4.1. ECCSR 12-18-2013 9. I
City of Elk River — Energy City 2024
Action Plan
GOAL 1-GREEN ECONOMY
Targets:
A. Increase by 10 the number of Green Collar jobs by 2024. Green collar jobs shall be as those
consistent with the definition of the United Nations.
B. Increase by 10 the number of companies that are actively engaged in greening their operations.
C. Communicate Elk River as center for"Green"and "Lean" manufacturing.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Deliver a business engagement program. This program can help Elk River businesses make
measurable improvements to their environmental performance and improve productivity and
competitiveness.
2. Advocate for more Extended Producer Responsibility programs for packaging and more.
Through research and advocacy,the City will encourage the companies to take responsibility for
recycling the products and packaging they put on the market.
GOAL 2 - ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP
Targets:
A. Reduce waste matter that pollutes water, air,and soil within the city.
B. Identify and promote alternative utility sources
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Build neighborhood energy systems
a. PV system
b. Water Collection system
2. Create District Heating System
3. Develop city policy on acceptable standards and systems
4. Expand the food scraps composting program for residents.This action includes collecting all
food scraps from single-family homes and piloting food scraps collection programs in
apartments.
5. Develop education and enforcement programs to keep recyclables out of the waste stream.This
action builds on existing regulations to keep glass, metals, paper, and some plastics from the
City's garbage collection. It includes tactics to raise awareness about the importance of waste
reduction and recycling, community-based social marketing to overcome barriers, cooperation
with community groups, and enforcement of disposal bans at the household and business level.
GOAL 3 -GREEN BUILDING
Targets:
A. Promote and utilize sustainable Green building techniques and materials
B. Develop and maintain City's reputation as supportive of Green Building practices
Highest Priority Actions
1. Objectively analyze the energy component of building materials, practices,and technologies and
promote those that are cost effective in reducing energy consumption and pollutants and are,
therefore,sustainable; as long as they do not have negative effects on the healthiness of a
building or its' longevity.
2. Identify and promote local sources of energy efficient building materials to reduce energy used
for transportation and stimulate the local economy.
3. Support local and State energy related incentive programs and EDA energy-efficient microloan
programs.
4. Educate builders,owners,and the general public on the cost saving and energy reduction of
recycling building materials and demolition debris.
5. Develop a building deconstruction program.This action focuses on policies to prevent wood and
other materials from being sent to the landfill or incinerator through a process that takes apart
buildings and salvages materials, rather than a traditional demolition method.
GOAL 4- GREEN TRANSPORTATION
Targets:
A. Seek and support alternative, including pedestrian,transportation systems.
B. Increase local job growth to reduce average distance driven per resident by 20%from 2007
levels.
C. Identify and promote alternative powered transportation.
D. Reduce environmental costs associated with shipping goods to local supermarkets by
encouraging the development and use of local food resources and by educating local retailers on
alternatives.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Complete a new Active Transportation Master Plan.
2. Improve pedestrian safety.
3. Support transportation and active transportation planning.
4. Pursue the development and installation of a bike-sharing program.
5. Periodically survey residents to determine miles traveled to work.
GOAL 5 -GREEN SPACE
Targets:
A. All residents live within a 5 minute walk to green space by 2024.
B. Plant 100,000 trees planting and 10 acres of native vegetation throughout community by 2024.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Encourage expansion of green space
2. Encourage creation of self-sustaining parks (eg. Solar panels on shelters, mini wind turbines,
native vegetation—low to no mowing) (Houlton Property)
3. Partner with Sherburne SWCD to provide seedling distributions to plant 100,000 trees and 10
acres of native vegetation throughout the city by 2024
4. Increase tree planting and native vegetation through partnerships with Sherburne SWCD, Boy
and Girl Scout troops,Spectrum Community Service program, etc.
5. Identify prime vegetative communities (woodland stands. Prairie areas,vistas, etc), establish
programs to encourage the retention of same,
GOAL 6- LIGHTER FOOTPRINT
Target:
A. Reduce ecological footprint by 33%over 2014 (need baselines)
Highest Priority actions:
1. Budget for a consultant or intern to gather data by 2015—(talk to Brian B.—work for HRA
intern)
2. Get the data and measure it—electric,water, natural gas and waste
3. Based on the data create strategies to reduce footprint
GOAL 7- CLEAN WATER
Targets:
1. Meet or beat the strongest of British Columbian,Canadian, and appropriate International
drinking water quality standards and guidelines.
2. Reduce per capita water consumption by 33%from 2006 levels.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Install water metering in all new homes(prior homes were charged a flat rate regardless of
consumption)
2. Develop and implement enhanced water education, incentive, and conservation programs.
3. Expand public access to drinking water and reduce use of bottled water.
4. Eliminate combined sewer overflows...and develop an Integrated Rainwater Management plans
for the City.