Greensteps Task Force Meets

On Thursday Quinn and John hosted a meeting for the Pine River Greensteps Task Force.

With representatives from the Initiative Foundation, the public works of Pine River and Mayor Jim Sabas in attendance, the meeting's goal was to decide how the city should proceed with its goal of Greensteps Designation.

Greensteps designation will demonstrate that the city of Pine River wants to improve quality of life and promote sustainable growth for the future.

The MN Pollution Control Agency specifies six "Best Practices" that all candidate cities are required to complete while Pine River must choose six more out of a list of 28. The meeting was intended to choose what the final 6 should be.

Pine River has already got a start on these six:

1) Community Involvement

Report Greensteps progress to the community

2) Improve Public Buildings

Introduce energy and sustainability improvements to public buildings.

3) Comprehensive Plan

Tie regulatory and zoning ordinances into the sustainability plan

4) Purchasing

City must adopt a plan to choose sustainable products and services

5) Urban Forests

Increase tree cover in the city

6) Green Business Development

Launch a "buy local" campaign and support sustainable business practices

For a full list of "Best Practices," go to http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bestpractices.cfm