Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2: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: 28Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
The Library has all LED and Motion Sensor Lighting
Ely Rec Center has all LED Lighting
Veterans Clinic (Building owned by the City) Currently has LED Lighting
MN Department of Revenue building (Owned by the City) has LED Light bulbs
Ely Wastewater treatment plant has LED in the offices and lab, but not throughout the entire plant.
Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Efficient Existing Private Buildings {BP no.2}
Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who add energy/sustainability improvements, meet the SB 2030 energy standard, or renovate using a green building or energy framework.
- Action 6: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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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: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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
- Action 2:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Achieve higher intensity commercial/industrial land uses through at least one of the following strategies:
- Action 3:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Mixed Uses {BP no.8}
Have a downtown zoning district that emphasizes small and destination business, entrepreneurial spaces, and allows or requires residential and residential-compatible commercial development.
- Action 5:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Create incentives for vertical mixed-use development in appropriate locations (downtown, commercial districts near colleges or universities, historic commercial districts, commercial districts with minority-owned businesses).
- Action 7:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
- Action 3:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Environmental Management
Sustainable Purchasing {BP no.15}
Purchase energy used by city government - via the municipal utility, green tags, community solar garden, 3rd party - with a higher renewable percentage than required by Minnesota law.
- Action 2:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
- Action 3:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Surface Water {BP no.19}
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
Improve recycling services and expand to multi-unit housing and commercial businesses.
- Action 6:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Resilient Economic and Community Development
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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.
- Action 7:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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:Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:City has a farmer's market.
Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
Business Synergies and EcoDistricts {BP no.28}
Require, build or facilitate at least four sustainability attributes in a business/industrial park project:
- Action 3:The City has renovated several buildings including the Insula Restaurant; buildings adjacent to the old movie theater were renovated to create a bigger theater; drug store is undergoing renovation to become a mixed use building with bakery, retail, and office space. All buildings were brought up to MN code including new water heaters, furnaces, and other energy efficiency measures.
Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3
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:Scott Kochendorfer (City Staff) | pzadmin@ely.mn.us | 218-226-3224 Ext 3