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: 90Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
________________________
The City of Saint Paul is currently working with Xcel Energy to download energy data from 2006 into the City's energy database. We anticipate this data will be directly transferable to the B3 database. Currently there are over 84 sites and 176 meters that are part of the Minnesota B3 Benchmarking database. 9/24/14
Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
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:Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
Implement IT efforts and city employee engagement to reduce plug loads, building energy use and workflow efficiency.
- Action 4:The City’s Information Technology Department has also invested in computer power management systems in City offices. City computers are set up to sleep after idling for a designated period of time. The City is also currently exploring smartboards that can shut down computers after a designated period of time idling.
The City has also worked with students from Macalester college to do a campaign to City staff about turning off monitors, lights, and closing window blinds when not these items are not in use.
Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
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:All new constructions of city-owned buildings or buildings that receive more than $200,000 in public funding must comply with the Sustainable Saint Paul Building Policy. Projects completed or underway include the Western District Police Station, the Penfield, the West Side Flats, Kendall’s Ace Hardware, Arlington Hills Community Center, Episcopal Homes Nursing Home, Lofts at Farmers Market.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Improve the operations & maintenance of city-owned/school buildings and leased buildings by using a customized online energy efficiency tool, asset management tool, green building framework or green lease.
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures:
- Action 7:b.The City has several buildings that are connected to District Energy St. Paul including the Griffin Building, Central Library and City Hall/Courthouse.
Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
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:In 2012, the City awarded a $250,000 Neighborhood STAR grant to NEC to expand the Energy Smart Homes program. To date, $130,000 in STAR funds have been loaned to thirty homeowners who invested $140,000 of their own money to make energy efficient improvements. Because Energy Smart Homes is a revolving loan program, the dollars loaned to homeowners will be paid back and loaned out again and again. In 2014, The City awarded another $250,000 Neighborhood STAR grant to NEC to continue the work.
The City also promotes the Neighborhood Energy Connection programs provided through Xcel Energy, including energy audits at a reduced price for Xcel customer.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
- Action 4:• All buildings required to follow the Saint Paul Sustainable Building Policy (www.stpaul.gov/sustainablebuildingpolicy)
• District Energy St. Paul (http://www.districtenergy.com/environment/)
• LEED certified buildings in Saint Paul such as: Karges-Faulconbridge Office Building, Spruce Tree Centre, The Wilder Center, Macalester Institute for Global Citizenship (Platinum), Park Midway Bank, United Family Practice Health Center (http://greenbuildingwire.com/LEED-certified-building-MN)
• St. Paul RiverCentre which has a solar hot water system (http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/sustainability)
• Science Museum, which has solar installations and a heat-recovery system (http://www.smm.org/sciencehouse/about)
• J&J Distributing (http://www.jjdst.com/produce/)
• Garden Fresh Farms (http://gardenfreshfarms.com/)
And many more.
Jim Giebel (City staff) | Jim.Giebel@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6138
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:•All buildings required to follow the Saint Paul Sustainable Building Policy (www.stpaul.gov/sustainablebuildingpolicy)
•District Energy St. Paul (http://www.districtenergy.com/environment/)
•LEED certified buildings in Saint Paul such as: Karges-Faulconbridge Office Building, Spruce Tree Centre, The Wilder Center, Macalester Institute for Global Citizenship (Platinum), Park Midway Bank, United Family Practice Health Center (http://greenbuildingwire.com/LEED-certified-building-MN)
•St. Paul RiverCentre which has a solar hot water system (http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/sustainability)
•Science Museum, which has solar installations and a heat-recovery system (http://www.smm.org/sciencehouse/about)
•J&J Distributing (http://www.jjdst.com/produce/)
•Garden Fresh Farms (http://gardenfreshfarms.com/)
And many more.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Customize a model sustainable building renovation policy that includes the SB 2030 energy standard and adopt the language to govern private renovation projects that:
- Action 7:Kurt Schultz
www.stpaul.gov/sustainablebuildingpolicy
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
New Green Buildings {BP no.3}
Require by city policy that new city-owned buildings be built using the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
- Action 1:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Adopt a sustainable building policy for private buildings; include the SB 2030 energy standard; adopt language governing new development projects that:
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who build new buildings that utilize the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
- Action 4:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | Kurt.Schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6530
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Require energy efficient, Dark-Sky compliant new or replacement outdoor lighting fixtures on city-owned/private buildings and facilities.
- Action 1:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals.
- Action 2:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Replace the city's existing street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes.
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Coordinate traffic signals and/or optimize signal timing to minimize car idling at intersections yet maintain safe and publicly acceptable vehicle speeds.
- Action 4:Mark Huonder (City staff) | mhuonder@ci.woodbury.mn.us | 651-714-3535
Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.
- Action 5:City parking lots have high efficiency lights
Some of the City's Dynamic Speed Display Signs are LED/solar powered.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Relamp/improve exterior building lighting for city-owned buildings/facilities with energy efficient, Dark-Sky compliant lighting.
- Action 6:At the Science Museum and RiverCentre ramps, there are automatic dimming lighting.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Replace the city's existing traffic signal indications with LEDs.
- Action 8:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:The Comprehensive Plan completed the adoption process on February 24, 2010.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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 4:3.10. Pursue opportunities and partnerships to acquire land specifically for
open space and natural-resource protection, especially:
• Areas containing species included on the State or Federal list of
endangered or threatened species;
• Areas representing significant landforms, native plant
communities, or sensitive habitat;
• Areas that connect existing components of the open-space
network; and
• Areas adjacent to existing parkland/open space.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt climate mitigation and/or energy independence goals and objectives in the comprehensive plan or in a separate policy document, and include transportation recommendations such as becoming an EV-ready city.
- Action 5:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:Street Design Manual
The City of Saint Paul is currently developing a Street Design Manual to illustrate street design best practices and to implement adopted complete streets policies. Complete streets policies require that the needs of all street users, of all ages and abilities, be considered in the process of street design. This is the first Street Design Manual for the City and is intended to help streamline the City’s internal street design processes by developing a toolbox for street design and by providing a clear framework for street design processes. The draft Street Design Manual is available here for view.
Several pilot street design workshops were completed in 2013 as part of the Street Design Manual project. Projects were selected from identified in completed citywide or neighborhood plans and studies. The workshops focused on a particular street, intersection, or area, and resulting in a preliminary design with prioritized street improvements. The goals of the pilot projects are to test the Street Design Manual in a workshop setting to create an opportunity to refine it before it is finalized, and to advance complete streets design in a variety of locations throughout the city.
The complete draft Street Design Manual was introduced to the Transportation Committee on July 14, 2014. The draft manual will continue to be edited until it is released for public comment and a public hearing date is set by Planning Commission.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:More information on the Complete Streets can be found at http://www.stpaul.gov/completestreets
More information on the draft Bikeways Plan can be found at: www.stpaul.gov/bikeplan
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking.
- Action 5:The Bikeways Plan is intended to guide future biking and walking infrastructure improvements.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:The maps can be found in several locations including:
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=1212
www.stpaul.gov/bikeplan
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?nid=1546
b.One of the goals of the City of Saint Paul’s Comprehensive Plan is to create public bicycle parking facilities to increase bicycling citywide. To meet that goal, the Department of Public Works offers the Neighborhood Bike Rack Program. In 2014, the Neighborhood Bike Rack Program will dedicate $10,000 received from Transit for Livable Communities to installing approved bike racks on public right of way in front of local businesses and organizations upon request at no cost. In return, the applicant agrees to provide snow removal to maintain access to the bike racks during the winter.
To be eligible for the program, the business or organization must be located in the City of Saint Paul, and must be able to demonstrate a lack of space feasible for bike rack installation. Also, all bike rack installations must meet all applicable accessibility and construction standards.
For details about the bike rack program, including eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and restrictions, read the Neighborhood Bike Rack Program Guide.
The Neighborhood Bike Rack Program is new in 2014. Prior to that, the City had a 50/50 Bike Rack Share Program where businesses and the City could collectively finance for a bike rack. In 2014, 75 meter hitches were installed to increase biking parking in downtown.
More at: http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=5257
c. In 2014, Metro Transit added Bus route 83 that runs north and south through Saint Paul along Lexington Parkway. Metro Transit is improving four of downtown St. Paul’s main bus boarding areas, located at Cedar Street and 5th Street, 5th Street and Minnesota Street, 6th Street and Cedar Street and Minnesota and 6th Street. The City continues to be an advocate for mass transportation.
d.The City partners with St. Paul Smart Trips to promote alternative commuting options for workers in Saint Paul, specifically in the downtown area. St. Paul Smart Trips is able to offer employers various benefits for promoting alternative commuting options to their employees. See more at: http://www.smart-trips.org/
e.The City partners with St. Paul Smart Trips to promote alternative commuting options for workers in Saint Paul, specifically in the downtown area. St. Paul Smart Trips is able to offer employers various benefits for promoting alternative commuting options to their employees. See more at: http://www.smart-trips.org/
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:The City of Saint Paul, in cooperation with Saint Paul Public Schools, actively pursue and implement Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding for various projects to emphasize walking and bicycling as a safe and viable way to get children to neighborhood schools.
Sprocket’s, Saint Paul’s out-of-school-time network, is also working actively to help youth-serving organizations alleviate transportation barriers by enhancing transportation options to and from various youth sites.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Prominently promote mobility options: public transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; cab services; rental cars; bike lanes; trails; airports.
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Promote carpooling, ridesharing, carsharing, and bikesharing.
- Action 4:The City also has a vehicle fleet available for eligible employees who may not drive to work to use if needed.
Car2Go (https://www.car2go.com/en/minneapolis/) and HOURCAR (http://www.hourcar.org/), two car sharing programs, also operate in the city of Saint Paul, giving the Saint Paul community more transportation options.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Implement workplace multi-modal transportation best management practices - including telework/flexwork - in city government, businesses or at a local health care provider.
- Action 5:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Add/expand public transit service.
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Efficient City Fleets {BP no.13}
Efficiently use your existing fleet of city vehicles by encouraging trip bundling, video conferencing, carpooling, vehicle sharing and incentives/technology.
- Action 1:The City also works with St. Paul Smart Trips to encourage employees carpooling to work or taking mass transit. Incentives, such as a discount parking passes, are provided for carpoolers.
Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions.
- Action 2:Phase-in operational changes, equipment changes including electric vehicles, and no-idling practices for city or local transit fleets.
- Action 3:Phase in bike, e-bike, foot or horseback modes for police, inspectors and other city staff.
- Action 4:Document that the local school bus fleet has optimized routes, start times, boundaries, vehicle efficiency and fuels, driver actions to cut costs including idling reduction, and shifting students from the bus to walking, biking and city transit.
- Action 5:Retrofit city diesel engines or install auxiliary power units and/or electrified parking spaces, utilizing Project GreenFleet or the like.
- Action 6: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:The City leases its computers (both desktops and laptops). All of the computers are Energy Star compliant. In addition, all of the laptops are EPEAT™ Gold (US only), ENERGY STAR® 6.1, GREENGUARD®, and RoHS-compliant.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Lower the environmental footprint of meetings and events in the city.
- Action 7:All events held at public facilities in Saint Paul are required by Ordinance 13-62 to have recycling and are encouraged to collect organics for recycling.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Certify as a Tree City USA.
- Action 1:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Budget for and achieve resilient urban canopy/tree planting goals.
- Action 3:Highlights
• Tree canopy cover in 2010: 32.5% of the total land area of Saint Paul
• 66.2% of Saint Paul is suitable for tree canopy cover
The Tree Canopy Study revealed that residential, single-family parcels offer the greatest area for increased canopy cover. As a result, The City has worked with partnering agencies and community volunteers when possible to increase planting on private property, especially is areas with the lowest canopy percentage, e.g., Frogtown. Overall, it is projected that Saint Paul will spend over $700,000 on tree planting in 2014 using various funding sources.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Maximize tree planting along your main downtown street or throughout the city.
- Action 4:The City also has a Street and Park Tree Master Plan available online that allows the City of Saint Paul and its residents to plan for and maintain a diverse and vital urban forest. This document outlines the goals, strategies, and criteria that will help guide planning and management decisions through the use of established best management practices and innovative approaches.
It is the intention of the Street and Park Tree Master Plan to be used as a comprehensive guide by city staff, public and private developers, and property owners for the selection, placement, and proper maintenance of trees in parklands and along major transportation corridors, thoroughfares, and residential streets within the city. The information found within this document is also intended to assist homeowners with the selection of trees for their own properties.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:Nuisance ordinance has been modified to allow native vegetation where appropriate and under specified conditions.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS).
- Action 1:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Complete the GreenStep Municipal Stormwater Management Assessment.
- Action 2:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt by ordinance one or more of the following stormwater infiltration/management strategies to reduce impervious surface:
- Action 3:b. CRWD & RWMWD has a 1” volume control standard. MWMO is adopting the MIDS standard. The City's ordinance requires compliance with the states NPDES construction permit which has a ½” volume standard.
c. The City has a rate control standard limits discharge to 1.64 cfs per acre for sites over one-fourth acre.
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:
- Action 5:Section 69.319 of the Saint Paul Ordiannce also guides parking lot stormwater landscaping work.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Improve smart-salting by reducing chloride use in winter maintenance and dust suppressants to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution.
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas where new development is planned.
- Action 2:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt low-impact design standards in parks and trails that infiltrate or retain all 2 inch, 24-hour stormwater events on site.
- Action 4:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:
- Action 5:Recyling is implemented in all regularly staff Parks & Recreation facilities. Operations/Parks Maintenence is also recycling at all events and large picnics. All Regional Parks and seasonal picnic facilities have recycling containers and most neighborhood parks have recycling. There are also recycling containers throughout our trail system.
(Design) Como golf course, other golf courses?
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Document that the operation and maintenance, or construction / remodeling, of at least one park building used an asset management tool, the SB 2030 energy standard, or a green building framework.
- Action 7:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.
- Action 8:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:The City also has a Water Resource Working Group, and inter-departmental team to collaborate and provide guidance on city's water resource management programs. The group meets regularly.
The City has also sent its Water Resource Coordinator to national conferences around water management practices.
The Comprehensive Plan Water Chapter is itself a public information document that summarizes water issues and policy directions. It is not a technical document. Public education is one of its four purposes (p. W1; also p. W8, W12-13, W16-17.)
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt and publicly report on measurable surface water improvement targets for lake, river, wetland and ditches.
- Action 3:LMRWMO WRAPS project, which includes Pickerel lake, was approved by the EPA in 2014. This project had an extensive stakeholder involvement process.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt goals to revegetate shoreland and create a local program or outreach effort to help property owners with revegetation.
- Action 5:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan.
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems {BP no.20}
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Implement a wastewater plant efficiency project (co-generation, water reuse) or a program for local private business operations (water conservation, water reuse, business co-location).
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Septic Systems {BP no.21}
Adopt a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota Counties' model ordinance.
- Action 4:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Sustainable Consumption and Waste {BP no.22}
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.
- Action 1:all opportunities to reduce waste, recycle more and divert organic materials from the waste stream the City of
Saint Paul establishes an overall residential waste diversion goal of:
• 35% by 2016
• 50% by 2020,
• 65% by 2025, and
• 80% by 2030.
In addition, in order to reach the newly established goals the City will:
• Ensure all residents have convenient access to recycle a broad range of materials where they
live;
• Ensure recycling requirements are being met at events, parades, races and public assemblies;
• Improve opportunities to reduce waste;
• Improve opportunities to reuse and recycle bulky items such as appliances, e-waste, and
construction debris in an environmentally preferable manner;
• Increase significantly opportunities to divert organic materials from the waste stream, including
moving toward collection of organic material by 2017;
• Increase public space recycling opportunities within parks, right of ways, athletic complexes,
entertainment centers and sporting venues;
• Support efforts to address extended producer responsibility;
• Ensure diversion requirements are being met for construction, demolition and deconstruction
project;
• Support and encourage waste diversion initiatives within the commercial sector.
See the full resolution at:
https://stpaul.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1685118&GUID=7AA236BF-7A51-465C-B514-B2DA2B7A8FCB
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through encouragement/implementation of one or more of:
- Action 2:In winter of 2013, the City also participated in the Recycling Association of MN’s Recycle Your Holidays program. Over 340 pounds were collected from City employees.
In Spring 2014, Ramsey County started accepting source-separated organics (SSO) at their four yard waste sites within Saint Paul. Macalester Groveland Community Council (MGCC) also hosted a SSO drop off location with 24 hour access.
While this is available to residents, city employees have been able to take advantage of the opportunity to dispose of SSO after hosting Zero or low waste event.
Furthermore, the Dept. of Public Works has issued a 100% PC recycled content copier paper directive and a green meeting and gathering directive.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Improve profitability, legal compliance and conserve resources through adoption of ordinance language, licensing and resource management contracts.
- Action 3:Recycling opportunities at municipal facilities including, but not limited to: libraries, fire stations, municipal athletic complexes, regional and neighborhood parks, recreation centers, operations facilities/complexes, pools and golf courses are managed by multiple departments and divisions. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory manages their solid waste and recycling separately. Most of these facilities have centralized containers and/or hub centers for staff to bring recyclables. Materials are collected by Eureka Recycling from the centralized containers or hub centers. Currently we do not have good documentation of separate weights for materials coming out of these facilities.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated organics collection/management program.
- Action 5:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Improve recycling services and expand to multi-unit housing and commercial businesses.
- Action 6:Furthermore, the City of Saint Paul has an open hauling trash collection system also known as “subscription service”. This means that waste generators (i.e., residents and business owners) contract directly with a waste hauler of their choice. The City of Saint Paul does license trash haulers and provides a list of licensed providers but does not provide or administer garbage collection services.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:Schedule of charges. Each licensee shall submit to the inspector a schedule of advertised charges in connection with his operation or service at the time of the application for license.
Charges for mixed municipal solid waste services provided after July 1, 1991, must be submitted on a form provided by the inspector and based on the number of mixed municipal solid waste containers serviced by the licensee. Volume-based rates must be offered which limit the total amount of mixed municipal solid waste to be collected and shall be in proportion to the amount or weight of mixed municipal solid waste collected and shall differ significantly and incrementally one from another. At a minimum, volume-based rates must be offered for three (3) levels of single-family through four-plex residential service. The levels of service are for one (1), two (2) and three (3) containers of mixed municipal solid waste. Refuse haulers must provide written notice to their customers at least twice yearly of their volume-based rate structure and must provide information on their volume-based rate structure to new customers, including those acquired from other refuse haulers.
The County Environmental Charge (CEC) is a fee billed by licensed haulers to their customers in Ramsey County. The fee is based on the amount of trash each customer produces. Because the CEC applies to trash and not recyclables, the CEC acts to reduce waste by getting people to recycle and compost more.
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Adopt a construction and demolition (C&D) ordinance governing demolition permits that requires a level of recycling and reuse for building materials and soil/land-clearing debris.
- Action 8: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:The City publishes a quarterly sustainability newsletter (Sustainable Saint Paul Briefings). In the Summer 2016 edition, we will include an article on Saint Paul’s participation in the GreenStep Cities program. In addition, the city has a link to its GreenStep web page on our Sustainable Saint Paul website.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
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:Many other departments also produce annual reports, inlcuding: Public Works Department, Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity, and Parks & Recreation.
The City of Saint Paul is currently updating its comprehensive plan – a forward-thinking vision that will guide the city’s development over the next 30 years. One of the major trends facing Saint Paul that acted as a “lens” for the last comprehensive plan was rising energy costs and climate change.
All of the plans mentioned above are available to the public. The comprehensive planning process will include public input and feedback.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
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:Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Lower the environmental and health risk footprint of a brownfield remediation/redevelopment project beyond regulatory requirements; report brightfield projects.
- Action 5:A 2011 report entitled “Roadmap to Sustainability: Saint Paul Ford Site,” includes recommended performance thresholds for site redevelopment, inspiring policy makers and developers to make this site a national model for sustainable brown-field redevelopment.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
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:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Saint Paul Farmers' Market operates a large downtown market on the Saturdays and Sundays and has 3 satelite markets during the week in Saint Paul. There are many smaller neighborhood markets across the city..
There are many CSA's with drop sites in Saint Paul. These are catalogued and promoted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on its web site as well as by the farmers and the businesses at which some of the drop sites are located.
At least 23 Saint Paul Public Schools sites have gardens. There are numerous community gardens, including 6 which have formed a group called "The Urban Farm and Garden Alliance" and have received grant funding to improve their facilities in the Summit-University and Frogtown communities which are under-resourced communities. A tract of land of over 5 acres called Frogtown Farm has been set aside to host community gardening, demonstration gardens, and healthy eating community activities.
A convenience store operated by BP at the corner of Como and Raymond revamped their offerings to be healthier at the suggestion of one of its employees. Public Health has worked with three other stores to increase healthy offerings in the Dayton's Bluff (2) area and on Rice Street (1).
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
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:The City has an All-Hazard Mitigation Plan. It was developed to promote hazard mitigation and manage post-disaster recovery. Representatives from the following departments and agencies provided input to the City's plan:
-Each City department involved in emergency response and planning
-County government
-State government partners
-Private industry
-Government-operated and public utilities
-Business owners and managers
-Organizations active in disaster response
-Private citizens
The Emergency Management Department is currently reviewing and updating the most recent Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes.
- Action 2:Ana Vang (City staff) | ana.vang@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-8536
Reduce the urban heat impacts of public buildings, sites, and infrastructure and provide resiliency co-benefits.
- Action 6:Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590