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Attachment B Search Home � About � The 28 best practices � Become a GreenStep City � Model Ordinances � City log-in � Contact/Feedback Stay Connected � t Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of implementing the GreenStep best practices? The answers to this question will be different for different cities, but here is a list of answers we have been hearing from interested cities and around which we have been designing the program. We think the GreenStep best practices: • Are a continuous improvement pathwayfor cities to "go green," become more sustainable and resilient. • Will save citystafftime in researching cost-effective actions for cutting energy use, decreasing the citys carbon footprint, and accomplishing other sustainabilitygoals thatexceed regulatoryrequirements. • Will save cities moneyand deliver a stream of multiple environmental, social and financial benefits. • Are tailored to Minnesota cities and provide mapmum flebbilityand choice in how to implement a proven best practice. • Flesh out how to follow-through on the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, signed byover40 Minnesota cities, and the Minnesota Legislature's aggressive Next Generation EnergyAct. • Provide leadership and action roles for community members and institutions so as to stretch limited cityfunds and strengthen a civic culture of innovation. What sort of recognition and benefits are there for a GreenStep City? Recognition will take several forms and evolve over the next fewyears. Currently in the works: • Mnual recognition at the June conference ofthe League of Minnesota Cities. • Artwork and recognition materials (such as logos, sample press releases). • Asponsorship program is envisioned to raise cash awards forcities, to recognize manydimensions ofcityaccomplishments, such as: completing the mostactions; i completing the "hardesY' actions; completing the most new actions during one year. • Other benefts of GreenStep Cityrecognition are under consideration: publicityofyour cit�/s completed actions via the League of Minnesota CitiesA Twitter feed; priority in securing free consultant help via Minnesota RETAP. • Yourcit�s accomplishments will be visible on the GreenStep web site, the mostcomprehensive web site in Minnesota devoted to cityinnovation and accomplishment. • Fourstepsofrecognitionepstcurrently. o Step One: for cities that have passed a cityresolution, posted cityinformation on the GreenStep website, indicated which best practices the cityinitially plans to implement, and described alreadyimplemented bestpractices. o Step Two: for cities that have implemented 4, 6 or 8 best practices (depending on citycategory). o Step Three: for cities that have implemented 8, 12 or 16 best practices (depending on citycategory). o Step Four program requirements will be developed during 2011, as we learn from cities during 2010, and will be designed to challenge recognized GreenStep Cities to implement more actions and be recogni�d for these accomplishments. What if my city is collaborating with surrounding townships, or the surrounding county or school district? While the GreenStep Cities program recognizes best practice actions taken by or catalyzed by city government and occurring within city limits, some cities may choose to report actions taking place within and outside of city boundaries. If your city is working with adjacent areas, let us know by listing (when you register on the web site) the township(s) by name and/or the school district with whom you are working to implement best practices that affect territory within and outside of the city proper. What are the city categories and why have them? Cities with greater capacity for making civic improvements are able to implement more best practices and "harder" actions. But city capacity is not tightly tied to city population: a small city in the Twin Cities metro area for e�mple benefits, by taking no action themselves, from access to existing regional systems such as transit, wastewater, water and stormwater that a city with the same population in Greater Minnesota does not. So the GreenStep program has each city complete a simple 10-question spreadsheet to determine their city category. In general: • CategoryC cities have no oronlya handful ofcitybuildings and staff • Category8 cities have overa dozen buildings and staff, maintain roads, and have a publicworks and planning/developmentdepartment • CategoryAcities are within a metro area or serve as a regional economic and service center. Theyare served byregular transit routes and have distinct commercial � and industrial areas.