Loading...
4.8 SR 04-15-2013 Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION River TO ITEM NUMBER Mayor and City Council 4.8 AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY Consent April 15, 2013 Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Resolution of Support for Hosting a Minnesota GreenCorps Suzanne Fischer, COD Director Member Jeremy Barnhart, COD Deputy Director REVIEWED BY Cal Portner, City Administrator ACTION REQUESTED Adopt by motion the attached resolution for the city to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA),if chosen as a host site for one GreenCorps member. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide initiative to help preserve and protect Minnesota's environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals. The MPCA started the program in September 2009 to address the following statewide needs: • Respond to higher energy costs by local governments. • Assist community members to take eco-friendly actions. • Reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. • Transition to a green economy. • Train new environmental professionals. Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide program designed to include members supported and deployed by the MPCA. Eligible host sites include local governments, school districts, educational institutions,and nonprofit organizations. For-profit entities are not eligible to serve as host sites. Members are placed at a host site from September 2013 through July 2014 and are required to carry out one or two specific projects. This program is funded through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service as well as through ServeMinnesota. The city hosted a GreenCorps member from September 2010 through July 2011. The member focused on energy conservation and worked primarily on Project Conserve,the city's 133 Benchmarking program and the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Action Plan. If selected to participate,the member will work on waste prevention and recycling items.They will be responsible for expanding the city's recycling and organics program and assisting local schools with waste prevention and recycling initiatives. They will also encourage sustainability at Hockey Day MN 2014, by F 0 W I A E D a r 1`4 f U R E creating recycling opportunities and encouraging use of compostable materials for organics collection with vendors. FINANCIAL IMPACT Minnesota GreenCorps members are provided a stipend of$12,100 through the MPCA for completing 1,700 hours of service. There is no salary or overhead cost to the city. Upon completion of their term, members are awarded $5,500 for higher education or toward payment of existing student loans. Members are also offered a health insurance option.Workers compensation for Minnesota GreenCorps members is covered by the MPCA. ATTACHMENTS ■ Resolution of support to be a MN GreenCorps Host Site Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\04-15-2013\GreenCorps SR_docx RESOLUTION 13-____ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING BEING A HOST SITE FOR MINNESOTA GREENCORPS MEMBERS THROUGH THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY WHEREAS, the City of Elk River has applied to host an AmeriCorps member from the Minnesota GreenCorps, a program of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), for the 2013-2014 program year; and WHEREAS, if the MPCA selects the City of Elk River, the organization is committed to implementing the proposed project as described in the host site application, and in accordance with pre-scoped position description; and WHEREAS, MPCA requires that the City of Elk River enter into a host site agreement with MPCA that identifies the terms, conditions, roles and responsibilities; BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Elk River hereby agrees to enter into and sign a host site agreement with the MPCA to carry out the member activities specified therein and to comply with all of the terms, conditions, and matching provisions of the host site agreement and authorizes and directs the environmental administrator to sign the grant agreement on its behalf. th Passed and adopted this 15day of April, 2013. ______________________________ John J. Dietz, Mayor ATTEST: __________________________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk