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REQUEST FOR ACTION <br />To Item Number <br />Ci Council 3.4. <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Consent. August 3, 2009 Rebecca Haug, Environmental <br /> Administrator <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Letter of Support for Two Minnesota GreenCorps Members Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator <br /> Reviewed by <br />Action Requested <br />Staff requests the City Council approve the Letter of Support for two MN GreenCorps members. <br />Background/Discussion <br />Staff was contacted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to determine whether the City <br />would be interested in hosting MN GreenCorps members. Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide <br />initiative to help preserve and protect Minnesota's environment while training a new generation of <br />environmental professionals. Minnesota GreenCorps is a new program, coordinated by the Minnesota <br />Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which will begin in September 2009. It was initiated in response to a <br />variety of statewide needs awning to: <br />• Respond to higher energy costs by local governments <br />• Assist community members to take eco friendly actions <br />• Reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants <br />• Transition to a green economy <br />• Train new environmental professionals <br />Minnesota GreenCorps is designed to include in its first year 18 full-time members supported and <br />deployed by the MPCA. Working in a strategic first-year partnership with University of Minnesota - <br />Morris (UMM), 4 part-time members will also be hosted at UMM's campus. Eligible host sites include <br />local governments, school districts, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. For-profit <br />entities are not eligible to serve as host sites. Approximately 9 host sites will be selected to participate in <br />this program for 2009 - 2010. Placement will be from September 2009 through July 2010. Typically, teams <br />of two Minnesota GreenCorps members will be placed at a host site. Members will carry out one of five <br />specific projects. This program is funded through a grant from the Corporation for National and <br />Community Service as well as through ServeMinnesota. <br />For the past few years, staff has indicated a desire for an Energy City Coordinator position. When this <br />opportunity arose, this seemed to be a perfect fit for the work that the Coordinator position would have <br />been responsible for. Also, with the City's new organics program starting and a business recycling <br />program being in the infancy stages, this again seemed like a perfect opportunity. Staff filled out the <br />attached application requesting two members to assist in Energy City initiatives and in the City's recycling <br />C:\Doeuments and Settings\jmiller\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3E\MN GreenCoxps.doc <br />