HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06.l
Date: November 6, 2017 Item No.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LAKEVILLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to authorize the City of Lakeville’s
participation in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program.
Overview
The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program was established in 2010 as a voluntary challenge,
assistance, and recognition program to help cities achieve sustainability and quality of life goals.
It provides a framework of best practices that cities can implement to meet individual goals and
objectives.
There are five topical areas dealing with building and facilities management, land use,
transportation, environmental management, and economic and community development. These
are further subdivided into 29 best practices designated as either required or optional depending
on the size of the city.
Levels of recognition are gained by completing specific required best practices and a number of
additional optional best practices. Lakeville, through work completed in comprehensive
planning, its Envision Lakeville process, and other environmental and facilities projects, has
implemented many actions that support the completion of best practices contained in the
GreenStep Cities program.
Primary Issues to Consider
• Why is this program significant to Lakeville? It provides recognition to the City for
environmental initiatives it is already implementing, in effect, validating the work done
through both comprehensive planning and the Envision Lakeville process. It also facilitates
the evaluation of new programs and initiatives for both environmental impact and financial
savings.
Supporting Information
• Legislative report on Minnesota GreenStep Cities.
Financial Impact: $0 Budgeted: Source:
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Envision Lakeville Community Values: Diversified Economic Development; Design that Connects Community
Report Completed by: Neil Normandin, Public Works and Facilities Coordinator
CITY OF LAKEVILLE
RESOLUTION NO. ______
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LAKEVILLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition
program to help cities achieve sustainability and quality-of-life goals through a free, continuous
improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, and
WHEREAS, local governments have the unique opportunity to achieve both energy use
and climate change gas reductions and cost savings through building and facilities
management, land use, transportation planning, environmental management, and economic
and community development, and
WHEREAS, steps taken toward sustainable solutions aim to improve community quality of life,
building community capital and increasing government efficiency, accountability and
transparency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lakeville does
hereby authorize the City of Lakeville (the City) to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities
program. Passage of this participation resolution allows the City to be recognized as a Step One
GreenStep City. Be it further resolved that the City:
1. Appoints Neil Normandin to serve as the City’s GreenStep coordinator for best practice
documentation/implementation and identifies the Parks, Recreation, & Natural
Resources Committee as the city’s GreenStep coordination team, and
2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members and other units of government as
appropriate in the planning, promoting and/or implementing of GreenStep Cities best
practices, and
3. Grants to the GreenStep program’s buildings advisor review access to the City's B3
Benchmarking Database to facilitate analysis and cost-saving technical assistance to the
City regarding its buildings’ energy use, and
4. Will provide feedback once a year on how well the GreenStep program is serving the city
and on city needs from the program, and
5. Will claim credit for having implemented and will work at its own pace toward
implementing any eight GreenStep best practices that will result in energy use reduction,
economic savings, quality of life improvement, reduction in the City’s greenhouse gas
footprint, and recognition by the League of Minnesota Cities as a Step Two GreenStep
City. An on-going summary of the City’s implementation of best practices will be posted
by the City on the Minnesota GreenStep Cities web site.
ADOPTED by the Lakeville City Council this 6th day of November 2017
______________________________
Douglas P. Anderson, Mayor
_________________________________
Charlene Friedges, City Clerk
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
A report to the Minnesota legislature regarding Green Star award expansion and a
program proposal to assist local governments in taking the next step to implement carbon
reductions and other environmental actions
February 2009
Acknowledgements
This report is the culmination of a large collaborative effort of many individuals and organizations dedicating their time
and skills to develop this program proposal. In particular, the Advisory Committee (see Appendix B for a list of members)
was very helpful in providing overall direction for the program. Four technical committees (see Appendix C) also met
numerous times to develop a draft of the core program requirements. Finally, the Workgroup Committee members, listed
in alphabetical order below along with their respective organizations, met over 15 times to craft the proposed program.
Workgroup Committee members:
Name Organization
Judy Thommes, Carl Nelson Center for Energy and Environment
Melissa Pawlisch, Joel Haskard CERTs/University of Minnesota Regional
Sustainable Development Partnerships
Lola Schoenrich Great Plains Institute
Hue Nguyen, Craig Johnson League of Minnesota Cities
Chris Gilchrist Minnesota Department of Commerce,
Office of Energy Security
Philipp Muessig Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Prevention and Assistance Division
Diana McKeown, Agatha Vaaler The Green Institute
Dan Thiede, Luke Ekelund The Minnesota Project
Joanna Vossen, Brendon Slotterback Urban Land Institute MN
Brian Ross (CR Planning) also participated in the development of the program, and was enormously helpful in leading
the Land Use Planning Technical Committee and drafting the best practices, along with John Bailey of 1000 Friends of
Minnesota. Nancy Miller (independent consultant) assisted with the program name selection process. Both the Office of
Energy Security and the MPCA were helpful in dedicating staff to complete this project. The League of Minnesota Cities
and The Green Institute provided meeting space for the dozens of meetings that were held. Thanks to Jennifer Harmening
for assisting with copy editing. Funding for this work was provided by the MPCA, The Green Institute through a U.S.
Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement, and RE-AMP, a collaboration of over 70 nonprofits and 14 foundations
working to create a clean, modern, efficient energy system in the upper-Midwest.
Chief author: Carl Nelson, Center for Energy and Environment, 612-355-5871, cnelson@mncee.org
Full report, appendices and further information available at: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps
February 3, 2009
Senator Prettner Solon
Chair, Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Senator Rosen
Ranking Minority Member, Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Representative Hilty
Chair, House Energy Finance and Policy Committee
Representative Westrom
Republican Lead, House Energy Finance and Policy Committee
RE: Report on Green Star Award Expansion
Dear Senators and Representatives:
As required by Laws of Minnesota 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13, we are transmitting the report, Minnesota GreenStep
Cities. The report was prepared by Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Center for Energy and Environment. It is
the result of an extensive research and program design process with stakeholder participation from the League of Minnesota
Cities, city officials, Minnesota Project, Green Institute, utility companies and others.
This report provides recommendations to assist and recognize local governments that take actions to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and achieve other environmental outcomes. The report represents a good start in identifying a wide range
of possible options local governments could take to improve their environmental footprint. Of the recommendations
themselves, no attempt has been made to prioritize based on benefits or cost-effectiveness. In moving forward at this
time, we need to carefully consider the pace and resources required. Development of tools to measure success should be a
priority.
We look forward to discussing this report with you. In the meantime, please contact David Benke, Director of MPCA’s
Prevention and Assistance Division, at (651) 757-2221 with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Paul Eger
Commissioner
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
William L. Glahn
Director, Office of Energy Security
Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce
summArY............................................................................................................................................................1
bACkgrouND AND reseArCH ............................................................................................................................2
Approach to program development ...........................................................................................................................3
Review of related programs and initiatives .................................................................................................................4
Resolutions and statements of commitment .......................................................................................................4
Greenhouse gas inventories and plans ...............................................................................................................5
Process-oriented or best practice sharing programs .............................................................................................6
Prescriptive action-oriented programs................................................................................................................6
Review of state programs providing technical and financial assistance ..........................................................................7
Review of existing local government efforts within Minnesota ......................................................................................7
Size of cities in Minnesota .......................................................................................................................................7
Implications for GreenStep Program Design ...............................................................................................................7
progrAm DesigN reCommeNDAtioNs ..............................................................................................................9
Best practices should be straightforward and selected using simple criteria ...................................................................9
Program should be built around required and optional best practices in four areas .........................................................9
Program should take a tiered approach, focusing first
on cost-effective options for greenhouse gas reductions .............................................................................................11
Local governments that meet criteria should be recognized by the state ......................................................................11
The MPCA Prevention and Assistance Division should administer
GreenStep as a public-private partnership ...............................................................................................................11
Program should be called “GreenStep Cities” ...........................................................................................................13
NeXt steps .......................................................................................................................................................14
Refine program design ..........................................................................................................................................14
Start beta version of program .................................................................................................................................14
Conduct additional analytic work to assess impact of best practices ...........................................................................14
Monitor development of STAR Community Index and other programs .........................................................................14
Assemble an advisory committee and technical committees ......................................................................................15
AppeNDiCes (full versions available at: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps)
A. Legislative language .........................................................................................................................................16
B. Advisory Committee members ...........................................................................................................................17
C. Technical Committee members ..........................................................................................................................18
D. Summary of Existing State Programs Related to Sustainability for Local Governments ..............................................19
E. Summary of Draft Best Practice Requirements from Technical Committees .............................................................24
F. List of Case Studies of City-Level Sustainability Efforts in Minnesota .......................................................................25
Table of Contents
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 1
Summary
This report outlines the recommendations for developing a “Green
Star Award Expansion” for Minnesota cities and communities to
help meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, as
required by the Laws of Minnesota 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13.
We recommend this concept be developed into a program called
“GreenStep Cities.” The plan for this program was collaboratively
developed by a broad public-private partnership, and represents the
work of dozens of people spending hundreds of hours contributing
to the effort. In this era of concern for spending public dollars
wisely, we believe this program would achieve efficiencies by
developing common and effective approaches for local governments
to save energy while also achieving other beneficial environmental
outcomes.
The workgroup recommends focusing existing efforts at the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Prevention and Assistance
Division under the umbrella of the GreenStep Cities program. This
would be developed as an action-oriented voluntary program for
local governments, starting with cities, that provides a cost-effective
and simple pathway to encourage the adoption of sustainable
development best practices focusing on greenhouse gas reduction.
It would also be an avenue for providing technical assistance
to local governments from state agencies, utilities, nonprofit
organizations, and others.
This program would have the following goals and outcomes:
Achieve meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases and other •
positive environmental outcomes;
Provide assistance for local governments to achieve best practices •
in energy use reduction and sustainable development;
Provide a “Pathway to Sustainability” that is cost-effective, •
pragmatic, and achievable for all cities;
Identify specific existing state agency staff and others who are •
committed to and technically able to help cities implement each
specific best practice;
Promote innovation;•
Inspire and assist residents, businesses, and community •
institutions to take action; and
Recognize local governments for their past accomplishments and •
their new efforts spurred by the program.
program Design
Program design elements are included with this report to improve
the ease with which a program could be implemented quickly
and utilize/benefit from federal energy efficiency funding. The
workgroup recommends that the program have the following
characteristics:
Best practices should be straightforward and selected using simple •
criteria;
Program should be built around required and optional •
best practices in four practice areas (buildings & facilities,
transportation, land use planning, and environmental
management & economic development);
Program should take a tiered approach, focusing first on cost-•
effective options for greenhouse gas reductions;
Local governments that accomplish an initial set of best practices •
should be recognized for a period of three years by the state;
The MPCA Prevention and Assistance Division should •
administer the program as a public-private partnership by
reprioritizing work of existing staff; and
Program should be called “GreenStep Cities.” •
Next steps
The workgroup recommends the following as the next steps for
implementing the program:
Refine program design;•
Start beta version of program;•
Conduct additional analytic work to assess the economic, •
energy, greenhouse gas, and other environmental benefits of
implementing each best practice;
Monitor development of STAR Community Index and other •
programs cities may be looking at; and
Assemble an advisory committee to help set the program •
requirements and advise on program implementation.
2 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Background and Research
Local governments have long
been recognized as key
actors in the effort to reduce
greenhouse gases and achieve other
beneficial environmental outcomes.
Their influence extends from their
own operations to the community as
a whole.
For example, buildings are the single largest source
of greenhouse gas emissions, and energy use from
city and county buildings represent about one-fifth
of all public building greenhouse gas emissions in
Minnesota.1 There are enormous opportunities
to reduce environmental impacts within local
government operations, and local governments
most directly control local development patterns,
which can have large implications for greenhouse
gas emissions and other environmental impacts.
Local governments are also the closest and most
accessible unit of government to individuals and
businesses whose actions can reduce greenhouse
gases. Local government leadership can set the tone
and influence the actions of entire communities and
they are well-positioned to help lead community-
wide efforts.
Yet despite this potential, local governments have
not had as much success in this area as might be
hoped, and several obstacles commonly discourage
them from embracing a leadership role. Cities,
especially midsize and small cities, lack the staffing
resources to research, plan, and implement new
sustainability initiatives. While the will might
exist, the pathway and simple steps to get there
are less clear. There is no single clearinghouse of
information for all Minnesota cities that contains
a set of best practices and how to implement
them. We found numerous examples of innovative
individual actions that local governments are
taking (see Appendix F), but it was rare to find
local governments that comprehensively addressed
reducing global warming and other environmental
impacts within government operations and
throughout the community.
Partially inspired by the now-defunct Minnesota
Star Cities program and initially referred to as the
“Green Star Cities Initiative,” GreenStep Cities was
conceived in 2007 by the volunteers and staff of the
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) partnership
as an action-oriented program with the following
mission:
A voluntary program for all Minnesota cities to
identify, support, and recognize implementation of a
set of sustainable development best practices focusing
on greenhouse gas reductions that lead cities beyond
compliance and encourage a culture of innovation.
In addition to the environmental benefits, it was
anticipated that the direct benefits to cities of
implementing the best practices promoted by the
GreenStep Cities program would include:
reduced energy costs• . A focus on cost
effectiveness, particularly energy efficiency,
will result in cities saving money, and be a
demonstration of fiscal responsibility to their
constituents.
improved quality of life and desirable places •
to live and work for residents. Environmental
characteristics of a community are increasingly
important for residents and businesses. An
environmental program such as the GreenStep
Cities program can be part of a city’s broader
effort to attract and retain businesses and residents
by making the city an attractive place to live
and work. A GreenStep Cities recognition could
provide instant and credible advertisement of a
city’s effort to become more sustainable.
1 Based on information analyzed by the Weidt Group, considering less than half of existing public buildings. L. Greden, T.
McDougal, L. Steidel, J. Streff. “Minnesota B3 Benchmarking Results: prioritizing the energy savings opportunity in Minnesota
public buildings.” ACEEE 2008 Summer Study Conference Proceedings.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 3
A simple pathway for going green. • Especially
for cities without large staffing, the program
can provide a simple guide for identifying and
implementing effective actions to increase
sustainablity.
In the 2008 legislative session, this concept was
formalized in state statute with the passage of Senate
File 3096 (as found in the Laws of Minnesota
2008, Chapter 356, Section 13), which requires
a report to the legislature by February 2, 2009,
with recommendations on program design. The
legislation refers to expanding an existing Green
Star award program, already existing in state
statute, which was created to encourage Minnesota
industries to comply with state and federal laws.
(We believe, for reasons explained later in this
report, that the program would be better referred
to as “GreenStep Cities,” and refer to it as such
throughout the rest of the report.) The legislation
requires that the program focus on actions that help
meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction
goals (15% reduction by 2015; 30% by 2025;
80% by 2050). The report is to be prepared by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and
the Minnesota Office of Energy Security (OES), in
collaboration with CERTs. The report is to include
recommendations for:
1) Criteria for actions to be included;
2) What entity/entities would issue the award;
3) Length of time the award could be displayed;
4) Existing state financial and technical assistance
available to cities;
5) Sources of funding needed to implement the
program; and
6) Other issues that need to be resolved in order to
implement the program.
This report addresses all of the issues raised by
the legislation (see Appendix A for the complete
legislative language).
Approach to program
development
In the spring of 2008 The Green Institute,
coordinator for the Twin Cities region of CERTs,
was awarded a grant from the MPCA to coordinate
development of the program recommendations in
partnership with other stakeholders. The project
was consciously organized as a broad, collaborative
public-private partnership. A workgroup was
formed to coordinate the project, and met over 15
in 2008, the bike edina task Force organized a well-attended community bike ride with mayor
James Hovland to encourage bicycling in edina.
4 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Background and Research
times throughout the spring, fall, and winter of
2008 to help develop the program. This workgroup
included the following organizations:
League of Minnesota Cities•
University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable •
Development Partnerships
Minnesota Office of Energy Security, Department •
of Commerce
Pollution Prevention and Assistance Division, •
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The Minnesota Project•
The Green Institute•
Center for Energy and Environment•
Great Plains Institute for Sustainable •
Development
Urban Land Institute MN•
In order to get input from a broader group of
stakeholders, an Advisory Committee was convened
in September and December 2008 to advise on
overall program design questions. In addition, four
technical committees were convened to determine
the specific best practices to promote within four
best practice areas (see Appendices B and C for a list
of Advisory Committee and Technical Committee
members).
review of related programs
and initiatives
The workgroup team conducted a survey of related
existing and planned programs and initiatives at the
local government or community levels. These can
generally be divided into four categories, although
in reality many efforts are a combination of one or
more of the below categories.
resolutioNs AND
stAtemeNts oF CommitmeNt
Many cities and counties have made various
resolutions and commitments to reduce greenhouse
gases and achieve other environmental goals.
Most of these resolutions have as a primary goal
influencing state or federal policy. The resolutions
suggest implementation of local government
actions, although they do not represent detailed
action plans in and of themselves. The most popular
of these resolutions is the U.S. Mayors Climate
Protection Agreement, initiated by Seattle Mayor
Greg Nickels in 2005. An individual mayor, or
mayor and city, can voluntarily commit to this
agreement, which includes the following provisions:
Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets •
in their own communities, through recommended
categories of actions ranging from anti-sprawl land
use policies to urban forest restoration projects to
public information campaigns;
Urge their state governments, and the federal •
government, to enact policies and programs
to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emissions
reduction target of 7% reduction from 1990 levels
by 2012 as suggested for the United States in the
Kyoto Protocol; and
Urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan •
greenhouse gas reduction legislation.
This resolution has been adopted by 37 cities
in Minnesota.2 Also in 2005 the Sierra Club
launched its Cool Cities campaign empowering
local residents and cities to work more closely with
one another to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2007, the Sierra Club expanded its efforts
to Cool Counties whereby counties commit to
reducing their own contributions to climate change
by modifying internal operations, demonstrating
regional leadership to achieve climate stabilization
and protect our communities, helping communities
2 Cities signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement include: Apple Valley, Aurora, Austin, Bemidji, Buhl, Burnsville,
Chisholm, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Hibbing, Hutchinson, International Falls, Lake City, Mahtomedi,
Milan, Minneapolis, Mountain Iron, Nevis, Oak Park Heights, Park Rapids, Red Wing, Rochester, Rosemount, Roseville, Sauk
Rapids, St. Cloud, Saint Paul, Sunfish Lake, Tower, Turtle River, Virginia, White Bear Lake, Winona, Woodbury.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 5
become climate resilient, and urging the federal
government to support their efforts. Hennepin
County was one of the initial signatories and other
counties are considering participation.
greeNHouse gAs
iNveNtories AND pl ANs
Larger cities have conducted detailed greenhouse
gas inventories, not only of their own operations,
but also citywide. The goal of these inventories is
to identify areas on which to focus efforts, to track
results, and to develop a basis for a greenhouse-gas
action plan. The most comprehensive and widely
used framework for developing these plans is
ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection program.
ICLEI has a worldwide network of participating
cities, and provides technical help and guidance for
developing action plans. Ten cities in Minnesota are
members of ICLEI.
In Minnesota, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth,
and approximately five other cities are known to be
developing greenhouse emissions inventories and/or
action plans. The workgroup reviewed some of these
plans as well as several other cities nationally, and
offers the following observations:
For cities with adequate resources, emissions •
inventories can be an effective tool for identifying
and achieving consensus on the opportunities for
greenhouse gas reductions.
A standardized greenhouse gas emissions inventory •
and protocol for cities across the country is
still evolving and could reduce the cost, but
developing an accurate greenhouse gas inventory
at the local level can currently require significant
resources which could instead be devoted to direct
actions. These inventories duplicate some state
and federal inventory efforts.
The largest opportunity for greenhouse gas •
reduction within city government operations is
generally city buildings, followed by streetlights
and signals, water and sewer treatment, and
city vehicles. Figure 1 presents the City of
Minneapolis’s greenhouse gas emissions for city
operations, which illustrates this point. Focusing
on implementation of best practices in these
operational areas provides direct savings and puts
local governments in a position to lead by example
and to encourage the entire community to take
action.
Source: Minneapolis Carbon Footprint Project Report, draft 12/1/2008.
Figure 1: minneapolis greenhouse gas emissions from City operations (2006)
Solid Waste <1%
Vehicles 12%
Water and Sewer 18%
Streetlights and Signals 22%
Buildings 48%
6 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Background and Research
While ICLEI and others are developing •
more streamlined strategies for developing
the inventories, for midsize and smaller cities
there may be more effective ways to analyze
opportunities than developing a city-specific
emissions inventory. While accurate tracking
of results is important, impacts of individual
best practices can be tracked independently of a
comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory. See the
Next Steps section for our recommendations for
further research and analysis.
proCess-orieNteD or best prACtiCe
sHAriNg progrAms
Several programs for local governments do not
prescribe a specific solution, but rather focus
on the process to achieve goals that are set by
the local government. The Eco-Municipalities
program provides a framework for cities to
establish and track progress on self-defined goals.
There are 68 municipalities worldwide in the
Eco-Municipality Network and 25% of them are
located in Sweden. Wisconsin leads the North
American Eco-Municipality movement, with 21
eco-municipalities. Municipalities must pledge
to commit to the “Natural Step Framework”
in a sustainability plan before becoming “Eco-
Municipalities.” The network (called SEkom)
is governed by a board of politicians from nine
Swedish eco-municipalities and is administered
by a committee of civil servants. Indicators are
used by the Eco-Municipality Network (a.k.a.
SEkom) to compare eco-municipalities worldwide
on environmental performance. A set of indicators
for economic or social progress has not yet
been established, though developing both is an
intention. The Swedish Parliament established
16 Environmental Goals for 2020 in 1999 with
articulated interim targets and progress reports.
The Minnesota Sustainable Investment
Partnership is working in Minnesota to promote
land use changes at the local level as a greenhouse
gas reduction strategy. They produced A Briefing
Paper and 2008 Legislative Call to Action, which
articulated a strategy to encourage, reward, and
support better land use practices statewide, and to
create cross-silo leadership within state government
to better align existing state and local investments—
without increases in spending. Similarly, the
Urban Land Institute is working on developing an
initiative to encourage best practices within land
use development. While the Minnesota chapter of
the Institute is actively engaged in this effort, it will
have national scope.
Finally, launched in 2007, the National Association
of Counties (NACo) Green Government Initiative
provides comprehensive resources for local
governments on all things green, including energy,
air quality, transportation, water quality, land use,
purchasing, and recycling. According to NACo,
they intend through the program to: increase
education and outreach on all things green, help
educate counties and help them educate the public,
promote environmentally preferable purchasing,
facilitate an open dialogue with the private sector,
and reverse misinformed opinions that green
techniques are too costly or of lesser quality.
presCriptive ACtioN-
orieNteD progrAms
The Florida Green Building Coalition has created
what appears to be the nation’s most complete
existing prescriptive program for local governments
in Florida called the Florida Green Local
Government Standard. This standard presents a
comprehensive list of criteria, organized in terms of
local government department functions. It focuses
on improving environmental performance through a
number of mediums (energy, water, air, land, waste),
and evaluates environmental practices within city
operations, incentives and ordinances to foster green
practices, and educational activities to improve the
environment.
ICLEI is currently developing a national program
as part of a broad partnership called the STAR
Community Index. The STAR program will
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 7
create a process, as the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) program has done,
to bring together leaders in the field with the shared
goal of establishing new standard measures and
processes for greening communities. The STAR
framework will represent a roadmap that guides
local governments as they implement sustainability
and climate-related initiatives. Similar to LEED,
STAR will include tiered levels with classification
based on actions achieved in congruence with a
given level. STAR will also draw on the extensive
experience of ICLEI in building online tools and
tracking systems to assess the progress of cities in
reducing carbon emissions. The current timeline
calls for rolling out the program in 2010. It appears
that the STAR Community Index program will be
most appropriate for large metropolitan cities such
as Minneapolis and St. Paul.
review of state programs
providing technical and
financial assistance
The workgroup conducted a review of existing State
of Minnesota technical and financial assistance
programs related to sustainability. Although many
programs were found, there was no single generally
recognized source of information for all of the
programs, though many of them are listed on the
MPCA’s NextStep sustainable communities Web
site at www.nextstep.state.mn.us (see Appendix
D for a list of the programs, with more complete
information on the Web).
review of existing local
government efforts within
minnesota
The workgroup also conducted a review of 70
Minnesota cities with existing sustainability
initiatives, interviewed 24 of these cities, and
wrote case studies on 16 of the most innovative
programs. These case studies represent a diversity
of approaches and demonstrate the commitment
of local governments to sustainability efforts.
Appendix F has a list of the cities reviewed, with the
complete case studies available on the Web (www.
cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps).
size of cities in minnesota
Over 80% of Minnesota’s 5.2 million residents live
in cities of some size. Of the approximately 850
cities in Minnesota, the majority have very small
populations. Figure Two (next page) demonstrates
that nearly half of Minnesota’s city population lives
in cities with under 25,000 residents, and nearly
1 million people (24% of all city dwellers) live in
cities of under 10,000 residents.
implications for greenstep
program Design
The foregoing research has led us to the following
conclusions regarding our approach to program
design:
1. GreenStep should focus on actions (a prescriptive
“best practice” approach) to reduce greenhouse
gases and achieve other environmental outcomes.
2. Within city operations, the largest opportunities
for greenhouse gas reduction are in energy
conservation in city buildings, street lighting,
and other city facilities. Best practices for city
operations should focus on these areas.
8 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Background and Research
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000
4,500,000
5,000,000
Figure 2: minnesota’s total City population by City size
SOURCE: League of Minnesota Cities
>100,000 ..................5
75,000–99,999 .........12
25,000–74,999 .........18
10,000–24,999 .........58
5,000–9,999 .............49
2,500–4,999 .............83
1,000–2,499 ..........122
<1,000 ..................508
CitY Number
size oF Cities
177,994
289,500
341,864
962,620
602,561
732,514
944,241
196,111
3. GreenStep should make extra efforts to include
midsize and small cities. Although we believe
large cities (over 75,000 residents) could
benefit through participation in a program like
GreenStep, most of these cities already have
sustainability initiatives, and other national
programs exist or are being developed to serve
them. However, midsize and small cities could
benefit greatly from a program to help achieve
sustainability goals.
4. The program should begin by addressing the
specific needs of cities. Developing a program
to simultaneously address neighborhoods,
townships, cities, and counties was considered
but found to be too complex to do initially. Later
GreenStep could be expanded to include other
sectors.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 9
Program Design Recommendations
The workgroup recommends
creating an action-
oriented program for local
governments in Minnesota with the
following goals:
Provide a “Pathway to Sustainability” that is cost-•
effective, pragmatic, and achievable for all cities.
Achieve meaningful reductions in greenhouse •
gases and other positive environmental outcomes.
Provide assistance for local governments to •
achieve best practices in energy use reduction and
sustainable development.
Identify specific existing state agency staff and •
others who are committed to and technically
able to help cities implement each specific best
practice.
Promote innovation.•
Inspire and assist residents, businesses, and •
community institutions to take action.
Recognize local governments for their past •
accomplishments and their new efforts spurred by
the program.
The Workgroup Committee and Advisory
Committee discussed whether to expand the
program to sustainability questions beyond
greenhouse gas emissions. The consensus was that
local governments would find it valuable to include
a broader range of sustainability issues, and thus
the program should be expanded, but still retain
its primary focus on greenhouse gas reductions.
The following represent specific program design
recommendations.
best practices should be
straightforward and selected
using simple criteria
The workgroup developed the following criteria in
order to select best practices:
1. Have potential to achieve significant
reductions in greenhouse gases and other positive
environmental outcomes. Local governments should
not spend scarce resources on actions that have
minimal impact on achieving energy reductions or
other outcomes.
2. be appropriate actions for local government.
Best practices cannot be implemented unless local
government can control or predictably influence
actions within its territory.
3. simple. Maintain ease of participation and
implementation for all cities, especially for smaller
and midsize and outstate cities.
4. proven. A “consensus of experts” in development
of best practices will be required for the program.
5. practical. Focus on practical, cost-effective
strategies that give the most “bang for the buck.”
6. effective. Focus on strategies that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve other city
sustainability goals.
7. save money. Saving resources can save money;
this program will focus on efforts that accomplish
both.
program should be built
around required and optional
best practices in four areas
Best practices, sometimes referred to as best
management practices (BMPs), are actions that
have been demonstrated to help communities
achieve sustainability goals. A best practice must
be an implementation strategy designed to achieve
outcomes. These strategies generally fall into four
areas:
1. encouragement/education: using publicity efforts,
social marketing, appealing to economic self-interest
where applicable, or similar efforts that attempt to
change behavior or influence decisions of city staff,
residents, or businesses to meet sustainability goals.
10 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Program Design Recommendations
2. incentives: offering individuals or businesses
something of value to influence key decisions or
change behavior to be more sustainable.
3. regulation: using local government regulatory
powers to require, determine, or direct sustainable
decisions or behavior of residents or businesses.
4. public ownership/management: focusing
on making more sustainable investment or
management decisions that are entirely within the
public sector.
Hybrid strategies, such as incentive regulation,
exist, but these four types define nearly all types of
strategies that delineate actions cities would take.
The action must result in measurable progress
toward sustainability goals. Measurement—for
example, conducting a carbon baseline assessment—
is not an implementation strategy unless it is tied
explicitly to some specific action to be taken. The
action must be demonstrated to be achievable. A
best practice is not theoretical. Costs and benefits of
best practices need to be clearly identified, though
measurement may be difficult and cities may
find benefit from working with local educational
institutions to complete measurements. Note that
measurement is not the same as requiring cost-
effectiveness. A best practice needs to help achieve
a sustainability goal, but an individual best practice
does not necessarily have a positive economic
payback. Implementing a cluster of best practices,
however, should in the aggregate have a net positive
economic payback.
The following are the recommended categories of
best practices, with the scope of each category listed.
1. buildings and Facilities: City buildings, public
housing, other city facilities such as drinking water
plants, street and building lighting, private buildings
(residential, commercial, and industrial), green
building programs (LEED, MN GreenStar Homes,
B3, MN Sustainable Buildings 2030 Standard),
permit incentives, city financial assistance, building
codes.
sartell installed rainwater gardens in the yards of 51 residents as part of their street reconstruction projects
in two neighborhoods adjacent to the mississippi river to replenish the soil, improve water quality, bring in
native plants, and bring neighbors together.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 11
2. transportation: City fleets, green infrastructure,
complete streets, bike paths, public transit (bus,
vans, train, streetcars), private transit (car sharing,
on-demand carpooling, cabs, car rental), walking/
biking, telecommuting, TDM (transportation
demand management), traffic signal coordination,
roundabouts, traffic calming.
3. land use planning: Comprehensive plans, form-
based zoning, transit-oriented design, density and
mixed uses, city expansion zones, parking, infill
development, planned unit developments, inter-
regional corridors, green infrastructure and carbon
sequestration, working landscapes, local food,
landscaping performance standards, urban forests,
low-impact development, conservation design and
subdivisions, eco-industrial development, historic
preservation.
4. environmental management and economic
Development: Wastewater, stormwater, surface
water, groundwater, solid waste management
(purchasing, reuse businesses, composting, landfill
methane, recycling), renewable energy generation,
local food, tourism, public outreach, education and
involvement programs, tracking and benchmarking
progress.
The four technical committees have all met
several times and produced draft best practices, a
summary of which is in Appendix E. The full draft
of best practices is available on the Web (www.
cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps).
program should take a tiered
approach, focusing first on
cost-effective options for
greenhouse gas reductions
Although the required and optional best practices
have not yet been fully defined, it is anticipated
that there would be different achievement levels,
such as “Step One,” “Step Two,” and “Step Three,”
for progressively higher achievements. The first
tier would focus almost exclusively on actions that
result in greenhouse gas reductions that could be
implemented cost-effectively by all cities. Successive
tiers would focus on additional environmental
issues (such as water and waste reduction), and
successively deeper actions to cut greenhouse gases.
local governments that meet
criteria should be recognized
by the state
The workgroup recommends that a city completing
a minimal number of best practices would
be recognized by the State of Minnesota as a
Minnesota GreenStep City for three years. Yearly
recognition might happen at an event such as the
annual League of Minnesota Cities conference.
Realizing that it could take several years to complete
the actions, particularly if they require capital
budget allocations, cities would formally enroll in
GreenStep after completing the minimal number
of best practices and be recognized by the MPCA
as a program participant. After being recognized as
a GreenStep City, work on more challenging best
practices would begin, and a city would have three
years to demonstrate it had completed all of the
additional best practices to be re-recognized as a
GreenStep City at the end of the three-year period.
It is anticipated that most of the administrative
activities would take place on-line.
the mpCA prevention and
Assistance Division should
administer greenstep as a
public-private partnership
The program administrator would need to fulfill the
following functions:
Confirm that participating cities meet program •
requirements and process any required paperwork
Convene technical and advisory committees that •
would update the best practices on a periodic basis
Facilitate technical and financial assistance for •
program participants (but not necessarily be the
Program Design Recommendations
12 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
provider of technical assistance)
Provide information resources on the program, •
including Web site
Promote information-sharing between program •
participants
Market and promote the program and the cities •
participating in the program
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s
(MPCA’s) Prevention and Assistance Division has
conducted a number of activities that make them
ideally suited for administering this program. This
includes administering the Governor’s Awards for
Pollution Prevention, overseeing the Minnesota
Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), and
organizing the annual Eco Experience and Living
Green Expo at the State Fairgrounds. The Division
has active programs and expertise in greenhouse
gas reduction, green building, energy, and local
government assistance, most recently organizing
with four local government associations a
conference on local government opportunities for
energy efficiency in St. Cloud. Over 325 staff and
elected officials from cities, counties, schools, and
townships attended this conference.
It is anticipated that administering the program
would take between 1.5 and 2 full time staff
equivalents. Given the current economic
environment, it is unlikely that new state funding
would be made available for this effort. For
this reason, it is recommended that the MPCA
consolidate existing staff resources that provide
assistance to local governments under the GreenStep
Cities umbrella. These efforts could be further
leveraged by organizing the program as a public-
private partnership to fully utilize the potential
of other groups that could help administer the
program. While the MPCA would have primary
control of the program, a public-private partnership
would contribute significant involvement of
nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions,
and others with an interest in seeing the program
succeed. The MCPA could help manage partner
involvement through the creation of an advisory
committee or committees to channel their
participation.
For example, the Clean Energy Resource Teams
(CERTs) could play a key role. Over the past six
years the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
have established a network of community members
around the state who have helped develop
clean energy projects, and who are promoting
sustainability issues more broadly. We see CERTs as
an organizing body to connect communities to the
GreenStep Cities program and to encourage cities
to take part in GreenStep as a simple, practical,
effective way to kick-start sustainable development
actions in both metro and smaller Greater
Minnesota cities.
CERTs could work to help cities track their
progress and connect them to technical resources
to implement best practices. The CERTs statewide
presence and connections with technical resource
providers can help build capacity of cities statewide
to achieve these best practices. One possible
initiative would be to have CERTs facilitate “Clean
Energy Design Teams” as part of a city’s GreenStep
efforts to promote and mobilize community-
wide participation. This would be modeled on
the successful Minnesota Design Team program.
Finally, CERTs can serve as a feedback mechanism
to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and
the Green Star Steering Committee, reporting
challenges communities encounter as they work to
implement select benchmarks, possible areas for
program improvement, and success stories. CERTs
could highlight city actions via case studies and their
Monthly Update, and could help to ground-truth
city actions and accomplishments.
Utilities could also be important partners. Recent
legislation has significantly increased utilities’ need
to develop programs that save energy. Because of
its focus on greenhouse gas reduction and energy
Program Design Recommendations
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 13
conservation, GreenStep may offer utilities an
opportunity to work with cities to reduce their
energy usage.
program should be called
“greenstep Cities”
The program was originally named “Green Star
Cities” and was intended to complement four
other Minnesota programs with similar names.
The “Green Star Award Expansion” legislation
specifically mentions expanding the “Green Star”
name. The existing Green Star Environmental
Audit Program is run by the MPCA to encourage
businesses such as gas stations that may be in
noncompliance with environmental laws, to
achieve compliance. Minnesota GreenStar Certified
Homes and Remodeling, an existing green home
certification program was initially supported by the
MPCA and is now its own organization. GreenStar
Homes has submitted a trademark application for
the “Minnesota GreenStar” name, and intends
to use this trademark status to protect its brand.
Already, there has been some confusion between
the various programs even in the conceptual stage
of what was originally referred to as Green Star
Cities. In addition to serving different markets,
Minnesota GreenStar Homes and Green Star Cities
have distinct philosophies; the Homes program
focuses on rigorous standards to ensure market
differentiation, while the Cities program emphasizes
ease of entry in order to maximize participation.
In contrast to both of these efforts that emphasize
voluntary solutions, the MPCA Green Star
Environmental Audit Program focuses specifically
on compliance issues. The two other programs with
similar names are the Star Lakes program created
by the Legislature in 2008, and the now-defunct
Star Cities program. Additionally, the STAR
Community Index is expected to become a national
standard in a few years.
In order to avoid confusion and possible legal issues,
the workgroup concluded that a new name would
be best for the program. After much deliberation,
research, and consideration of multiple options, the
name “GreenStep Cities” was chosen as the best
alternative. Should the program be expanded to
other jurisdictions (counties, townships), the name
could be expanded as well (GreenStep Counties,
GreenStep Communities). As an alternate, the old
Star City name could be used and a new Minnesota
Star City program could be created.
Program Design Recommendations
elk river’s new leeD gold certified library, which opened its doors in the fall of 2007, features natural
daylighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and adjacent rain gardens.
14 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
In order to proceed with
development of the program,
the workgroup recommends and
intends to work to implement the
following next steps.
refine program design
While draft best practices have been developed by
the technical committees (see Appendix E), these
require further refinement and review before the
program begins. As the work of the four technical
committees has not yet been collectively reviewed,
potential overlaps and gaps must still be addressed.
Creating an online users guide for program
participants is also necessary prior to program
implementation.
start beta version of program
Once program design has been completed, release
a “beta” version of the program for cities. This
program would be open to all cities, but with the
caveat that there will be some program details that
still need refining. A number of cities are already
interested in helping evaluate and improve the
program. The initial experience of these and other
cities during the first year would be used to further
refine the program for broader implementation
in 2010, and to better define the program
administration and relationship with the STAR
Community Index. If the program is successful
with cities, it could be expanded to counties or
townships. Because counties and townships have
different jurisdictions and cover different issue areas,
it recommended that separate best practices be
developed if these units of government are to enter
the program.
Conduct additional
analytic work to assess
impact of best practices
This analysis would include developing estimates
of potential for greenhouse gas reductions through
GreenStep Cities efforts in order to link the
program to state greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The work of developing these estimates should
help ensure a solid basis for measuring results from
the program, an important and ongoing analytical
need for the program. In addition, the development
of greenhouse gas inventory “templates” or other
tools for cost-effectively identifying greenhouse
gas reduction opportunities could reduce the need
for cities to develop individual resource-intensive
inventories, while providing proven methods for
accomplishing greenhouse gas reduction. This tool
could provide this information based on several
select characteristics of the city; e.g., size, whether
they have a water treatment plant, and other
differentiating factors.
monitor development of
stAr Community index
and other programs
Currently the GreenStep Cities Initiative offers
a unique opportunity for Minnesota local
governments. However, there may also be
opportunities as the national STAR Community
Index is developed to partner with that larger effort.
Already members of the GreenStep workgroup are
in contact with staff for the Index.
Next Steps
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 15
Assemble an advisory
committee and
technical committees
The advisory committee would meet during the
beta phase to help set the program requirements
and advise on program implementation. The
advisory committee should represent a broad range
of stakeholders, including city administrators,
elected officials, city residents, members of the
Clean Energy Resource Teams, and nonprofit
organizations. The advisory committee could be
chosen from among those advising on this report
(see Appendix B), or new members could be
selected. Suggested composition is the following:
Ten members: identified by the League of •
Minnesota Cities
Three members: identified by MPCA & Office •
of Energy Security (a third agency could also be
represented)
Seven members: representing the seven Clean •
Energy Resource Teams statewide
In addition to this overall advisory committee, four
technical committees, chosen for expertise within
specific issue areas, should continue to refine the
best practices. This “consensus of experts” is critical
to the program design.
Next Steps
16 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
A. legislative language
[Excerpted from Senate File 3096 (Minnesota Statutes 216C.43)]
Sec. 7. REPORT; GREEN STAR AWARD EXPANSION.
8.19 The Pollution Control Agency and the Office of Energy Security in the Department
8.20 of Commerce shall, in collaboration with the clean energy resource teams (CERT’s),
8.21 submit a report by February 2, 2009, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
8.22 senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy
8.23 policy that makes recommendations regarding how to expand eligibility to receive the
8.24 Green Star award, described in Minnesota Statutes, section 114C.25, to include cities and
8.25 communities that take action to help meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction
8.26 goals established in Minnesota Statutes, section 216H.02, subdivision 1. The report must
8.27 address, at a minimum, the following issues:
8.28 (1) the criteria for actions cities and communities must take in order to receive a
8.29 Green Star award;
8.30 (2) what entity or entities would issue the award;
8.31 (3) the length of time during which the award may be displayed;
8.32 (4) existing state financial and technical assistance available to communities and
8.33 cities to assist them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
8.34 (5) sources of additional funding needed to implement the program; and
8.35 (6) any other issues that need to be resolved in order to implement the program.
Appendices
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 17
b. Advisory Committee members
Name Organization
Mary Hamann-Roland Apple Valley Mayor
William Spitzer St. Charles Mayor
Sandy Colvin Roy Minneapolis City Council
Victoria Reinhardt Ramsey County Commissioner
Janet Streff MN Dept. of Commerce, Office of Energy Security
Dave Benke MPCA, Prevention and Assistance Division
Julie Skallman MN Dept. of Transportation
John Wells MN Environmental Quality Board
Jay Trusty Southwest Regional Development Commission
Tom Harmening St. Louis Park City Manager
Klayton Eckles/Jennifer McLoughlin Woodbury Engineering & Public Works
Ellen Richter White Bear Lake Assistant to the City Manager
Paul Drotos Redwing Infrastructure Coordinator
Ken Saffert Mankato City Engineer
Patti Gartland Sartell City Administrator
Jim Hunt Mahtomedi Environmental Advisory Commission
Dave Engstrom MN Association of Small Cities
Mark Blaiser MN Chamber of Commerce—Waste Wise, Energy Smart
Lisa Frenette Builders Association of Minnesota
Sheldon Strom Center for Energy and Environment
Bob McLean Hunt Utilities Group
Susan Hubbard/Tim Brownell Eureka Recycling
John Bailey 1000 Friends of Minnesota
Terry Gips Alliance for Sustainability
Caren Dewar Urban Land Institute MN
Janne Flisrand MN Green Communities & Greater Minnesota Housing Fund
Michelle Schroeder Izaak Walton League, MN Division
Kim Pederson Otter Tail Power Company
Gary Connett Great River Energy
Bill Black Minnesota Municipal Utility Association
John Carmody Center for Sustainable Building Research
Brian Hammarsten Xcel Energy
Appendices
18 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
builDiNgs & FACilities
(staffed by Carl Nelson, Center for Energy and
Environment)
John Carmody, Executive Director, Center for •
Sustainable Building Research, U of MN
Jim Geibel, Energy Manager, City of Saint Paul•
Kathy Larsen, Housing Programs Coordinator, •
City of Saint Louis Park
Gayle Prest, Sustainability Manager, City of •
Minneapolis
Sheldon Strom, Executive Director, Center for •
Energy and Environment
trANsportAtioN
(staffed by Diana McKeown, The Green Institute
and Metro CERT and Lissa Pawlisch, UMN
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships,
CERTs Coordinator)
Annette Bair, Southwest RDC and SW CERT•
Wayne Hurley, West Central Initiative Foundation •
Barb Thoman, Transit for Livable Communities•
Steve Lawerence, Fleet Manager for City of •
Brooklyn Park
Frank Duoma, Assistant Director of the State •
and Local Policy Program at the Humphrey
Institute of Public Affairs and Research Scholar
at the Center for Transportation Studies at the
University of Minnesota
lAND use plANNiNg
(staffed by Brian Ross, CR Planning)
John Bailey, 1000 Friends of Minnesota•
Caren Dewar, Urban Land Institute MN•
Jay Trusty, Executive Director, Southwest Regional •
Development Commission
Paul Hetland, City of Freeport Administrator, •
Stearns County Municipal League
Julie Farnham, Bloomington Planner •
eNviroNmeNtAl mANAgemeNt &
eCoNomiC DevelopmeNt
(staffed by Philipp Muessig, MPCA Prevention and
Assistance, and Agatha Vaaler, The Green Institute)
Water subcommittee
Anne Gelbmann, MPCA•
Jill Sinclair, City of Chanhassan•
John Wells, MN EQB•
Bill Dunn, MPCA•
Cindy McComas, MnTAP•
Solid Waste subcommittee
Susan Hubbard, Eureka Recycling•
Mark Blaiser, MN WasteWise/Energy Smart•
Sue Bast, City of Burnsville•
Cities and Counties Involved in Source Reduction •
and Recycling
Economic and Community Development
subcommittee
Ellen Richter, City of White Bear Lake•
Tim Nolan, MPCA•
Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center•
Terry Gips, Alliance for Sustainability•
Don Hickman, Initiative Foundation•
Mark Lofthus, Minnesota Department of •
Employment and Economic Development
Appendices
C. technical Committee members
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 19
D. summary of existing state programs related to sustainability
for local governments (organized by agency)
NAme tYpe oF AiD DesCriptioN
Department of Natural resources (DNr)
Dam Safety Grant To improve the safety and condition of publicly owned dams and
water level control structures.
Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant To provide technical and financial assistance to local governmental
units for conducting flood damage reduction studies and for
planning and implementing flood damage reduction measures.
Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program Grant To preserve, protect, develop and where possible restore or enhance
coastal resources along Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior.
Remediation Fund Grant To acquire, protect, and restore natural resources, compensating
the State of Minnesota for damage to resources from the release of
hazardous substances from closed landfills.
Metro Greenways Protection & Restoration Grant Protect, connect, restore, and manage a regional network of natural
areas, parks, and other open spaces interconnected by ecological
corridors in the seven county metropolitan region through
collaborative public/private partnership.
Natural and Scenic Area Grant To increase, protect, and enhance natural and scenic areas.
Federal Recreational Trail Program Grant To encourage the maintenance and development of motorized,
non-motorized, and diversified trails by providing funding
assistance.
Off-Highway Vehicle Damage Account Grant The Off-Highway Vehicle Damage Account makes funds available
to repair damage to private or public lands caused by Off-Highway
Vehicle (OHV) operation in unauthorized or unpermitted areas.
OHV damage typically involves soil disturbance, erosion, or
rutting, but may also include damage to vegetation or property.
This account is funded by an appropriation from the dedicated
OHV accounts, and is administered by the DNR Division of Trails
& Waterways out of its Area Offices all across Minnesota.
Environmental and Conservation
Partnerships
Grant To encourage the enhancement of fish, wildlife, and native plant
habitats; research and surveys of fish and wildlife directly related
to specific habitat improvement projects; and to encourage
environmental projects and related education activities through
cooperation by private organizations and local governments.
Community Forest Bonding Grants Grant Removal, disposal, and replacement of dead or dying shade trees
located on public property that are lost to forest pests or disease.
Minnesota ReLeaf Program Grant To assist Minnesota communities with planting and caring for their
trees, to increase energy conservation, to reduce atmospheric carbon
dioxide, and to achieve other environmental benefits.
Community Conservation Assistance Grant To assist local governments with the integration of natural resources
information and data into local development and conservation
plans and policy decisions.
Appendices
20 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Appendices
NAme tYpe oF AiD DesCriptioN
legislative Citizen Commission on minnesota resources (lCCmr)
Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Grants to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance both the bountiful
and the threatened natural resources that are the collective heritage
of every Minnesotan.
metropolitan Council
Livable Communities Demonstration
Account (LCDA)
Grant Grants available for cities and municipalities to redevelop
communities, with an emphasis on creating jobs and taxable
revenue as well as mixed use/livable communities.
minnesota Department of Commerce (DoC)
Energy Information Center Technical Assistance The Energy Information Center is Minnesota’s leading source of
unbiased energy information. Call this hotline and speak to their
experts on any energy-related issues or projects.
Public Buildings Enhanced Energy
Efficiency Program
Loan The Public Building Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program
(PBEEEP) is under development and will facilitate energy
improvements for local governments including school districts
by delivering expert technical services and easy-to-use private
financing. Private capital, not State funds, will be offered at interest
rates comparable to rates on tax-exempt general obligation bonds.
Will feature State “supplemental cash flow agreements” to balance
local governments’ actual energy savings and payments due so that
investments are at least budget-neutral.
Solar Rebates Rebate Rebates for both solar electric and solar thermal installations. At
present, this program is fully subscribed and additional funding has
not been made available.
Additional Renewable Energy Funding Grants & Rebates Funding for a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy
projects as money is appropriated.
Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)Rebates and
Technical Assistance
State mandated utility conservation program. Each utility provides
funding and assistance for building energy improvements and
enhancements. Department of Commence reviews each utility’s
program.
Low-Income Weatherization Program Direct Service Federal Program administered for Minnesota by the Department of
Commerce. Weatherizes low-income residences.
minnesota Department of Commerce (DoC) & Administration
B3 - Sustainable Design Guidelines Technical Assistance Guide for new construction/major remodeling (mandated for state
bond-funded projects).
B3 - Building Benchmarking and Beyond Technical Assistance Energy benchmarking for Minnesota public (state, municipal, and
school) buildings.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 21
Appendices
NAme tYpe oF AiD DesCriptioN
minnesota Department of employment & economic Development (DeeD)
Small Cities Development Program Grants The program helps develop viable communities by providing
financial assistance for decent, safe, affordable housing, economic
development, and public facility needs; and a suitable living
environment by expanding economic opportunities, principally
benefiting low- to moderate-income households. The program
provides federal grants from HUD to local units of government
on a competitive basis for a variety of community development
projects.
Greater Minnesota Business Development
Public Infrastructure Grant Program
Grant This grant program provides funding in Greater Minnesota to build
infrastructure improvements that use Minnesota biomass energy
products to conserve energy and reduce reliance on electricity, oil,
and natural gas. The program also provides funding to stimulate
economic development by assisting local units of government
to provide infrastructure required in the creation or retention of
high quality jobs with a focus on industrial, manufacturing, and
technology-related industries and to keep or enhance jobs in a
specific location while increasing a city’s tax base.
Minnesota Investment Fund Grant The Minnesota Investment Fund provides grants to help add new
workers and retain high-quality jobs on a statewide basis. The focus
is on industrial, manufacturing, and technology-related industries.
Grants are awarded to local units of government who provide loans
to assist expanding businesses.
Redevelopment Grant Program Grant The Redevelopment Grant Program offers grants to assist
development authorities with costs for redeveloping blighted
industrial, residential, or commercial sites where a past use and the
need to recycle the land for a more-productive use exist.
minnesota Department of Health (mDH)
Indoor Air Quality Resources for Minnesota
School Officials
Grant and Technical This is a list of technical and funding assistance programs that help
to improve the indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and overall
safety of schools.
minnesota Department of transportation (mnDot)
Greater Minnesota Transit Grants Grant This capital transit facility program provides financial assistance
for major public transit facility projects in Greater Minnesota.
These funds may be used for the purchase of, renovation of, or
construction of bus garages, bus stops, administrative offices, and
other transit-related building activities.
Public Transit Participation Program Grant The Public Transit Participation Program (State/Federal Program
5311) provides financial assistance for public transit services. This
grant program supports capital, planning, and operations of transit
systems in small and large urban areas and in rural areas outside of
the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Safe Routes to School Program Grant The funds are available for a variety of projects including
infrastructure improvements, education, and enforcement that
improve the safety of bicycling and walking to and from school.
22 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
Appendices
NAme tYpe oF AiD DesCriptioN
minnesota Housing
Fix-up Fund Low-Interest, Fixed-
Rate Loans
The Fix-up Fund is a statewide program that offers affordable,
low-interest, fixed-rate loans that can be used for energy efficiency
improvements.
Community Fix-up Fund Low-Interest, Fixed-
Rate Loans
The Community Fix-up Fund (CFUF) is available to help
communities address their home improvement needs and objectives
(including energy efficiency) under geographically targeted
initiatives.
Rehabilitation Loan Program Low-Interest, Fixed-
Rate Loans
The Rehabilitation Loan program assists low-income homeowners
in financing basic home improvements that directly affect the
safety, habitability, energy efficiency, or accessibility of their homes.
minnesota pollution Control Agency (pCA)
Information Referral Index Technical List of professionals who can answer questions in most
environmental fields.
Specific Contacts for Assistance and
Information
Technical Specific list of who to call at MPCA for assistance and information.
MPCA Environmental Assistance Grant To provide financial assistance for the development of
environmentally sustainable practices in Minnesota through
voluntary partnerships and goal-oriented, economically driven
approaches to pollution prevention and resource conservation.
Financial Assistance for Nonpoint Source
Water Pollution Projects: Clean Water
Partnership, Clean Water Legacy and
Section 319 Programs
Grant Provides financial and technical assistance to local government and
other water resource managers to address nonpoint-source water
pollution through the Clean Water Partnership (CWP) and Clean
Water Act Section 319 programs.
Clean Water Legacy Act Surface Water
Assessment Grants
Grant To provide local organizations and citizen volunteers with funds to
complete the monitoring needed to meet assessment requirements
on Minnesota lakes and streams.
Capital Assistance Program (CAP)Grant To help finance the capital costs of building solid waste processing
facilities.
MS4 Stormwater Program Technical Development of municipal stormwater systems.
Clean Water Legacy Act (CWLA)
Funding Round Guidance for Stormwater
Applications for Federal Clean Water Act
Section 319 TMDL Implementation Funds
Grant About $2 million of federal fiscal year 2009 Section 319 nonpoint
source water pollution funds are included in the CWLA funding
cycle. These Section 319 funds are only available to projects that are
directly implementing an approved TMDL implementation plan.
Because Section 319 funds are nonpoint-source funds, they cannot
be used to fund practices and activities that satisfy permit (point-
source) requirements.
Climate/Energy Assistance for Local
Government
Technical Training and assistance in the areas of green building, sustainable
industrial development, community sustainability, model
ordinances, low-impact development, environmentally preferable
purchasing, transportation alternatives, and renewable energy.
Additional assistance provided by MPCA-funded Retired Engineers
Technical Assistance Program/Climate Change Corps in the areas
of energy use and carbon reductions.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 23
Appendices
NAme tYpe oF AiD DesCriptioN
minnesota pollution Control Agency (pCA), continued
Clean Water Revolving Fund Grants and Loans The Clean Water Revolving Fund, also known as the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund or simply SRF, is established under the
Federal Clean Water Act and state law to make loans for both
point-source (wastewater and stormwater) and nonpoint-source
water pollution control projects. The PFA prepares an annual
Intended Use Plan (IUP) based on a Project Priority List developed
by the MPCA. The IUP describes the projects and activities eligible
for funding during the state fiscal year.
County Recycling or Solid Waste Contacts Technical Find information on recycling or solid waste management in your
Minnesota county by contacting your solid waste administrator
(SWA) or recycling coordinator.
public Facilities Authority
Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Below-Market Loans The Public Facilities Authority (PFA) provides below-market rate
loans to borrowers to upgrade and construct wastewater facilities.
24 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal
The full draft of best practices can be found at the
following URL: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/
greensteps. It is expected that these best practices will
be further refined prior to implementation of the beta
phase of the program.
Common to all the categories is passing a city resolution,
committing to completing the requirements, and appointing a
coordinator (it can be an existing staff member) to lead GreenStep
efforts. Below is a brief summary of each of the categories.
builDiNg & FACilities
The committee focused on energy- and cost-saving strategies
that could be employed by local governments in publicly-owned
facilities and infrastructure, and encouraged in the private
sector. A city must commit to the evaluation of a majority of its
public buildings, facilities, and street lighting to identify energy
efficiency opportunities. Energy efficiency improvements will
be implemented over the course of five years, with a payback of
less than five years. The evaluation must be conducted using an
approved process. A community energy plan is also required.
lAND use plANNiNg
Land use planning is a particularly challenging issue area for
which to identify simple best practices that apply to all cities.
Therefore cities under 5,000 have separate requirements than
larger cities. The committee recommends that a comprehensive
plan be completed as a prerequisite, and cities can chose from a list
of best practices to reduce vehicle miles traveled, promote green
infrastructure and carbon sequestration, and promote sustainable
construction and waste. Notable examples of best practices include
reducing lot sizes to achieve higher density, and extensive urban
forestry and woodland preservation ordinances.
t r AN sportAtio N
The Transportation Committee developed a list of required
best practices that depends on city size, with progressively more
actions required for cities with 500, 5,000, and 50,000 residents.
Highlights include: city vehicle fleet transformation, working
with the road authority to incorporate street improvements that
reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (round-
a-bouts, pedestrian friendly design, improved street connectivity,
signage changes), a “no idling” policy, and establishing purchasing
guidelines that require future vehicle purchases to meet a specific
miles-per-gallon requirement and/or be equipped to utilize
alternative fuels.
eNviroNmeNtAl mANAgemeNt & eCoNomiC
DevelopmeNt
Best practices were split into three groups: solid waste, water
management and economic/community development. Preliminary
draft best practices – some required and some optional – include:
adopt a mandatory city environmentally preferable purchasing
policy, arrange for a residential and/or business organics collection
program, add/enlarge reuse businesses/services, document the use
of assistance programs, adopt a stormwater infiltration ordinance
standard, adopt a conservation rate structure for water withdrawls,
use a feebate system to encourage the purchase of EnergyStar
and WaterSense rated appliances, co-generate electricity and heat
from wastewater plants, certify lakes (and rivers) as Minnesota
Star Lakes, become a Tree City U.S.A., use a sustainable tourism
promotion program, plan for greater food security, emphasize
green job development, earn the MPCA Green Star environmental
compliance award, develop local renewable energy generating
capacity, inventory global warming emissions, adopt sustainability
indicators, structure the involvement of citizens and businesses.
Appendices
e. summary of Draft best practice requirements from technical Committees
Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Proposal 25
Appendices
F. list of Case studies of City-level sustainability efforts in minnesota
Full case studies can be found at the following URL: www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps
CitY populAtioN Cert regioN CAtegorY
Apple Valley 49,856 Metro Buildings
Barnesville 2,300 Northwest Environmental Management
Bloomington 81,164 Metro Transportation
Burnsville 59,118 Metro Land Use Planning
Edina 45,567 Metro Transportation
Elk River 22,000 Metro Buildings
Hutchinson 13,722 West Central Environmental Management
Mankato 34,976 Southeast Land Use Planning
Minneapolis 372,811 Metro Transportation
Mountain Lake 2,000 Southwest Environmental Management
New Ulm 13,700 Southwest Buildings
Oakdale 27,389 Metro Buildings
Prior Lake 21,400 Metro Transportation
Sartell 13,200 West Central Environmental Management
St. Louis Park 44,126 Metro Buildings
St. Paul 275,150 Metro Land Use Planning
Minnesota GreenStep Cities
February 2009