RES 10-51 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION 10 - 51 CITY OF ELK RIVER COUNTY OF SHERBURNE STATE OF MINNESOTA A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF ELK RIVER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM WHEREAS, efforts to address energy and climate issues provide an opportunity to move toward energy self-reliance and greater community resiliency; provide environmentally healthy and cheaper-to-operate public buildings; encourage new economic development and local jobs; and support local food and renewable energy production; and WHEREAS, the Next Generation Act of 2007, Muinesota Session Laws 2007 -Chapter 136: (1) sets State greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of cutting emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2015, 30 percent below 20051evels by 2025, and 80 percent below 20051evels by 2050; (2) sets a State energy conservation goal of achieving annual energy savings equal to 1.5 percent of annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas; (3) establishes an energy policy goal that the per capita use of fossil fuel as an energy input be reduced by 15 percent by the year 2015, through increased reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives; (4) establishes an energy policy goal that 25 percent of the electricity used in the state be derived from renewable energy resources by the year 2025; and WHEREAS, a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders including the League of Minnesota Cities, the MPCA, Office of Energy Security, and CERTs responded to the 2008 legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program to provide a series of sustainable development best practices focusing on local government opportunities to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases; and WHEREAS, local governments have the unique opportunity to achieve both energy use and climate change gas reductions through building and facilities management, land use and transportation planning, environmental management, and through economic and community development; and WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists in facilitating technical assistance for the implementation of these sustainable development best practices; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby authorize the City of Elk River to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ciry: Appoints the Environmental Administrator to serve as the city's GreenStep coordinator to facilitate best practice implementation; and 2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members, civic, business and educational organizations, and other units of government as appropriate, such as the Energy City Commission, . Randy's Environmental Services, Allied Waste, the Rural Living Task Force, and the Lake Orono Association in the planning, promoting, and implementing of GreenStep Cities best practices; and