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: 48Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures:
- Action 7:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
New Green Buildings {BP no.3}
Adopt environmentally preferable covenant guidelines for new common interest communities addressing issues such as stormwater, greywater, native vegetation, growing food, clothes lines, electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy.
- Action 5:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Resilient City Growth {BP no.7}
Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
- Action 2:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Mixed Uses {BP no.8}
Organize or participate in a community planning/placemaking/design process for the city/a mixed-use district, including specific community engagement practices that engage cultural and income diverse community members.
- Action 1:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development {BP no.9}
Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster.
- Action 1:The City of Inver Grove Heights requires new developments to adhere to the goals and designs of the City code. The head engineer and planner at the City meet one on one with the developers and share a packet of information regarding the city codes requirements.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:The city-wide Stormwater Ordinance (2016) meets MS4 permit requirements. This requires infiltration of 1.0 inches for new developments in residential and commercial zones, and 3.6 inches in the Northwest Area. The City of Inver Grove Heights won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Grand Award for accomplishing the City's zero runoff development goal in the Northwest Area (2015).
The City of Inver Grove Heights also enforces the MnDOT standard for bridge inspections to protect forest bats, and the 1991 Wetland Conservation Act to protect groundwater and natural resources.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
For cities within metropolitan areas, incorporate woodland best management practices addressing protection of wooded areas into zoning or development review.
- Action 3:The Northwest Area's NRI identifies, classifies, and prioritizes protection of natural resources including woodland areas. The Northwest Area Ordinance (2008) and storm water erosion control plans protect woodland, wetlands, and storm basins by limiting disturbance based on the ordinary high water mark of public water.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking.
- Action 5:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Streetscaping was implemented in the design of Cahill Road, a highly utilized road with the City. A raised cross walk was implemented outside of Gertens to increase safety for pedestrians. The City of Inver Grove Heights also promotes development of medians and narrower streets to developers.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:In 2015, a bike fix-it station and bike racks were installed at Swing Bridge Park Trailhead, which is situated on the Mississippi Regional River Trail. Over 14,000 feet of regional trail have been created within the City's Northwest Area.
A Trail Gaps Study was completed in 2011 with SHIP funding. This study highlighted areas that lack trail connectivity between trails and sidewalks. The study is reviewed on a regular basis by engineering and parks and recreation departments during redevelopment, development, and street reconstruction projects, and has been used to eliminated multiple trail gaps.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:At just under 30 park facilities, signage was implemented through a Wayfinding Project (2012) to facilitate navigation throughout the cities parks and trails. These park facilities have an in-person wayfinding map at the park entrance that corresponds to information on the City's printed trail and park facilities map.
In 2011, a Trail Gaps Study was completed that highlighted connectivity gaps between trails and sidewalks. The study is reviewed on a regular basis by engineering and parks and recreation departments during redevelopment, development, and street reconstruction projects. This has been used to eliminated multiple trail gaps.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:In 2010, the City adopted a 10 year Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. This plan states how the City is going to treat Ash trees, which is by removing the Ash trees from public land and right of way areas based on tree condition. The City will replace the removed ash trees within the public land utilizing a tree replacement fund. This fund is generated by developers who pay the City for trees they are unable to replant on their property. No new ash trees are allowed to be plants in public land or right of ways.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS).
- Action 1:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Adopt by ordinance one or more of the following stormwater infiltration/management strategies to reduce impervious surface:
- Action 3:The city-wide Stormwater Ordinance (2016) meets MS4 permit requirements. This requires infiltration of 1.0 inches for new developments in residential and commercial zones, and 3.6 inches in the Northwest Area. The City of Inver Grove Heights won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Grand Award for accomplishing the City's zero runoff development goal in the Northwest Area (2015).
The City of Inver Grove Heights erosion and sediment control ordinance (2016) requires best management practices to limit sediment entering surface waters. The City has also adopted an illicit discharge ordinance that prohibits illicit discharge into the municipal storm water sewer system.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
- Action 5:of rain barrels, previous pavement, green roods, cisterns, and stormwater reuse are allowed within the city. Since 2015, the City code requires Atlas 14 precipitation and storm distribution data to be utilized during hydrologic analysis. In all Northwest Area developments, an ongoing retrofit program exists that aims for zero stormwater discharge. The City won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Grand Award for accomplishing the City's zero runoff development goal in the Northwest Area (2015).
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:The City of Inver Grove Heights has eliminated connectivity gaps to the Mississippi Regional trail, which leads to other cities such as Rosemount and South St. Paul. Additionally the City is adding local trail segments to connect to the Mendota-Lebanon Hills Greenway, which will connect Lebanon Hills Regional Park to the North Urban Regional Trail.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:
- Action 5:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.
- Action 8:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Surface Water {BP no.19}
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:In 2015, the City completed a total SCADA systems upgrade.
The City of Inver Grove Heights plans and budgets for motor maintenance and upgrades to increase the motors' energy efficiency and durability. Annual motor maintenance checks are completed and used to identify where improvements will be made. The City of Inver Grove Heights has 7 wells that are on a 7 year maintenance plan. In this plan, one well is checked each year. This system maintenance schedule allows the City to reduce energy usage and save cost.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:To reduce losses in drinking water systems, we complete a city wide leak detection process that takes about three weeks to complete. This process allows the City to survey for water leaks throughout the City's water pipes and identify areas that need to be fixed. This reduces the City's un-metered water loss. Due to the losses being u-nmetered it is difficult to measure how much is lost through pipe leakage. However, because the City of Inver Grove Heights is able to complete the leakage detection and repair for the entire city on an annual basis, we estimate that the water losses are less than 5%.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Optimize energy and chemical use at drinking water/wastewater facilities and decrease chloride in wastewater discharges.
- Action 4:To increase pumping efficiency, the City upgraded the water treatment plant's lift station with the financial assistance through an Xcel rebate. Operating pumps at the booster stations and well house have received annual variable frequency drive upgrades over the last 15 - 20 years.
In 2015, the Department of Health reduced the required concentration of fluoride in drink water. The City of Inver Grove Heights responded by reducing the concentration of fluoride added at the water treatment facility from 1ppm to 0.7ppm, which reduced the City's expenses on water treatment chemicals.
Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Local Air Quality {BP no.23}
Reduce residential burning of wood and yard waste and eliminate ‘backyard’ trash burning.
- Action 2:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city.
- Action 3:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Renewable Energy {BP no.26}
Adopt wind energy and/or biomass ordinances that allow, enable, or encourage appropriate renewable energy installations.
- Action 1:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Increase social connectedness through engagement, capacity building, public investment, and opportunities for economically vulnerable residents to improve their economic prosperity and resilience to climate change.
- Action 3:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
Protect public buildings and natural/constructed infrastructure to reduce physical damage and sustain their function during extreme weather events.
- Action 5:Ally Sutherland (City Staff) | asutherland@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511