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.

Equitable Community Engagement

In this webinar, presented live on September 22, 2021, we learned about conducting community engagement in an equitable and inclusive way. 

Agenda

9:00: Welcome & Introductions
9:15-9:45 - Melissa Birch and Chris Meyer - Central and Southeast Regional Coordinators, Clean Energy Resource Teams

• Green Team Guide (coming soon!)
• BP 24 overview and updates

9:45 - 9:55 - Q&A
9:55-10:05 - Kevin Bright - Energy and Sustainability Director, City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center

• Sustainability and Resiliency Task Force
• Discovery Walk

10:05-10:15 - Jonee Brigham - Senior Research Fellow, Minnesota Design Center

• D4CR - Design for Community Regeneration

10:15-10:25 - Becky LaPlant - Public Policy Program Associated (Retired), Blandin Foundation 

• Itasca Area Circle of Healing

10:25-10:35 - Wendy Thompson - Executive Director, Beltrami Area Resiliency Team

• 100 Cups of Coffee

10:35-10:55 - Q&A and open discussion
11:00 - conclusion

View the PDF and additional materials: 

Resources: 

• See the PowerPoints above for many more! 
• 2021 Green Team Guide: Best Practice 24
• 21st Century Development
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) MN Cohorts 
• MN BIPOC Local Elected Leaders Network
• Why Treaties Matter
• IllumiNative

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 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.
• 24.2 - Communicating Progress on Goals: Organize goals/outcome measures from all city plans (social, environmental, economic) and report to community members data that show progress toward meeting these goals.
• 24.3 - Measuring Outcomes: Engage community members and partners in identifying, measuring, and reporting progress on key sustainability and social indicators/ including energy use/greenhouse gas emissions, social vitality/social inclusion outcome measures.
• 24.4 - Public Education for Action: Conduct or support a broad sustainability education and action campaign, building on existing city & community relationships, networks & events involving:
• • a. The entire community, community leaders
  • b. Homeowners, manufactured home communities, landlords and tenants
  • c. Community-based organizations, block clubs, neighborhood associations, front yards/sidewalks
  • d. Congregations.
  • e. Schools, colleges.
• 24.5 - Planning with a Purpose: Conduct a community visioning and planning initiative that engages a diverse set of community members & stakeholders and uses a sustainability, resilience, or environmental justice framework such as:
• a. Strong Towns, Resiliency, Transition, Appreciative Inquiry.
• b. Eco-municipalities, Smart Cities, Healthy Communities. 
• c. Environmental Justice, Race Equity, Equitable Development.
• 24.6 - Engaging the Next Generation: Engage wide representation of community youth and college students by creating opportunities to participate in city government (including commissions).
• 24.7 - Expanding Community Engagement: Engage Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), renters, low-income, new Americans, differently abled and other traditionally under-represented community members by encouragement, and support to participate in current and new opportunities to participate in city government.

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.

Maintaining Green Infrastructure

In this webinar, presented live on September 8, 2021, we learned about the the importance and best management practices of green infrastructure maintenance.

So you installed some green infrastructure (yay!) - but now what?

Green infrastructure is an approach to managing urban wet weather impacts that mimics, restores, or maintains natural hydrology. Green infrastructure includes a wide array of practices, including infiltrating, evapotranspiring, or harvesting and using stormwater. Examples of green infrastructure include: 

• Vegetated filter strips at the edges of paved surfaces
• Residential or commercial rain gardens designed to capture and soak in stormwater
• Porous pavers, porous concrete, and porous asphalt
• Rain barrels and cisterns; Green roofs

Agenda
9:00: Welcome & Introduction
9:05-9:15: Random Networking
9:15-9:30 - Carlee Kjeldahl - Environmental Specialist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
9:30-9:50 - James Wolfin - Sustainable Landcare Manager: Turf Alternatives, Metro Blooms
9:50-10:10 - Anna Eleria - Planning, Projects, and Grants Division Manager, Capital Region Watershed District
10:10-10:30 - Douglas Snyder - Executive Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
10:30-10:50 - Mark Maloney - Public Works Director, City of Shoreview
10:50-11:00 - Q&A and open discussion
11:00 - conclusion

View the PDF and additional materials:

Resources: 

• Minnesota Stormwater Manual 
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) and sustainable stormwater management 
• Operation and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure best management practices
• Lawns to Legumes and partner resources, BWSR
• Resources to manage invasive species 
• Blue Thumb workshops & events 
• Capital Region Watershed District raingarden maintenance and Gardening Guide 
• Smart Salting training, MPCA

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 16.6 Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:

• a. Having trained tree specialists.

• b. Supporting volunteer forestry efforts.

• c. Adopting an EAB/forest management plan or climate adaptation plan for the urban forest.

• 17.5 Adopt and implement guidelines or design standards/incentives for at least one of the following stormwater infiltration/reuse practices:

• a. Rain gardens/infiltration practices.

• b. Rainwater harvesting practices.

• c. Green alleys or green parking lots.

• d. Pervious/permeable pavement or pavers.

• e. Green roofs / green walls.

• f. Tree trenches / tree boxes.

• g. Incorporate compost and/or native plants into landscape design.

• 18.4 Adopt low-impact design standards in parks and trails that infiltrate or retain all 2 inch, 24-hour stormwater events on site.

• 18.5 Create park/city land management standards/practices that maximize at least one of the following:

• a. Low maintenance turf management; native landscaping; organic or integrated pest management; pollinator/monarch-safe policies.

• b. Recycling/compostables collection; use of compost as a soil amendment.

• c. Sources of nonpotable water, or surface/rain water, for irrigation.

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

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.

Supporting Minnesota's Pollinators

In this webinar, presented live on May 19, 2021, we learned about the the importance of pollinator species and how communities can help protect them.

Agenda: 9:00 - Welcome & Introductions 9:05-9:15 - Random Networking (trimmed from video) 9:15-9:25 - Rebeca Gutierrez-Moreno - State Pollinator Coordinator, Environmental Quality Board 9:25-9:40 - Dan Shaw, Senior Ecologist/Vegetation Specialist, Board of Water & Soil Resources 9:40-9:55 - Dr. Elaine Evans, Assistant Extension Professor, University of MN Bee Lab 9:55-10:10 - Q&A 10:10-10:25 - South Saint Paul - Deb Griffith, Community Affairs Liaison and Monika Mann, Community Development Support Specialist 10:25-10:40 - Bemidji - Marcia Larson, Parks and Recreation Director 10:40-11:00 - Q&A and open discussion 11:00 - conclusion

View the webinar recording:

View the PowerPoints and additional materials: 

• GreenStep Cities Best Practice Actions - related to pollinators
• Lawns to Legumes and partner resources, BWSR
• Pollinator Education Toolkits, U of M Bee Lab 
• Habitat Assessment Guide, Xerces Society 
• Mayors Monarch Pledge, National Wildlife Federation
• Bird City MN, Audubon MN 

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.

Urban Trees for a Changing Climate

In this webinar, presented live on April 19, 2021, we learned about the impacts of climate change on urban canopies and which tree species might be best suited.

Agenda: 

9:00: Welcome & Introduction

9:05​-9:20: Random Networking (removed from video recording)

9:20​-9:40​ - Emma Schultz, Community Forest Project Specialist, DNR

9:40​-10:00​ - Leslie Brandt, Climate Change Specialist, USDA Forestry Service

10:00​-10:15​ - Q&A

10:15​-10:25​ - Jen Kullgren, Urban Forester, Hennepin County

10:25​-10:35​ - Jeff Habermen, City Forester, City of Rochester

10:35​-10:45​ - Mary Groeninger, Friends of Trees of Ely

10:45​-11:00​ - Q&A

11:00​ - conclusion

View the webinar recording

View the PowerPoints and additional materials     

  

• GreenStep Best Practice Actions: 
• 10.5 – Conservation easements 
• 10.6 – Conservation codes/ordinances 
• 16.1 – Tree City USA 
• 16.2 – BPs for urban tree planting/quality 
• 16.3 – Tree budgets/goals 
• 16.4 – Urban tree planting 
• 16.5 – Native Landscaping Ordinance 
• 16.6 – Protect existing trees 
• 17.5 – Stormwater infiltration BPs 
• 18.8 – Involve community members 
• 27.1 – Working landscapes 
• 27.3 – Local food production 
• 29.6 – Reduce urban heat impacts 
• Tree Selection: 
• Best Native Yard Trees for Our Changing Climate, DNR 2020
• Plant Selector, MnDOT 
• Recommended Trees for Minnesota, UoM Extension 2018
• Trees Likely to Thrive in Minnesota Changing Climate, DNR 2014
• Hennepin County Recommended Tree List, Hennepin County 2021
• Tree Troubles, DNR 
• Native street tree options:
• ‘Princeton’ and ‘Valley Forge’ American elm cultivars
• Basswood/American linden
• Black cherry (intolerant of salt spray) (if mess is less of a concern/wider boulevards)
• Black walnut (if mess is less of a concern/wider boulevards)
• Bur oak, swamp white oak/bicolor oak, white oak (more oak wilt resistant than red oaks)
• Hackberry
• Honeylocust (thornless variety)
• River birch
• Shagbark hickory or bitternut hickory (if mess is less of a concern/wider boulevards)
• Kentucky coffeetree (if mess is less of a concern/wider boulevards)
• Small stature trees- for use under utility lines or in areas with limited space:
• Allegheny or downy serviceberry (downy serviceberry is moderately salt tolerant) (yellow/orange/red fall color) 
• Mountain ash (tolerant of salt spray) (yellow fall color)
• American hornbeam/blue beech (moderately salt tolerant) (yellow/orange/maroon fall color)
• Nannyberry viburnum (moderately salt tolerant) (red/maroon fall color)
• Hawthorn (salt intolerant) (downy hawthorn has a yellow/red fall color)
• Pagoda/alternateleaf dogwood (salt intolerant) (maroon fall color)
• Regionally-native trees to try (especially in southern/SE Minnesota):
• Eastern redbud
• American sycamore
• Shellbark hickory
• Mockernut hickory
• Pignut hickory
• Ohio buckeye
• Post oak
• Northern catalpa
• Climate Change:
• Climate Change Projections for Tree Species in the Northwoods (MN, WI, MI), NIACS
• Urban Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessments, NIACS 
• Adaptation Strategies and Approaches, NIACS 
• Trainings
• Climate & Health Action Guide, Vibrant Cities Lab
• Preparing Urban Forests in the Twin Cities for Climate Change, US Forest Service/NIACS 2016
• Climate Change Field Guide for Northern Minnesota Forests, University of Minnesota 2017
• Minnesota Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis, USDA 2014
• Tree Care:
• Woodlands of Minnesota Landowners Handbook, DNR 
• Planting Trees and Seedlings, DNR 
• Principles of Pruning, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach 2015
• How much space does my street tree need?, University of Minnesota 2021
• City of Ely tree care door hanger, 2021
• Young Tree Maintenance:
• Watering your trees. Newly planted trees need 15-25 gallons of water once a week for the first 3 to 5 years when the ground is thawed. You can skip watering if it has rained more than 1 inch in a week.
• Mulching your trees. Mulch that cover a trees roots provides numerous benefits. It keeps the roots cool and moist in the summer. It protects tree roots from freezing in the winter. Mulch adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil, and reduces competition with weeds. Mulch also keeps weed whips and lawn mowers away from a tree's trunk. Follow the 3-3-3 rule with mulch: place a 3-foot diameter circle of mulch around the tree, pull mulch back so it’s 3 inches away from the trunk (this will avoid volcano mulching), and make sure that the mulch is 3 inches deep.
• Pruning your trees. Trees should be pruned when they are young so they grow strong branch attachments and good structure, which reduces damage a tree experiences during storms. Proper pruning techniques speeds up the time a pruning wound heals and decreases the formation of rot in a tree.
• Urban Wood Network

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.

February 17 - Healthy from the Ground Up: Strategies for Maintaining Soil Health

In this webinar, organized and co-hosted with Izaak Walton League, presented live on February 17, 2021, we learned about the science behind and strategies for protecting and restoring soil health.

Agenda: 

9:00: Welcome & Introduction

9:05-9:25: Random Networking : Think about it: Is soil a renewable resource?

9:25-9:50: Importance of Native Plants - Marilynn Torkelson, Prairie Edge Chapter President, Wild Ones

9:50-10:30 - Soil Science - Anna Cates, State Soil Health Specialist, Minnesota Office for Soil Health, UofM

10:30-10:45 - Soil Management - Gregg Thompson, City of Eagan

10:45-10:55 - Soil Health Education - Christine Petersen, City of Minnetonka

11:00 - Conclusion

View the webinar recording

View the PowerPoints and additional materials 

       

• GreenStep Best Practice Actions: 10.5, 16.5, 17.5, 18.5, 25.5, 27.1
• City of Eagan Soil Management Strategies and Stormwater Ordinance (See 4.34.F.1.f.)
• Soil Health Programs (federal and state) & Practices
• Soil Health Resources - Media 

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.