Receive Update on GreenStep Cities Program

As the Board knows, the City Council considered a resolution to authorize the City to enter the GreenStep Cities program at their January 28, 2014 Meeting.  Information was presented by Staff with support from several Board Members as well as a representative of the GreenStep Cities program. 

Discussion on the City Council level revealed that there were a number of questions about the program. The City Council inquired as to how this program would be appropriately scaled to Ramsey and whether the goals of the program were in line with the goals of the City (or whether portions may potentially be in conflict with some of the City's goals and core values).

Two primary concerns were raised with this program.  First, that although the program was scalable, a concern was raised that it had the potential to inadvertently lead to regulations that did not meet the needs of our local residents and that it could inadvertently prevent property owners from full use of their property.  Secondly, questions were raised regarding the true benefit(s) of participating in such a program. Thus, after considerable discussion, action on the proposed resolution was tabled to provide additional time to develop guiding principals to ensure that participation would continue to be in line with the City's goals and core values and returned review of the program back to the EPB to assist in defining the City's participation. 

The purpose of this case is to provide the Board with the opportunity to assist with the development of these guiding principals in preparation for a future discussion with City Council as well as develop well defined benefits of the program that are tailored to the needs and rights of Ramsey residents.  The intent would not necessarily be to develop such principals this evening, but to begin a discussion to respond to the City Council's direction. The intent of this discussion is to provide direction to Staff to begin developing a framework for Staff to use guidance in preparing a draft set of principals. Staff would bring back a set of guiding principles to a future EPB meeting, then forward to City Council following EPB recommendation.

As the Board has previously specified, one of the most attractive qualities of the GreenStep Cities program was that it had the flexibility to allow the City to implement initiatives that would result in an more efficient and sustainable City organization. The intent was to focus on public facilities and operations, not on the development of private development regulations that would impact private property owners. 

For example, the preceding statement could serve as a core, over-arching guiding principle in a clear, well defined policy document. Additionally, the EPB could consider identifying a priority list of the menu of options to seek authority from City Council to commence implementation and receive recognition for. The suggested goal of the EPB would be to review Best Practices and identify and recommend those that would result in a more sustainable City organization.

Finally, the EPB may want to consider a citizen-engagement strategy to collaborate with individual property owners on developing guiding principles of potential participation in the program.

Recommended action this evening would be to begin to develop a framework for developing guiding principals to clearly establish the intent of participating in the GreenStep Cities program and provide an acceptable work plan to focus on only those items that can reasonably be applied to Ramsey that are in line with the City's various goals and core values. It is further recommended that the EPB take into consideration the City's Strategic Plan as well as Comprehensive Plan (land use) when developing this document.