HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. 2023 ESC Goals DevelopmentI:\Environment & Sustainability Commission\Packets\2023\20230301 WS ESC Packet\5. 2023 ESC Goals Development.docx
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Environment & Sustainability Commission Work Session: March 1, 2023
AGENDA ITEM: 2023 Goals Development AGENDA SECTION:
Old Business
PREPARED BY: Jane Byron, Stormwater Specialist AGENDA NO. 5.
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Goals Language APPROVED BY: BLE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None
DISCUSSION
The Environment & Sustainability Commission has developed a set of goals to help guide yearly activities.
The goals cover outreach and policy initiatives that the Commission would like to tackle. Each year, the
Commission reviews goals to gauge progress and determine if a new direction is needed. The Commission
held an initial special work session in September for their annual goal review. Commissioners have been
working in the interim to update goals to reflect the September Work Session discussion, and
Commissioners Angerer and Burman have provided the attached edits for review based on prior
discussions. Current goals remain in effect until the Commission votes on an updated draft.
SUMMARY
Discuss recommendations for updates to goals.
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Environment and Sustainability Commission
2023 Goals
The Rosemount Environment and Sustainability Commission has set the following goals to pursue during 2022
as approved at its January 11, 2022, 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.
6. What is the Air permitting process? What’s City Council’s role?
5.7. Consider touring Alloy Spectro facility
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
1.i. See Supplemental Worksheet for all Best Practices that are needed to reach Step 3
i. BP 15.1 – Develop a sustainable purchasing policy
1. Relates to Recycling & Waste Reduction Goal
Formatted
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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
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
Research the LEED for Cities certification program further
2. 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.
7. Recommend the City continue to train staff responsible for winter snow and ice removal
operations in practices that reduce deicer use.
8. Assist the City with efforts to educate residents, businesses, and organizations on the
importance of protecting local drinking water sources (e.g. the aquifer) from overuse and
degradation. Commented [GU1]: Add to Greening City Ops
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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. Assist the City to adopt and implement Develop a sustainable purchasing policy
2. Assist the City with efforts to install anProvide education to residents to increase use of the
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.
Develop or assist the City with improvement on an education hub on the website regarding
waste reduction topics.
4.
5.4. Explore developing one or more actions under BP 22: Sustainable Consumption and
Waste under the Green Step Cities certification program.
6.5. Research current best practices, new technologies, and successful programs by other
cities regarding waste reduction, including programs discouraging single use plastics and
encouraging resident participation in Fix-it Clinics in coordination with Dakota County..
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 – Is this goal completed? If yes, let’s
remove from 2023 goals.
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
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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
I noted that we need to define what our role is for this goal.
Promote adoption of green best practices by local businesses.
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.
Supplemental Worksheet for Greening City Operations
Formatted: Normal
Formatted: Normal
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