Enter/update building information into the MN B3 Benchmarking database, and routinely enter monthly usage data for all city-owned buildings/infrastructure that consume energy/water.
- 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
Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed
Completed actions are denoted by stars.
Total completed actions: 64
Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Document that the new construction or major remodeling of a public building has met the SB 2030 energy standard or has met or qualified under a green building or energy framework.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures:
- Action 7:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Efficient Existing Private Buildings {BP no.2}
Create or participate in a marketing/outreach/incentive program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Replace the city's existing traffic signal indications with LEDs.
- Action 8:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Building Redevelopment {BP no.5}
Plan for reuse of large-format retail buildings, or work with a local school, church or commercial building to either add-on space or repurpose space into new uses.
- Action 3:A charter school, Beacon Academy, received a conditional use permit to utilize a church (Cornerstone Church, 3420 Nevada) for a K-8 school. Their reuse also includes the addition of 10,000 square feet for additional classroom space. The groundbreaking was September 7 and the school anticipates moving in for the 2017-18 academic year.
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Create/modify a green residential remodeling assistance/financing program to assist homeowners in adding space or features such as EV charging, renewables to their existing homes.
- Action 4:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt development/design standards and programs that facilitate infill, redevelopment, and adaptable buildings.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Include requirements in comprehensive and/or other plans for intergovernmental coordination addressing regional land use and watershed / wellhead impacts, infrastructure, transportation, economic development and city/regional services.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development {BP no.9}
Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Participate in regional economic development planning with representatives from surrounding townships, cities, the county and business interests to:
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:- take advantage of low cost opportunities to improve non-motorized transportation opportunities, including designating striped shoulders or parking lanes as bike lanes and adoption of an official sidewalk, trail and bike lane map.
- In some areas where a multi-use trail is desired, it may be more practical to utilize a combination of sidewalk and bike land
- Explore potential to create additional non-motorized transportation opportunities where remnants of pre-development landscape remain.
- Streetscape improvements should be used to enhance the visual appeal of the community. Enhanced streetscaping should be a consideration for any major new roadway construction or existing roadway reconstruction project.
Over 2017-2018, the City rewrote and updated the City Code, including updates to the storm water management and erosion control provisions, illicit discharge, etc.
In 2018, the City completed replacement of all sanitary sewer manhole lids with solid covers, one of our efforts to reduce inflow and infiltration.
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Identify, prioritize and remedy complete streets gaps and lack of connectivity/safety within your road network by, for example, bike/pedestrian plan, adding a bike route/lane, truck route, sidewalk or mid-block alley.
- Action 4:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program.
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Prominently identify mobility options: transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; ridesharing/cab services; rental cars; bikes; airports.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Demand-Side Travel Planning {BP no.14}
Reduce or eliminate parking minimums; add parking maximums; develop district parking; install meters and charge for parking at curb and city-owned lots/ramps.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Set minimum sustainability standards to reduce the impact of your concrete use, asphalt, roadbed aggregate, or other construction materials.
- Action 5:
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Lower the environmental footprint of meetings and events in the city.
- Action 7:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Certify as a Tree City USA.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Budget for and achieve resilient urban canopy/tree planting goals.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS).
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt by ordinance one or more of the following stormwater infiltration/management strategies to reduce impervious surface:
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
- Action 5:The City also has constructed several public rain gardens in parks and rights-of-way where appropriate.
All new construction is required to provide erosion control which is part of the building plan review and comment process.
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Reduce de-icing and dust suppressant salt use to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution.
- Action 6:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.
- Action 8:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt and publicly report on measurable surface water improvement targets for lake, river, wetland and ditches.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan.
- Action 6:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems {BP no.20}
Compare the energy use and financial performance of your facilities with other peer facilities using standardized, free tools.
- Action 1:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Create a demand-side pricing program to reduce demands on water and wastewater systems.
- Action 7:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
Publicize, promote and use the varied businesses/services collecting and marketing used, repaired and rental consumer goods, especially electronics, in the city/county.
- Action 4:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Local Air Quality {BP no.23}
Reduce residential burning of wood and yard waste and eliminate ‘backyard’ trash burning.
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Green Business Development {BP no.25}
Create or participate in a marketing/outreach program to connect businesses with assistance providers, including utilities, who provide personalized energy, waste or sustainability audits and assistance.
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Lower the environmental and health risk footprint of a brownfield remediation/redevelopment project beyond regulatory requirements; report brightfield projects.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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.
- Action 5:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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:With the city's updated website, we can put banners/alerts on the website in cases of severe weather. We also post real time information about severe weather.
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.
- Action 2:Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140