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City of Elk River - Energy City 2024 Action Plan
<br />Our Goal is to make Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota
<br />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
<br />healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for our city. It challenges residents, business, and city leaders to create a better future for the next
<br />generation.
<br />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
<br />2024 there will be much to learn and accomplish to achieve our goal of making Elk River the most environmentally friendly and energy responsible
<br />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
<br />in the future economy, while enabling us to live a better balance with Earth’s natural systems, truly being Powered by Nature.
<br />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
<br />address promoting the City of Elk River, economic development within Elk River, education through demonstrations, and engaging the residents and
<br />businesses of the community. The goals of this plan are centered on three areas of focus: reducing carbon, managing waste more efficiently, and
<br />reducing human impacts on the environment.
<br />Summaries of each goal are provided in the following pages, highlighting targets, and the strategies to accomplish the goals. This document shall be
<br />reviewed annually for validation and congruence with annual budgets. At that time, amendments may be approved by the Energy City Commission
<br />and Economic Development Authority. In 2024, the Energy City Action Plan will be amended as needed and re-approved by the Commission and City
<br />Council.
<br />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
<br />federal trademark in 2008. This designation reinforces it’s standing within the state and region as a hub of energy technology, renewable
<br />energy manufacturing, renewable energy demonstrations, recycling, use of green products, and education.
<br />ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks
<br />10 year progress
<br />Promote Elk River as center for
<br />Elk River expo, Climate Smart
<br />A1
<br />Expand the "Energy City" campaign by promoting 2 expos, lectures, conferences, and/or events yearly
<br />"Green" and "Lean" manufacturing
<br />Municipalities, Realtor workshop, etc.
<br />Identify and promote 4 sources of energy and water efficient and cost-effective building materials annually (as long
<br />A2
<br />as they do not have negative impacts on the longevity of a building) to alleviate environmental impacts on new
<br />Green design building toolkit
<br />construction or remodeling projects
<br />Develop and maintain City's
<br />Participate in 2 "green" city competitions by 2024 (Land Lab, Green Step Cities, Living Cities, Cities of the Future,
<br />Green Step Cities, Climate Smart
<br />reputation as supportive of
<br />A3
<br />etc.)
<br />Municipalities
<br />Sustainable ("Green") Building
<br />practices
<br />Encourage businesses to reduce their solid waste impact by 5% per incident when remodeling, building, or
<br />A4
<br />deconstructing structures by donating, recycling, or re-using materials. Require all businesses to record and report
<br />High 5 Program
<br />all solid waste abated during remodeling, building, or deconstructing by 2024
<br />A5
<br />Create a Climate Action & Resiliency Plan in collaboration with the Climate Smart Municipalities partnership.
<br />Work diligently with new development areas to maximize the preservation of prime vegetative communities with
<br />diversify to encourage landscape sustainability. Increase public outreach of sustainable landscapes that are specific
<br />Ord. 16-22, amended Section, 30-934,
<br />to its site, includes a variety of species adapted to the local climate, and uses minimal fertilizers and pesticides.
<br />Landscaping of the COER 9.19.2016.
<br />Encourage public participation in programs and incentives supporting this objective.
<br />EC Commission will meet with the
<br />Invest in the community in a way
<br />A6
<br />Planning & Parks Comms (2X/yr) to
<br />that is sustainable for the
<br />promote this effort. ** Need metric to
<br />community; focused on providing
<br />determine success rate.
<br />services at the lowest cost, and that
<br />characterizes the City of Elk River
<br />"Powered by Nature" theme.
<br />City projects (streets, parks and
<br />A7
<br />recreation, Houlton), GRE plant
<br />Work with area agencies, residents, businesses, and community organizations to plant 500 trees and 100 acres of
<br />restoration
<br />native vegetation throughout the city by 2024
<br />Educate the public through 2 public meetings annually on land development and redevelopment through promotion
<br />High 5 meetings, Stormwater public
<br />A8
<br />of sustainable land use. (Areas of special concern are wetland protection, storm water management, low impact
<br />hearings
<br />landscaping, etc.)
<br />A9
<br />Complete a bike trail between Downtown Elk River and the Elk River Northstar Station by 2024
<br />Trail study happening 2017
<br />Contract with a bike share business to provide bikes at the Elk River Station and downtown for commuters and
<br />A10
<br />tourists coming into Elk River by 2024
<br />Promote walking and biking in the City of Elk River by conducting a study on sidewalks and trails (mileage, links,
<br />Support public transportation and
<br />A11
<br />Trail study 2017. Complete streets 2017.
<br />safety, etc.) by 2018
<br />active transportation planning
<br />Implement 50% of the recommendations from the sidewalk/ trail study by 2024, including connections through
<br />A12
<br />private areas
<br />Invest in public electric vehicle charging stations. Convert at least 1 fleet vehicle to an EV based on 2017 results of
<br />A13
<br />Fleet Carma pilot program.
<br />GOAL 2: Economic Development of the "Energy City" - As a leader in the state for energy efficient products and services, the city should
<br />continue to develop incentives, training, and resources for the expansion of the economic base.
<br />ObjectiveHigh Priority Action Tasks
<br />Increase the number of "Green
<br />B1
<br />Develop and expand a microloan program to encourage 50 new green collar jobs by 2024
<br />Microloan program in place with EDA.
<br />Collar" jobs
<br />Increase the number of companies
<br />Increase by 5 the number of companies that are actively manufacturing products or components of products that are
<br />B2
<br />Energy City
<br />that actively engage in reducing
<br />directly or indirectly used in renewable energy or energy efficiency by 2024
<br />their environmental impacts
<br />B3
<br />Provide training to 10 business (owners and employees) annually on reducing environmental impacts
<br />High 5 Program
<br />Provide expertise of gov't policies,
<br />Create and maintain a list of local, state, federal, and/or non-governmental grants and incentives available for
<br />B4
<br />Green Design Building Toolkit
<br />procedures, and codes that reduce
<br />"green" building practices by 2015, updated annually
<br />barriers and provide incentives to
<br />participating residents, businesses,
<br />B5
<br />Review all local policies, procedures, and codes to reduce barriers for "green" building practices biennially
<br />and community organization to
<br />incentivize "green" building
<br />B6Independently review the Energy City website to be a more user friendly and interactive tool for users periodically
<br />Updated annually
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