HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.b. 2022 ESC Goal Setting Discussion Continued
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting: January 11, 2022
AGENDA ITEM: 2022 ESC Goal Setting Discussion AGENDA SECTION:
(continued) Old Business
PREPARED BY: Jane Byron, Stormwater Specialist AGENDA NO. 5.b.
ATTACHMENTS: 2022 Draft Goals APPROVED BY: BLE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approval of 2022 Environment and Sustainability Commission
Goals.
DISCUSSION
Every fall, the Environment & Sustainability Commission (ESC) embarks on a goal setting exercise for the
following year. The objective is to review existing goals, feedback from the Council, and commissioner
input to better map out the direction of the ESC in 2022.
The 2021 goals for the ESC encompass the following topics:
Collaboration Procedures Promotion of the Energy Action Plan
Green Development Regulations Native Plants and Pollinator Habitat
Sustainable Purchasing Air Permitting Research & Education
Composting Access and Education
At the October 5, 2021, Council Work Session, the Council provided the following input/suggestions on
what to pursue in 2022:
City website improvement to provide more information for residents on environmental topics
Pursuit of activities within the Green Step Cities recognition program. See the attachment for
actions needed to achieve Step 3 recognition. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/
Better engagement with business & industry on environmental issues: tours of facilities, interaction
with citizen advisory boards, recognition & promotion of environmental leaders, etc.
Environmental improvements on City owned buildings
At the October and November ESC meetings, the Commissioners did goals setting brainstorming and
participated in goal setting homework individually. A draft 2022 Goals document has been drafted based
on the previous months’ feedback from the Commission and Council.
SUMMARY
Approve Environment and Sustainability Commission Goals for 2022.
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Environment and Sustainability Commission
2022 Goals
The Rosemount Environment and Sustainability Commission has set the following goals to pursue during 2022
as approved at its \[insert date\] meeting. The Goals listed below are aspirational, and implementation
schedules may extend beyond the year’s end and change as the year progresses.
Goal: Industrial Air Permitting Research
Further expand the knowledge base of the Commission, residents, local businesses, and the City regarding
outdoor air quality and industrial air permitting.
Actions
1. Provide information on the City website and otherwise educate residents on how to access
current air quality information, industrial air permitting, industrial air permitting enforcement,
and nearby outdoor air pollution sources.
2. Assist the City with dissemination of information on air quality/permitting violations or
problems that affect the City and its inhabitants.
3. Tour local industries that have industrial air permits to learn about measures they are taking to
mitigate impacts.
4. Research industrial air permitting and air quality issues, including best practices residents and
businesses can take to reduce outdoor air pollution.
5. Invite guest speakers to future commission meetings from regulatory agencies to speak on
industrial air permitting and air quality issues.
Goal: Greening City Operations
Update City policies, plans, and procedures to reduce the environmental impact of city operations. Use
available environmental certification programs to help guide the City on where to make improvements.
Actions
1. Pursue implementation of BMPs that can advance the City to Step 3 under the GreenStep Cities
certification program
i. BP 15.1 – Develop a sustainable purchasing policy
1. Relates to Recycling & Waste Reduction Goal
ii. Develop a green city buildings policy for construction of new or retrofit of old City
owned buildings
iii. Advise the City on other improvements that can advance the City’s certification level
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2. Document new city green practices in the context of the LEED for Cities certification program
for a higher certification level at a future date
i. Research the LEED for Cities certification program further
3. Research successful policies, plans, and procedures implemented by other communities that
reduce the impact of city operations on the environment
Goal: Water Conservation and Quality Protection
Promote and incentivize actions that improve water conservation, protect surface water quality, and protect
ground water quality.
Actions
1. Promote Smart Salting strategies for winter de/anti-icing and snow removal for homes and
businesses.
i. Research and promote the Minnesota Smart Salting for Property Management
Certification program and other certification programs
ii. Research and promote publicly available education products and policy tools
2. Promote the Adopt-a-Drain.org program
3. Encourage planting for clean water practices and other stormwater reduction and water quality
improvement best management practices (BMPs) at residences and businesses. Examples of
BMPs include raingardens, native plant buffers along waterbodies, native plant gardens, and
rain barrels.
i. Research and learn about programs that promote, provide financial incentives, or
technical assistance for planting for clean water and installation of private stormwater
BMPs.
1. Dakota County SWCD Landscaping for Clean Water
2. BlueThumb.org
3. Lawns to Legumes
4. Other programs available
ii. Promote and research how planting for clean water practices intersect with protection
of pollinators and habitat.
4. Promote irrigation reduction practices, including the use of drought tolerant lawn grasses.
5. Make recommendations to the City on opportunities for water conservation and quality protection in
City operations and policies
6. Stay current on best practices and new technologies for water conservation and quality
protection.
Goal: Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction
Promote programs and practices that move the City, its residents, and local business towards a zero waste
future.
Actions
1. Develop a sustainable purchasing policy
2. Assist the City with efforts to install an organics drop site in coordination with Dakota County
3. Provide education to the public, businesses, and the City on recycling, waste reduction,
composting, and organics recycling/composting.
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4. Develop or assist the City with improvement on an education hub on the website regarding
waste reduction topics.
5. Explore developing one or more actions under BP 22: Sustainable Consumption and Waste
under the Green Step Cities certification program.
6. Research current best practices, new technologies, and successful programs by other cities
regarding waste reduction, including programs discouraging single use plastics.
Goal: Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy
Promote programs, develop policies, and look for financial incentives to reduce energy consumption and
transition to a greater share of renewable energy within the community.
Actions
1. Pursue an update the City’s Energy Action Plan which expired in 2020.
2. Pursue policies and programs that encourage increased use of electric vehicles within the
community, including installation of electric vehicle charging stations in town.
3. Promote programs and policies that educate and provide incentives to businesses and
community members to switch to renewable low carbon energy and encourage energy
efficiency.
i. Working in partnership with local utility providers is a key component of this action.
4. Research best practices, new technologies, and successful programs by others that promote
energy efficiency and green house gas reduction and mitigation.
Goal: Pollinators and Habitat Protection
Promote best practices for landscaping and green space management within the community that encourage
increased use of native plants and pollinator habitat.
Actions
1. Develop policies and a promotion campaign for No Mow May
2. Develop policies and promote bee lawns
3. Promote state and local programs that incentivize or provide technical assistance on planting
for pollinators and habitat that focus on preservation and installation of native
plants/ecosystems.
4. Develop a pollinator resolution and advise adoption by the City Council
5. Research designation programs that certify or otherwise recognize the City or city greenspace
as pollinator friendly.
6. Look for opportunities within City greenspace to increase pollinator friendly habitats and
incorporate native landscaping.
7. Research best practices, new technologies, and successful programs by others that promote
pollinator and habitat preservation and creation.
Goal: Incentivizing Green Practice Adoption by Local Business
Promote adoption of green best practices by local businesses.
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Actions
1. Develop a program or research existing programs that acknowledge businesses that implement
green practices and encourage participation by local businesses.
2. Highlight local businesses that have won awards or have otherwise been acknowledged for
implementation of green practices.
3. Provide information on the City website and otherwise educate local businesses on
environmental incentive programs and technical assistance programs.
4. Engage with local businesses to learn more about impediments to adopting green practices and
what green practices they would be interested in learning about.
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