3.5. SR 10-11-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO STEM NUMBER Ma or & Ci Council 3.5. AGENDA SECTION 1~1EETING DATE PREPARED BY Consent October 11, 2010 Ross Pomeroy, GreenCorps Member & Environmental Intern ITEM DESCRIPTION B~EVIEWED By Resolution Authorizing the City of Elk River to Participate in Rebecca Hau ,Environmental Admin the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program REVIEWED BY Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator ~CTI®N E~EOUESTED City Council adoption of the attached resolution authorizing participation in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION 1Vlinnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance, and recognition program to help cities achieve their sust:ainability goals through ilnpleinentation of 2fi best practices. Isach best practice can be ilnplelnented 17y completing one or n~o.re specific actions from Gt list of four. tc.~ eight actiotas. These actions are tailoxeci i:o all I4~Iilanesota cities, focus r.~n cost savings aI1c1 enelEgy use reduction, ai:ICl enccs~Irage inraovat:ion. (cour..tesv 1~I.PC.r.1's ~vcl~sitc) Benefits The program will: ® Save the city money and deliver multiple environmental, social, and financial rewards. Save city staff time in researching cost-effective actions for cutting energy use, decreasing the city's carbon footprint, and accomplishing other sustainability goals that exceed regulatory requirements. ® Provide leadership and action roles for community members and institutions as well as strengthen a civic culture of innovation ® Provide numerous other benefits such as recognition at the League of Minnesota Cities Conference, artwork and recognition materials from the MPCA, potential grants and sponsorship opportunities, and a stronger sense of civic pride in our community Taking Action The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program is entering its first full year of implementation. This is a brand new program, and Elk River, as Minnesota's "Energy City," would enter the program at the forefront. GreenStep Cities is an opportunity not only to garner further recognition, but also to teach other city governments how to incorporate the environmentally-friendly ideals that Elk River has already implemented. The program also selves as a reminder that there is still much more that the City can accomplish! Elk River has an opportunity to lead Minnesota into a greener and brighter future. C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Piles\OLK66\Action Requested-GSC.doc