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A-2. Joint Meeting with Environmental Commission n � \ ( d w 9 S CITY Of CIIANIIASSEN Chanhassen is a Community for Life-Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow MEMORANDUM TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager FROM: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist DATE: April 24,2017 OW SUBJ: Joint Meeting with the Environmental Commission The Environmental Commission is looking forward to the opportunity to discuss current projects and updates with the Mayor and City Council. The commission is starting its next term with two new members and is looking forward to the new perspectives they will bring. Submitted for council review is the commission's annual work plan and 2016-2017 commission accomplishments. Also to note,the commission would like to discuss with the council the interest and possibility of the city pursuing a GreenStep City designation. The commission will have a PowerPoint to share with the council at the meeting. ATTACHMENTS 1. 2016-17 Environmental Commission Accomplishments. 2. 2017 Annual Work Plan. 3. Minnesota GreenStep Cities Program Information. g:\plan\js\ec\ec17\ec cc jt mtg april 2017.docx PH 952.227.1100• www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us • FX 952.227.1110 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD • PO BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN • MINNESOTA 55317 April 2016 — March 2017 Environmental Commission Events and Accomplishments *Commission Focus for 2016: Water Conservation *Commission Focus for 2017: Pollinators Aligning the annual work plan around a theme topic for the year is a great way to organize the commission's focus and educational activities. Arbor Day • Tree Planting-May 7, 2016 City staff and the Commission hosted an event for the community at Roundhouse Park to plant trees in celebration of Arbor Day. The event included educating the public on Emerald Ash Borer,the value trees bring to the community, and importance of tree diversity. Volunteers planted 30 trees. • Arbor Day Poster Contest The commission judged and awarded prizes for the 5th grade tree poster submissions in celebration of Arbor Day. Trade Fair Informational Booth -July 3rd Members of the commission provided educational materials on water conservation and answered questions from residents. Water conservation information was provided and a prize wheel engaged the event goers. Booth visitors who correctly answered a water conservation trivia question received a plantable seed bracelet. Fall Event: Nature Walk at Seminary Fen The commission hosted a nature walk at the Seminary Fen guided by a MNDNR Naturalist. The event was well attended and the commission hopes to repeat the event again this year. Sustainability Report 2017 The commission continues to provide the community an overview on the four environmental focus areas of surface water, stormwater,water conservation and urban forestry. Villager articles published: • Holiday Waste and Recycling Workshops, Education and Activities commissioners have taken part in: • Joint commission 2040 Comprehensive Plan Visioning Activity—April 2016 • Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed Tour: Groundwater; Tour of EP Water Treatment Plant—July 2016 • Joint Environmental, Planning and Park Commission Tour—August 2016 • 'The Dirt on Sediment Pollution' MN River tour—August 2016 g:\plan\js\ec\ec17\envirocomm accomplishments 2016-17.docx Chanhassen Environmental Commission Annual Work Plan 2017 January May • Review and Approve 2017 Work Plan • Discuss Natural Resources Chapter of • Review Sustainability Report Comp Plan with Planning Dept. Staff • Green Step Cities assessment • July 3rd Trade Fair Planning • Review Visioning Notes • Arbor Day Summary • Update onboarding packet • Chanhassen Day at Arb planning • Select Arbor Day contest theme • Joint Council Summary • Mailings for Arbor Day Poster Contest • May-Arbor Month • Advertisement Posted for Openings on • May 6— Chanhassen Arbor Day Environmental Commission • North Lotus Lake Park February June • Interviews for new members • July 3rd Trade Fair Progress • Review Natural Resources Comp Plan o Finalize details chapter • Chanhassen Day at Arb planning • Green Step Cities update • Develop 5-year plan • Sustainability Report Progress—rough drafts due July • Arbor Day Planning • Develop Fall Community Service Event o Develop event activities • Trade Fair Event Summary • July 3—EC at Trade Fair Event March • July— Chanhassen Day at the Arboretum • Select Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner • Finalize Sustainability Report August • Green Step Cities • Month Off • List of Term Accomplishments • Joint Council Meeting Reminder September • March 31 -Last Day of Term • City Commissions Joint Tour April October • Appointment of New Members • Harvest Moon Potluck • New member orientation • Green Step Cities • Review By-Laws • Fen Walk with DNR? • Appoint Chair/Vice-Chair • Fall Community Service Event Day Planning • Joint Council meeting prep o Finalize details, plan attendance o Sustainability Report • October-Fall Recycling Day o Discuss 2016 Priorities on Work Plan • July 3rd Trade Fair Planning November • Finalize Arbor Day Work Plan • Arbor Day Poster Contest Presentation • Tour of water treatment plant at City Council • Nov 15 —National Recycling Day • April 1 -First Day of Term • April 5— Tree and Bees presentation at December Chanhassen Library • Villager Submittal - Holiday Waste? • April 22-Earth Day • 2018 Work Plan Discussion • April 24—Joint meeting with City Council • April 24-Arbor Day Poster Contest Presentation at City Council • April 28-MN Arbor Day • April 28— Chan Recycling Day I Minnesota ( reenStep (sties 1; 1` P:14MtirMta lir girti%. Home About ; Best Practices ; Steps 1-5 Recognition ; All Cities I Ordinances I City log-in ; Contact Stay Connected .L Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities Alt achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program. managed What are the by a public-private partnership is based upon 29 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1 2 or 3-star level.from a list of four to eight actions.These benefits actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities focus on cost savings and energy use reduction and to being a encourage civic innovation. [More) GreenStepcity? IS YOUR CITY A GREEN STEP CITY? Recognition Steps 1-5 Learn about the benefits of program participation,and then... LATEST CITIES TO JOIN THE ^^�^ . Lake of GREENSTEP PROGRAM(and O Build community interest; have program staff visit -+ the Woods date joined) your city;join GreenStep by adopting a city r. resolution /-ii s" Saint James (2/28/17) • • • Winona (2/21/17) OPost brief info on this web site about what you've — Oft Fond du Lac Band already done; be recognized for implementing 0 • • of Lake Superior (2/9/17) between 4&8 best practicesX90 • Chippewa • Granite Falls (11/7/16) © Implement at your own pace an additional 4—8 MiN 4 g)T Ale Morris (7/12/16) best practices; complete a handful of high-impact I New Germany (6 /16) best practice actions(ask us for help) • -- 0 Sunfish Lake (5/3/16) Albert Lea {4/25:16) O Measure and report on between 7& 15 city ginncPaul Arden Hills (4/25/1e) performance metrics • WISCOIj Golden Valley (4/19/10) © Show improvement in city performance metrics Hastings (4/18/16) Oi \_ Ili M South Saint Paul (4/18/16) Big Lake (3/23+16) -- Sioux Falls • Barnum {3/14116) [Read more: Steps J Content may not reflect Na-. :'-' /ajigr Inver Grove (3/14/16) Vies larger map Heights News/ ' Newsletter 17" ___ recent media coverage Who can help? Show all 112 Talk to best practice atisors. = cities • April 28-29 MN Mayors Conference--tourism& See city step level and which cities have shoreline restoration: http.f/tiny,url-corn/kb3v9t8 implemented which best practices. • May 8-10 Sustainable Purchasing Summit–in Denver.. 10%discount for GS cities, inquire at Contact above 511BENCHMARKING • See RuralArtsandCuitureSummit.com for--April See city building energy performance for all GreenStep cities 19th early registration; in Morris June 6-8 • Sustainable City Award–apply by May 5;win $1000 at the June 15 LMC-GSC breakfast: 00 https_/tinyurl.comfGSCAward I A I - r\' i ' Lip See city-wide performance metrics for select GreenStep cities What are the benefits of joining the GreenStep program and implementing its best practices? The answers to this question will be different for different cities,but here are the key points we have heard from GreenStep cities and around which we have designed the program. The GreenStep program: • Is a continuous improvement pathway for cities to "go green," becoming more sustainable and resilient. • Will save city staff time in researching proven, cost-effective actions for cutting energy use, decreasing the city's carbon footprint, and accomplishing other sustainability goals that exceed regulatory requirements. Information on and an Advisor for how to complete 170 actions—in the best practice groups of buildings, land use, transportation, environment, and economic/community development—is continuously updated with Minnesota-specific information. • Will save cities money and deliver a stream of multiple environmental, social and financial benefits; will help cities explore how to spend the same amount of money smarter. • Is a home-grown, independent program tailored to Minnesota cities and provides maximum flexibility and choice in how to implement a proven best practice. • Provides over 3,000 reports on how Minnesota cities are taking action, making it easy to learn from and contact peer cities so as to jump-start actions in your own city. • Opens up special opportunities for funding and technical assistance, available mostly to GreenStep cities because the GreenStep program focuses on existing GreenStep cities. • Positions a city to more easily apply for competitive grant and assistance programs. • Maps out how to follow-through on the various commitments cities may have made, such as the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, signed by over 40 Minnesota cities, and on the Minnesota Legislature's aggressive Next Generation Energy Act. • Provides leadership and action roles for community members,businesses and institutions so as to stretch limited city funds and strengthen a civic culture of engagement and innovation. We encourage cities to use student interns to help enter best practice action reports on the GreenStep web site, and have an intern manual to make this easier. • Continuously prompts program participants—like an exercise coach would! —to maximize opportunities to accelerate sustainability actions. • Provides public recognition of the good work being done by Minnesota cities. What recognition is there for a GreenStep City? • Annual peer recognition at the June conference of the League of Minnesota Cities. • Annual $1,000 LMC/GSC Sustainable City Award. • Your city's accomplishments will be visible on the GreenStep web site, the most comprehensive web site in Minnesota devoted to city sustainability. • Artwork and recognition materials (logos, sample press releases). • Five steps of recognition: o Step One: for cities that have passed a city council resolution to work on implementing best practices of their own choice and at their own pace. o Step Two: for cities that have implemented any 4, 6 or 8 best practices(depending on city Category/city capacity). o Step Three: for cities that have implemented an additional 4, 6 or 8 best practices(depending on city Category) and completed a handful of specific high-impact actions—this can take between one and a few years. o Step Four: for cities that report(by May 1st), for the previous calendar year,between 7 and 10 core city performance metrics and 5, 3, or no (depending on city Category)additional metrics of their choice. o Step Five: for cities that report improvement in a minimum number of metrics.