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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: April 19, 2016 <br /> <br />TO: Parks Trails and Recreation Committee <br /> <br />FROM: Sara Grant, Parks and Recreation Coordinator <br /> <br />SUBJECT: GreenStep City <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />During Fall 3007, Minnesota’s Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) held regional listening <br />sessions around the state to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state’s Next <br />Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea was raised of creating a sustainable cities program, <br />free to cities, that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were “green stars.” This idea <br />was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which directed the MPCA, the Division of Energy <br />Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and CERTs to recommend actions cities <br />could take on a voluntary basis. <br /> <br />Those recommendations are contained in the report Minnesota GreenStep Cities. <br />Representatives from dozens of cities, non-profit organizations, businesses and state government <br />agencies provided the outline for what has been developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities <br />program, which began in June 2010. <br /> <br />In May 2012 the GreenStep Cities program received awards in the categories of Sustainable <br />Communities and 2012 Partnership of the Year from the Minnesota organization Environmental <br />Initiative. The awards honor partnerships, inspire other organizations to create similar projects, <br />and encourage collaborative approaches to environmental problem solving. Over 340 attendees <br />at the awards dinner voted among the 15 finalists nominated for the 2012 Partnership of the year. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />Sara brought this to the City Council Work Session that was held on Monday, April 18 th to see if <br />this is something the City Council is interested in pursuing. <br /> <br /> <br />Attachment A: GreenStep City Information <br /> <br /> <br />