2. MINNEAPOLIS GREEN ZONES INITIATIVE
July 2014
Primary Author:
Julia Eagles
Prepared for:
City of Minneapolis Sustainability Office
Gayle Prest, Director
Brendon Slotterback, Program Coordinator
This research was part of a year-long internship position with the City of Minneapolis
Sustainability office. Thanks to Megan Hoye from the Center for Energy and Environment for
her assistance providing background, resources and feedback for this report.
3. Table of Contents
Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………1-2
Background and Problem Definition………………………………………………………3-6
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Program Design…………………………………………………………………………………….5
Models from other Communities..…………………………...…………………………….6
Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………..7-15
1 – Screening Tool.…………………………………………………………………................7
2 – Green Zones Policy………………………………………………………………………..10
3 – Community Engagement……………………………………………………………….12
4 – Demonstration Project…………………………………………………………………..15
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………16
References………………………………………………………….…………………………..19-20
Appendix………………………………………………………….……………………………………21
4.
5. What are Green Zones?
A Green Zone is a community initiative to provide deep and ongoing services
on a neighborhood scale to transform underserved and environmentally
impaired parts of a city into vibrant, thriving and sustainable communities.1
Programs take on various forms depending on the needs in a given city, but a
few key elements are common. Communities are selected using a cumulative
impacts screening process to identify high-priority neighborhoods. Partners
and community members work with cities to develop public policies and
funding sources that will support these local goals over time.
Green Zones are based on the principle that community voices should be involved in defining and
planning their own future. The goals of Green Zones are to:
· Reduce environmental pollution, and improve land-use decision making
· Invest in sustainable, community-based development
· Increase community capacity and power for positive change2
In neighborhoods with disproportionate levels of environmental and health risks, where residents may be
exposed to pollution and degradation from industrial and transportation infrastructure, Green Zones are
designed to target public and private investment to address those risks. In Minneapolis these neighborhoods
often have above-average poverty rates and are home to many residents of color, who have historically been
burdened with more than their share of environmental risks. Climate change poses an additional set of
challenges for already vulnerable communities, where existing risks are exacerbated and there is less
economic, institutional, scientific and technical capacity to cope and adapt.3
Green Zones designation aims to
reverse this trend and prepare vulnerable communities by prioritizing them for receiving local, state and
federal resources for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, community gardens, parks and
“green” business entrepreneurship, among other programs.
In Minneapolis, disparities between white people and people
of color in the areas of education, employment, economic
vitality and health are pervasive. Data from the Minneapolis
Foundation and Wilder Research looked at 24 community
indicators to compare performance in the areas of education,
economic vitality, and representative leadership between
racial groups, and to measure progress towards addressing
those disparities.4
Across most of those indicators, a wide
gap in opportunity or outcomes exists by race and income.
Green Zones is one strategy that could be part of broader
efforts to address those racial disparities in the City.
Similar place-based strategies have been used in a number of
other cities to deliver housing, education, healthcare and other
services in a particular neighborhood or geographic area. The
Green Zones model addresses environmental factors such as
access to transportation options, nutritious food, green
infrastructure, healthy housing and clean air and water to
improve social and economic outcomes.
Executive Summary
1
Figure 1:
Population
under age 18
who live in
poverty,
from the One
Minneapolis
Report.
Children in
Poverty
6. Existing Programs, Policies & Initiatives
There are a number of models in other cities for targeting
specific neighborhoods or urban areas for sustainable,
community-based development. These include:
Green Impact Zone — Kansas City, MO
Clean Up and Green Up Policy — Los Angeles
Emerald Cities — Various cities
Eco Districts — Portland, OR
PlaNYC Green Program — New York, NY
Green Zones Initiative — California Environmental
Justice Alliance, Southern CA
Environmental Justice Screening Methodology —
University of South California
The strategies for each of these programs varies slightly,
this report will outline the key design features from those
programs to inform recommendations for the City of
Minneapolis including ownership, organizational structure
and governance, funding, methods to define geographic
focus and potential metrics to measure impacts.
Several programs already exist in Minneapolis that aim to transition underserved and environmentally
impaired parts of the city into healthier, safer, and more economically viable places to live and work. For
example, the Green Homes North initiative is building 100 energy efficient homes over five years to revitalize
neighborhoods in North Minneapolis.5
The Midtown Sustainability Initiative is focused on increasing energy
efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, transportation alternatives and water conservation along the Lake
Street corridor in South Minneapolis.6
Hawthorne Eco Village is another project in North Minneapolis with
goals of achieving greater energy independence, maximizing bio-diversity, protecting the local watershed,
and acting as a catalyst for future sustainable urban redevelopment, both nearby and across the country.7
The Allina Backyard Initiative and Northside Achievement Zone take similar approaches but focus on health
and educational outcomes.
Recommendations for Implementation in Minneapolis
This report includes four potential strategies for implementing a Green Zones initiative in Minneapolis, to
leverage existing programs and improve overall environmental, economic and social sustainability outcomes
for residents. All four strategies should be implemented, either in tandem or in sequence, for a Green Zones
initiative to achieve comprehensive results.
2
“Green Zones are community efforts to transition
underserved and environmentally impaired parts of
a city into healthier, safer, and more economically
viable places to live and work. Some promising
tools are to use data and research to screen for and
research systemic energy poverty linkages, and to
provide deep and ongoing services on a
neighborhood scale. Minneapolis’ GrowNorth
initiative, the Hawthorne Eco Village, and the
Midtown Sustainability Initiative are current
examples of such targeted, neighborhood-scale
initiatives, each of which could potentially be
enhanced by a comprehensive Green Zones
approach. Urban Green Zones have been adopted
by cities that are trying to tackle systemic linkages
between sustainability and poverty. Programs and
services could also be coupled with data collection
to create a more rigorous understanding of energy
and health burdens.”
-Minneapolis Energy Pathways Study 1
-Establish a city policy
to prioritize resources
for designated urban
Green Zones (GZ)
-Identify policy barriers
and opportunities for
GZ implementation
-Develop methodology
based on cumulative
environmental and
health impacts
-Use screening tool to
designate Green Zones
and measure impacts
-Engage community
and local government
stakeholders to design
a tailored GZ strategy
-Leverage existing
assets from local
organizations & entities
-Establish a GZ pilot
program, in an anchor
community identified
by the screening tool
-Tailor strategies to
local interests and to
address specific needs
Screening Tool Green Zones
Policy
Community
Engagement
Demonstration
Project
7. Background and Problem Definition
Introduction: What is the Problem?
Communities of color, low-income and immigrant communities face disproportionate rates of environmental
hazards, pollution and health risks in their neighborhoods. A number of factors contribute to this inequity: a
history of residential segregation and discriminatory zoning, lower levels of political and economic power,
and market-driven land use and economic development patterns that tend to exacerbate the concentration
of environmental hazards in disadvantaged communities, distributing the benefits elsewhere.8
Organizing efforts to address these issues have occurred
across the country under the banner of environmental
justice, influencing political, economic and land use
decisions that impact health and quality of life. While
there have been a number of individual victories locally
to reduce pollution, prevent the introduction of new
sources, and increase environmental amenities such as
parks, green space and affordable housing, there has
not been a comprehensive strategy to overcome
systemic barriers to healthy environments and
economic opportunities.9
Green Zones initiatives offer a more integrated approach to targeting at-risk
neighborhoods and working with residents to identify local issues so that resources can be allocated to make
measurable health, environmental and economic improvements.
Disparities in Minneapolis
Minneapolis has some of the widest gaps between white people and people of color of any city in the
country in the areas of education, employment, economic vitality and health. Disparities also exist
geographically across the city, through measures of tree canopy coverage, access to amenities, utility costs
and proximity to environmental hazards.
Some key points of concern are noted below:
More than half of all the American Indian,
Asian, and Black children in Minneapolis are
living in poverty.
Hispanic, multiracial, and Black low-income
households in Minneapolis are the least likely
to have access to affordable housing, with
fewer than 2 in 10 paying housing costs
considered reasonable.
While only about 60% of Minneapolis residents
are White, 83% of jobs in the city are filled by
White workers.10
Given the racial disparities that exist in the city, a
targeted strategy that addresses these issues in a
place-based manner may be effective at bridging
some of those gaps. In order to effectively screen
for target Green Zone communities, design effective strategies and measure impacts of programs as they are
implemented, further data is needed to illustrate how the disparities break down geographically.
3
Photo source: Environmental Justice Advocates of MN
Figure 2: Data from the Minneapolis Sustainability Indicators
shows severe racial disparities in poverty rates in the city
8. 4
Background–
Beginning in early 2012, Minneapolis worked with
various stakeholders to develop a Climate Action
Plan for the city, to reduce its overall greenhouse
gas emissions reduction targets of 15% by 2015 and
30% by 2025.11
The plan provided a series of goals
and strategies in three key sectors: Buildings &
Energy, Transportation & Land Use, and Waste &
Recycling. An Environmental Justice Working Group
informed the plan’s content, to build social and
environmental equity into the plan and aim to
share the benefits of climate action with those who
will be most impacted by climate change.
Within the Energy & Buildings section, the plan
recommends developing a Green Zone initiative in Minneapolis (see text box). Designated Green Zone
neighborhoods would then be the recipients of targeted retrofit campaigns to increase efficiency or boost
renewable energy installations. Areas that are labeled Green Zone may be better positioned to access
funding and other resources offered by the city, state and federal agencies.
With the expiration of utility franchise agreements with both Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy at the end
of 2014, the City of Minneapolis embarked on a process to determine what it would want from a sustainable,
21st century energy system and potential options for achieving that system. The result of that process was
the Minneapolis Energy Pathways study. The report addresses concerns from policymakers, advocates,
businesses and residents related to environmental impacts of our energy system, reliability of service, local
economic impacts and the equity of energy services.1
A Green Zones initiative is introduced in the report as a
promising strategy to transition underserved and environmentally impaired parts of a city into healthier,
safer, and more economically viable places to live and work.
The study included a recommendation to implement a Green
Zones pilot project in the next 6-18 months in Minneapolis, as
part of efforts related to a city-utility partnership. This may
include working with the City planning office to devise a plan and
goals, allocating funds or staff to support such a program, and
connecting targeted communities with programs that will train
and employ local residents to do work such as energy efficiency
improvements or clean energy installations. The potential
savings from such an initiative was estimated assuming 5% participation among public buildings, residential
properties and small businesses in a targeted zone of the city. This would result in estimated energy savings
of up to 50,000 MMbtu in 2025.1
In the past year the City of Minneapolis has also launched its Equitable Solutions for One Minneapolis racial
equity framework, aimed at eliminating institutional racism in city structures. The goal of the framework is to
provide tools, data, proposed targets and strategies for viewing the City’s work through a racial equity lens
that can influence community engagement, policy-making, planning and service delivery to improve the
socio-economic condition for residents of Minneapolis.12
The Equitable Solutions initiative provides a
powerful foundation of principles and tools (including a Racial Equity Assessment, Guides and Training) to
support a Green Zones initiative, both of which aim to address structural disparities within the City.
“The City could create an initial planning
framework based on a deeper review of
efforts in other cities and form a task force
to begin community led engagement to
identify the priorities on the ground.”
-Minneapolis Energy Pathways Study
“The Green Zone Initiative will create a city designation for
neighborhoods, or clusters of neighborhoods that face the
cumulative impacts of environmental, social, political and
economic vulnerability. Green Zones are an environmental
and economic development tool that targets new green
infrastructure and retrofits for a specific area, in a
comprehensive manner. Minneapolis Green Zones could
correspond with targeted housing and commercial retrofit
campaigns, to increase energy efficiency or boost renewable
energy installation. Green Zone designated neighborhoods
may be better positioned to access benefits offered by the city
as well as state and federal agencies, ranging from targeted
pollution reduction, to increased funding opportunities.”
-Minneapolis Climate Action Plan, June 2013
9. 5
Program Design
Green Zone definitions vary by location, but the
common concept is a local framework to improve
and protect the environmental and economic health
of a community affected by environmental
degradation. The Green Zone designation can be an entire city or a specific area with heavy concentrations of
pollution, determined by a set of screening metrics.13
Partners then work with cities to develop public policies
and resources that will support the local goals over time. In December 2010, the Environmental Protection
Agency endorsed the Green Zone concept at a White House forum as a model to protect environmental and
economic health that represents a new direction for the environmental justice movement.13
In a designated Green Zone, you might find:
Community involvement in decisions related to land use
and development;
More parks, community gardens, urban farms, green
businesses and jobs;
Land use policies that prevent new polluting projects or
facilities from locating in these communities;
Increased access to energy efficiency programs and
services and energy infrastructure improvements;
Support for businesses that want to “green up” their
operations; and
Focused investment from private and public sectors for
local economic development.13
The Green Zones approach creates community benefits in three areas: reducing existing environmental
pollution and improving land use decisions; investing in sustainable, community-based development; and
increasing community capacity and power.9
This approach aligns with the City’s racial equity vision, which
recognizes that in order to achieve equity, some individuals or groups may need to receive more resources or
services than others. A Green Zones initiative also supports the broader City goals of equity, safety, health,
vitality, connectedness and growth, articulated in 2014 by the City
Council as part of their long-term vision.14
Existing Metrics
Minneapolis tracks progress towards these goals in several ways.
One is called Results Minneapolis, which measures mostly internal
metrics related to City services. Another is through the
Sustainability Indicators, a set of 26 metrics in three topic areas —
Healthy Life, Greenprint and Vital Community — which provide a
baseline for the city and track progress towards 10-year
environmental, economic and social sustainability targets (see full
list in Appendix 1).15
While all of this data is useful for measuring
the impact of some City programs, it doesn’t provide the level of
specificity necessary for a place-based strategy like Green Zones.
Only a few of the existing indicators have geographic and
demographic-specific data, which would be necessary for
developing a Green Zones screening methodology.
Architectural rendering of the Hawthorne Eco-Village
Image source: Coen Partners
Figure 3: Neighborhood Urban Tree Canopy
An analysis by the University of
Minnesota mapped urban tree canopy
coverage by parcel across the city. This
map shows coverage by neighborhood.
“The Green Zone concept is an affirmative approach to
reduce and prevent pollution—one that looks at the overall
environmental and economic health of a community.”
-Communities for a Better Environment
10. Entity/Location Initiative Overview
University of Southern
California
Environmental Justice
Screening Methodology
A mapping and scoring procedure to identify
cumulative impacts and social vulnerability within
regions to identify overburdened communities and to
inform citing, zoning and policy decisions 16
California Environmental
JusticeAlliance
Green Zones Initiative
An advocate-led effort to pass state-wide Green Zones
policy to move California away from environmental
siloes and towards transformation of toxic hotspots 17
LosAngeles, CA
Clean Up and Green Up
City Policy
A policy initiative that aims to address environmental
justice issues in communities disproportionally affected
by industrial land uses and other polluting sources.
Based on a four-pillar system of prevention, reduction,
revitalization and reinvestment 18
PlaNYC Green Buildings &
Energy Efficiency
Zone Green
Program
A citywide initiative that will unlock opportunities for
building owners to make sustainable investments in
new and existing buildings, part of the city’s larger
comprehensive strategies for growth 19
Portland, OR Eco Districts
A model of public-private partnership that emphasizes
innovation and deployment of district-scale best
practices to create the neighborhoods of the future -
resilient, vibrant, resource efficient and just 20
Washington, D.C.
(headquarters, network is nationwide)
Emerald Cities
A non-profit network of organizations working
together to advance a sustainable environment while
creating greater economic opportunities for all by
retrofitting building stock, creating high wage jobs, and
revitalizing local economies in metropolitan regions 21
Kansas City, MO Green Impact Zone
A cooperative effort to focus funds on projects in a
targeted 150-square-block area of Kansas City
Strategies include housing, neighborhood capacity
building, employment and job training, energy and
water conservation 22
6
Models from Other Communities
Photos from California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)’s Green Zones Initiative
11. 7
One of the barriers to implementing a Green Zones
initiative is the lack of a methodology and data for
identifying target communities. While there has been
recognition of the disproportionate health impacts
and environmental hazards for minority and low-
income communities, there has not been sufficient
measurement and tracking to assess cumulative
impact of these hazards in a comprehensive way.
Developing a set of consistent measures to track
disparities would also help to design strategies to
effectively address those inequalities, tailored to
mitigate the specific risks faced by a community.
Minneapolis uses its Sustainability Indicators to
track a number of metrics related to environmental,
economic and social sustainability in the city (see
Appendix for full list), but this piecemeal approach
does not give a holistic view of cumulative impacts.
The first step would be to update those metrics to
align with the risks or disparities identified as most
important for the city to mitigate, and to gather
geospatial data on those metrics. Next would be to
develop a scoring or screening method that reveals
and ranks the cumulative impact of the risks. Such a
tool could be used not only to direct resources for a
Green Zones initiative, but as a broader decision-
making tool for policy makers to inform zoning and
planning decisions, regulatory strategies and
infrastructure investments.
Screening Tool
Existing Data Sources:
Twin Cities Environmental Justice Atlas: 23
This tool (summarized in detail on page 12) was
developed by the Center for Earth Energy and Democracy
to track pollution and toxic risks in the Twin Cities.
While not yet a cumulative screening tool, the atlas
provides a foundation of geospatial data on race and
ethnicity, land use, housing stock and poverty rates.
Minneapolis Sustainability Indicators: 15
Of the city’s twenty-six Sustainability Indicators, only 6
have geospatial data available. Much of the data for these
indicators comes from public sources such as state
agencies and the Census, while some is collected by city
departments. The city has relied on free data sources to
populate these metrics, but a Green Zones screening tool
may require additional resources to collect new data.
MN Compass: Minneapolis neighborhoods 24
This project, led by the Wilder Foundation, measures
progress across the state—in topic areas such as
education, economy, workforce, health, housing and
public safety– to inspire action. Neighborhood-specific
data is available on household income, educational
attainment, housing stock, employment rate and
languages spoken at home. This data has been compiled to
give some cumulative measurement identifying
“neighborhoods of concern.” While not a comprehensive
tool, it provides a useful foundation of potential metrics.
Figure 5: Data from the City’s Community Planning and
Economic Development department on green jobs. The
data shows steady growth in this area, but is not available
by specific industry and location.
Healthy Food Access
Figure 4: Map showing access to healthy food outlets in
Minneapolis. Data from the Sustainability Indicators
Recommendations
12. 8
Twin Cities Environmental Justice Atlas
The Center for Earth Energy and Democracy developed the Environmental Justice (EJ) Atlas in partnership
with the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota, with input from community
members in the Twin Cities and allied environmental justice organizations across the country. The EJ Atlas
provides information about pollution and toxic risks in the Twin Cities community and a way to compare
environmental risks across communities based on race and income, and health sensitive populations.
The atlas currently includes the following data: 23
The tool provides a baseline, but could be expanded upon and supplemented with more specific data to
create a screening tool for identifying highest risk
communities. There are limitations to what
geographically-specific data is available due to
privacy protections. Efforts at the state and
federal level to establish rules and processes for
disclosing energy use data may help to more
accurately identify properties with the greatest
energy savings opportunities.
An additional data set comes from a recent study
by Julian Marshall at the University of Minnesota,
which looked at exposure to outdoor air pollution
such as nitrogen oxide (NO2). The study found
that nationally, people of color are exposed to 38
percent higher levels of NO2 compared to white
people.25
The analysis included demographic
Census data (race-ethnicity, poverty status,
education status, and age) as well as air pollution
and land use data. Nitrogen dioxide comes from
sources like vehicle exhaust and power plants,
and breathing it is linked to asthma symptoms
and heart disease.25
By aggregating data from
sources such as the Marshall study and other
research, the Environmental Justice Atlas could be
used to screen communities for Green Zone
initiative implementation.
Data set Source
Race and Ethnicity U.S. Census 2010, available at the block group level
Median Household Income American Community Survey, 2010 5-year survey, block group level
Owner & Renter Occupied Housing Hennepin County and Ramsey County parcel data, July 2012
Blighted Housing City of Minneapolis and City of St. Paul Assessors, 2012
Land Use Metropolitan Council, Generalized Land Use 2010 for the Twin Cities
Potential Hazards, Air Quality,
Landfills, and Contaminated Sites Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Site Data, 2010
Air Monitoring Stations Annual Air Monitoring Annual Plan, MPCA, 2012
Food Stores Google, Center for Earth Energy and Democracy 2013
Energy Poverty Derived from 2010 US Census data and the 2012 American Community Survey
Figure 6: A sample of data from the Twin Cities Environmental
Justice Atlas, highlighting energy poverty (disproportionate
energy costs) and volatile organic compound emitters.
13. 9
Case Study: University of Southern California, Environmental Justice Screening Methodology
The Environmental Justice Screening Method (EJSM) is a tool being developed by three faculty from colleges and
universities across California to assess the cumulative impact of environmental hazards holistically and in a way that
addresses patterns of environmental inequality. The tool itself is a fairly simple, flexible and transparent map, which
incorporates a scoring system that weights the cumulative risk of a variety of environmental and social hazards. Results
from the map can be used for citing, zoning, and policy development and decision-making in addition to identifying over-
burdened communities. It was initially developed for the California Air Resources Board to assess cumulative impact on
the basis of three factors: hazard proximity and land use, air pollution exposure and estimated health risk, and social and
health vulnerability.26
The tool is being updated as more data is added, coverage is expanded across California, and
indicators are developed related to climate change and vulnerability.
A critical component of the EJSM and other screening tools is to involve public participation in developing the metrics, to
get community input and potentially assistance in the data collection process. Getting buy-in from community members
will help legitimize the screening process among residents and may introduce new measures to include.
The EJSM tool uses 23 different indicators metrics including:27
Sensitive land use indicators: childcare and healthcare facilities, schools, playgrounds
Hazardous facilities and land uses: air quality hazards, hazardous land uses (refineries, airports, ports, etc.)
Health risk and exposure: respiratory hazards, cancer risks, particulate matter, ozone
Social and health vulnerability: people of color, low-income households, home ownership levels, educational
attainment, housing value, age of residents (under 5 and over 60), linguistic isolation, voter turnout, birth outcomes
The tool is intended to serve as a model for other communities – to score small areas based on regionally-specific metrics
and use the results to change policy. In Minneapolis a similar tool could be developed that makes use of existing data
resources, supplemented with more geospatial data on environmental and health risks and exposure.
Figure 7: Environmental Justice Screening Method (EJSM) Scores for Southern California.
Scores range from 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating closer proximity to hazards, higher
levels of exposure, and a higher degree of social vulnerability.
Screening Tool Recommendation
14. A number of communities have used policy measures to
institute or support their Green Zones initiatives, aimed
at different community-specific issues and goals.
Minneapolis has included Green Zones references in
several of its existing reports and plans, including the
Climate Action Plan and Energy Pathways Study. While
these documents each lay out some suggestions for
implementation, an official policy would institutionalize
the recommendations and may help direct City
resources, staff and funds to Green Zones projects.
Communities have taken various approaches to policy
development to support Green Zones.
The City of Los Angeles passed a motion to designate
Green Zone districts in the city (see side bar for more
details) which would gain access to incentives to
encourage green development and regulations to limit
pollution. New York City took a different approach with
its Zone Green program (see side bar, page 11)
examining existing policies, plans, zoning and regulation
to remove barriers to green construction and retrofits.
The City of Commerce, CA passed a four-pillar plan that
aims to prevent toxic exposure to residents from new
land uses; reduce the level of existing impacts through
voluntary business collaborations, allowing participants
to utilize less polluting equipment; revitalize local
economic opportunities to contribute in a vibrant
economy and increase of jobs, and reinvest in key
boulevards to bolster business and quality of life
opportunities.28
The California Environmental Justice
Alliance, a coalition of organizations representing
communities across the state, has been working to
develop an Assembly Bill (AB 1330) to identify
disadvantaged communities for investment
opportunities, increase environmental enforcement in
highly impacted areas, advance resources in over-
burdened areas, and ensure the state has an equitable,
sustainable plan for reducing and managing hazardous
waste.29
The bill provides a model state-wide policy
to address the problem of disproportionate pollution
burdens in low-income and minority communities.
Each of these approaches has merit, and Minneapolis
might take a hybrid approach, both examining existing
rules and regulations and developing new policies and
decision-making tools to enable Green Zones.
Green Zones Policy
10
Case Study: LosAngeles Clean Up Green Up
In June of 2013, the City of Los Angeles City Council
passed a “Clean Up, Green Up” motion, which
designated three communities in the city as “green
zone” districts.30
In an effort to use municipal planning
and enforcement strategies to address cumulative
community impacts, the City directed the Planning
Department to implement a program to attract clean
industries through incentives, including help obtaining
permits and tax and utility rebates. Polluters would
then be targeted with tougher inspection and
enforcement protocols. This includes an ongoing
outreach strategy to gather input from residents,
businesses and stakeholders on the process. The City
will create an ombudsman office to connect businesses
with city, state and federal resources - business
planning support, low interest loans - as well as
helping businesses comply with existing regulations,
streamlining city permitting processes and focusing
economic investment in the target communities
through public-private partnership. The program is
supported by a $100,000 foundation grant accepted
by the city to support salaries and other costs.18
15. 11
Existing Green Policies in Minneapolis:
Minneapolis already has a number of both internal
and external policies, codes and ordinances to
encourage environmentally responsible practices in
City operations and among residents and businesses.
The City aims to lead by example with its
government policies, such as an environmental
purchasing policy, a LEED building policy and a Green
Fleets policy to reduce the environmental impacts of
municipal purchases, properties and vehicles.32
Externally, the City has enacted a variety of
ordinances related to air, land, water and energy
that the City to reduce environmental impacts from
residents and businesses. Examples of those
ordinances include an anti-idling policy, a building
energy disclosure ordinance, and waste control and
discharge rules.33
Minneapolis’ Environmental
Services Department, housed in the Department of
Health, is responsible for enforcing those
ordinances; administering programs to support
clean, healthy and efficient business practices; and
monitoring environmental quality.
These policies provide a strong foundation for
Minneapolis to build upon with its Green Zones
policy. Part of the process should be reviewing the
City’s Municipal Code to identify existing regulatory,
inspection and enforcement programs that may align
with a Green Zones initiative, but also looking for
regulatory and programmatic gaps that should be
addressed. Dedicated staff time and resources will
be required to coordinate the process and engage
the community in planning and implementation.
The Minneapolis Sustainability Indicators, which
were referenced in detail in the previous section,
provide not only a measurement and potential
screening tool for the City, but could also be used to
set targets related to a Green Zones initiative.
Existing indicator targets related to brownfield site
clean-up and renewable energy project permits are
examples of the types of goals the City might set for
environmental improvements. The communities
identified by the screening tool might take priority
for those services based on highest need. Integrating
Green Zones into the Sustainability Indicators would
create an institutional process for setting goals and
measuring impacts of the program.
Case Study: PlaNYC Zone Green Program
As part of its broader plan to prepare the city for more
residents, strengthen the economy, combat climate
change, and enhance the quality of life- called PlaNYC-
the New York City Department of City Planning has
launched a citywide initiative called PlaNYC Green
Buildings & Energy Efficiency to implement sustainability
and energy efficiency improvements in new and existing
buildings in the city.19
One component of that plan is
called Zone Green — a set of amendments to zoning
regulations, accompanied by supporting City and State
legislation, to remove impediments to the construction
and retrofitting of green buildings. By removing obstacles
caused by previous zoning regulations and empowering
property owners to build or retrofit buildings to 21st
century standards, Zone Green will unlock opportunities
to make buildings greener. Some of the strategies include
installing external insulation, generating renewable
energy, managing storm water through green roofs and
detention systems, and providing opportunities to grow
local food.31
A Green Codes Task Force was formed,
convening a group of leading practitioners at the request
of then Mayor Bloomberg, to review and give
recommendations to the Council on City regulations
related to green buildings. The group was free to propose
changes to any and all codes and regulation that may pose
impediments to sustainability.
Green Zones Policy Recommendation
16. 12
Community Engagement
Community engagement is the organized, interactive
partnership between a government and its citizens,
which is essential to the effective implementation of
government-initiated sustainability programs.34
This
process can foster a sense of community investment
in the initiative that will support successful out-
comes. An inclusive approach to policy-making takes
advantage of the assets and diverse perspectives of
the city’s population. A proactive and relationship-
driven approach helps to anticipate and address
potential roadblocks to implementation.
In developing a Minneapolis Green Zones initiative,
there must be an effort to involve residents in all
stages of the process, from visioning to implement-
ation, to maintain trust and accountability to the
public. Imperative to this process is the inclusion of
diverse local stakeholders, targeting under-
represented communities who may be uniquely
impacted by the initiative’s implementation. These
stakeholders should also include relevant City
departments and elected officials, other local
government partners, and representatives from the
private and business sectors. Information about the
process should be made available and accessible to
residents through a variety of channels. The City’s
website provides a potential forum for resources,
but efforts should also be made to provide access
through local media and social networks and with a
concerted effort to reach Limited English Proficiency
residents. In order for community groups to
effectively participate, there is a need to build the
capacity of residents through trainings and funding
opportunities.
These principles should be upheld in all
engagement efforts:
honor the wisdom and experience of residents
treat them with integrity and respect
work to ensure an inclusive process
solicit input from under-represented groups
maintain transparency
share decision making and leadership with
participants
welcome feedback and recommendations
throughout the process 34
Case Study: Eco Districts
EcoDistricts is a comprehensive strategy developed by the
Portland Sustainability Institute to accelerate sustainable
development at the neighborhood-scale by integrating
building and infrastructure projects with community and
individual action.20
The scale of is small enough that they
can implement projects quickly and nimbly to have a
significant sustainability impact. Many of the strategies
involved in EcoDistricts are well-suited to community-scale
deployment, including green street and alley projects,
district energy generation, urban agriculture, and public art
projects.35
The EcoDistricts approach (illustrated below)
involves community members at each step in the process:
assembling neighborhood stakeholders, utilities, property
developers, and municipalities to develop a collective
community vision and manage its implementation.
Emerald Cities
Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national network
of organizations that work to “advance a sustainable
environment while creating greater economic opportunities
for all.”21
ECC is based on a collaborative model, which
engages leaders from government, labor, community and
business to implement large-scale building retrofits, create
high-wage trade jobs, and revitalize local economies in
participating Emerald Cities across the country. The
collaborative approach encourages shared learning and
action, helps to bridge historic divides between groups,
builds social capital within communities and produces well-
rounded and sustainable outcomes. ECC coalitions focus on
supporting metropolitan regions in ways that are
accountable and equitable- engaging historically excluded
and hard-to-reach populations in the new green economy.36
There are currently Emerald Cities pilot projects in the
following cities: Atlanta, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New
York, Milwaukee, Oakland, Portland, Providence, San
Francisco and Seattle.21
17. 13
Community Engagement Recommendation
Minneapolis Models for Community Engagement
Minneapolis has a number of existing structures in place to encourage community engagement in city processes:
Citizen Boards and Commissions:
Minneapolis has over 50 volunteer-based boards,
commissions and advisory committees with over 600
members. The City seeks applicants with diverse back-
grounds and experiences to inform city policy-making. This
provides a useful framework for engaging residents in city
programs and decision-making.37
Community Environmental Advisory Commission:
A volunteer committee, made up of community members,
representatives from environmental advocacy groups,
technical environmental experts and representatives from
industries or companies having a major impact on the environment. been formed to provide assistance and advice to the
city's efforts with its principal focus on sustainable development.38
The commission works closely with the Sustainability
Office to provide advice and comments on projects, programs and policies. Members are appointed by the City
Council, representing various wards and local government entities. CEAC’s membership and role in city decision-
making may provide a useful model for a Green Zones initiative.
Minneapolis Climate Change Innovation Grants:
Beginning in 2007, the Minneapolis Climate Change Innovation Grant program was designed to empower direct,
immediate actions by residents and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of the grants was to
energize local groups- including neighborhood organizations, schools, and nonprofits- to develop community-scale
solutions in energy efficiency and sustainability, and to inspire their communities to take action. In the 4 years the
program operated, the city distributed over $250,000 in grant funds to support local projects.39
The projects saved
Minneapolis residents and businesses thousands of dollars, prevented tons of carbon dioxide emissions and built lasting
community connections. While the program is no longer active, it provides a model for how the City can empower
community groups to design and implement sustainability, carbon reduction programs and initiatives.
Minneapolis Climate Action Plan development process:
In early 2012, the City of Minneapolis embarked on a process to develop a Climate Action Plan to reduce its carbon
emissions. This began with the formation of three technical working groups and a steering committee, each made up of
City and other government agency representatives, technical experts, community representatives, and members of the
City’s Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC).11
Public open houses held in the community
attracted over 50 attendees, many of whom provided written comments which were recorded and shared with the
Steering Committee, and an online survey garnered 65 additional responses. Project staff also presented the draft goals
and strategies to four additional City advisory groups. An Environmental Justice Working Group (EJWG) was
established to ensure that the voices of those most impacted by both climate change (namely communities of color,
American Indians, and low-income communities) were represented and supported in a decision-making capacity in the
planning process. This process, of engaging diverse stakeholders and experts in developing a plan, may serve as a model
for creating a Green Zones imitative in Minneapolis.
Allina Backyard Initiative
This partnership between Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the Cultural Wellness Center, and neighborhood residents took a
place-based approach to improve health outcomes of the residents who live in the “backyard” of the major healthcare
providers in South Minneapolis.40
Through this process, residents participated in Citizen Health Action (CHAT) teams,
designed and conducted a massive local health research study, organized preventative health interventions such as
aerobics classes and dinner gatherings. The initiative provides a model for effective institutional-community partnership.
A workshop sponsored by the City convening community
stakeholders on climate adaptation and resilience.
18. 14
In order to be successful, a Green Zones initiative in Minneapolis would have to engage stakeholders
throughout the City, both internal departments and external partners. Listed below are some of the primary
stakeholders who might be involved and their role as it relates to a Green Zones initiative:
Involving a variety of parties and interests will help to establish buy-in for the program, as well as bring a
diversity of perspective and resources. A successful initiative requires a comprehensive approach that
includes active community participation, assessment, new forms of capital and public policy support.
Consider the following recommendations in the Green Zones community engagement efforts:
Establish a community advisory group of stakeholders to assist in developing the vision and
implementation of a Green Zone initiative (potential partners outlined above)
Develop a Green Zones initiative website for the city - create accessible policy documents and guidelines,
and make city staff available to answer questions from the public
Provide grants and technical assistance to encourage locally-based projects and solutions for energy
efficiency, sustainability, etc.
Organization Role
City Departments:
Community Planning and
Economic Development (CPED)
Responsible for the City’s growth– both in residents and jobs—a critical
partner to help review plans and develop resources related to Green Zones
Health Department–
Environmental Services
Delivering programs and collecting data related to health equity,
supporting environmental ordinances and monitoring, providing support
for Green Zones screening, policy and implementation
Public Works A number of the potential Green Zones programs would likely relate to
public infrastructure and services
City Coordinator’s Office–
Sustainability Office
Coordinator of departments across the city, the maintainer of the
Sustainability Indicators, houses Homegrown Minneapolis program
Neighborhood and Community
Relations
Strengthening resident involvement and City-community partnerships
Local Government Partners:
Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Expansion of park land, green space and amenities
Minneapolis Public Schools Owner of properties and land throughout the city, as well as a link to youth
Hennepin County Managing funding and resources related to environmental education,
recycling and waste reduction
Community Partners:
Community-Based Organizations
Non-profit, advocacy organizations working on issues related to anti-
poverty, economic development, environmental justice, energy efficiency,
transit, local food access, etc.
Neighborhood Organizations Provide a connection to residents in the city’s 81 neighborhoods
Cultural Groups Another network of residents, who may otherwise be difficult to reach
Private/Business Partners Large and small, corporate and local, may provide funding, staff support
Utility Companies– Xcel Energy,
CenterPoint Energy
Key partners as the providers of electricity and natural gas services in the
city, have access to data and run programs for efficiency and conservation
Green Zones Community Advisory Group
19. Demonstration Project
The Minneapolis Energy Pathways Study includes a
recommendation as part of the City-Utility
Partnership to establish a Green Zones pilot with key
community leadership and third party facilitators.
Each Green Zones pilot will likely look somewhat
different depending on the community characteristics
and priorities. A key element of a Green Zones
initiative is that it be community-driven, based on
priorities identified by local residents and delivered
using culturally-appropriate strategies. A pilot Green
Zones project in Minneapolis– in a targeted area
identified through a comprehensive screening tool
and developed through a community engagement
process– could leverage existing city programs for
place-based implementation. A successful pilot
project would depend on a coordination between the
stakeholders outlined on the previous page.
“Communities identified as Green Zones, after an
extensive screening process, may collaborate with the
City and partners to create a community–based vision
for improved sustainability and environmental justice...
The City could also showcase best practices of affordable
housing developers who have maximized energy
efficiency and minimized utility costs in new projects.”
-Minneapolis Energy Pathways Study
Existing Models in Minneapolis
Program Overview
Hawthorne EcoVillage
A project of the Family Housing Fund, Project for Pride in Living, Habitat for Humanity,
the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and Hawthorne Council. Consists of four city
blocks in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Minneapolis, and involves a comprehensive
range of activities including housing, green space, tree canopy, green alleys, and more.7
Midtown Sustainability
Initiative
A project of the Midtown Community Works Partnership, which focuses on the 17
neighborhoods that touch the Midtown Greenway and Lake Street. Strategies will target
small business, large business, multi-family residential, and single family residential to
increase: energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, recycling, use of transportation
alternatives and water conservation.6
Green Homes North
An initiative of the City of Minneapolis and several partners which will build 100 energy
efficient homes on available City owned vacant lots over five years to revitalize
neighborhoods in North Minneapolis.5
There are several existing targeted, neighborhood-
scale initiatives (outlined in the table below) in
Minneapolis that could be enhanced by a
comprehensive Green Zones approach.
Existing City and local government programs that
could be leveraged include: CPED’s business
assistance and façade improvement grants, brown-
fields remediation, energy efficiency programs,
lead abatement grants, City Trees program, green
business matching grant program and Hennepin
County environmental grants, among others.
Implementation Strategies:
Green Zones projects can take many forms, depending on
the neighborhood characteristics and community priorities.
Examples of potential projects include:
Home weatherization
programs
Transit Oriented
Development
Urban agriculture and
food access initiatives
Job training, workforce
development
Business energy
efficiency & water
conservation
improvements
Tree planting campaigns
Appliance & electronics
recycling program
Waste reduction
strategies
Car and bike sharing
programs
Energy infrastructure
investments– smart grid
Rainwater harvesting
and water management
Green streets and
sidewalk improvements
Public art
15
20. 15
Demonstration Project Recommendation
Case Study: Kansas City Green Impact Zone
In 2009, the city of Kansas City, MO launched a program aimed to concentrate resources in one portion of the city to
model how a targeted investment of funding and programming could transform a struggling community to a thriving,
sustainable neighborhood. The project, called the Green Impact Zone, has become a national model for a place-based
environmental strategy that had measurable impacts. The initiative used a comprehensive neighborhood outreach
program to deliver health and wellness programs; job training and placement; economic development efforts; housing
rehab and weatherization programs; community policing and services; and neighborhood capacity-building all framed
around sustainability as a catalyst for transformation.22
The target area for the Green Impact Zone was 150 square
blocks in the heart of the city, which had experienced severe
economic decline and abandonment; unemployment was
estimated at nearly 50% in parts of the area and there were
more than 1,000 vacant lots and abandoned properties. More
than half of residents were renters and median income in the
target area was $22,712.41
In order to reverse these trends in
the zone, a team of leaders from neighborhood organizations,
community development groups, nonprofit partners and
public and private institutions was assembled to develop a
comprehensive transformation strategy.
The Green Impact Zone focused its efforts on eight strategies
identified by neighborhood leaders as priorities for
community transformation: housing, weatherization, energy
efficiency, employment and training, infrastructure, urban
agriculture, public safety and community services, and youth.
The project leveraged $178 million in funding from public
and private sources. Kansas City invested $4.2 million, with
other funding coming from state and federal government
Agencies: Departments of Transportation, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection
Agency; Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant stimulus money; state funding for weatherization work:
infrastructure investments by the utility company and private investments for housing rehab and incubator projects.22
Kansas City’s Green Impact Zone provides a successful model
for a comprehensive sustainability strategy, coordinated
programs and innovative engagement-based delivery. A few
key elements of the model are:
People and Place: Dedicated staff time helped to provide
the support to track, manage and advance initiatives, invest
in people as well as physical infrastructure.
Institutional Support: Having a large, recognized
Institution (in this case it was the Mid-American Regional
Council) helped to provide administrative support but also
to ground the initiative through community connections.
Scale: The work must be done on a scale large enough to
change the market in the community, focusing on specific
projects that can act as catalysts for further development.42
Groundbreaking on a new grocery store in the Green
Impact Zone in Kansas City
Highlights of Green Impact Zone achievements
16
21. 17
Conclusion
As U.S. cities diversify and environmental impacts persist, communities need new tools to address
environmental injustice challenges. Models from across the country for targeted, place-based strategies to
reduce disparities and improve environmental health provide some valuable lessons and examples for
Minneapolis as the city considers implementing its own Green Zones initiative. Partners in Los Angeles have
hired a staffer to help develop a city ordinance that will increase pollution prevention and assist businesses
to adopt sustainable practices; Kansas City has provided energy efficiency services to underserved
homeowners and small businesses to improve air quality and reduce energy costs; the focus of EcoDistricts
is on community-based land use planning to reduce pollution and improve health conditions. Each of these
is a Green Zones initiative, but aimed at different issues and goals.
How might Minneapolis approach a Green Zones initiative?
The City could integrate the recommendations in this plan into
existing initiatives such as the Grow North program, an economic
development effort that contains aspects of an Urban Green Zone
program. There are already many local advocates for a Green Zones
initiative. Identifying the high risk neighborhoods and the local issues
in those areas would be an early step for the City and advocates to
facilitate. The Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy’s (CEED)
Environmental Justice Atlas could be a building block for a more
in-depth screening of the city. With support from foundations, public health agencies, and utility companies
the City could establish a task force to begin planning and embark on a community-led engagement process
to identify priorities and local initiatives that might be part of a Green Zones program.
Recommendations:
Develop a screening tool: It will be important to first identify the disparities and hazards that are of
greatest concern to stakeholders, and design the screening tool to reflect those. The method would
develop a scoring system that quantifies aggregate impacts of a variety of metrics. Minneapolis’
Sustainability Indicators provide some baseline data in the areas of environmental amenities and
hazards, as well as health metrics and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Screening metrics might include:
“The work of the [City] – whether in
workforce, economic development,
housing, inspections or planning – is
structured around the triple bottom
line: growing the city, promoting
sustainability, and ending disparities.”
-Mayor Betsy Hodges
2014 State of the City
Data Set Source
Demographics Race, Ethnicity, Income, etc. - U.S. Census, American Community Survey
Land Use (Designations & Hazards) Metropolitan Council, Generalized Land Use 2010 for the Twin Cities
Housing Stock, Owner/Renter Occupied City of Minneapolis Assessors, Hennepin County parcel data
Potential Land Use Hazards Landfills, contaminated sites- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Site Data
Infrastructure Status Road quality, stormwater systems, etc.– Minneapolis Public Works
Sustainability Indicators
Public Health Infant mortality, teen pregnancy, asthma rates, healthy weight, lead
poisoning, etc. Minneapolis Health Department
Air Quality Air toxics and pollutants monitored - Minneapolis Environmental Services
Healthy Food Access Proximity to healthy food outlets - Homegrown Minneapolis
Brownfield Sites Location, # cleaned up - Community Planning & Economic Development
Tree Canopy Percentage coverage by parcel - University of Minnesota
22. 18
Form an advisory group: The success of any
Green Zones efforts will depend heavily on the
involvement of community members. An
advisory group including elected officials, city
staff and key partners could help design the
initiative and seek support for its
implementation.
Examine opportunities to leverage existing
programs and policies: The City and other local
entities could provide access to resources and
funding to assist with environmental
improvements. A Green Zones initiative should
include a thorough inventory of those resources
for targeted neighborhoods. A review of relevant
existing City policies should be completed to
identify opportunities to reduce barriers and
enable Green Zones implementation.
Create a pilot Green Zones program: Launch an
on-the-ground initiative in one of the
communities identified with the screening tool,
to deliver targeted resources that match the needs of the neighborhood.
Green Zones offer an innovative strategy for addressing the economic and environmental challenges in low-
income and communities of color in our urban centers. There are opportunities to leverage the existing
programs and policies of the City as well as the assets of the community to design an initiative and meet the
local needs. Green Zones aligns well with Minneapolis’ goals of growing the city and addressing issues of
racial equity, as well as growing interest in more sustainable models for developing and revitalizing
communities. A collaborative, multi-agency, problem-solving approach will be required for a Green Zones
policy to be effective. Minneapolis has the potential to implement this strategy to achieve more healthy,
vibrant and sustainable neighborhoods across the city.
Conclusion
23. 19
References
-1- Minneapolis Energy Pathways Study. City of Minneapolis. http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/www/ groups/public/
@citycoordinator/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-121587.pdf
-2- "Green Zones Factsheet." Center for Earth Energy and Democracy.
http://www.ceed.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Green-Zones.pdf
-3- "Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Co-operation." Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development. http://www.oecd.org/dac/43652123.pdf
-4- "Report: Mpls. race, ethnic-based disparities pervasive." Minnesota Public Radio News. Williams, Brandt.
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2011/10/05/minneapolis-foundation
-5- "Green Homes North." City of Minneapolis. Community Planning and Economic Development.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/housing/GreenHomesNorth
-6- "MCW Partnership Planning a New Sustainability Initiative." Midtown Community Works.
http://www.midtowncommunityworks.org/MCWSustainabilityInitiative.htm
-7- "Hawthorne Eco Village Master Plan." EcoVillage Minneapolis. Coen + Partners 2014.
http://www.ecovillageminneapolis.com/
-8- “Which Came First? Toxic Facilities, Minority Move-In, and Environmental Justice.” Manuel Pastor, Jr., Jim Sadd, and
John Hipp. Journal of Urban Affairs, 23.1 (2001): 3.
-9- “Green Zones for Economic and Environmental Sustainability.” California Environmental Justice Alliance, January 2012.
http://caleja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/greenzones_short.pdf
-10- “OneMinneapolis: Community Indicators Report.” Laura Kelly and Andi Egbert. The Minneapolis Foundation, Amherst
H. Wilder Foundation, October 2011.
http://www.minneapolisfoundation.org/Libraries/2011CommunityIndicatorsReport.sflb.ashx
-11- Minneapolis Climate Action Plan. City of Minneapolis. http://www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/
@citycoordinator/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-109331.pdf
-12- “Equitable Solutions for One Minneapolis: A Racial Equity Framework.” City of Minneapolis, April 2014. http://
www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@clerk/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-123811.pdf
-13- "CBE Takes the Lead in Creating Green Zones." Communities for a Better Environment- Green Zones Initiative. http://
www.cbecal.org/issues/green-zones/
-14- “City Vision, Values Goals & Strategic Directions.” City of Minneapolis, March 2014.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citygoals/
-15- "Minneapolis Sustainability Indicators." City of Minneapolis Indicators.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/indicators/sustainability_indicators
-16- "Screening for Justice: Proactive Spatial Approaches to Environmental Disparities." Environmental Justice Screening
Method. University of South California. Pastor, Manuel, Rachel Morello-Frosch , and Jim Sadd. http://dornsife.usc.edu/
assets/sites/242/docs/screening_for_justice.pdf
-17- “Green Zones Initiative: Transforming Toxic Hot Spots into Thriving Communities.” California
Environmental Justice Alliance. http://caleja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/GZ-2-pgr-2013.pdf
-18- "Los Angeles' 'green zone' plan is aimed at low-income, high-pollution areas." Los Angeles Times. Sahagun, Louis.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/21/local/la-me-hazards-pacoima-20110121
-19- "Greening the City's Codes & Regulations." PlaNYC Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency. The City of New York. http://
www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/html/home/home.shtml
-20- "Revitalizing cities from the neighborhood up." EcoDistricts. Portland Sustainability Institute. http://ecodistricts.org/
-21- Environment. Economy. Equity. Emerald Cities Collaborative. http://emeraldcities.org/
-22- "Green Impact Zone of Missouri." About the Green Impact Zone. Mid-America Regional Council, http://
www.greenimpactzone.org/
24. References– Continued
-23- Center for Earth Energy and Democracy. Twin Cities Environmental Justice Atlas. http://umn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/
OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=a826e71660804b97afd942c1d5001c22
-24- "Measuring Progress. Inspiring Action." Minnesota Compass. Wilder Foundation,
http://www.mncompass.org/
-25- "National Patterns in Environmental Injustice and Inequality: Outdoor NO2 Air Pollution in the United
States." University of Minnesota, Clark, Lara, Dylan Millet, and Julian Marshall.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0094431
-26- "Environmental Justice Screening Method." Program for Environmental and Regional Equity. USC Dornsife College.
http://dornsife.usc.edu/pere/cumulative-impacts/
-27- "Playing It Safe: Assessing Cumulative Impact and Social Vulnerability through an Environmental Justice Screening
Method in the South Coast Air Basin, CA." Sadd, James L., Manuel Pastor, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Justin Scoggins, and Bill
Jesdale. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 8.5 (2011)
-28- “Commerce Approves Three-Prongs of Green Zone Policy.” Eastern Publications Group News. Garcia, Jaqueline.
November 14, 2013. http://egpnews.com/2013/11/commerce-approves-three-prongs-of-green-zone-policy/
-29- AB 1330 Assembly Bill - AMENDED. (2011, September 2). http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1301-
1350/ab_1330_bill_20110902_amended_sen_v92.html
-30- Clean Up, Green Up. Communities for a Better Environment. http://www.cbecal.org/organizing/southern-california/
clean-up-green-up/
-31- "Zone Green Text Amendment." Department of City Planning. The City of New York.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/greenbuildings/index.shtml
-32- “Leading by Example: Government Policies.” City of Minneapolis Sustainability Office.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/approach/policies/index.htm
-33- “Environmental Services - Ordinances.” City of Minneapolis Health Department.
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/environment/environment_ordinances
-34- “Community Engagement: Sustainable Strategies.” National League of Cities, Sustainable Cities Institute. http://
www.sustainablecitiesinstitute.org/
-35- "The EcoDistricts Framework: Building Blocks of Sustainable Cities." EcoDistricts Framework.
Portland Sustainability Institute. http://ecodistricts.org/tools/framework/
-36- Environment. Economy. Equity. Emerald Cities Collaborative. http://emeraldcities.org/
-37- “Boards, Commissions and Advisory Committees.” City of Minneapolis City Clerk’s Office.
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/boards/
-38- “Sustainability Teams.” City of Minneapolis Sustainability Office.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/approach/teams/index.htm
-39- "Minneapolis Climate Change Grants." City of Minneapolis.
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/sustainability/action/grants/sustainability_climatechangegrants_home
-40- “Community engagement done right: The Backyard Initiative.” LISC Twin Cities.
http://www.tclisc.org/enews10s/byi.pdf
-41- "Funding." Green Impact Zone. http://www.greenimpactzone.org/funding
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http://greenimpactzone.org/assets/GreenImpactZone_EnergyWorksKC_WhitePaper.pdf
20
25. Indicator Target 1 Target 2
Healthy infants Reduce infant mortality rate Reduce low birth weight infants
Teen Pregnancy Reduce teen pregnancy rate
HIV and gonorrhea Reduce new HIV case rate Reduce new gonorrhea case rate
Healthy weight Increase healthy weight rate Decrease obesity rate
Asthma* Reduce asthma-related hospitalizations
Lead poisoning Test all 1- and 2-year olds for lead
Inspect all homes of children with
elevated blood lead
Climate change Reduce greenhouse gas emissions– citywide and from municipal operations
Renewable energy
Permit 70 renewable energy projects
annually
Increase renewable energy in municipal
operations
Air quality Reduce criteria air pollution levels Reduce all monitored air toxics
Tree canopy* Maintain the tree canopy level Plant at least 6,000 trees annually
Biking Increase % of bike commuters Increase the # of cyclists in bike counts
Transportation alternatives Reduce % of Minneapolis residents driving alone to work
Airport noise* Reduce average noise levels
Storm water Reduce pollutants in runoff Increase the number of rain gardens
Healthy lakes, streams,
rivers*
Achieve zero beach closings
Prevent the introduction and spread of
aquatic invasive species
Green jobs Achieve growth in green jobs Create jobs through building retrofits
Local food* Increase food producing gardens
Ensure all residents live within 1/4 mile
of a healthy food choice
Waste reduction & recycling Increase organics collection Recover 2/3 of all recyclable materials
Brownfield sites* Clean up 170 brownfield sites
Violent crimes Reduce the violent crime rate Maintain a low homicide rate
Community engagement
Ensure meaningful opportunities
for resident engagement
Increase participation in City
boards by non-white members
Homelessness End homelessness by 2016
Cost-burdened households
Reduce cost-burdened renter and owner
households
Produce affordable housing
through City programs
Employment and poverty
Reduce racial/ethnic disparities in
unemployment
Reduce racial/ethnic disparities
in poverty
Graduation rate Increase the high school graduation rate
Arts and the economy Increase creative sector workers Increase the # artists living in the city
Appendix 1: Minneapolis Sustainability IndicatorsAHealthyLifeGreenprintAVitalCommunity
* indicates data that is available geographically
21
