Sponsor: ALP Utilities Board of Public Works
Members: 5 citizens chosen from applications. Apply Here
Start time: Immediately following selection of the task force/working group members by the Board of Public Utilities. June 1, 2024 is the deadline for submission of applications.
Focus: Achieve GreenStep Cities recognition from the MPCA https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/
Objective:
Establish an inventory of actions the City of Alexandria has taken and determine future best practices to implement to achieve Minnesota GreenStep Cities recognition. MN GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. It is a free continuous improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, based upon a menu of 29 optional best practices. Each best practice can be implemented, as decided by city elected officials, staff and community members, by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, from a list of four to eight actions. These voluntary actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage civic innovation and engagement.
Background:
A group of citizens have expressed their interest to be engaged in activities that put/keep the City of Alexandria on a purposeful path of stewardship of natural and economic resources for future generations.
The City of Alexandria has made investments that show our community is aware of the importance of protection and planning for these resources.
What has been achieved has been through efforts of other city committees that considered preservation of natural and economic resources as part of their decision-making process. The ideas were then supported by the Council through budgeting, motions and resolutions to make it happen. Most notable are recommendations from ALASD, ALP Utilities, Planning Commission and Stormwater Management Committee.
Recommendations:
Create a task force/working group of up to 5 individuals that will report to the Board of Public Utilities. The Board will seek applications and appoint individuals. This is a volunteer working group. Task Force members will live within the ALP Utilities service area and will commit to active participation for one year.
This proposed group will be a task force/working group rather than a committee. The singular focus will be to review the initiatives required to achieve GreenStep Cities recognition. The GreenStep program provides an in-depth collection of initiatives that qualify a community for recognition. Currently, 146 cities and tribal nations in MN have achieved this status.
Action steps and timeline:
- The working group will make contact with the GreenStep staff for direction. The first goal for the City of Alexandria will be to take the list of GreenStep initiatives and review each one to determine if Alexandria has already included the effort in its policies or actions. This will establish the inventory.
- While researching the initiatives already completed, the working group will note if maintenance is required, if that maintenance has been performed or budgeted and when. Ideally, this will help with capital improvement budgeting. Projects requiring maintenance will be forwarded to the correct city department for consideration in the upcoming budget considerations.
- The working group will review the inventory and work with the MPCA to determine if Alexandria meets the criteria for the designation. If yes, submit the application.
- Mission accomplished.
- The Board of Public Utilities will consider initiatives that should be considered for its next phase.
- The working group may also recommend initiatives that fall outside the scope of ALP Utilities responsibility. Example: A recommendation that involves stormwater would be made to the stormwater committee. Once support has been determined, the committee will recommend to the Council what action should be taken.
- Review performance of the working group and report back to the community.
- Determine if the group is to continue.
- If yes. Determine goals.
- If yes. Determine goals.
Financial Considerations:
- Cost of advertising for working group member applications.
- Sufficient funds were set aside for City marketing in 2024. Funds from ALP may be available.
- No project funds were budgeted for 2024. The cost of new projects, if any in 2024, will be financed from existing department budgets.
Notes:
- It is the City of Alexandria and the Board of Public Utilities intention to maintain its non-partisan practices when asked to choose projects for consideration.
- The working group may be disbanded by the Board of Public Utilities if the group does not achieve first year tasks.
- The working group may be approved for a second project if the group achieves its tasks and brings benefit to the Board of Public Utilities and the City of Alexandria.