City of Mounds View

Background Information

County: Ramsey
Population: 12,155
GreenStep City category: B

Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 52

Participating township, county, school:

GreenStep City resolution: Click here to view the file.
GreenStep City status and date: STEP 1 (02/22/2016)

GreenStep Coordinator

Don Peterson
City staff
don.peterson@ci.mounds-view.mn.us
763-717-4051

City web page relating to sustainability/GreenStep activities:
http://www.ci.mounds-view.mn.us

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 Files below summarize completed city actions in a short Word file. Step 4 recognition is awarded each June to cities who report a minimum number of optional (and a few high-priority/core) metrics for the previous calendar year. These metrics - see guidance documents for them at http://www.betterenergy.org/step4 - aim to show the aggregate, quantitative results of taking multiple GreenStep actions. Step 5 cities show improvement beyond minimum thresholds in the Step 4 metrics. See yearly data in the Metrics Files below.

Assessment Files
2017 - click to view assessment

Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed

Completed actions are denoted by stars. Mouse over a star for its definition.
Total completed actions: 7 1-star actions: 2 2-star actions: 4 3-star actions: 1

[ Open all action reports ]

[ View/print full city report ]

Buildings and Lighting

Efficient Existing Public Buildings
{ BP no. 1 }

pending pending Star rating not yet assigned to city Action 1: Enter building information into the Minnesota B3 Benchmarking database and routinely enter monthly energy, water use data for all city-owned buildings. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Customize the B3 Energy-Efficient Operations Manual (an online tool) for one city-owned/school building to implement routine updates and verification of lighting schedules, air handler unit schedules, and air handler mixed air temperatures. Report use of the Manual for park buildings under best practice action 18.7
Complete 1 Star criteria for two buildings and report energy savings by calculating changes in run times or tracking improvements compared to a baseline in the B3 Benchmarking Database; report the use of an asset management tool and what level of life-cycle assessment is included (e.g., GHG, toxics, etc.); report green lease elements.
Complete 2 Star criteria for all city-owned/school buildings able to use the Manual; OR complete the performance period and certify at least one building at gold-equivalent or better under a green building framework (such as the LEED O+M rating system) for existing buildings operations.
Action 6: 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. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Land Use

Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans
{ BP no. 6 }

Adopt a comp plan/amended comp plan that is less than ten years old or adopt a land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity less than 15 years ago, or Category B & C cities may adopt a city vision that looks at least 20 years into the future.
Include in your plan a sustainability section/chapter, an active living/placemaking/bike-ped section, or integrate sustainability goals and strategies into all chapters of your comprehensive plan, or articulate land development principles for creating a complete, compact and connected community. Report climate protection or energy independence goals and objectives under action 6.5
Adopt a development goal that new/infill projects generate enough tax revenue to pay for the related public infrastructure maintenance/replacement over multiple life cycles; reference a capital improvement plan that catalogues public system maintenance obligations by date and cost; create 'green zones' that focus environmental improvements in under-served areas of the city; adopt the Precautionary Principle.
Action 1: Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Date action report first entered: 04/28/2017
Date of last report update: 04/28/2017
Year action initially completed: 2008
Action completed after joining GreenStep? No

Implementation details:
The City of Mounds View has a current Comprehensive Plan that was approved by the Metropolitan Council on December 9, 2009 and approved by the City Council on February 8, 2010. This plan looks out to the year 2030. - City Wide Goal - "Urban Design Goal: The City will strive to improve the appearance of the community, maintain compatible land uses and encourage a sensitive integration among activities, man-made facilities and the natural environment." This goal addresses land use and integration between development/redevelopment and natural areas. - Land Use Goal - Mixed Use Goal 1: Create sustainable commercial and medium-high density residential land areas that provide services, active living opportunities, life-cycle housing, and enhances the City’s brand, identity and quality of life. Mounds View is also in the process of updating this plan by 2018.

Outcome measures/metrics:

Descriptive links: http://www.ci.mounds-view.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={076ED731-8302-4962-8387-4481AAB4B284}

For more information contact:
Don Peterson (City staff) | don.peterson@ci.mounds-view.mn.us | 763-717-4051

Environmental Management

Urban Forests and Soils
{ BP no. 16 }

Certified for current year.
Certified for 30 or more years, or recent recipient of a Growth award.
Certified for at least 10 years with an annual tree budget (for maintenance, planting, replacements, removals) of at least $8 per resident (4X the Tree City requirement) or have calculated and publicized the financial and other benefits of trees to your city.
Action 1: Certify as a Tree City USA. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Stormwater Management
{ BP no. 17 }

Install, require and/or provide guidelines for raingardens, rain barrels, parking lots (salt use reduction/alternatives, French drains, etc.) or pervious pavement at sites where the practice was not implemented to satisfy a requirement in an NPDES/SDS MS4 and/or Construction Stormwater permit or Industrial Stormwater permit; report that all city staff are developing guidelines that use the updated precipitation data in Atlas 14 or better, future predicted precipitation; note required use of compost as a soil amendment.
Install, require, incentivize and/or provide guidelines for green roofs, cisterns, neighborhood water storage, rainwater harvesting to supplant irrigation with drinking water, and other stormwater reuse. Report storage and reuse of stormwater for golf course/parkland irrigation under best practice action 18.5c.
Have an ongoing retrofit program to reduce pollutant loads and stormwater volume from existing neighborhoods that requires one or more of the stormwater practices in this action; aim for zero stormwater discharge in a development project.
Action 5: Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices: [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details] a. Rain gardens/infiltration practices.

b. Rainwater harvesting practices.

c. Green alleys or green parking lots.

d. Pervious/permeable pavement or pavers.

e. Green roofs / green walls.

f. Tree trenches / tree boxes.

g. Incorporate compost and/or native plants into landscape design.

Date action report first entered: 04/28/2017
Date of last report update: 04/28/2017
Year action initially completed: 2009
Action completed after joining GreenStep? No

Implementation details:
Beginning in 2008 the City of Mounds View undertook a comprehensive Street and Utility Improvement Program (Program) that reconstructed approximately 26 miles (roughly 68%) of existing city streets. As part of this program the city installed numerous infiltration basins (rain gardens) throughout the Program area. The basins allowed for infiltration as well as reduced the amount of stormwater entering the underground system. The city and Rice Creek Watershed District inspect these basins on a regular basis. The city is in the process of developing a citizen education program to assist residents with maintenance and upkeep of these features.

Outcome measures/metrics:

Descriptive links:

For more information contact:
Don Peterson (City staff) | don.peterson@ci.mounds-view.mn.us | 763-717-4051

Partners:
Rice Creek Watershed District

Parks and Trails
{ BP no. 18 }

Remedy at least one connectivity break by, for example, completing a missing trail section, acquiring a high quality natural area, a priority stormwater management area, vacant space in a high amenity/redevelopment area, a rail corridor. Report remedies for street-to-trail gaps (between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails) under best practice action 11.5.
Remedy at least 3 connectivity breaks; fund trails out of adjacent street assessments; sign at least one shared use agreement with a school that allows public use of school outdoor facilities outside of school hours.
Remedy/plan/budget for 75% or more of the gaps; add a walking/biking trail that connects your city to a key destination/area/trail outside the city.
Action 1: Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Date action report first entered: 04/28/2017
Date of last report update: 04/28/2017
Year action initially completed: 2016
Action completed after joining GreenStep? Yes

Implementation details:
The City of Mounds View has completed two segments of trail along Mounds View Boulevard (CSAH 10) in 2016. These two segments provided a connection along a busy, divided four lane highway. The first segment connected existing trail on the north side of Mounds View Blvd that ended at Red Oak Drive to newly constructed sidewalk at Groveland Road. The second segment connected an existing section of trail on the south side of Mounds View Blvd that ended at Edgewood Drive to existing trail at Woodale Drive. This trail project also provided new LED lighting fixtures along the trail to allow for use throughout the day. The city also constructed a sidewalk link from the intersection of Hillview Road and Lois Drive south and east along Hillview Road to Quincy Street and the then south to County Road I. Thus providing a better alternative than the street to students walking to school at Pinewood Elementary School at the south east intersection of Quincy and CR I.

Outcome measures/metrics:

Descriptive links:

For more information contact:
Don Peterson (City staff) | don.peterson@ci.mounds-view.mn.us | 763-717-4051

Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems
{ BP no. 20 }

Create a program backed by ordinance for inspecting household/business gutters, foundation drains, sump pump connections, drain tile, lateral service lines, and/or inspections of city-owned sewer lines; report types of water system preventive maintenance. Report an adopted wellhead protection plan under action 6.3
Make sewer inspections mandatory at the time of property transfers, street reconstructions; require repairs or provide incentives such as 50% reimbursement to property owners to make repairs or enact utility bill surcharges for owners who are non-compliant with I&I standards; report water system leak detection and water meter calibration, replacement and automation.
Report outcomes from I&I and water loss programs, such as miles clay pipes relined, # of disconnects, % clearwater reduction, GPD removed, water supply leaks (unaccounted/non-revenue water loss; should be under 5%), money saved at the wastewater treatment plant, capital costs avoided by being able to defer capacity additions.
Action 3: Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]

Date action report first entered: 04/28/2017
Date of last report update: 04/28/2017
Year action initially completed: 2017
Action completed after joining GreenStep? No

Implementation details:
The Mounds View City Code - Title 907 makes is unlawful to discharge storm water into the sanitary sewer system. Connections from sump systems to the sanitary system were inspected within they last 10 years. Public Works Operators review sanitary lines via camera on a routine basis with a goal of inspecting approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of the city annually. During this inspection the operators will regularly note any areas where I/I is apparent as well as any services that appear to be discharging clean, clear water on a regular basis. I/I is being addressed by an ongoing sanitary sewer lining project that lines appoximately 5,000 feet per year. The goal is to complete the lining of all vitrified clay tile pipe by 2028. Those areas exhibiting the highest I/I are being addressed first. In addition, as our street program continues those areas with sewer in poor condition are seeing the VCT replaced with PVC sewer pipe to eliminate the I/I issues experienced in the past.

Outcome measures/metrics:

Descriptive links: http://www.ci.mounds-view.mn.us/vertical/sites/%7B9DACB450-86B3-4304-946D-6016EF70E9E3%7D/uploads/0900_-_Mounds_View_Code_Title_900_-_Public_Ways_and_Property.pdf

Resilient Economic & Community Development

Renewable Energy
{ BP no. 26 }

Describe any public sector project and report installed capacity in kW. Report purchase of green tags, community solar garden subscriptions, and 3rd party solar under action 15.2; report wastewater biogas projects under 20.6; solid waste anaerobic digestion under 22.5; geothermal under 1.7
Install at least two different RE technologies and report installed capacity in kW; show that a RE installation has shaved off peak energy demand and allowed the monthly utility demand charge to be decreased; report installed battery storage.
Install RE capacity in excess of 100 kW; report combined heat and power generation, parking lot PV canopies.
Action 5: Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), biomass, solar hot water/air, micro-hydro or wind. [Click here for self-reported city details Hide city details]