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6.1. ECCSR 01-15-2014 EXECUTIVE SUM MARY Energy City Action Plan Our goal is to make Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota Ambitious, necessary, and possible—this is the Energy City Action Plan for the City of Elk River. This plan outlines the steps toward realizing a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for our city. It challenges residents, business, and city leaders to create a better future for the next generation. This plan sets out a clear vision of that future, with concrete targets and the steps and metrics required to achieve each one of them. Between now and 2024 there will be much to learn and accomplish to achieve our goal of making Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota. But the Energy City Commission has little doubt that the results will improve our quality of life and make us even more competitive in the future economy,while enabling us to live a better balance with Earth's natural systems,truly being Powered by Nature. The Energy City Action Plan is divided into 7 smaller plans each with identifiable goals. Together,these 7 plans address three areas of focus: carbon, waste, and ecosystem. Summaries of each plan are provided in the following pages, highlighting targets, and the strategies to accomplish the goals. • 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 Environment Program: "work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and service activities that contribute(s) substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution." 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 Explore 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. 6. Advocate appropriate changes to regulatory framework to incentivize green building. 5, 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. EXECUTIVE SUM MARY Energy City Action Plan Our goal is to make Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota Ambitious, necessary, and possible—this is the Energy City Action Plan for the City of Elk River. This plan outlines the steps toward realizing a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for our city. It challenges residents, business, and city leaders to create a better future for the next generation. This plan sets out a clear vision of that future, with concrete targets and the steps and metrics required to achieve each one of them. Between now and 2024 there will be much to learn and accomplish to achieve our goal of making Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota. But the Energy City Commission has little doubt that the results will improve our quality of life and make us even more competitive in the future economy, while enabling us to live a better balance with Earth's natural systems, truly being Powered by Nature. The Energy City Action Plan is divided into 7 smaller plans each with identifiable goals. Together,these 7 plans address three areas of focus: carbon,waste, and ecosystem. Summaries of each plan are provided in the following pages, highlighting targets, and the strategies to accomplish the goals. City of Elk River — Energy City 2024 Action Plan GOAL 1—GREENktil ECONOMY Targets: A. Increase by a factor of 10 the number of Green Collar jobs by 2024. Green collar jobs shall be as those consistent with the definition of the United;$atiohsgtz]. B. Increase by a factor of 10 the number of companies that are actively engaged in greening their operations. C. Communicate Elk River as center for"Green"and"'Lean" manufactttrin jal. 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. klyocate for more Extended Producer.Responsibility.pragramsfor j aeftegi *rough research and:advocacy,the C risT lUencouragq he coniflra t t "s'atg, %cycling the products and packaging thenut on the maddet. tan GOAL 2 - ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP Targets: A. Reduce waste matter that pollutes water, air, and soil within the city. B. dentifyand promote alternative utility sources tsl Highest Priority Actions: 1. Build neighborhood energy systems Iftsl a. PV system[ni b. Water Collection system 2. Create District Heating Systemttsi 3. Develop city policy on acceptable standards and systems 4. ;Expand the food scraps composting*gram for residents Thi if It Intl . - =a f « IOU food scraps from single-family homes�atltipilotingfo &Yscraps collate-4 ; fir i< apartments. [to] 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 -SkEEN BUILDING kcioi 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 ;-energy recovery 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,energy efficient 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 powerjd transportaWo f[s ij. 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/bicycle safety. 3. SUP ot"t ansportation miand 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.