How City Commissions can Advance Sustainability

In this webinar, presented live on October 20, 2021, we learned about how city commissions can set goals and work towards sustainable actions.

Agenda:
9:00: Welcome & Introductions
9:15-9:35 - Michael Orange - RETAP consultant

• Addressing the Sustainability Gap in the Development Review Process: a guide for empowering environmental committees

9:35-9:45 - John Anderson, Conservation Minnesota

• Environmental Commissioner resources (Conference, email listserve, etc.)

9:45-10:00 - Tina Folch - Contract Manager, City of Red Wing; Council Member, City of Hastings
10:05-10:20 - Carolyn Jackson - Council Member, City of Edina
10:25-10:40 - Tim Sandry - Chair, Sustainability Commission, City of Bloomington

• Best practices for starting an Environmental Commission

10:40-11:00 - Q&A and open discussion
11:00 - conclusion

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials: 

Resources:

• Addressing the Sustainability Gap in the Development Process: A Guide for Empowering Environmental Committees

        Summary:    

• Green Team Guide 2021: BP 24- benchmarks and community engagement 

• Environmental Commissioners email group - share stories, questions, or success with your colleagues on the commissions listserve: eccmn@googlegroups.com. (Email John Anderson to be added)

• Local community coalitions (source: Resilient Cities & Communities)

• County Clusters, coordinated by Resilient Cities & Communities, are comprised of leaders from citizen coalitions and public commissions who are advancing equity, sustainability, and resilience in their communities.

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• BPA 24.1 - Inclusive and Coordinated Decision-Making: Use a city commission or committee to lead, coordinate, report to and engage community members on the identification and equitable implementation of sustainability best practices.

• And ALL of the GreenStep BPAs :)

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.