Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/07/2013

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Aprogram of die Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and its partners Min nesota (seen tep .40 GreenStep Cities is an assistance program for all Minnesota cities that supports and recognizes implementation of 28 sustainable development best practices. The best practices focus on cost savings and energy use reductions that lead cities beyond compliance and encourage a culture of innovation. Cities that implement a minimum number of best practices, organized into five categories below, will be recognized as a GreenStep City. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more specific actions from a list of four to eight actions. A city's accomplishments are recognized on the GreenStep website. Implementation of additional best practices will garner additional recognition. Visit www.MnGreenStep.org to learn more about this program, to see what cities have accomplished, and to understand how your city can become involved. GreenStep's 28 Best Practices Buildings and Lighting 1. Efficient Existing Public Buildings: Assess and finance energy and sustainability improvements of existing structures. 2. Efficient Existing Private Buildings: Assess and finance energy and sustainability improvements of existing structures. 3. New Green Buildings: Construct new buildings to meet or qualify for a green building standard. 4. Efficient Building & Street Lighting and Signals: Improve the efficiency of public and private lighting and signals. 5. Building Reuse: Create economic and regulatory incentives for redeveloping and repurposing existing buildings before building new. Land Use 6. Comprehensive Plan and Implementation: Adopt a Comprehensive Plan and tie regulatory ordinances to it. 7. Efficient City Growth: Promote financial and environmental sustainability by enabling and encouraging higher density housing and commercial land use. 8. Mixed Uses: Develop efficient and healthy land patterns. 9. Efficient Highway- Oriented Development: Adopt commercial development and design standards for highway road corridors. 10. Conservation Design: Adopt development ordinances or processes that protect natural systems.