HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.j. Minnesota GreenSteps Program ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Meeting Date: December 20, 2011
AGENDA ITEM: Minnesota GreenSteps Program AG
PREPARED BY: Jason Lindahl, AICP AGENDA NO.
Planner
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ATTACHMENTS: Resolution, GreenStep Cities Program APPROVED BY:
Requirements Table
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RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the City of
Rosemount to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program.
SUMMARY
Recently the City Council directed the Community Development Department to research
participation in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program. Staff has completed an initial review of
this program and found Rosemount already does many components of this environmental
sustainability assessment program. As a result, staff recommends the City Council approve a
resolution authorizing participation in the program and assign Planner Jason Lindahl as the City's
GreenSteps Coordinator. Should the Council authorize participation in the program, staff will
formally complete the program inventory and seek official recognition as a Minnesota GreenSteps
City by the League of Minnesota Cities conference next June. To assist the Council with
considering the GreenSteps program, this memo provides background, overview, and program
benefits information as well as an initial assessment of conditions in Rosemount.
BACKGROUND
Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a new challenge, recognition and assistance program offered by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the League of Minnesota Cities and a host of
partners to help communities meet their sustainability goals. The program is voluntary; as a result,
there are no associated fees or penalties and the city is under no binding obligation to implement or
maintain the program.
The concept for GreenStep Cities arose during the fall of 2007 when 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 that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were
"green stars." This idea was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which directed the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency, the Office of Energy Security and CERTs to recommend actions cities
could take to help meet the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. Representatives from
dozens of cities, non - profits, and other organizations provided input into a 2009 report to the
legislature, which outlined what has been developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program.
More information about GreenStep Cities is available on the website: http: / /mngreenstep.org
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN MINNESOTA GREENSTEPS
According to the MPCA, the benefits of participating in GreenSteps will be different for different
communities. The most common benefits cited by participating GreenStep cities are listed below.
1. It offers a continuous improvement pathway for cities to "go green," making them more
sustainable and resilient.
2. It saves city staff time in researching cost - effective actions for cutting energy use, decreasing
the city's carbon footprint, and accomplishing other sustainability goals that exceed
regulatory requirements.
3. It saves cities money while delivering a stream of multiple environmental, social and financial
benefits.
4. It is tailored to Minnesota cities and provides maximum flexibility and choice in how to
implement a proven best practice.
5. It offers detailed action steps to follow - through on the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement, signed by over 40 Minnesota cities, and the Minnesota Legislature's aggressive
Next Generation Energy Act.
6. It provides leadership and action roles for community members and institutions so as to
stretch limited city funds and strengthen a civic culture of innovation.
GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program evaluates communities based on tailored yet flexible
criteria intended to save time and money, reduce energy consumption and encourage innovation.
These criteria include 28 best practices divided into 5 topic areas. Each topic area consists of both
required and optional best practices. The program is summarized below. A more detailed
assessment is provided in the GreenSteps Cities Program Requirements table (attached).
Minnesota GreenSteps Cities Program Criteria
Topic Areas Best Practices Action Steps
Required Optional
Building and Lighting 1 4 32
Land Use 1 4 27
Transportation 2 2 23
Environmental Management 3 6 57
Economic and Community 2 3 29
Development
Total 9 19 168
Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more of the 168 action steps. These
actions tend to fall into categories which correspond to the typical tools a city uses to make civic
improvements:
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• Changes in city policy, ordinances, regulations.
• Investments of financial capital or a commitment to funding operating costs.
• Development and staffing of city assistance programs — financial, informational, educational.
• Collaboration with and leveraging the resources of others, such as business groups and the
county.
The total number of best practices a community must complete is based on their assigned category
(A, B, or C). The GreenSteps program assigns each participating community a category based on
the notion that cities with greater capacity for making civic improvements are able to implement
more "best practices" and "harder" actions.
• Category C cities have no or only a handful of city buildings and staff.
• Category B cities have over a dozen buildings and staff, maintain roads, and have a public
works and planning /development department.
• Category A cities are within a metro area or serve as a regional economic and service center.
They are served by regular transit routes and have distinct commercial and industrial areas.
Based on these criteria Rosemount is classified as a Category A city. The GreenSteps recognition
levels and requirements to achieve each level are detailed in the table below. Step One is achieved
by the City approving a resolution to participate in the program, designating a GeenSteps
Coordinator, and registering initial information on the GreenSteps website. Step Two is achieved by
completing the best practices inventory and at least 8 of the 28 total best practices. Step Three is
achieved by implementing at least 16 of the 28 total best practices including the 9 required best
practices for Category A cities.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Recognition Levels for Category A Cities
Recognition Level I Required Implementation Steps
Build community knowledge and interest
Approve a resolution authorizing participation in
Step One GreenStep City the program and designate a contact person
Register and post initial information on the
GreenStep Cities website
Complete best practices inventory and begin
Step Two GreenStep City implementation.
Implement at least 8 of the 28 best practices.
Step Three GreenStep City Implement at least 16 of 28 the best practices
including all 9 required best practices.
ROSEMOUNT GREENSTEP CITIES ASSESSMENT
Based on an initial review of the GreenSteps Cities program inventory, Rosemount could qualify as a
Step Two GreenStep city (see attached GreenSteps Cities Program Requirements table). This review
found that Rosemount has completed 3 required best practices (one each in Land Use,
Transportation and Environmental Management) and 6 optional best practices (3 in Land Use, 2 in
Transportation and 1 in Economic and Community Development).
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GreenStep Cities Recognition Standards by Steps for Category A Cities
Best Practice Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Category Required Complete Required Complete Required Complete
Required 0 3 3 9 3
Optional 0 3 8 6 7 6
Total 0 6 8 9 16 9
To achieve Step Three status, the City must complete at least 1 more optional best practices and 6
more required best practices (1 each in Building and Lighting and Transportation and two each in
Environmental Management and Economic and Community Development). These required best
practices include:
• Efficient Existing Public Buildings
• Complete Green Streets
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
• Ecological Stormwater Management
• Benchmarks & Community Engagement
• Green Business Development
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is in the process of developing the Step Four Criteria.
Consequently, Rosemount would have an additional goal to seek should the community achieve
Step Three status. Staff is comfortable Step Two can be delivered without significant resource
investment. If certification to Step Three requires dedication of additional funding or staff
resources; staff will bring an assessment to the Council prior to commencing additional action.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
This memo summarizes the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program and offers an initial assessment of
Rosemount using the program's 28 best practices. This initial review found Rosemount already does
many components of this environmental sustainability assessment program and could qualify as a
Step Two GreenSteps city. As a result, staff recommends the City Council approve a resolution
authorizing the City to participate in the Minnesota GreenSteps program and d ass' Planner
g ty P p P P l� assign Jason
J
Lindahl as the City's GreenSteps Coordinator. Should the Council authorize participation in the
program, staff will formally complete the program inventory and seek official recognition as a
Minnesota GreenSteps City by the League of Minnesota Cities conference next June.
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CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2011 -
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF ROSEMOUNT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemount has signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, increasing energy prices present new challenges and opportunities to both the City of
Rosemount and to the economic health of its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, efforts to address energy and climate issues provide an opportunity to move toward
energy self - reliance and greater community resiliency; provide environmentally healthy and cheaper -
to- operate public buildings; encourage new economic development and local jobs; and support local
food and renewable energy production; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13 directed the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency ( "MPCA ") and Office of Energy Security in the Department of
Commerce ( "Office of Energy Security "), in collaboration with Clean Energy Resource Teams
( "CERTs "), to recommend municipal actions and policies that work toward meeting the State's
greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals; and
WHEREAS, the Next Generation Act of 2007, Minnesota Session Laws 2007 - Chapter 136: (1)
sets State greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of cutting emissions to 15 percent below 2005
levels by 2015, 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050; (2)
sets a State energy conservation goal of achieving annual energy savings equal to 1.5 percent of
annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas; (3) establishes an energy policy goal that the
per capita use of fossil fuel as an energy input be reduced by 15 percent by the year 2015, through
increased reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives; (4) establishes an energy
policy goal that 25 percent of the electricity used in the state be derived from renewable energy
resources by the year 2025; and
WHEREAS, a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders including the League of
Minnesota Cities, the MPCA, Office of Energy Security and CERTs responded to the 2008
legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program to provide a series of sustainable
development best practices focusing on local government opportunities to reduce energy use and
greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists in facilitating technical assistance
for the implementation of these sustainable development best practices in the following five
categories: (1) Buildings and Lighting; (2) Transportation; (3) Land Use; (4) Environmental
Management; and (5) Economic and Community Development;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Rosemount
does hereby authorize the City of Rosemount (the "City ") to participate in the Minnesota
GreenStep Cities program. Be it further resolved that the City:
RESOLUTION 2011-
1. Appoints Planner Jason Lindahl to serve as the city's GreenStep coordinator to facilitate
best practice implementation; and
2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members, civic, business and educational
organizations, and other units of government as appropriate in the planning, promoting
and implementing of GreenStep Cities best practices; and
3. Will identify a short list of best practices for initial implementation by June 2012 ; and
4. Will claim credit for having implemented and will work toward implementing at least 16
required and optional GreenStep best practices that will result in energy use reduction,
economic savings and reduction in the community's greenhouse gas footprint. A
summary of the city's implementation of best practices will be posted on the Minnesota
GreenStep Cities web site.
ADOPTED this 20th day of December, 2011, by the City Council of the City of Rosemount.
William H. Droste, Mayor
ATTEST:
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
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GreenStep Cities Program Requirements Implementation Status
A Your City
Buildings & 1 Efficient Existing Public Buildings Required Incomplete
Li . I ting
2 'Efficient Existing Private Buildings Incomplete
3 New Green Buildings Incomplete
4 I Efficient Building & Street Lighting and Signals Incomplete
5 Building Reuse Incomplete
1 Buildings & Lighting BPs Required/Completed 1 1 r 0
6 Comprehensive Planning and Implementation Required Complete
7 Efficient City Growth Complete
8 Efficient and Healthy Development Patterns Complete
9 Efficient Highway- Oriented Development Incomplete
10 Conservation Design Complete
Land Use BPs Required/Completed 1 4
Transportation 11 Complete Green Streets Required Incomplete
12 Mobility Options Required Complete
13 Efficient City Fleets Incomplete
14 Demand -Side Travel Planning Incomplete
Transportation BPs Required/Completed 2 1
Environmental 15 Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Required Incomplete
Management
16 Urban Forests Required Complete
17 Ecologic Stormwater Management Required Achievable
18 Parks and Trails Achievable
19 Surface Water Quality Complete
20 Efficient Water and Wastewater Facilities Incomplete
21 Septic Systems Complete
22 Solid Waste Reduction Incomplete
23 Local Air Quality Incomplete
Environmental BPs Required/Completed 3 3
III
Economic &
Community 24 It enchmarks & Community Engagement Required Achievable
Development
25 Green Business Development Required Incomplete
26 Renewable Energy Incomplete
27 Local Food Complete
28 Business Synergies Incomplete
I 1Development BPs Required/Completed I 2 I 1
Floating BPs (additional to required BPs) 19 6
Total BPs Required (including floating) 9 3