Enter/update government-owned building information and monthly usage data into the MN B3 Benchmarking database, and utilize building/energy audits to identify potential improvements.
- Action 1:City Detail
Background Information
City Assessment Files and City Performance Metrics
City councils pass a resolution to join the GreenStep program and are recognized at Step 1. Step 2 and Step 3 recognition levels reflect completed city actions, reported and rated below with stars (1 star = good, 2 stars = better, 3 stars = best). The Assessment File below summarizes completed city actions in a short Word file. Step 4 recognition is awarded to cities who report a minimum number of core metrics for the previous calendar year. These metrics aim to show the aggregate, quantitative results of taking multiple GreenStep actions. Step 5 cities show improvement in the Step 4 metrics. See yearly data for Steps 4&5. Additional city data can be found by reviewing information on B3 Benchmarking and Regional Indicators Initiative.
Assessment File
Metrics Files
Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed
Completed actions are denoted by stars.
Total completed actions: 72Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through performance contracting or other funding or through smaller retro-commissioning/retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings.
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Efficient Existing Private Buildings {BP no.2}
Implement an energy rating/disclosure policy for residential and/or commercial buildings.
- Action 3:Bloomington Briefing Published January 31, 2022
Updated on January 31, 2022
By Mayor Tim Busse
The buildings in our community play a big role in the local greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change—the electricity and natural gas used to fuel our buildings are the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the city. Bloomington’s Energy Action Plan outlines a goal of reducing these emissions by 75% by 2035. Last fall, the City Council took significant steps to meet this goal when they adopted these two energy disclosure ordinances.
One of the ordinances adopted in September focuses on large building benchmarking. This ordinance requires public, commercial and multifamily buildings that are larger than 75,000 square feet to benchmark and disclose high-level energy metrics on an annual basis. The City will implement these requirements in phases based on building size and type. Public buildings were the first to require benchmarking, with an initial reporting date of December 30, 2021. Commercial and multifamily buildings more than 100,000 square feet will follow, with an initial reporting date of June 1, 2022.
“Benchmarking helps building owners track energy performance, control costs and identify options to improve efficiency,” said Steve Flagg, Bloomington sustainability commissioner and founder of the Bloomington-based Quality Bicycle Products, which will be a participant in the benchmarking program.
The second ordinance the City Council adopted will help potential homebuyers know important things about a home’s energy efficiency before buying. The time-of-sale energy disclosure ordinance leverages the City’s existing time-of-sale inspection to gather and disclose information about a home’s energy assets.
Beginning on April 1, 2022, inspectors will collect energy metrics about a home’s heating and cooling system, water heater, wall and attic insulation, and windows before it is listed for sale. The City will summarize those metrics in an energy disclosure report and require sellers to display that report at open houses. Bloomington is the second city in the state to require energy disclosure at the time of sale.
Sharing information about a home’s energy assets helps potential buyers understand the energy cost of ownership. Energy disclosures also provide the City a way to identify and connect residents with resources to address inefficient homes.
More information:
Time of Sale Energy Disclosure Links
Time-of-Sale Energy Disclosure Video (3 mins)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHYPZ5FN-YA
Energy Disclosure Webpage- https://www.mncee.org/energy-disclosure?about
Home Energy Score Map- https://www.mncee.org/energy-disclosure?find-energy-scores
Ordinance- http://www.amlegal.com/pdffiles/Bloomington/2021-29.pdf
Large Building Benchmarking Links
Large Building Benchmarking Webpage- https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/cob/large-building-benchmarking-program
Jason Ludwigson (Contractor) | JDLudwigson@gmail.com | 5073139633
Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Conserve/protect drinking/groundwater resources by creating a water-wise landscaping ordinance/guidance, WaterSense purchasing program, or guidance on rainwater harvesting and home water softener use.
- Action 5:Additionally, in 2017 the City of Bloomington lowered the threshold for residents to move into Tier 2 water rates, to encourage conservation.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Coordinate traffic signals and/or optimize signal timing to minimize car idling at intersections yet maintain safe and publicly acceptable vehicle speeds.
- Action 4:Increased efficiency of existing roadway network by balancing traffic on the routes within the District, delaying or eliminating the need for geometric improvements. Joint effort by City of Bloomington, Mall of America, and MnDOT.
EECBG Signal Timing Optimization (2010-11)
Reduced average fuel consumption and emissions by improving traffic mobility, decreasing travel times, traffic delays, and the number of vehicle stops at 37 signalized intersections. Estimated annual savings of 112,600 gallons of gasoline, estimated annual reduction of 9,900,071 vehicle stops, estimated annual reduction of 113,137 hours of vehicle delay. Overall project benefit to cost ratio of 24.
PRO (Parallel Route Optimization) (2010-11)
Reduced average fuel consumption and emissions by improving traffic mobility, decreasing travel times, traffic delays, and the number of vehicle stops along the parallel routes to I-494 in Richfield and Bloomington. Joint effort to optimize traffic signals by Cities of Richfield and Bloomington, MnDOT, and Hennepin County.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.
- Action 5:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Relamp/improve exterior building lighting for city-owned buildings/facilities with energy efficient, Dark-Sky compliant lighting.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Replace city-owned parking lot/ramp lighting with Dark-Sky compliant, energy efficient, automatic dimming lighting technologies.
- Action 7:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Land Use
Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans {BP no.6}
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.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Demonstrate that regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Include ecological provisions in the comprehensive plan that explicitly aim to minimize open space fragmentation and/or establish a growth area with expansion criteria.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt climate mitigation and/or energy independence goals and objectives in the comprehensive plan or in a separate policy document, and include transportation recommendations such as becoming an EV-ready city.
- Action 5:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Resilient City Growth {BP no.7}
Eliminate barriers and actively encourage higher density housing by including in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map:
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Achieve higher intensity commercial/industrial land uses through at least one of the following strategies:
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Design for Natural Resource Conservation {BP no.10}
Conduct a Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment (NRI or NRA); incorporate protection of priority natural systems or resources such as groundwater through the subdivision or development process.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Conserve natural, cultural, historic resources by adopting or amending city codes and ordinances to support sustainable sites, including roadsides, and environmentally protective land use development.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Implement traffic calming policy/measures, including lane conversions (road diets), roundabouts, low-speed streets, shared space and depaving, in at least one street redevelopment project.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Implement workplace multi-modal transportation best management practices - including telework/flexwork - in city government, businesses or at a local health care provider.
- Action 5:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Environmental Management
Sustainable Purchasing {BP no.15}
Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy or administrative guidelines/practices directing that the city purchase at least:
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Set minimum sustainability standards to reduce the impact of your concrete use, asphalt, roadbed aggregate, or other construction materials.
- Action 5:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Lower the environmental footprint of meetings and events in the city.
- Action 7:The City is developing more online forms for residents to use when doing business to reduce paper.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Certify as a Tree City USA.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt best practices for urban tree planting/quality; require them in private developments and/or use them in at least one development project.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Budget for and achieve resilient urban canopy/tree planting goals.
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Maximize tree planting along your main downtown street or throughout the city.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:Native Landscaping is covered in Chapter 10 section 38 of the City Code where it is allowed as part of an approved landscape plan or on a residential lot it does not exceed 50% of the pervious surface and is set back from the property line. Maintenance in the form of annual mowing or prescribed burning is also required under the ordinance.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt by ordinance one or more of the following stormwater infiltration/management strategies to reduce impervious surface:
- Action 3:C)City code section 11.31 has language regarding the use of sewers and section 12.03 has language regarding Public Nuisances and prohibiting the discharge of specific items into a street, storm sewer, or water resource. Updated ordinances in 2015 to more clearly prohibit non-stormwater discharges, define additional terms, and more clearly outline exemptions to the discharge prohibition. In developing the updated language staff reviewed the EPA model ordinance to prepare an ordinance properly prohibiting non-stormwater discharges.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Create a stormwater utility that uses variable fees to incentivize stormwater infiltration, minimize the volume of and pollutants in runoff, and educate property owners and renters on the importance of managing stormwater runoff.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
- Action 5:to meet local watershed management planning requirements of the Metropolitan Surface
Water Management Act (Chapter 103B) and Board of Water and Soil Resources Rules
8410. It has also been developed to be in conformance with the requirements of local
Watershed Management Organizations and Districts, Metropolitan Council requirements,
Hennepin County goals and applicable State and Federal laws. This document and its
referenced literature are intended to provide a comprehensive inventory of pertinent
water resource related information that affects the City and management of those
resources.
The City has implemented guidelines for all of the listed practices.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Improve smart-salting by reducing chloride use in winter maintenance and dust suppressants to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution.
- Action 6:Bloomington currently tracks salt usage using a calibrated software on trucks, and has issued educational material to residents about the environmental impacts of salt on how to reduce their personal salt use.
Jason Ludwigson (Contractor) | JDLudwigson@gmail.com | 5073139633
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas where new development is planned.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:
- Action 5:In an effort to be more sustainable both Park Maintenance and the City’s Golf courses have converted traditional turf areas to native plantings that include a wide variety of flowering plants desired by pollinators. Examples are wetland buffer strips maintained throughout the Park system, rain gardens and the plantings at the Civic Plaza and Public Works Buildings.
b. Recycling/compostable collection.
Bloomington offers garbage and recycling collection containers at all developed park sites and is installing two organic collection stations that will be staffed by volunteers where residents can drop off household organic waste to be recycled.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Certify at least one golf course in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Document that the operation and maintenance, or construction / remodeling, of at least one park building used an asset management tool, the SB 2030 energy standard, or a green building framework.
- Action 7:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.
- Action 8:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Surface Water {BP no.19}
Conduct or support multi-party community conversations, assessments, plans and actions around improving local water quality and quantity.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt goals to revegetate shoreland and create a local program or outreach effort to help property owners with revegetation.
- Action 5:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems {BP no.20}
Plan and budget for motor maintenance and upgrades to assure the most energy efficient, durable and appropriate equipment is available when upgrades or breakdowns occur.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:• In 2017, Bloomington hired Barr Engineering Co. to re-evaluate the City’s Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer System Hydraulic Model. The work included evaluation of data from temporary monitoring throughout the city and recalibration of the sanitary sewer model. The analysis of the system indicated very low infiltration and inflow rates throughout the City.
• City Utility Crews now inspect about 200,000 feet of wastewater collection mains annually, via closed circuit television cameras. Any leaks or defects are recorded and scheduled for appropriate maintenance.
• In 2008 the City began a manhole inspection program to collect measurements and evaluate manhole condition. This information is used to schedule and prioritize needed maintenance, repairs, or replacement. Each year Utilities has budgeted roughly $300,000 for manhole rehabilitation within the Street repair project areas. The primary goal of this rehabilitation is to reduce I&I.
• Bloomington’s standard detail for wastewater collection manholes now includes installation of internal chimney seals. The chimney seals are routinely being installed on all manholes located within the City’s annual Street repair project areas.
• To reduce inflow, Bloomington prohibits the discharge of storm water, ground water, roof runoff, surface water, unpolluted drainage, unpolluted industrial cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process water to any public sanitary sewer per City ordinance (City Code Section 11.31(b)(3) see appendix D through G).
• As part of Bloomington’s Time-of-Sale Housing Inspection Program, Utilities Customer Service is notified whenever an illegal sump pump connection is discovered. Staff then works with the owner to eliminate this source of inflow.
• The City of Bloomington closely reviews new parking ramps and garage construction to assure that rainwater is directed to the storm sewer, not floor drains connected to the sanitary sewer.
• The City monitors MCES M500A wastewater flow rates in conjunction with precipitation events.
• The City evaluates lift station performance via SCADA records in conjunction with precipitation events.
• The City will continue to educate property owners on the need for eliminating infiltration and inflow (via public communication) and require the elimination of infiltration and inflow from private property.
• And finally, the City has used Cured-In-Place-Pipe, (CIPP) to repair damaged and leaking wastewater collection mains. Both short, spot-type repairs as well as full manhole to manhole repairs have been completed. (Between January 2003 and December 2009 over 47,500 feet of sewer mains were repaired with CIPP at a cost of just over $1.4 million.) The City continues to monitor TV inspection records searching for potential additional CIPP projects.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Optimize energy and chemical use at drinking water/wastewater facilities and decrease chloride in wastewater discharges.
- Action 4:The metal halide lighting was never turned off due to the nature of the type of light. If the lights were powered off and we turned them on, it would take 5 minutes for the lights to become fully lit. Meaning we never shut these lights off due to how long the light took to power back on. This was a huge energy hog and most of the time no one was in the room. By changing over to the LED, not only were the lights lower in wattage, they were brighter, and we were able to turn the lights on with instant lighting. The lighting in these rooms today are normally off and have a motion sensor to turn back on when needed.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Implement a wastewater plant efficiency project (co-generation, water reuse) or a program for local private business operations (water conservation, water reuse, business co-location).
- Action 6:http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Minnesota/bloomington_mn/bloomingtonminnesotacodeofordinances?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:bloomington_mn
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Create a demand-side pricing program to reduce demands on water and wastewater systems.
- Action 7:http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Minnesota/bloomington_mn/bloomingtonminnesotacodeofordinances?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:bloomington_mn
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Septic Systems {BP no.21}
Report to landowners suspected noncompliant or failing septic systems as part of an educational, informational and financial assistance and outreach program designed to trigger voluntary landowner action to improve septic systems.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Use a community process to address failing septic systems.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Clarify/establish one or more responsible management entities (RMEs) for the proper design, siting, installation, operation, monitoring and maintenance of septic systems.
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Adopt a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota Counties' model ordinance.
- Action 4:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Work with homeowners and businesses in environmentally sensitive areas and areas where standard septic systems are not the least-cost option to promote innovative waste water systems, including central sewer extensions.
- Action 6:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through encouragement/implementation of one or more of:
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Improve recycling services and expand to multi-unit housing and commercial businesses.
- Action 6:The City of Bloomington follows the 2015 Minnesota Statute 115A.151 to ensure all commercial entities provide recycling collection of 3 or more recyclable materials. There will be more emphasis on education and enforcement in the future.
Improve/organize residential trash, recycling and organics collection by private and/or public operations and offer significant volume-based pricing on residential garbage and/or incentives for recycling.
- Action 7:The prices for garbage collection differ by cart size. The smallest cart at 35 gallons is $10.14/month, medium 68 gallon is $13.67/month and a large 90 gallon container is $17.18/month. These prices are less than the average price a Bloomington resident was paying before organized collection.
Resilient Economic and Community Development
Benchmarks and Community Engagement {BP no.24}
Inclusive and Coordinated Decision-Making: Use a city commission or committee to lead, coordinate, report to and engage community members on the identification and equitable implementation of sustainability best practices.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Communicating Progress on Goals: Organize goals/outcome measures from all city plans (social, environmental, economic) and report to community members data that show progress toward meeting these goals.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Measuring Outcomes: Engage community members and partners in identifying, measuring, and reporting progress on key sustainability and social indicators/ including energy use/greenhouse gas emissions, social vitality/social inclusion outcome measures.
- Action 3:Green Business Development {BP no.25}
Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city.
- Action 3:http://www.bloomingtonmoavisitorsguide.com/bloomingtonmoavisitorsguide/2018?pg=1#pg1
Explore Minnesota has a search function that offers multiple categories so tourists can find a variety of activities, and the website includes an option for attractions that are accessible to visitors with special considerations.
http://www.exploreminnesota.com/index.aspx
All sites promote public transportation such as light rail, buses, and shared rides as methods of getting around town.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.
- Action 7:In addition to promotion on the City of Bloomington website, it is also promoted by Minnesota Grown, which features farmer's markets across Minnesota, as well as Facebook and other online sites.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Renewable Energy {BP no.26}
Adopt wind energy and/or biomass ordinances that allow, enable, or encourage appropriate renewable energy installations.
- Action 1:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Local Food {BP no.27}
Facilitate creation of home/community gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily and residential developments.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience {BP no.29}
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 1:City of Bloomington uses an All-Hazards emergency plan approach consistent with National Response Framework (NRF) and National Incident Management System (NIMS), which creates a scalable system that can be adapted to each scenario. This is more efficient than creating individual plans to address every possible scenario that might occur.
Every 5 years, City of Bloomington conducts a Jurisdictional Risk Assessment (JRA)/Threat and Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (THIRA) with input from hospitals, public health, and local business to identify and understand potential scenarios that are more likely to happen and to develop possible responses.
Bloomington has identified six languages in addition to English that its residents regularly use in conducting business with the City. Some documents and resources are routinely available in these languages on the City website. In emergency scenarios, City of Bloomington uses translation services provided by Language Line or Garden & Associates. Additionally, targeted emergency communication is coordinated with ECHO (Emergency, Community, Health, and Outreach) Minnesota, which is a service of Twin Cities Public Television. This program provides a series of emergency communications via television, telephone, radio, internet, and other media, translated into languages used across the metro region.
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.
- Action 2:Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606