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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/15/2017 Special Meeting Sustainability/Energy/Conservation Introductory Memorandum and 1 Examples of Best Practices GreenStep Summary, Step 3 Attainment, and 2 Sample Energy Use Profile GreenStep Enabling Resolution and 3 2009 Report to the Legislature Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 2030 Comp Plan 4 City Natural Resources Programs and 5 Regulations Multiple Examples of Sustainable Projects, 6 Programs, Collaborations Communities for a Lifetime City Profile 7 Space for Future Material 8 Space for Future Material 9 Space for Future Material 10 Feedback Offered on Sustainability/Energy/Conservation November, 2017 Staff was requested to respond in their respective specialty areas to top priorities, best management practices and environmental awareness topics. The sustainability context in the following pages is defined as the capacity of a community to endure with the wise use of environmental resources (November 2009, American City and County) and supportive history and current conditions to report. Policy Leadership As an individual, Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland was a voluntary signer of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, also known as the Kyoto Protocol, in 2005. The Mayor became an Advisory Committee member on behalf of the MN League of Cities to the formation of MN GreenStep Cities in 2009. The GreenStep framework is foundational for the City Council to address sustainability/energy/conservation awareness and performance. The City is a partner with Independent School District 196 and the State of Minnesota in the creation of the School of Environmental Studies (SES). Created in 1994, SES is an award winning high school (grades 11 and 12) co-located with the Minnesota Zoo. Students are immersed in the study of environmental topics and often work alongside professionals in the field providing benefit to our local environment. Other partnerships also included those with ISD 196 and Uponor related to S.T.E.M. pre- K-12 curriculum and the development of students and future workers that are knowledgeable of sustainability/energy/conservation concepts. Letter of Support offered by the City Council to MPCA to be a host location for developing jobs in the green energy field, July 22, 2010. Direction, by City Council Resolution, June 9, 2011, to be a GreenStep Cities Program participant. Apple Valley achieves a Step 3 GreenStep status, June 23, 2015. (There were only 3 steps at the time, now 5 steps) Apple Valley has been the lead organization in 2016 and 2017 for sponsoring two County wide workshops and one focus group discussion with the Sustainability Alliance in support of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update. (notes are attached) In the City issued Economic Development Video, Sustainanomics is a guiding word that describes the positive aspects of a triple bottom line of 1) a highly skilled workforce 2) an energy efficient environment, and 3) your economic success when forming public private partnerships. By 2017, the Urban Land Institute reports the analytics on green infrastructure and water management demonstrates added public and private value. procedures to seek opportunities to achieve energy savings through operational activities and purchasing. Public/Private Partnerships in Apple Valley Staff routinely works with land use applicants to optimize energy efficient buildings, materials and sites through new development and reinvestment, always encouraging best practices within a supportive regulatory environment. Њ Uponor is known for manufacturing the crosslinked polyethylene tubing (PEX) for radiant heating and cooling in development. Also a leader in the green product industry, their last two manufacturing expansions at their headquarters in Apple Valley (140,000 sq. ft.), 2015 to present, seek a LEED silver recognition for building and material choices. The active sand and gravel mining area at County Road 42 between Flagstaff Avenue and Pilot Knob Road presently encompasses 412 acres. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan after mining; leveraging higher density commercial use of land and best practice storm water management which becomes an amenity. The Metropolitan Council is supportive of sand and gravel mining as it leverages the use of natural resources first before development occurs that forever restricts access to the material. Fischer Sand and Aggregate has supplied the materials to meet regional needs by the building construction, road repair and replacement and updating of airport runways. Sustainability includes the retention and expansion of businesses in the downtown. Wings Financial acquired and is completely renovating a 65,000 sq. ft. office building for th continued use. More broadly in the downtown and along 147 Street, the retention and expansion of business between 2011 and 2015 has added $110 million in improvements. In 2005, the City of Apple Valley master planned 60 acres of land to advance the planned redevelopment of the no longer viable Southport field. The area became a compact mixed use neighborhood of commercial, housing, hospitality, service and rd recreation centered at 153 Street and Galaxie Avenue. Known as the Central Village, the area is a walkable, new urbanist location served by the Apple Valley Transit Station less than ½ mile away. The City continually monitors alternative energy technologies. An example is the Ci Liquor Store 3 which uses a geo-thermal well field located under the parking lot to provide for its heating and cooling needs. More broadly, the City has actively worked with energy technology partners to investigate the possibility of alternative energy sources such as: district heating, wave, biomass, solar panels and wind turbines. City Facilities The City of Apple Valley has invested in our community's sustainability by building green buildings and renewing existing facilities with energy efficiency improvements such as energy efficient lighting, lighting motion controls, and programmable mechanical controls. Two nationally recognized rating systems, LEED and Green Globe, measure and recognize efficient building attributes. A sampling of the City's efforts in this area include the following: Municipal Center: An early greenca 2001) features extensive use of daylight to minimize artificial lighting, energy control systems, and an innovative storm water management system that was guided by evolving LEED standards. Ћ Apple Valley Senior Center: Certified as Two-Globes under the Green Globe rating system, this facility makes use of daylight harvesting, in-floor radiant heating and features a green roof. Apple Valley Liquor Store #3: Also certified as Two-Globes, this building utilizes a geothermal heating/ cooling system to minimize energy usage for the store and its coolers. Valleywood Clubhouse: Certified as Three-Globes, this building features extensive use of daylighting to minimize artificial lighting among many energy efficient elements. Building Retrofits The City has used ARRA funding and energy performance contracts to install energy efficient lighting and automated building lighting and HVAC controls in many of its facilities. The City also worked in partnership with Dakota Electric to establish an LED street light test zone so that new street light fixtures can be tested before broader implementation. 2009-2013 ARRA EECBG Project - $688,974.09 2013 Ameresco Project - $899,650.00 2017 Ameresco Project - scope definition, cost and cost saving still being determined. Anticipated to offer increased efficiency and savings at multiple buildings. Better Energy Partnership The City encourages homeowners to invest in their properties through energy efficiency upgrades. The City teamed up with Dakota Electric, CenterPoint Energy, and the Center for Energy and Environment through grants from the Joyce Foundation and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to encourage homeowner participation in the Better Energy program. The two-year program yielded 780 home participants and installation of 16,680 CFL light bulbs, 759 low-flow shower heads, and 1,491 low-flow aerators. 149 homeowners completed major upgrades like attic insulation or furnace, boiler, or hot water heater replacement. The Apple Valley effort has many additional partners due to the GreenStep affiliation and framework: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Great Plains Institute, League of MN Cities, MN Department of Commerce, Urban Land Institute, Preservation Alliance of MN, Great Lakes Institute. The Dakota County Community Development Agency is a partner by providing weatherization, loan and grant programs for lower income residents. Promoting Transit and Bike-Friendly Options The City is home to the Metro Transit Red Line which provides easy access to major metro area destinations through the growing transitway system of the Twin Cities. The City is also served by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) which provides over 2.8 million rides per year to residents in the south metro area. Our growing transit ridership helps to alleviate roadway Ќ congestion and vehicle emissions. The City is also home to over 221 miles of bicycle/walking trails, pathways and sidewalks that provide an alternative to automobile use. To 2040, the strategy that will expand transit service and infrastructure on the Red Line and County Road 42 will continue to require: Good system design; the best ridership in the worst weather and the safest crossing of Cedar Avenue and County Road 42 for pedestrians Getting people where they want to go Moving people quickly Having it be an experience people want to repeat Routes that shape and support adjacent growth and investment The ability to add to the systems with connecting routes and networks; a mix of express, rapid and local services Examples of Best Practices for Natural Resources and Infrastructure The Public Works and Park and Recreation City Departments play a key role in the best practice management of the natural resources and infrastructure of the City. The following is a listing of notable topical areas with specific examples related to sustainability/energy/conservation. Natural Resources Volunteer Efforts Apple Valley offers a number of volunteer opportunities for residents who would like to contribute to improving the quality of Apple Valley's natural resources. The City arranges for volunteers to collect water quality samples from five local lakes through the Volunteers also help evaluate the health of Apple Valley wetlands through the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP). The City has also partnered with Great River Greening to restore habitat health in Alimagnet Park through the removal of invasive buckthorn. Solid Waste Recycling Collaboration Dakota Valley Recycling is the partnership recycling department for the Cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Lakeville that connects residents and businesses to recycling, composting and waste disposal information. Annual Fall Clean-Up Day The City modified the trash hauling ordinance to facilitate single day zones throughout the City in 2009. Less neighborhood disruption and reduce vehicle miles traveled were the outcome. Food (June through October) hosted at the Apple Valley Municipal Center Collaboration with 360 Communities and other Food Shelfs in Apple Valley Open Door Pantry Food Distribution at Cedar Knolls Park and the Energy Park warehouse location Community Garden at Cedar Park Elementary School Non-Motorized Transportation Initiatives League of American Bicyclists Honorable Mention Ѝ Trail development efforts North Creek Greenway from the MN Zoo to Cobblestone Lake Bike Friendly Apple Valley Initiative annually Annual Le Tour de Apple Valley Bike Ride to Promote safe bicycling in the community Water Quality The City stormwater program http://www.ci.apple-valley.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=372 Undertaking comprehensive water quality and hydrologic modeling throughout a good portion of the city. This is part of the SWMP update. Considering a link to climate resilience (rainfall frequencies have changed with climate change and modeling characterizes the extent of impacts on city infrastructure) Participation with Black Dog Watershed and Vermillion River Watershed organizations Cobblestone Lake - Redevelopment activity that creates over 0.2 acres of new impervious surface shall be required to achieve no net increase in average annual Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Phosphorus (TP) loading compared to existing conditions. Redevelopment activity that creates over 0.2 acres of new impervious surface shall be required to achieve no net increase in average annual runoff volume compared to the 1990 condition. Additional infiltration (both privately owned underground and surface infiltration) has been created with the development of PHS, Dental Health Center and other recent developments Redwood Pond - Potential improvements were examined as part of the Keller Lake Subwatershed Assessment and recommendations for improvement were made Keller Lake - A Keller Lake Subwatershed Assessment was completed for Keller Lake. This was partially funded by grants. It will help guide stormwater infrastructure retrofits. The report identifies water quality improvement projects, planning level costs, implementation prioritization and timelines in order to reduce the total maximum daily load (TMDL) to Keller Lake. ISD 196 created infiltration basins as part of Southview Elementary and Valley Middle School Renovations. Apple Villa apartments additionally treated storm water from project with the creation of surface infiltration basin and underground storage as part of land use/building permit application Long/Farquar Lakes - The Long and Farquar Lakes TMDL Implementation Update was recently completed & adopted by the City Council. This will help guide stormwater infrastructure retrofits. Alimagnet Lake - We continue to do water quality monitoring & education for this watershed. Recently completed a raingarden retrofit at the Community Center with partial grant funding. Regulatory Provisions Already in the City Code Related to Environmental Sustainability Each land use application undergoes a review for various sustainability elements Rain Gardens Impervious Surface Mitigation Urban Forest Management Excerpts from City Ordinance in the Reference Notebook include: Landscaping requirements, on-site infiltration, natural resource management, forestry, water resources and environmental protection Forestry Ў Annual tree sale of preferred species Tree City USA for 33 years Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm, Emerald Ash Borer monitoring and action Natural and Maintained Habitat Educational focus on water friendly plantings, native plants for pollinators and water quality, trees, erosion and sediment control, invasive species, water conservation. The extensive park system of 57 parks close to residents Lebanon Hills Regional Park Home of the MN Zoo; 500 acres devoted to sustainability Plantings / Pollinators strategy being developed in collaboration with the MN Zoo and Dakota County along the North Creek Greenway Ongoing Environmental Initiatives by Parks and Recreation Department: Water treatment/water quality/rainwater gardens Organic recycling Traditional recycling in parks Composting Water conservation best practices (rain sensors on irrigation systems) Determining sustainable energy options (solar in particular) Best practice energy conservation upgrades (building canopy energy efficient equipment upgrades) Alternative fertilizer applications Pollinator gardens Educational events Partnership with the School of Environment Studies Tree replacement and care practices Bottle filler drinking fountains (Community Center, Hayes Park Arena, and the Municipal Center have eliminated over 15,600 plastic water bottles) Partnerships with other agencies on best practices regarding environmental issues Extensive leaf collection turned into compost Land Use and Community Planning The Community Development Department offers land use planning and development, and economic development services demonstrating best practice public and private outcomes concerning sustainability/energy/conservation. The Department is also the lead facilitator of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. Some examples follow: The completion of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update according to the statutory deadlines of December 2018. report prepared in partnership with Dakota County as foundational work on being a sustainable community. On an ongoing basis a sustainable community considers transportation options, walkable neighborhoods, housing options, services that support older adults, employed and volunteer opportunity and effective technology. Џ The 2030 Comprehensive Plan offered the best practices for Apple Valley as of 2008 in the areas of land use, economic development, parks and active living, and transportation and utilities. A tab in the Reference Notebook provides copies of those documents. Those chapters are being updated for 2040 Staff will be evaluating Accessory Dwelling Units, which allow for greater land efficiency in single family residential neighborhoods. Multi-family developments have an increasing number of units per acre. The limited resource of land is being used efficiently, but not to the detriment of greater neighborhoods. Staff balances best practice design principals to the locations being addressed through development. th tier suburban or rural outcomes. The development of fixed rapid bus transit systems transformed the City and introduced opportunity for both walkable, bikeable and drivable design solutions as equally weighted outcomes. To the extent possible, land use design solutions include regional ponding with secondary treatment and the opportunity to use the stormwater as a development and neighborhood amenity. Emerging National Trends in Real Estate 2018 Connecting to Sustainability (Source: Urban Land Institute) The workforce will be working smarter and harder and businesses are seeking more output per worker in a tightening labor supply Priority importance remains for land and construction costs, infrastructure and transportation solutions, housing costs and availability and capital availability Other priorities of a more moderate context are Nimbyism, environment and sustainability, state and local water regulation, wellness/health features in the living and working environment and extreme weather risks. Thoughtful integration in development is occurring. Office space superiority in the workplace is getting a greater emphasis. The expected cost savings of telework have not translated into business growth. Placing workers in the same physical space, albeit with creative commons areas, hastens the speed of work and emerging innovation and requires transportation solutions and built space management. А Apple Valley/Sustainability Alliance Focus Group Meeting gathering feedback for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update, September 20, 2017 Meeting Notes Cindy Gray, SRF City Consultant facilitating the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Abbey Fines Loco Pep, Great Plains Institute, Green Steps Cities, Wedge diagram tool developed by LHB Architects Energy planning guide and workbook Solar energy calculator Center for Energy and Environment building energy efficiency calculators. CEE will do assessments homes, basic installs to save energy, for a fee depending on income. Dakota Electric also does this for their customers at no charge. Dakota Electric covers the majority of AV. Workbook more visual guide, breaks down energy into categories (commercial/industrial, residential, city operations, transportation. Existing conditions clean energy resources solar, wind, biofuels (maybe more on regional or county level), efficiency see table. Energy calculator. Every city in metro area can download the results of their energy calculator. GPI can also provide the 10 greatest users. Sean talked about a program to work with businesses to get rooftop solar before federal tax credits disappear. DE also has program commercial Wellspring Program for large commercial users that use alternate energy sources. Xcel has a Production Credit. Minnesota Power and Ottertail Power were targeted by MN legislature to produce more solar, so they offer more generous rebates, cost reductions, etc. Partners in Energy focused on efficiency? Residential solar is eligible for federal tax deduction (30%?). Economic vitality chapter cost savings to residents for greater efficiency, economic benefit to energy innovation. Goals are they attainable? Easy to set goal, but not be provided every year. Building energy use by sector, transp, greenhouse gas emissions, Met Council will house data and provide it each year. Water use, trash, recycling annual CO2 analysis every year. AV is a Step 3 Green Steps City. Steps 4 and 5 have been added. Incentive Strategies: Encouragement, Incentives, Regulation, Public demonstration and Leadership (by cities, for example). Minneapolis requires all buildings over 50KSF to publicly report energy usage, including public buildings, Hennepin County wants to do something similar. Apartments difficult but good information Getting best efficiency into new construction, which is a major challenge to DE for new construction. Mayor Mary wants to see the city thoughtfully making progress as a Green Steps City. Mayor wants Steps. Does that mean a Commission? th October 19 meeting to discuss advisory committee (Vicki ODay) realize economic savings, keep up with innovation, conservation, would need to be defined as to how it would work. Bloomington set one up, and created work plan and work groups. Work toward goals with citizen commission. Work with staff, city PC and CC. AV City Hall is a green building, other city buildings certified.? MPR Carl Polk? Climate of Hope how cities, businesses and citizens can save the planet. Book. Start educating, promoting air, water, land - East Grand Forks, Grand Forks? Green City Doug Schumacher resident of AV, 40 years, Xcel energy retired, volunteering with Minnesota renewable energy society, electric vehicle group, sustainability group. 2000 hours a year. Statewide level, task force for electric vehicles, wants to get more involved in AV since he lives here. Vicki , 2013/2006, member of Midwest renewable energy association, promotes energy savings work/job training, involved in sustainability for long time, creating a sustainability / environmental commission to work with AV staff and city council, to help city learn about innovations, what state is doing, and to bring AV along with everyone else. Sean = Alliance for Sustainability, working with 40 suburbs, 500 city staff commissioners from 50 cities, connect with technical assistance like GPI, including U of M sustainable buildings, Roger Swenson AV resident, stream monitoring, Dave Wanberg apple valley (Planner in Faribault) Hildebrand conservation MN, community conservation teams, provide tools to these teams to focus on areas of interest. Water Dakota Co extension service promoting rain gardens. Rooftop water collections, public gardens, rain gardens, school district, SES school of environmental studies - Tom Paynor lived in AV less than a year, interested in recycling educating people, is it recyclable, Greg Skowhegan interested Sue Schoog Brad Lacket lifetime resident of AV environmental issues throughout years, wants to have input on further developments that occur within the city. Energy, resilience, Tim Doherty, Dakota Electric Association. Helps get clients money for energy improvements. October 19 flyer November 9 sample comp plan strategies on energy resilience. Dave Wanberg wrote section for Burnsville social equity is an important section. Adds a lot. Local food, community garden. Where? Vision that says all of these things are important. Dakota County great resource for social equity. No one assumes the city behaves in an unsustainable way. However, citizens would enjoy a larger view, would like to know. Have city in comp plan look at each area of plan and how they relate to goals of the state, GPI, MN Conservation how is AV marching toward those goals. Review, plan, develop, measure. Curt Sheffield did gap analysis sidewalks, pedestrian bike connectivity. Mary Montagne - $ to pay for equity, healthy, food, biking, walking. Alliance for sustainability wants to work with cities like they already do with counties to work toward (Todd?) preventing citizens from getting ripped off by unscrupulous contractors, also on electric vehicle infrastructure charging stations. DE forming group to work with local governments about electric vehicles. Mr. Swenson Hi-Vee has electric vehicle charging station. Dakota Electric introduced new LED rates for street lights. Have talked with cities about that. Closing hid lights. Everything new will be LED. AV approx.. 3,000 street lights. Will replace when HID lights -owned with LED. Balance between cost to put in new and savings experienced. Recycling fleet vehicles solar already a multi-city group coordinating on these things. Hiring of joint staff for multiple cities. Energy bench-marking, for example. Abbey just ask GPI can help. Expanding statewide as well as the metro. Can city facilities be considered? Jess Loose aging in place, Dakota County. Local circulator bus - Organizing steps to becoming recognized as a GCity Of Minnesota's 855 cities, approximately 500 are under 1,000 in population, 83% are under 5,000 in population, and 35 have a popfflation over 25,000. With such a diversity of cities, no one set of process steps wifl fit all cities in orgariizing work to become a GreenStep City.Depending on your cfty, work may start mostly at the city staff, city council or citizen commission level and fit well into existing plans and efforts, moving later to incorporate and leverage work efforts by civic organizations. Or the impetus for implementing GreenStep best practices may start with a civic group and be mostly done by community members and community organizations, with the city council in a supportive and active role as needed. Adapt this guide as best fits your city and the individuals who are working to make your city a GreenStep City. 1. Build community knowledge and interest o Anyone can start this: a city staff person, an interested citizen, a city commission or task force member, a mayor, city council member, business association member, civic association member, environmental or public health group, renewable energy advocate, etc o Determine into which category your city fits. Cities with greater capacity for making civic improvements are able and challenged to implement more best practices and "harder" actions. Answer 11 simple questions to determine whether your city is in category A, 13 or C. o Become familiar with GreenStep best practices and which of them other cities in Minnesota have implemented by, on the GreenStep web 5ite, clicking on the "Who's doing it" tab on individual best practice actions. o Talk with key people and orRanizations in your city, discuss at existing meetings, and convene special meetings to discuss as appropriate. o resentative to come visit your city and talk about GreenStep. Send a message via the Contact page on the GreenStep web site to find out who might be available to visit your citizen's group, or city staff, city commission, or city council. o iractice actions Sonie cities find it Important to prepare this inventory, at a very simple summary level or at a detailed level, before seeking a city council resolution. Consider using a student intern or community volunteer to do this, or, for a more detailed inventory, send a message via the Contact web page to see if aRETAPmember can help you, at no cost to your city. o Discuss with an official city body. This could be a city council, a council committee, a city commission or task force, or some other group charged by city government to work on civic improvement 2. Approve a city council resolution to join the GreenStep Cities program o 1Use the sample resolution on the GreenStep web site and modify it as needed in discussion with city council rnembers or in a city council committee meeting. o Introduce a resplution_to the city council. Depending on the practice in your city, more or less detail will have to be spelled out in the proposed resolution. o Specify in the resolution — or direct city staff to determine later — a GreenStep coordinator for your city. The coordinator could be an existing city staff person or city staff position, or an elected official, oracommunity member. o E-mail your resolution/contact information using the Contact web page. This will allow the MPCA to set up a web account/city administrative page on the GreenStep Cities web site for your city. 'Ai-. ! You are now recognized as o Step One GreenStep City! Formal recognition will take place at the next June Green5tep celebration event at the League of Minnesota Cities conference. Use Step One recognition artwork/materia/s Iocated on your city's admin page, accessib/e by logging in from the GreenStep web site 3. Post initial information on the Green5tep Cities web site o Enter sirnple information: city population, approximate number of city staff, city category, city web site addressnames of any participatirig township(s) / school district(s), and contact information for the one person who will serve as your city's GreenStep contact/coordinator. o Provide brief detail on best practice actons previousfy implemented For example if you check off the action Promote biking, walking and transit under the Mobility Options best practice, tell us: � How many, for example, bike racks the city/the city and its partners installed; and/or � A web address on your city web site (if any) that talks about your efforts (or upload a planning document you may have used, such as an area bike p!an); and/or � Any success measures (such as: bike path use increased 20% during 2016) � Any key partner(s) you may have worked with (for example, a local bike rack company) � The name and e-mail of the person most knowledgeable about this accomplishment so that other cities seeking to replicate your success can learn from them. Some cities may find it easier/cheaper to use a student intern to gather and post this information. Contact the GreenStep program coordinator to see if a RETAP member can help you with the inventory and posting. 4. Plan to implement new best practice actions o As needed educate cit staff and officials about GreenStewand its sustainabilit focus. Sustainability may not be the terni used by your city,but current actions the city may be taking to increase city resiliency to financial pressuresto increase livability and to prevent future environmerital costs certainly fall under the sustainability focus of GreenStep Cities and should be understood by elected and appointed officiafs and staif, o Use anexisting working group Qzconvene anew one. The Green3tepcontact/coordinator for the city should call together key people within city government (and outside of city government as appropriate at this stage) to make decisions such as the following. This group might be an existing or new city staff green team or an existing or new citizen commission or task force, or might be a civic group: � How to work with existing city/civic groups and initiatives to implement best practices � Who should beonaGreen5tepsteering committee (which could beanexisting group), what this committee needs to do (e.g., review progress on implementing best practices), and how often it needs to meet � How the GreenStep steering committee should work with other city work groups and how often it should report back to the city council o Specify implementation action(s) and a few lead people,. Your GreenStep steering committee — which could be the initial small working group, a city commission or civic group — should identify: � Which specific actions are already underway at the city � Which specific action(s) under each best practice will be investigated/worked on � Which people "best practice action leads" - should prepare a simple work plan for how to implement the action(s) o Pre ^'are a sim`|ework Ian for im«|ementhnselected best «ractices' Have best practice leads — these could be non -paid community members, or members of a city environmental commission 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 rnake preparing the work plan easier: • Review implementation tools on the GreenStep web site for each selected best practice action, which often include guide books, to refine how you will implement the best practice action in your city � Talk with citystaff/ofUcia|s � Taik with others from the community ~ Talk with trusted resource organizations, induding consultants and utilities o 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 Iisted there to learn more information o Have best practice leads present the short best practice action plans to your GreenStep steering comrnittee and to a city body or to the city councit as appropriate. ^ Implement new bespractice actions o Keep eveAt 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 Cfardy as needed what constitptes completing_an action with the GreenStep program coordinator. For example, an administrative directive is probably substantially equivalent to a city council - adopted poUcy,butfee|frcetomakeaphonecaUtoc|arifvenissuesucbasthis. 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. � ! When you have implemented any 4, 6 or 8 best practices on your city category) you are now recognized as a Step Two GreenStep City! Formal recognition will take place at the next June GreenStep ce/ebration event at the League of Minnesota Cities conference. 6. Keep on working and be recognized at Step Three o Implementing a particylar best practice action may take moriths or vears. 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 af optional best practices rnght take some cities longer or shorter than three years, depending on the different assets and capabilities of each city. GreenStep actions are reviewed and adjusted carefully on an ongoing basis to keep them challenging, yet clearly defined and 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 reacly with ptans for making the most of these opportunities. o Check back with the city council as needed. Ongoing or planned best practice action implementation may fit in with new city efforts and can be shaped in discussion with the council, o Report yearly to community members on GreenStep/city sustainability accomplishments. This is a required action for Step Three recognition for all cities (Best Practice Action 24.1) Use various media and sample reporting forms on your city's admin page, and existing communication vehicles and venues. o As your work proceeds, give us feedback on the program. Let us know how we can make the program materials aid you better in implementing actions. /When you have implemented 8,12 or 16 best practices on your city category, and includ/ng a few required/highpriority best practices and specific best proctice actions) you are now recognized as a Step Three GreenStep City! Forrnal recognition will take place at the next June GreenStep celebration event at the League of Minnesoto Cities 7. Measure community -wide impact and be recognized at Step Four and Step Five o Step Two and Step Three recognition Ievels reffect completed city actions, generaily described in words. Beginning in 2016 the GreenStep program challenges cities to measure and report — with numbers —the a::re:ate "uantitativeresults oftaNn:multi vke actions. Called city performance metrics (or sustainability indicators), these Step Four measures attempt to present to community members the 'state of sustainability' achieved by a city. o Step Four recognition will be awarded each June to cities who report, for the previous calendar year, between 5 and 8 core metrics and 5' 3, or no (depending on city category) additional metrics of their choice. o Step Five the final recognition tevel for the GreenStep Cities program challenges cities to show improvement in three or more selected data elements from approximately 90 elements that fall under the 18 Step 4 metrics. (September 2017) City of Apple Valley Background Information County: Dakota Population: 49,084 GreenStep City category': A Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 187 Participating township(s) school district(s): GreenStep City resolution: (lick iivrvto view the file. GreenStep Coordinator Charles Grawe City staff CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 City web page relating to sustainability/GreenStep activities: ./vs.ss I - '14 • 1 GreenStep City status and date: STEP 3 (06/23/2015) Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed x.aspx'r.'n Completed actions are denoted by stars. Mouse over a star for its definition. Buildings and Lighting Efficient Existing Public Buildings { BP no. 1 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Enter building information into the Minnesota 83 Benchmarking database and routinely enter monthly energy, water use data for all city -owned buildings. Date action report first entered: 08/05/2011 Implementation details: The City continues to collect and add data into the B3 database. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 2: Make no/low costindoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs. Date action report first entered: 08/05/2011 Implementation details: Numerous city buildings, selected based on size, have received energy audits and energy efficiency improvements. Going forward, the city may prioritize audits for the least efficient city buildings as determined by 83 energy performance ranking and consider energy efficiency improvements with paybacks of under 5 years. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3:Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through performance contracting or other funding or through smaller retro-commissioning/retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings. Date action report first entered: 08/05/2011 implementation details: Apple Valley received federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant funding, which allowed the city to undertake efficiency upgrades in eight buildings. Utility rebates provided additional funding for many projects. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe tici.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Star(s) Action 5: Document that the new construction or major remodeling of a public building has met the SB 2030 energy standard or has met or qualified under a green building or energy framework. Date action report first entered: 08/05/2011 implementation details: The Liquor Store #3 and Hayes Community and Senior Center buildings are both Green Globes certified for their green building standards. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe a,clapple-vailey.mn.us 952-953-2508 Efficient Existing Private Buildings { BP no. 2 } Star(s) Action 1: Create or participate in marketing/outreach program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Through its Better Energy program, the city partnered with local energy utilities and nonprofits to help Apple Valley homeowners improve their homes by reducing their energy use and saving money at the same lime. Free educational workshops teach Apple Valley homeowners how to lower their energy use and save money. participants can also sign up for home energy visits with direct installs of efficiency measures. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us I 952-953-2508 Star(s) Action 4: Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses located within/nearby the city. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Through the Better Energy program, the city has partnered with local energy utilities and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage commercial energy saving opportunities. According to EnergySTAR. both Kohl s and Cub Foods in Apple Valley have documented their energy use and received an EnergySTAR label for their buildings. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 CGrawegclapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 5: Conserve/protect drinking/groundwater resources by creating a watering ordinance, water -wise landscaping ordinance/guidance, WaterSense purchasing program, or guidance on rainwater harvesting and home water softener use. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley has adopted by ordinance water restrictions that are in effect daily May 1 to September 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; residents using alternate sources such as private wells or water from lakes or ponds are subject to the same restrictions. Apple Valley has also adopted the following water conservation rate structure: first 1,000 gallons - $1.04; 6,000 to 10,000 - S1.06; 11,000 to 15,000 - $1.29; 16000 to 35.000 - $1.66; over 35,000 - $1.93. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 New Green Buildings { BP no. 3 Action 1: Require by city policy that new% city-ovned buildings be built using the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley has two Green Globes certified city -owned buildings: the Hayes Senior & Commun iy Center and Liquor Store 43 Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals { BP no. 4 } 3 Star(s) Action 4:Coordinate traffic signalsanclior optimize signal liming so as minimize car idling at intersections yet maintain safe and publicly acceptable vehicle speeds. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Dakota County has interconnected and synchronized 24 traffic lights along 7 miles of county roads in Apple Valley, including: "County Road 42 from Elm Drive to Flagstaff Ave. and from Johnny Cake Ridge to Diamond Path "Cedar Ave, from 1 40th St, to 160th St_ "County Road 46 from Galaxie A ve. to Flagstaff Ave, Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CCrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 3 Star(s) Action 8: Replace the city'sexisting traffic signals with LEDs. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: All traffic signals in the city have LED lights, Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Land Use Comprehensive Plans { BP no. 6 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt acomprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt aland use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 implementation details: The Comprehensive Guide Plan 2030 Update was adopted on Jan. 14th, 2010. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-vailey.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 2: Demonstrate thatregulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The. subdivision and zoning ordinances arc consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Guide Plan. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: 1 Star(s) Action 3: Include requirements in comprehensive and/or other plans for intergovernmental coordination addressing regional land use and watershed / wellhead impacts, infrastructure, transportation, economic development and city/regional services. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The city coordinates with Dakota County, the Metropolitan Council. MDNR. MPCA on a variety of these issues. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Resilient City Growth I BP no. 7 1 Star(s) Action 1: Limit barriers to higher densityhousing by including in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map: a. Neighborhood single-family density at 7 units/acre or greater. b. Multi -family housing at a gross density of at least 15 units/acre adjacent to a commercial zoning district or transit node. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The 2030 Comprehensive Plan requires 3-6 units an acre for Single Family zoning districts. but single. family districts could be higher than 6 units per acre in Planned Development districts. The city also permits M8 (12-24 units/acre) adjacent to LB (limited business) and RB (retail business). Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@clapple-valley.mnius 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 2:Encourage higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies: a. Incorporate a flexible lot size/frontage requirement for infill development. h. Use density and floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses in selected residential zoning districts. c. Tie a regulatory standard to comprehensive plan language defining compact city expansion zones that limit low-density development. d. Allowing accessory dwelling units or co -housing or tiny houses apartments by right in selected zoning districts. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley permits flexible lot sizes through the Planned Development zoning process, density bonuses in multifamily districts, and accessory dwelling units by right in Planned Development districts. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawegici.apple-valley.mnius 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Encourage a higher intensity of commercial land uses through at least one of the following strategies: a. Include in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map a commercial district with reduced lot sizes and zero -lot -line setbacks, or a FAR minimum of 1. b. Set targets for the minimum number of employees/acre in different commercial zones. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley allows reduced lot sizes. and zero lot line setbacks in the Central Village district, Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 4: Provideincentives for infill projects, or for life -cycle housing at or near job or retail centers, or for achieving an average net residential density of seven units per acre. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley has provided a variety of incentives for various projects on a case-by-case re\ icw Examples include Founders Circle. with reduced setbacks, shared parking, and higher intensity land uses. as well as financial incentives from various funding sources for planning and park amenities: and Cobblestone Lake. with smaller lot sizes. reduced setbacks, and funding of workforce and senior housing Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe ((ity staff) CGrawe a ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Mixed Uses { BP no. 8 } 1 Star(s) Action 2: Locate or lease aschool, city building or other government facility that has at least two of these attributes: a. Adjacent to an existing employment or residential center. b. Designed to facilitate and encourage access by walking and biking. c. Accessible by regular transit service. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The Municipal Center is located in Downtown Apple Valley, adjacent to several employment centers, the Apple Valley Medical Center, and the Dakota County Western Service Center, as well as several residential developments. The Municipal Center and several other city facilities (Central Maintenance Facility, Hayes Community Center, the Aquatic Center and Teen Center) are all accessible by City sidewalks and trails, making it easy to walk and bike to these critical service centers. MVTA provides service to all areas of Apple Valley and to city facilities. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Modify aplanned unit development ordinance to emphasize mixed use development or to limit residential PUDs to areas adjacent to commercial development. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The Central Village is a Planned Development district that incorporates both vertical and horizontal mix of uses. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 7: Create incentives forvertical mixed-use development in appropriate locations (downtown, commercial districts near colleges or universities, historic commercial districts). Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The City has used various incentives to create vertical mixed use development in the Central Village area of the Downtown district, Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe tuci.apple-vailey.mnius 952-953-2508 Efficient Highway- and Auto -Oriented Development { BP no. 9 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster. Date action report first entered: 03/J9/2012 Implementation details: As part of the upgrade of Cedar Avenue to accommodate bus rapid transit (BRT), a public process was undertaken and design goals were developed that guided the work of the corridor. The completed Cedar Avenue corridor will have landscaping. streetscape elements, decorative lighting. tree plantings, benches, and way finding at key intersections. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) CGrawegclapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Adoptinfrastructure design standards that protect the economic and ecologic functions of the corridor through clustering of development and incorporating access management standards. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: City policies that have been in place since the early 1990s created a destination -oriented Downtown commercial center with the core being the intersection of County Road 42 and Cedar Avenue. The city has focused commercial development in this arca, with supporting neighborhood commercial developments in. other defined areas. Typical highway commercial development is discouraged. The City participated with Dakota County and other stakeholders in a multi-year effort to implement bus rapid transit (BRT) along the Cedar Avenue corridor, The combined transit and highway improvement process involved coritext-sen5.;ilive design principals. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Natural Resource Conservation Design BP no. 10 } 1 Star(s) Action 3: For cities within metropolitan areas, incorporate woodland best management practicesaddressing protection of wooded areas into zoning or development review. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: City Code Chapter 152 - Natural Resources Management provides requirements for protecting natural areas including trees and wetlands. The code has strict requirements related to replacement of trees removed in connection with development and land disturbing activities. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Transportation Living Streets { BP no. 11 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt complete streets policy that also addresses street trees and storniwater. Date action report first entered: 03/26/2015 Implementation details: Several sections of the City's Comprehensive Plan provide the over -arching policies for "Great Streetsfor the City. In summary, the City views Great Streets as an integral part of the City's vision for transportation opportunities for all modes. Great Streets and Active Living were two priority themes for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update. A well-designed transportation system will allow for options. As we move into the future and explore requests for redeveloping and repositioning the downtown, we expect to continue to enhance multi -modal opportunities. "Great Streets- Concept. The Vision chapter of the Apple N./alley Comprehensive Plan states that the City should be a place of "great streets-. A great street extends beyond the street surface to the sidewalks and landscaping in the adjacent right-of-way. A great street provides for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles while encouraging travel by bicycles and pedestrians. A great street supports and enhances and use. A great street adds to the quality of life and identity of Apple Valley, The street system should be designed to avord unintended traffic patterns and volumes. Therefore, the City will consider the "great streets- concept when planning future improvements to transportation corridors such as CSAH 23 (Cedar Avenue) CSAH 42, and the Downtown Ring Route. Transportation in Apple Valley involves more than driving a car. An aging population. rising energy costs and desires for an active and health), community encourage a transportation system that provides meaningful ways for people to travel by busfoot, bicycle. and wheelchair. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: http://mn-applevalley.civicplus„com/DocumentCenteriHorne/View/381 For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGravve aci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Founders Lane: 153rd Street reconstructed from two-lane road 10 two one-way, two-lane streets with boulevard trees planted in decorative concrete surface approximately 40' apart. Also, beginning in 2011 a bus rapid transit lane will be added to Cedar Ave and the project will include boulevard trees planted approximately 30-40' apart and pedestrian -scaled lighting, enhanced landscaping, streetscaping and monumentation, pedestrian refuges in the middle of Cedar Avenue to wait if they cannot cross Cedar during a signal cycle, and way -finding signage. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe &ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 6: Implement traffic calming measures, including road diets, roundabouts, shared space and depaving, in at least one street redevelopment project. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Curb bump -outs and boulevard trees were installed as traffic calming measures on Garden View Drive, south of Whitney Drive. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) j CGrawe@clapple-valleyann.us 952-953-2508 Mobility Options { BP no. 12 } Star(s) Action 1:Promote walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means: a. Produce/distribute route maps, signage or a web site. b. Document increased bike facilities, such as racks, bike stations or s bowers. c. Add bus infrastructure, such as signage, benches, shelters, park and ride lots and real-time arrival data -streaming. d. Increase the number of employers promoting multiple commuting options, including offering qualified transportation fringe benefits instead of only a tax-free parking fringe benefit. e. Be recognized as a Walk Friendly or Bicycle Friendly Community. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: "A map showing the City's trail and sidewalk system is available on the website. In addition, the City website has a larger -scale commuter bike route map. City maps indicate the location of City parks and businesses in the downtown. "Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) provides bus service in Apple Valley. Bus station stops provide benches, seating, bicycle lockers and bike racks. The park and ride facilities at 1 57th Street, the Apple Valley Transit Station and the Palomino Park and Ride provide enclosed wailing areas. The Apple Valle Transit Station (AVTS) provides 750 -spaces of structured and surface parking, and a skyway over Cedar Avenue to ensure pedestrian safety. Real-time arrival data is expected to be implemented as part of the bus rapid transit (BRT) service on Cedar Avenue in 2012. "The City was one of the founding partners in the Active Living Dakota County group. Active Living Dakota County has secured grants through Blue Cross Blue Shield and the State of Minnesota Health Improvement Program (SHIP) to promote active living in its member communities. The City of Apple Valley has received grants to conduct the Bike Walk Apple Valley Trail and Sidewalk plan and the Business Bike Rack program. Grants have also been submitted to fund construction of some of the key missing trail and sidev.alk segments in the City. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 CGraweWci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 3 Star(s) Action 6: Addiexpandtransit service, or promote car/bike sharing. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Construction is now underway to upgrade Cedar Avenue to accommodate shoulder -running bus rapid transit (BRT) service. The Cedar Avenue BRT will hecin operating at the cnd of 2012 and will he the first operating BRT system in the State. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 eGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Efficient City Fleets BP no. 13 } 1 Star(s) Action 2:Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: The city purchased a Malibu with double the fuel -mileage of the ton pickup alternative, Staff will continue to adjust the fleet for vehicle size and function as necessary. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGraive@ci.apple-valley.mnius 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Phase-in no -idling practicesoperationat and fuel changes, and equipment changes including electric vehicles, for city or local transit fleets. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Supervisors monitor vehicle fuel use, staff discussions discourage vehicle idling and newer vehicles have anti -idling controls, and staff monitor and a dj ust maintenance schedules for optimum efficiency. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Environmental Management Sustainable Purchasing { BP no. 15 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt a sustainable purchasingpolicy or administrative guidelines/practices directing that the city purchase at least: a. EnergyStar certified equipment and appliances and b. Paper containing at least 30% post -consumer recycled content. Date action report first entered: 03/19/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley purchases paper with 30% post -consumer recycled content. The city also purchases Energy Star certified computers, printers and monitors, which are set to go to low power state when unused and appropriate. Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 4: Require purchase of U.S. EPAWaterSense-certified products. Date action report first entered: 03/30/2015 implementation details: The City purchases the most efficient water -using products for operations when economically feasible. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@cisapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 5: Set minimum standards for the percentage of recycled -content material in asphalt and roadbed aggregate or other construction materials, and for compost use. Date action report first entered: 03/26/2015 Implementation details: The City uses standard MNDOT specifications for aggregate composition percentages in surfaced roads and shoulders. A salvaged/recycled aggregate mixture shall have a minimum of 1O% by mass aggregate material incorporated into the mixture. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 CGrawegcLapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Urban Forests & Soils { BP no. 16 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Certify as aTree City USA. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley has been a member of Tree City USA since 1984. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Gravve (City staff) CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 4:Maximize tree planting along your main downtown street or throughout the city. Date action report first entered: 03121/2012 Implementation details: The City's downtown Ring Route is approximately 2.75 miles long and contains 417 established trees. Trees arc planted in 4' by 4opening in decorative concrete boulevard surface and are spaced approximately 25' apart. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Gravve(City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mnius 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 5: Adopt atree preservation or native landscaping ordinance. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: (b) Apple Valley s Trce Preservation Ordinance (Sec 152.46) regulates tree removal and applies when >10% of significant trees arc proposed to be removed from site. Tree replacement consists of replanting 10% of diameter -inches removed. (e) When buffer zones arc required around water bodies, Protective Buffer Zone Ordinance (Sec 152,57C.3.b.) requires native plants be used to establish buffer. Adopted City Ordinances do not specifically list native plants as an alternative to turf grass, but they do not disallow use of native plants or rain gardens as alternatives to turf grass. One commercial property in Apple Valley is planted entirely in big bluestem. which was approved during the development/plan review process. Additionally, Apple Valley has a cost share program for installation of rain gardens, native plant gardens. and shoreline restorations using native plants. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Stormwater Management { BP no. 17 1 1 Star(s) Action 5: Adopt and implementguidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following storrnwater infiltration/reuse practices: a. Rain gardens/infiltration practices. b. Rainwater harvesting practices. c. Green alleys or green parking lots. d. Pervious/permeable pavement or pavers. e. Green roofs / green wails. f. Tree trenches / tree boxes. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Engineering design guidelinesare in place for rain gardens. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe(City staff) 1 CGrawegcLapple-vailey.mn.us 952-953-2508 Action 6: Reduce road salt use to prevent permanent surface and groundwater pollution. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley s City Ordinance 152.55 address these provisions—No land disturbing activity will take place without installation of BMPs regarding erosion/sediment control. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Crawe (City staff) 1 CGrawegcl.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Parks and Trails { BP no. 18 } 1 Star(s) Action 2: Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas wherenew development is planned. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: The City's Subdivision Chapter of the City Code requires dedication of land (or cash -in -lieu of) for parks, storm water management in connection with new subdivisions. Trails that are identified in the City's trail and sidewalk plan must also be dedicated in connection with new subdivisions. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grade (City staff) 1 CGrawe wci.apple-valley.mn.us I 952-953-2508 3 Star(s) Action 3: Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members. Date action report first entered: 03/2112012 Implementation details: The 2008 municipal park system includes 52 park areas and open spaces arid eight (8) special use parks and facilities covering more than 850 acres, A GIS study confirms that all residents of Apple Valley are located within 1/2 -mile of a park or protected green space. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawegcLapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 8: Develop a program toinvolve community members in hands-on land restoration and stewardship projects. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: The City's Park and Recreation Advisory Committee is a volunteer organization that gets involved with land restoration, tree plantings, and stewardship activities in the City. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Surface Water { BP no. 19 } 1 Star(s) Action 4: Adopt ashoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley Ordinance 152.57 requires protective buffers around bodies of water. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ciiapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems { BP no. 20 } 1 Star(s) Action 2: Plan and budget for motormaintenance and upgrades so as to assure the most energy efficient, durable and appropriate equipment is available when upgrades or break downs occur. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 implementation details: The city conducts routine maintenance on all pumping facilities and motors. Well pumps/motors are on a 7 -year maintenance inspection cycle; WTP purnps!inotors are on an 8 -year maintenance and inspection cycle; lift station pumps/motors are inspected annually. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 eGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 3 Star(s) Action 4: Optimizeenergy and chemicals use at drinking water / wastewater facilities and decrease chloride in wastewater discharges. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 implementation details: The city has completed an energy audit and backwash optimization improvements. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 952-953-2508 CGrawe@clapple-valley.mn.us Septic Systems I BP no. 21 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Report to landowners suspected noncompliant or failing septic systems as part of an educational, informational and financial assistance and outreach program designed to trigger voluntary landowner action to improve septic systems. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: On November 23, 2010, the City adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 51, Regarding Individual Sewage Treatment Systems. The ordinance governs the process addressed in this action. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Clarify/establish one or moreresponsible management entities for the proper design, siting, installation, operation, monitoring and maintenance of septic systems. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: The City is responsible for septic system review, permitting and monitoring. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Solid Waste Prevention and Reduction { BP no. 22 } Star(s) Action 3: Improve profitability, legal compliance and conserve resources through adoption of ordinance language, licensing and resource management contracts. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: ISD 196 has a resource management contract through Allied Waste which covers the collection of trash and recyclables at all elementary, middle and high schools and also food waste at elementary schools. Dakota County also has a Resource Management Contract for the Western Service Center, which includes the Galaxie Library. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) Crawe ci.apple-valley.mn.us 1 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 4: Publicize, promote and use the varied businesses/services collecting and marketing used, repaired and rental consumer goods in the city/county. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Dakota Valley Recycling, a JPO, that administers the City's recycling actions, offers a fact sheet Donate Items for Reuse, which includes the Goodwill in Apple Valley. Other locations throughout Dakota County that Dakota Valley Recycling has promoted in the past include the Chap Value Store in Burnsville, Salvation Army in Burnsville, Building Materials Outlet in Eagan and the Recycling Zone. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe rci.apple-valley.mn.us I 952-953-2508 Local Air Quality { BP no. 23 1 Star(s) Action 2:Regulate outdoor residential wood burning using ordinance language, performance standards and bans as appropriate, for at least one of the following: a. Recreational burning. b. Outdoor residential wood boilers. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Apple Valley regulates recreational wood burning in chapter 93 of the City Code. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) CGrawegcLapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Economic and Community Development Benchmarks and Community Engagement { BP no. 24 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Use a committee tolead, coordinate, and report to and engage community members on implementation of GreenStep best practices. Date action report first entered: 03/26/2015 Implementation details: The City is publishing a GreenStep Cities newsletter article in the 2015 Summer edition to share our participation in the program. it will also be available on the City's website. These newsletters are out for the public at most city facilities and are mailed to each home. In addition, the City began a "Green Team" of employees to promoting Sustainable Energy, Financial, and Environmental Practices for the City years ago. This mission: To consider and promote sustainable practices for the City's use of energy resources in its daily operations and delivery of services. Some activities included: 1) Learn about and understand the broader issues and context surrounding energy usage for now and into the future. 2) Educate and promote sustainable practices among other City employees. (Example: Encourage conservation by shutting off unnecessary artificial lighting during the day). 3) Act as a clearing house for information and training opportunities on sustainability so that other members of the organization can learn more about how energy sustainability can be achieved in their specific areas. 4) Explore and solicit ideas from within home departments for ways to create more sustainable energy usage within the department. (Example Look at purchasing. vehicles and equipment with fuel or energy consumption in mind). 5) Recommend City-wide policies to the City Administrator that support the team mission. (Example: Create a City-wide policy on the use of electric heaters and fans at individual workstations). () Recommend City-wide policies to the City Council that support the team mission, but may impact the delivery of services. (Example: Look at areas of a park that are currently mowed weekly that might be allowed to go natural without mowing). While not currently active, the resources for lowering our environmental footprint are still available on the internal intranet to all employees. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles GraIrve (City staff) 1 CGrawegcLapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Star(s) Action 2: Organize goals/outcome measures from all city plans and report to community members data that show progress toward meeting these goals. Date action report first entered: 03/30/2015 Implementation details: be. Apple Valley for Homeowners (Better Energy Program) The City of Apple Valley teamed up with Dakota Electric, CenterPoint Energy, and the Center for Energy and Environment through grants from the Joyce Foundation and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to offer Apple Valley homeowners this full-service residential energy program - be. (better energy) Apple Valley. Below are some of the results of this two-year program: 793 homeowners attended workshops on saving energy 780 (98%) completed a home visit of their property with an energy professional 16,680 CFL light bulbs were installed 759 low -flow shower heads were installed 1,491 low -flow aerators were installed 149 homes completed major upgrades like attic insulation or furnace, boiler, or hot water heater replacement 27% of homes acted on at least one of the recommended upgrades $437,000 in estimated value of energy savings from the program over the lifetime of the products The be. Apple Valley program was designed to help Apple Valley homeowners improve their homes by reducing their energy use and saving money al the same time. be. for Businesses Apple Valley businesses are showing that energy efficiency makes sense for their bottom line and the environment, Since 2007, Apple Valley businesses have worked with Dakota Electric and Center Point Energy on over 100 efficiency projects and cut their annual energy bills by over $285.000. In partnership with the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce and with input from Apple Valley business leaders, Better Energy is finding ways to help businesses cut their costs by saving energy. Two roundtable meetings identified the following opportunities: • Benchmarking to help businesses compare their energy use and costs to industry peers • Bulk -buys of proven, low-cost, and quick -payback efficiency devices • Conducting an energy survey to identify progress and opportunities throughout the business community o Energy survey for businesses that lease their space o Energy survey for business that own their space • Connecting businesses to efficiency rebates and utility programs • Employee "green teamsto save businesses money through no -cost behavior solutions • Exploring ways building owners and tenants can both benefit from energy efficiency - Recognizing energy-efficient businesses Apple Valley currently supplies information every ten years in the Comprehensive Plan regarding goals for a wide variety of plans including parks, stormwater, drinking water, and economic development. The City annually reports the accomplishments of the previous years goals and the goals for the current and future years in the annual "State of the City" address by the Mayor. Several of our water related goals are discussed below: http://www.ci.apple-valley.mn.usiDocumentCenteriliomeiView/967 Goal: Limit infiltration and inflow (Ifl)of stormwater into our sanitary sewer. The City has a proactive program directed at identifying and correcting 11], including the folio -wing: Manholes are inspected as part of sewer cleaning operations, which are performed daily March through NoNember, weather permitting. Approximately one third of the system is cleaned (and manholes inspected) annually. Goal: Reduce amount of unaccounted for water by replacing or lining all defective clay water pipe. This project began two years ago and we are making progress through the Capital Improvement Program each year. Several neighborhoods or street sections are done annually, which preserves and protects infrastructure and limits wasted drinking water. Goal: Protect groundwater from potential contamination on City properties. The City conducts quarterly inspections on all City owned facilities to check for improper storage of hazardous wastes or materials, stockpiles of soils, or any illegal dumping. Prior to 2015, these inspections were annually. Quarterly inspections will help prevent polluted drinking water from City properties. We also educate residents and businesses, but hope to lead by example. Goal: Replace all residential water meters and inspect sump pump connections for illegal activity. This project will begin in 2016 to update all water meters to more accurately capture water use with advanced technology. Additionally the City will inspect for proper sump pump connections or any illicit connections into our sanitary system. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: hitp://mn-applevalley.civicplus.comiindex.aspx?NID-339 For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 2 Star(s) Action 4: Conduct or support a broad sustainabilityeducation and action campaign involving: a. The entire communit. b. Homeowners. c. Front yards, block clubs, neighborhood associations. d. Congregations. e. Schools, colleges. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: Better Energy is a community -wide energy efficiency initiative that offers free home energy workshops, and comprehensive home visits which include energy assessments and direct installs of efficiency measures. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@clapple-valley.tnn.us 952-953-2508 Green Business Development { BP no. 25 I 1 Star(s) Action 4: Strengthen value-added businesses utilizing local "waste" products and renting products/services. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: For many cement related projects, such as curb and gutter,the city has contracted with Fischer Sand and Aggregate. Cemstone, and Aggregate Industries, all of which utilize local recycled concrete. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 6: Promotegreen businesses that are recognized under a local, regional or national program. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: The ARROW program promotes over 130 businesses, schools and non -profits, 44 of which are located in Apple Valley. For businesses to qualify for membership to this prograriL they must report on their practices in the areas of recycling, buying/selling environmentally preferable products, reusing and reduction of resource use via energy efficiency. water conservation or other waste -reducing efforts. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 Local Food { BP no. 27 2 Star(s) Action 3: Create, assist with and promotelocal food production/distribution within the city: a. A farmer's market or co-op buying club. b. An urban agriculture business or a community -supported agriculture (CSA) arrangement between farmers and community members/employees. c. A communityor school garden, orchard or forest. Date action report first entered: 03/21/2012 Implementation details: (a) Currently farmers markets are conducted twice a week in Apple Valley at Mt. Olivet church on Tuesday evenings, and at the Municipal Center on Saturday mornings. (c) ISD 196 Dakota Ridge School has a greenhouse and gardening program. 1SD 196 School Environmental Studies has a community garden. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) I CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mnius 952-953-2508 Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 2: Purchase energy used by city government with a higher renewable percentagethan required by Minnesota law. Date action report first entered: 03/26/2015 Implementation details: The City's utility Dakota Electric sources 20% of their electrical generation from renewables (hydro, wind, natural gas, and refuse derived. In addition, the Apple Valley Liquor Store #3 is the first business in the state of Minnesota to receive a "Green Globe Award" for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Stewardship. We have gone completely Geothermal for heating. air conditioning and refrigeration. We also boast fully automated lighting which adjust to the sunlight that shines through skylights throughout the entire building, All-in-all the City of Apple Valley is saving over 50% in energy costs by investing in environmentally conscious efforts. Outcome measures/metrics: Descriptive links: For more information contact: Charles Grawe (City staff) 1 CGrawegclapple-valley.mn.us 952-953-2508 1 Star(s) Action 3: Establish alocal purchasing preference and, working with a local business association, develop a list of locally -produced products and suppliers for common purchases. Date action report first entered: 03/26/2015 hnplernentation details: Kwik Kopy prints our business cards and is an Apple Valley business, Other local businesses the City patronizes include Apple Valley Ford and Collision, Napa Auto Parts, and several other auto parts businesses help maintain our fleet. The City will create a list and share this information with other local consumers and businesses. Outcome measures/metrics: FXA LOCAL GOVERNMENT MPLE EXISTING ENERGY CON ITIONS /\ ILA Prepared by: Great Plains Institute J The development of this guide is supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under Award Number DE- DE-EE0007229. This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The team includes LHB, Great Plains Institute, and the University of Minnesota's Energy Transition Lab and Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, EXISTING ENERGY CON TE•'S WHTE BEAR LAKE The City of White Bear Lake is committed to understanding how energy is used in the community and exploring opportunities to reduce energy consumption and increase the use of clean energy resources. The City has completed an energy use profile to illustrate energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transportation. The City has also inveritoried existing energy and clirnate policies both adopted previously by White Bear Lake or implemented at the state level. [pe(gyUse Pi ()life The Regional Indicators Initiative (RI1)1 provides cornmunities with data related to four indicators: electricity and natural gas use, transportation energy consumption, waste, and water. It also provides baseline greenhouse gas emissions associated with these indicators. Data from Ril was used for the energy use profile for White Bear Lake; XceI Energy is the service provider for both electricity and natural gas. Energy Use by Type (MVIBtu) Natural Gas Total Use, 1'zu9,4zs' 63% Electricity Total ' The types of energy used in White Bear Lake for buifdings and industrial processes are Figure Data Source: Regional Indicotors Initiative for White Bear Lake p""', electricity and ""''"'s�" While some fuels (e.g., heating fuel for residential use)areabousedw�hinthecnmmun�� theyweznot��um�inth�a��sme�. ThedatainFh�une�ind�atesthat phmar0ye��r��ynatuna|�as some he��in�fu�| for �sident�| use)areabousedw�hinthecnmmun�� theyweznot��um�inth�a��sme�. ThedatainFh�une�ind�atesthat consurnemuse mmore natural gas than they�ezm�ca�um�inth�a�essme�. ThedatainFh�une�ind�atesthat ThedatainFh�une�ind�atesthat Energy Use by Sector (MIVIBtu) electricity, withn�adyZ/�ofene�� Residential, 0� Commercial ' Industrial, consumed being natural gas. This�e( is 910,635. 51% \ ' � \ u83—' �sa . -- �sm primarily used for water and space heating, cooking, and some industrial processes. Electricity can be used for appliances, water and space heating, ighting, as well as other electronic devices. Figure 2 iI}ustrates that residential consu mers use approximately the same amourit of energy as commercial and Figure2Data suu��Rcnmno' indicatorsm�nu, �nmmueeoo Lake important to note that there are more than 8,500 residential customers in White Bear Lake as compared to 800 commercial and industrial customers. RH indicates that utility energy consumption costs White Bear Lake residents and businesses $27.4 million each year. �rIAlp.livvvymweiun*knu/oato/srncu'*/ Example Existing Energy Conditions 2 Greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted from burning conventional fuels ike coal and natural gas, which are both inputs in the production af electricity. While the generation mix from XceI Energy continues to get cleaner with an increasing amount of renewable energy added each year, emissions Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Energy Type from electricity remain higher than (Tons CO2) those frorn natural gas. Figure 3 demonstrates that although natural gas makes up most of the energy consumption wrthin the City,a Natural Gas significantly greater share of GHGs Total Use, --- come from the use of electricity. __co/nefromtheuseofe|ecthcity. 63'1e3'41m Electricity Total — Use, s�7�� GHG emissions bysector fo|�w ' -' sem energy use with each sector making up about haif of the GHGs emitted. However, on a per premise basis, businesses have a greater individual Pigure 3 Dota Source: Regional indicators Mitiotive for White Bear Lake impact on emissions. Energy and GHG Data Sources The primary source for the community's energy and GHG data is the Regional Indicators Initiative (RIO program. RU utility energy and travel energy data is currently available for 20 metro -area communities. By Spring of 2018, the R!| site will provide this data for all Green5tep Cities at Step 2 or higher, plus some additional metro area cities. Another source of energy datafor those comniunities served by XceI Energy,isthe xce|Energy !Community Xcel Energy currently provides data for 70 cities and counties. Electricity data is available in all reports, while natural gas information is only available to those communities served by Xcel Energy. For communities that do not receive RII data and/or are outside of Xcel Energy territory may use another source of information from the ,iS Department of Energy(uWDESta/c and Local Eremr~ website, which provides estimates of community energy use for 23,000 cities across the U.S., using a statistical model based on common community characteristics. All three of these data sources identify the greenhouse gas (GHG) amounts associated with the energy use included in the data set. Different City TypesDifferent Energy Profiles Different city types will have different looking energy profiles. More dense, urban communities will have tend to have higher emissions from buildings as compared to transportation, where bedroom communities may have higher relative transportation emissions. Some communities may appear to have higher emissions due to a high concentration of industrial or large commercial uses. Understanding your community's energy profile is important to set appropriate goals. Example Existing Energy Conditions 3 Transportation Ene.gyUse Profile Transportation energy is almosexclusively attributable to car and truck travel, and is estimated by the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) within the City boundaries (regardless of through traffic or with an origin or desinat|oc in the City). VMT includes commercial and freight vehicles, personal cars, and mass transit vehicles. VMT does not capture energy attributable to rail and airplanes, but those are generally a very small portion of transportation energy. Ril data shows that 221,560,110 vehicle rniles are traveled annually in White Bear Lake. The greenhouse gas emissionsesso«iatedvviththisLravelisapproximate|v97/Q89tonnesofO]2e.Thees imated costs of vehicle transportation fuel in White Bear Lake is $39.2 million each year. The fuel mix for light duty vehicles predominantly includes gasoline, which makes up 88% of all fuels. The remaining 12% is primarily flex fuel (E85, which is a blended fuel with up to 85% ethanol), making up 77% of alternative fuels. Electric vehicles are emerging as a popular afternative to combustion engine vehicles and will be worth noting in future energy profiles. WBL Light Duty Vehicles by Fuel Type Unknown ^—"v"'= Other Gasoline 12% 88% L Flex Fuel e% Figure 4 USDOE City Energy Profiles Alternative Data Source for Transporation: Regional Indicators provides VMT and associated carbon emissions for participating cities. The Minnesota Department of TrnsportationisanothersourceofcommunMYVMT,hovveverthecommunhyvviUneedto calculate its own carbon emissions. At the Federal level the USDOE City Energy Profile also provides estimates for VMT, based upon aslightly different data set and method. The USDOE data also includes estimates of the type of vehicles used in the city, and the number of vehicles that use alternative fuels {based on vehicle sales and registration data for the area). Exomp/e Existing Energy Conditions 4 Greenhouse Gas Emission Summary The energy use data gathered for building energy consumption and transportatiort illustrates a ciear picture of the primary sources for GHG eniissioris in the community. Figure 5 shows the greenhouse gas emissions sources for White Bear Lake. The greatest source of emissions comes from building energy consumption, making up 62% of total ernissions. Broken down by sector, residential energy use accounts for 30% of emissions, while the Commercial and Industrial sector emit 32Y6 of all emissions. Transportation emissions make up 38% of total emissions. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector (Tons of CO2) Additional sources of emissions not included in this graph come from air travel, waste, and wastewater treatment processes. These emissions can be reported in a deeper analysis of GHG emissions or as part of a community -wide GHG inventory. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Residential, 76,oza'ao% o84/'79,908'32m_---- Figure 5 Doto Source: Regional Indicators Initiative for White Beo,Loke The primary source for the community's energy and GHG data iri Minnesota is the Regional Indicators Initiative (RU)program. ThesourcesforGHGemissimnsa'eeuributedtoeachofthefour}ndicators(energy\water, travel, and waste). Primary greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N20), and methane (CH4), are aggregated geographically and reported as carbon equivalents (CO2e). Example Existing Eriergy Conditions 5 Efficiency Resource The City's efficiency resource is measured by looking at current energy use. The greater the energy consumption, the greater resource available for White Bear Lake to be more efficient. As noted in the energy use profile, the energy use and therefore the efficiency resource is evenly split between households and businesses, with higher natural gas consumption. Per customer, there is a greater efficiency resource among the business sector. Xcel Energy offerincentives to residential and business customers to help increase energy efficiency actions. Participation rates for these programs can be found in Xcel Energy's Community Energy Reports. For White Bear Lake, 2016 participation rates by businesses and residents were: Table 1 Participant)nXrel Energy's rebate progrmn [ _,___~___-_- | ' Business 58 3,615,463 21,104 Residents 741 343,174 51,695 Utility companies can manage the electric load through demand response programs. These programs incentivize consumers to aflow the utiflty to rarnp down appliances (e.g. Saver's Switch® for centr& air coriditioning) or other Iarger electricric equipment to relieve congesionfronntheekecthc0hdduhng\imesofh)ghuse.N1orethan 204 businesses participate iri such programs, creating 2,310 kW of available capacity; 4,589 residential customers participate, creating a load management resource of 2,598 kW. Conservation Improvement Program Under the NexGeneration Energy Acof 2007Minnesota requires "electric and natural gas utilities to achieve annual energy savings equal to 1.5 percent of annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas directly through energy conservation improvement programs and rate design, and indirectly through energy codes and appliance standards [..]" Transportation efficiency is another significant resource, comprising alniost haif of the County's GHG emissions and a significant portion of energy expenditures. Washington and Ramsey Counties are already active in working with their local governments and the Metropolitan Council in encouraging transit use and expanding the reach of multi -modal transportation infrastructure. Electric vehicle markets are poised for rapid expansion over the next decade, and the City has opportunities to facilitate the market transformation and reduce GHG emissions associated with transportation fuels and vehicle use. Example Existing Energy Conditions 6 Solar Resource In accordance with the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, the City has had an element for protection and development accesto solar energy since the 1980 Comprehensive Plan. The City continues its interest in preservirig and promoting the use of solar technology.The Metropolitan Council has developed a solar resource calculation and map to help White Bear Lake determine how much solar energy is available for development and to identify where there are good sites for solar development, and where there may be land use conflicts. Table 2. White Bear Lake Rooftop Solar Resource w '``/n ` ' 'p/ White Bear Lake 9,021,035 92.6 MW The total capacity of the rooftop solar resource in White Bear Lake is 92.6 MW, equal to approxirnately 62% of the electricity consumed in the City. This means that if the City wanted to maximize its entire rooftop solar resourceit could set a goal of 62% on-site s&ar generation. The solar resource does not include potential energy efficiency measures that should be implemented, resulting in an increase of the share of electricity that could come from rooftop solar. 120,380N1VVh/y 12,982K4VVh/yr Solar Generation Potential (MWh/yr) 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 t 1.0 OMR Whit Mai ~� �� OW. ~U. Total Rooftop Top 10 Local bunthngs Government Goal Solar instaHations are not limited to rooftop Figure 6 Example of Sotat Potential and Community Goo/ applications. This analysis does not include ground -mount systems, but the City should consider criteria for where they would and would not allow solar. For instancecommercral parking Iots may niake good solar resources, or public right of ways; while areas that are planned for future development or park space may not. These criteria can be used to recalculate potential solar generation and redefine future solar goals for local development. 25% 10% Solar Data Resources Metropolitan Council: The Metropolitan Council requires cities to include: 1. A calculation of your community's solar resource along with solar suitability map, 2. Policies relating to the development of accesto direct sunlight for solar energy, per the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, and 3. Strategies to implement those policies. The Council has developed maps for every community within its jurisdiction to help complete this requirement. Minnesota Solar Suitability App: For communities outside the Metropolitan Council's jurisdiction, solar data can be accessed through the state of Minnesota's Solar Suitability App, which provides a 1 -meter resolution of a community's solar resource for nearly every section of the state. This data can be clipped to a community's building footprint to refir,e the solar potential ( ) . Google Project Sunroof: This resource can help communities or individuals estimate their solar resource and potential economic benefits from solar installations ( vww.goo . ) Example Existing Energy Conditions 7 Gross Solar Potential City of White Bear Lake, Ramsey Washington Counties V11'2017 Extent of Main Map 0 05 2 Mk's Geict Solar Potential (Watt-hours per Year) High : 1276063 64" Low : 900001 II. Solar Potential under 900,000 watt-hours per year County Boundane5 r ---j City and Township Boundaries Wetlands and Open Water Features Source: lin.ryersity of Minnesota U -Spatial Statewide Soler Raster Figure 7 Solar Resource Mop, Metropolitan Council Community Page Example Existing Energy Conditions 8 Wind Resource Wind Resource A good wind energy site needs to meet anumber of characteristics, the most important of which is a good wind resource. Other characteristics include soils that can support the weight of the turbine; a site large enough to accommodate safety setbacks from neighboring properties, structures,or other uses; and surrounding land uses for which the visual impact and potential nuisances will not create a conflict. Regarding the wind resource, the height the rotor needs to be above any disturbance within an ideal radius of 500 feet. The Distributed Wind Energy Association offers this guidance: The industry guidance on minimum wind turbine heighstates thathe lowesextension of a wind turbine rotor must be 60 feeabove the ground, assuming no surrounding obstacles. Where obstacles are present, the wind turbine rotor should be at least 30 feet above the tallest obstacle within a 500 -foot radius. If trees are not fully grown, then the tower height must be adjusted for the growth over the next two or so decade, the life of the wind turbine. White Bear Lake 15 a commuriity with suburban characteristics that may not be suitable fortowers above a certain height. More appropriate tower heights for this community type wouid be at 30 rneter heights. The Minnesota Department of Commerce developed wind speed maps at a 500 -meter resolution 10 give a general sense of the wind resource at various tower heights; these are not adequate for a specific site assessment A good rule of thumb 15 that 12 mph is typically the minimurn average annual wind speed for a good wind resource. At 30 meters, much of Rarnsey and Washington Courtties, including White Bear Lake, have an average wind speed of Iess than 10 miles per hour. The wind resource available at 30 meters 5 below the optimal speed needed for a Minnesota's Wind Resource by Wirnd Speed at 30 meters Ramsey and Washington Counties Wind Spoiod MPH (rnisi 111110kr.����� tit ..mit, = "." ~`~= 1114.t tr, 739 .tt—.~.~ CON! let r Figure aMinnesota Wind Resource Mop, Minnesota Deportment of Cornrnerce productive wind energy sysen,suggestingtbatto|kertowerswoukjbenecessaryfnomaprmductkonstandpoint. While the City does not have many opportunities for wind energy development, residents and businesses can participate in XceI Energy's Windsource or Renewable*Connectprograms. These programs provide the clean energy benetit of having Iocal wind (and solar) energy,although the economic benefits are realized elsewhere. According to Xce|' three businesses are subscribed to a total of 29'200 kWh of wind energy, and 380 residences are subscribed to a total of 910,825 kWh of wind energy. Exompie Existing Energy Conditions 9 Biomass Resource FueI derived from biomass can be used in several processeses as a source of renewable energyincluding electricity, waste heat, and renewable gas. Minnesota has several facilities that use biomass to generate electricity and/or heat. Biomass resources include municipal solid waste, landfill gas, wood waste, and agricultural byproducts, food processing residue and other organic waste. Much of the biomass resource can come from the metropolitan area, particularly for solid waste and landfill gas, as well as yard waste. Information about the type of biomass resources at the community level 5 difficult to acquire; there 15 Iittle standardized assessment of potential biomass resources, and the types of resources vary widely acros communities. However, the City does have and already uses bioniass resources for energy production, and additional opportunities may be available. The City shouid vvmrkwithRamseyendVVash|n��on[ounUestodetermine the volume for dU�eren t waste that can be used as a �mrkwkhRamseyendVVash|n�ton[ount�ytodetemmine Biomass Feedstocks Agriculture Crops residues biomass resource, and identify opportunities for utilizing Crop this energy. ___r_,~_� mcessimu residues Washington and Ramsey counties share a facility in Newport that receives waste from all over both counties Livestock and ������el�re|e�hc�.The Newport waste produces enough electricity to provide for 22,000 homes annually. The Washington County Waste Management Master Plan has polices directed at increasing the amount of organic wase(indmdiogyandwaste)thatisrmcoveredwithstrateghestosupportreskdentia|organicz collection in urban areas. Wood Timber Residues wastes Municipal Solid Waste Bicmass a5 Renewable Energy Anaerobic digestion isaproces that uses captured biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) from the decomposition oforganic material togenerate heat end/orelectricity. 8iogasgeneratedfromthisprocess can also be cleaned to remove carbon dioxide and other impurities to produce a renewable product equivalent to conventional natural gas, referred to as renewable natural gas. Renewable natural gas (or biogas) can serve as a replacement for any natural gas application and can also be compressed to provide a source of transportation fuel in place of conventional natural gas. Biogas can be used to generate electricity in a process called combined heat and power. Combined heat and power (CHP) systems simultaneously generate electricity and thermal energy within a single system. By using the thermal energyCHP systems efficiency is much greater than conventional power generating systems. While this system is well established in Minnesota, there is still great potential to harness this resource. Benefits CHP application include: � Power is produced at a cosbelow retail electricity • Enhance local power reliability • Produces more useful energy than biogas that is used solely for thermal loads • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants Examp/e Existing Energy Conditions 10 EXISTING POLICY State of Minnesota Energy and Chrnate Goals • Many communities adopt the Minnesota energy or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. Minnesota has set a mandatory 80% GHG emission reduction target by 2050, from a 2005 emission baseline. • The interim 2025 GHG targeis a 30% reduction, including a 25-30% required renewable energy fuel mix for electric utilities. • For renewable energyMinnesota set an aspirational solar energy targeequal to 10% of electric retibsa|es by 2030. White Bear Lake Comprehensive PIan 2030 Land Use Goal 1: Reduced de'endence u'on fossil fuels under cround metals and minerals Objectives: = Promote and encourage compact development that minimizes the need to drive. • Provide a mix of integrted community uses — housing, shops workplaces, schools, • parks, civic facilities — within waiking or bicycling distance. • Design human -scaled development that is pedestrian friendly. • Develop around public transit. • Facilitate home-based occupations and work that reduce the need to commute. • Support local food production and agriculture that reduces need for long-range transport of food. Land Use Goal 3: Protect and promote options for the employment of solar energy. Explanation: The City of White Bear Lake has long been aware of the need to encourage and protect the right to utilize solar energy. The City's 1980 Comprehensive plan has several references to this effect. The City continues its interest in preserving and promoting the use of solar technology. Objectives: • Encourage the protection of existing solar collectors from shading by development and vegetation on adjoining parcels. • Discourage new development from prohibiting use of solar technologies through protective covenants. ° Consider solar access in the formulation of plans for public and private landscaping. • Consider variances to zoning and subdivision standards to promote the use of solar energy. • Encourage and support public awareness of technological advancements in the use of solar technology. Housin Goal 2: VVhite Bear Lake va rotect and character of its res dential nei hborhooi ds through housin maintenance, preservation and sustainable build!ng practices. Policies: • Preserve neighborhoods through proactive enforcement of the City's maintenance and zoning regulations. ° Promote the incorporation of Green Star or LEED standards in new construction and remodeling projects pursuant to the City's commitment to sustainability. � Promote sustainable site design and best management practices in new construction and remodel/expansion projects. � Actively promote financial assistance programs available at the County and state level for housing maintenance and energy conservation and expand programs as need arises. • Ensure the safety, livability and longevity of the City's housing stock through enforcement of the Minnesota State Building Code. Excimple Existing Energy Conditions 11 • Continue to invesin neighborhood infrastructure through street reconstruction and by strengthening pedestrian connectivity. Parks, Rec & Natural Resources Air Quality Goal: Implement a few measures which will helpto|mproveairquality. Objectives: • Leadbyexample—VVhenagenee|flectvehkje(suchesa[Uck'uptrudWrequimsnep}amement strive to purchase a low emission vehicle. Parks Rec & Natural Resources Ener Conservation Goal: |m^lement a few measures which will he!"o conserve energy. Objectives: • Encourage property owners to take advantage of Xcel's Electricity Audits programs. Research the posibi|by of providing financial assistance through the HRA or BusinesLoan for participation |nthis program. • Research and implement incentives or requirements to incorporate LEED Design principals and other green infrastructure practices innew buildings. • Lead by example — design new public works building to incorporate LEED practices. Parks Rec & Natural Resources Goal: Reduce our im .ac on factors that contribute to climate chan e. Objectives: • Complete carbon output study, establish reduction goais and create a work plan for achieving goals. • Continue to promote sustainable practices through public education and inv&vement. • Continue to expand the recycling program and waste disposal options as the markets allow. • Continue our on-going examination and modification of City policies and practices that impact the environment as practicable. Excimple Existing Energy Conditions 12 ADDITIONAL RESIUROES Minnesota's Local Governmerit Projectfor £riergy Planning (LoGoPEP) builds upon existing efforts to engage local governments in committing to actionable strategies for energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions. LoGoPEP provides communities with planning tools and actual results to measure progress toward their goals. Tools developed for communities are included below and can be found on the LoGoPEP website. Sample_ Request ': a short guide on how cities can incorporate energy and/or climate resilience into their RFPs to ensure these topics are addressed in Comprehensive Plan Updates. Enerning 0. : This guide provides a detailed outline of community energy resources, what they are, and how to incorporate energy into the comprehensive plan. Energy Planning VVorkbo-The Energy Planning Workbook provides a basic framework for addressing energy use, ertergy resources, and energy development in the comprehensive plan. La^Lu.dic' : The solar energy calculator allows users to get a sense of the potential solar resource in a community as compared to electricity consumption. This information helps local governments set realistic goals for ocal, on-site solar. For more information or technical assistancecontact: Abby Finis, Senior Energy Planner Great Plains Institute �fmp»onr`snnev 612-767-7295 Exampie Existing Energy Conditions Brian Ross, Senior Progrm Director Great Plains Institute ptoss@gpisd.net 612'767'7296 13 CITY OF APPLE VA EY TO: Mayor and City Council of Apple Valley Tom Lawell, City Administrator FROM: Charles Grawe, Assistant City Administrator DATE: SUBJECT: Adopt Resolution lo Participate in GreenStep Cities Program June 9, 2011 MEMO Administration Department In 2008, the State Legislature passed legislation directing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security to recommend actions and policies that city government units can take to meet the State's energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions goals. The voluntary program design focuses on identifying and sharing 28 best practices so that cities can easily replicate the most effective and efficient strategies in energy reduction. The program lau ched last June at the Apple Valley City Council adopted a resolution, at that time for staff to expl re the feasibility of participating in the program. Over this past year, the Great Plains Institute, with the assistance of City staff, conducted an inventor), or review of the City's current practices and evaluated them against the best practices in the GreenStep Cities progra The review revealed that the City had already completed 13 of the necessary 16 best practices and was already in the process of completing eight of the others. As the City already has completed or is already in the process of completing most of the practices because of their benefits, staff believes there is minimal or no additional cost impact to the City to participate in the program. Other participating cities in our immediate area include Eagan, Far ington, and Edina. Attached is a resolution to participate in the GreenStep Cities program. The resolution appoints Charles Grawe to coordinate the City's best practice implementation; agrees to involve the community as appropriate to implement the best practices; notes that the City believes it can claim credit for 16 of the best practices; and notes best practices that the City is in the process of completing. These include making low-cost, quick payback improvements to the least efficient City buildings; adopting a complete streets policy; providing mobility options; and benchmarking the City's, progress. Sta recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution. Participating cities are scheduled to receive recognition at the League of Minnesota Cities Conference later this summer. CITY OF APPI,E VALLEY RESOLUT,R)N NO. 20,11-87 RESOLAYFION Al.„JITHORIZING TfiE CFFY 01 APPLE 'VALLEY TO PARTICIPATIE THE MINNESOLA GREENST,EP CITIES PROGRAM wHEREAS, increasing energy prices present increasing challenges to providing municipal services to the residents and businesses ofApple 'Valley; and \WHEREAS, the Ci,ty has partnered with 1 Electric Association, CenterPoint Energy, the ireal P1aii Instiute, and the Center for Energy and 1.'.:nvronment to promote energy efficiency and cost reductions both within the City and in the greater community through the I3E initiative; W1d HEREAS, addressing energy ase provides an opportunity to move toward energy sel reliance and greater cornrnunity resiliency; provide environmentally healthy and cheaper -to - operate public buildings; and encourage new economic development and local jobs; and WI IEREAS, local governments have the opportunity to achieve energy use reductions through building and facilities management; land use and transportation planning; envirorunental management; and through economic and community development; and WHEREAS, exchanging best practices with other nlunicipal govermnerns is a beneficial wa for cities to learn how to reduce costs and provide services more efficiently; and IEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2008. Chapter 35( Section 13 directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency \4 P( and Office of filnergy Security in the Department of Commerce ,("Offce of Energy Security"), in collaboration with Clean Energy Resource Teams C('ERTs"), to :recommend municipal actions and policies that work toward meeting thc State's oreenhouse as emissions reduction goals; and \VFIEREAS„ a broad coalition or public and private stakeholders including the League of NI innesota Cities, the MPCX, Office of Energy Security an, CER.Ts responded to the 2008 legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program to provide a series sustainaHe development best practices focusing on local government opportunities to reduce energy use and greenhouse oases; and WHEREAS. the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists with technical assistance For tile inwlementation of these sustainable development best practices; and provides cost- effective sustainable development best practices in the following live Categories: (1) Buildings and Facilities; (2) 'Fransportation; (3) Land LIse; (4) Environmental Management; and (5) Econamic and Community 1)eveloprnent, NOW, THEREFORE, .BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ivple Valley Dakota County "N/linnesota, that City does "hereby authorize the City of Apple Valley (the "(. ity") to .participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. 13E 1.71 Ft.„„JR-IFIFIR REsul VH) tho tile City: 1. .Asststant City Administrator Charles Grawe to serve ias the ity's GreenStep coordinator to ITacilitate hest practice implementation; and facilitate the involvement ofcontmunity members, civic, 'business and, educational organizations and other units of government as appropriate in the planning. pron-totiw':1 and itripletnentingo GreenStep Cities best practices; ,a„nd Plans to take actions to implement the following best .ractices: Efficient Existing Public Buildings, Complete Green Streets, Mobility Options, and Benehnlarks and Corrmiunity Engaement; and 4. Will 'claim credit for having iinplementei and will implenlent hlt total at least 16 required and optional GreenStep best practices that will result in energy use reduction, economic savings and reduction in the corrmiunity's greenhouse gas lbotprint. A surnrnary of the city's hripletrientation 'of best practices will be posted on the Minnesota CireenStep Ciiies web site. A ITLD this 9t11 day of June, 2011. Painela J. Oa lett City Clerk