conservation Assistance
Grant
To assist local governments with the integration of natural resources
information and data into local development and conservation
plans and policy decisions.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 19
Appendices
NAME
TYPE OF AID
DESCRIPTION
Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
Natural Resources Trust Fund
Gram
Grants to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance both the bountiful
and the threatened natural resources that are the collective heritage
of every Minnesotan.
Metropolitan Council
Livable Communities Demonstration
Grant
Grants available for cities and municipalities to redevelop
Account (LCDA)
communities, with an emphasis on creating jobs and taxable
revenue as well as mixeduse/livable communities.
Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC)
Energy Information Center
Technical Assistance
The Energy Information Center is Minnesota's leading source of
unbiased energy information. Call this hotline and speak to their
experts on any energy-related issues or projects.
Public Buildings Enhanced Energy
Loan
The Public Building Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program
Efficiency Program
(PBEEEP) is under development and will facilitate energy
improvements for local governments including school districts
by delivering expert technical services and easy-to-use private
financing. Private capital, not State funds, will be offered at interest
rates comparable to rates on tax-exempt general obligation bonds.
Will feature State "supplemental cash Row agreements" to balance
local governments' actual energy savings and payments due so that
investments are at least budget -neutral.
Solar Rebates
Rebate
Rebates for both solar electric and solar thermal installations. At
present, this program is fully subscribed and additional funding has
not been made available.
Additional Renewable Energy Funding
Grants & Rebates
Funding for a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy
projects as money is appropriated.
Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)
Rebates and
State mandated utility conservation program. Each utility provides
Technical Assistance
funding and assistance for building energy improvements and
enhancements. Department of Commence reviews each utility's
program.
Low -Income Weatherization Program
Direct Service
Federal Program administered for Minnesota by the Department of
Commerce. Weatherizes low-income residences.
Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) & Administration
B3 - Sustainable Design Guidelines
Technical Assistance
Guide for new construction/major remodeling (mandated for state
bond -funded projects).
B3 - Building Benchmarking and Beyond
Technical Assistance
Energy benchmarking for Minnesota public (state, municipal, and
school) buildings.
20 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Appendices
NAME I
TYPE OF AID
DESCRIPTION
Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) '
Small Cities Development Program
Grants
The program helps develop viable communities by providing
financial assistance for decent, safe, affordable housing, economic
development, and public facility needs; and a suitable living
environment by expanding economic opportunities, principally
benefiting low- to moderate -income households. The program
provides federal grants from HUD to local units of government
on a competitive basis for a variety of community development
projects.
Greater Minnesota Business Development
Grant
This grant program provides funding in Greater Minnesota to build
Public Infrastructure Grant Program
infrastructure improvements that use Minnesota biomass energy
products to conserve energy and reduce reliance on electricity, oil,
and natural gas. The program also provides funding to stimulate
economic development by assisting local units of government
to provide infrastructure required in the creation or retention of
high quality jobs with a focus on industrial, manufacturing, and
technology -related industries and to keep or enhance jobs in a
specific location while increasing a city's tax base.
Minnesota Investment Fund
Grant
The Minnesota Investment Fund provides grants to help add new
workers and retain high-quality jobs on a statewide basis. The focus
is on industrial, manufacturing, and technology -related industries.
Grants are awarded to local units of government who provide loans
to assist expanding businesses.
Redevelopment Grant Program
Grant
The Redevelopment Grant Program offers grants to assist
development authorities with costs for redeveloping blighted
industrial, residential, or commercial sites where a past use and the
need to recycle the land for a more -productive use exist.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Indoor Air Quality Resources for Minnesota
Grant and Technical
This is a list of technical and funding assistance programs that help
School Officials
to improve the indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and overall
safety of schools.
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)
Greater Minnesota Transit Grants
Grant
This capital transit facility program provides financial assistance
for major public transit facility projects in Greater Minnesota.
These funds may be used for the purchase of, renovation of, or
construction of bus garages, bus stops, administrative offices, and
other transit -related building activities.
Public Transit Participation Program
Grant
The Public Transit Participation Program (State/Federal Program
5311) provides financial assistance for public transit services. This
grant program supports capital, planning, and operations of transit
systems in small and large urban areas and in rural areas outside of
the seven -county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Safe Routes to School Program
Grant
The funds are available for a variety of projects including
infrastructure improvements, education, and enforcement that
improve the safety of bicycling and walking to and from school.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 21
Appendices
NAME
TYPE OF AID
DESCRIPTION
Minnesota Housing
Fix -up Fund
Low -Interest, Fixed-
The Fix -up Fund is a statewide program that offers affordable,
Rate Loans
low-interest, fixed-rate loans that can be used for energy efficiency
improvements.
Community Fix -up Fund
Low -Interest, Fixed-
The Community Fix -up Fund (CFUF) is available to help
Rate Loans
communities address their home improvement needs and objectives
(including energy efficiency) under geographically targeted
initiatives.
Rehabilitation Loan Program
Low -Interest, Fixed-
The Rehabilitation Loan program assists low-income homeowners
Rate Loans
in financing basic home improvements that directly affect the
safety, habitability, energy efficiency, or accessibility of their homes.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA)
Information Referral Index
Technical
List of professionals who can answer questions in most
environmental fields.
Specific Contacts for Assistance and
Technical
Specific list of who to call at MPCA for assistance and information.
Information
MPCA Environmental Assistance
Grant
To provide financial assistance for the development of
environmentally sustainable practices in Minnesota through
voluntary partnerships and goal -oriented, economically driven
approaches to pollution prevention and resource conservation.
Financial Assistance for Nonpoint Source
Grant
Provides financial and technical assistance to local government and
Water Pollution Projects: Clean Water
other water resource managers to address nonpoint-source water
Partnership, Clean Water Legacy and
pollution through the Clean Water Partnership (CWP) and Clean
Section 319 Programs
Water Act Section 319 programs.
Clean Water Legacy Act Surface Water
Grant
To provide local organizations and citizen volunteers with funds to
Assessment Grants
complete the monitoring needed to meet assessment requirements
on Minnesota lakes and streams.
Capital Assistance Program (CAP)
Grant
To help finance the capital costs of building solid waste processing
facilities.
MS4 Stormwater Program
Technical
Development of municipal stormwater systems.
Clean Water Legacy Act (CWLA)
Grant
About $2 million of federal fiscal year 2009 Section 319 nonpoint
Funding Round Guidance for Stormwater
source water pollution funds are included in the CWLA funding
Applications for Federal Clean Water Act
cycle. These Section 319 funds are only available to projects that are
Section 319 TMDL Implementation Funds
directly implementing an approved TMDL implementation plan.
Because Section 319 funds are nonpoint-source funds, they cannot
be used to fund practices and activities that satisfy permit (point -
source) requirements.
Climate/Energy Assistance for Local
Technical
Training and assistance in the areas of green building, sustainable
Government
industrial development, community sustainability, model
ordinances, low -impact development, environmentally preferable
purchasing, transportation alternatives, and renewable energy.
Additional assistance provided by MPCA-funded Retired Engineers
Technical Assistance Program/Climate Change Corps in the areas
of energy use and carbon reductions.
22 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
a
NAME
I TYPE OF AID
DESCRIPTION
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA), continued
Clean Water Revolving Fund
Grants and Loans
an Water Revolving Fund, also known as the Clean Water
volving Fund or simply SRF, is established under the
Clean Water Act and state law to make loans for both
FState
urce (wastewater and stormwater) and nonpoint-source
llution control projects. The PFA prepares an annual
d Use Plan (IUP) based on a Project Priority List developed
PGA. The IUP describes the projects and activities eligible
for funding during the state fiscal year.
County Recycling or Solid Waste Contacts
Technical
Find information on recycling or solid waste management in your
Minnesota county by contacting your solid waste administrator
(SWA) or recycling coordinator.
Public Facilities Authority
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund
Below -Market Loans
The Public Facilities Authority (PFA) provides below-market rate
loans to borrowers to upgrade and construct wastewater facilities.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 23
Appendices
E. Summary of Draft Best Practice Requirements from Technical Committees
The full draft of best practices can be found at the
following URL: www.cleanenergyresourcetea-ms.org/
greensteps. It is expected that these best practices will
be further refined prior to implementation of the beta
phase of the program.
Common to all the categories is passing a city resolution,
committing to completing the requirements, and appointing a
coordinator (it can be an existing staff member) to lead GreenStep
efforts. Below is a brief summary of each of the categories.
BUILDING & FACILITIES
The committee focused on energy- and cost-saving strategies
that could be employed by local governments in publicly -owned
facilities and infrastructure, and encouraged in the private
sector. A city must commit to the evaluation of a majority of its
public buildings, facilities, and street lighting to identify energy
efficiency opportunities. Energy efficiency improvements will
be implemented over the course of five years, with a payback of
less than five years. The evaluation must be conducted using an
approved process. A community energy plan is also required.
LAND USE PLANNING
Land use planning is a particularly challenging issue area for
which to identify simple best practices that apply to all cities.
Therefore cities under 5,000 have separate requirements than
larger cities. The committee recommends that a comprehensive
plan be completed as a prerequisite, and cities can chose from a list
of best practices to reduce vehicle miles traveled, promote green
infrastructure and carbon sequestration, and promote sustainable
construction and waste. Notable examples of best practices include
reducing lot sizes to achieve higher density, and extensive urban
forestry and woodland preservation ordinances.
24 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
TRANSPORTATION
The Transportation Committee developed a list of required
best practices that depends on city size, with progressively more
actions required for cities with 500, 5,000, and 50,000 residents.
Highlights include: city vehicle fleet transformation, working
with the road authority to incorporate street improvements that
reduce transportation -related greenhouse gas emissions (round -
a -bouts, pedestrian friendly design, improved street connectivity,
signage changes), a "no idling" policy, and establishing purchasing
guidelines that require future vehicle purchases to meet a specific
miles -per -gallon requirement and/or be equipped to utilize
alternative fuels.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Best practices were split into three groups: solid waste, water
management and economic/community development. Preliminary
draft best practices — some required and some optional — include:
adopt a mandatory city environmentally preferable purchasing
policy, arrange for a residential and/or business organics collection
program, add/enlarge reuse businesses/services, document the use
of assistance programs, adopt a stormwater infiltration ordinance
standard, adopt a conservation rate structure for water withdrawls,
use a feebate system to encourage the purchase of EnergyStar
and WaterSense rated appliances, co -generate electricity and heat
from wastewater plants, certify lakes (and rivers) as Minnesota
Star Lakes, become aTree City U.S.A., use a sustainable tourism
promotion program, plan for greater food security, emphasize
green job development, earn the MPCA Green Star environmental
compliance award, develop local renewable energy generating
capacity, inventory global warming emissions, adopt sustainability,
indicators, structure the involvement of citizens and businesses.
F. List of Case Studies of City -Level Sustainability Efforts in Minnesota
Full case studies can be found at the following URL: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps
CITY
POPULATION
CERT REGION
CATEGORY
Apple Valley
49,856
Metro
Buildings
Barnesville
2,300
Northwest
Environmental Management
Bloomington
81,164
Metro
Transportation
Burnsville
59,118
Metro
Land Use Planning
Edina
45,567
Metro
Transportation
Elk River
22,000
Metro
Buildings
Hutchinson
13,722
West Central
Environmental Management
Mankato
34,976
Southeast
Land Use Planning
Minneapolis
372,811
Metro
Transportation
Mountain Lake
Southwest
Environmental Management
New Ulm
Southwest
Buildings
Oakdale
M44,126
Metro
Buildings
Prior Lake
Metro
Transportation
Sartell
West Central
Environmental Management
St. Louis Park
Metro
Buildings
St. Paul
275,150
Metro
Land Use Planning
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 25
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
February 2009
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
Home I About I The 28 best practices I Become a GreenStep City I Model Ordinances I City log -in I Contact/Feedback
The Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program
History and development
During fall 2007, Minnesota's Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) held regional listening sessions around the
state to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state's Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea
was raised of creating a sustainable cities program, free to cities, that would challenge, assist and recognize cities
that were "green stars." This idea was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which directed the MPGA, the Division of
Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and CERTs to recommend actions cities could take
on a voluntary basis.
Those recommendations are contained in the report Minnesota GreenStep Cities. Representatives from dozens of
cities, non-profit organizations, businesses and state government agencies provided the outline for what has been
developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, which began in June 2010.
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Stay Connected ®�t:j
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
MCAi
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In May 2012 the GreenStep Cities program received awards in the categories of Sustainable Communities and 2012 Partnership of the Year from the
Minnesota organization Environmental Initiative. The awards honor partnerships, inspire other organizations to create similar projects, and encourage
collaborative approaches to environmental problem solving. Over 340 attendees at the awards dinner voted among the 15 finalists nominated for the
2012 Partnership of the Year.
Resources: Background and promotion
A variety of resources has been created to help explain the program.
• GreenStep Notables: Activities by cities through GreenStep', second year
• Fact sheet
• PowerPoint presentation (Oct. 2011 - 3Mb)
• A had introductory video created by the Great Plains Institute
• Green Cities: Leading the Way is a 27 -minute documentary highlighting sustainability measures
being taken by four trailblazing Minnesota cities: Barnesville, Elk River, Minneapolis, and New Ulm.
• Related: Case studies of sustainable action by cities compiled by the League of Minnesota Cities
and the stale Auditor.
Partner organizations
Participating cities earn stylish
awards in the form of "recognition
blocks" made from reclaimed urban
woad. When a city completes step
three, it will have a set which
recreates the logo of GreenStep
Cities and reflects the commmunity's
sustained commitment and
continuous Improvement.
Of the organizations that created the 2009 report to the Legislature, this group below meets bi-monthly as the GreenStep Cities working committee,
contributing time and funding to implement GreenStep Cities program. Each spring the committee organizes a review of the GreenStep program,
which includes recommendations from the public, participating cities, state agencies, topic experts, and the League of Minnesota Cities. The
committee also works with the League, which recognizes GreenStep cities each June.
r.3 Minnesota Pollution
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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Philipp Muessi GreenSle Cities Coordinator
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Lola Schoenrich, Senior Program Manager,
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Lissa Pawlisch, Statewide Coordinator
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Kristina Smitten, GreenStep Cities Project
Manager
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League of Minnesota Cities
Izaak Walton League- Minnesota Division
Don Reeder, Public Relations Manager
Michelle Schroeder, Director at Large
dreeder@lmc.org
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Minnesota GreenStep Cities
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Abby.Finis@stale.nmus
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Program funders
In addition to staff time contributed by the MPGA and the Division of Energy Resources to work on the GreenStep program, several funders support
the staff time of personnel from the five non-profit GreenStep partner organizations. Others wishing to support the program may contact Lola
Schoendch of the Great Plains Institute. The GreenStep program greatly appreciates the support of the following organizations:
• Walmart Foundation
• McKnight Foundation
Annual GreenStep City awards
Each June the League of Minnesota Cities formally recognizes all new and continuing GreenStep cities at its annual conference. Recognition is based
upon a review of city -reported progress toward completing actions.
As cities complete steps one, two and three, they earn stylish awards in the form of "recognition blocks" made from reclaimed urban wood. When a
city completes step three, it will have a set which recreates the logo of GreenStep Cities and reflects the commmunity's sustained commitment and
continuous improvement.
Award sponsors
Businesses and other organizations may become GreenStep Cities Awards Sponsors and
receive visibility each June, when GreenStep Cities are recognized at the annual conference of
the League of Minnesota Cities. Businesses and other organizations, especially those providing
assistance to cities working on implementing best practices, are encouraged to contact the LMC
working committee member for more details.
Sponsors of the 2012-2013 GreenStep Cities Awards:
• Ameresco- Green, Clean, Sustainable
• CR Planning- Community Resources
• Four Seasons Energy Efficient Roofing
• LHB- Architects&Engineers
• ORB Management Corporation
• The Weidt Group - Energy Tools & Services
• University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency I Contact I Web site polley
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Minnesota GreenStep Cities
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Home I About I The 28 best practices I Become a Greenstein City I Model Ordinances I City log -in I Contact/Feedback Stay Connected iU]
Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities
achieve their sustainability and quality -of -life goals. This free continuous improvement program, managed by ,
What are the
a public-private partnership, is based upon 28 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by benefits
completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3 -star level, from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are to UeincJ a
tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic GreenStep city?
innovation. [More]
Be a GreenStep City
Learn about the benefits and what's required, and then ..,
Build some interest (anyone can do this); have
someone visit your city
Have your city council approve a resolution to
work toward Greenstep recognition (use a sample
resolution)
Post some info about your city and what you've
already done (easy)
Choose which best practices to work on (the hard
- and rewarding part) at your own pace
Get recognized for your work each June and
share knowledge on this web site with other cities
(easy)
[ Read more: Steps ]
IS YOUR CITY A GREENSTEP CITY?
Newsy_4 NeatStep Calendar
Who can help?
Welcome to Woodbury) --The 51st GreenStep City: ` Talk to best practice advisors.
St. Paul Solar Zoning/Permitting Workshop --
February 6th, afternoon, RSVP at
http://mncerts.org/solarchallenge
$5,000 Grants for Fleet Emissions Reduction --
Details were e-mailed to GreenStep contacts. Call
651/201-8100, opt. 1 for help in completing on-line
application form by March 18, 2013.
Feb. 7 Event on Local/National Sustainability --
Speakers on city performance and national security;
register at http:Hminnesota.uli.org
GreenStep's Best Practices
[ Read more: See all 28 Best Practices I
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Transportation
LATEST CITIES TO JOIN
THE GREENSTEP
PROGRAM (and date joined)
Maple Grove
(12/17/12)
Sauk Rapids
(719/12)
North Saint Paul
(7/3/12)
Saint Louis Park
(6/4/12)
Grand Rapids
(5/14/12)
Lake Elmo
(5/14/12)
Mountain Iron
(517/12)
Newport
(4/19112)
Burnsville
(4/17/12)
Marshall
(3/27112)
Willmar
(3/5/12)
Bemidji
(2/6/12)
Richfield
(1/10/12)
Victoria
(1/9/12)
Hanover
(113112)
[See all 50 cities]
®Show all cities
t— See which cities have implemented
which best practices.
hftn-//crrP.P.T1CiP.n n(n gtnYP._TT1T1.11C/ 1 /31 /2013
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
Buildings and Lighting
• Efficient Existing Public
Buildings
• Efficient Existing Private
Buildings
• New Green Buildings
• Efficient Building &Street
Lighting and Signals
• Building Reuse
Land Use
• Comprehensive Plan and
Implementation
• Efficient City Growth
• Mixed Uses
• Efficient Highway -Oriented
Development
• Conservation Design
• Complete Green
Streets
• Mobility Options
• Efficient City Fleets
• Demand -Side Travel
Planning
Environmental Management Economic and Community
Development
• Purchasing
• Urban Forests
• Efficient Slommyater
Management
• Parks and Trails
• Surface Water Quality
• Efficient Water and
Wastewater Facilities
• Septic Systems
• Solid Waste Reduction
• Local Air Quality
• Benchmarks & Community
Engagement
• Green Business
Development
• Renewable Energy
• Local Food
• Business Synergies
Minnesota GreenStep Cities grew out of a report to the 2009 Legislature. Governed by a public-private partnership of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPGA) and several parkner
organizations, the program is led by the MPCA. [ Read more ].
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Steps to becoming recognized as a GreenStep city
Of Minnesota's 855 cities, approximately 500 are under 1,000 in population, 83% are under 5,000 in population, and 35 have a population over
25,000. With such a diversity of cities, no one set of process steps will ft all cities in organizing work to become a GreenStep City. Depending on your
city, work may start mostly at the city staff, citizen commission or city council level and ft well into existing plans and efforts, moving later to
incorporate and leverage work efforts by civic organizations. Or the impetus for implementing GreenStep best practices may start with a civic group
and be mostly done by community members and community organizations, with the city council in a supportive and active role as needed.
Thus the abbreviated list of organizing steps below must be seen as a rough guide, to be adapted by each city. For more details under each step,
download the full Organizing Steps Guide.
Build community knowledge and interest.
xa
• Anyone can start this.
• Determine into which category your city fits.
• Become familiar with GreenStep best practices.
• Talk with key people and organizations in your city.
• Invite, as needed, a GreenStep program representative to your city.
• Conduct an inventory of completed, planned and desired best practices.
• Discuss with an official city body.
.;J Approve a city council resolution to work toward GreenStep Cities
v w recognition.
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• Use the sample resolution.
• Introduce a resolution to the city council.
• Specify a GreenStep coordinator and a few best practices to implement.
• E-mail your city resolution and GreenStep contact information to the MPCA.
Congratulations[ You are now a Step One GreenStep Cftyl Use Step One recognition arlworkfmaterlals (found on
your city login page) to let others know of your accomplishment. Formal recognition of Step One cities takes place
each June at the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference.
99001 Post initial information on the GreenStep Cities web site via your log-
' W in page
• Enter simple information about your city.
• Provide brief detail on best practices previously implemented.
q�{ Get organized to begin work on implementing best practices.
" • As needed, educate city staff and officials about sustainability.
• Convene a small working group.
• Specify implementation actions) and a few lead people.
• Prepare a simple work plan for implementing selected best practices.
• Present the best practice plans to a city body or to the city council as appropriate.
Implement best practices.
kc", s1t ,
p 4W • Keep everyone moving and celebrate success.
• Clarify, as needed, what constitutes completing an action with the MPGA GreenStep program
coordinator.
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required to be
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Minnesota GreenStep Cities
• Briefly describe implemented best practices on the GreenStep web site.
Congratulations) When you have implemented any 4, 6 or 8 best practices (depending on your city category) you are
now a Step Two GreenStep Cityi Use Step Two recognition arWorkimaterials (found on your city log -in page) to let
others know of your accomplishment. Formal recognition of Step Two cities takes place each June at the annual
League of Minnesota Cities conference.
Keep working on best practices.
IN
III • Implementing a particular best practice action may take months or one to two years.
•Be alert to opportunities to complete multiple best practice actions at once.
• Check back with the city council as needed.
• Report yearly to community members.
• As your work proceeds, give us feedback on the program.
Congratulations) When you have implemented 8,12 or 16 best practices (depending on your city category)
distributed across the five topical areas and including a few required best practices, you are now a Step Three
GreenStep City] Use recognition artworklmaterials (found on your city login page) to let others know of your
accomplishment. Formal recognition of Step Three cities takes place each June at the annual League of Minnesota
Cities conference.
GreenStep Cities Step Four
ft
• GreenStep Cities Step Four program requirements will be developed during 2012, as we learn from
—' cities during 2010 and 2011, that challenge recognized GreenStep Cities to implement more actions
` and thus be recognized for these accomplishments. We think GreenStep best practices will result in
multiple benefits for your city and that you'll want to continuously work on best practices that make your
city more sustainable.
Minnesota Poilutlon Control Agency I Contact I Web site policy
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Minnesota GreenStep Cities
Home I About I The 28 best practices I Become a GreenStep City I Model Ordinances I City log -in I Contact/Feedback
II:Search.
Stay Connected lnle)
c/mndf-.1C rdinances.efm 1/31/2013
Buildings and Lighting
From Policy to Reality:
Updated Model
Energy efficiency i Th. energy ordinance provides examples of how to
Into development regulation and zoning, including selling
lopment regulation
incorporate energy efficiency
ate energy
Ordinances for
incentives, setting energy efficiestandards for community participation in private sector
ncy
development, and using energy efficiency certification programs in development regulation. _
Sustainable Development
First developed by ,x
Landscaping and Maintenance of Vegetation The landscaping ordinance is modeled on a
but distinguishes and other alternatives to turf grass, and defines
the Minnesota e +�4-;i
typical nuisance ordinance, native plantings
edible landscaping as a substitute for lawns. The ordinance requires a plan, setbacks, and maintenance of native
Environmental
landscaping to address the nuisance concerns that typically accompany alternatives to turf.
Quality Board in t=. ��F^
2000, these model f"
Solar Energy Standards The solar energy standards provide language to ensure that solar energy installations
ordinances were
are an allowed accessory land use within the zoning code. The standards provide examples for mitigating
updated and several
aesthetic and safety concerns associated with some solar energy installations, and suggest development
new models were added by the Minnesota
regulation incentives for encouraging solar energy development.
Pollution Control Agency in 2008.
Land Use
• Model ordinances for 17 topics are presented
Agriculture and Forest Protection District The Agriculture and Forest Protection District €
here, organized under the 5 GreenStep as
provides language to protect the economic value of agricultural and forestry resources as
Step
practice categories. Greenbest practice
primary and preferred land use. The district is geared toward county and township areas,
pages recommend specific model ordinances and
although the language can be used for cities that want to permanently protect these economic `.
,..
reference this set.
natural resources rather than simply maintaining an urban reserve.
• Note: These are only models—good ideas for
meeting sustainability goals. A city planner plays
Model Community Conservation Subdivision District The conservation subdivision language applies the
an important role, tailoring each model into a tool
concepts of conservation design to a zoning district or misdimimi ordinance. The model discusses how
appropriate for a city's unique circumstances.
conservation design Is a broad category of development ranging from very urban to very rural. This model
provides an example of how conservation design principles meet conservation goals in one type of community;
• CR Planning (Minneapolis) was the primary
an exertion or agricultural area that is under development pressure.
consultant to the EOB and MPGA: please direct
questions, comments and suggestions on these
Downtown Mixed -Use District The DMU district provides basic language for creating a deliberately mixed use
model ordinances to the GreenStep Cities
and dense development pattern geared to urban downtown areas.
Coordinator.
Planned Unit Development Ordinance The PUD ordinance is modeled agora typical suburban PUD
ordinance and identifies how to incorporate sustainable development concepts such as protection of natural
OTHER RESOURCES FOR
assets, energy efficiency and renewable energy, green buildings, state-of-the-art stormwater management and
DRAFTING ORDINANCES
selectively increasing density.
SmartCode
Highway Commercial District The Highway Commercial District demonstrates one example of preferred use
A free, evolving model transect -based planning and
standards and resign concepts for highway commercial development.
zoning document based on environmental analysis. it
addresses all scales of planning, from the region to
Village Mixed Use District The Village Mixed Use district provides basic language for creating a deliberately
the community to the block and building. The
mixed use and higher density development pattern geared to very small towns, villages, hamlets, and townships
template is intended for local calibration to your town
that might not have centralized water or wastewater.
or neighborhood. As a form -based code, the
Sma-Code keeps settlements compact and rural
Natural Resources Performance Standard. The Natural Resource Performance standards provide examples
lands open, literally reforming the sprawling patterns
of designing development around priority natural features, treating natural systems with the same attention as
of separated -use zoning.
transportation or other built infrastructure. The standards show how local governments can integrate development
with specific types of natural features or natural systems that are local priorities.
Neighborhood Development Floating Zone
Produced in 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance The APF Ordinance provides language for ensuring that development
and Pace Law School, this is a model ordinance
at the edge of a city or urban area is appropriately staged, consistent with the city's infrastructure capacity and
designed to foster green community development
expansion plans.
using, as its basis, the LEED for Neighborhood
Development performance standards. Cities may use
Transportation
this flexible zoning technique to incorporate LEED-
ND sustainability standards in a single zoning district
Design Standards for Pedestrian -Oriented Districts and Corridors The pedestrian -oriented
that has the standards as eligibility conditions andr�
design standards identifies methods of incorporating pedestrianfriendlydesign into development Q�Q /1
district regulations, which can be affixed to
regulations, and provides examples of pedestrian -friendly design. r R
appropriate locations.
LTJ ..
Travel Demand Management Performance Standard The Travel Demand Management
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit
ordinance provides language for requiring investment in and expansion of infrastructure supporting non -single -
for Local Governments
occupancy -vehicle travel options during the development process. The ordinance is geared to dense areas or
In 2010 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
larger cities.
developed this 84 -page resource useful to cities in
identifying and removing barriers to sustainable
Transit -Oriented Development The TOD ordinance provides language for ensuring that development near
c/mndf-.1C rdinances.efm 1/31/2013
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
design and green building within their permitting
process. This Toolkit addresses the
codes/ordinances that would affect the design,
construction, renovation, and operation and
maintenance of a building and Its immediate site.
There are two sections to the toolkit: the rust section
includes an assessment fool—a simple
questionnaire/checklist—and resource guide. The
second section is a guide to developing an action
plan for implementing changes within a community's
permitting process.
Planning and Zoning for Solar Energy
As the nation's centers of electricity consumption,
cities and counties are uniquely positioned to support
economic growth, strengthen America's energy
independence, and reduce pollution by converting to
solar energy. Planners have important roles to play in
making sure their communities' plans and land use
fegulations allow and encourage this clean, safe
energy source. In 2011 the Planning Advisory Service
of the American Planning Association prepared an
extensive collection of sample ordinances on solar
access, solar siting, and solar energy systems large
and small, along with background articles and
examples of how communities are adding solar
provisions to their comprehensive plans.
transit infrastructure has an appropriate mix of land uses, sufficiently high density to support the public Investment
in transit infrastructure, and transit -friendly design of buildings and accessory uses.
Environmental Management
Natural Resources Performance Standards The Natural Resource Performance standards
provide examples of designing development around priority, natural features, treating natural
systems with the same attention as transportation or other built infrastructure. The standards
f(" I
show how local governments can integrate development with specific types of naturalfeatures
or natural systems that are local priorities.
Stormwater and Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance The stormwaler and erosion control ordinance
provides detailed language for integrating a stormwater ordinance with the 2009 Minnesota Construction General
permit for stormwaler management and erosion control. The ordinance links local standards to the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency (MPGA) Urban Stormwater Manual.
Landscaping and Maintenance of Vegetation The landscaping ordinance is modeled on atypical nuisance
ordinance, but distinguishes native plantings and other alternatives to turf grass, and defines edible landscaping
as a substitute for lawns. The ordinance requires a plan, setbacks, and maintenance of native landscaping to
address the nuisance concerns that typically accompany alternatives to turf.
Economic and Community Development
Agriculture and Forest Protection District The Agriculture and Forest Protection District
provides language to protect the economic value of agricultural and forestry resources as a
primary and preferred land use. The district is geared toward county and township areas,
although the language can be used for cities that want to permanently protect these
economic natural resources rather than simply maintaining an urban reserve.
Solar Energy Standards The solar energy standards provide language to ensure that solar energy installations
are an allowed accessory land use within the zoning code. The standards provide examples for mitigating
aesthetic and safety concerns associated with some solar energy installations, and suggest development
regulation incentives for encouraging solar energy development.
Local Food Networks The Local Foods ordinance focuses on land use standards that protect food production
businesses in agricultural areas under development pressure. The ordinance is geared to suburban and ex -urban
communities where residential development and small commercial agriculture occupy the same area.
Model Wind Energy The Wind Energy ordinance provides language allowing capture of local wind energy
resources while ensuring nuisances and community wide risks are addressed. Language and concepts identify
Issues for large and small wind development In rural and more developed communities.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency I Contact I Web site policy
CONNECTING & INNOVATING
SINCE 1913
Cities Display Green Leadership
The following are examples of some of the "greed' initiatives Minnesota cities have engaged in to
increase energy efficiency and take better care of the environment. This is not a comprehensive list
of activities or cities, but city leaders can use this list to generate their own ideas and network with
other communities to get more details.
Alternative fuels for heating and cars. Cities are using a variety of alternative fuels, including
biodiesel, ethanol fuel, and electricity (hybrid) for cars, and geothermal energy to heat facilities.
• Barnesville, population 2,300
• Elk River, population 22,500
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• Prior Lake, population 21,400
• Richfield, population 34,000
• St. Paul, population 287,000
Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use 75 percent less energy than a traditional
incandescent light bulb. Many cities are now using CFLs in their city facilities, and some even
give CFL bulbs to their residents.
• Anoka, population 18,000
• Barnesville, population 2,300
• Elk City, population 22,500
Composting. Many organic materials that traditionally have gone to the landfill can be turned into
compost and used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. At least one Minnesota city is offering an
incentive to residents to separate organic materials (including certain types of cardboard, paper
goods, food, and yard waste) from other garbage. These materials are then taken to a compost
facility. This program has resulted in a 47 percent reduction in landfill deposits.
Hutchinson, population 14,000
14S UNIVERSITY AVE. WEST PHONE: (651) 281-1200 FAX: (651) 281-1299
ST PAUL, MN 55103-2044 TOLL FREE: (800) 925-1122 WEB: WWl4LMC.ORG
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Energy/water use reduction. This could happen in a number of ways, including turning off street
lights at an earlier hour; requiring computers to be shut down when buildings are closed;
maximizing use of natural light; limiting the amount of time city vehicles can sit idling; and
installing programmable thermostats, water -efficient fixtures, motion -sensor lights, and high-
quality insulation.
• Anoka, population 18,000
• Apple Valley, population 50,000
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• New Ulm, population 13,700
• Prior Lake, population 21,400
• Rushford Village, population 800
Green roofs. This is a roof that uses living plant material as part of the roofing system. A green
roof affords many environmental benefits, including lowering heating and cooling costs.
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
LED lights. This type of lighting uses about 97% less energy than a traditional incandescent light
bulb. They also use less energy than CFLs, but they are not as bright and they cost much more.
Their use was limited to only certain types of light until recently. Some cities are now using LED
lights for such things as Christmas decorations, street signals, and cooler doors.
• Lakeville, population 51,800
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• New Ulm, population 13,700
LEED-certified buildings. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green
Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a
suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. The USGBC offers a certification
for buildings it deems meet the standards, and some Minnesota cities' building have been awarded
the certification.
• Elk River, population 22,000
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• Savage, population 24,700
No -waste or "green" events. These include events such as picnics in which participants bring
food in all reusable containers, resulting in as little trash as possible. Some cities have had sporting
events in which environmentally friendly practices were observed, such as recycling, reusing, or
composting all refuse.
• Edina, population 47,500
• Farmington, population 18,000
• Richfield, population 34,000
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Planting and protecting trees/green space. The value of trees and green space is indisputable.
Some cities have engaged in innovative initiatives, such as giving tree seeds to residents,
preserving land for green space rather than development, and planting new trees.
• Lakeville, population 51,800
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• Minnetrista, population 5,500
Recycling. Most cities now have a basic recycling program, but some have taken it a step further.
For example, some cities have additional programs for recycling large quantities of corrugated
cardboard or large items such as computers and TVs, while others have groups that pick up
recyclable materials from the grounds of public places.
• Barnesville, population 2,300
• Farmington, population 18,000
• Prior Lake, population 21,400
• St. Paul, population 287,000
• Waseca, population 9,700
Refuse -derived energy. Some cities have facilities in which they can process trash to generate
such energy sources as fuel and electricity.
• Elk River, population 22,500
• Farmington, population 18,000
Resident/business incentive programs. Some cities offer incentives to residents or businesses to
do such things as recycle materials, use hydroelectric heating, and other things that conserve
energy and natural resources.
• Barnesville, population 2,300
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• Oakdale, population 27,500
• St. Louis Park, population 44,400
• St. Paul, population 287,000
Solar power. Some cities are now using this alternative energy in a variety of forms, including
solar tube lighting and solar panels on buildings.
• Lakeville, population 51,800
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
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Water reuse/stormwater management. Cities have invested in a variety of ways to reuse water
(such as backwash water from water treatment plant filters) as well as manage and reuse
stormwater. This is done through the use of such things as rain gardens, underground storage
tanks, and drywell systems.
• Apple Valley, population 50,000
• Burnsville, population 61,000
• Elk River, population 22,500
• Lakeville, population 51,800
• Minneapolis, population 388,000
• Mound, population 9,800
• New Auburn, population 500
• Prior Lake, population 21,400
• Richfield, population 34,000
• Sartell, population 13,200
• St. Anthony Village, population 8,400
• St. Paul, population 287,000
• Wells, population 2,500
Wind -powered electricity. Some cities are now generating wind energy through the use of wind
turbines.
• Apple Valley, population 50,000
• Barnesville, population 2,300
• Duluth, population 85,000
• Elk River, population 22,500
• Mountain Lake, population 2,000
• Northfield, population 19,400
Fall 2008