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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[11] Council Reports - Franki`[Tl OF tiT. JO~ti[i.YH Council Agenda Item 1,~ MEETING DATE: February S, 2009 AGENDA ITEM: Council Reports -Steve Frank SUBMITTED BY: Steve Frank BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Steve has requested to discuss the information presented at the recent Joint Planning District meeting. Therefore the information has been included in your packet. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: Sustainability Framework Plan REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Informational RE VEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS St. Cloud Area SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION - Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan The St. Cloud metropolitan area is situated at the convergence of Interstate 94, US Highway ]0, Minnesota Trunk Highways l 5 and 23, and the Mississippi River approximately 73 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The urbanized area of the St. Cloud metropolitan community is comprised of three counties (Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns), six townships (Minden, Haven, Lynden, St. Joseph, Clear Lake, and Le Sauk), and seven cities (Waite Park, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Rockville, St. Cloud, St. Joe, and St. Augusta). The St. Cloud metropolitan statistical area has a population of more than 125,000 residents and has experienced significant growth in recent decades, which is expected to continue into the near future to more than 200,000. 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Plan was approved in May 2000 to proactively and cooperatively address concerns with the growth and urban sprawl occurring in the St. Cloud metropolitan area during the 1990s. The Joint Planning District Plan was developed as a community based plan drawing on participation of local governmental jurisdictions within the three counties, cities, and townships, as well as persons or entities with a substantial interest or concern in the future of the area. The St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Board continues to meet on a quarterly basis to cooperatively address special issues and review planning actions of the participating cities and counties to ensure the implementation of the community based planning effort. The St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Plan establishes a number of goals and objectives for the future growth of the metropolitan area, which include specific statements to balance urban growth and preserve the area's natural resources through sustainable practices: Goal: Manage growth and urban sprawl to balance agricultural issues and land preservation with planned urban development to protect and enhance both the Region's rural character and its natural resources. Goal: Preserve and manage all of the Region's natural resources, including but not limited to air, water, green spaces, natural areas and farmlands, through sustainable land use practices. Goal: Encourage transportation planning that is sensitive to both the natural environment and neighborhoods. Goal: Maintain the integrity, heritage and local character of the Region's natural and built environment. The St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Board has recently formed a Sustainability Committee to focus efforts on the implementation of these Sustainability recommendations. The Sustainability Committee is seeking assistance from a qual ified consultant or team of consultants to assist in developing a framework of goals and best practices for the St. Cloud region, as well as to provide detailed analysis and recommendations for jurisdictions seeking a more in-depth assessment of their systems and practices. 3. PROJECT OUTCOMES A. St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan -The primary outcome of the request for qualifications is the preparation ofa framework plan that establishes a vision and outlines best practices in key sustainability focus areas. First, the framework plan will review the current goals and recommendations of the 2000 St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Plan related to sustainability and facilitate a process that defines more detailed goals and policies related to Sustainability. Second, the consultant will develop a tool box of sustainable practices that might be considered by the area's public and private sector entities in achieving the identified Sustainability goals. The consultant is not being asked to design, program, or implement the best practices as part of the framework plan. The following Sustainability Best Practices Areas (BPA's) are to be addressed by the St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan: BPA # 1 -Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Identify best practices in purchasing economical and environmentally preferable products and services. BPA #2 -Product Stewardship Identify best practices in facilitating programs that partner with private industry to reduce the end-of--life impacts of products. BPA #3 -Greenhouse Gas Reductions Identify best practices in reducing targets for green house gas emissions for the region's facilities. BPA #4 -Sustainable Land Use Policies Identify best practices in developing land use policies that provide incentives to reduce sprawl, preserve open space, expand and enhance green corridors as new development and redevelopment occurs and that create a walkable community. BPA #5 -Sustainable Multi-Modal Transportation Identify best practices for promoting sustainable transportation systems/networks and developing educational and public information about transit alternatives. BPA #6 -Alternative Energy Identify best practices for increasing the use of clean, alternative energy options to incorporate into regional facilities which may include researching methods to reduce energy consumption and investigating the use of alternative energy sources for heating/cooling throughout the participating area. BPA #7 -Energy Efficiency [dentify best practices in making energy efficiency a priority infrastructure which may include developing educational programs for the public about energy efficient techniques and construction practices, and investigating opportunities and ways to provide incentives to encourage private sector home and business energy improvements. BPA #8 -Sustainable Building Practices Identify best practices that will promote sustainable building practices and green construction to assist residents/builders and encourage green building techniques for both government and private development. BPA #9 -Community Health Identify best practices in promoting healthy community programs such as development of public education programs that endorse healthy activities for residents, and development of infrastructure to enhance walking and biking opportunities. BPA # 10 -Recycling and Waste Reduction Identify best practices in evaluating recycling participation rates in regional operations and within the communities, as well as reducing waste and promoting reuse through development of waste reduction targets for facilities and through creation of a "Green Team" approach to reduce, reuse, and recycle. BPA # l 1 -Healthy Urban Forests Identify best practices to maintain healthy urban forests such as promoting tree planting through programs to annually increase tree canopy throughout,the region and an incentive program that encourages private sector owners to plant trees within parking lots and other areas of the region. '- BPA # 12 - sustainability Education Identify best practices in developing programs to educate public schools, private schools, and private industry about sustainable practices and educating businesses about sustainability and provide an educational campaign that reaches out to colleges, universities, school districts, private industry, and professional associations about how they can achieve sustainability by incorporating certain practices into their daily operations. BPA # 13 -Surface and Groundwater Resources Identify best practices to protect and improve surface and groundwater resources such as development of an educational program aimed at reducing water wasted through irrigation; investigating new design standards and incentives to emphasize the use of natural drainage systems; and, seeking ways to modify street improvement projects to provide less impervious surface and utilize rainwater gardens, porous pavement and other environmentally friendly techniques. BPA #14 -Mississippi River Water Conservation Identify best practices to promote water saving practices such as adoption of water conservation policies that help protect the Mississippi River and its tributaries. BPA #15 -Innovative Opportunities Identify best practices for innovative opportunities to improve the environment; for example, discovering ways to partner with local utility and power providers, think tanks, manufacturers, etc. to establish regular meetings to brainstorm and implement outreach opportunities and programs; and, encouraging neighborhood environmental initiatives and investigating funding programs for local environmental projects/improvements. BPA #16 -Sustainable Govermnent Policies/Practices Identify best practices to make all existing and new policies, regulations, and ordinances sustainability friendly through creation of incentive programs for certain areas where applicable (i.e., recycling at local schools). B. Discretionary Tasks with Sustainability Framework Plan Participants - In addition to the completion of the St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan, the consultant may be contracted by individual government jurisdictions, other public bodies, or private parties to complete the following discretionary tasks. A number of local units have already expressed interest in the completion of all or some of the discretionary tasks listed below: 4. 5. ^ Review Existing Plans. The consultant will be expected to review existing ordinances, policies, and management plans to ensure consistency with the goals of the Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan. Plans to review include comprehensive plans and land use ordinances. ^ Conduct Energy Audits. The consultant will be expected to assess public facilities and fleets to recommend areas of energy conservation, develop cost benefit analysis for new technology and a cost estimate for green energy sources. ^ Develop Short Range (3-5 years) Practices, Implementation Strategies, and Performance Indicators in each of the sixteen Best Practice Areas. The consultant will be asked to assist in creating short range implementation activities based upon their assessment and direction of the participating local government. These strategies are to include cost estimates for their implementation. - ^ Develop Long Range (5-15 years) Practices, Implementation Strategies, and Performance Indicators in each of the sixteen Best Practice Areas. The consultant will be asked to assist in creating long range implementation activities based upon their assessment and direction of the participating local government. These strategies are to include cost estimates for their implementation. PROJECT BUDGET A project budget has not been established, but will be negotiated with the most highly qualified consultant team by the Joint Planning District Board's Sustainability Committee and participating jurisdictions depending upon their level of desired services. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the Joint Planning District Board's Sustainability Committee will. terminate those discussions in writing and initiate negotiations with the next most highly qualified consultant. PROJECT TIMELINES Every effort will be made to adhere to the following schedule: Distribute RFQ February _, 2009 Statement Submission Deadline March _, 2009 Consultant Selection April _, 2009 • 6. SELECTION PROCESS The Joint Planning District Board's Sustainability Committee will consider the following criteria in selecting the most qualified consultant team. Statements of qualifications should address these criteria: ^ The consultant's understanding of the assignment ^ The proposed methodology, potential timeframe, and deliverables ^ Specify the principals and staff to be involved in the study, along with their general qualifications, and a swmnary of their experiences in similar sustainability projects ^ The experience of the consultant(s) in coordinating significant regional or inter jurisdictional projects. ^ References (provide a minimum of three references) • Include a typical schedule of fees and hourly rates of staff (this is not an estimated nroiect cost or estimate of hours needed to complete the task but an indication of hourly rates for comparison between firms). 7. SUBMISSION INFORMATION Envelopes marked "Request for Qualifications, St. Cloud Joint Planning District Sustainability Framework Plan", with the proponents name and address shown on the upper left hand corner of the envelope will be received by the City of St. Cloud Planning & Zoning Department at 400 2"d Street South prior to noon on March _, 2009. Faxed or emailed proposals will not be accepted. 8. CONTACT INFORMATION The City of St. Cloud's Planning & Zoning Department will be serving as the primary contract for the RFQ process on behalf of the St. Cloud Joint Planning District Board's Sustainability Committee. If you have any questions regarding this RFQ, please contact Matt Glaesman OR Nia Primus City of St. Cloud City of St. Cloud '- Community Development Director Sustainability Coordinator 320-650-3110 320-255-7218 matt.glaesmanna ci.stcloud.mn us nia.primusna,ci.stcloud.mn.us ST. CLOUD AREA JOINT PLANNING DISTRICT BOARD 2009 MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES (Updated 1 /14/2009) :Jurisdiction Re resentati~e(s) Alternate St. Cloud John C. Pederson 2817 - 15~h Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301 (320)654-8558 H (320)529-6932 W jederson@amconblock. com Carolyn Garven 624 Riverside Drive N.E. St. Cloud, MN 56304 {320)252-7737 cj arven(a,charter.net Sartell Tim O'Driscoll David Peterson 414 Eleanor Court 338 -Second Street N.E. PO Box 225 Sartell, MN 56377 Sartell, MN 56377 (320)492-8017 (320)251-4306 H david.peterson20@yahoo.com trainer414 hotmail.com Sauk Rapids Paul Weber Mr. Jared Gapinski 109 Fourth Ave. N. 1202 Hillside Road Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (320)258-3035 H (320)248-7777 fwbenton aol.com fared allstatecom.com St. Joseph Steve Frank Renee Symanietz 606 Birch Street W. 354 Fourth Ave. S.E. St. Joseph, MN 56374 St. Joseph, MN 56374 (320)493-0311 C (320)980-1461 C sfrank(c~stcloudstate.edu symanietzrenee cr,clearwire.net Rockville Jeff Hagen PO Box 93 Rockville, MN 56369 (320)266-0377 C jsha en ocketmail.com 2009 Member Representatives Page 2 Waite Park Charles S. Schneider 31 Greenstone Lane Waite Park, MN 56387 (320)253-2271 chucks cloudnet.com Benton County Spencer Buerkle 611 - 7th Street N. Earl Bukowski 1500 Meadowbrook Lane N.E. Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (320) 251-3619 H (320)252-4901 H Sherburne County Felix Schmiesing 5612 -115th Ave. Rachel Leonard 27655 -1 12th Street Clear Lake, MN 55319 Zimmerman, MN 55398 (320)743-2600 H (763)856-2497 H (320)743-2613 (fax) donna.primus@co.sherburne.mn.us flextran frontiernet.com Stearns County Vince Schaefer PO Box 66 Mark Sakry 413 S. 10th Ave. Rockville, MN 56369 Waite Park, MN 56387 (320)253-1499 H 252-5022 H 248-0263 C 252-7616 W vince.schaefer co.stearns.mn.us marks co.stearns.mn.us