Wednesday, December 7, 2022

EV Smart Communities

In this webinar, presented live on December 7, 2022, we learned more about the best practices for becoming an equitable EV-Smart Community.

Agenda:
  • 9:00am – Welcome
  • 9:15 –  Overview of EV Smart Communities Program - Diana McKeown and Rebecca Heisel, Great Plains Institute
    • Diana shared the past efforts with cities and tribal nations through the Cities Charging Ahead! cohorts and Rebecca introduced the EV Smart Communities program. The EV Smart Cities framework has been developed and is ready for pilot cities to join and the EV Smart Native Nations framework will be co-developed by GPI and participating nations. Fill out the interest form (linked below) by Dec. 30 to be considered in the pilot. 
    • The City program framework includes 6 categories, with equity included throughout: planning, regulation, utility engagement, education & incentives, governmental operations, and shared mobility. Each category includes best practices and actions that lead to an EV Smart City. 
  • 9:40 - Q&A 
  • 9:55 – Brandy Toft, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
    • Brandy addressed environmental justice concerns related to electric vehicle adoption and why Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is interested in leading EV-smart efforts. For example, as ICE vehicles are converted to EVs in the metro areas, they may be 'dumped' onto tribal members. Another example is that road and transportation infrastructure investments look at address statewide needs but not the needs of tribal members and government. 
    • Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe has the largest EV charging hub in Northern Minnesota with 5 Level 2 and 1 Level 3 chargers! And they are looking to add another 14 Level 2 chargers, 2 Level 3 chargers, 2 PHEV fleet vehicles, and host 2 EV test drive events. They are also thinking about how to 'future-proof' projects by putting in conduit and other infrastructure now and training a workforce around EVSE. 
  • 10:10 – Councilmember Evan Brown, Red Wing
    • Councilmember Brown talked about the citizen-led initiative in 2018 to install a Level 3 city charger that is free for users downtown. That project has led to additional interest like a city-owned redevelopment site to include a 50 kW Level 3 and two Level 2 chargers and two Level 2 chargers at City Hall. 
    • Additionally, the city adopted an EV Charging Infrastructure Policy in 2022 to achieve 1 charging head per 50 public parking stalls. Currently in review, the city is also considering a policy set goals for EV charging and EV-ready private parking spaces. 
    • The City of Red Wing completed a fleet study in 2020 which led to adding 2 Chevy Bolt EUVs for the Building Inspection Dept. and the Environmental Services Dept. 
  • 10:25 – Jen McLoughlin, Woodbury
    • Jen discussed the city's fleet efforts starting in 2015 with 2 Chevy Volt PHEVs. Participation in the Cities Charging Ahead! cohort lead to hosting a ride and drive event for city staff, adding a Mitsubuishi Outlander for Public Safety in 2019, and adding four Ford Inceptor hybrids in 2021. 
    • The City of Woodbury participated in two Xcel Energy programs in 2021 and 2022. The Fleet Electrification Program conducted a EV Suitability Assessment with telematic devices that provided recommendations. The Fleet EV Solutions program provided the installation of ten Level 2 chargers at the City Hall parking lot. 
    • Up next, the City is ordering additional PHEVs, 2-3 EV trucks, city-owned public chargers for Central Park and other public and fleet locations, and a Fleet Action Plan. 
  • 10:40 – Q&A and open discussion
  • 11:00 – Conclusion

View the workshop recording: 

View the PDF and additional materials:


Resources: 


Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 
  • 2.2: Integrate green building and EV charging best practices information and assistance into the building permit process.
  • 2.3: Implement an energy rating/disclosure policy for residential and/or commercial buildings.
  • 2.7: Customize a model sustainable building renovation policy that includes the SB 2030 energy standard and adopt the language to govern private renovation projects. 
  • 3.3: Adopt a sustainable building policy for private buildings; include the SB 2030 energy standard; adopt language governing new development projects. 
  • 3.4: Provide a financial or other incentive to private parties who build new buildings that utilize the SB 2030 energy standard and/or a green building framework.
  • 6.5: Adopt climate mitigation and/or energy independence goals and objectives in the comprehensive plan or in a separate policy document, and include transportation recommendations such as becoming an EV-ready city.
  • 8.3: Modify a planned unit development (PUD) ordinance to emphasize or require mixed-use development or affordable housing, to limit residential PUDs to areas adjacent to commercial development, and/or to add sustainability features.
  • 9.1: Establish design goals for at least one highway/auto-oriented corridor/cluster.
  • 9.4: Adopt development policies for large-format developments, zoning for auto-oriented commercial districts at the sub-urban edge and/or in tightly defined and smaller urban development corridors/nodes that have some bike/walk/transit access.
  • 11.1: Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
  • 11.3: Modify a street in compliance with the city's complete streets policy.
  • 13.2: Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions.
  • 13.3: Phase-in operational changes, equipment changes including electric vehicles, and no-idling practices for city or local transit fleets.
  • 14.1: Reduce or eliminate parking minimums; add parking maximums; develop district parking; install meters and charge for parking at curb and city-owned lots/ramps. 
  • 18.7: Document that the operation and maintenance, or construction / remodeling, of at least one park building used an asset management tool, the SB 2030 energy standard, or a green building framework.
  • 23.5: Install, assist with and promote publicly available EV charging stations or public fueling stations for alternative fuel vehicles. 
  • 25.6: Promote green businesses that are recognized under a local, regional or national program.
  • See the full list!


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.
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Thursday, November 17, 2022

Biological Integrity

In this webinar, presented live on November 15, 2022, we learned more about the Index for Biological Integrity and assessing water quality through the creatures that live in them.

Agenda:

  • 9:00am – Welcome
  • 9:15-9:25 – Overview from Jill Crafton, Izaak Walton League
    • Jill provided an overview of the Izaak Walton League, a local/state/national organization that focuses on defending soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. Jill also shared how biological health is important in understanding our natural resource management and went over the GreenStep Cities Best Practice Actions related to the topic of biological integrity and habitat protection. 
  • 9:25-9:40 – John Sandberg, North Biological Monitoring, MPCA
    • John explained why and how we monitor and assess biology in lakes and streams. Restoring and maintaining the biological integrity of rivers, lakes, and wetlands is a primary objective of the Clean Water Act, and an important water quality goal in Minnesota. Water quality can be measured by surrogate measures such as TSS, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, and pH or by measuring aquatic life (fish, macroinvertebrate, and plant community) directly. 
    • The Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) is a tool developed to evaluate the effects of human actions on the health of living systems. IBIs use multiple metrics that when combined depict the overall biological integrity, or health, of a system. Metrics selected in each IBI respond in a predictable manner to human-induced stressors. 
  • 9:40-10:00 – Jacquelyn Bacigalupi, Lake IBI Program Supervisor, DNR
    • Jacquelyn gave an example of a fish-based IBI framework to assess Minnesota lakes. Fish IBIs look at habitat stressors in physical habitats (vegetation, woody habitat, substrate) and water quality (sedimentation, algae, deepwater oxygen, regime shifts). While fish communities in Minnesota's lakes are generally healthy, impaired lakes are most often in agricultural and urban areas and nutrient impaired. Meanwhile, exceptional lakes are nearly all in forested areas, not nutrient impaired, have diverse plant communities, and have high quality shoreline habitat. 
    • Fish IBI data has been used to assess the health of 711 lakes in Minnesota. The DNR assesses new watershed districts annually. 
    • IBI and habitat survey data can be used for protection and restoration strategies, WRAPS, One Watershed One Plan, and other plans. 
  • 10:00-10:15 – Q&A
  • 10:15-10:30 – Jack Distel, Water Resources Specialist, City of Bloomington
    • Jack explained how the city samples for water quality by grabbing samples of floating plants, submerged aquatic vegetation, and sheltering areas on 30 bodies of water a year, between April and August. 
    • Using scenario forecasting and creating an ecological framework is a good way to include IBI in goals and plans. 
  • 10:40-10:55 – Q&A and open discussion
  • 11:00 – Conclusion

View the workshop recording: 


View the PDF and additional materials:


Resources: 

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

  • 7.5 Use design to create social trust and interaction among neighbors and allow developments that meet the prerequisites for LEED for Neighborhood Development certification.

  • 10.1 Conduct a Natural Resource Inventory or Assessment (NRI or NRA); incorporate protection of priority natural systems or resources such as groundwater through the subdivision or development process.

  • 10.2 For cities outside or on the fringe of metropolitan areas, conduct a build-out analysis, fiscal impact study, or adopt an urban growth boundary and a consistent capital improvement plan that provides long-term protection of natural resources and natural systems, and agricultural practices outside the boundary.

  • 10.4 Adopt a conservation design policy; use a conservation design tool for pre-design meetings with developers and for negotiating development agreements in cities with undeveloped natural resource areas.

  • 10.5 Preserve environmentally sensitive, community-valued land by placing a conservation easement on city lands, and by encouraging/funding private landowners to place land in conservation easements.

  • 10.6 Conserve natural, cultural, historic resources by adopting or amending city codes and ordinances to support sustainable sites, including roadsides, and environmentally protective land use development.

  • 10.7 Support and protect wildlife through habitat rehabilitation, preservation and recognition programs.

  • 18.8 Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects.

  • 19.1 Consistently monitor surface water quality/clarity and report findings to community members.

  • 19.2 Conduct or support multi-party community conversations, assessments, plans and actions around improving local water quality and quantity.

  • 19.3 Adopt and publicly report on measurable surface water improvement targets for lake, river, wetland and ditches.


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.
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Monday, October 31, 2022

Local Outdoor Air Quality & Best Practices to Improve It

In this webinar, presented live on October 19, 2022, we learned more about the best practices for decreasing air contaminates and improving air quality in your community.

Agenda:

  • 9:00am - Welcome & Introductions
  • 9:15 - Overview of air pollution, Megan Kuhl-Stennes - MPCA
    • Megan started with an explanation on the difference between point-source (industrial and power generation) and non-point sources (backyard fires, internal combustion engines, and small businesses like gas stations, auto body shops, and dry cleaners) of air pollution. 
  • 9:25 - What is the Air Quality Index?, Matt Taraldsen - MPCA
    • Matt, a meteorologist with the MPCA, shared the Air Quality Index and discussed the criteria pollutants: ozone and PM 2.5. The Index has categories from Good to Hazardous. When a criteria pollutant reaches above 100 (orange on the map), the MPCA issues an air quality alert. In addition, air quality forecasting is available by modeling and working with NASA to use hourly satellite imagery. 
  • 9:40 - Air pollution tools, Eric Wilcox Freeburg - MPCA
    • Eric shared that there are over 2,000 permitted facilities for air emissions across the state but only 3% of the facilities have risk assessments. The MNRISKS tool provides an air emissions inventory and statewide modeling to assess risks across the state. These Air Pollution Scores are shared on the MPCA's areas of concern for environmental justice map. Scores over 1.00 are considered high-risk for cancer development. Find also, the types of high pollutants in an area, demographic data, and permitted facilities. 
  • 10:05 - Green Cost Share program and Air Sensor Project, Jenni Lansing - City of Minneapolis
    • The City of Minneapolis utilized American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Healthy Homes and Asthma program. After looking at the city's Green Zones and the EPA EJScreen tool, and holding community meetings to determine locations and pollutants to monitor, the city located PurpleAir sensors across the city and located at schools to monitor PM2.5 and will add AQMesh units to track NO2, NO, O3, CO, and total VOCs as well as PM2.5 and PM10.
    • To reduce air pollutants, the city offers a Green Cost Share Program for innovative pollution reduction projects. 
    • If you are interested in using air sensors in your community, contact the MPCA.  
  • 10:20 - Backyard fire permit ordinance, Fire Marshall Cary Smith - City of St. Louis Park
    • The City of St. Louis Park previously had 600 backyard fire permits, based on the honor system, that came with many complaints. After implementing an updated ordinance that requires a permanent permit with enforcement following complaints, the city has increased permits to 957 and reduced the complaints to just 18 last year. In addition, permitees receive annual mailings with reminders about the rules and best practices for compliance. 
  • 10:30 - Electric lawn equipment successes, Samantha Connelly - MPCA
    • Sam talked about how fuel-powered lawn equipment releases 14.76 pounds of air pollution/hour - the same as driving a car 200 miles! Electric and manual equipment benefits include lighter weight, equal performance, saving money, quieter operation, employee safety, and community health improvements. 
    • The MPCA had a grant program for 3 years that resulted in 168 projects funded and estimated VOC reductions of 361 tons! Small business funding is available for projects.   
  • 10:45 - Q&A and Discussion 
    • MnTAP provides free, confidential, and non-regulatory assistance for public or private facilities interested in reducing air pollution. 
    • Are you interested in joining a backyard burning or wood heating cohort to work on these topics more in your community? Contact Megan. 
  • 11:00 - Conclusion

View the workshop recording: 




View the PDF and additional materials:
Resources: 

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 
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.
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Monday, August 22, 2022

Best Practices for Community Organics Composting Collection and Sites & Glacial Ridge Tour

Workshop Summary: 

In this workshop, presented on August 16, 2022, we learned best practices for community organics collection and site. The workshop included a tour of the NEW Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management Glacial Ridge facility.

  • Tim Farnan provided an overview of compost facilities. Minnesota has around 125 Yard Waste Permit-By-Rule (PBR) sites and 9 Source Separated Organic Materials (SSOM) compost sites. Common challenges to operating a successful compost site include: invasive/noxious plants and weeds, invasive species, contamination, access to/resources for operator training, seasonality of incoming material, and markets & end uses for compost. A common term used is "Process to Further Reduce Pathogens" or PRFP. This is a treatment process involving consistent 131+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures over 7-15 days and helps reduce common pathogens in a final product. The key concepts Tim shared included:
    1. Know and follow applicable regulations 
    2. Take operator training (see resources below) 
    3. Meet the Process to Further Reduce Pathogens (PRFP) 
    4. Test your compost (see resources below) 
  • Kala Fisher talked about St. Louis Park's organics program which serves over 12,300 households for organics collection (40% participation). The program began in 2013 and costs are included in solid waste rates although participants request an organics cart to participate. The city also provides 5 organics drop-off sites with plans to double in 2022. St. Louis Park focuses on education and outreach by providing compostable bags and a welcome kit, print/online recycling guides, emails and newsletters, workshops, social media, cart tags for contaminated carts, direct mailing, local ads, how-to videos, community events, Recycling Champions program, and providing finished compost to residents.
  • Nathan Reinbold discussed the Pope/Douglas Glacial Ridge compost facility, which serves 7 counties across central Minnesota. A pilot program started in 2017 with 4 schools, a transfer station with capacity of up to 1,000 tons/year was added in 2020, and the compost facility added in 2022. 9 community based/supported drop sites are collected weekly. The goal is to increase recycling access and reduce rates. Funds were provided by the MPCA and state bonding. Compost end-use goals include: develop county compost use requirement, MnDOT supplier/vendor setup, shovel your own compost at the Environmental Center, and rental of top-spreader for household use.
  • Emilie Justen shared best practices for managing noxious weeds in compost sites. Legally, noxious weeds should not transported without a permit to avoid spreading to other areas. Acceptable disposal sites include designated compost sites (buckthorn, garlic mustard, etc.), incineration, and landfills. Other management methods include herbicides, biological control, mechanical (mowing, hand-pulling, etc.) and on-site composting, smothering, and burning.
  • Laura Van Riper provided information about Jumping Worms. All worms in Minnesota are non-native and cause bare soils and limited plant species. Jumping Worms can dramatically change soils and give it a coffee ground-texture, eat mulch, and strip nutrients. Identify a jumping worm by the clitellum (ring/band) that is 14-15 segments from the head, the snake-like movement, and a tail that can break off. Jumping worms and their egg cases can move with soil, plants, sod, mulch, and compost. If you have jumping worms, keep them on site or take material to a compost facility that follows the PRFP. Compost sites can reduce the spread by following PFRP (even if not required), keeping finished compost separate from drop-off area, and training staff on the identification and inspection of finished compost for jumping worms.

Agenda

  • 10:00-10:10am: Welcome & Introductions
  • 10:10-10:20am: Overview of best practices - Tim Farnan, Planning and Assistance Unit Supervisor, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • 10:20-10:40am: Municipal collection and community education - Kala Fisher, Solid Waste Manager, St. Louis Park
  • 10:40-10:55am: Collection process and site - Nathan Reinbold, Environmental Coordinator, Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management
  • 10:55-11:10am: Managing noxious weeds - Emilie Justen, Noxious Weed Law Coordinator, MN Agriculture
  • 11:10-11:25am: Jumping worm prevention - Laura Van Riper, Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator, MnDNR
  • 11:25-11:40am: Q&A and open discussion
  • 11:40-11:50am: Break
  • 11:50-12:30pm: Tour Glacial Ridge Compost Facility

View the workshop recording: 



View the PDF and additional materials: 


Resources: 

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

  • 16.2 - Adopt best practices for urban tree planting/quality

  • 17.5 - Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for stormwater infiltration/reuse practices

  • 18.5 - Create park/city land management standards/practices

  • 22.1 - Improve city operations and procurement to prevent and reuse, recycle and compost waste from all public facilities (including libraries, parks, schools, municipal health care facilities)

  • 22.2 - Address concerns over consumer products and packaging through encouragement/implementation

  • 22.5 - Arrange for a residential and/or business/institutional source-separated organics collection/management program

  • 22.7 - Improve/organize residential trash, recycling and organics collection by private and/or public operations 

  • 25.4 - Strengthen value-added businesses utilizing local "waste" material


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.

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