Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/07/2013

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draft a simple work plan. The work plan should specify exactly (1) who would do (2) what and (3) when using (4) what types of resources (money, volunteers, county help, utility funds, etc.). Be alert to how proposing slight changes in what a city is already planning to do can accomplish a best practice action. GreenSteps is mostly about doing things smarter and spending money that returns multiple benefits, not about spending more money or finding grant money. The following should make preparing the work plan easier: • Review implementation tools on the GreenStep web site for each selected best practice action, which often include case studies, to refine how you will implement the best practice action in your city • Talk with city staff /officials • Talk with others from the community • Talk with trusted resource organizations, including consultants and utilities • Contact the MN GreenStep Cities best practice advisor for the relevant best practice as needed • Read on the GreenStep web site how other cities have implemented a selected best practice action, and contact the people listed there to learn more information o Present the best practice plans to your GreenStep steering committee and to a city body or to the city council as appropriate. 5. Begin working to implement best practices. o Keep everyone moving and celebrate success. At periodic meetings of your GreenStep steering committee, have best practice leads report on accomplishments, barriers, and next steps. Work together to overcome barriers, change plans as needed, and find ways to accomplish multiple actions through a common strategy. o Clarify, as needed, what constitutes completing an action with the MPCA GreenStep program coordinator. For example, an administrative directive is probably substantially equivalent to a city council- adopted policy, but feel free to make a phone call to clarify an issue such as this. o Briefly describe completed best practice actions on the GreenStep web site as you did in step 3 above when first entering information onto the GreenStep Cities web site. ➢ Congratulations! When you have implemented any 4, 6 or 8 best practices (depending on your city category) you are now recognized as a Step Two GreenStep City! 6. Keep on working and be recognized for higher steps. o Implementing a particular best practice action may take months or years. The GreenStep Cities program requirements have been set with the expectation that any city can implement 8, 12 or 16 best practices (depending on city category) and become a Step Three GreenStep City within three years. But implementing the required best practices and the minimum number of optional best practices might take some cities longer or shorter than three years, depending on the different assets and capabilities of each city. Program requirements will be reviewed and adjusted carefully each year to keep the implementation actions for best practices challenging yet doable. o Be alert to rare opportunities. Projects like street repaving, waste water plant breakdowns, or receiving a grant for housing loans each afford a city the chance to complete multiple best practice actions at once. Be ready with plans for making the most of these opportunities. o Check back with the city council as needed. Ongoing or planned best practice implementation may fit in with new city efforts and can be shaped in discussion with the council.