1 Star(s) Action 4: Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses located within/nearby the city.

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1 City of Willmar Background Information County: Kandiyohi Population: 23,153 GreenStep City category: A Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 161 Participating township(s) / school district(s): GreenStep Coordinator Sara Jacobson City staff sjacobson@willmarmn.gov City web page relating to sustainability/greenstep activities: GreenStep City resolution: file. Click here to view the GreenStep City status and date: STEP 2 (06/20/2013) Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed Completed actions are denoted by stars. Mouse over a star for its definition. Buildings and Lighting Efficient Existing Private Buildings { BP no. 2 } 1 Star(s) Action 4: Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses located within/nearby the city. Date action report first entered: 08/01/2017 The Barn Theatre, which is the Willmar Community Theatre, replaced old incandescent and florescent lighting fixtures with LEDs. The LED lights were placed in the main entrance, the lobby, and offices. Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals { BP no. 4 }

2 2 Star(s) Action 2: Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals. Date action report first entered: 07/23/2012 According to David Opsahl, Energy Services, Willmar Municipal Utilities. It is the practice of the WMUC that all new street lighting is to be dark sky compliant and all traffic signals are to be Energy Star rated. Willmar Municipal Utilities 2 Star(s) Action 5: Use LED/solar-powered lighting for a flashing sign or in a street, parking lot or park project. Date action report first entered: 07/23/2012 The city of Willmar and the Willmar School District are starting to add LED lighting to their street and parking lot projects. A LED flashing sign is installed at Business 71 and County RD 24 leading to the Willmar Community Golf Course. Several LED street Lights are installed for testing purposes. The 2011 Kennedy Elementary school parking lot used LED parking lights and LED building lights. Willmar Municipal Utilities, Willmar Public Schools 3 Star(s) Action 8: Replace the city's existing traffic signals with LEDs. Date action report first entered: 07/23/2012 According to David Opsahl, Energy Services, Willmar Municipal Utilities - All the traffic signals in Willmar have been Converted to LED.

3 Willmar Municipal Utilities Building Redevelopment { BP no. 5 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt an historic preservation ordinance/regulations to encourage adaptive reuse. Date action report first entered: 03/10/2012 Chapter 5 Section G and H address Historic Preservation The city of Willmar has adopted a Downtown Plan with a Chapter on Historic Preservation. 2 Buildings in the Central Business District have recently been selected as historic structures. Lakeland Hotel and Tribune building (Engan Associates Building) 3 Star(s) Action 2: Implement the Minnesota Main Street model for commercial revitalization. Date action report first entered: 03/10/2012 The Willmar Design Center is addressing projects such as the expansion of Becker Market, opening Litchfield Avenue to through traffic, extending the Glacial Lakes State Trail to downtown Willmars Selvig Park and the feasibility of building a downtown parking ramp for patients and visitors to Rice Memorial Hospital. Becker Market is a downtown farmers market. Downdown walking routes are marked. Willmar Design Center Land Use Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans { BP no. 6 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a land use

4 plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity. Date action report first entered: 03/08/2012 The City of Willmar has adopted and maintains a Comprehensive Plan, including accompanying Land Use Plan and Map, and regulatory ordinances comply with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. to ensure their continued applicability and vitality for the City. The planning documents are updated as-needed to ensure continued applicability. 2 Star(s) Action 2: Demonstrate that regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making. Date action report first entered: 03/08/2012 The Comprehensive Plan includes the plan and zoning ordinance. The comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making The conditional use and plan review process in the zoning ordinance directly note the comprehensive plan. Mixed Uses { BP no. 8 } 3 Star(s) Action 1: Organize or participate in a community planning/design process for the city/a mixed use district. Date action report first entered: 07/11/2012 In 2005 the MN Design Team Made 2 Visits to Willmar. One was to review the city as a whole and the other was to discuss opportunities to revitalize downtown. From those meeting the Willmar Design Center was formed. A Comprehensive Downtown Plan. Becker farmers market was formed. Willmar walks plans were developed.

5 Willmar Design Center. 3 Star(s) Action 5: Have a downtown zoning district that allows residential and compatible commercial development. Date action report first entered: 07/11/2012 Mixed use is allowed in the Central Business District in Downtown Willmar MN. A downtown district that allows a mixed use of office, retail, education, civic, and residential living. The City of Willmar Transportation Living Streets { BP no. 11 } 3 Star(s) Action 5: Identify and remedy street-trail gaps between city streets and off-road trails/bike trails to better facilitate walking and biking. Date action report first entered: 03/31/2014 The trail connecting downtown Willmar to Robbins Island a major recreational park had a gap just north of the first street bridge. The previous trail crossed ella ave at a dangerous location about 200ft away from the intersection of Ella and First Street. This project changed the crossing location to the intersection and repaved 1 mile of trail to Robbins Island in Crossing Ella Ave now takes place at the intersection where cars are stopped do to controlled lights. The route has been make with accessible slopes and is more direct than the previous crossing 200 ft away from the intersection where cars are traveling at higher speeds. This project improves safety and is a enhancement to the Willmar Footlake Four 4 mile Fun run course. This trail also make the access to the downtown more accessible to riders of the State Trail system.

6 Willmar Design Center Mobility Options { BP no. 12 } 3 Star(s) Action 1: Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means: a. Produce/distribute route maps, signage or a web site. b. Document increased bike facilities, such as racks, bike stations or showers. c. Add bus infrastructure, such as signage, benches, shelters, park and ride lots, and real-time arrival data-streaming. d. Increase the number of employers promoting multiple commuting options, including offering qualified transportation fringe benefits instead of only a tax-free parking fringe benefit. e. Be recognized as a Walk Friendly or Bicycle Friendly Community. Date action report first entered: 03/08/2012 The city has developed a Comprehen Trail and Pedestrian Plan with maps that shows key civic/commercial sites, best bike and pedestrian routes,transit and future routes. In the Spring of 2016, the City of Willmar was recognized as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community. 1 Star(s) Action 2: Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School program. Date action report first entered: 11/05/2012 They city of Willmar in Cooperation with the School District is engaged with a Safe Routes to School Program. Mid Minnesota Development is developing the program. A plan to improve the safe travel of walking routes to our schools is being developed. MMD, Willmar Public Schools 1 Star(s) Action 3: Prominently identify mobility options: transit; paratransit/dial-a-ride;

7 ridesharing/cab services; rental cars; bikes. Date action report first entered: 03/08/2012 Kandiyohi Area Transit is linked to the City of Willmar Webpage. 2 Star(s) Action 6: Add/expand transit service, or promote car/bike sharing. Date action report first entered: 11/10/2016 The city's Yellow Bike sharing program in its second year expanded to put about 80 bikes in circulation at one point over the summer of 2016, up from last year's 50. Some businesses bought bike racks to set up nearby for their workers. Yellow Bikes takes donations of used bikes, and converts unclaimed bikes from their police impound lots into shareable bikes. volunteers gathered at Rick s Cycling & Sports Center in town to learn basic maintenance and to convert bikes. The Jennie-O Turkey Store donated $5,000 to get the program started. 80 free-use sharable bikes. Jennie-O Turkey Store; Willmar Community Education and Recreation Environmental Management Sustainable Purchasing { BP no. 15 } 1 Star(s) Action 7: Lower the environmental footprint of meetings and events in the city. Date action report first entered: 03/31/2014 The City of Willmar has adopted the practice of using I-pads and Tablets for the distribution of meeting notes. These meetings include but are not limited to: City Council Meetings, Community Development Committee Meetings, Finance Committee Meetings, Labor Relations Committee Meetings, and Public Work/ Public Safety Committee Meetings.

8 The city has reduced the amount of paper it uses each month by hundreds and annually by thousands of sheets of paper, associated ink and volume of waste. Urban Forests & Soils { BP no. 16 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Certify as a Tree City USA. Date action report first entered: 03/22/2012 Tree City USA, sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home. Willmar has been a Tree City USA for more than 13 years. 2 Star(s) Action 5: Adopt a tree preservation or native landscaping ordinance. Date action report first entered: 04/12/2012 Willmar's landscape ordinance includes public and private requirements to develop a tree preservation plan in order to retain tree as part of urban development. Parking areas are required to be landscaped in order to breakup the barren effect of hard surface parking areas. New developments are better shaded and more visually appealing. Natural vegetation improve storm water quality. More existing trees are preserved during new development. Stormwater Management { BP no. 17 } Action 6: Reduce de-icing salt use to prevent permanent surfacewater and groundwater pollution. Date action report first entered: 03/10/2012

9 The purpose of this ordinance is to promote, preserve and enhance the natural resources within the City of Willmar; to protect them from adverse effects occasioned by poorly sited development or incompatible activities; to regulate land-disturbing or development activities that would have an adverse and potentially irreversible impact on water quality, stormwater runoff rates/volumes, and unique and fragile environmentally-sensitive land; to alleviate current flooding problems and prevent future flooding problems; to minimize conflicts and encourage compatibility between land-disturbing and development activities and water quality and environmentally sensitive lands; and to require detailed review standards and procedures for land-disturbing or development activities proposed for such areas, thereby achieving a balance between urban growth and development and protection of water quality, water quantity and natural areas. All new construction must comply with the ordinance. Stormwater discharge rate is controlled and quality is improved. Parks and Trails { BP no. 18 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces. Date action report first entered: 10/23/2012 Many volunteer groups as well as the planning commission, the public works department, and Community Ed and Rec. The group got together to create the City of Willmar Comprehensive Plan: Trails and Pedestrian Plan Addendum. The Gap at civic center drive was remedied. Allowing a trail from downtown to the high school. Other gaps are noted in the plan. A gap in ella ave is scheduled for a remedy project in Willmar Community ED and Rec 2 Star(s) Action 3: Achieve minimum levels of city green space and maximize the percent within a ten-minute walk of community members. Date action report first entered: 10/23/2012 The City of Willmar has acres of parks and 19,610 residents and the total acres of the city is 824. This is about acres per 1000 resident, and 34% of the total city land area is protected green infrastructure. Willmar has great access to green space and parks for it's residents.

10 Willmar Community ED and Rec 1 Star(s) Action 8: Develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration and stewardship projects. Date action report first entered: 10/23/2012 Every year the United Way of West Central Minnesota has a week of action volunteer program. United Way City parks are cleaned up and trash is removed. The United way organizes the annual city-wide event for city clean up, businesses and residents are engaged to volunteer. United Way of West Central Minnesota Resilient Economic & Community Development Benchmarks and Community Engagement { BP no. 24 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Use a committee to lead, coordinate, and report to and engage community members on implementation of sustainability best practices. Date action report first entered: 10/23/2012 Reports are made to the Community Development Committee Meeting for the city of Willmar A public record noting progress of the Mn Greenstep Cities program is being made. 1 Star(s) Action 2: Organize goals/outcome measures from all city plans and report to community members data that show progress toward meeting these goals.

11 Date action report first entered: 10/23/2012 The City of Willmar produces an annual financial report. Also each department submits their budget, needs, and goals to the planning commission each year. The comprehensive plan is discussed each year by the planning commission. As the city of willmar develops sustainable goals from the comprehensive plan are used to guide the growth. Contact: Megan Sauer Planner 333 6th St SW Willmar, MN (320) Each city departments goals are submitted to the planning commission annually and then onto the city council. The planning commission review the comprehensive plan: which includes policies and goals on parks, housing, stormwater, transportation, economic development, energy, and sustainability. Green Business Development { BP no. 25 } 1 Star(s) Action 3: Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city. Date action report first entered: 07/16/2012 The Willmar Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau actively promotes green tourism. At the what to do menu: there is summary of the regional trail systems. Kandiyohi County Trails Map, PWELC Trails Map, and Sibley State Park Trails Maps. Under the Tour Operators menu: The experience the Willmar Lakes Area 2 day self Tour. Provides links to local restaurants: 21 Fast Food, 13 Coffee shops, 10 pizza parlors, 32 Bar/Restaurants, 10 international Restaurants. Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, and Sibley State Park are listed as Destinations. Where to stay menu list and number of overnight options. Tourist looking to adventure in hiking, biking, horseback riding, in-line skating, or cross country skiing have a variety of options by reviewing the local trails, and can support the Lakes Area Chamber listed restaurants and Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, Resorts, and Campgrounds. Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce; Willmar Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. 3 Star(s) Action 7: Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses. Date action report first entered: 07/11/2012 The Willmar Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has stared a Buy Local campaign.

12 Local Businesses and Government have been posting the Buy Local Logo at their facilities. The awareness of the benefits to buying local is starting to increase. Coupon Books of Participating Businesses has been developed. Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce; Main Street Willmar; Kandi Mall Association Renewable Energy { BP no. 26 } 1 Star(s) Action 1: Adopt solar energy standards, wind energy/biomass ordinance that allows or encourages appropriate renewable energy installations. Date action report first entered: 03/13/2012 The city of willmar has a wind ordinance. This is a path of implementation for the private sector to use renewable energy with wind. 3 Star(s) Action 5: Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), biomass, solar hot water/air, micro-hydro or wind. Date action report first entered: 03/13/2012 The city of Willmar has 2 wind turbines WMU Wind Production 5,295,821 Kwh from Jan to Sept (2)Turbines at Megawatts each Local Food { BP no. 27 } 1 Star(s) Action 3: Create, assist with and promote local food production/distributionwithin the

13 city: a. A farmer's market or co-op buying club. b. An urban agriculture business or a community-supported agriculture (CSA) arrangement between farmers and community members/employees. c. A community or school garden, orchard or forest. Date action report first entered: 03/13/2012 The city of Willmar has 2 farmers markets and a community garden on city property. Becker Market Located in historic downtown Willmar offering locally grown produce and local products. Willmar Farmers Market Location: Westside Liquor Store (parking lot) 1600 Hwy 12 East, Willmar, MN High Ave. Community Garden - Willmar Community Center Willmar Design Center