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Home My WebLink About6.d. Resolution Supporting the HIPP Greening Initiative 4 ROSEN4JLIN 4 JT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL City Council Regular Meeting: April 1, 2008 AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Supporting the HiPP AGENDA SECTION: Greening Initiative Consent PREPARED BY: Jamie Verbrugge, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 7.1i ATTACHMENTS: Resolution APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to adopt a resolution supporting the High P ormance Partnerships Greening Initiative BACKGROUND The City of Rosemount began in 2007 an internal evaluation of operations and facilities to determine potential areas of improvement relative to "green" standards. City staff has also been involved in promoting a Dakota County High Performance Partnerships (HiPP) initiative around sustainability and greening initiatives. In January, the City Council passed a motion conveying the City's support for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. ISSUE The HiPP Greening Initiative will identify areas of collaboration for the communities within Dakota County to mutually pursue for the conservation of resources, encouragement of recycling, implementation of environmentally conscious purchasing, greening of city operations, education of residents, and consideration of development standards that promote sustainable and healthy communities. SUMMARY The resolution indicates the Rosemount City Council's support to work collaboratively with our neighboring communities, as well as indicates objectives that the City of Rosemount will strive to achieve as part of these collaborative efforts. CITY OF ROSEMOUNT DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2008 A RESOLUTION APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN COUNTY -WIDE GREENING INTIATIVE WHEREAS, Dakota County and its cities have been leaders in the development of collaborative efforts to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness in providing safe and healthy communities; and WHEREAS, in 2004 a joint City County Steering Committee was created to identify and implement intergovernmental collaboration through High Performance Partnerships (HiPP) actions and projects; and WHEREAS, Dakota County and its cities continue to recognize that opportunities for greater intergovernmental collaboration exist and deserve consideration; and WHEREAS, there is a consensus among the world's leading scientists that global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions is among the most significant problems facing the world today; and WHEREAS, it is apparent that increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) are changing the climate in ways that pose serious risks to Dakota County's health, economy, and environment; and WHEREAS, local governments have a unique role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change through their local jurisdiction over policy areas such as air quality, land use planning, transportation, zoning, forest preservation, water conservation, and wastewater and solid waste management; and WHEREAS, many public entities in Dakota County are already implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gases; and WHEREAS, it is the HiPP Steering Committee's goal for Dakota County and its cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through collaborative efforts, creating communities in Dakota County where people can live, work, and recreate for generations to come; and WHEREAS, the economic arguments for implementing a countywide initiative are compelling, from the near -term economic gains of energy efficiency to the long -term climate stabilization that can prevent irreparable harm; and WHEREAS, in 2007 the HiPP Steering Committee recommended that the County and the cities participate in a countywide Greening Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, the Greening Initiative will prepare a framework for applying local and global initiatives as a collaborative project to improve the quality of life for all in Dakota County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Rosemount in collaboration through the HiPP will participate in the Greening Initiative; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Rosemount, through the HiPP Greening Initiative, will strive to achieve: 1 Include sustainability policies in local comprehensive plans ii. Sign the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement iii. Join ICLEI's (Local Governments for Sustainability) Cities for Climate Protection Campaign iv. Participate in creating a countywide greenhouse gas inventory v. Establish greenhouse gas reduction targets vi. Develop and implement a countywide action plan to reduce greenhouse gases vii. Develop and implement a City- specific action plan to reduce greenhouse gases viii. Provide leadership through public education, open dialogue, and partnerships ADOPTED this 1S` day of April, 2008 by the City Council of the City of Rosemount William H. Droste, Mayor ATTEST: Amy Domeier, City Clerk Motion by: Second by: Voted in favor: Voted against: Member absent: