PLA 08/20/2014 'f ---.)
Memorandum
Planning Division
DATE: August 15,2014
TO: Fridley Planning Commission
FROM: Scott Hickok, Community Development Director
Julie Jones,Planning Manager
Kay Qualley,Environmental Planner
SUBJECT: GreenStep City Designation for the City of Fridley; Review of EQEC-Approved Draft
Resolution and Recommendations
Background
.Minnesota GreenStep Cities program was established in June of 2010. This voluntary program interfaces
with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,the League of Minnesota Cities and the Clean Energy
Resource Team,with a goal shared by all member cities(the newest being our neighbor to the
northwest: Coon Rapids)and organizations of reducing and shepherding resource use through practical
and innovative best management practices.
In 2013, GreenStep program representative and Metro Director of the Great Plains Institute of the Clean
Energy Resource Team introduced the program to staff and the EQEC and explained sample best
management practices.Planning Division staff attended the full year GreenStep Cities Best Management
Practices seminars hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities. After review,the EQEC indicated their
support for the GreenStep program and asked the Environmental Planner to prepare the draft Resolution
required in support of becoming a Step One GreenStep City.This draft Resolution was approved at their
July meeting. The EQEC requested staff to move this request for Resolution approval to the Planning
Commission with a goal of introduced the accompanying draft Resolution for Council.Upon Council
passing this Resolution and Fridley becoming a GreenStep City,a survey of completed,planned and
desired best practices would be pursued in sample areas like:
• Cost Savings through Energy Use Reduction
• Air Quality Improvements
• Outdoor lights
• Conservation Design for Buildings
• Transportation and Community Mobility
• Innovative Stormwater Management
In order to achieve designation as a GreenStep City,the City Council would approve a Resolution to
pursue Step One. Subsequent to that approval,the City would work at its own pace and priorities toward
implementing GreenStep best practices and be recognized by the League of Minnesota Cities as
progressing toward status as a Step Two GreenStep City.
Recommendation
The Planning Department recommends to the Planning Commission that they endorse the Environmental
Quality and Energy Commission's draft resolution to the city council to launch the City of Fridley as a
GreenStep City, Step One. Staff supports Kay Qualley, City of Fridley Environmental Planner, as City
staff liaison to the EQEC to serve as the City's GreenStep coordinator for best practice documentation.
The Council may indicate priorities and categories of Best Management Practices for which the EQEC
and City staff will review and provide information in return,to Council. The Environmental Quality and
Energy Commission would evaluate and recommend best management practice steps for staff review of
the costs and benefits therein as part of the City's GreenStep Team.
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RESOLUTION No. :
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FRIDLEY TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS,the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 prompted the creation of a free sustainable
cities program that would assist and recognize cities that were green stars in the implementation
of voluntary programs. The 2008 Legislature, therefore, directed the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency (MPCA), Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) and the Division of Energy Resources at
the Minnesota Department of Commerce to recommend actions cities could take. A broad
coalition of public and private stakeholders including the League of Minnesota Cities, responded to
2008 legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program which now has sixty-nine(69)
member cites, including Columbia Heights and Coon Rapids; and
WHEREAS,Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary assistance and recognition program to help cities
achieve their sustainability, energy and quality-of-life goals. GreenStep is a free,continuous improvement
program, administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,based upon 28 best practices which
can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1,2 or 3-star level, from a list of four to eight
actions. These actions are tailored to Minnesota cities,focus on cost savings and energy use reduction,
and encourage civic innovation and sustainable development; and
WHEREAS, steps taken toward sustainable solutions aim to improve community quality of life,building
community capital and preserving resources as these best management steps are selected and prioritized
by the member cities; and
WHEREAS,the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists in facilitating technical assistance for the
implementation of these sustainability best practices for homes,businesses and the municipality in the
following five categories: (1)Buildings and Lighting;(2)Transportation;(3)Land Use; (4)
Environmental Management; and(5)Economic and Community Development; and
WHEREAS,the City of Fridley has adopted an Active Transportation Plan and has action steps
throughout the 2030 Fridley Comprehensive Plan that are designed to promote bicycling and walking as
alternative transportation best practices and;
WHEREAS,the City of Fridley Environmental Quality and Energy Commission(EQEC)has studied
and received presentations from the GreenStep Cites technical advisory staff and recommends that the
City Planning Commission review and City Council approve and adopt this resolution;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fridley hereby
authorizes the City to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program that offers a free,voluntary
continuous improvement framework. Passage of this resolution allows the City to be recognized as a Step
One GreenStep City.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City:
1. Appoints Kay Qualley, City of Fridley Environmental Planner, as City staff liaison to the EQEC
to serve as the City's GreenStep coordinator for best practice documentation/implementation and
the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission will serve to evaluate and recommend best
management practice steps for staff review of the costs and benefits therein as part of the City's
GreenStep team; and
2. Directs the EQEC to conduct, with the appropriate City staff,an inventory of completed,planned
and desired best practices of a Category"A"GreenStep City and to facilitate the involvement of
community members and units of government as appropriate in the planning,promoting and/or
envisioning of the implementation of GreenStep Cities best practices,to be submitted to the City
Council by March 2015; and
3. Grants to the GreenStep program's buildings advisor read-only access to the City's B3
Benchmarking Database so as to facilitate analysis and cost-savings advice to the City regarding
its buildings' energy use; and
4. Will claim credit for any best practices implemented,working at its own pace and priorities
toward implementing GreenStep best practices that will result in energy use reduction, economic
savings, quality of life improvement, improvement in air quality and recognition by the League of
Minnesota Cities as progress toward status as a Step Two GreenStep City.
5. Will post an on-going summary of the City's implementation of best practices on the Minnesota
GreenStep Cities web site.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIDLEY THIS DAY
OF , 2014.
By:
SCOTT LUND-MAYOR
ATTEST:
DEBRA A. SKOGEN - CITY CLERK
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2.
CITY OF FRIDLEY
A G E N D A
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2014 7:00 P.M.
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LOCATION: COUNCIL CHAMBERS
FRIDLEY MUNICIPAL CENTER, 6431 UNIVERSITY AVENUE NE
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES: June 18, 2014
1. Consideration of EQE Recommendations to review and make recommendations for a
Resolution for Green Step Cities.
2. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 27, 2014, PARKS & RECREATION
COMMISSION MEETING.
3. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 5, 2014, HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY COMMISSION MEETING.
OTHER BUSINESS:
4. Update on the TOD Grant Master Plan Project.
ADJOURN