An overview of the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. Learn more at http://mngreenstep.org

1. Taking Action
with Proven
Best Practices

2. Today’s Presentation
Overview
Inside Scoop
How GreenStep Works
Accomplishments
www.MnGreenStep.org

3. Overview

4. Introduction: GreenStep Cities
Taking action with proven best practices
Minnesota 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. GreenStep Has Broad Uptake
• 64 Cities
• Over 25% of
MN Population
• Big & Small
• Liberal and
Conservative
• Urban and Rural
www.MnGreenStep.org

9. Participants at LMC Conference
www.MnGreenStep.org

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Recognition at LMC Conference
www.MnGreenStep.org

14. Insider Scoop
www.MnGreenStep.org

15. 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

16. Celebration of Partnership
Environmental Initiative Annual Awards 2012
www.MnGreenStep.org

17. 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

18. How GreenStep Works
www.MnGreenStep.org

19. Best Practices
GreenStep Cities has 28
best practices in 5 categories
Buildings & Lighting
Transportation
Land Use
Environmental Management
Economic & Community Development
www.MnGreenStep.org

20. Best Practices by Category
www.MnGreenStep.org

21. 5 action
options
Completion -
recognition
guidance
Why take
action? The
evidence
Best Practice Example
www.MnGreenStep.org

22. 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

23. www.MnGreenStep.org
Best Practice Action Example:
Efficient Existing Public
Buildings
Best Practice One: Action One
Reduce Energy use through energy
efficiency or renewable energy upgrades
in your city’s buildings
Lindsay Wimmer
GESP Outreach Coordinator
Clean Energy Resource Teams
wimm0020@umn.edu
612-625-9634

24. Be a GreenStep City: 5 Steps
1. Build Community Support
2. 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

25. 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

26. Programmatic Requirements
www.MnGreenStep.org

27. Approve a Resolution
www.MnGreenStep.org

28. 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

29. Accomplishments
www.MnGreenStep.org

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Regional Indicators Initiative
www.MnGreenStep.org

36. 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

37. FAST FACTS
POPULATION: 5,762 AREA: 2.2 sq mi
HOUSEHOLDS: 2,103 JOBS: approx. 3,900
HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 7,847 COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 744
PRECIPITATION: 29.4 in / yr.
GOAL
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL
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

38. gallons / person / day
USAverageDomesticUse(2005)
ACTUAL
152
2008
2009
Image source: falconheights.org
FAST FACTS
POPULATION: 5,762 AREA: 2.2 sq mi
HOUSEHOLDS: 2,103 JOBS: approx. 3,900
HEATING DEGREE DAYS: 7,847 COOLING DEGREE DAYS: 744
PRECIPITATION: 29.4 in / yr.
www.MnGreenStep.org
Indicators: Falcon Heights
WATER

39. Philipp Muessig
GreenStep Cities Coordinator
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
651-757-2594
phillip.muessig@state.mn.us
Amir Nadav
Program Manager
Great Plains Institute
612-767-7292
anadav@gpisd.net
For More Information
www.MnGreenStep.org