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Home My WebLink About6.b. Status of Green Step Cities EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Environmental & Sustainability Commission Meeting: May 19, 2020 AGENDA SECTION: AGENDA ITEM: Status of GreenStep Cities Old Business PREPARED BY: Jane Byron, Storm Water Specialist AGENDA NO. 6.b. ATTACHMENTS: Rosemount Assessment Report from APPROVED BY: BLE GreenStep Cities RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion BACKGROUND: The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality of life goals. Cities complete best practice actions to reach a status level ranging from STEP 2 to STEP 5. The City of Rosemount is currently a STEP 2 City. Further detail about the City of Rosemount’s GreenStep Cities status can be found on the City’s detail page at https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/city-detail/12405 where an assessment report can also be viewed. The assessment report details what has been completed and what actions are needed to reach the next step in the program. Upon closer review, the City may claim credit or more stars on the following BMPs based on recent program updates:  BMP 2.5: Conserve/protect drinking/groundwater resources by creating a water-wise landscaping ordinance/guidance, WaterSense purchasing program, or guidance on rainwater harvesting and home water softener use. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81754  BMP 15.2: Purchase energy used by city government - via the municipal utility, green tags, community solar garden, 3rd party - with a higher renewable percentage than required by Minnesota law. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81826 The City is currently looking into whether the following BMPs are being implemented in the City in some form:  BMP 4.2: Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81763  BMP 4.3: Replace the city's existing street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81764 C:\\Users\\jab\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6.b. Status of Green Step Cities_596869\\6.b. Status of Green Step Cities.docx  BMP 4.8: Replace the city's existing traffic signals with LEDs. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81769 The City will keep in mind the following BMPs when constructing the Community Center, Public Works/Police Building, and Water Treatment Plant in future years:  BMP 1.5: Document that the new construction or major remodeling of a public building has met the SB 2030 energy standard or has met or qualified under a green building or energy framework. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81747  BMP 1.7: Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures: a ground-source, closed loop geothermal system; a district energy/microgrid system; or a rainwater harvesting system for building water use. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action- detail/81749 SUMMARY: No action required; however, the information provided in the GreenStep Cities Assessment Report can be used for future goal setting. 2 2020 Category A City: ROSEMOUNT a Step Two GreenStep City as of June 2012 - joined 12/20/11 - st Which assessment? Preliminary; for city review Final: May 1 recommendation to LMC  Assessor and date: Philipp Muessig, 8/28/19 NO NO Total BPs done: All required* BPs done? Distribution BPs done? 13 OO OO Recommend new recognition at: Step 3 Recognition at a Step 3 level involves implementing, at a minimum:  CITY BUILDINGS -- Action 1.2 & one additional action from BP #1  COMPLETE STREETS -- BP #11: action 1 & two additional actions  PURCHASING -- BP #15: action 1 & one additional action  METRICS -- Action 24.2  PREPAREDNESS -- Action 29.1 * note: requirements are for Step 3 recognition Best practices (required) BP implemented? Action summary by # and star level achieved Action rules (req. in bold) Distribution BPs done? NO BUILDINGS: 2 BPs required; 2 done? OO 1. Public 1.1 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS – 100+ months of data NO 1 & 2; & one action from 3-7 2. Private 2.1 COMPLETE @ 3 STARS -- Rosemount Environment and Sustainability NO Taskforce along with Partners in Energy have ongoing campaigns:12% any two actions increase (2018-2019) in residential electricity savings (371 new participants in utility energy programs), estimated 1.6M kWhs/yr. saved by 37 businesses signed up for energy assessments 3. New 1 or 2; one from 3-5 4. Lighting/Signals 2 actions with one from 5-8 5. Reuse any one action YES LAND USE: 2 BPs required; 2 done? 6. Comp Plan 6.1: 1 COMPLETED, 1 STAR OO 1 & 2 6.2: COMPLETED, 1 STAR YES 6.3: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 6.4: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 6.5: COMPLETE @ 3 STARS -- Energy Action Plan adopted 2018 with residential/commercial strategies: 5% community-wide energy reduction goal by 2020 with $1M savings over 3 years 7. Density 7.1: COMPLETED, 1 STAR any one action 7.2: COMPLETED, 1 STAR YES 7.3: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 7.4: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 8. Mixed Uses 8.1: COMPLETED, 1 STAR any two actions 8.2: COMPLETED, 1 STAR YES 8.3: COMPLETED, 3 STARS -- energy conservation in PUD ord. 8.5: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 8.7: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 9. Highway Development any one action 10. Conservation Development 10.1: COMPLETED, 2 STARS -- cluster development allows at least 50% of the developable land to be permanently protected any one action YES 10.5: COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- conservation easements required on all wetlands/wetland buffers during entitlement; city recommends that land developers deed wetlands to city NO TRANSPORTATION: 2 BPs required; 2 done? OO 11. Complete Green Streets NO 1; & two additional actions 12. Mobility Options 12.1: COMPLETED, 2 STAR any two actions 12.2: COMPLETED, 2 STAR YES 13. Fleets any two actions 14. TOD / TDM any two actions YES ENVIRON MANAGEMENT: 4 BPs required; 4 done? OO (post under 15.2: 70% of city operations' electricity comes from 15. Purchasing NO community solar gardens) 1; and one additional action 16. Trees 16.1: COMPLETED, 1 STAR YES any two actions 16.5 COMPLETE @ 3 STARS -- tree preservation plan submitted with the grading permit or building permit application 16.6 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- parks department conducts tree inspections for residents & businesses; grant money used to increase tree diversity in response to EAB 17. Stormwater 17.3: COMPLETE @ 1 STAR -- standards related on-site rainwater infiltration design and stormwater runoff volume limits any one action YES 17.5 COMPLETE @ 1 STAR -- education to residents regarding the protection of surface water 17.6: COMPLETE @ 3 STARS -- salt reduction from 77 to 51 tons/event, 2018-2019; weekly salt use reports to city council 18. Parks & Trails 18.1: COMPLETED, 1 STAR YES any three actions 18.2: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 18.8: COMPLETED, 2 STARS -- Adopt a Park program; forest restoration with volunteers 19. Surface Water 19.2 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- ranked 17th in the nation among cities its YES size for the number of Mayors Water Pledges made to reduce water for state public waters: 4; usage and one additional action 19.3 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS – City works with the Wetland Health Evaluation Program to engage citizen volunteers 19.4: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 20. Water / Wastewater 1 & 2; and one additional 21. Septics 21.1: COMPLETED, 2 STAR -- point-of-sale non-compliance check any one action 21.4: COMPLETED, 1 STAR 21.6: COMPLETE @ 1 STAR YES 22. Solid Waste 22.4 COMPLETE @ 1 STAR -- Fix-It Clinic promoted on the City's website NO 1 or 2; & one from 4-8 23. Local Air Quality any two actions YES ECON & COMM DEVELOPMENT: 3 BPs required; 3 BPs done? OO 24. Benchmarks & Involvement 24.1 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- Rosemount Environment and Sustainability NO Taskforce - REST - focused on innovation and citizen engagement 1 & 2 24.4 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- Taskforce is conducting an ongoing educational campaign by visiting different groups throughout the community including schools, churches, and all residents at different community events 24.5 COMPLETE @ 1 STAR -- City's energy action plan was developed to identify baseline data regarding energy usage 24.6 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- Youth Commission 25. Green Businesses 25.2 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS – continuing business outreach through the YES business blitz, targeted emails, and door to door outreach, led by REST any two actions 25.7 COMPLETE @ 1 STAR -- City utilized social media, electronic signage at City buildings to emphasize buying local over the holiday season 26. Renewable Energy 26.2 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS – info on a thorough City webpage about YES purchasing clean energy; insert sent with the City water bill regarding any two actions energy reduction opportunities/efforts 26.3 COMPLETE @ 1 STAR 27. Local Food 27.2 COMPLETE @ 2 STARS -- ordinance allows 3 chickens; no restriction on bees any one action YES 27.3: COMPLETED, 2 STARS –community gardens at 4 parks 28. Business Synergies 2, 3 or 4 29. Climate Adaptation NO action 1 @ a 2-star level ROSEMOUNT HIGHLIGHTS  5% reduction in community energy use from 2018-2020 in Partners in Energy Action Plan resulting in $1M savings over 3 years  12% increase (2018-2019) in residential electricity savings (371 new participants in utility energy programs), estimated 1.6M kWhs/yr. saved by 37 businesses signed up for energy assessments  70% of city operations' electricity comes from community solar gardens  Conservation easements required on all wetlands/wetland buffers during entitlement; city recommends that land developers deed wetlands to city  Salt reduction from 77 to 51 tons/event, 2018-2019; weekly salt use reports to city council  Ranked 17th in the nation among cities its size for the number of Mayors Water Pledges made to reduce water usage  Wetland Health Evaluation Program used by City to engage citizen volunteers  Rosemount Environment and Sustainability Taskforce is conducting an ongoing educational campaign by visiting different groups throughout the community including schools, churches, and all residents at different community events. A Youth Commission also is active.