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: 45Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
2. Every time a light burns out at City Hall and Public Works, Facilities Manager replaces it with a low-cost light
Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals.
- Action 2:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project.
- Action 5:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Building Redevelopment {BP no.5}
Adopt an historic preservation ordinance/regulations and encourage adaptive reuse.
- Action 1:Abbi Wittman (City staff) | Awittman@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8822
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:in relocating a local business, Cub Foods, from the historic Lumber Exchange Building
to the west wing of the Junior High complex.
In addition, last year Oak Park Heights Elementary School was converted to a school district office site and alternative education uses.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Adopt development/design standards and programs that facilitate infill, redevelopment, and adaptable buildings.
- Action 5:neighborhoods, by regulating and providing Design Guidelines for new infill development within the District.
Abbi Wittman (City staff) | Awittman@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8822
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:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:optimal ecological function.
Chapter 9- Transportation in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan recognizes the need for developing a coordinated transportation system that provides for local as well as area-wide traffic.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:In The 2030 Comprehensive Plan it calls to maintain inventory of all ravines and remnant lands in the existing city and develop a policy regarding ravine management that balances ravine usage amongst natural resource protection, public utility and open space/recreation opportunities.
The 2030 Comprehensive Plan further talks about how the city can use the NRI information as a basis for updating its current environmental ordinances as necessary, or for developing new approaches for protecting and enhancing its natural resources from future growth, changes in land use, and development of infrastructure.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:Also, downtown Stillwater is zoned Commercial Business District, and allows for mixed use development to provide a higher density and pedestrian access to goods & services.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Achieve higher density housing through at least two of the following strategies:
- Action 2:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:designates the Downtown area as “Mixed Use”,
which accurately reflects the mix of commercial and residential uses currently in place in Downtown Stillwater. The city has undertaken various projects over the last few years to allow for apartments to be integrated into the district. A great example of this Stillwater Mills, which is a mix of apartments and offices within the Downtown Commercial Business District.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development {BP no.9}
Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster.
- Action 1:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:diverting storm water from the Annexation Area
away from Brown's Creek, a state-designated trout stream, to avoid impacts from development of the Annexation Area.
In the 2040 Comprehensive Plan the city makes recommendations for city code revisions for natural resource protection, such as requiring project proposers to identify all natural resource data from the NRI as part of the data submission for a project. This data could then be used to identify any necessary setbacks or alignments of potential greenway corridors.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Preserve environmentally sensitive, community-valued land by placing a conservation easement on city lands, and by encouraging/funding private landowners to place land in conservation easements.
- Action 5:With the development of Liberty on the Lake and Legends, there was a 50% set aside of pervious area. These were in the form of public open space and private easements.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Support and protect wildlife through habitat rehabilitation, preservation and recognition programs.
- Action 7:Tim Gladhill (City Staff) | tgladhill@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 6514308821
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking.
- Action 5:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:In the last couple of years, the city installed a bike station, that includes an air pump and associated tools, at the south-east edge of Lake McKusick.
Also, there is a park and ride lot at the St. Croix Valley Rec. Center in Stillwater. In addition to providing people who car pool with a central location to meet up and park their cars, the park and ride is also by the bus stop for the 294 bus to downtown St. Paul.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Add/expand public transit service.
- Action 6:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
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:Tom McCarty (City staff) | tmccarty@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8800
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:Tom McCarty (City staff) | tmccarty@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8800
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
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:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance.
- Action 5:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Stormwater Management {BP no.17}
Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS).
- Action 1:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Complete the GreenStep Municipal Stormwater Management Assessment.
- Action 2:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:The city is currently planning 2 major park projects: Bridge View Park and Aiple Park. Aiple Park will be built within a long narrow stretch along the St. Croix River in North Stillwater. This area formerly belonged to a private owner, but has been purchased by the city, and will provide residents with access to the river and provide residents with a park to enjoy in Downtown Stillwater for perpetuity. The Browns Creek Trail that opened in the fall of 2014 runs parallel with the property to
connect downtown Stillwater to the Gateway Trail.
Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members.
- Action 3:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:
- Action 5:Shawn Sanders (City staff) | Ssanders@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8835
Surface Water {BP no.19}
Adopt and publicly report on measurable surface water improvement targets for lake, river, wetland and ditches.
- Action 3:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Adopt a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas.
- Action 4:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Septic Systems {BP no.21}
Clarify/establish one or more responsible management entities (RMEs) for the proper design, siting, installation, operation, monitoring and maintenance of septic systems.
- Action 3:Cindy Shilts (City staff) | cshilts@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8825
Adopt a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota Counties' model ordinance.
- Action 4:"Washington County's subsurface sewage treatment system regulations, as set forth in Ordinance No. 179 (Washington County Development Code Chapter 4) as in effect on August 18, 2015 is hereby adopted by reference in its entirety, except as specifically modified by this chapter."
Cindy Shilts (City staff) | cshilts@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8825
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:Abbi Wittman (City staff) | Awittman@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8822
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:The City maintains a webpage that talks about Greensteps and provides residents a link to the site.
Sustainable Stillwater is constantly posting updates on its webpage and social media accounts regarding Greensteps.
Tim Gladhill (City Staff) | tgladhill@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 6514308821
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:Tim Gladhill (City Staff) | tgladhill@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 6514308821
Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.
- Action 7:The Green Business Directory (www.greenstillwater.org), a project of Sustainable Stillwater MN, lets shoppers align their personal values with the power of the purse by choosing businesses with green, sustainable, and resilient products and practices.
The Green Business Directory is an online public resource listing environmentally and socially conscious businesses in Washington County or that serve Washington County. Businesses must apply to be in the Directory by filling out an application that has strict criteria about their products and practices from GreenAmerica.org.
If qualified, businesses receive gold, silver, or bronze awards, a listing in the Directory, and social media promotion. Their “report cards” display their qualifications publicly, so consumers can learn all about them. If applicants do not qualify, their info is kept private and we work with them to help them improve.
Jason Ludwigson (Contractor) | JDLudwigson@gmail.com | 5073139633
Local Food {BP no.27}
Protect working landscapes - agriculture and forestry - by adopting an ordinance or incentivizing one or more of the following:
- Action 1:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Facilitate creation of home/community gardens, chicken & bee keeping, and incorporation of food growing areas/access in multifamily and residential developments.
- Action 2:Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Also, in Stillwater there is a farmers market every other Saturday from June 8th thru August 10th, located at 3rd & Pine Street (Riverview Parking Lot of the Stillwater Veterans Memorial).
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Measurably increase institutional buying and sales of foods and fibers that are local, Minnesota-grown, organic, healthy, humanely raised, and grown by fairly compensated growers.
- Action 4:Axdahl Garden Farm and Greenhouse is a farm in Stillwater licensed by Minnesota Grown and certified by Food Alliance Midwest, that has wholesale accounts local grocery stores, restaurants, and distributors.They can be viewed at www.axdaflfarms.com
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Business Synergies and EcoDistricts {BP no.28}
Require, build or facilitate at least four sustainability attributes in a business/industrial park project:
- Action 3:B. VistaTek is a manufacturing company in Stillwater that has taken on a whole slew of green initiatives. VistaTek works closely with customers and suppliers to utilize recycled materials when it is available. They use re-ground material that they collect on-site, or use resin that is compounded from recycled plastics. A perfect example are these razor handles that are molded from plastic derived from recycled yogurt cups.
C. West Stillwater Business Park District allows for future mixed use development and is currently used for commercial use and is adjacent to residential neighborhoods, allowing safe and easy pedestrian travel between the two.
D.The Lora Hotel was constructed from a building designed for reuse. The original building was a late 19th century brewery, with great historical significance for Stillwater and Minnesota. The building was recently transformed into a 40-room hotel, while maintaining the original structure and overall design.
G. The post office in Stillwater is a great example of low-impact site development. To minimize to run off tho adjacent properties the post office installed a permeable parking lot during its development.
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821