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St. Anthony 2040 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9: Sustainability 171 CHAPTER 9: SUSTAINABILITY WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO ST. ANTHONY? For the city of St. Anthony, sustainability takes the stage front and center with its presence in the city’s mission: to be a progressive, and livable community, a “walkable” Village which is sustainable, safe and secure. Since its addition to the mission, sustainability has been approached considering impacts to the environment, economy and equity of the community. In 2007, the city partnered with its watershed organizations and county to bring the first water re-use project to the state of Minnesota, with the Central Park Water Re-Use Facility. This system collects stormwater and water treatment backwash to irrigate the Central Park fields and Community Center campus, and has lead the way for water re-use to be implemented in other large-scale facilities. In the following years, the city collaborated further with partners to bring online the Silver Lake Stormwater Treatment System at Salo Park, Silver Lake Carp tracking and winter netting, the Central Park Biofiltration Basin, the Stormwater Treatment and Research Facility, and the Mirror Lake Flooding and Water Quality Improvement project. Over the years, the city also provided cost- share opportunities for residents to acquire oak rain barrels for residential water re-use and aided in design and installation of rain gardens on residential and faith-based properties. St. Anthony has been an active participant in the Pollution Control Agency’s GreenStep Cities program since its inception in 2010, achieving Steps 1 and 2 in 2011, Step 3 in 2012, Step 4 in 2016 and Step 5 in 2017. The continuation of Steps 4 and 5 require the city to measure a set of identified metrics on an annual basis. In order to show continuous improvement in these metrics, the city must continue to implement sustainable best practice actions. Should improvements not be calculated, the city will return to Step 4 in any given year. Additionally, the city was recognized by the program administrators in 2014, between the release of the 3rd and 4th steps. The city has also hosted two different GreenCorps members, 2012-13 and 2015-16, who focused on sustainability, stormwater and community outreach and education. On principle, the city approaches sustainability through collaboration. At the staff level, it is every departments’ responsibility to identify areas of opportunity, and from the city to partner with organizations and community members, everyone must contribute in order to get the best end product.