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�� ti � REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: July 14, 2014 Item No.: 7.d Department Approval City Manager Approval �� Item Description: Approve a Resolution authorizing the City of Roseville to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program BACKGROUND The GreenStep Cities program aims to provide Minnesota cities with a clear pathway to greater sustainabiliry based upon implementing best practices specific to Minnesota cities of differing sizes and capabilities. Due to the multiple environmental, economic and social dimensions of the best practices, leadership from the city council is needed to oversee the implementation and integration with other city and community activities and with other governmental jurisdictions as appropriate. During fall 2007, Minnesota's Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) held regional listening sessions around the state to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state's Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea was raised of creating a sustainable cities program, free to cities that would � challenge, assist and recognize cities that were "green stars." This idea was taken up by the 2008 �� Legislature, which directed the MPCA, the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of �� Commerce, and CERTs to recommend actions cities could take on a voluntary basis. � Those recommendations are contained in the report Minnesota GreenStep Cities (available on line and by �� request). Representatives from dozens of cities, non-profit organizations, businesses and state government � agencies provided the outline for what has been developed as the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, �. which began in June 2010. �� In May 2012 the GreenStep Cities program received awards in the categories of Sustainable Communities � and 2012 Partnership of the Year from the Minnesota organization Environmental Initiative. The awards �. honor partnerships, inspire other organizations to create similar projects, and encourage collaborative � approaches to environmental problem solving. Over 340 attendees at the awards dinner voted among the 15 �� finalists nominated for the 2012 Parmership of the Year. �_ After reaching Step One status, a website will be created for the City that documents our current practices � within several categories. Recently, volunteers from the Minnesota State University Mankato completed an �� inventory of our current practices and indicated that the City would qualify for at least Step 2 with our �� existing practices. Staff will enter that information into The GreenStep website once established and notify z Council once additional Steps have been obtained. � To join the GreenStep Cities program as a Step One city, cities adopt a GreenStep participation resolution �� that names a contact person to be the city's GreenStep coordinator. Staff is recommending the �_ Environmental Specialist, Ryan Johnson, be appointed the contact person. ., The City's Public Warks, Environment and Transportation Commission will also have an active role in the �, management of the GreenStep Cities Program within the City of Roseville. Once the city enters its current practices into the website and it is verified that we have achieved at least a Step 2 level, the city is eligible for recognition at the next annual League of Minnesota Cities conference. Page 1 of 2