Implementing Sustainability with Proven Best Practices

Implementing Sustainabilitywith Proven Best Practices

An Overview

Introduction: GreenStep Cities

Taking action with proven best practicesMinnesota GreenStep Cities is an action-oriented

voluntary program offering Cities a cost-effective, step-wise path to implement

sustainable development best practices.

www.MnGreenStep.org

Cities Across the State

56 Cities and growing!Lake Crystal - (4/22/13)Brainerd - (4/1/13)Saint Paul Park - (2/19/13)Columbia Heights - (2/11/13)Woodbury - (1/23/13)Shoreview - (1/22/13)Maple Grove - (12/17/12)Sauk Rapids - (7/9/12)North Saint Paul - (7/3/12)Saint Louis Park - (6/4/12)Grand Rapids - (5/14/12)Lake Elmo - (5/14/12)Mountain Iron - (5/7/12)Newport - (4/19/12)Burnsville - (4/17/12)

What makes GreenStep different?• Focused on Minnesota• Best practices developed

by experts in their fields from Minnesota

• Geared toward smaller cities

• Action oriented• Allows flexibility within

each Best Practice

• Gives credit for actions we’ve already taken and identifies new actions to take

• Identifies real resource people who can help us with each best practice

• Provides a framework for a City’s sustainability efforts

• Provides mechanism to share results w/ residents

Other Key Factors

• Attainable and doable for small and mid-sized cities. 80% of MN cities have populations under 5,000.

• Healthy competition among peer cities. Public web site and database allows everyone to learn from the actions of “competitor” cities.

• Participating cities must designate a GreenStep City Coordinator; must be “somebody’s job” to keep the effort going.

• Recognition occurs among peers at the League of MN Cities Annual Conference.

GreenStep Partners

Main Partners:• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)• League of Minnesota Cities• Izaak Walton League – MN Division• Urban Land Institute – MN and Regional Council of Mayors• Great Plains Institute• MN Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources

How does it work?

Best Practices

GreenStep Cities has 28 best practices in 5 categories

Buildings & LightingTransportation

Land UseEnvironmental Management

Economic & Community Development

www.MnGreenStep.org

Best Practices by Category

Be a GreenStep City: 5 Steps

• Build Community Support• Identify best practices that your

city is already doing or would like to do

• Identify a GreenStep contact person (doesn’t have to be a city staff person)

• Have City Council sign a resolution to participate

• Start taking action!

www.MnGreenStep.org

Determine City Category

Category C Cities: Very small cities with typically no more than one public building and no more than two full-time equivalent staff.

Category B Cities: Small to mid-size cities that have several public buildings and at least several staff. Category B cities maintain roads and usually a separate public works department and a planning/ development department.

Category A Cities: Mid-size to large cities that are within a metropolitan area or serve as a regional economic and service center. Category A cities are served by a regular route transit service, provide a complete set of urban services, and have distinct commercial and industrial areas. Adjoining cities working together on the GreenSteps program must also be considered Category A cities.

Programmatic Requirements

Approve a Resolution

Track and Report

Sample reporting: BP # 7 Efficient City Growth, Action 1: describes WHAT the city has done to fulfill this best practice and provides documentation.

Note: the star system which relates to the “level” of achievement for a cities action.

Accomplishments to Date

GreenStep History• 2007: Started with an idea

from an engaged member of the community

• 2008: Legislature asks for a report on program

• Advisory Committee and four technical committees convened

• Program launches June 2010 at League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference

• Three rounds of annual recognition (2011, 2012, 2013)

GreenStep Notables from 2012

• Located all over the state, in all quadrants.• Large and small, including Rochester (over 100,000 people) and

Milan (326 people).• 4 cities have achieved Step Three and are hoping to move

beyond that this year.• 806 GreenStep actions have been completed

• Top non-required actions: expanding local food access, becoming a Tree City USA, promoting bike/ped/transit, installing LED traffic signals, and conserving water.

• Top required actions: having a comp plan, erosion ordinance, green purchasing policy.

GreenStep Firsts in 2012

• Edina: first commercial PACE (property assessed clean energy) program in MN.

• Maplewood: first city in 20 years to shift to organized residential waste collection.

• Northfield: first Transition Town effort in MN.• Elk River: first MN city to replace all traffic signals with cost-

saving LED lights.• Falcon Heights, St. Louis Park, Edina: first MN cities to track

energy, water, waste and vehicle miles traveled and normalize data by resident and jobs.

• St. Cloud: nation’s first public bus powered by recycled vegetable oil @ $2.30/gal.

Celebration of Partnership

Environmental Initiative Annual Awards 2012

Philipp MuessigGreenStep Cities Coordinator,MN Pollution Control Agency651-757-2594Phillip.muessig@state.mn.us

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