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.
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
Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed
Completed actions are denoted by stars.
Total completed actions: 35
Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
Austin Rademacher (City Staff) | arademacher@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7113
Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through performance contracting or other funding or through smaller retro-commissioning/retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Efficient Existing Private Buildings {BP no.2}
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.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Replace the city's existing traffic signal indications with LEDs.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
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.
Scott Schulte (City Staff) | schulte@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7102
Mixed Uses {BP no.8}
Locate or lease a property for use as a school, city building or other government facility that has at least two of these attributes:
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Modify a planned unit development (PUD) ordinance to emphasize or require mixed-use development or affordable housing, to limit residential PUDs to areas adjacent to commercial development, and/or to add sustainability features.
Lexi Smith (City Staff) | lsmith@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632537104
Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development {BP no.9}
Adopt development policies for large-format developments, zoning for auto-oriented commercial districts at the sub-urban edge and/or in tightly defined and smaller urban development corridors/nodes that have some bike/walk/transit access.
Lexi Smith (City Staff) | lsmith@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632537104
Design for Natural Resource Conservation {BP no.10}
For cities within metropolitan areas, incorporate woodland best management practices addressing protection of wooded areas into zoning or development review.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
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.
Lexi Smith (City Staff) | lsmith@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632537104
Support and protect wildlife through habitat rehabilitation, preservation and recognition programs.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Identify, prioritize and remedy complete streets gaps and lack of connectivity/safety within your road network by, for example, bike/pedestrian plan, designing mobility hubs, adding a bike route/lane, truck route, sidewalk or mid-block alley.
The City budgets for ped/bike trail improvements as well as well as street/sidewalk improvements in compliance with complete streets policy as part of the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
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.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Implement workplace multi-modal transportation best management practices - including telework/flexwork - in city government, businesses or at a local health care provider.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Environmental Management
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas where new development is planned.
Recent housing development projects including the Oaks at Bauer Farms as well as the Emery Village townhouse community both includes trail connections.
The City is also undergoing a small area study of the 169 / Dayton Rd corridor. As part of the study, pedestrian connections will be analyzed.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
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.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Optimize energy and chemical use at drinking water/wastewater facilities and decrease chloride in wastewater discharges.
Heather Nelson (City Staff) | hnelson@ci.champlin.mn.us | 763-923-7120
Create a demand-side pricing program to reduce demands on water and wastewater systems.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Septic Systems {BP no.21}
Adopt a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota Counties' model ordinance.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through encouragement/implementation of one or more of:
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated organics collection/management program.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Resilient Economic and Community Development
Coordination, Engagement, and Outcomes {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.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Renewable Energy {BP no.26}
Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, or micro-hydro.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
Report installed private sector-owned renewable energy/energy efficient generation capacity with at least one of the following attributes:
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299
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.
Lexi Smith (City Staff) | lsmith@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632537104
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.
Hennepin County has an All-Hazard Mitigation Plan which addresses hazards including climate-related hazards such as extreme heat, storms, flooding. The County Emergency Management staff keeps maps that show critical facilities and hazardous facilities which are used to target areas during response, including where vulnerable populations may be present. Hennepin County has a website that utilizes a survey as a proactive process for community involvement and feedback on its hazard mitigation plan in order to assess vulnerabilities to climate change impacts and identify strategies and activities to increase resilience and lessen the impact of future hazards. The City in consultation with the County reviews the Hazard Mitigation Plan every two years. Last reviewed in 2024.
Banners/alerts on the website in cases of severe weather as well as on social media.
City Hall, Public Safety, Fire Stations and Public Works have on-site backup power generation.
Steven Touney (City Staff) | stouney@ci.champlin.mn.us | 7632534299