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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.b. 2023 ESC Goals DevelopmentI:\Environment & Sustainability Commission\Packets\2023\20230314 ESC Packet\7.b. 2023 ESC Goals Development.docx EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting: March 14, 2023 AGENDA ITEM: 2023 Goals Development AGENDA SECTION: Old Business PREPARED BY: Jane Byron, Stormwater Specialist AGENDA NO. 7.b. 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 a 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, Burman, and Johnson 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 Commissioners will be provided an opportunity to discuss any recommendations they have for updates to goals. 1 | Page 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? 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 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 2 | Page 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 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. 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 a sustainable purchasing policy 3 | Page 2. Provide 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. 4. Explore developing one or more actions under BP 22: Sustainable Consumption and Waste under the Green Step Cities certification program. 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 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. 4 | Page 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 5 | Page Format Change Recommended by Commissioner Johnson Environment and Sustainability Commission 2023 Goals Priorities • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy and transportation • Land use and stewardship • Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction • Air quality • Water quality and protection Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Update City policies, plans, and procedures to reduce the environmental impact of city operations with a focus on 2040 comp plan and Energy Action Plan. 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. https://www.rosemountmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3219/PiE-MN-Rosemount-Planning-Energy- Action-Plan-FINAL https://www.rosemountmn.gov/185/Comprehensive-Plan Data Gathering 1. Update from city on goals and progress in Climate Action Plan a. Energy usage data b. Were 2020 goals met? 2. Update from city staff on 2040 comp plan with a focus on new development and construction projects 3. Presentation on city operations and energy conservation efforts: a. Public works b. Parks c. Police/Fire 4. Partner with city staff to programs and policies that educate and provide incentives to businesses and community members to switch to renewable low carbon energy and encourage energy efficiency. 5. Partner with city staff to explore funding opportunities through county, state and federal programs for energy efficiency. Policy Action 1. Update the City’s Energy Action Plan, which expired in 2020 2. Develop green building and energy efficiency framework Outreach and Education 1. 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 6 | Page 2023 Priority Actions 1. Update from city on goals and progress in Climate Action Plan a. Energy usage data b. Were 2020 goals met? 2. Update climate action plan with new goals 3. Update from city staff on 2040 comp plan with a focus on new development and construction projects Air Quality Further expand the knowledge base of the Commission, residents, local businesses, and the City regarding outdoor air quality and industrial air permitting. Data Gathering 1. Update from city staff on air permitting process and city’s role 2. Tour Alloy Spectro and others with industrial air permits 3. Research industrial air permitting and air quality issues, including best practices residents and businesses can take to reduce outdoor air pollution. 4. Guest Speakers Policy Action Outreach and Education 1. Explore options for providing information on the city website about how to access 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. 2023 Priority Actions 1. Update from city officials on air permits and the city’s role in air permitting 2. Determine next steps on potential policy recommendations and outreach priorities Water Conservation and Quality Protection Promote and incentivize actions that improve water conservation, protect surface water quality, and protect ground water quality.