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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-09 PACKET 05.1.c.Minnesota Pollution Minnesota GreenCorps Control Agency Project Summaries Program Year 2011 -2012 re;ijiMt it,) [6reen"Corps Table of Contents ProgramOverview ............................................................................................................ ............................... 2 Energy Conservation and Air Quality .............................................................................. ..............................4 Cityof Elk River ............................................................................................................. ............................... 4 EurekaRecycling — Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams ............................................ ............................... 5 InitiativeFoundation ....................................................................................................... ............................... 6 RamseyCounty ............................................................................................................... ............................... 7 Universityof Minnesota, Duluth ...................................................................................... ..............................8 WastePrevention and Recycling ....................................................................................... ..............................9 CarverCounty .................................................................................................................. ..............................9 Cityof Brooklyn Park ..................................................................................................... .............................10 HennepinCounty ............................................................................................................. .............................11 RiceCounty ..................................................................................................................... .............................12 ThreeRivers Park District ............................................................................................... .............................13 WesternLake Superior Sanitary District ......................................................................... .............................14 LivingGreen Outreach ..................................................................................................... .............................15 Cityof Mahtomedi .......................................................................................................... .............................15 GardeningMatters (2 members) ...................................................................................... .............................16 OnamiaPublic Schools .................................................................................................... .............................17 RiverwayLearning Community ...................................................................................... .............................18 RNeighbors...................................................................................................................... .............................19 UpperSioux Community ................................................................................................. .............................20 WaconiaPublic Schools .................................................................................................. .............................21 CapitolRegion Watershed District .................................................................................. .............................22 GreenInfrastructure ......................................................................................................... .............................23 Cityof Owatonna ............................................................................................................ .............................23 Cityof St. Paul ................................................................................................................ .............................24 Cityof Woodbury ............................................................................................................ .............................25 Ramsey - Washington Metro Watershed District .............................................................. .............................27 ThreeRivers Park District ............................................................................................... .............................28 Universityof Minnesota, Crookston ............................................................................. ............................... 29 Universityof Minnesota, Morris ...................................................................................... .............................30 c1 -02 March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 520 Lafayette Rd. N., St. Paul, MN 55155 -4194 • www.pca.state.mn.us 651- 296 -6300 • 800 - 657 -3864 TTY 651 - 282 -5332 or 800 - 657 -3864 • Available in alternative formats Program Overview Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide initiative to help preserve and protect Minnesota's environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals. Coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota GreenCorps started in September 2009. It was initiated in response to a variety of statewide needs, aiming to: • Reduce solid waste and increase recycling in Minnesota communities. • Reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. • Reduce water runoff and improve water quality. • Assist community members to take eco friendly actions. • Train new environmental professionals. Now in its second year, Minnesota GreenCorps includes 26 full -time members supported and deployed statewide by the MPCA. In addition, working in a strategic partnership with University of Minnesota — Morris (UMM), five part-time members are being hosted at UMM's campus. Eligible host sites included local governments, school districts, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. For profit entities were not eligible to serve as host sites. 25 host sites were selected to participate in this program for 2010 -2011. These sites were chosen from 62 applicants through a competitive process. Placement of Minnesota GreenCorps members at these host sites is from September 2010 through August 2011. Members are serving in one of the four following positions: Energy Conservation and Air Quality: Reducing energy use and costs for buildings and communities. Waste Prevention and Recycling: Increasing reuse, recycling and composting, and reducing solid waste. Living Green Outreach: Promoting environmentally friendly actions by community members. Green Infrastructure: Reducing environmental impacts of stormwater or supporting urban forestry initiatives. The following pages contain descriptions of the host site projects, member activities, and projected results which are organized by category. Minnesota GreenCorps is funded through a grant from ServeMinnesota, with support from the Corporation for National and Community Service. Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 2 of 30 Contmi Agmq cn 0 0 0 ^^ U/ io :^ cn l/ cn Q CD n U) 3 7 3 n CS N (D N W O Cl) O d o a � c ro a° ,c ro V 3 p n _ � C 0 a Y Q VI M LA 0 0 r � t + { N 3 Q i C N � V O, o PIOL i T i i = Im 0 .0 Energy Conservation and Air Quality City of Elk River Project overview The member will assist in the collection of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data from city buildings and will enter information into the B3 benchmarking database. The member will also research and recommend low and no cost energy conservation measures that can be implemented for various city buildings and present findings to employees and city leadership. The member will also provide education and outreach on energy conservation to the public through Elk River's ongoing Project Conserve Program. Project overview • Assist with collection and B3 benchmarking of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from city buildings. • Research and suggest low or no cost energy conservation measures to implement for the various buildings. • Present findings to employees and/or City Council. • Write an educational article for the public to be published in the city's newsletter. • Provide energy conservation outreach to the public through Energy City's Project Conserve Program. • Supply educational information regarding GHG savings through the city's annual Energy Expo and/or Energy City tours. Projected results • benchmark data for at least 12 city buildings • energy use reduced in city buildings • energy conserved by city staff and community members • reductions in greenhouse gas emissions Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Poliatlan Page 4 of 30 Control Ancy Energy Conservation and Air Quality Eureka Recycling - Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams Project overview The member will assist with the collection of data and benchmarking of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings and fleets involved in a number of Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) projects and campaigns, including: Minnesota GreenStep Cities, Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon, and the CERTified campaigns. The member will also provide education and outreach to homeowners in St. Paul, and renters in the Phillips community of Minneapolis about low and no -cost residential energy efficiency opportunities. This work will help to reach CERTs' goal of achieving 30.7 billion British thermal unit (BTUs) of energy savings though campaigns, grant- supported projects and other efforts from 2009- 2011. Project activities • Help schools to reduce their emissions by supporting carbon - cutting student led projects and working on school building operation and maintenance improvements. This will include helping schools understand and enter energy consumption data into the B3 database and creating multimedia case studies of best practices /successful carbon reducing projects for further dissemination to others. • Assist in signing cities up for the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, walking them through the process of implementing the best practices, benchmarking City building energy usage, and identifying opportunities for energy conservation and efficiency. • Assist in outreach and promotion of CERTified campaigns targeted at the general public, and measurement of resuting energy savings. • Conduct outreach and education on energy conservation practices through workshops in neighborhoods of St. Paul through Neighborhood Energy Services (NES) as well as rental communities in Minneapolis. NES is a program which is a joint effort by Metro CERT and the Neighborhood Energy Connection that educates residents about energy use and then sends a crew to their home to install basic energy saving materials. • Assist with the implementation of a rental housing energy efficiency project in the Phillips neighborhoods as well as in student rental housing around the University of Minnesota campus. This project will include workshops for tenants, consultation with property owners and managers about opportunities for major building retrofits and energy upgrades. The member will help to collect benchmark and report data on energy use of multi -unit buildings. Projected results • recruit additional organizations for energy conservation programs (schools, cities, etc.) • quantified energy savings from participation in programs • number of residents impacted/educated Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 - Minnesota Pollution Page 5 of 30 Control Agency Energy Conservation and Air Quality Initiative Foundation Project overview The member will work with the city of Pine River to enter B3 energy benchmarking data, and assist in pursuit of Minnesota GreenStep Cities designation. The member will also work with other nearby cities to help create a GreenStep Corridor, utilizing the Initiative Foundation's Healthy Green Communities Program (HGCP). Project activities • Assist the city of Pine River to take active steps in pursuit of Minnesota GreenStep Cities designation. • Enter data from city buildings into the B3 database and update the data monthly. • Work with the city and the HGCP Team's GreenSteps Task Force to identify other GreenStep best practices that are beneficial and attainable, and then facilitate and assist the city in taking these actions. • Work with other local communities to help create a "GreenStep Corridor "; while also utilizing the Initiative Foundation's Healthy Green Communities Program to provide the structure for engaging communities, identifying goals and support for identified projects. There are at least five local cities near Pine River that have shown preliminary interest in the GreenStep Cities program. • Help potentially plan a GreenStep Best Practice Summit in conjunction with other community partners. Projected results • Public buildings in Pine River and neighboring cities are benchmarked for building energy use. • GreenStep city designation for one or more cities. • Number of community members impacted. • Increased community awareness about GreenStep program and energy issues. Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 14tlnne3otaFoltutlon Page 6 of 30 � Control Agency Energy Conservation and Air Quality Ramsey County Project overview The member will recruit community liaisons for specific transportation corridors and construction projects, provide outreach, and promote an active living outreach campaign. The member will allow Active Living Ramsey Communities, to expand its outreach efforts and improve its effectiveness by dedicating resources to volunteer recruitment, volunteer training, and an outreach campaign. Project activities • Assist work in several transportation corridors that are in various stages of redesign and reconstruction, with the aim of improving their active living features, transit access and inclusion of Complete Corridors - creating accessible, safe, and efficient crossings, sidewalks, and bikeways. • Conduct an active living information, education and outreach campaign aimed at changing citizen behavior around active transportation. • Reach community members, health care, and local government. • Focus on the three corridors and on use of the newly developed Ramsey County active living Web portal. Projected results • Number of community members educated/impacted. • Increased knowledge and awareness through the Be Active, Be Green, campaign. • Increased opportunities for non - motorized transportation in Ramsey County. Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 • minnesotitPollutton Page 7 of 30 ControlAgansg Energy Conservation and Air Quality University of Minnesota, Duluth Project overview The member will help to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions through engaging students, staff and faculty, collecting and analyzing results from energy conservation activities, and disseminating energy conservation messages through the campus and greater community. Project activities • Increase energy conservation behaviors by the campus community through creating conservation and education programs and assisting with implementation. • Organize and motivate student leaders to conduct friendly energy /green audits for dorms, off - campus housing and campus offices /departments. Audits will include educating people about how they can help save energy at work/school/home through their everyday choices in lighting, computing, commuting, waste and recycling, and water usage. • Evaluate data trends in electricty and natural gas usage to monitor campus consumption patterns. • Monitor and measure changes in attitudes, awareness and behavior, along with energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, by surveying the campus and assessing results from campaigns. • Develop public service announcements for both the campus and the surrounding community via outlets such as web, KUMD radio, and press releases to community media, and archive results in a master tracking database. • Contribute to existing webpages, blogs, and campus announcements regarding everyday behaviors and choices that are more sustainable. Projected results • reduction in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions • increased energy awareness, behavioral/attitudinal shifts • percentage change of individuals that save energy at the University of Minnesota — Duluth (UMD) • number of students /faculty/staff impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 8 of 30 Control Agency Waste Prevention and Recycling Carver County Project overview The member will work on four key areas including: establish a comprehensive recycling and organics collection at community events; improve and expand the county's in -house recycling and organics collection program; assist schools with increasing waste and recycling rate; and assist with the development of an organics composting demonstration site. Project activities • Launch and improve organics management (reduction, collection, composting) in the county through work on an established residential co- collected organics collection demonstration project and a community events organics collection project. • Respond to resident questions and concerns, and develop organics education literature to help promote the project. • Assist in the expansion of the in -house organics collection program to all county buildings. • Assist in the implementation of the Event Recycling and Organics Collection Project designed to reduce waste generation at Carver County community events and help to educate event goers on recycling/organics collection at home. • Increase the capture and distribution of reusable materials in the community by working with county staff to develop educational materials, including a disposal guide and a directory to encourage residents to donate unwanted items and purchase used goods. • Work with county staff in the schools to serve as a resource for teachers interested in incorporating reduce, reuse, recycling into the curriculum. Projected results • development of a new organics collection site • improved organics collection rate • number of residents, students and employees impacted/educated • number of event, schools and county buildings which added organics and recycling collection • development of a campaign to educate residents on county recycling efforts • development of a community event recycling program Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 idzq _, Minnesota Pollution Page 9 of 30 Control AgencC Waste Prevention and Recycling City of Brooklyn Park Project overview The member will improve organization -wide recycling programs, conduct an effort to reduce unwanted business junk mail, implement office paper reduction projects, and develop a How to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle at home promotion campaign. Project activities • Improve organization -wide recycling at city of Brooklyn Park facilities, including City Hall, Public Works, Police and four fire stations, and then follow up by measuring improvement. • Conduct a campaign to reduce unwanted business junk mail and measure results. • Lead an effort to encourage residents and city employees to "remove their name" from junk mail and telephone book delivery lists. • Conduct an office paper reduction project for city operations, including less printing, more double sided printing instead of single side printing, e-mail templates urging people not to print, and using draft trays for paper with a blank side still remaining. • Develop a "How to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle at Home" campaign to improve recycling by comparing the amount of material collected per household in a given area of the city with high performing areas of the city, with the campaign also including new promotional material for 18,000 households and a new resident packet on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home. Projected results • number of staff/residents impacted or educated by campaigns • reduction of waste from city buildings by 20 percent through increased recycling and decreased paper use • increased recycling by 10 percent in low performing households and by 5 percent in general population Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgc1 -02 • March 2011 M[nnesota Pollution Page 10 of 30 C Control Agency' Waste Prevention and Recycling Hennepin County Project overview The member will assist the Department of Environmental Services with improving and expanding recycling and organics recycling programs at public and non - public schools in the County, the expansion of residential organics collection in the city of Minneapolis, and support for a dual stream recycling collection pilot in the city of Minneapolis. Project activities • Assist schools in the county with their organics collection pilots and to improve their existing recycling programs, including helping to choose areas where organics and recyclables are collected, assisting with design of the sorting station, conducting trainings for staff, students, and/or volunteers, preparing promotional and educational materials, assisting with on -site audits at Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) to identify waste prevention opportunities and track progress being made, and assisting with implementation of waste prevention activities identified in the MPS waste audits. • Assist with rolling out residential organics collections to new residential routes in Minneapolis. • Assist with a residential recycling collection pilot project with approximately 700 homes in a Minneapolis neighborhood. The project will achieve its objectives through a data - driven evaluation of the cost effectiveness and diversion rates achieved by operational changes to the collection method and a community -level promotional outreach effort. • Assist with establishing baselines for set out rates, participation rates, and amounts collected, and follow -up measurement. • Assist with development and distribution of promotional and educational materials. • Assist with waste sorts of collected material: Projected results • increased diversion of organics and conventional recyclables by 10 percent or more • number of community members involved/impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 1&1 minnesataPolluttoni Page 11 of 30 ConimlAWmcy Waste Prevention and Recycling Rice County Project overview The member will work with county departments and municipalities in the county to improve recycling in government buildings, parks and other public spaces, and will work with the County Fair Board and other organizations that run fairs, festivals, or special events to increase recycling during these events. The member will also implement a new initiative designed to reduce waste generation. Project activities • Work with county departments to improve county -wide recycling programs in governmental buildings, parks and other public spaces. The member will work with various departments to analyze waste composition and determine strategies for reducing waste. These activities will also include conducting office paper reductions strategies and reducing unwanted junk mail among the various county departments. The member will work with Facilities and Maintenance staff in each building/park to determine barriers and assist in creating a more efficient and productive recycling program in county operations. The member will also develop a model that then can be used in assisting the various cities throughout the county. • Work with all municipalities in the county to determine strategies to reduce waste and increase recycling in governmental buildings, parks and other public spaces. These activities will be similar to the strategies /activities conducted with the county departments. • Work with County Fair Board, cities and other organizations that run fairs, festivals, and special events in the county to increase recycling during these special events. The member will specifically work with three to four major special events to determine what works and refine the model to figure out what needs improvement. Projected results • increase recycling in county operations by 5 percent and municipalities, parks and public spaces by 10 percent • increase recycling at special events by 10 percent • provide technical assistance and education to at least 15 public buildings • number of community members involved/impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minntmota Pollution Page 12 of 30 _ CanitoLAgcy Waste Prevention and Recycling Three Rivers Park District Project overview The member will work with Park District staff toward the overall goal of reducing waste, increasing recycling and composting within the District, while educating the public. Activities will include public space recycling, waste free programs /events, green catering, backyard composting, existing organics management, and green purchasing. Project activities • Work with maintenance, facility, outdoor education and communications staff to continue to improve public space recycling at uncontrolled sites in the parks including general picnic areas, campgrounds, beaches, group campsites and trails. Specific activities include: development of a "How to Get Rid of It" guide that defines recycling goals, provides strategies to meet those goals and established procedures; development of a campaign to bring awareness to park visitors of recycling expectations during park visits; on -site training with staff; and development of a volunteer corps to educate park visitors at busy park locations and at major special events. • Work with Park District education staff to develop innovative ways to reduce waste at Park District programs and events. Specific activities include: train staff to incorporate waste reduction into program planning efforts; coordinate a volunteer corps to assist at programs and events; work with marketing/communications to develop a marketing campaign; serve as a resource for staff during event planning; and attend programs and provide information directly to program participants. • Work with staff to ensure the success of the Green Catering Program that will require caterers providing service at seven Park District facilities to use either compostable or reusable dinnerware. In conjunction, the Park District will initiate commercial composting/organics pick -up at these locations. The member will provide on -site staff education and training; work with marketing/communications and reservations staff to conduct an educational campaign for reservation groups at these facilities; work with facility staff and volunteer corps to provide on -site education to event attendees; and monitor waste at events. • Assist staff with developing backyard composting demonstration projects and providing backyard composting information directly to park visitors. The member will schedule backyard composting educational programs; present waste -free lunch information to school groups and day camp participants; and provide other assistance as necessary. • Work with staff to ensure the continued success of current organics management initiatives. • Work with Park District staff to develop green purchasing guidelines as a strategy for reducing waste generation. Additional activities include training staff on the guidelines and serving as a resource on green purchasing throughout the year of service. Projected results • reduction of waste by 10 percent • Improvement of recycling/composting rate by 10 percent • Number of community members involved/impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 I. Minnesota Pollution, Page 13 of 30 [antral Agency Waste Prevention and Recycling Western Lake Superior Sanitary District Project overview The member will work with school districts within Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) to develop and implement new recycling and food waste diversion programs, and to improve existing recycling programs in area schools. Project activities • Maintain and support school programs that were established in the 2009 -2010 program year, including new recycling programs that were established in the Proctor, Hermantown, and Duluth school districts. Consistent support will be provided to ensure that each program improves recycling at least 10 percent compared with last year. This will include: implementing at least two food waste programs, implementing an office paper /junk mail reduction program at three schools, and holding a teacher in- service at two schools to provide additional tools for teachers and to ensure the sustainability of the program. • Improve and initiate new recycling and waste reduction programming in schools throughout WLSSD's service area by working with six additional schools in the Duluth School District, and one to two schools in each of the following districts: Hermantown, Cloquet, Proctor, and Carlton. This includes a baseline assessment of any current programs will take place in each school, implementing a food waste diversion program in two area schools, and conducting waste sorts at one elementary and one high school at the beginning and end of the program year. • Educate each school and its associated community about the importance of proper solid waste management and waste reduction. This will include providing lesson plans and education tools to each school, training educators to utilize these tools in the classroom, holding an all school assembly program at each school where new programs are implemented, and implementing a poster campaign in each school. • Develop annual progress reports for each school to be shared with stakeholders, school board members, staff, and students. Projected results • number of students /teachers /community members impacted • a minimum of 12 schools participate • existing schools improve recycling by 10 percent, new schools will improve rates by 20 percent Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 14 of 30 [ontrolAqencY Living Green Outreach City of Mahtomedi Project overview The member will co -chair the 2011 Rite of Spring community environmental fair, finalize and begin implementation of a sustainability plan for the city, and help to implement sustainability measures indicated by an existing International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) municipal carbon footprint analysis including making progress toward completing and disseminating results of the ICLEI residential analysis. Project activities • Carry out the fourth annual Rite of Spring, an annual Earth Day environmental fair initiated by a group of citizens in the Mahtomedi area. The member will ensure that the effort receives the time, energy, creativity, and enthusiasm needed to successfully engage a substantial portion of the community in the pursuit of sustainability. Activities will include working with the Century College co -chair to create a coordinating committee; recruiting vendors and displays; publicizing the event through local media and online outlets, working with volunteers to produce an educational, inspirational, and safe event; and evaluating and sharing lessons learned with other communities. • Work with the Mahtomedi Environmental Commission to fill in gaps, create a plan and timeline, and develop a budget for carrying out a community sustainability plan. Activities will include: implementing sustainability efforts, coordinating with others to ensure completion of activities toward Minnesota GreenStep Cities certification, and publicizing results and carrying out educational efforts to boost community participation toward the plan's goals. • Review ICLEI municipal analysis of the city, prioritize activities and make recommendations to the city's Environmental Commission for implementation. The member will also conduct a residential ICLEI carbon footprint analysis, and create and carry out residential educational programs to publicize results of residential analysis and encourage residents to make carbon - reducing changes. Projected results • number of residents impacted/educated • number of organizations receiving outreach or technical assistance • P \pounds /tons of waste reduced or prevented • five percent electricity use reduction Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollutlon Page 15 of 30 Control Agency Living Green Outreach Gardening Matters (two members) Project overview The member(s) will continue community garden capacity- building projects in both Hennepin and Dakota Counties, and will provide a wide range of assistance to community gardeners to support the important role that community gardens can play in enhancing urban quality of life and increasing locally grown food. Project activities • Provide support for seven to nine new or expanded community gardens. • Recruit gardeners who are food shelf recipients, and facilitate distribution of community garden produce to local foods shelves. • Increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables especially to low- income, Latino, African American, and African populations. • Support new garden infrastructure through administering a mini -grant program, with the purpose of enabling Gardening Matters to advance the key competencies of garden sustainability among applicants. • Provide assistance and education for community gardeners related to water access, composting, land access, and soil health. • Create community connections through targeted outreach, shared leadership, and organizational development trainings to develop strong internal structures and organizations for long -term community garden sustainability. • Work with community members and gardeners to establish on -site composting for garden use. Projected results • increased production and consumption of local food through seven to nine new or expanded community gardens • increased access to local foods for underrepresented populations • number of community members involved/impacted • energy and carbon savings associated with local food • reduced stormwater runoff Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 16 of 30 � CoMtol Agency Living Green Outreach Onamia Public Schools Project overview The member will work to strengthen and expand the Onamia and Isle Farmers' Markets, including increasing the number of individual consumers shopping at the two markets. The member will also work to expand the purchase of locally grown food by local institutions including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and resorts, and help to enhance the sustainable agriculture capacity of local growers. Project activities • Provide outreach and education about local foods to local residents, institutions, and businesses from both the consumer's and producer's point of view. • Assist with completing a local foodshed assessment and present results through multiple media outlets to both consumers and producers. • Assist with summarizing, analyzing, and presenting the results of current surveys of individual customers, institutions, and producers. • Assist with organizing a fall/winter local foods conference. • Assess opportunity for farm -to- school and farm -to- hospital/nursing home programs, and implement if there is need and interest, and if local production is available. • Analyze and identify feasible business models for expanding local farmers' ability to meet emerging local foods demands, and expand and assist in executing a marketing and education plan about local foods for current and projected local and seasonal residents and for local businesses /institutions. • Evaluate and determine the infrastructure needed for all- season sales of locally grown produce to both individual consumers and institutions (including health care institutions, schools, restaurants, and groceries). • Complete and present a summary of local foods efforts to all stakeholders. Projected results • increased production and consumption of locally produced food • expansion of farm -to- school, farm -to- hospital/nursing homes local food sales • increased local knowledge base of sustainable agriculture and environmental impacts of food production Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011, Minnesota Pollutlon Page 17 of 30 Control Agency Living Green Outreach Riverway Learning Community Project overview The member will work to improve the recycling and composting system of the school, create a water run -off system to reduce water consumption and water pollution, and improve the school gardening program to increase the consumption of produce grown at the school. Project activities • Increase community members' knowledge of the advantages of recycling and work to increase recycling and composting throughout the school building through improving the recycling and composting system, providing education on the advantages of and the proper way to recycle and compost, and measuring the amount of recycled materials. • Help Riverway Learning Community to meet its goal of farming, growing and preparing 50 percent of all cafeteria food on site by increasing gardening at the school, centralizing the gardening program to increase its productivity, increasing the kitchen staffs knowledge of locally grown foods, and increasing students' and staff's knowledge of local food initiatives and practices. • Helping to create a rain water collection system to provide adequate water for the gardening program, including researching rain water collection systems, assisting students in researching the advantages of collecting and using rain water for food production, assisting students in finding recycled materials to use for the system, assisting in building a long -term rain water collection unit to be used by the school community, and measuring water useage, prior to and after the use of collected rain water. Projected results • number of community members impacts by campaigns • reduced water runoff • increased production of local foods • reduction in waste /increase in recycling Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 18 of 30 CarriralAgettcy Living Green Outreach RNeighbors Project overview The member will implement creative and effective ways to reach out to neighborhoods and citizens to educate them about living green. This will include building on the success of the 2010 Think Green Fair by planning the 2011 event, assisting in the implementation of neighborhood projects, and working with partners on recycling and litter cleanup. Project activities • Responsible for organizing and coordinating the 2011 Think Green Fair, including schedule layout, marketing the event, securing vendors and general event coordination. • Implement neighborhood workshops to educate neighborhoods and residents about living green. • Assist with office waste reduction and implementation of green practices within the RNeighbors organization. • Help to support RNeighborWoods, a boulevard tree planting program that also focuses on education about Rochester's urban forest, including assisting with the RNeighborWoods committee, Citizen Forester Trainings, and bi- annual tree plantings. • Helping to support the Litter Bit Better recycling and litter cleanup campaign. Projected results • number of community members impacted • number volunteers mobilized • reduced waste and increase recycling in Rochester area Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 19 of 30 Control Apnq Living Green Outreach Upper Sioux Community Project overview The member will assist in community and employee education to change behaviors and attitudes about the environment, reduction of the waste stream, increased use of re- usable and recyclable products, increasing recycling, and increasing energy conservation. Project activities • Educating community members and employees to change behaviors and attitudes about the environment. • Helping to reduce the community's waste stream, including increased use of reusable and recyclable products, and increased recycling. • Helping to increase energy conservation practices in the community, both in homes and businesses. • Helping to increase in production and consumption of local foods, resulting in reduction of greenhouse gases and healthier lifestyles. • Helping to decrease the use of toxic products and the improper disposal of toxic products. • Working to provide increased awareness and recreation in the local environment, as well as increased ecological awareness and knowledge. • Working with the community to foster community -based behavior change using Community -Based Social Marketing approaches. Projected results • number of tribal members impacted by education and campaigns • reduction in waste /increase in recycling • reduction in energy use Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 20 of 30 Control Apmy Living Green Outreach Waconia Public Schools Project overview The member will assist in providing sustainable outreach and educational initiatives to local residents, students, and community organizations on waste reduction, water conservation, recycling, organics management, composting, and utilization of local foods. Project activities • Collaborate with community businesses, organizations and partnering agencies to provide outreach and educational activities on specified living green topics and program areas. • Give presentations to the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, local faith organizations, civic /service clubs, parent/teacher organizations, and other community and school groups with the intention of engaging participates to take an active role in adopting living green behaviors and practices. • Work closely with the District's Building and Grounds Coordinator and partnering organizations to expand waste reduction, recycling, use of non -toxic cleaning alternatives, water conservation through use of rain/storm water collection facilities, composting and organics management at the district. Specific activities will include assisting with development of policies and procedures as needed; developing appropriate educational materials and teaching strategies; educating and engaging appropriate personnel on living green policies and procedures; helping to initiate composting for the Edible Classroom program; recruiting and mobilizing volunteers to assist with sustainability of efforts as appropriate; tracking progress and outcome data; and assisting with marketing and implementation of fairs or events focused on living green initiatives. • Work closely with the District's Food Service Coordinator and Waconia Edible Classroom Leadership Team on: expanding use of locally grown produce in school meal program; expansion of the Community Supported Agriculture Cooperative; and Farm to School programs. • Work with the District's technology staff to develop and maintain information on the District's website, and to integrating social networking strategies to communicate and market living green concepts, policies and events to students, parents, staff and the general public. The member will also work with teachers to embed living green activities and concepts into district's Science and Family and Consumer Science classes. Projected results • reduced waste by 5 to 10 percent • reduced dependency on well and city water for school campus • increased knowledge of individuals • increased consumption of local foods Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesbta Pollution Page 21 of 30 � Cantrol Agency Living Green Outreach Capitol Region Watershed District Project overview The member will assist in implementation of the District's Outreach and Education Plan including community campaigns, cleanups, and Blue Thumb events. The member will also assist with the Stormwater and BMP Monitoring Program. Project activities • Assist with the Stop the Rain Drain: Bring Water Back to St. Paul campaign which focuses on the preferred behavior of redirecting gutter downspouts to lawn and garden areas to reduce stormwater runoff to lake and rivers. Activities will include reaching out to a minimum of 150 residents, five community organizations, and 10 retail partners through direct technical assistance, neighborhood canvassing in program focus areas, appearances at events and social media, updating web content and printed materials. The member will also design and carry out a participant evaluation, and analyze the results. • Assist with Winter Maintenance Best Practices Trainings that focus on reducing chloride content in stormwater runoff through operator behavior change resulting from training and certification. Activities will include using mapping technology to target and recruit property owners and property managers of large parking areas to attend appropriate trainings, and recruiting salt application fleet drivers and their supervisors to attend MPCA's Winter Road Maintenance training. • Assist with community clean -ups for water quality by recruiting organizations in the watershed to use the Community Clean -Ups for Water Quality toolkit. The member will also recruit organizations for appropriate training events. • Assist with Blue Thumb event outreach by promoting Blue Thumb principles of planting for clean water using Minnesota native plants in landscaping, rain gardens, and shoreline restoration. The member will educate residents about stewardship grants at events, and will also design a rain garden and accompanying educational signage for the landscaped area in front of the District's office, seek approval and cooperation of the property owner, and provide maintenance instruction to the property manager. • Carry out citizen mobilization component of the Blair- Griggs Rain Garden Project in Winter and Spring 2011. The Member will educate residents of a city of St. Paul Street Reconstruction project in the Hamline Midway Neighborhood. This will involve working with the District Planning Council (District 11) to promote boulevard rain gardens, educate and register homeowners who would like a rain garden, and coordinate the garden planting. Projected results • number of community members involved/impacted • increased knowledge of participants • reduced water runoff • number of volunteers mobilized • data analysis from ongoing stormwater and BMP monitoring • number of rain gardens installed Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 22 of 30 7 Control Agency Green Infrastructure City of Owatonna Project overview The member will promote the use of Green Infrastructure stormwater management practices through the design and installation of rain gardens to treat runoff in city parks and administrative building grounds, as well as encouraging residents to install private rain gardens on their property. Project activities • Implement 15 rain gardens throughout city parks and on administrative building grounds, with activities to include partnering with a local nursery to grow a variety of native plants during the winter months to be used in the rain gardens, and designing rain gardens to treat runoff from city streets and parking lots located within the parks. Provide education and resources for local residents to increase installation of private rain gardens and awareness of Green Infrastructure, with activities to include co- hosting three education workshops with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and Blue Thumb Partnership for private design and information and rain gardens, designing five to six standard rain garden plans to be used in a variety of locations throughout the city, publishing three news articles in the local newspaper about the added benefits of Green Infrastructure, and developing a walking tour map of Green Infrastructure practices currently implemented throughout the city for local residents or visitors. Create sustainable, innovative rain gardens for continued benefits to the city and future Total Maximum Daily Load, including cultivating volunteers to help plant rain gardens in the spring, developing and coordinating an "Adopt a Rain Garden" program that encourages civic groups, businesses, and neighbors to adopt a rain garden to perform annual maintenance, and integrating "public produce" into the perimeter edges of the public park rain gardens. Projected results • 15 rain gardens implemented • increased individual and business owner's knowledge or stormwater management and low impact development • number of community members involved/impacted • number of volunteers mobilized Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollatlon Page 23 of 30 Control Acsy IR Green Infrastructure City of St. Paul Project overview The member will continue ongoing tree inventory activities and seek to quantify the environmental benefits of trees, create an Arbor Month manual, coordinate outreach and volunteer activities during Arbor Month, and assist with creation of a canopy goals statement and implementation plan. Project activities • Create an Arbor Month Planning Manual to better engage the community and take a more streamlined and predictable approach to planning these events. • Coordinate multiple 2011 Arbor Month events with department—wide assistance, including working closely with the Natural Resources Unit volunteer coordinator to manage these events, which will provide for sustainability of the celebrations into the future. • Assist with completion of the boulevard tree inventory that was initiated in 2009 using the web -based Davey TreeKeeper7 inventory system. The member will then compile these data and quantify the environmental benefits of street trees using the i -Tree software package. • Assist with creation of a canopy goals statement and implementation plan, including assisting with research, performing outreach to communities, and assisting with the creation of a planning document for the city of Saint Paul. The member will research approaches taken by other communities throughout the United States in creating and reaching their goals and web -based assessment of the data and goal information that community members can access. Outreach will include contacting district council offices to set -up community meetings, creation of presentations and outreach materials, and direct assistance and contact with community members. Projected results • percentage of trees inventoried on public land • number of community members involved/impacted • calculations of estimated environmental benefits of trees Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 24 of 30 W CarrirolAgency Green Infrastructure City of Woodbury Project overview The member will complete tree inventory on public lands, assist with Urban Tree Canopy assessment, continue public outreach and assist forestry staff with existing events, and work with Washington Conservation District to perform targeted tree planting for stormwater management. Project activities • Inventory existing trees on public lands and add the information to the city's geographic information system database. The inventory will be used, along with the Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment being completed by the University of Minnesota, to develop a UTC Implementation Plan that will include long -term goals for canopy cover. The member will also develop an implementation process for achieving those goals and a monitoring program to track progress. The inventory will be used to create a formal, documented and proactive approach to tree care for the city's forestry staff. • Work with city staff to use the information from the tree inventory to quantify the benefits of urban trees including use in stormwater management and energy conservation. • Conduct public outreach and assist forestry staff with existing events and projects including the Arbor Day volunteer tree planting event and the Tree Incentive Program. • Work with Washington Conservation District to perform targeted tree planting on residential property for stormwater management purposes in the Powers Lake subwatershed. • Continue work on the city's Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Preparedness and Management Plan, as well as conduct EAB related activities and education in the community. • Develop new education and outreach opportunities as appropriate. Projected results • percentage of trees inventoried on public land • number of community members involvedhinpacted • calculations of estimated environmental benefits of trees Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 MinnesotePollutlon Page 25 of 30 � [antral Agiocy Green Infrastructure City of Woodbury Project overview The member will complete tree inventory on public lands, assist with Urban Tree Canopy assessment, continue public outreach and assist forestry staff with existing events, and work with Washington Conservation District to perform targeted tree planting for stormwater management. Project activities • Inventory existing trees on public lands and add the information to the city's GIS database. The inventory will be used, along with the Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment being completed by the University of Minnesota, to develop a UTC Implementation Plan that will include long -term goals for canopy cover. The member will also develop an implementation process for achieving those goals and a monitoring program to track progress. The inventory will be used to create a formal, documented and proactive approach to tree care for the city's forestry staff. • Work with city staff to use the information from the tree inventory to quantify the benefits of urban trees including use in stormwater management and energy conservation. • Conduct public outreach and assist forestry staff with existing events and projects including the Arbor Day volunteer tree planting event and the Tree Incentive Program. • Work with Washington Conservation District to perform targeted tree planting on residential property for stormwater management purposes in the Powers Lake subwatershed. • Continue work on the City's Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Preparedness and Management Plan, as well as conduct EAB related activities and education in the community. • Develop new education and outreach opportunities as appropriate. Projected results • 100 percent of trees inventoried on public land • number of community members involved/impacted • calculate estimated environmental benefits of trees • contribution to Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution Page 26 of 30 ControlA"ncy Green Infrastructure Ramsey - Washington Metro Watershed District Project overview The member will assist District staff in the development of the Best Management Practices (BMP) assessment process, improving the BMP database system, and developing a landowner contact and assistance program for BMP maintenance. Project activities • Establish contacts with local agencies to identify past installed stormwater volume reduction BMPs. • Using GPS equipment, establish GPS point data and a photo record for use in the District GIS system for locating each type of BMP. • Link GPS data points to the District BMP database system and complete data entry for each inventoried BMP. • Complete inspection of each BMP using inspection process developed in collaboration with District staff. • Enter inspection data into database system and develop communication methods with landowners with recommendation for maintenance if needed, to be developed in coordination with District staff. • Assist District staff in the development of a landowner contact and assistance program for BMP maintenance, and provide outreach to stormwater BMP owners including private residents, business owners, and local government staff. Projected results • inventoried BMPs, including volume reduction • number of community members involved Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 NflnnesotaPollutlan Page 27 of 30 Caniml Agency Green Infrastructure Three Rivers Park District Project overview The member will update and augment the District's existing tree inventory, establish baseline database protocols to incorporate tree inventory data on Park's forested and wooded areas, determine carbon sequestration, water quality benefits and other ecological and economical benefits of trees, and assist with engaging volunteers in forestry- related activities. Project activities • Update and augment the existing tree inventory for the Park District's active areas using i -Tools software. This data will provide more accurate baseline information of tree species, size and distribution, which will enable planning for restoration management and assist with developing contingency plans for potential areas of concern with regards to Emerald Ash Borer and other potential pests. In addition, the inventory will identify areas where invasive species are inhibiting regeneration of native forest communities. • Establish database protocols to incorporate tree inventory data on Park District's forested and wooded areas (using i -Tools or some other data management program). • Analyze tree inventory data to determine carbon sequestration storage, water quality benefits and other ecological and economic tree benefits. The data will then be incorporated into the Park District's Sustainability Plan and used to guide sustainability planning as it pertains to carbon offsets and greenhouse gas emission targets. This activity will involve a significant amount of analysis using CityGreen and/or i -Trees software. • Assist with engaging volunteers in forestry- related activities, with the goal of raising awareness of the multiple benefits of urban/suburban forests. The member will work with Park District Volunteer Resources staff to develop a forestry specific special event involving the public. The goal is to organize an event to coincide with the National Arbor Day celebration. Projected results • completion of a district -wide tree inventory • establishment of a baseline estimate for carbon storage and sequestration • number of community members involved/impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 N►intresataPollu#lon Page 28 of 30 Control Agency Green Infrastructure University of Minnesota, Crookston Project overview: The member will develop a "communiversity" (community and campus) conservation ethic towards the Red Lake River and the greater watershed. The Crookston community has a population of about 8,500 and the University of Minnesota - Crookston campus hosts about 1,400 students. Activities will include educating the community on stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), inventorying actual and potential sites for stormwater retention, raingardens, and low impact design (LID) practices, and installing BMP practices on the University campus and/or other feasible sites. Project activities • Educate the greater community about the environmental and watershed context of stormwater management by synergizing with the MPCA's stormwater best management practices program and RiverWatch program and related programs in Natural Resources, Horticulture, and Environmental Science at UMC. • Inventory actual and potential sites in the "communiversity" for stormwater retention, raingardens, green roofs, native vegetation plantings, and porous pavement development and then promote the development of potential sites by providing fact sheets of installation principles and working examples to owners. Sources of funding and installers will be recommended. To aid in this inventory, the GreenCorps member will sit in on the GIS Applications course at UMC during the fall semester. • Gather and disseminate information on stormwater management practices from the Internet, MPCA, and site visits to working examples in the Twin Cities and other communities. • Make installations at varied and highly visible sites in the fall of 2010 and spring - summer of 2011. • Conduct a feasibility study of UMC's Horticulture Program ability to play a lead role in producing plant materials for raingardens, native plantings, butterfly gardens, green roofs, and river bank plantings. Projected results • inventoried BMPs and potential sites • collection of data for campus stormwater plan • implementation of community and campus stormwater management projects • number of community members involved/impacted Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Pollution, Page 29 of 30 control Agency Partner site: University of Minnesota, Morris The University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) is hosting on its campus five reduced half -time Minnesota GreenCorps members for the 2010 -2011 program year. These members are currently enrolled UMM undergraduate juniors or seniors, and will be serving 720 hours from September 2010 through August 2011. Outcomes for these positions will be comparable with those in the Minnesota GreenCorps full -time positions, with expectations consistent with the reduced half -time status of these members. Position 1: Waste Prevention and Recycling This member will focus on improving recycling in public spaces in Stevens County. The initial focus will be on the city of Morris, which has numerous public spaces, including many parks and the downtown and Main Street areas. This member will work on identifying and facilitating event recycling during some of the important public events taking place in Stevens County. This member will also work to improve apartment recycling, targeting UMM students living off - campus. Position 2: Waste Prevention and Recycling This member will work towards the implementation of a composting system at UMM and with other local entities such as schools. Currently, UMM does not have a streamlined composting program. This member will help to identify the opportunities and challenges of implementing and work to find a solution. This member will also focus on improving residential composting in Stevens County. There is a big opportunity to help communicate information about community composting at a residential scale. This may include the distribution of literature, public presentations, and a community composting tour of what others are doing in the region. Position 3: Energy Conservation and Air Quality This member will work within the community, including local businesses, to conduct energy assessments that will help them baseline and understand opportunities to reduce their energy costs. This member will also support the Stevens Forward! initiative of helping the county move towards carbon neutrality. The member will help support the B3 benchmarking work of Stevens County and will also support other regional benchmarking needs. The member will conduct energy and policy outreach in the region connected to energy conservation and renewable energy. This outreach may be directed toward UMM and the regional community. Position 4: Energy Conservation and Air Quality This member will work to improve air quality and lower the community's carbon footprint by working to improve and understand local bike and pedestrian needs. This member will help to conduct a gap analysis of biking and pedestrian lanes and how to improve them in the city of Morris. The member will work to understand the current local transportation structure and opportunities for community mobility. The member will work towards improved bike thoroughfares and an increased presence of bike racks to support community bike ridership. The member will also help improve community knowledge of bike maintenance, etiquette, safety (especially bike helmets for children) and thoroughfares. Position 5: Living Green Outreach This member will help increase community members' knowledge of environmentally - friendly practices they can take in their business and home. The member will leverage knowledge gained from the first year of the Minnesota GreenCorps program, and will help to develop posters and other communication materials that can be brought out into the community. This member will also focus on volunteer mobilization and opportunities to include students in community environmental education. Minnesota GreenCorps Projects Summary • p- mgcl -02 • March 2011 Minnesota Polladcm Page 30 of 30 Corsttral Agency