minnesota greenstep cities overview
DESCRIPTION
An overview of the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. Learn more at http://mngreenstep.orgTRANSCRIPT
Taking Actionwith Proven
Best Practices
Today’s Presentation
OverviewInside Scoop
How GreenStep WorksAccomplishments
www.MnGreenStep.org
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
Developed by and for Cities
• 2007: Started with an engaged community member and ‘Green Star Cities’
• 2008: Legislature asks for a report
• 2009: Statewide advisory committee and 4 technical committees
• 2010: Program launches at League of MN Cities conference
www.MnGreenStep.org
What is GreenStep all about?
• Providing a “Pathway to Sustainability” that is:• Cost-effective• Pragmatic • Achievable for all MN cities
• Providing assistance & peer learning for local governments to achieve best practices
• Achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases/clean air & other positive environmental outcomes
• Reducing energy costs• Promoting innovation
www.MnGreenStep.org
GreenStep City Benefits
• Claim credit, be transparent & invite citizen/business participation
• Special attention paid to GreenStep Cities• Access 40 hours of free consultant help and intern support• Learn from other cities• FREE Technical workshops on best practice topics
• 1-stop shop for the most up-to-date information
www.MnGreenStep.org
GreenStep Has Broad Uptake
• 64 Cities
• Over 25% ofMN Population
• Big & Small
• Liberal andConservative
• Urban and Rural
www.MnGreenStep.org
Participants at LMC Conference
www.MnGreenStep.org
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
www.MnGreenStep.org
Theory of Change
• Social norming & Tipping Point Theory– Participation and implementation
hinges on expectations and actions of peers.
– Assumes participation by 20% of cities would help foster a new norm for how cities incorporate sustainability best practices into operations.
– Based on the subset of small to medium size cities in Minnesota, this is about 70 cities.
www.MnGreenStep.org
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.
• Recognition occurs among peers at the LMC Annual Conference.
• Participating cities designate a Coordinator; should be “somebody’s job” to keep the effort going.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Recognition at LMC Conference
www.MnGreenStep.org
Insider Scoop
www.MnGreenStep.org
GreenStep Partners
Main Partners:• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)• League of Minnesota Cities• Minnesota Department of Commerce• Izaak Walton League – MN Division• Urban Land Institute – MN and Regional Council of Mayors• Great Plains Institute• Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
www.MnGreenStep.org
Celebration of Partnership
Environmental Initiative Annual Awards 2012www.MnGreenStep.org
GS Partners = Steering Committee
Organization and Role of Steering Committee:• Memorandum of Understanding • Overall coordination• Bi-monthly (sometimes monthly) meetings• Subcommittees: communications, recognition, Step 4 and
beyond, evaluation, etc.• Joint fundraising for non-profits• Outreach and recruitment• Technical assistance
www.MnGreenStep.org
How GreenStep Works
www.MnGreenStep.org
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
www.MnGreenStep.org
5 action options
Completion -recognition
guidance
Why take action? The
evidence
Best Practice Example
www.MnGreenStep.org
1,400 action reports to
date
Information for taking action
1st call for help
Connection to state policy
www.MnGreenStep.org
Best Practice Action Example
www.MnGreenStep.org
Best Practice Action Example:
Efficient Existing Public Buildings
Best Practice One: Action OneReduce Energy use through energy
efficiency or renewable energy upgrades in your city’s buildings
Lindsay WimmerGESP Outreach Coordinator
Clean Energy Resource Teams [email protected]
612-625-9634
Be a GreenStep City: 5 Steps
1. Build Community Support2. Identify best practices that
your city is already doing or would like to do
3. Identify a GreenStep contact person (doesn’t have to be a city staff person)
4. Have City Council sign a resolution to participate
5. 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.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Programmatic Requirements
www.MnGreenStep.org
Approve a Resolution
www.MnGreenStep.org
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.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Accomplishments
www.MnGreenStep.org
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.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Other Findings
• 21% of state’s population resides in a GreenStep City.
• GreenStep Cities are younger: have a higher population in the 15-34 year age range than the average MN city.
• GreenStep Cities vote like the average MN city.
• City staff in GreenStep Cities are:
– Motivated by cost savings and peer recognition (among other reasons)
– Driven by a strong internal city organizational culture (which includes citizen commissions)
– Valuing the coherence the program brings to what area sometimes fragmented activities
www.MnGreenStep.org
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.
www.MnGreenStep.org
BP Advisor Feedback
• Focused Workgroup?: ~ 50% said yes
• Other groups identified: public health, active living, trade and professional associations
• Actions to take: Market services to GreenStep Cities, Integrate GSC into programmatic materials and communications, Direct assistance to cities in workplan. Less interest in directing funding to GSC.
• Funding: there are a number of State grant programs that GSC could access.
www.MnGreenStep.org
City Feedback: Spring 2013
• City metrics for Step 4?: yes: 42%, no: 14%, maybe: 42%. Question is largely about how to staff it.
• Is measuring performance metrics worth it?: yes: 60%, no: 8%, 31: maybe. Concerns: veracity of information, standardized methods of measurement.
• Other feedback: Avoid a mile-wide, inch deep. Allow flexibility for small cities. Stick with measuring impacts of current practices instead of adding more actions.
• City teams?: Kind of; often with City staff. Perhaps as a Step 4 requirement.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Regional Indicators Initiative
www.MnGreenStep.org
REGIONAL INDICATORS INITIATIVE
• Coon Rapids• Duluth• Eagan• Eden Prairie• Edina• Falcon Heights• Hopkins• Lake Elmo• Maplewood• Minneapolis• Minnetonka• Oakdale• Richfield• Rochester• Shoreview• Saint Anthony• St. Louis Park• St. Paul• White Bear Lake• Woodbury
CITIES
OTHER PARTNERS
UTILITY COMPANIES
Peoples Cooperative Power Association
www.MnGreenStep.org
Regional Indicators Initiative
FAST FACTSPOPULATION: 5,762 AREA: 2.2 sq mi
HOUSEHOLDS: 2,103 JOBS: approx. 3,900HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 7,847 COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 744
PRECIPITATION: 29.4 in / yr.
GO
AL
CO
MM
ERC
IAL
/ IN
DU
STR
IAL
RES
IDEN
TIAL
85
2008
2009
kBtu / person (job) / day
Image source: Metropolitan Design Center Image Bank
153
2008
2009
[MCCAG 2025 Goal]www.MnGreenStep.org
ENERGY
Indicators: Falcon Heights
gallons / person / dayU
S Av
erag
e D
omes
tic U
se (2
005)
ACTU
AL
15220082009
Image source: falconheights.org
FAST FACTSPOPULATION: 5,762 AREA: 2.2 sq mi
HOUSEHOLDS: 2,103 JOBS: approx. 3,900HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 7,847 COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 744
PRECIPITATION: 29.4 in / yr.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Indicators: Falcon Heights
WATER
Philipp MuessigGreenStep Cities CoordinatorMinnesota Pollution Control [email protected]
Amir NadavProgram ManagerGreat Plains [email protected]
For More Information
www.MnGreenStep.org