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24 V. City Hall
<br />2014 Annual Report · Administration · St. Anthony Village, Minnesota
<br />SISTER CITY
<br />Since 1984, the City of St. Anthony has enjoyed a sister-city relationship with the City
<br />of Salo, Finland. Sister Cities International (SCI) is a not-for-profi t agency, which links
<br />communities from the United States with communities worldwide. Currently, SCI represents
<br />1,200 U.S. cities, counties, and states and their 2,100 partners in 125 countries worldwide.
<br />In 2005, Mayor Faust and City Manager Mornson made the inaugural visit to Salo, Finland.
<br />In 2007, Councilmember Stille and Public Work Director Hartman visited Salo, and in 2012,
<br />Councilmember Gray and City Manager Casey visited.
<br />SUSTAINABILITY
<br />What is “Sustainability”? Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for survival
<br />and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates
<br />and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit
<br />fulfi lling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future.
<br />Although it wasn’t always coined “sustainability”, St. Anthony Village has long valued the protection and
<br />wise-use of our resources. With our mission statement “to be a progressive and livable community, a
<br />walkable village, which is sustainable, safe and secure”. Sustainability is an integral part of the day-to-day
<br />workings within City Hall.
<br />In 2014, the City:
<br /> · Continued enhancements to the “sustainability” tab on the City’s website
<br /> · Helped organized the third annual Sustainability Fair put on by the University of Minnesota in
<br />coordination with cities of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale, Three Rivers Park District, Citizens for
<br />Sustainability and Institute for the Environment.
<br />Sustainability Fair
<br />With several months of planning and City Manager guest lecturing at the Sustainable
<br />Communities class (SUST 4004 -- the capstone course for the University of Minnesota’s
<br />sustainability studies minor), the 3rd Annual Sustainability Fair was held on Thursday,
<br />November 20th, 2014 at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony.
<br />Forty-four (44) students participated. There was eight (8) student exhibits. Student
<br />posters covered a range of topics: waste reduction, energy effi cient buildings, water
<br />conservation, active transportation, community engagement, among others, along with
<br />the kid’s activity corner. Other roles/functions the students played included conducting
<br />outreach for the fair, distributing fl yers, reaching out to local organizations, and providing
<br />social media content related to the fair. The students also extended invitations to some
<br />of the resource organizations that tabled at the fair. Finally, the students took photos at
<br />the fair, conducted a survey of attendees, obtained food donations, and developed the
<br />slideshow that ran during the fair. Along with the student activities, there were nineteen
<br />(19) vendors at the fair such as Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (with the tiny solar
<br />house), Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Rice Creek Watershed, Citizens
<br />for Sustainability, Ramsey County Public Health, Wilshire Elementary, Nativity Church
<br />Sustainability program, Blue Thumb, Master Gardener Program, and more.. Photos from
<br />the event can be seen by clicking on the Sustainability tab on the City’s website and
<br />for the social media savvy crowd, they can experience the fair through the photos and
<br />comment of attendees by searching #sustfair on twitter.
<br />Thanks to all who attended this year’s event and with the huge success, we hope the
<br />Sustainability Fair will continue to grow and become an annual tradition.
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