HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Packet 10-22-2019 SpecialCity Council 1 of 1 October 22, 2019
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
AGENDA
Special City Council
October 22, 2019, 5:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. TOPICS
2.1 Update on Local Watersheds
Watershed Districts
2.2 Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program
GreenSteps Summary
Handout
2.3 Set future Study Sessions
November
December
January
3. ADJOURN
1
Special City
Council
October 22, 2019
Agenda
Number:2.1
To:Dave Callister, City Manager
Prepared by:Chris LaBounty, City Engineer
Reviewed by:Michael Thompson, Public Works Director
Item:Update on Local Watersheds
1. Action Requested:
Receive information and updates on the four watersheds within the City limits.
2. Background:
Staff will provide an overview of the four watersheds with boundaries within the City limits and
provide an update on water quality projects and funding of the watersheds.
The four watersheds are:
- Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission
- Elm Creek Watershed Management Organization
- Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
- Shingle Creek Watershed Management Organization
3. Budget Impact:
N/A
4. Attachments:
Watershed Districts
2
3
Special City
Council
October 22, 2019
Agenda
Number:2.2
To:Dave Callister, City Manager
Prepared by:Chris LaBounty, City Engineer
Reviewed by:Michael Thompson, Public Works Director
Item:Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program
1. Action Requested:
Receive presentation on the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program.
2. Background:
Council discussed this item at the June 25 regular council meeting and took no action. Council
subsequently scheduled this topic for discussion at a special city council meeting in order to learn
more about the program.
Phillip Muessig, MN GreenStep Cities Co-director at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, will
provide a presentation of the program and answer questions.
3. Budget Impact:
N/A
4. Attachments:
GreenSteps Summary
Handout
4
Existing City activities are anticipated to meet this action =☑
Existing City activities are working towards meeting this action =-
This action is not applicable to the City of Plymouth = NA
1. Efficient Existing Public Buildings (Required for Step 3: complete Action #1, #2, and 1 additional action)
1. Enter building information into the Minnesota B3 Benchmarking database and routinely enter monthly energy, water use data for all city-owned buildings.
2. Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs. ☑
3. Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through larger financed projects or through smaller retro-commissioning/retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings. -
4. Implement information technology efforts and city employee engagement to reduce plug loads, building energy use and workflow efficiency. -
5. Document that the new construction or major remodeling of a public building has met the SB 2030 energy standard or has met or qualified under a green building or
energy framework.
6. Improve the operations & maintenance of city-owned/school buildings and leased buildings by using a customized online energy efficiency tool, asset management tool,
green building framework or green lease.-
7. Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures:
a. A ground-source, closed loop geothermal system.
b. A district energy/microgrid system.
c. A rainwater harvesting system for building water use.
2. Efficient Existing Private Buildings (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Create or participate in a marketing/outreach/incentive program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency. ☑
2. Integrate green building best practices information and assistance into the building permit process.
3. Implement an energy rating/disclosure policy for residential and/or commercial buildings.
4. Describe energy/water efficiency actions and other green building practices at businesses located within/nearby the city.
5. Conserve drinking/groundwater resources by creating a water-wise landscaping ordinance/guidance, WaterSense purchasing program, or guidance on rainwater
harvesting and home water softener use. -
6. Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who add energy/sustainability improvements, meet the SB 2030 energy standard, or renovate using a green
building or energy framework.
7. Customize a model sustainable building renovation policy that includes the SB 2030 energy standard and adopt the language to govern commercial renovation projects
that:
a. Receive city financial support, and/or
b. Require city regulatory approval (conditional use permits, rezonings, variances, PUD status).
3. New Green Buildings (Optional: complete action #1 or #2 + any additional action)
1. Require by city policy that new city-owned buildings be built using the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
2. Work with the local school district to ensure that future new schools are built using the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
3. Adopt a sustainable building policy for private buildings; include the SB 2030 energy standard; adopt language governing new development projects that:
a. Receive city financial support, and/or
b. Require city regulatory approval (planned unit development, conditional use permit, rezoning, variance).
4. Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who build new buildings that utilize the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
5. Adopt environmentally preferable covenant guidelines for new common interest communities addressing issues such as stormwater, greywater, native vegetation,
growing food, clothes lines and renewable energy.
4. Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Require energy efficient, Dark-Sky compliant new or replacement outdoor lighting fixtures on city-owned/private buildings and facilities. ☑
2. Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals. -
3. Replace the city's existing street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes.
4. Coordinate traffic signals and/or optimize signal timing so as minimize car idling at intersections yet maintain safe and publicly acceptable vehicle speeds. ☑
5. Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project. ☑
6. Relamp/improve exterior building lighting for city-owned buildings/facilities with energy efficient, Dark-Sky compliant lighting. -
7. Replace city-owned parking lot/ramp lighting with Dark-Sky compliant, energy efficient, automatic dimming lighting technologies. -
8. Replace the city's existing traffic signals with LEDs.
5. Building Redevelopment (Optional: complete any one action)
1. Adopt an historic preservation ordinance/regulations to encourage adaptive reuse.
2. Implement the Minnesota Main Street model for commercial revitalization.
3. Plan for reuse of large-format retail buildings, or work with a local school, church or commercial building to either add-on space or repurpose space into new uses.
4. Create/modify a green residential remodeling assistance/financing program to assist homeowners in adding space or features such as EV charging, renewables to their
existing homes.
5. Adopt development/design standards and programs that facilitate infill, redevelopment, and adaptable buildings.
Buildings & Lighting Best Practices Category: BPs 1 - 5
MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES BEST PRACTICES, ACTION OPTIONS AND PROGRAM RECOGNITION MINIMUMS
Preliminary Review of Existing Actions - City of Plymouth
5
☑ 6. Comprehensive Plans (Required for Step 3: complete action #1 and #2)
1. Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a future land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity. ☑
2. Demonstrate that regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the
comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making. ☑
3. Include requirements in comprehensive and/or other plans for intergovernmental coordination addressing regional land use and watershed / wellhead impacts,
infrastructure, transportation, economic development and city/regional services. ☑
4. Include ecological provisions in the comprehensive plan that explicitly aim to minimize open space fragmentation and/or establish a growth area with expansion
criteria.
5. Adopt climate mitigation and/or energy independence goals and objectives in the comprehensive plan or in a separate policy document, and include transportation
recommendations such as becoming an EV-ready city.
7. Efficient City Growth (Optional: complete at least 1 action)
1. Limit barriers to higher density housing by including in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map:
a. Neighborhood single-family density at 7 units/acre or greater.
b. Multi-family housing at a gross density of at least 15 units/acre adjacent to a commercial zoning district or transit node.
2. Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
a. Incorporate a flexible lot size/frontage requirement for infill development.
b. Use density and floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses in selected residential zoning districts.
c. Cluster residential development; tie a regulatory standard to comprehensive plan language defining compact city expansion zones that limit low-density
development.
d. Allowing accessory dwelling units, single-room occupancy housing, senior housing, co-housing or tiny houses / apartments by right in selected zoning districts.
3. Achieve higher intensity commercial/industrial land uses through at least one of the following strategies:
a. Include in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map a commercial district with reduced lot sizes and zero-lot-line setbacks, or a FAR minimum of 1.
b. Set targets for the minimum number of employees/acre in different commercial zones.
4. Provide incentives for infill projects, or for life-cycle housing at or near job or retail centers, or for achieving an average net residential density of seven units per acre.
5. Modify the city zoning ordinance and zoning map to allow, without variance or rezoning in at least one district, developments that meet the prerequisites for LEED for
Neighborhood Development certification.
☑ 8. Mixed Uses (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Organize or participate in a community planning/design process for the city/a mixed use district. -
2. Locate or lease a school, city building or other government facility that has at least two of these attributes: ☑
a. Adjacent to an existing employment or residential center. ☑
b. Designed to facilitate and encourage access by walking and biking. ☑
c. Accessible by regular transit service. ☑
3. Modify a planned unit development ordinance to emphasize mixed use development, to limit residential PUDs to areas adjacent to commercial development, and/or to
add sustainability features.
4. Report that a (re)development meets a city/community-determined minimum point threshold under the Equitable Development Scorecard or LEED-ND (Neighborhood
Development).
5. Have a downtown zoning district that allows residential and compatible commercial development. ☑
6. Incorporate form-based zoning approaches into the zoning code, in those areas where a diverse mix of uses is desired.
7. Create incentives for vertical mixed-use development in appropriate locations (downtown, commercial districts near colleges or universities, historic commercial
districts).
☑ 9. Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development (Optional: complete any 1 action)
1. Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster.
2. Participate in regional economic development planning with representatives from surrounding townships, cities, the county and business interests to: -
a. Estimate commercial/industrial needs among all jurisdictions.
b. Jointly implement recommendations to stage highway/auto-oriented commercial development in order to avoid overbuilding and expensive low-density
development. ☑
3. Adopt infrastructure design standards that protect the economic and ecologic functions of the corridor through clustering of development and incorporating access
management standards. ☑
4. Allow auto-oriented commercial districts at the sub-urban edge and/or in tightly defined and smaller urban development corridors/nodes that have some
bike/walk/transit access.
5. Adopt development policies for large format developments, such as a scorecard approval process, tax productivity thresholds, size caps, bans, required
decommissioning of vacant property.
☑ 10. Design for Natural Resource Conservation (Optional: complete at least 1 action)
1. Conduct a Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment (NRI or NRA); incorporate protection of priority natural systems or resources such as groundwater through the
subdivision or development process.
2. For cities outside or on the fringe of metropolitan areas, conduct a build-out analysis, fiscal impact study, or adopt an urban growth boundary and a consistent capital
improvement plan that provides long-term protection of natural resources and natural systems, and agricultural practices outside the boundary. NA
3. For cities within metropolitan areas, incorporate woodland best management practices addressing protection of wooded areas into zoning or development review. ☑
4. Adopt a conservation design policy; use a conservation design tool in negotiating development agreements in cities with undeveloped natural resource areas.
5. Develop/fund a conservation easement program, such as a purchase of development rights program, in collaboration with a land trust.
6. Conserve natural, cultural, historic resources by adopting or amending city codes and ordinances to support sustainable sites, including roadsides, and
environmentally protective land use development.
7. Be recognized under the Bird City Minnesota or Community Wildlife Habitat program.
Land Use Category: BPs 6 - 10
6
11. Living Streets (Required for Step 3: complete action #1 and any 2 additional actions)
1. Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
2. Adopt zoning language or approve a development project that follows green street and/or walkable streets principles.
3. Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
4. Identify, prioritize and remedy complete streets gaps and lack of connectivity/safety within your road network by, for example, adding a bike route/lane, truck route,
sidewalk or mid-block alley.
5. Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking. -
6. Implement traffic calming policy/measures, including road diets, roundabouts, shared space and depaving, in at least one street redevelopment project.
☑ 12. Mobility Options (Required for Step 3: complete any 2 options)
1. Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means: ☑
a. Produce/distribute route maps, signage or a web site. ☑
b. Document increased bike facilities, such as racks, bike stations or showers. ☑
c. Add bus infrastructure, such as signage, benches, shelters, park and ride lots, and real-time arrival data-streaming. ☑
d. Increase the number of employers promoting multiple commuting options, including offering qualified transportation fringe benefits instead of only a tax-free
parking fringe benefit.
e. Be recognized as a Walk Friendly or Bicycle Friendly Community.
2. Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program. ☑
3. Prominently identify mobility options: transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; ridesharing/cab services; rental cars; bikes; airports. ☑
4. Promote carpooling or ridesharing among community members, city employees, businesses, high schools and institutions of higher education.
5. Launch telework/flexwork efforts in city government, businesses or at a local health care provider.
6. Add/expand transit service, or promote car/bike sharing. ☑
7. Implement multimodal transportation best management practices in the workplace for city employees.
☑ 13. Efficient City Fleets (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Efficiently use your existing fleet of city vehicles by encouraging trip bundling, video conferencing, carpooling, vehicle sharing and incentives/technology. ☑
2. Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions. ☑
3. Phase-in no-idling practices, operational and fuel changes, and equipment changes including electric vehicles, for city or local transit fleets.
4. Phase in bike, foot or horseback modes for police, inspectors and other city staff.
5. Document that the local school bus fleet has optimized routes, start times, boundaries, vehicle efficiency and fuels, driver actions to cut costs including idling reduction,
and shifting students from the bus to walking, biking and city transit.
6. Retrofit city diesel engines or install auxiliary power units and/or electrified parking spaces, utilizing Project GreenFleet or the like.
14. Demand-Side Travel Planning (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Reduce or eliminate parking minimums; add parking maximums; develop district parking.-
2. For cities with regular transit service, require or provide incentives for the siting of retail services at transit/density nodes.
3. For cities with regular transit service, require or provide incentives for the siting of higher density housing at transit/density nodes.
4. Adopt a travel demand management plan for city employees or incorporate into development regulations TDM or transit-oriented development standards or LEED for
Neighborhood Development certification.
15. Sustainable Purchasing (Required for Step 3: complete action #1 and any additional action)
1. Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy or administrative guidelines/practices directing that the city purchase at least:
a. EnergyStar certified equipment and appliances and
b. Paper containing at least 30% post-consumer recycled content.
2. Purchase energy used by city government - via the municipal utility, green tags, community solar garden, 3rd party - with a higher renewable percentage than required
by Minnesota law.
3. Establish a local purchasing preference and, working with a local business association, develop a list of locally-produced products and suppliers for common purchases.
4. Require purchase of U.S. EPA WaterSense-certified products.
5. Set minimum standards for the percentage of recycled-content material in asphalt and roadbed aggregate or other construction materials, and for compost and warm
mix asphalt use.
6. Require printing services to be purchased from companies certified by Minnesota Great Printers or by the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership.
7. Lower the environmental footprint of meetings and events in the city.
8. Use state and national green standards/guidelines for at least 3 categories of purchasing/investments such as electronics, cleaning products, flooring/coatings.
☑ 16. Urban Forests (Required for Step 3: complete any 2 actions)
1. Certify as a Tree City USA. ☑
2. Adopt best practices for urban tree planting/quality; require them in private developments and/or use them in at least one city project. -
3. Budget for and achieve resilient urban canopy/tree planting goals. -
4. Maximize tree planting along your main downtown street or throughout the city. -
5. Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance. ☑
6. Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:☑
a. Having trained tree specialists.☑
b. Supporting volunteer forestry efforts.☑
c. Adopting an EAB management plan / climate adaptation plan for the urban forest ☑
Transportation Category: BPs 11 - 14
Environmental Management Category: BPs 15 - 23
7
☑ 17. Stormwater Management (Required for Step 3: complete any 1 action)
1. Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS). ☑
2. Complete the GreenStep Municipal Stormwater Management Assessment.
3. Adopt by ordinance one or more of the following stormwater infiltration/management strategies: -
a. A narrower streets provision that permits construction of 22- or 24-foot roads for public, residential access and subcollector streets (with fewer than 500
average daily trips). -b. For sites less than one acre, retain the water quality volume of 1.1 inches of runoff from all impervious surfaces for new and fully-redeveloped construction
sites. -
c. For non-MS4 permittees, adopt an illicit discharge prohibition rule or ordinance and an erosion and sediment control ordinance. NA
4. Create a stormwater utility that uses variable fees to incentivize stormwater infiltration, minimize the volume of and pollutants in runoff, and educate property owners.
5. Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices: ☑
a. Rain gardens/infiltration practices. ☑
b. Rainwater harvesting practices.
c. Green alleys or green parking lots.
d. Pervious/permeable pavement or pavers.
e. Green roofs / green walls.
f. Tree trenches / tree boxes.
6. Reduce de-icing and dust suppressant salt use to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution.☑
☑ 18. Parks and Trails (Optional: complete any 3 actions)
1. Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces. ☑
2. Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas where new development is planned. ☑
3. Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members. ☑
4. Adopt low-impact design standards in parks and trails that infiltrate or retain all 2 inch, 24-hour stormwater events on site.
5. Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following: ☑
a. Low maintenance turf management; native landscaping; organic or integrated pest management; pollinator/monarch-safe policies. ☑
b. Recycling/compostables collection; use of compost as a soil amendment.
c. Sources of nonpotable water, or surface/rain water, for irrigation.
6. Certify at least one golf course in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
7. Document that the operation and maintenance, or construction / remodeling, of at least one park building used an asset management tool, the SB 2030 energy
standard, and/or a green building framework.
8. Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration and stewardship projects. ☑
☑ 19. Surface Water (Optional: Complete action #4 and at least 1 additional action)
1. (Action deleted on 09/22/2015)
2. Conduct or support multi-party community conversations around improving local water quality and quantity. ☑
3. Adopt and report on measurable, publicly announced surface water improvement targets for water bodies, including the percent of lake, river, wetland and ditch
shoreline with at least a 50-foot vegetation buffer.-
4. Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas; reduce flooding and costs through The National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating
System. ☑
5. Adopt goals to revegetate shoreland and create a local program or outreach effort to help property owners with revegetation.
6. Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan. ☑
7. Create/assist a Lake Improvement District. -
20. Efficient Water and Wastewater Facilities (Optional: complete action #1, #2, and at least 1 additional action)
1. Compare the energy use and performance of your facilities with other peer plants using standardized, free tools.
2. Plan and budget for motor maintenance and upgrades so as to assure the most energy efficient, durable and appropriate equipment is available when upgrades or
break downs occur. -
3. Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems. ☑
4. Assess energy and chemicals use at drinking water / wastewater facilities and report on implemented changes that had a short payback period.
5. (Action deleted on 06/17/2012)
6. Implement a wastewater plant efficiency project (co-generation, water reuse) or a program for local private business operations (water conservation, water reuse,
business co-location).☑
7. Create a demand-side pricing program to reduce demands on water and wastewater systems. ☑
☑ 21. Septic Systems (Optional: complete any 1 action)
1. Report to landowners suspected noncompliant or failing septic systems as part of an educational, informational and financial assistance and outreach program designed
to trigger voluntary landowner action to improve septic systems.
2. Use a community process to address failing septic systems.
3. Clarify/establish one or more responsible management entities for the proper design, siting, installation, operation, monitoring and maintenance of septic systems. ☑
4. Adopt a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota Counties' model ordinance.
5. Create a program to finance septic system upgrades.
6. Work with homeowners and businesses in environmentally sensitive areas and areas where standard septic systems are not the least-cost option to promote innovative
waste water systems, including central sewer extensions.
7. Arrange for assistance to commercial, retail and industrial businesses with water use reduction, pollution prevention and pretreatment prior to discharge to septics.NA 8
☑ 22. Solid Waste Reduction (Optional: complete action #1, #2, and at least 1 additional action)
1. Improve city operations and procurement to prevent and reuse, recycle and compost waste from all public facilities (including libraries, parks, schools, municipal health
care facilities), and minimize use of toxics and generation of hazardous waste.-
2. Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through encouragement/implementation of one or more of: (a) Education on needless consumption, waste
prevention and alternatives, including product stewardship / producer responsibility; (b) Reuse options; (c) Recycling / composting options; (d) Credits, fees; (e) Mandates,
bans.
☑
3. Improve profitability, legal compliance and conserve resources through adoption of ordinance language, licensing and resource management contracts.☑
4. Publicize, promote and use the varied businesses/services collecting and marketing used, repaired and rental consumer goods, especially electronics, in the
city/county. ☑
5. Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source separated organics collection/management program. -
6. Improve recycling services and expand to multi-unit housing and commercial businesses.
7. Improve/organize residential trash, recycling and organics collection by private and/or public operations and offer significant volume-based pricing on residential
garbage and/or incentives for recycling.
8. Adopt a construction and demolition ordinance governing demolition permits that requires a level of recycling and reuse for building materials and soil/land-clearing
debris.
☑ 23. Local Air Quality (Optional: complete any 2 actions)
1. Conduct an education/financial assistance campaign around one of the following residential wood burning/auto exhaust issues: ☑
neighbors. ☑
b. Indoor wood burning technology, to result in community members upgrading from inefficient/more polluting fireplaces and wood stoves to pellet/gas/biogas
devices, air source heat pumps, or the most efficient certified wood stoves.
c. Smoker cars - older model/high polluting vehicles, to result in repairs spurred by repair vouchers.
2. Regulate outdoor wood burning, using ordinance language, performance standards and bans as appropriate, for at least one of the following: ☑
a. Recreational burning. ☑
b. Outdoor residential wood boilers.
3. Conduct one or more policy or education/behavior change campaigns on the topics below and document: ☑
a. Decreased vehicle idling in specific locations.
b. Participation in the Air Aware Employers program.
c. Adoption of a smoking-free policy at one or more multi-unit housing buildings, private or public. ☑
d. Replacement of gasoline-powered small equipment with lower polluting equipment.
e. Increased sales by retail stores of low and no-VOC household products.
4. Document the participation of businesses in emission/idling reduction efforts/programs.
5. Install, assist with and promote publicly available EV charging stations or public fueling stations for alternative fuel vehicles.
24. Benchmarks & Community Engagement (Required for Step 3: complete action #1, #2, and 1 additional action)
1. Use a city commission, or a committee to lead, coordinate, and report to and engage community members on implementation of sustainability best practices. ☑
2. Organize goals/outcome measures from all city plans and report to community members data that show progress toward meeting these goals.
3. Measure and report progress on sustainability indicators including energy use/greenhouse gas emissions, social vitality/social inclusion outcome measures.
4. Conduct or support a broad sustainability education and action campaign involving:
a. The entire community.
b. Homeowners.
c. Front yards/sidewalks, block clubs, neighborhood associations.
d. Congregations.
e. Schools, colleges.
5. Conduct or support a community education, visioning and planning initiative using a sustainability framework such as:
a. Strong Towns, resiliency, transition initiatives.
b. Eco-municipalities, Smart Cities.
c. Healthy communities, environmental justice, race equity.
6. Engage community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government.
☑ 25. Green Business Development (Required for Step 3: complete at least 2 actions)
1. Grow new/emerging green businesses and green jobs through targeted assistance and new workforce development.
2. Create or participate in a marketing/outreach program to connect businesses with assistance providers, including utilities, who provide personalized energy, waste or
sustainability audits and assistance. ☑
3. Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city.
4. Strengthen value-added businesses utilizing local "waste" material.
5. Lower the environmental footprint of a brownfield remediation/redevelopment project beyond regulatory requirements; report brightfield projects.
6. Promote green businesses that are recognized under a local, regional or national program.
7. Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.☑
26. Renewable Energy (Optional: complete 2 actions)
1. Adopt wind energy and/or biomass ordinances that allow, enable or encourage appropriate renewable energy installations.
2. Promote resident/business purchases and/or generation of clean energy by:
a. A local/municipal utility's green power purchasing program that allows residents/businesses to order/buy new renewable energy.
b. Making residents/businesses aware of available community solar subscriptions.
c. Creating and sharing a map of the community's solar resource and/or linking to the MN Solar Suitability App.
Economic & Community Development Category: BPs 24 - 29
9
d. Connecting residents/businesses with the Clean Energy Project Builder for potential installers.
3. Promote financing and incentives programs such as PACE for clean energy:
a. PACE for commercial property owners to install renewable energy systems, energy efficiency measures and EV charging infrastructure.
b. Local, state and federal financial incentives for property owners to install renewable energy systems.
c. Local/municipal utility renewable energy production incentives and rebates.
4. Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community renewable energy project by:
a. Serving as a host site for a community solar garden.
b. Facilitating development, by the municipal utility or other entity, of a community solar garden that ensures accessibility and availability to low-income residents.
c. Report city government community solar garden subscriptions, green tag purchases and 3rd party solar purchases under action 15.2.
5. Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, micro-hydro.
6. Report installed private sector-owned renewable energy / energy efficient generation capacity with at least one of the following attributes:
a. Fueled by flowing water, sun, wind, or biogas.
b. Fueled in part or whole by manure or woody (EAB) biomass, optimized for minimal air and other environmental impacts and for energy efficiency and water
conservation.
c. Distributing heating/cooling services in a district energy system.
d. Producing combined heat and power; using a microgrid.
e. Energy storage integrated into a renewable energy installation.
7. Become a solar-ready community, including adopting ordinance/zoning language and an expedited permit process for residents and businesses to install solar energy
systems.
27. Local Food (Optional: complete at least 1 action)
1. Incorporate working landscapes - agriculture and forestry - into the city by adopting an ordinance for one or more of the following:
a. An agriculture and forest protection district.
b. A local food production district.
c. Performance standards for minor and major agricultural retail.
2. Facilitate creation of home gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily residential developments.
3. Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
a. A farmer's market or co-op buying club.
b. An urban agriculture business or a community-supported agriculture (CSA) arrangement between farmers and community members/employees.
c. A community or school garden, orchard or forest.
4. Measurably increase institutional buying, and sales through groceries and restaurants.
a. Purchasing of local/organic/humane/equitable foods by schools, hospitals, nursing homes and event centers.
b. Sales of local/organic/humane/equitable food in markets, retail food co-ops, rural grocery stores, urban convenience stores, food carts/trucks, hotels and
restaurants.
28. Business Synergies and EcoDistricts (Optional: complete 1 action between #2 - #4)
1. Help businesses register as users of the Minnesota Materials Exchange and document their exchanges/sales of byproducts with other local/regional businesses.
2. Document that at least one business/building uses waste heat or water discharge from another business.
3. Require, build or facilitate at least four attributes in a business/industrial park project: -
a. Shared parking/access OR shared recreation/childcare facilities. ☑
b. Green product development, manufacturing or sales OR a green job training program..
c. Buildings located within walking distance of transit and/or residential zoning.
d. Renovated buildings OR buildings designed for reuse. ☑
e. Green buildings built to exceed the Minnesota energy code by 20% OR renewable energy generated on-site.
f. Combined heat and power (CHP) generation capacity, shared geothermal heating/cooling, microgrid OR energy storage.
g. Low-impact site development.
4. Use 21st century ecodistrict tools to structure, guide and link multiple green and sustainable projects together in a mixed-use neighborhood/development, aiming to
deliver superior social, environmental and economic outcomes.
29. Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience (Required for Step 3: complete action #1)
1. Prepare to maintain public health and safety during extreme weather and climate-change-related events, while also taking a preventive approach to reduce risk for
community members.-
2. Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.
3. Increase social connectedness through engagement, capacity building, public investment, and opportunities for economically vulnerable residents to improve their
economic prosperity.
4. Encourage private sector action and incentivize investment in preventive approaches that reduce risk and minimize impacts of extreme weather and the changing
climate for human health and the built environment.
5. Protect public buildings and natural/constructed infrastructure to reduce physical damage and sustain their function during extreme weather events.-
6. Reduce the urban heat impacts of public buildings, sites, and infrastructure and provide resiliency co-benefits.
7. Protect water supply and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce physical damage and sustain their function during extreme weather events.-
8. Improve local energy resilience by minimizing fuel poverty, installing distributed renewable energy systems, and developing microgrids that can improve energy system
resiliency.
10
A voluntary challenge, assistance &
recognition program for accelerating
sustainability actions
www.MnGreenStep.org 11
Key Program Elements
www.MnGreenStep.org
•Voluntary; self-paced
•Free to join
•180 possible actions grouped
•into 29 best practices
•Technical assistance
•Recognition by LMC
•Continuous improvement
framework
12
Key Program Outcomes
•126 cities, 3 tribes: > 50% of
MN cities over 5,000 are a GS
city
•47% of MN’s population
•Big (300,000) & small (260)
•Non-partisan acceptance
•Urban and rural
•4,100 best practice actions
recorded
•$6.5M/yr. savings (20 cities)
www.MnGreenStep.org
13
Developed by and for MN Cities
2007: “Green” Star City concept
emerges @ CERTs, GPI, Hunt
Utilities Group
2008: Legislature asks for a
report
2009: Advisory & technical
committees convened
2010: Program launch @
League of MN cities conference
2012, 2016: Awards from
Environmental Initiative, U
of M (State Gov. Innovation)
2016/17: City metrics
Message from cities: ‘deal
with more than climate /
energy’
14
GreenStep Partners:
provide 4 full-time staff
Main Partners:
•League of Minnesota Cities
•3 State Agencies: MPCA, EQB, Commerce
•Great Plains Institute
•Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs @ UofM)
•3 other non-profits:
Izaak Walton League –MN Division
Urban Land Institute –MN, & Regional Council of Mayors
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (now Rethos)
www.MnGreenStep.org
15
GreenStep: a program like scouting,
faith organizations, Tree City U.S.A.
We join ‘programs’ so that we
can:
pay more attention, be intentional,
accelerate action, get assistance
document progress
share progress with community
learn from peers
be recognized by peers
choose our own path
proceed at our own pace
www.MnGreenStep.org
16
Why Cities Join: survey results
www.MnGreenStep.org
Cost Savings: spend
same $ better
Peer Recognition
Framework built
around more than
environment
Support for staff –save
time on research
Structure for civic groups,
commissions
17
Program Elements
•Best practices: 29
•BP actions: 180
•Action rating: at 1,2,3 Stars [good, better, best]
•Recognition levels:
–Step 1: join
–Step 2: complete any 8 BPs [8 for A cities]
–Step 3: complete 16 BPs with a few high
priority ones
–Step 4 : report city performance metrics
–Step 5: show metric improvement
City categories [capacities]: A, B, C
www.MnGreenStep.org
18
Best Practices
•Living Streets
•Mobility Options
•City Fleets
•Demand-Side
Travel Planning
•Public Buildings
•Private Buildings
•New Buildings
•Lighting & Signals
•Building
Redevelopment
•Comp Plans
•City Growth
•Mixed Uses
•Auto-oriented
Development
•Design for
Natural
Resource
Conservation
19
Best Practices (con’t)
•Sustainable Purchasing
•Urban Forests
•Stormwater
•Parks & Trails
•Water & Wastewater
Facilities
•Septic Systems
•Solid Waste Reduction
•Local Air Quality
•Benchmarks &
Community
Engagement
•Green Business
Development
•Renewable Energy
•Local Food
•Business Synergies
•Climate Adaptation &
Community Resilience
20
Each best practice is identified with a ‘major benefit’
accruing to cities that complete
actions under that best practice
21
Step 3
completion /
recognition
guidance
Documented
benefits from
taking action
The argument
for taking action
Best Practice goal
First call for
help, ideas,
perspective,
funding
4 optional
actions
22
1,2,3-star
completion
guidance
Reports from cities
Actions are of 5 types:
•City policy, ordinances,
regulations, incentives
•Investments of $
•Staffing of city
assistance programs
•Information/education
•Collaboration
23
Reports from cities: peer learning
Attributes of actions:
•Action vs. planning
•Actions big & small
•Actions to engage ‘top
management:’
electeds, commissions,
staff, civic groups
24
Measuring Impact:
Regional Indicators Initiative
25
Measuring Impact:
Step 4/5 Metrics
www.MnGreenStep.org
Example: Infrastructure for Walking/Biking
% of housing within 1 mile of a bike
route
WalkScore for your city or downtown
Miles of new or reconstructed
sidewalks & trails last year
26
Philipp Muessig
GreenStep Cities Program Coordinator
At the MPCA
Click “Contact” on GreenStep home page
Questions, Comments, Discussion
www.MnGreenStep.org
27
Special City
Council
October 22, 2019
Agenda
Number:2.3
To:Dave Callister, City Manager
Prepared by:Sandy Engdahl, City Clerk
Reviewed by:Laurie Hokkanen, Administrative Services Director
Item:Set future Study Sessions
1. Action Requested:
Schedule Study Sessions and/or add topics as desired. Calendars are attached to assist with
scheduling.
2. Background:
Pending Study Session Topics (at least three Council members have approved the following study
items on the list):
-IOCP Affordable Workforce Housing Tour
Other Council requests for Study Session Topics:
None at this time.
Staff requests for Study Session Topics:
-Dundee Nursery Redevelopment Concept Plan (suggest December 10 at 5:30 p.m.)
3. Budget Impact:
N/A
4. Attachments:
November
December
January
28
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1
2
3 4 5
6 7 8 9
10 11 12
13 14
15 16
17 18 19 20
21
22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
November 2019
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR Phone: 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov
5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Budget, CIP, Utility Rate Study Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Medicine Lake Room
5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Review Board and Commission Applications Medicine Lake Room 7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
SUN TUES MON THUR FRI SAT
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
CITY OFFICES CLOSED
CITY OFFICES CLOSED
VETERANS DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED
7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Plymouth Ice Center
7:00 PM HOUSING AND RE-
DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Parkers Lake Room
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Council Chambers
Plymouth Arts Fair Plymouth Creek Center
Plymouth Arts Fair
Plymouth Creek Center
29
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
December 2019
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR Phone: 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
7:00 PM HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
Parkers Lake Room
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Council Chambers 7:00 PM CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Council Chambers
CHRISTMAS DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED
CHRISTMAS EVE CITY OFFICES CLOSED AT NOON
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Old Fashioned Christmas Plymouth Creek Park
5:30 PM SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Board and Commission Interviews Medicine Lake Room
30
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17
18
19 20
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BIRTHDAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED
21 22 23 24
25
26 27 28 29 30 31
January 2020
3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 OFFICIAL CITY CALENDAR 763-509-5080 plymouthmn.gov
7:00 PM PARK & REC ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING Council Chambers
SUN TUES MON WED THUR FRI SAT
CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Council Chambers
7:00 PM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING Medicine Lake Room
7:00 PM HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
MEETING
Parkers Lake Room
NEW YEAR’S DAY CITY OFFICES CLOSED
7:00 PM REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers
Absentee Voting begins for Presidential Nomination Primary Election
6:00 PM-8:00 PM Skate the Garden Millennium Gardens Pond
6:30 PM-10:00 PM After Hours at the Creek Plymouth Creek Center
31