Minnesota GreenStep Cities

08/31/2026

Way to go, City of New Brighton! 🫗Tastiest tap water out of 22 tested at the State Fair Eco Experience building this year - what a feat!

💧We don't have a best practice for that, but check out our own Impact26: Water Challenge for more water actions! https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/impact-26-water-challenge

https://www.minnpost.com/drinking-water/2026/08/best-tap-water-in-minnesota-state-fair-new-brighton/

In a totally subjective and definitely not scientific contest, State Fair goers judged the Minnesota community with the best tap water.

08/31/2026

2026 Annual Report! 📣💚🎉 - https://mailchi.mp/662b0c871a5c/greenstep-13892572

08/29/2026

Congrats to Oakdale!

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting the City was recognized by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program for achieving Steps 4 and 5 for 2025. This is the ninth-consecutive year Oakdale has achieved this goal through various sustainability initiatives and actions.

Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program that helps cities and tribal nations achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals.

Learn more: https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/city-detail/12329

08/28/2026

🌿Healthy shoreland helps to protect water quality, reduce erosion, and provide natural habitats.

Maplewood included shoreland revegetation goals in its 2040 Comprehensive Plan and identified local programs and community outreach as ways to reach those goals.

Cities can take action by identifying restoration areas, setting shoreland revegetation goals, and engaging property owners in restoring shoreland. The Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers, and DNR’s Score Your Shore offer resources to help assess conditions and track progress.

Explore water-focused actions through Impact 26: https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/impact-26-water-challenge

08/27/2026

We are at the State Fair today! City of Maplewood is helping us out at the Community Partner Table this morning. Minnesota GreenStep Schools gave a presentation on the Sustainability Stage with students from Roseville Area High School and Harbor City in Duluth.

Find us in the Eco Experience building today until 6:30 and again on Sept 1 from 9-6:30!

08/25/2026

Good news! Savage has earned Minnesota GreenStep Cities Step 5 status for the fifth year in a row! 👏

Savage achieved this recognition by ensuring every home is within a mile of a park or trail, planting climate‑resilient trees, reducing water use for three straight years, LED upgrades, new EV chargers, installing solar panels at Water Treatment Plant 2, and more.

We're proud to continue leading in sustainability- securing over $100,000 in grants and supporting community cleanup and conservation initiatives. Learn more at SavageMN.gov/Sustainability.

08/25/2026

🐐🐐Who doesn't love a good story about goats! Especially when it features City of Lakeville, MN - Government!

See GreenStep Best Practice Action 18.5 for more ideas on how to control invasive species and introduce native species into your parks and public spaces, including more goats! https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bp-action-detail/81848

08/24/2026

We're Hiring! 💚 GreenStep Model Ordinances Coordinator - https://mailchi.mp/4610ad59dd8e/greenstep-13892391

08/24/2026

We are hiring a Model Ordinance Coordinator with the GreenStep Cities program at the MPCA! Applications are open until Sept. 10. Go to https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs/ and enter in job ID: 96129

This position if a 2-year temporary full-time position classified as a Planner Senior State, funded by the LCCMR grant program. The Model Ordinance Coordinator will work with the MN GreenStep Cities program to research model ordinance topics that can help communities be more resilient. The Coordinator will work with an advisory team to identify priority topics and will coordinate the drafting of model ordinances for review and final publication. The Coordinator will also help facilitate a cohort of cities interested in learning more about the model ordinances, adapting them to meet their needs, and adopting the ordinances.

The MN GreenStep Cities program and the MN Pollution Control Agency was granted a LCCMR appropriation this July and we are excited to begin our project on updating model ordinances (Preparing Resilient Communities with Model Land Use Ordinances (ID: 2026-155))!

Offers a job search tool for the State of Minnesota, information about student worker and intern opportunities, links to other state employers, and a paper application.

08/24/2026

If you’ve ever clicked around the GreenStep or MemberLink website longer than you meant to, this quick refresher can help!

This 15-minute, self-paced guide provides an overview of GreenStep and MemberLink -what they are, how they're organized, and where to find resources, support, and peer connections.

Access and bookmark here: https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/page/greenstep-memberlink-101