City Detail

Background Information

City of Circle Pines
County: Anoka
Population: 5025
GreenStep City category: B
Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 18
Participating township, county, school:

GreenStep Coordinator

Patrick Antonen
City Staff
pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us
763-231-2605
City web page relating to sustainability/GreenStep activities:
https://www.ci.circle-pines.mn.us/
GreenStep City resolution: Click here to view the file.
GreenStep City status and date: STEP 2 ( )

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
2022 - click to view assessment

Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed

Completed actions are denoted by stars.

Total completed actions: 16
1 star actions: 5
2 star actions: 6
3 star actions: 5

Buildings and Lighting Buildings and Lighting

Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}

1 star - Action 1:

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.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2007
Implementation details:
We are in the B3Benchmarking system. We are looking at getting current information updated.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
1 star - Action 2:

Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
We have changed all outdoor lights at city hall, public works, police station and street lights to LED's over the last 5 years.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
LED retrofits on our public facilities along with decreased energy bills related to our street light over the last few years. It has taken us a few years to get all of the street lights replaced and then we focused on our public buildings. For example we just replaced the external lights on the police station last year. We were able to get rebates from Connexus for this work and worked with Anoka County on the parking lot lights at City Hall as the library is on the same campus.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
Connexus & Anoka County
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}

1 star - Action 2:

Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
Our maintenance practice has been to replace all of our street lights in the city with LED's when they burn out or when we have some spare time. We actually have an electrician on staff and a bucket truck so we have been able to do pretty much the entire city street lights. We only purchase LED's lights moving forward for the city.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
3 star - Action 3:

Replace the city's existing street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
We took it upon ourselves to replace all of the street lights with LED's. Our partners with Connexus and Xcel did not object to the replacements so all of the city street lights have been converted.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
We are working on estimating the cost savings as we started changing out lights in 2016 and have done a section of the city every year so it will take us a little while to get these statistics.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
3 star - Action 5:

Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
We currently have 3 LED solar powered flashing signs in town at our crosswalks. With our street reconstruction projects we have been installing these type of signs. This year we will install 2 more LED solar powered flashing signs.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Land Use Land Use

Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans {BP no.6}

2 star - 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.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Our 2020-2040 Comprehensive plan has been approved by the Met Council.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
1 star - Action 2:

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.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2000
Implementation details:
Our Zoning Ordinance explicitly references our Comprehensive Plan. The official comprehensive municipal plan for guiding future physical, social and
economical development of the City as required by the Metropolitan Planning Act.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Environmental Management Environmental Management

Sustainable Purchasing {BP no.15}

2 star - Action 1:

Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy or administrative guidelines/practices directing that the city purchase at least:

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
We adopted our Sustainable Purchasing Policy.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Stormwater Management {BP no.17}

1 star - Action 2:

Complete the GreenStep Municipal Stormwater Management Assessment.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
Completed the GreenStep Municipal Stormwater Management Assessment. 32% (58/181) Stormwater Assessment Score; 32% (27/84) Climate Adaptation Score.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Parks and Trails {BP no.18}

3 star - Action 3:

Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1950
Implementation details:
Circle Pines is 2 square miles with 13 parks and 100% of our residents live within 10 minute walk of a park according to Trust for Public Land.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
3 star - Action 5:

Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2008
Implementation details:
We have done quite a few of these standards and practices.
1. We have low/no mow ares in our parkland
2. We have 2 community gardens in City Parks
3. All 3 of our Parks employees are Turf Grass Certified through MPCA
4. We have multiple pollinator gardens throughout the city
5. One of our parks uses a stormwater pond(non-potable water) for parkland irrigation.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}

2 star - Action 1:

Improve city operations and procurement to prevent and reuse, recycle and compost waste from all public facilities (including libraries, parks, schools, municipal health care facilities), and minimize use of toxics and generation of hazardous waste.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
We have increased the number of recycling containers in public buildings, parks and athletic fields to be even with our trash containers.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
2 star - Action 5:

Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated organics collection/management program.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
We started organized organics recycling January 1, 2022.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
3 star - Action 7:

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.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1990
Implementation details:
We have mandatory city wide organized collection of solid waste, recycling, yard waste and organics(new this year) for the last 30 plus years. Our garbage hauler tracks our solid waste and recycling collection. We have always maximized our SCORE funds from Anoka County and actually receive left over funds due to our high percentage of recycling.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605

Resilient Economic & Community Development Resilient Economic and Community Development

Local Food {BP no.27}

2 star - Action 2:

Facilitate creation of home/community gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily and residential developments.

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2010
Implementation details:
We allow by licensing of Honey Bees and Backyard Chickens in Circle Pines.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605
2 star - Action 3:

Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:

Rating Guideline
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2000
Implementation details:
We have two community gardens in our city both conveniently located in city parks. We have been supportive of farmers markets and there is one a block west of our city at the City of Lexington municipal liquor store parking lot.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Patrick Antonen (City Staff) | pantonen@ci.circle-pines.mn.us | 763-231-2605