Laserfiche WebLink
Item # (~.3. <br />Cat, <br />~. <br />~.ver <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br />FROM: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator <br />DATE: August 18, 201 I <br />SUBJECT: GreenStep Cities Recognition Award <br />On June 16, the City of Elk River was recognized as a "Step 2" GreenStep City at the <br />League of Minnesota Cities Conference in Rochester. The City received this award for its <br />efforts to promote sustainability in the community. Elk River was one of only seven other <br />municipalities in the state to reach "Step 2," currently the highest designation achieved in the <br />year-old program. <br />Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a collaborative program from the Minnesota Pollution <br />Control Agency, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, <br />and four other Minnesota nonprofits. It is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition <br />program designed to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through the implementation <br />of 28 best practices. <br />The program asks cities to first pass a council resolution authorizing participation, and then <br />to strive to complete as many of the best practices as possible. The practices are tailored to <br />all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction and encourage <br />innovation. <br />The City Council of Elk River passed a resolution to join GreenStep Cities on October 11, <br />2010. The City has currently completed 48 action steps and 13 best practices in the <br />program. The recent retrofit of the Ice Arena, the LEED Gold-certified library, and the <br />Project Conserve program were Elk River's most touted accomplishments at the League of <br />Minnesota Cities Conference. <br />The City of Elk River plans to continue to work toward "Step 3" in GreenStep Cities. To <br />reach "Step 3," the City must complete a minimum of three more best practices originating <br />from the "transportation" and "environmental management" categories of the program. <br />To learn more about GreenStep Cities, visit www.mngreensteps.org. <br />N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Counal RCA\Agenda Packet\07-18-2011\GSC%ZOMemo(2)[1].docx <br />