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8.2. SR 06-05-2017Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 8.2 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by General Business June 5, 2017 Amanda Bednar, Environmental Coordinator Item Description Reviewed by Energy City Commission 10-Year Action Plan Suzanne Fischer, Director COD Reviewed by Cal Portner, City Administrator Action Requested Approve, by motion, the Energy City Commission’s 10-Year Action Plan updates. Background/Discussion The Energy City Commission created a 10-Year Action Plan in 2014 to set clear and measurable goals for making Elk River environmentally sustainable and energy responsible. The plan is divided into four goal sections with identifiable objectives and priorities. The goals aim to promote economic development, education through demonstration, and engagement with our community. Overall the Action Plan provides guidance for budgeting and planning purposes across multiple departments. The Commission updated the plan to better fit their goals for city energy efficiency and to include broader sustainability topics. Many former goals were accomplished including the University of St. Thomas Sustainable Communities Partnership, increased native vegetation via the GRE pollinator project, and numerous Energy City Tours with education groups. The “High 5” program was removed to focus on established ERMU programs to better serve our residents. Collaboration with the Climate Smart Municipalities partnership has been added to the plan. Other additions include electric vehicles goals, FleetCarma data tracking, and a solar demonstration project. While numerous accomplishments have already been made, the 10-Year Action Plan provides guidance and goals for additional objectives for citywide sustainability. The edits have been reviewed and approved by all members of the Energy City Commission. Financial Impact None Attachments  Updated Energy City Commission 10-Year Action Plan City of Elk River - Energy City 2024 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 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 goal are provided in the following pages, highlighting targets, and the strategies to accomplish the goals. This document shall be reviewed annually for validation and congruence with annual budgets. At that time, amendments may be approved by the Energy City Commission and Economic Development Authority. In 2024, the Energy City Action Plan will be amended as needed and re-approved by the Commission and City Council. GOAL 1: Promote the City of Elk River as the “Energy City” - The city of Elk River was established as the “Energy City" in 1996 and received a federal trademark in 2008. This designation reinforces it’s standing within the state and region as a hub of energy technology, renewable energy manufacturing, renewable energy demonstrations, recycling, use of green products, and education. ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks 10 year progress Promote Elk River as center for Elk River expo, Climate Smart A1 Expand the "Energy City" campaign by promoting 2 expos, lectures, conferences, and/or events yearly "Green" and "Lean" manufacturing Municipalities, Realtor workshop, etc. Identify and promote 4 sources of energy and water efficient and cost-effective building materials annually (as long A2 as they do not have negative impacts on the longevity of a building) to alleviate environmental impacts on new Green design building toolkit construction or remodeling projects Develop and maintain City's Participate in 2 "green" city competitions by 2024 (Land Lab, Green Step Cities, Living Cities, Cities of the Future, Green Step Cities, Climate Smart reputation as supportive of A3 etc.) Municipalities Sustainable ("Green") Building practices Encourage businesses to reduce their solid waste impact by 5% per incident when remodeling, building, or A4 deconstructing structures by donating, recycling, or re-using materials. Require all businesses to record and report High 5 Program all solid waste abated during remodeling, building, or deconstructing by 2024 A5 Create a Climate Action & Resiliency Plan in collaboration with the Climate Smart Municipalities partnership. Work diligently with new development areas to maximize the preservation of prime vegetative communities with diversify to encourage landscape sustainability. Increase public outreach of sustainable landscapes that are specific Ord. 16-22, amended Section, 30-934, to its site, includes a variety of species adapted to the local climate, and uses minimal fertilizers and pesticides. Landscaping of the COER 9.19.2016. Encourage public participation in programs and incentives supporting this objective. EC Commission will meet with the Invest in the community in a way A6 Planning & Parks Comms (2X/yr) to that is sustainable for the promote this effort. ** Need metric to community; focused on providing determine success rate. services at the lowest cost, and that characterizes the City of Elk River "Powered by Nature" theme. City projects (streets, parks and A7 recreation, Houlton), GRE plant Work with area agencies, residents, businesses, and community organizations to plant 500 trees and 100 acres of restoration native vegetation throughout the city by 2024 Educate the public through 2 public meetings annually on land development and redevelopment through promotion High 5 meetings, Stormwater public A8 of sustainable land use. (Areas of special concern are wetland protection, storm water management, low impact hearings landscaping, etc.) A9 Complete a bike trail between Downtown Elk River and the Elk River Northstar Station by 2024 Trail study happening 2017 Contract with a bike share business to provide bikes at the Elk River Station and downtown for commuters and A10 tourists coming into Elk River by 2024 Promote walking and biking in the City of Elk River by conducting a study on sidewalks and trails (mileage, links, Support public transportation and A11 Trail study 2017. Complete streets 2017. safety, etc.) by 2018 active transportation planning Implement 50% of the recommendations from the sidewalk/ trail study by 2024, including connections through A12 private areas Invest in public electric vehicle charging stations. Convert at least 1 fleet vehicle to an EV based on 2017 results of A13 Fleet Carma pilot program. GOAL 2: Economic Development of the "Energy City" - As a leader in the state for energy efficient products and services, the city should continue to develop incentives, training, and resources for the expansion of the economic base. ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks Increase the number of "Green B1 Develop and expand a microloan program to encourage 50 new green collar jobs by 2024 Microloan program in place with EDA. Collar" jobs Increase the number of companies Increase by 5 the number of companies that are actively manufacturing products or components of products that are B2 Energy City that actively engage in reducing directly or indirectly used in renewable energy or energy efficiency by 2024 their environmental impacts B3 Provide training to 10 business (owners and employees) annually on reducing environmental impacts High 5 Program Provide expertise of gov't policies, Create and maintain a list of local, state, federal, and/or non-governmental grants and incentives available for B4 Green Design Building Toolkit procedures, and codes that reduce "green" building practices by 2015, updated annually barriers and provide incentives to participating residents, businesses, B5 Review all local policies, procedures, and codes to reduce barriers for "green" building practices biennially and community organization to incentivize "green" building B6Independently review the Energy City website to be a more user friendly and interactive tool for users periodically Updated annually GOAL 3: Showcase Ideas of the “Energy City” - The City historically has been home to green and renewable energy products and services. Water, wind, sunlight, gas, geothermal, and solid waste have powered the community for ages. “Green” homes, businesses, and products are respected worldwide. The “Energy City” will aid, create, promote, endorse, sponsor, and facilitate the next generation of ideas. ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks Make link available on EC page for Project Encourage businesses and residents to participate in ERMU Phone Audits. Distribute ERMU Energy Guides to C1 Conserve for Chamber members, businesses and residents; monitor and report survey results. businesses, etc. Provide 10 tours to school groups, residents, businesses, investors, and/or fellow local, state, federal, and Promote and utilize sustainable C2 achieved annually international governmental and non-governmental employees annually Green building techniques, materials, and practices Adopt "Green" standards/guidelines for all large purchases ((ex: electronics (printers, printing supplies), wood Energy Guidelines document produced C3 products, food, cleaning products, paints/coatings/adhesives, carpets, furniture, paper products)) by the City by with Class 5 Energy. Not formally adopted by city. 2024 C4 Achieve the next Step in the GreenStep Cities Program by 2024 Step 4 in 2016. Step 5 to come. Explore neighborhood energy systems (PV Systems, Water Collection Systems) and make a plan for improvements C5 Exploring with Iserlohn. by 2024 talking about GRE DE plan produced in C6 Explore District Heating Systems and make a plan for developments by 2024 2012(?). Identify and promote renewable C7 Achieve 15% above State/Federal mandates of renewable energy city-wide by 2024 2018 utility transition? energy resources Solar picnic table at Lake Orono proposed; C8 Construct a solar demonstration site (rooftop, ground mount, or other) by 2024. need to secure funding. GOAL 4: Public Engagement in the “Energy City” - Good ideas are nothing if they are not pushed to the users and decision makers. The “Energy City” will develop and manage educational programs to promote the City’s goals and work toward the continuing education of the public with respect to energy technology, energy manufacturing, energy demonstrations, recycling, use of green products and education. ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks 100% of new residents and businesses will receive educational materials about recycling and organics recycling D1 All residents do. Not all businesses. within the City of Elk River Develop education and D2 Increase residential curb-side recycling to 95% of households and residential organics to 25% by 2018 enforcement programs to keep D3 Develop enforcement policies for recycling and organics by residents and businesses by 2024 recyclables out of the waste stream Provide solid waste, recycling, and organics recycling receptacles for community events. 25% of community event D5 will provide the receptacles by 2016, 50% by 2018, etc. Provided. Need more people to use them. Promote implementation of water conservation practices (rain gardens, bio swales, green roofs, porous pavement, D6 greenways, wetlands, and stormwater tree trenches, low maintenance native landscaping, grey water systems, etc.) Required for Stormwater (Brandon) by educating residents, businesses, and City of Elk River employees by 2024 Develop and implement enhanced water education, incentive, and Permeable pavers proposed for Lake conservation programs Orono parking lot; rain garden site TBD, By 2018, develop one public demonstration site for porous pavement, a rain garden, green roof, and other water D7 green roof at WWTP by St. Thomas class, conservation practice; Provide education for area businesses and homeowners to do the same. and storm pond restoration planned at 169 & Main. Apply for on average 1.5 grant(s) a year for use of "Energy City" funding of energy technology, energy D8 Completed annually. manufacturing, energy demonstrations, recycling, use of green products, and/or education Advertise and support the adoption program (adopt a park, storm pond, wetland, greenspace, etc.) and have 6 D9 Parks and Recreation program. Add adoptions by 2018 Solicit gifts and contributions stormwater and wetland program. Enroll in the Sustainable Communities partnership with the Unversity of St. Thomas by 2024 D10 University of St. Thomas - Sustainable Communities Partnership. N:\\Public Bodies\\Agenda Packets\\06-05-2017\\Final\\8.2 at ECC 10 year Action Plaxn 6/1/2017