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OrganizingstepstobecomingrecognizedasaGreenStepCity <br /> <br />OfMinnesota’s855cities,approximately500areunder1,000inpopulation,83%areunder5,000in <br />population,and35haveapopulationover25,000.Withsuchadiversityofcities,noonesetofprocess <br />stepswillfitallcitiesinorganizingworktobecomeaGreenStepCity.Dependingonyourcity,work <br />maystartmostlyatthecitystaff,citycouncilorcitizencommissionlevelandfitwellintoexistingplans <br />andefforts,movinglatertoincorporateandleverageworkeffortsbycivicorganizations.Orthe <br />impetusforimplementingGreenStepbestpracticesmaystartwithacivicgroupandbemostlydoneby <br />communitymembersandcommunityorganizations,withthecitycouncilinasupportiveandactive <br />roleasneeded. <br /> <br />Adaptthisguideasbestfitsyourcityandtheindividualswhoareworkingtomakeyourcitya <br />GreenStepCity. <br /> <br /> <br />1. Buildcommunityknowledgeandinterest. <br />o Anyonecanstartthis:acitystaffperson,aninterestedcitizen,acitycommissionortaskforce <br />member,amayor,citycouncilmember,businessassociationmember,civicassociationmember, <br />environmentalorpublichealthgroup,renewableenergyadvocate,etc. <br />o Determineintowhichcategoryyourcityfits.Citieswithgreatercapacityformakingcivic <br />improvementsareableandchallengedtoimplementmorebestpracticesand"harder"actions. <br />Answer11simplequestionstodeterminewhetheryourcityisincategoryA,BorC. <br />o BecomefamiliarwithGreenStepbestpracticesandwhichofthemothercitiesinMinnesotahave <br />implemented.Determineyourcitycategorysoyouknowtheminimumnumberofbestpractices <br />yourcitymusthaveimplementedtoberecognizedasaGreenStepCity,StepTwoandStepThree. <br />o Talkwithkeypeopleandorganizationsinyourcity,discussatexistingmeetings,andconvenespecial <br />meetingstodiscussasappropriate. <br />o Invite,asneeded,aGreenStepprogramrepresentativetocomevisityourcityandtalkabout <br />GreenStep.ContacttheMPCA’sGreenStepCitiesprogramcoordinatortofindoutwhomightbe <br />availabletovisityourcitizen’sgroup,orcitystaff,citycommission,orcitycouncil. <br />o Inventorycompleted,plannedanddesiredbestpractices.Somecitiesfinditimportanttoprepare <br />thisinventory,ataverysimplesummaryleveloratadetailedlevel,beforeseekingacitycouncil <br />resolution.Considerusingastudentinternorcommunityvolunteertodothis,or,foramore <br />detailedinventory,contacttheMPCA’sGreenStepCitiesprogramcoordinatortoseeifaRETAP <br />membercanhelpyou. <br />o Discusswithanofficialcitybody.Thiscouldbeacitycouncil,acouncilcommittee,acitycommission <br />ortaskforce,orsomeothergroupchargedbycitygovernmenttoworkoncivicimprovement. <br /> <br />2. ApproveacitycouncilresolutiontoworktowardGreenStepCitiesrecognition. <br />o Usethesampleresolutionandmodifyitasneededindiscussionwithcitycouncilmembersorina <br />citycouncilcommitteemeeting. <br />o Introducearesolutiontothecitycouncil.Dependingonthepracticeinyourcity,moreorlessdetail <br />willhavetobespelledoutintheproposedresolution. <br />o Specifyintheresolution–ordirectcitystafftodeterminelater–(1)aGreenStepcoordinatorfor <br />yourcity(thecoordinatorcouldbeanexistingcitystaffpersonorentity,ortaskforce,oran <br />appointedcommunitymember),and(2)ashortlistofwhichGreenStepbestpracticesthecity <br />initiallyplanstoimplement(tohelptheGreenStepprogrambetterunderstandcityinterests).