4.10. SR 03-07-2016
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.10
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
ConsentMarch 7, 2016Kristin Mroz, Environmental Technician
Item Description Reviewed by
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Suzanne Fischer, Director COD
MN GreenCorps Program
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, a resolution entering into an agreement with the MPCA if Elk River is selected as a
host site for a Green Corps Program member.
Background/Discussion
The MPCA Green Corps Program provides volunteer support for sustainable initiatives. In 2010/11,
Steven “Ross” Pomeroy volunteered in the Energy City Coordinator capacity and assisted with such
projects as: Project Conserve, Energy City High 5’s, Organics Recycling, and GreenStep Cities. That
valuable relationship afforded the opportunity to initiate projects that otherwise may still only be “ideas”
due to limited staff time.
Staff proposes applying for a Green Corps member to focus on Green Transportation projects between
September 2016 and August 2017. Green Corps members work with their host entity for 11 months (40
hrs/wk). The MPCA pays for the member’s salary and benefits. Host partners provide the project
expectations and a workspace.
Proposed projects include:
Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
Green City Fleet
Bike Lanes
Bike Share Program
Tri-CAP Coordination
Safe Routes to School
Complete Streets
Earth Day Green Transportation Event
Sidewalk/Trail Study
The Energy City Commission is supportive of the application and the projects listed are goals of the
commission and staff. Many of the projects are also required for the city to progress in the GreenStep
Cities Program.
A signed resolution is required as part of the application to demonstrate the city’s commitment should
Elk River be awarded a Green Corps member.
Financial Impact
The only financial impact that the city will need to provide for the Minnesota Green Corps member is a
work space with computer, internet, and phone access. The city may reimburse members for
transportation and/or provide a city vehicle but that is optional.
Members are provided with stipends of $11,800 through the MPCA for completing a 1700 hour term of
service. Upon completion of their term of service, members are awarded an additional $5,850 as an
education award that can be used to pay for further higher education, or applied to existing student debt.
Members are also offered a health insurance option and worker’s compensation through the MPCA.
Attachments
Resolution
Resolution 16-____
A Resolution of the City of Elk River Supporting Host Site Acceptance for a
Minnesota Green Corps Member
WHEREAS,
the City of Elk River is applying to host an AmeriCorps member from the
Minnesota Green Corps, a program of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA),
for the 2016-2017 program year; and
WHEREAS,
if the MPCA selects the City of Elk River, the organization is committed to
implementing the proposed projects 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 the MPCA that identifies the terms, conditions, roles and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
by the City Council of the City of Elk
:
River, Minnesota, as follows 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 City Administrator to sign the grant agreement on its behalf should the city be
awarded a Green Corps member.
th
Passed and adopted this 7 day of March, 2016.
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk