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215 Environmental Specialist Ryan Johnson introduce Kimberly White, an intern from <br />216 the University of Minnesota, who has been working on the Green Steps program. <br />217 <br />218 Ms. White introduced herself and provided an overview on the Green Steps <br />219 program. She reported Roseville is on the brink of achieving Step 3 in the program <br />220 and the best practices remaining before achievement are: 1) Complete Streets <br />221 Policy; 2) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy; 3) Green Team; and, 4) <br />222 Community Resilience. <br />223 <br />224 Member Wozniak inquired what the benefit was in becoming a Step 3, 4 or 5 city. <br />225 <br />226 Ms. White responded every time a City achieves a new step in the program, there <br />227 is recognition from the League of Minnesota Cities. There is a network of cities <br />228 who have goals for achieving sustainability and increasing their environmental <br />229 awareness. There is also support from organizations, such as the Great Plains <br />230 Institute, who is the founder of the program and a major funding partner of grants <br />231 awarded to Green Step cities. <br />232 <br />233 Member Wozniak inquired if becoming a Step 5 City influences development or <br />234 brings in people who are drawn to having this in the community. <br />235 <br />236 Ms. White responded the program was established in 2010 and there are only six <br />237 Step 5 cities in the State. It is an admirable achievement, but it will still be some <br />238 time before these types of data points are observed. <br />239 <br />240 Mr. Culver noted this program will allow them to track and get recognition of what <br />241 they are doing for sustainability. They should also see some energy savings through <br />242 making these types of changes. <br />243 <br />244 Ms. White reported the Complete Streets policy focuses on making sure streets: 1) <br />245 are safe and accessible; 2) allow users to get to where they need to go; 3) increase <br />246 economic development and quality of life; 4) promote public health; and 5) <br />247 consider the impact on the environment. <br />248 <br />249 Chair Cihacek inquired to what degree this policy is already congruent to the City's <br />250 comprehensive Transportation Plan. <br />251 <br />252 Ms. White responded there is a great amount of overlap between the <br />253 implementation strategies outlined in the policy and what is already being done in <br />254 the City. About 75 percent of the policy came from the City's draft transportation <br />255 section of the Comprehensive Plan. <br />256 <br />257 Chair Cihacek noted they should focus on things that are a new practice for them, <br />258 so they do not get short on time. <br />259 <br />Page 6 of 16 <br />