HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-077 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2012/06/04•
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RESOLUTION NO. 12-077
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, uncertainty in energy prices and the transition away from fossil fuel energy
sources present new challenges and opportunities to both the City of St. Louis Park and to the
economic health of its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, local governments have the unique opportunity to achieve both
energy use and climate change gas reductions through building and facilities management;
land use and transportation planning; environmental management; and through economic and
community development; and
WHEREAS, a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders including the
League of Minnesota Cities, the MPCA, Office of Energy Security and CERTs responded to
the 2008 legislation by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program to provide a series
of sustainable development best practices focusing on local government opportunities to reduce
energy use and greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program assists in facilitating technical
assistance for the implementation of these sustainable development best practices; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Vision St. Louis Park and is committed to being a
leader in environmental stewardship and will increase environmental consciousness and
responsibility in all areas of city business; and
WHEREAS, the City's Vision St. Louis Park will focus in areas of expanding energy
efficiencies in the City's operations; educate staff and the public on environmental
consciousness, stewardship and best practices; work with rehab loan programs, development
projects to encourage green building design, creation of open space and environmental
initiatives, preserve, enhance and provide good stewardship of our parks; and
WHEREAS, the City's Environmental Group (E Group), composed of
intradepartmental staff ensures that environmental activities are coordinated with all departments
and is actively involved in environmental activities and best practices outlined in the MN
GreenStep Cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of St. Louis Park
does hereby authorize the City of St. Louis Park (the "City") to participate in the Minnesota
GreenStep Cities program. Be it further resolved that the City:
1. Appoints Jim Vaughan, St. Louis Park Environmental Coordinator, and Kathy Larsen,
Housing Programs Coordinator to serve as the city's GreenStep co -coordinators to
facilitate best practice; and
• 2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members, civic, business and educational
organizations, and other units of government as appropriate in the planning, promoting
and implementing of GreenStep Cities best practices; and
Resolution No. 12-077 -2-
3. Will identify a short list of best practices for further development and promotion:
• Buildings and Lighting — Promote and implement a Green Building Policy;
• Environmental Management — Manage solid waste by increasing waste reduction
and recycling at multi -family buildings;
• Efficient and Healthy Development Patterns — Adopt Active Living Resolution
and develop and adopt Active Living Policy;
• Economic and Community Development — Develop Green purchasing guidelines.
4. Will claim credit for having implemented and will implement in total 90 required and
optional GreenStep best practices and activities that will result in energy use reduction,
mic savings and reduction in the community's greenhouse gas footprint. A
umm; of the city's implementation of best practices will be posted on the Minnesota
reen ep Cities web site.
Reviewed for istration:
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City Manage
Attest:
City Clerk
Adopted by the City Council June 4, 2012
Mayo
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