Citizen's Environmental Quality Committee

December 6, 2021 Citizens Environmental Quality Committee Winona, Minnesota 55987 Dear Committee Members: The next meeting of the Citizens Environmental Quality Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. in the Misato Room at City Hall. 1. Call to Order 2. Review of November Meeting Minutes 3. Sustainability Plan Update (20 minutes) 4. Climate Emergency Declaration Project (10 minutes) 5. Stormwater Meeting Information (5 minutes) 6. Other Business (5 minutes) 7. Adjournment Sincerely, John Howard Natural Resources Sustainability Coordinator CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES DATE: Thursday November 4, 2021 TIME: Scheduled for 4:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers PRESENT: Paul Schmitt, Lynette Power, David Ruff and Dan Hall GUESTS: STAFF: John Howard 1. Call to Order: Call to order at 4:34 PM by Dan Hall (Chair) 2. Review and Approval of Sept. 2021 Meeting Minutes: Motion by David, second by Lynette to approve with corrected typos. Approval unanimous. 3. Sustainability Plan Update: John updated that the timeline for the draft is delayed, but fully expects a draft will be ready for the CEQC to view at the December meeting. The consultant’s section of the draft about data analysis is complete. The strategies section still needs to be completed by the City, which John is working on. He intends to complete this within the next month. Dan asked about the GreenCorps member availability, and John said her term ended in August. Ideally, we’d be at the point we are now when their term ended. 4. Community Garden: John summarized the goal of the Community Garden Task force was to determine the need, size, location, and funding for additional community gardens. The new garden at Minnesota State College Southeast (MSCS) had a successful first season, although the task force recognizes the location is not central or very visible. John hopes the formal recommendations from the task force will be coming in December. John also relayed that the East End Rec. garden is likely to be in existence in 2022 since the new community center does not have funding. Dan asked if the Task Force will be recommending a new garden location. John believes there would be interest in other locations, but is not able to speak for the Task force. Dan asked about the usage at the East Rec this season? John said the season went well – all plots were used and only a couple were abandoned. Paul asked if programming was being planned for the MSCS garden? John said the garden is being used for a MSCS course. Lynnette asked about a west lake location. John believes the group will be recommending a west side location. 5. Water and Storm water update:  John shared about the We Are Water exhibition coming to Winona in March and April 2022. A goal setting meeting is coming in December. Results from WinLac outreach show priorities and are included for CEQC reference. Paul asked about the first line in the issues that ends in “….” John believes it should be “nitrates”. David said that seems right. Dan asked if nitrates are a problem for Winona municipal water? John said no. David explained that the first level aquifer in farmed areas are the most vulnerable. Private wells are more likely to be contaminated. Radium can be an issue if you drill deep. David described a situation where a rural community needed to blend high nitrate water with deeper high radium water to get water that met drinking water standards. Lynette figures these are the people who come into town to buy water from the Coop. Reverse osmosis would clean up the water, but at the expense of all water minerals. Dan asked which aquifer the City accesses. John believes it is the Mt. Simon. John shared that the City’s annual stormwater meeting is coming up on Dec. 13th, likely in the Misato Room. John also shared that the City’s outreach efforts for the new Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit did lead to the only public comment in the state. Dan asked what the comment was about? John said it was that the permit is too technical for the average person to understand. John said the new permit includes some new requirements such as covering salt piles for businesses and training staff on chloride management. Lynette asked about the two brand new parking lots and whether the City needed to do anything to control the runoff there. John said the developer presented plans that are in compliance with the City’s regulations on maintaining the existing runoff conditions of the sites. Lynette says this does not seem compatible with efforts to increase rain water infiltration and rain gardens. Lynette asked if this would one day be a parking ramp. David recalls that the lots were a collaborative effort between the City and Fastenal. John does not know the details, but will check that the lots as built are in compliance with their plans. David asked for clarification on the stormwater measures in place at the lots? John said the lot nearer the river has an underground infiltration pipe, but is unsure of the former YMCA lot. John added that the legacy contamination in the ground can also be a barrier to on site infiltration, and allow a waiver on infiltration. 6. Other Business: John reminded CEQC members that they can submit items for the CEQC agenda. Just email or contact John and Dan. Dan discussed core sampling near RTP and wondered if it was storm sewer related. John was unsure. Dan described new chemical regulations coming to the plastic industry surround PFAS and PTFE. 7. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by David, seconded by Lynette. Approval unanimous at 5:10 pm. Notes prepared by John Howard.  CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM: 3. Sustainability Plan Update PREPARED BY: John Howard DATE: December 9, 2021 The technical consultant to the sustainability plan completed a draft of the data analysis section. It is attached for CEQC review. We acknowledge there are some formatting issues such as the readability of the figures that still need work. This section will be reviewed by the Plan steering committee in the near future. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City Staff • John Howard, Natural Resources Sustainability Coordinator • Kelsie Travers, GreenCorps Member • Steve Sarvi, former City Manager • Luke Sims, Assistant City Planner • Sustainability Consultant – Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) • Engagement Consultant – Engage Winona Steering Committee • Nicolle Ciulla, Community Member, St. Mary’s University • Paul Schollmeier, Community Member • Nathan Engstrom, Community Member, Winona State University • Anne Morse, Winona County • Kay Qualley, Winona County • Allison Quam, Community Member • Amanda Steine, Winona Chamber of Commerce • Neal Mundahl, Community Member, Winona State University • Sam Streukens, Community Member INTRODUCTION As Winona grows and changes, the city’s future sustainability gains importance for city staff, residents, and local businesses and industries. The UN defines sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs. This goes beyond just environmental sustainability to include economic resilience and social equity, which also have a significant impact on the overall success of a community. The Sustainability and Resilience Plan outlines goals, objectives, policies, and strategies to guide the City of Winona toward sustainability over the next 10 years. In developing the plan, the city used a triple bottom line approach by applying three core considerations, or our three “pillars” of sustainability: • Environmental impact: Understanding and addressing environmental issues and climate change that the community faces, both now and in the future. • Economic resilience: Ensuring Winona’s economy is diverse, connected, and able to withstand and even grow during disruption and change. • Equitable outcomes: Ensuring all have equal access and no specific population is unfairly impacted when managing the area’s natural resources and preserving them for future generations. Through these three pillars of sustainability, the city has broken the plan into six focus areas. ENERGY The Sustainability and Resilience Plan continues efforts to increase the uptake of cost-effective energy efficiency and clean energy opportunities. This includes working with local utilities to maximize use of their rebates and incentive programs. TRANSPORTATION Transportation is important to every community. Public transit access, bicycle accessibility, walkability, and energy efficient automobile infrastructure are key to Winona’s future success. This plan will address clean transportation infrastructure and access to multi-modal transport for city residents. WATER Winona is home to a unique variety of natural bodies of water that require protection from pollutants to conserve drinking water and maintain healthy aquatic life. The Sustainability and Resilience Plan will focus on water conservation and protection, as well as green infrastructure improvements that include improvements to stormwater runoff infrastructure. WASTE The City wants to help residents and businesses reduce the amount of waste they produce. Winona County coordinates recycling for the county and regulates solid waste hauling, and is a strong partner in this effort. Emerging considerations are better managing organic waste such as yard debris and food waste. NATURAL RESOURCES The Winona area is home to large tracts of natural land with a variety of unique and/or threatened species. Prudent land management will restore and maintain their ecological functions while making these areas attractive to outdoor enthusiasts. Winona also has and will continue to take steps to improve pollinator and native plant areas within developed portions of the city. FOOD The City hopes to ensure availability and accessibility of local food to all residents. Empowering residents to purchase local foods and grow their own food helps ensure food security in Winona. The Sustainability and Resilience Plan also hopes to focus on community garden and education efforts in this area. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Introduction The City of Winona led a community-wide engagement drive between February 2021 and June 2021 to frame the foundation and future action for the city’s first sustainability plan. Our process served as the complement to Center for Energy and Environment’s larger work of designing and producing the technical content of the overall plan. Our ultimate goals were to create a plan that 1) included the views, visions and ideas of a diverse and representative cross-section of the Winona community; 2) created themes, actions, policies, and projects that are meaningful and achievable; and 3) produced findings that will be willingly co-owned and supported by participants and the community in ways that drive future engagement, ownership, and work. Activities Stakeholder conversations Through nearly 50 small-group conversations, we collected more than 2,000 unique responses and insights from almost 200 individuals who represent a diverse cross-section of key stakeholders across community sectors including business, government, nonprofit, education, healthcare, grassroots and community groups, and others. Public events We held a series of public events in indoor and outdoor spaces throughout late April and all May, in a manner responsive to COVID safety. We collected more than 500 feedback comments from over 200 individuals through activities and brief conversations at multiple locations around Winona. Digital survey We launched and marketed a digital survey between mid-March and the end of May that received more than 520 responses. The survey was more comprehensive than previous work to capture the kind of broad and deep input that had been limited by COVID restrictions on in- person events. Targeted engagement We provided a combination of conversations and surveys to specific groups and populations, with a particular focus on businesses, pre-K to 12th grade and higher education, and diverse and underrepresented voices. Participants We collect participant demographics primarily to gauge whether our engagement broadly clears our critical test to connect with a diverse cross section of community members. We were successful with this project in a number of ways, especially given the constraints COVID placed on the work. Here are some key demographic insights representing survey respondents, participants in stakeholder conversations, participants in targeted outreach to specific communities, and participants in broad community events. ● White-dominant but with more representation than city demographics: About 85% white, 5%–6% Black, 2%–3% Indigenous, 2%–3% Hispanic or Latino, 2%–3% Asian (including Hmong) ● Representation of younger voices: 30% younger than 30, 50% younger than 40 ● Balance of time lived in Winona: 44% 10 years or less, 55% 10 years or more ● Household income generally aligned with city demographics: The largest participant group reported between $50,000–$100,000 for annual income ● Education levels skewed toward the highly educated: More than 60% hold some level of college degree ● About 35%–40% have children in the home Overview A core part of the engagement focused on input and ideas within the plan’s six topic areas and climate change mitigation. 1. Water 2. Natural resources  3. Food 4. Energy 5. Transportation 6. Materials and waste The list above is numbered according to overall engagement. Responses to each topic are detailed below. Each section includes: ● Overview: How the issue/topic was framed in public discussions and surveys. ● Analysis: Condensing the most common input and ideas regarding the topic. ● Vision: What folks want to change, with a focus on meaningful and achievable ideas that have 1) the most immediate relevance and significance and 2) the strongest possibility of success. ● Key comments: A hand-selected collection of participants’ most prominent and compelling comments. Responses represent participants’ true voices and language and are selected to show diversity and range, not prevalence. Analysis Most engaged issues 1. Water 2. Natural resources 3. Food Least engaged issues 4. Climate Change Mitigation 5. Waste and materials 6. Energy 7. Transportation NOTE: This analysis is defined in two ways: by the number of comments and overall conversation and input, as well as residents’ overall feelings about their ability to influence change. Of the six topic areas, water and water quality stood out as the issue participants most wanted to discuss and had the most concerns around. Water was also the standout issue in the survey, with nearly 70% of respondents rating it as extremely important (compared to 30% to 50% ratings for other topics at the same level). Input on water ranged from rivers, lakes, and streams, to worries about future floods, to significant concerns about runoff from agriculture and bluff-side developments, to the effects of residential lawn care on Lake Winona, and other issues. Many conversations and input also focused on natural land management, particularly the quality of and ability to use and access city public lands and outdoor spaces, as well as local food and agriculture, food networks and local food economics, and supporting residents in producing food. Generally, there was not one single topic area or project that stood out. Engagement was varied, diverse, and covered significant ground across all topics. The lack of engagement in waste and materials and energy was largely due to participants either not having much understanding about the topics or not believing they had much ability to influence change in those areas. The most surprising result was the lack of engagement and interest in transportation. This may be related simply to the engagement’s timing, occurring a year into the pandemic. Other participants connected it to feeling powerless over recent city and state projects, including the City Council’s rejection of grant funding to change Broadway from a four-lane to three-lane road and including roundabouts in the state’s Mankato Avenue reconstruction. Rate the importance of each of these sustainability topics to you: How urgent is it for the community to work on the issues above? BASELINE DATA—WHERE ARE WE TODAY? Understanding where our community is today provides the City Council, City staff, and community partners with the information needed to implement data-driven strategies to increase sustainable practices in our community and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. A variety of data sources and existing plans were analyzed to create a comprehensive picture of how Winona residents and businesses consume and conserve energy, consume water, dispose of waste, and travel within our city. This data also illustrates how our most vulnerable residents access food support services and provides a better understanding one of Winona’s greatest community assets—our natural and preserved areas. A greenhouse gas emissions inventory was calculated using data from the energy, transportation, and waste core areas to understand Winona’s greenhouse gas footprint. Data from water, food, and natural resource core areas provide useful insights into how our community consumes and accesses vital resources. Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions A community-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory was created using data from building energy consumption, solid waste, and transportation.1 Building energy consumption includes electricity and natural gas consumption from all commercial, industrial, and residential Figure 1: Winona Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, 2019 buildings served by Xcel Energy in Winona. Solid waste emissions include emissions from landfill and recycled waste streams. Transportation emissions come from miles traveled in Winona. In 2019, Winona generated 270,800 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Energy consumption is the largest source of emissions in Winona (75%). Commercial and industrial sector energy consumption accounts for 54% of all emissions, followed by residential sector energy consumption (22%) and transportation (21%). Emissions from waste and recycling account for only 4% of emissions. Energy The electricity and natural gas used to power and heat homes and businesses account for the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Winona. However, energy consumption also provides an opportunity to reduce emissions and achieve climate goals. Through increased energy efficiency and renewable energy use, Winona residents and businesses can protect the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve health outcomes for all. Energy Consumption Energy consumption data is broken down into electricity and natural gas use for the residential and commercial and industrial sectors. On average, the commercial and industrial sector accounted for 71% of total energy consumption, despite comprising only 15% of all users. By contrast, the residential sector consumed 29% of all energy but accounted for 85% of all energy users. 1 Emissions from energy consumption were calculated using Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest Carbon Dioxide Emission Intensities and emissions from transportation and solid waste were calculated using fact sheets from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Figure 2: Average Energy Consumption by Fuel Type and Sector Energy Consumption (MMBtu) 8% Residential Electricity 39% Commercial/Industrial Electricity 32% Residential Natural Gas Commercial/Industrial Natural Gas 21% Electricity consumption fluctuated over the baseline period (2017 to 2019). On average, the commercial and industrial sector consumed the largest amount of electricity, 79% of total electricity use annually. The residential sector consumed 21%. By comparison, community-wide natural gas consumption steadily increased, which can be due to a combination of factors including weather and space heating needs. Natural gas consumption was highest in the commercial and industrial sector averaging 65% of total consumption annually, followed by the residential sector at 35%. Figure 3: Electricity and Natural Gas Consumption by Sector, 2017–2019 Electricity Consumption Natural Gas Consumption 400 25 363 Millions Millions 353 344 350 20 19 20 300 17 250 15 kWh Therms 200 150 10 100 5 50 - - 2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019 Residential Commercial/Industrial Residential Commercial/Industrial Energy Conservation Residents and businesses in Winona are engaged in Xcel Energy programs to help them improve energy efficiency and reduce Winona’s energy-related greenhouse gas footprint. In an average year, 900 residents and 150 businesses participate in programs to increase their energy efficiency. Winona averages 5.4 million kWh of electricity and 197,000 therms of natural gas savings per year. Combined, energy conservation program participation avoids an average of 2,030 metric tons of CO2 equivalent each year. Figure 4: Average Annual Energy Savings by Fuel Type and Sector Average Annual Energy Savings Commercial and Industrial Electricity Residential Natural Gas - 10 20 30 40 MMBtu Thousands Renewable Energy Powering your home or building with renewable energy helps your community avoid greenhouse gas emissions by generating electricity from carbon-free sources. Buildings can be powered by renewable energy in two ways: on-site renewable energy generation and off-site renewable energy subscriptions. The most common on-site renewable energy are solar photovoltaic systems that are on or near the building to power that building’s electricity use. Off-site subscription programs are structured so that a building can subscribe some or all its electricity from an off-site renewable energy generator. Winona residents and business primarily support renewable energy through Xcel Energy’s Windsource® and Renewable*Connect® programs, which are off-site subscription programs. More than 500 subscribers participate in these programs, which generated 6.3 million kWh of electricity in 2019. This equates to 2,244 metric tons of CO2 equivalent avoided. Residents and businesses also participate in community solar gardens and power their homes and buildings with on-site solar installations. There are 115 on-site solar installations in Winona and almost 600 residents and businesses subscribe to community solar. Figure 5: Renewable Energy Program Participation, 2019 Renewable Energy Program Participation On- site Solar Panels Community Solar Garden Off-site Renewable*Connect Windsource - 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Transportation Transportation is the second largest contributor to Winona’s greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation emissions mostly come from the burning of gasoline and diesel, with a small percent stemming from electricity used by electric vehicles. However, as gas prices rise and consumers become more environmentally conscious, fuel-efficient and electric vehicles as well as alternative forms of transportation such as transit, bicycling, and walking are gaining popularity. This presents Winona residents and businesses with a unique opportunity to significantly reduce the community’s greenhouse gas footprint. Travel and Commuting Patterns Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is a key metric to Figure 6: Total Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) understand travel demand. VMT provides a picture of how much and where travel occurs in a Total Daily Vehicle given period, typically in one year. The “how Miles Traveled much” refers to total miles traveled. The “where” 450 defines the routes in which vehicles travel and Thousands Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 381 382 383 400 generate VMT. 350 An average of 379,500 miles are traveled daily in 300 Winona, or 138.4 million miles annually. VMT 250 changed year to year with a steady increase since 200 2017. An average of 153 metric tons of CO2 150 equivalent was emitted from daily travel in 100 Winona. 50 0 When looking at commuting patterns, most work- 2017 2018 2019 related trips were driven alone. Carpooling and walking were the next most popular means of travel to work. Several Winona residents already worked from home, which is likely to increase after 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in business operations. Error! Not a valid bookmark self-reference. illustrates the means of transportation to work in 2019. A small percentage of commuters (12%) already choose a carbon-free method to commute to work. As more commuters switch to carbon-free commuting (walking, bicycle, work from home), Winona’s daily VMT is likely to decrease and reduce the community’s greenhouse gas footprint. Figure 7: Means of Transportation to Work, 2019 Electric Vehicles (EV) There are 52 recorded electric vehicle registrations in Winona since 2011 (Figure 8), which includes 18 battery electric and 34 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The most popular year for electric vehicle purchases was 2017 with 14 vehicles registered. While EVs are a very small portion of vehicles in Winona, an increase in manufacturers’ goals for EV production suggests that the number of EVs on the road will likely increase in coming years. Now is a good time for Winona to encourage EV adoption by installing public charging stations and educating the community about the benefits of EVs. Figure 8: City of Winona Electric Vehicle Registrations Electric Vehicle Registrations 20 Number of Vehicles Registered 15 14 10 8 7 7 6 5 4 2 2 1 1 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Waste Landfills generate methane, which is 24 times more potent than CO2 in terms of global warming potential (GWP). Landfill methane comes from disposing organic matter like paper and food scraps in landfills. Improving waste diversion practices, such as recycling and composting, provides an opportunity to reduce the amount of organic matter sent to landfills. Landfills are often the most expensive means of disposal and land that has been used for landfills is not easy to reclaim after the landfill closes. Through improved waste management practices, Winona residents and businesses can reduce their contribution to landfill methane emissions, use less space for waste, and contribute valuable feedstocks to the recycling and farming industries. Municipal Solid Waste and Recycling Municipal solid waste (MSW) is what most people think of as trash. This is waste that is generated in homes and businesses and is not recycled but instead disposed of in landfills or waste-to-energy plants. Waste can be thought of as a missed opportunity to do something more productive with the byproducts from operating our homes and businesses. As illustrated in Figure 99, Winona generated 18,500 tons of waste, a 2.5% decrease from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, residential MSW comprises about 36% of the solid waste generated in Winona, while commercial MSW comprises about 64%. Recycling diverts waste from the landfill thereby reducing the methane emissions from the landfill. Recycling can also save emissions related to producing new products, although those benefits are not reflected in the City’s carbon inventory. Figure 9: Municipal Solid Waste Generation by Sector, 2017–2019 Municipal Solid Waste 20,000 18,980 18,826 18,509 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 Tons 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2017 2018 2019 Commercial Residential Water Clean, affordable drinking water and recreational waterways are essential for Winona’s health and well- being. Bordered by the Mississippi River and Lake Winona, Winona residents and businesses have a unique relationship to water, which creates challenges and opportunities for healthy, sustainable water. A collaboration of residents, neighboring communities, and organizations working toward common water protection goals can ensure water remains accessible and healthy for Winona residents. Domestic Water Consumption In an average year, Winona residents and businesses consume 87.1 million cubic feet of water. Residents represent the largest number of water meters in Winona and consume the most water, 50.6 million cubic feet of municipal water annually. While commercial and industrial businesses consume less than half of all water, they represent the largest opportunity to conserve water—if a few businesses reduce their consumption a little bit, that would have a larger impact than a few residents reducing their use. Across Winona, annual water consumption is highest in the summer months for both residents and commercial sector meters, which can be attributed to lawn and garden watering or other seasonal activities. Industrial sector consumption remained relatively flat across the year, indicating seasons don’t impact industrial processes as much as they impact residential and commercial meters.  Figure 10: Annual Water Consumption by Sector, 2017– Watershed Threats 2019 Because of Winona’s topography and nearby Annual Water industry, there are several surface and Consumption by Sector groundwater pollutants and risks. Winona’s groundwater and water resources must be 100 90 protected from these contaminants to ensure Millions Water Consumption (cubic feet) 86 85 90 healthy, sustainable water for the community. 80 70 Karst 60 The complete karst topography of Winona’s 50 watershed makes the surface and 40 groundwater connection contiguous, therefore 30 the chemical pollutants for surface and 20 groundwater are the same. 10 0 Contaminants 2017 2018 2019 Stormwater runoff can be a threat to the drinking water aquifers by transporting Residential Commercial microbes from sewage, agricultural animals, Industrial Agriculture and pets; washing salts and metals from Figure 11: Minnesota Karst Lands natural sources and mining or farming, and pesticides and herbicides from farms and homes. Nitrates and chlorides are an especially high concern for the area. The same contaminants pose a risk to surface waters due to the same stormwater runoff. This has been identified extensively in many Winona water reports. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Stormwater runoff in the watershed is a major threat, but an additional concern is AIS (specifically carp) that have compounded those contaminants by reintroducing them in sediments. Terrestrial invasive plant species also threaten runoff when they have shallow roots and outcompete native deep-rooted plants. Use Risks Existing water assessments and plans forecast increasing impairments over time and offer existing strategies or recommendations to reduce these loads. Coinciding climate and precipitation projections from NCA and NOAA may also increase impairments and pressures on water resources. Natural Resources Winona is fortunate to have an unusually high percentage of natural areas within city limits. Forests and other natural communities can help mitigate climate change both by directly storing carbon and by influencing energy use. Globally, forests sequester about 25% of the carbon dioxide pollution produced annually. Additionally, forests and trees can impact the amount of energy used to heat or cool a building by shading and shielding it. Trees typically reduce cooling costs in the summer but can either increase or decrease heating costs in winter, depending on the type of tree and its location relative to the building. Figure 12: Remaining Natural Areas Remaining Natural Areas Natural areas are identified as grasslands, prairie/shrublands, forests, wetlands, and open water. Citywide, 7,538 acres of natural areas remain. Almost 50% of the land within city limits is classified as a natural area. Approximately 842 acres of remaining natural areas (11.2%) are preserved within a city park. Sites of Biodiversity Significance Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Biological Survey identifies remaining natural areas with high quality or unique natural plant communities. Sites classified at any level are an exceptional resource to the community and offer unique opportunities for recreation, preservation, and/or restoration. A significant portion of Winona is classified as a site of biodiversity significance, almost 6,000 acres (38% of the city), and 15% of these sites are currently preserved within a city park. Figure 13: Sites of Biodiversity Significance Pollinator Habitat Conversion Winona adopted a proclamation to recognize the importance of pollinating insects to heathy ecosystems and the human food supply. The proclamation directed city staff to identify potential locations suitable for pollinator-friendly vegetation and encourages the use of native plantings. Native prairie species are excellent for pollinator friendly plantings due to their ability to act as a food source for pollinators throughout the growing season. In addition to providing pollinator habitat, native prairie communities like forests can also capture and store atmospheric carbon. Unlike forests, grasslands sequester most carbon underground and are a more stable carbon sink. Land cover and park data were reviewed to identify potential locations of non-native turf grasses that could be converted to pollinator-friendly native plantings. Across the city, 426 acres of land are classified as managed turf, 125 acres of which are located within city parks. Food Access Although food access doesn’t have large greenhouse gas footprint for Winona’s emissions inventory, it was included in this plan because sustainable food systems—from local agricultural production to equitable food access—are essential to a healthy climate and community. A sustainable and resilient food system in Winona supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability for residents. Food Security The Winona County Community Health Needs Assessment identified food insecurity and unhealthy eating as priority needs. Winona’s Supplemental Food Shelf, which is available to income-eligible households in need of free food, averages 9,100 visits annually. Food shelf visits have stayed relatively consistent over the baseline period. Emergency food requests, which do not require income or residency verification, decreased over the baseline year, signaling increased food security for Winona residents. Figure 14: Supplemental Food Shelf Visits, 2017–2019 Figure 15: Emergency Food Requests, 2017–2019 Supplemental Food Shelf Emergency Food Requests Visits 900 80 10,000 1000 800 70 Annual Requests Monthly Requests 700 60 8,000 800 Annual Visits Monthly Visits 600 50 6,000 600 500 40 400 4,000 400 30 300 200 20 2,000 200 100 10 - 0 - 0 2017 2018 2019 2017 2018 2019 Total Annual Visits Total Annual Requests Average Monthly Visits Average Monthly Requests Food Equity The sustainability of Winona’s food system depends on accessibility and equity. Survey data from the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment illustrate residents’ experiences and perceptions of their own food security. When surveyed, individuals who required translation services and accessed the food shelf were worried about running out of food at a higher rate than those who do not require translation. Figure 16: Community Health Needs Assessment Survey Results, 2019 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS The City has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. As discussed above, the largest sources of emissions are energy consumption and transportation, and those sectors also have high quality baseline data, which enables us to calculate the potential for gas emissions reductions in those sectors. Reduction potential is assessed for the following strategies, based on the Energy Action Plan and a subset of the strategies proposed above: • Residential Electricity and Natural Gas Savings • Commercial/Industrial Electricity and Natural Gas Savings • Renewable Energy • Transit Network Extension • Bike, Scooter, and Electric Vehicle Sharing Grid decarbonization helps cities like Winona, whose electric utility has aggressive carbon reduction goals, get most of the way to carbon neutrality. However, the diagram above illustrates the importance of a broad array of strategies to reach the end goal. Indeed, even the aggressive strategies outlined will be insufficient to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The lowest “wedge” of the diagram, “remaining emissions” still exceeds the carbon neutrality goal in 2035. In order to be on pace for carbon neutrality, emissions will need to reduce by 50% from current 2021 levels by 2035. The trajectory outlined in the scenario diagram shows about a 40% reduction. Although this analysis does not depict the years beyond 2035 because of the high degree of uncertainty, one can assume the emissions will still exceed the goal in 2050. While it is disheartening that the strategies proposed will not allow the city to reach its carbon neutral goal, the analysis is likely conservative in a few respects. For example, the analysis assumes only using existing technologies, and hopefully our community will benefit from many breakthroughs in low and zero carbon technologies in the next several decades. Furthermore, a number of emerging technological solutions already exist and are primed to play a larger role in the future. A great example is cold climate air source heat pumps, which can be used as a primary heating source in residential buildings in our climate, but have very low penetration rates in Minnesota. If the community invests time and resources into aggressive programs now, such investments can minimize future emissions and maximize sustainability benefits beyond what is predicted here. To put it simply, if we save energy now, there is less energy to reduce or decarbonize later, and any businessperson knows that reducing waste is almost always more cost-effective than new equipment. Similarly, investing in public transit now is a great way to decrease vehicle usage now and in the future, thereby decreasing the need to purchase electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.  CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM: 4. Climate Emergency Declaration Project PREPARED BY: John Howard DATE: December 9, 2021 A number of Minnesota cities are considering resolutions for a Climate Emergency. An informational sheet on the proposal is attached. Do CEQC members have any thoughts on this proposal?  Climate Emergency Declarations/Resolutions Minnesota Coordinated Effort “The time is now to come together as a united force, to insure a livable future for us, for your children, for your grandchildren, and for the generations to come. The time is now to create a sustainable future.” - From then high school junior Sophia Skinner before St. Louis Park City Council What we’re doing: ● Local governments of all sizes, and in all regions of Minnesota will join in declaring a Climate Emergency on January 24th or 25th, calling for immediate action at all levels of government to address the climate crisis. By acting simultaneously, these state-wide localities expect to amplify their impact, speaking together to urge local, state and federal action. Why declare a Climate Emergency? ● The dramatically evident shift in our climate IS an emergency! It’s here now; it’s going to get worse; and it’s impacting all regions of our state, country, and world. ○ The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently declared (August 21) that world leaders at all levels must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse emissions to prevent catastrophic impacts. ● It’s impacting Minnesota now! Unanticipated occurrences of drought, higher annual temperatures and sustained heat waves, dangerous air quality, repeated incidences of “hundred year” floods, and forest fires of unprecedented size - are all happening now in Minnesota. ● Opportunity to mobilize and magnify: Declaring an emergency will call attention to the issue and can mobilize people to action. Working together we can magnify our impacts on our own communities and on Minnesota. ○ Acting together will increase our visibility and leverage for state and federal assistance ○ This conspicuous action will provide bold local leadership in a way that connects to a larger statewide effort. People are empowered when they feel what they do matters and when they are part of something larger than themselves. The Climate Emergency declaration customizable template includes local, state, and global impacts, a commitment to local action, and a call for state and federal support. Background on “Climate Emergency” ● Started in U.S. by The Climate Mobilization organization - calling for a mobilization of government and society to make significant progress on climate change by 2030 ● 2000+ jurisdictions in 34 countries have declared a Climate Emergency, including three leaders in MN (Crystal Bay Township and Minneapolis in 2019, Duluth earlier this year). There are 15-25 MN jurisdictions actively considering participating with three already having declared a climate emergency (Duluth, Minneapolis, Crystal Bay.)  CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM: 5. Stormwater Meeting Information PREPARED BY: John Howard DATE: December 9, 2021 Information on the annual City Stormwater meeting is below. It will be a hybrid meeting allowing both virtual and in person attendance: On Monday, December 13th beginning at 6 pm, the City of Winona will hold its annual public meeting regarding the City’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The meeting will be held in the Misato Room, 3rd floor City Hall, 207 Lafayette Street. and online and/or by phone via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/4t62y5rd or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85787903949?pwd=YkR1K05OWDlnUkZybEdoczdEL3FKdz09 Meeting ID: 857 8790 3949 Passcode: 207207 One tap mobile +13017158592,,85787903949# US (Washington DC) +13126266799,,85787903949# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) The meeting will begin with a short presentation about the City’s SWPPP and updated state stormwater permit. The majority of the time will be for public questions and input on the plan. Any and all members of the public are invited to attend. Information on the City’s stormwater management policies can be found online at the City’s website under the Public Works department. SWPPP specific information is available here: https://www.cityofwinona.com/345/