Action 1 -
Create or participate in a marketing/outreach/incentive program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency.
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Buildings and Lighting
2 . Efficient Existing Private Buildings:
Provide incentives for energy, water and sustainability improvements in existing residential, not-for-profit and commercial buildings/building sites.
Land Use
6 . Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans:
Build public support and legal validity to long-term infrastructural and regulatory strategy.
Action 1 -
Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a future land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity.
8 . Mixed Uses:
Develop efficient land patterns that generate community health and wealth.
Action 1 -
Organize or participate in a community planning/placemaking/design process for the city/a mixed use district.
9 . Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development:
Adopt commercial development and design standards for auto-oriented development corridors and clusters.
Action 2 -
Participate in regional economic development planning with representatives from surrounding townships, cities, the county and business interests to:
10 . Design for Natural Resource Conservation:
Adopt development ordinances or processes that protect natural systems and valued community assets.
Action 7 -
Be recognized under the Bird City Minnesota or Community Wildlife Habitat program.
Transportation
11 . Living & Complete Streets:
Create a network of green complete streets that improves city quality of life, public health, and adds value to surrounding properties.
Action 1 -
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
12 . Mobility Options:
Increase active transportation and alternatives to single-occupancy car travel.
Action 2 -
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program.
Action 3 -
Prominently identify mobility options: transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; ridesharing/cab services; rental cars; bikes; airports.
Environmental Management
16 . Community Forests and Soils:
Add city tree and plant cover that conserves topsoils and increases community health, wealth, quality of life.
Action 1 -
Certify as a Tree City USA.
Action 6 -
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
18 . Parks and Trails:
Increase active lifestyles and property values by enhancing the city's green infrastructure.
Action 8 -
Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.
19 . Surface Water:
Improve local water bodies to sustain their long-term ecological function and community benefits.
Action 2 -
Conduct or support multi-party community conversations, assessments, plans and actions around improving local water quality and quantity.
Action 7 -
Create/assist a Lake Improvement District.
21 . Septic Systems:
Implement an environmentally sound management program for decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
Action 2 -
Use a community process to address failing septic systems.
Resilient Economic and Community Development
24 . Benchmarks and Community Engagement:
Adopt outcome measures for GreenStep and other city sustainability efforts, and engage community members in ongoing education, dialogue, and campaigns.
Action 1 -
Use a city commission, or committee to lead, coordinate, and report to and engage community members on implementation of sustainability best practices.
Action 4 -
Conduct or support a broad sustainability education and action campaign involving:
Action 5 -
Conduct or support a community education, visioning and planning initiative using a sustainability framework such as:
Action 6 -
Engage community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government.
26 . Renewable Energy:
Remove barriers to and encourage installation of renewable energy generation capacity.
Action 2 -
Promote resident/business purchases and/or generation of clean energy by:
Action 4 -
Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community renewable energy project by:
27 . Local Food:
Strengthen local food and fiber production and access.
Action 4 -
Measurably increase institutional buying, and sales through groceries and restaurants.
29 . Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience:
Plan and prepare for extreme weather, adapt to changing climatic conditions, and foster stronger community connectedness and social and economic vitality.
Action 1 -
Prepare to maintain public health and safety during extreme weather and climate-change-related events, while also taking a preventive approach to reduce risk for community members.
Action 2 -
Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.
Action 3 -
Increase social connectedness through engagement, capacity building, public investment, and opportunities for economically vulnerable residents to improve their economic prosperity.
Action 4 -
Encourage private sector action and incentivize investment in preventive approaches that reduce risk and minimize impacts of extreme weather and the changing climate for human health and the built environment.
Action 8 -
Improve local energy resilience by minimizing fuel poverty, installing distributed renewable energy systems, and developing microgrids that can improve energy system resiliency.