HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-08 PACKET 05.4.CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
MINNESOTA
To: Environmental Commission
From: Ryan Burfeind, Graduate Engineer
Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement
Date: January 6, 2014
Subject: Environmental Commission Short Term Work Plan for 2014
BACKGROUND:
The current work plan for the environmental commission was adopted in 2012 and was
created to extend through 2015. The work plan goals and objectives addressed environmental
stewardship in three areas; permits, policies and education. The plan addresses how they will
seek to advance and promote environmental awareness in the community through permit
review, policy recommendations and educational outreach. Review and updating of the work
plan as well as creating a short term work plan annually is recommended to continue to move
towards achievement of commission goals.
DISCUSSION:
The current long term work plan will create a guide for the 2013 short term work plan. Focus
will be placed on education and policy with continued maintenance of permits and regulations.
GreenStep Cities
The next benchmark to meet in the GreenStep Cities program is to become a Step 3 City. To
reach the Step 3 goal, 16 completed best practices total will be required, 9 of which are
specifically chosen by the program. Currently Cottage Grove meets four of the nine required
best practices. Focus on the remaining best practices and other which require promotion of
sustainable actions throughout the community would be a reachable short term goal and would
complete the required total of 16 best practices to meet the step 3 requirements.
Best Practice #1- Efficient Existing Public Buildings
o Requires baseline information to be entered into the Minnesota B3 benchmarking
database and routinely enter monthly energy use data from all city -owned
buildings.
• Best Practice #11- Complete Green Streets
o Adopt a complete streets policy that addresses street trees and stormwater.
■ Comprehensive plan includes measures for reducing automobile trips
through enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities and improved transit
service.
• Best Practice #15- Purchasing
o Adopt an environmentally preferable purchasing policy.
Environmental Commission Short Term Work Plan for 2014
January 2, 2014
Page 2 of 3
• Best Practice #22- Solid Waste Reduction
• Adopt and meet reduction goals for waste generated from internal city operations
(parks)
■ Five parks currently funded for waste and recycling collection
• Work towards bins at River Oaks Golf Course at each hole
• Adopt and meet recycling goals for waste generated from internal city operations:
City Hall, Public Works, Fire Stations, BEC, and River Oaks.
• Create an educational event for city staff /community /kids /schools- what is
recyclable, what is not?
• Promote waste stream bags in news letter and other social media to
events within the community
Best Practice #24- Bench Marks and Community Engagement
• Report progress to community on implementation of GreenStep best practices.
• Create a webpage to be updated monthly
• Include updates monthly in the newsletter
• Organize goals /outcome measures from all city plans and report to community
the progress towards these goals
• Energy audit- carbon footprint evaluation
• Sustainability report
• Promote MN Energy Challenge to the community, schools, and
neighborhoods.
• Best Practice #25- Green Business Development
o Connect businesses with assistance providers who conduct personalized energy,
water, environmental sustainability, or waste audits and assistance.
• Offer handouts to businesses applying for a building permit
• Share links on the city's website
Education
Continue to focus on awareness of environmental issues to businesses, community and
schools.
Policy
Creation of a local rain garden guide
Create a complete sustainable action section on the website and /or in the newsletter
Incorporate high priority stormwater topics when attending community events. The new
General Stormwater Permit with the MPCA requires MS4 permit holders to prioritize
stormwater topics when providing community education and outreach.
Continue to monitor and review implementation of wellhead protection plan
Create an environmental ordinance section for simplification
Review textile recycling options within Cottage Grove and determine whether additional
options are necessary or appropriate.
Permits and Regulation
Update and maintain permits with an environmental impact on Cottage Grove and beyond its
borders.
Environmental Commission Short Term Work Plan for 2014
January 2, 2014
Page 3 of 3
Review which businesses have acquired an Industrial Stormwater Permit from the
MPCA, and work to ensure all required businesses obtain a permit.
Monitor changes to the City of Cottage Grove SWPPP and MS4 Program. The MPCA
has issued a new NPDES General Stormwater Permit, which the City is in the process
applying for. To be in compliance with this new permit, changes to the City's SWPPP
and MS4 Program will be required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review and discuss changes to the Environmental Commission short term work plan, at the
January 8, 2014 Environmental Commission meeting.
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission
Work
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Environmental Commission is to assist and advise the Mayor, City Council
and City departments on matters relating to Cottage Grove's physical environment. This would
include, but is not limited to, the quality of air, water and soil that affect the economic conditions,
general well being and physical health of its citizens.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Review data assembled and released by federal and state agencies; specifically, but not
limited to, environmental permit applications, modifications and renewals.
B. The Environmental Commission shall seek to advise the City on issues of environmental
equity, environmental safety and environmental health. The Commission will:
1. Act as a conduit for information and education regarding Cottage Grove residents and
government officials on issues affecting the City's environmental health and well being;
2. Act as an advocate for the environmental cleanup and prevention of pollution within the
City;
3. Promote sustainable development in Cottage Grove and sustainable city operations;
4. Act in partnership with other agencies and organizations to promote policies and practices
that impact the well being of Cottage Grove residents;
5. Act in partnership with other agencies and organizations to promote policies and practices
that impact the well being of Cottage Grove businesses;
6. Act as environmental ambassadors to promote Cottage Grove as forward thinking and
acting on environmental issues;
7. Advise the Mayor and City Council on proposed legislation and policies that impact
Cottage Grove and its environment;
8. Advocate for the full enforcement of environmental laws;
9. Engage in public and community relations activities;
10. Recommend annual goals and an annual environmental action plan for the City of Cottage
Grove.
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15
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A. The Commission identified three key areas of focus:
1. Permits and Regulations
2. Policy
3. Education
B. The Environmental Commission strategies include:
Review all appropriate permits and regulations that effect environmental equity,
environmental safety and environmental health for a recommendation to the City Council.
2. Review policies, plans and programs and provide advice to the City Council.
3. Recommend and implement educational activities to further the responsibilities of the
Commission.
PERMITS AND REGULATIONS:
The goal is to understand all of the Cottage Grove "environmental' regulations affecting entities in
Cottage Grove and all permits granted to entities in Cottage Grove that impact environmental
quality in Cottage Grove and the broader community.
Priority Ranked Tasks:
1. Create, maintain and monitor a list of permits that have environmental impact on Cottage
Grove and beyond the city borders.
2. Review applicable permits and review preventative measures.
3. Create list/map of dump sites (hazardous storage) or areas of environmental concern.
4. Monitor PFC developments in the region.
POLICY:
The goal is to draft, recommend and help implement environmental and sustainably focused
policies and practices within the City. The Commission recognizes the importance of policies and
practices to promote good environmental stewardship in the community. The Commission also
recognizes that sustainability is a local, regional, national and global responsibility.
Priority Ranked Tasks:
1. Consider creating an environmental ordinance section for simplification.
2. GreenStep Cities — Pursue next step and review work plan.
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15
Page 2 of 5
3. Improved ordinance for shoreline, natural resource management and education.
(What/ where to plant native plants, mowing policies, fertilizing near ponds, etc.).
4. Review /monitor implementation of the wellhead protection plan.
5. Review previously approved water conservation ordinance (lawn sprinkling restrictions
and rain sensors for irrigation systems).
EDUCATION:
The goal is to create awareness of environmental issues with the belief that understanding their
solutions is vital in the protection and preservations of the environment. Community education
plays a key role in fulfilling this goal and vision. Providing informative literature, planning events
and creating educational opportunities for individuals, organizations, school groups and
businesses will provide the tools necessary to achieve success within the environmental
3Rs — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Priority Ranked Tasks:
1. Establish recycling in the parks.
2. Promote food recycling in the schools.
3. Create quarterly newsletters and publications.
4. Create display board /booth to promote environmental issues at community events.
5. Environmental business awards /recognition.
6. Increase information on Cottage Grove website and make information on the web easier to
find and access.
7. Promote the use of environmentally friendly products for the city and its residents.
8. Promote `green or sustainable' practices in commercial, residential, and the business
community.
9. Learn from and work collaboratively with surrounding communities and Washington
County.
10. Promote alternative modes of transportation opportunities in the community (bicycling,
walking, rollerblading, etc.).
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15
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SHORT TERM WORK PLAN SCHEDULE:
Please refer to the enclosed City of Cottage Grove Environmental Work Plan.
W-01 ► ctt 1
A. PERMITS AND REGULATIONS
1. Create, maintain and monitor a list of permits that have environmental impact on Cottage
Grove and beyond the city borders.
a. This activity will be an ongoing activity as permits and environmental related items
are occurring in the community.
2. Review applicable permits and review preventative measures.
a. This activity will be on an ongoing activity as permits and environmental related
items are occurring in the community.
3. Monitor PFC developments in the region.
B. POLICY
1. GreenStep Cities — Pursue next step and review work plan.
a. The GreenStep Cities will continue to evolve and change with new developments
and technology and the City's work plan will need to change to adapt to the
changing conditions. The creation of a specific work plan will take time to develop
and fully implement.
2. Review /monitor implementation of the wellhead protection plan.
a. This will be an ongoing activity.
b. Starting in 2014/2015 work will be underway to make the required updates to the
City's Wellhead Protection.
C. EDUCATION
1. Promote food recycling in the schools.
a. This will be a long term project to study, develop a plan, and implement.
2. Promote the use of environmentally friendly products for the city and its residents.
a. This will be an ongoing activity that will be promoted in newsletters and display
boards presented at community events.
3. Promote `green or sustainable' practices in commercial, residential and the business
community.
a. This will be an ongoing activity that will be promoted in newsletters and display
boards presented at community events.
b. Forums for engagement and promotion will need to be sought for businesses.
4. To learn from and work collaboratively with surrounding communities and Washington
County.
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15
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a. This will be an ongoing activity. Specifically there will be one annual joint
commission meeting with environmental commissions in Washington County.
5. Promotion of alternatives modes of transportation opportunities in the community
(bicycling, walking, rollerblading, etc.)
a. This will be a long -term vision of transportation into the future.
b. Promotional opportunities will be sought of issues and can be promoted in
newsletters and publications.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
The performance measures of each activity will be reviewed annually and along with routine
debriefs following events and activities. It is recognized due to the variation of activities and tasks
to be engaged in by the Commission there is not one specific mechanism for evaluation.
Evaluation tools and performance measurements will continue to be sought throughout the Work
Plan to find better ways to serve the community on environmental related topics.
Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Work Plan 2012 -15
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