7.2. ECCSR 03-19-2014 CElk MEMORANDUM ty of
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River
To: Energy City Commissioners
From: Kristin Mroz, Environmental Technician
Date: March 19, 2014
Subject: Action Plan Update
Over the previous three months, the Action Plan has been reviewed and discussed by the Energy City
Commission, with the Commission ultimately directing the Visionary subcommittee to refine the
document before bringing it back. The Commission noted that the four goals identified in January were
to be used going forward.
With this direction, staff approached the action plan from a different angle. The revised Action Plan was
reformatted to be consistent with the City of Elk River Visioning, Action Steps, and Task (VAST) plan.
With this format, previous ECC discussion and direction were applied to specific action steps and tasks.
In this format, staff was able to identify a number of additional objectives (targets) and High Priority
Action Tasks (actions)which are now included in the document for discussion purposes.
The tasks now include measurable markers in order to review completion as well as dates in which to
achieve the task by. For now, the numbers are noted as "X" so that a discussion of feasibility and desire
of each goal/objective/task may occur before the discussion of measurements and the timeline.
As a practical matter, continued discussion on the Action Plan outline should include a deadline for
completion of the plan, where implementation can start.This is beneficial to staff who may need to start
implementing High Priority Action Tasks starting this year, or at minimum start preparing budget
requests in May.
As a note, the Visionary Subcommittee was unable to meet on March 14th, 2014 to review the updated
Action Plan due to unavailability of some members.
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
Phone:763.635.1000 P 0 I 1 A E I I f
Fax:763.635.1090 NATURE
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www.ElkRiverMN.gov /�
CITY OF ELK RIVER - ENERGY CITY 2024 ACTION PLAN
Our Goal is to make Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota
Ambitions,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 needed 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 environmentally friendly and 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 4 goals with each one having identifiable objectives and high priority action tasks. Together,these 4 goals address
promoting the City of Elk River,economic development within Elk River,education through demonstrations,and engaging the residents and businesses of the
community.The goals of this plan are centered on three areas of focus:reducing carbon,managing waste more efficiently,and reducing human impacts on the
environment.
Summaries of each plan are provided in the following pages,highlighting targets,and the strategies to accomplish the goals.
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Objective High Priority Action Tasks
Al Supply X brochures,pamphlets,booklets,stickers,etc.for Energy City promotion and education to area
Promote Elk River as center for"Green"and manufactures and businesses by 2024
A2 "Lean"manufacturing
Promote the"Energy City"campaign by attending X expos,lectures,conferences,and/or events yearly
Identify and promote X sources of energy and water efficient and cost-effective building materials(as long as they
A3 do not have negative impacts on the longevity of a building)to alleviate environmental impacts on new
construction or remodeling projects by 20XX
A4 Encourage X businesses to use at least one local source of building material by 2024
AS Participate in X"green"city competition by 2024(Land Lab,Living Cities,Cities of the Future,etc.)
Encourage businesses to reduce their solid waste impact by X%when remodeling,building,or deconstructing
structures by donating,recycling,or re-using materials by 2024.Require all businesses to record and report all solid
AG Develop and maintain City's reputation as
supportive of Sustainable("Green")Building waste abated during remodeling,building,or deconstructing.
A7 practices Enroll X%of ER businesses in the free"Minnesota Materials Exchange"and document their exchanges/sales of
byproducts with other local/regional businesses by 2024
A8 Assist X business to use waste heat or water discharge from another business by 2024
A9 Develop a(or modify an existing)truth-in-housing inspection program for homes being sold,to include a blower-
door test and energy-use rating by 20XX.(May develop grants,credits,etc.)
Audit(or when cost-effective,recommission)all city-owned buildings in the bottom third of the MN"B3
410 benchmarking"energy performance ranking and implement a majority of energy efficiency opportunities that have
a payback under 5 years by 2024
Work diligently with new development areas to preserve X%of prime vegetative communities(woodland stands,
prairie areas,vistas,etc.)through sustainable expansion of the community through educational programs and
All incentives(water and electric financial incentives,financing programs though economic development,grants and
rebates available from other organizations such as MN EPA,DEED,Sherburne Soils and Water Conservation District,
Invest In the community in a way that is etc.)by 2024
sustainable for the community,which is
412 focused on providing services at the lowest cost Work with area agencies,residents,businesses,and community organizations to plant X trees and X acres of native
and that characterized the City of Elk River vegetation throughout the city by 2024
"Powered by Nature"theme
A13 Educate the public on land development and redevelopment through promotion of sustainable land use.(Areas of
special concern are wetland protraction,storm water management,low impact landscaping,etc.)by 2024
414 Encourage area golf courses to enlist in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses by 2024
415 Complete a bike trail between Downtown Elk River and the Elk river Northstar Station by 2024
Increase ridership of Northstar lightrail to/from Minneapolis by X%by 2024(Work with Northstar to lower price of
A36 tickets into MPLS at non-peak times and vice-versa,free rides days,better sidewalks and bike trails to the ER
station,clearer signs to the station,etc.)
417 Provide X fuel efficient cars or bikes for a car/bike-share program at the Elk River Station for commuters and
tourists coming into Elk River by 2024
418 Promote local food to decrease transportation needs by providing X weekly farmers markets in different locations
of Elk River by 20XX
419 Support public transportation and active Encourage that X%of public school's lunch program be locally sourced(within 50 miles)by 2024
transportation planning
420 Promote walking and biking in the City of Elk River by conducting a study on sidewalks and trails(mileage,links,
safety,etc.)by 20XX
A21 Increase the mileage of walkable/bikeable routes by X miles by 2024
422 Decrease use of gasoline used by city vehicles by X%by means such as trip bundling,video conferencing,more fuel
efficient cars,carpooling and financial incentives for efficient vehicle use by 2024
A23 Insert X public charging stations for plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles by 2024
A24 Complete a bike trail between Downtown Elk River and the Elk river Northstar Station by 2024
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Objective High Priority Action Tasks
Develop a microloan program to encourage X new green collar jobs by 2024
Increase the number of"Green Collar"jobs List X%of the City of Elk River's open positions on websites listed as"green jobs"and encourage area businesses to
B2
do the same by 20XX
B10 Use available retail,office,manufacturing,and Create a program with vacant properties that would allow X"environmentally responsible"businesses to utilize
storage space wisellyy?i space for a limited term or other incentive by 2024
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Objective
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High Priority Action Tasks
Cl Obtain X new participants(businesses and homeowners)in the"High 5"program by 2024
C2 Obtain a rating of"double high 5"(25 points)or higher by X%of participants by 2024
C3 City Hall(and other city owned buildings)will participate in the"High 5"program and work to achieve the highest
rating by 2024
C4 Obtain X new participants in the"Project Conserve"home and business energy and thermal auditing program by
2024
CS Provide X tours to school groups,residents,businesses,investors,and/or fellow local,state,federal,and
Promote and utilize sustainable Green building international governmental and non-governmental employees by 2024
C6 techniques,materials,and practices Use 100%biode radable cleaning g products in all City owned buildings by 2024
Adopt"Green"standards/guidelines for all large purchases((ex:electronics(printers,printing supplies),wood
C7 products,food,cleaning products,paints/coatings/adhesives,carpets,furniture,paper products))by the City by
2024
C8 Promote development of X"next generation technologies"by 2024(sustainable packaging,sustainable design,
renewable energies,"green"products,etc.)
C9 Require X%of all new city owned buildings,facilities,street lighting,parking lot lighting,and traffic signals to have
energy efficient and Dark-Sky compliant lighting by 2024
Advocate for more Extended Producer
C10 Responsibility programs for packaging and Create informational materials for every manufacturer about extended producer responsibility programs by 20XX
more.
C11 Explore neighborhood energy systems(PV Systems,Water Collection Systems)and make a plan for improvements
by 2024
C12 Identify and promote renewable energy Encourage X homes/business to become net-zero energy buildings by 20XX
C13 resources Explore District Heating Systems and make a plan for developments by 2024
C14 Achieve 15%above State/Federal mandates of renewable energy city-wide by 2024
C15 Require X%of all new buildings/homes to be"Solar Ready"by 2024
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Objective High Priority Action Tasks
Dl Increase amount of educational materials about recycling and organics recycling for residents and businesses by X%
by 20XX
D2 Increase residential curb-side recycling to X%by 20XX
03 Develop enforcement policies for recycling by residents and businesses by 2024
D4 Expand the organics recycling curb-side program for residents by delivering/handing out X compost buckets and X
bags by 2024
DS Encourage that all apartment complexes and businesses provide organics recycling by 2024
06 Develop education and enforcement programs Increase residential curb-side organic recycling to X%by 20XX
— to keep recyclables out of the waste stream
D7 Add X new"Big Belly"solar trash and recycling compactors to City owned property by 2024
D8 Provide solid waste,recycling,and organics recycling receptacle for X%of community events by 20XX
D9 Provide X educational recycling programs to areas schools and/or children's groups each year by 20XX
010 Reduce by X%waste matter that pollutes water,air,and soil within the city by 2024
Dll Adopt a policy that all events hosted by city government and all events taking place on city property encourage
zero waste by 20XX
Educate builders,owners,and the general
D12 public on the cost saving and energy reduction Promote the"Energy City"campaign at X local events each year by 20XX
of "Energy City"programs and techniques
Promote implementation of water conservation practices(rain gardens,bioswales,green roofs,porous pavement,
013 greenways,wetlands,and stormwater tree trenches,low maintenance native landscaping,grey water systems,etc.)
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