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September 12, 2017 Page 6 of 7 <br />Protection Agency’s (EPA) Community Air Partnership (CAP) Program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bauman believed GreenStep Cities was a cap and trade program. She stated she did not <br />believe this was a program the City of New Brighton needed to be involved in. <br />Councilmember Jacobsen requested staff provide the Council with highlights on the GreenStep program. <br />Community Assets and Development Director Schlichting explained GreenStep Cities is a voluntary <br />program municipalities can utilize to provide them with information and a framework to <br />engage in s ustainable behaviors. Being a GreenStep City provides direct access to free <br />technical assistance or advisors that can help guide New Brighton to achieve sustainability <br />through the implementation of best practices, which focus on cost savings, energy use <br />reduction and innovation. It was noted the school district would also have access to these <br />services. He reported Andrew Meindl with the US EPA in Chicago is looking for a candidate <br />community to benefit from the EPA’s Community Air Partnership (CAP) Program. A selected <br />CAP community receives these sorts of assistance to accelerate needed city projects: <br /> <br />* Priority access to EPA grant funds (as available) <br />* On the ground technical assistance to address air quality issues <br />* Assistance in targeting opportunities to increase energy efficiency in the public/private <br />sector <br />* Development of community workgroups to address air quality and energy efficiency <br />* Air quality compliance assistance for businesses <br />* Educational workshops for residents and city staff <br />* Energy and air quality benchmarking of school districts <br /> <br />Councilmember Strub stated he supported New Brighton being a member of the CAP program <br />given the fact it was a free program and expert advice would be given to the City. <br />Councilmembe r Bauman explained her concern with the program was on how it would be <br />determined if “progress was being made”. <br />Councilmember Burg commented she supported the GreenStep City program and believed <br />only improvements to the City could occur from the CAP initiative. <br /> <br />4 Ayes, 1 Nay (Bauman)-Motion Carried <br /> <br />Commission Liaison Reports, Announcements and Updates <br /> <br />Dean Lotter <br />City Manager Lotter introduced the Council to the newly hired Park and Recreation Director <br />Jennifer Fink . He described Ms. Fink’s previous work experience and noted she would be <br />starting with the City on Monday, September 18th. <br />Ms. Fink introduced herself to the Council and stated she was very excited to be joining the <br />City of New Brighton’s senior management team. She explained she had 13 years of <br />experience in parks and recreation and was excited to begin working in this community. <br />Mayor Johnson thanked Jason Hicks for all of the work he completed on behalf of the City as <br />the Interim Parks and Recreation Director. <br />City Manager Lotter reported he would be meeting with the Army on Wednesday, September <br />13th. He noted a pre-meeting would be held with the lawyers to assist in expediting the <br />settlement conversation. He explained staff was working on the Korean Church purchase <br />agreement and noted information regarding this property was now available on the City’s <br />webpage. <br /> <br />Gina Bauman <br />Councilmember Bauman reported the EDC met on Monday, September 6th where the group <br />Program. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Commission Liaison <br />Reports, <br />Announcements and <br />Updates <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />