2018-41CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
DATE: Auaust 27, 2018 RESOLUTION NO: 2018-41
MOTION BY: McDonald SECONDED BY: Tiornhom
ARESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13 directed the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency ("MPCA") and Office of Energy Security in the Department of Commerce
("Office of Energy Security"), in collaboration with Clean Energy Resource Teams ("CERTs"); 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; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge program; and
WHEREAS, GreenStep is a free, continuous improvement program, managed by a public-
private partnership, and based upon 29 best practices covering five categories: (1) Buildings and
Lighting; (2) Transportation; (3) Land Use; (4) Environmental Management; and (5) Economic and
Community Development; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program with 122 currently participating
municipalities, including many neighboring cities, assists in collaboration and facilitating technical
assistance; and
WHEREAS, efforts taken by the City of Chanhassen closely align with the goals promoted by
the GreenStep Cities Program. To date, the City of Chanhassen has already:
1. Adopted a comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council; and
2. Adopted a water ordinance to preserve and protect drinking/ground water resources; and
3. Been designated as a Tree City USA for the last 23 years; and
4. Adopted a tree preservation and/or native landscaping ordinance; and
5. Adopted a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas; and
6. Created a mechanism to address failed or non-compliant septic systems; and
7. Adopted a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota
Counties' model ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chanhassen continues ongoing pursuit of voluntary activities and
continual process improvements such as:
1. Conducting public service education campaigns to conserve our community's water resources;
and
2. Continuing to improve the City's parks and trails; and
3. Promoting recycling and composting; and
4. Promoting and implementing cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in all city operations
to minimize the tax burden on our citizenry; and
5. Continuing to be good stewards of our valuable and limited natural resources.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Chanhassen City Council does hereby
authorize the City of Chanhassen to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City appoints the City of Chanhassen Environmental
Commission to serve as GreenStep coordinator to document, identify, and facilitate best practice
implementation. In addition, the Environmental Commission shall provide a report to the City Council
once a year on how well the GreenStep Cities Program is serving the city.
Passed and adopted by the Chanhassen City Council this 27`h day of August, 2018.
ATTE /)
T dd Gerhardt, City Manager
YES NO
Laufenburger
McDonald
Tjornhom
Ryan
2
ABSENT
Campion