6.3. SR 07-18-2011Item # (~.3.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator
DATE: August 18, 201 I
SUBJECT: GreenStep Cities Recognition Award
On June 16, the City of Elk River was recognized as a "Step 2" GreenStep City at the
League of Minnesota Cities Conference in Rochester. The City received this award for its
efforts to promote sustainability in the community. Elk River was one of only seven other
municipalities in the state to reach "Step 2," currently the highest designation achieved in the
year-old program.
Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a collaborative program from the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Department of Commerce,
and four other Minnesota nonprofits. It is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition
program designed to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through the implementation
of 28 best practices.
The program asks cities to first pass a council resolution authorizing participation, and then
to strive to complete as many of the best practices as possible. The practices are tailored to
all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction and encourage
innovation.
The City Council of Elk River passed a resolution to join GreenStep Cities on October 11,
2010. The City has currently completed 48 action steps and 13 best practices in the
program. The recent retrofit of the Ice Arena, the LEED Gold-certified library, and the
Project Conserve program were Elk River's most touted accomplishments at the League of
Minnesota Cities Conference.
The City of Elk River plans to continue to work toward "Step 3" in GreenStep Cities. To
reach "Step 3," the City must complete a minimum of three more best practices originating
from the "transportation" and "environmental management" categories of the program.
To learn more about GreenStep Cities, visit www.mngreensteps.org.
N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Counal RCA\Agenda Packet\07-18-2011\GSC%ZOMemo(2)[1].docx