5. Greenstep City_sample_resolution- sample resolution -
RESOLUTION
CITY OF
COUNTY OF
STATE OF MINNESOTA
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
The GreenStep Cities program aims to provide Minnesota cities a clear pathway to greater sustainability based upon
implementing best practices specific to Minnesota cities of differing sizes and capabilities. Due to the multiple
environmental, economic and social dimensions of the best practices, leadership from the city council is needed to oversee
their implementation and integration with other city and community activities and with other governmental jurisdictions
(such as surrounding townships) as appropriate.
To join the GreenStep Cities program as a Step One city, cities adopt a GreenStep participation resolution that names a
contact person to be the city's GreenStep coordinator. This person can be an existing city staff person, an elected official or
an appointed community member. Cities may also empower an existing or new committee to lead and coordinate the
implementation of GreenStep best practices. Many cities find it easier to complete more GreenStep actions faster with a
committee. The committee can be an existing city commission or task force, an existing civic group, a city staff "green
team, " or a new group. A new group could include city elected officials/staff and community members, including
representatives from civic and religious groups, business organizations and educational institutions.
Below is a sample GreenStep participation resolution, which should be tailored as needed to fit the unique situation in your
city. Please insert relevant "WHEREAS" statements — see sample ones on the next page —prior to the THEREFORE
statement below, which can be modified but which must include the four basic elements below.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of does hereby
authorize the City of (the City) to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities
program that offers a free, voluntary continuous improvement framework. Passage of this participation
resolution allows the City to be recognized as a Step One GreenStep City. Be it further resolved that the
City:
Appoints [name of contact person] to serve as the City's GreenStep coordinator for best practice
documentation/implementation (and, as appropriate, identifies [name of group] as the city's
GreenStep coordination team); and
2. Will facilitate the involvement of community members and other units of government as
appropriate [name specific groups here as appropriate] in the planning, promoting and/or
implementing of GreenStep Cities best practices; and
3. Grants to the GreenStep program's buildings advisor read-only access to the City's B3
Benchmarking Database so as to facilitate analysis and cost -savings advice to the City regarding
its buildings' energy use; and
4. Will claim credit for having implemented and will work at its own pace toward implementing any
[4, 6 or 8, depending on your city category of C, B or A] GreenStep best practices that will result in
energy use reduction, economic savings, quality of life improvement, reduction in the City's
greenhouse gas footprint, and recognition by the League of Minnesota Cities as a Step Two
GreenStep City. An on -going summary of the City's implementation of best practices will be
posted by the City on the Minnesota GreenStep Cities web site.
By:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Administrator/ Manager/ Clerk Date:
- sample WHEREAS statements —
WHEREAS, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help
cities achieve their sustainability and quality -of -life goals. GreenStep is a free, continuous improvement program, managed
by a public -private partnership, and based upon 28 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 actions are tailored to all Minnesota
cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation; and
WHEREAS, uncertainty in energy prices and the transition away from fossil fuel energy sources present new
challenges and opportunities to both the City of and to the economic health of its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, climate changes have been observed in Minnesota and have the potential to negatively impact local,
regional and state economies; infrastructure development; habitat; ecological communities, including native fish and
wildlife populations; spread invasive species and exotic diseases; reduce drinking water supplies and recreational
opportunities; and pose health threats to our citizens; and
WHEREAS, local governments have the unique opportunity to achieve both energy use and climate
change gas reductions and cost savings through building and facilities management; land use and transportation
planning; environmental management; and through economic and community development; and
WHEREAS, efforts to address energy and climate issues provide an opportunity to move toward energy self-
reliance and greater community resiliency and quality of life; provide environmentally healthy and cheaper -to -operate
public buildings; encourage new economic development and local jobs; and support local food and renewable energy
production; and
WHEREAS, steps taken toward sustainable solutions aim to improve community quality of life, building
community capital and increasing government efficiency, accountability and transparency; and
WHEREAS, the City of has [insert one or more energy/climate/quality of life/sustainability
actions or initiatives or resolutions enacted by the city or by others in the city]; and
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"), to recommend municipal actions and policies that work
toward meeting the State's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals; and
2.
WHEREAS, the Next Generation Act of 2007, Minnesota Session Laws 2007 - Chapter 136:
(1) sets State greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals of cutting emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2015, 30
percent below 2005 levels by 2025, and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050;
(2) sets a State energy conservation goal of achieving annual energy savings equal to 1.5 percent of annual retail energy
sales of electricity and natural gas;
(3) establishes an energy policy goal that the per capita use of fossil fuel as an energy input be reduced by 15 percent by the
year 2015, through increased reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives;
(4) establishes an energy policy goal that 25 percent of the electricity used in the state be derived from renewable energy
resources by the year 2025; 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 Minnesota GreenStep Cities program provides cost-effective sustainable development best
practices in the following five categories: (1) Buildings and Lighting; (2) Transportation; (3) Land Use; (4) Environmental
Management; and (5) Economic and Community Development;
3.