Res 2021- 21 Authorize Participation in GreenStep Cities ProgramCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2021-21
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition
program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality -of -life goals. GreenStep is a free,
continuous improvement program, managed by a public -private partnership, and based upon 29 best
practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star
level, from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on
cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation; and
WHEREAS, uncertainty in energy prices and the transition away from fossil fuel energy
sources present new challenges and opportunities to both the City of Mendota Heights and to the
economic health of its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, climate changes have been observed in Minnesota and have the potential to
negatively impact local, regional and state economies; infrastructure development; habitat; ecological
communities, including native fish and wildlife populations; spread invasive species and exotic
diseases; reduce drinking water supplies and recreational opportunities; and pose health threats to our
citizens; and
WHEREAS, local governments have the unique opportunity to achieve both energy use
and climate change gas reductions and cost savings through building and facilities management;
land use and transportation planning; environmental management; and through economic and
community development; and
WHEREAS, efforts to address energy and climate issues provide an opportunity to move
toward energy self-reliance and greater community resency and quality of life; provide
environmentally healthy and cheaper -to -operate public buildings; encourage new economic
development and local jobs; and support local food and renewable energy production; and
WHEREAS, steps taken toward sustainable solutions aim to improve community quality of
life, building community capital and increasing government efficiency, accountability and
transparency; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13 directed the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency ("MPCA") and Office of Energy Security in the Department of Commerce
("Office of Energy Security"), in collaboration with Clean Energy Resource Teams ("CERTs"), to
recommend municipal actions and policies that work toward meeting the State's greenhouse gas
emissions reduction goals; and
WHEREAS, the Next Generation Act of 2007, Minnesota Session Laws 2007 - Chapter 136:
(1) sets State greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of cutting emissions to 15 percent below 2005
levels by 2015, 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050;
(2) sets a State energy conservation goal of achieving annual energy savings equal to 1.5 percent of
annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas;
(3) establishes an energy policy goal that the per capita use of fossil fuel as an energy input be reduced
by 15 percent by the year 2015, through increased reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy
alternatives;
(4) establishes an energy policy goal that 25 percent of the electricity used in the state be derived from
renewable energy resources by the year 2025; and
WHEREAS, a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders including the League of
Minnesota Cities, the MPCA, Office of Energy Security and CERTs responded to the 2008
legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program to provide a series of sustainable
development best practices focusing on local government opportunities to reduce energy use and
greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists in facilitating technical
assistance for the implementation of these sustainable development best practices; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program provides cost-effective sustainable
development best practices in the following five categories: (1) Buildings and Lighting; (2)
Transportation; (3) Land Use; (4) Environmental Management; and (5) Economic and Community
Development.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights hereby
authorizes the City of Mendota Heights (the City) to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities
program that offers a free, voluntary continuous improvement framework. Passage of this participation
resolution allows the City to be recognized as a Step One GreenStep City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Mendota Heights:
1. Appoints the Recycling Coordinator to serve as the City's GreenStep coordinator for
best practice documentation/implementation; and
2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members and other units of government
as appropriate in the planning, promoting and/or implementing of GreenStep Cities best
practices; and
3. Grants to the GreenStep program's buildings advisor review access to the City's B3
Benchmarking Database so as to facilitate analysis and cost -saving technical assistance
to the City regarding its buildings' energy use; and
4. Will provide feedback once a year on how well the GreenStep program is serving the
city and on city needs from the program; and
Res 202L21 page 2 of3
5. Will claim credit for having implemented and will work at its own pace toward
implementing any GreenStep best practices that will result in energy use reduction,
economic savings, quality of life improvement, reduction in the City's greenhouse gas
footprint, and recognition by the League of Minnesota Cities as a Step Two GreenStep
City. An on -going summary of the City's implementation of best practices will be
posted by the City on the Minnesota GreenStep Cities web site.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this second day of March, 2021.
CITY COUNCIL
CITY7OFNDOTA HEIGHT
Steel nie Levine, Mayor
ATTEST:
C,
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
Res 2021-21 page 3 of3