The GreenStep Workshops address a variety of topics related to GreenStep Cities best practices. Resources from the 2016-2017 workshop series – including PDFs of the workshop presentations and handouts – are available below. To view resources from the 2015-2016 series, click here. Visit the GreenStep Cities Opportunities webpage to find funding and technical assistance to help cities complete the best practices discussed in these workshops. Workshops are held on the first Wednesday of every month from September to June at the League of Minnesota Cities building in Saint Paul (also available via webinar).
To learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Abby Finis: [email protected]
June – BP 27: Local Food
June workshop presentations and resources:
- Protecting Pollinators through City Resolutions: Bees in GreenStep Cities – Erin Rupp, Founder, Pollinate Minnesota
- Improving Healthy Food Access: A Path to Equity and Resilience – Nadja Berneche, Healthy Comprehensive Plan Director, Terra Soma
- Food Access Guide discussed by Nadja Berneche
Additional Resources Recommended by Erin Rupp:
- Pollinate Minnesota
- Model Pollinator Resolution for cities
- Pollinator Friendly Resolutions Rubric
- Minneapolis’ Beekeeping Ordinance
- Heather Holm’s website and books
- Governor’s Pollinator Committee – contact Claudia Hochstein [email protected]
- Incorporating Pollinators in Comprehensive Plans
- MN Bee Atlas – a Minnesota citizen science project to count bees
- Pollinator Friendly Alliance, Humming for Bees
- Xerces Society – Resources include Citizen Science monitoring guides, what to plant for whom, and worksheets for land managers to increase pollinator health.
- How Neonics can Kill Bees – Report from Xerces Society
- Minnesota Department of Ag’s Neonic Report
- University of MN Bee Lab
- Pesticide Action Network
- Beyond Pesticides
- Center For Food Safety
May – BP 15: Sustainable Purchasing
May workshop presentations and resources:
- Sustainable Procurement at the State of Minnesota – Johanna Kertesz, MPCA
- GreenStep Cities and Sustainable Purchasing – Shannon Pinc, City of St. Louis Park; Shann Finwall, City of Maplewood
- Using Sustainable Purchasing to Meet Your Sustainability Goal – Johanna Kertesz, MPCA
April – BP 18: Parks, Trails…and Nature Play!
April workshop presentations and resources:
- The Multiple Benefits of Parks in Cities – Jenna Fletcher, Best Practice Advisor, The Trust for Public Land
- Nature-based Learning: Best Practices as Embodied in the Cities Connecting Children to Nature Initiative – Cathy Jordan, University of Minnesota, Children & Nature Network
- City Perspective: Cities Connecting Children to Nature, Saint Paul – Faith Krogstad, Environmental Education Coordinator at the City of Saint Paul
March – BP 20: Water Conservation and Reuse
March workshop presentations and resources:
- Introduction to Water Conservation and Reuse Best Practices – Philipp Muessig, GreenStep Cities Co-director
- City Water Supply Planning; Demand Reductions & Efficiency; Water Conservation Reporting – Carmelita Nelson, MN DNR
- Water Demand Trends and Irrigation – Brian Davis, Metropolitan Council
- Barriers to Reducing Water Use in Landscapes – Kay Qualley, City of Fridley
- Link to the Minnesota Stormwater Manual – Anne Gelbmann, MPCA
Don’t miss next month’s workshop! Sign up here
February – BP 25: Brownfields 101
February workshop presentations and resources:
- Slides from the workshop including an overview of BP 25 and presentations from Natalie Brown of Minnesota Brownfields, Shanna Schmitt from MPCA, Kristin Lukes from DEED, and Janice Gundlach from the City of New Brighton.
January – BP 24: Community Engagement
January workshop presentations and resources:
- Slides from the workshop including an overview of BP 24 and presentations from Annie Levenson Falk and Carmen Caruthers of the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota and Michelle Fure from the Met Council
- Workshop Notes
- Handout from the Alliance for Sustainability
- Notes from Panel Member Terry Gips
December – BP 11: Living Streets
December workshop presentations and resources:
- Best Practice 11: Living Streets & Overcoming Opposition to Sidewalks – Emily Goellner, ULI MN
- Traffic and How to Calm It – Hannah Pritchard, Toole Design
November – BP 29: City Resiliency
November workshop presentations and resources:
- Introduction to Best Practice 29 – Laura Millberg
- Minnesota Department of Health: Vulnerability Assessment – Kristin Raab, MN Department of Health
- Vulnerable Populations: Engaging Underrepresented Residents – Holly Wallace, City of Austin
- Community Resilience and Comprehensive Planning – Eric Wojchik, Met Council
- Integrating Resilience in Local Comprehensive Plan Updates Handout
Additional resources on City Resiliency from Urban Land Institute MN:
October – Energy, Data, and Setting Goals — oh my!
October workshop presentations and resources:
- B3 Benchmarking Overview – Cheri Schneider, Weidt Group
- Energy Efficient Operations – Laura Millberg, MPCA
- Taking Action: Energize Maplewood & Partners in Energy – Chris Swanson, City of Maplewood
- Maplewood: Measuring Energy at City Facilities
- Local Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP) & Guaranteed Energy Savings Program – Alex Ceccini, Division of Energy Resources
September workshop presentations and resources:
- Introduction to GreenStep Cities – Philipp Muessig, MPCA
- GreenStep Cities Factsheet
