Best Practice Action 12.5
GreenStep City Best Practices: Transportation
Mobility Options No. 12
Increase active transportation and alternatives to single-occupancy car travel.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 5
Implement workplace multi-modal transportation best management practices - including telework/flexwork - in city government, businesses or at a local health care provider.
- Multi-modal Transportation:
- See this list of workplace multi-modal transportation best management practices developed by GreenStep and a Transportation Leadership Certification Program for Nonprofits (of St. Paul Smart Trips).
- Telecommuting:
- The MN Dept. of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) Office of Broadband Development certifies Telecommuter Forward! Communities that adopt a resolution of support and commitment to promote telecommuting. This certification helps communities promote themselves as destinations for Minnesotans interested in telecommuting.
- Cities will have to change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - teleworking may alter where people want to live, opening up rural opportunities.
- The small city of Eastport, Maine, created a website totally focused on attracting telecommuters to relocate to their town.
- See the USDA Rural Development Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant program
- Broadband Access:
- See the USDA Rural Development Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. Note that Rural Development is a traditional funder of cooperatives, and that RS Fiber is the latest co-op (though without RD dollars) to bring high-speed Internet service to people over 700 square miles centered on Winthrop and Gaylord. RS Fiber relied on county and city bonding authority and community banks.
- Check/report internet speeds in your city and compare to other Minnesota cities.
- When city government and local businesses adopt technology, community economies benefit: the goal of the Minnesota Rural Broadband Coalition.
- Funding and assistance is available from the MN Office of Broadband Development.
- Learn more about broadband access and tips for transformation with Blandin Foundation resources.
- See the Indicators of Broadband Need Map from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The map uses several different data sources to show information on broadband availability (darker red indicates more of a need).
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Complete these workplace practices: multi-modal directions; accessible off-site locations; educate management & staff; buddy system; new hire orientation; travel logs. |
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Complete 4 of these practices -- alternative compensation for travel options; join a transportation network; shower/changing room; bike parking/storage; employee learning activity; transportation committee; flexible workplace policies/practices. Support an eWorkPlace Minnesota campaign or similar efforts, working with businesses (and transportation management organizations as appropriate); report level of fiber-optic infrastructure in city government buildings/citywide |
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Complete 6 of the practices in the 2-star list; help bring telemedicine technology to town via a local health care provider or other organization; be certified as a Telecommuter Forward! Community. |
Who's doing it
North Branch -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
North Branch Meets Demand for High-Speed Internet. Governor Walz along with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and others came to North Branch to announce that North Branch was among 23 cities and counties to be recognized as a Telecommuter Forward! Community.
City is moving towards cloud based systems to make telework possible. This provides for better efficiency and flexibility for employees. Throughout the pandemic, eligible city employees were able to work remotely and did not affect the operations of the City and continued to serve its residents and was open to public.
City is moving towards cloud based systems to make telework possible. This provides for better efficiency and flexibility for employees. Throughout the pandemic, eligible city employees were able to work remotely and did not affect the operations of the City and continued to serve its residents and was open to public.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Renae Fry (City staff) | renaef@ci.north-branch.mn.us | 651-277-5229
Partners:
Golden Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
As of June 2021, the City of Golden Valley established a formal telework, flexwork, and job-sharing policy for employees. A number of other businesses in the city also adopted similar agreements or had remote work options available previously, including large employers like General Mills and Allianz.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kirsten Santelices (City Staff) | ksantelices@goldenvalleymn.gov | 763-593-3989
Partners:
Wyoming -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Implemented a City flexible workplace/telework policy
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links: Copy of City Flexible workplace policy
For more information contact:
Kelly Dumais (City Staff) | kdumais@wyomingmn.org | 651-440-1888
Partners:
Bloomington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
The City of Bloomington launched a Flex/telework program in 2017.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Partners:
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
With the advent of COVID in 2020, many City staff began working from home. Flexible work-from-home options will continue to be available to some city staff at least through summer 2021. City Council and various Commission meetings are now available to the public for online streaming and virtual participation, reducing vehicle trips to city hall.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Colleen Sinclair (City staff) | csinclair@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6485
Partners:
Duluth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2010
Implementation details:
In 2019 Duluth purchased 4 E-Bikes for employees at City Hall and the Property and Facilities Management building to utilize for transportation to/from meetings, recreation, or errands. From May-October the bikes collectively rode 660 miles and saved 30 gallons of gas.
While the City doesn't have an official telework/flexwork policy the union contract allows employees to request adjusted schedules if necessary. These adjusted schedules are developed with and approved by the employee's supervisor to ensure that they don't interfere with the completion of the employee's job duties.
While the City doesn't have an official telework/flexwork policy the union contract allows employees to request adjusted schedules if necessary. These adjusted schedules are developed with and approved by the employee's supervisor to ensure that they don't interfere with the completion of the employee's job duties.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Alex Jackson, Energy Coordinator (City staff) | ajackson@DuluthMN.gov | 218-730-4433
Partners:
East Grand Forks -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
As of 2020, the East Grand Forks Water and Light Department established a telework agreement for employees
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kevin Hatcher (City Staff) | khatcher@egf.mn | 218-773-1163
Partners:
Elko New Market -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The current policy for City employees is that alternative work schedules must be approved by the City Administrator. Working from home on an occasional basis can be scheduled...the City has purchased surface computers for each Department Head to allow that to occur more easily.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.ci.enm.mn.us
For more information contact:
Jake Skluzacek (City Staff) | jskluzacek@ci.enm.mn.us | 952-461-2777
Partners:
Farmington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
The City allows employees to have a hybrid work schedule where they can work remotely several days during the week.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jared Johnson (City Staff) | jjohnson@farmingtonmn.gov | 651-280-6824
Partners:
Hutchinson -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
As of 2021, the City of Hutchinson has a telework policy attached below.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
John Paulson (City staff) | jpaulson@ci.hutchinson.mn.us | 320-234-5682
Partners:
Isanti -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Isanti recently amended their Personnel Policy to allow for temporary flexible scheduling when approved by the City Administrator and permanent flexible scheduling when approved by the Personnel Committee. Isanti also permits working from home when prior authorization is received.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Matt Sylvester (City staff) | msylvester@cityofisanti.us | 763-444-5512
Partners:
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
There are some tribal employees who telecommute or work 4 day, 10 hour shifts.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Brandy Toft (City staff) | air@lldrm.org | 218-335-7429
Partners:
Richfield -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
The City of Richfield has a telecommuting policy for all employees who are able to work from home per job responsibilities. Several city buildings have shower/changing rooms for employee use as well as bike parking.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jamie Haefner (City Staff) | jhaefner@richfieldmn.gov | 612-861-9704
Partners:
Robbinsdale -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2024
Implementation details:
The City adopted a formal Telework Policy in January of 2024.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kayla Kirtz (City Staff) | kkirtz@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-233-5654
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Saint Paul has a telework policy in place that allows employees and their supervisors to explore telecommuting as an option.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=1120
For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Woodbury -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City adopted a Flexible Workplace Policy, revised in 2004, that allows for some city staff positions to telecommute.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jennifer McLoughlin (City staff) | jmcloughlin@ci.woodbury.mn.us | 651-714-3522
Partners: