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: 38
Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Implement information technology efforts and city employee engagement to reduce plug loads, building energy use and workflow efficiency.
- Action 4:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Resilient City Growth {BP no.7}
Limit barriers to higher density housing by including in the city zoning ordinance and zoning map:
- Action 1:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Achieve higher intensity commercial/industrial land uses through at least one of the following strategies:
- Action 3:b. Use density and floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses in selected residential zoning districts. Completed, Included in TOD Zoning Overlay District.
d. Allowing accessory dwelling units, single-room occupancy housing, senior housing, co-housing or tiny houses / apartments by right in selected zoning districts. Completed. Single Room Occupany = Studio / Efficiency Unit is allowed in selected zones.
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Mixed Uses {BP no.8}
Locate or lease a school, city building or other government facility that has at least two of these attributes:
- Action 2:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Have a downtown zoning district that allows residential and compatible commercial development.
- Action 5:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Incorporate form-based zoning approaches into the zoning code, in those areas where a diverse mix of uses is desired.
- Action 6:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
- Action 3:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Identify, prioritize and remedy complete streets gaps and lack of connectivity/safety within your road network by, for example, adding a bike route/lane, truck route, sidewalk or mid-block alley.
- Action 4:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:b. Document increased bike facilities, such as racks, bike stations or showers. Multiple Bike Racks are available in our Downtown area.
c. Add bus infrastructure, such as signage, benches, shelters, park and ride lots, and real-time arrival data-streaming. Benches are provided at many bus stops and the City is working with Met Transit to have a new park and ride structure at the Robbinsdale Station as part of the Blue Line LRT Extension project.
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Certify as a Tree City USA.
- Action 1:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Adopt best practices for urban tree planting/quality; require them in private developments and/or use them in at least one development project.
- Action 2:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Budget for and achieve resilient urban canopy/tree planting goals.
- Action 3:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Maximize tree planting along your main downtown street or throughout the city.
- Action 4:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:b. Supporting volunteer forestry efforts. Completed. The City uses "Citizen Pruner" groups who have been trained by U of M staff.
c. Adopting an EAB management plan / climate adaptation plan for the urban forest. Completed. The City has a detailed tree inventory, plants a diverse range of species and proactively treats for Emerald Ash Borer.
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Create a stormwater utility that uses variable fees to incentivize stormwater infiltration, minimize the volume of and pollutants in runoff, and educate property owners.
- Action 4:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
- Action 5:b. Rainwater harvesting practices. Completed. The City has partnered with Shingle Creek Watershed to install a cistern for rainwater reuse.
d. Pervious/permeable pavement or pavers. Completed. The City has partnered with Shingle Creek Watershed and University of MN to install porous asphalt and monitor effectiveness.
e. Green roofs / green walls. In process. The City's new Centralized Water Treatment Plant will include a green roof over the administrative portion of the building.
f. Tree trenches / tree boxes. Completed. New developments in the downtown have provided streetscape trees in a Stockholm Soil configuration to provide enhanced growing conditions and reduce pavement uplift.
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Reduce de-icing and dust suppressant salt use to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution.
- Action 6:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan.
- Action 6:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
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 break downs occur.
- Action 2:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Optimize energy and chemical use at drinking water / wastewater facilities and decrease chloride in wastewater discharges.
- Action 4:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Create a demand-side pricing program to reduce demands on water and wastewater systems.
- Action 7:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated organics collection/management program.
- Action 5:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Local Air Quality {BP no.23}
Conduct one or more policy or education/behavior change campaigns on the topics below and document:
- Action 3:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Install, assist with and promote publicly available EV charging stations or public fueling stations for alternative fuel vehicles.
- Action 5:John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253