What is GreenStep?
GreenStep has inspired environmental improvement efforts by 144 cities across Minnesota.
In a partnership between Minnesota and its individual communities, the state administration creates a voluntary effort to increase climate actions and other environmental initiatives. The benefits of joining the GreenStep program for a city are substantial, often leading to statewide recognition. |
Our Group Vision
With the focus of fulfilling the City's vision focusing on growth, adaption, and change, we hope to assist the City with these goals through GreenStep Cities. In 2040 the city of West St.Paul will have reached a step 5 city in the GreenStep program and will continue to report on city performance metrics to further improve the City's interaction with the environment around them.
Our Goal for WSP
Through a collaboration with the City of West St. Paul and the Environmental Science seniors at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, we facilitate further use of GreenStep Cities within the community. We intend to support a strong sustainability initiative with a focus on goal-oriented objectives and cost-effective measures for the city of West St. Paul.
- -Identify all previously completed best practices that have not been noted in the GreenStep program assessment form to get overlap with step four ranking,
- Develop a plan outlining the benchmarks needed to achieve a step four and five ranking to make the transition easier for West St. Paul
- -Assess where the goals of West St. Paul, the groups of ESPM 4041W and her groups, and the GreenStep Cities’ best practices overlap to meet step four rankings
- -Review the effectiveness of grant writers in GreenStep Cities program success to evaluate whether one is needed
West St. Paul
Our Methods of Research
In order to make sound recommendations for the City of West St. Paul, we used several research methods to help us accomplish our goals and objectives.
- Interviews with MPCA GreenStep Coordinator & West St. Paul Assistant Parks and Recreation Director
- Research to determine the effectiveness of a grant writer on advancement to a Step 4 City in GreenSteps
- Document Review analysis of GreenStep and West St. Paul's best practices
- Case Study of comparable Step 4 and 5 Cities: Golden Valley & Maplewood
- Survey sent to fellow groups in ESPM 4041W to determine if there was overlap in class projects and the GreenStep program
Our Findings
Through our research, we found that cities with access to a grant writer did not have more success in the completion of the GreenStep program. Cities that had a green team that was composed of city employees in different departments were able to stay more involved with the GreenStep program. Having resources readily available to the green team and other departments across the city is important for keeping the theme of sustainability in mind in the day to day focus of the city employees.
After looking at both Golden Valley and Maplewood, it is imperative that the creation of clear goals in yearly plans and publishing GreenStep accomplishments on the City’s website helps aid in advancement in the GreenStep program. Lastly, through our survey sent out to other groups within our class, we found some areas of overlap between their projects and best management practices in the GreenStep program.
Assembling a team to collaborate on GreenStep across different city departments and having resources readily available will lead to success and advancement in the GreenStep program.
After looking at both Golden Valley and Maplewood, it is imperative that the creation of clear goals in yearly plans and publishing GreenStep accomplishments on the City’s website helps aid in advancement in the GreenStep program. Lastly, through our survey sent out to other groups within our class, we found some areas of overlap between their projects and best management practices in the GreenStep program.
Assembling a team to collaborate on GreenStep across different city departments and having resources readily available will lead to success and advancement in the GreenStep program.
Our Recommendations
Completethe 8 remaining best practices on the GreenSteps Assessment form at either a 1, 2, or a 3 star level in order to expand the City’s sustainability efforts.
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Measureand report on the 8 CORE metrics and 5 additional city performance metrics to advance to Step 4 in the GreenStep program.
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Developan organizational awareness of GreenStep cities that includes a GreenStep Team that will influence and encourage future achievements within the program.
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How to Find Data for Metrics
For the city of West St. Paul to progress from GreenSteps 3 to 4, the City is required to measure and report on the 8 CORE metrics plus 5 additional city performance metrics. A challenge expressed by GreenSteps coordinator Dave Schletty, is the city’s capacity to report and measure on these standards. However, MPCA GreenSteps coordinator Kristin Mroz-Risee demonstrated an easy way to acquire this data. Available on the GreenSteps website, there is already existing data about the city and available for city usage on each metric. https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/steps-4-and-5
Creation of a Green Team
This team would be developed through an initial meeting with voluntary training on GreenSteps, West St. Paul values, and what the city needs to do to move forward in the program. After the initial meeting, periodic meetings would take place. In between these meetings, each Green Team member can record ideas, recommendations, and other key information concerning GreenStep Cities. As previously mentioned, this can be developed through a communicative Excel Worksheet and other tools to track or report metrics.
Overlap in Class Projects and the GreenStep Program
The ROW vegetation group has a slight connection to Resilient Community Growth, and Business Synergy and EcoDistrict. Sustainable development is the main focus of these two best practices, through this development there will be a necessity for resilient plant life in high traffic areas. The expansion of the ROW vegetation project from Roberts St to assist in these best practices will be useful in completing the metrics required. Another group also expressed that Resilient Community Growth is the Urban Tree Survey group, which would specifically work with understanding the city’s natural resources. With the collected research, ordinances would have a basis for development through the incorporation of trees in higher density residential areas
Moving forward, West St. Paul has expressed a desire to achieve Step 4 by 2023. Based on this interest, the recommendations assist staff in simplifying and organizing the process. Leading not only to success in GreenStep Cities, but also the City's interaction of environmentally oriented actions.
The Future of West St. Paul
Acknowledgements
Group members Amanda Borwege, Madyson Hoese, Matthew Preis, and Emily Sheleski would like to extend an enthusiastic thank you to all who have helped in creating this report. First, we thank the City of West St. Paul for the opportunity to conduct practical research and analysis. Within the city, we are grateful for the help of West St. Paul GreenStep Cities Coordinator Dave Schletty. At the University of Minnesota, we are very thankful for the administrative work and support offered by instructors Kristen Nelson, Eric North, and Hannah Ramer.