In 2013, Minnetonka joined Minnesota GreenStep Cities, a voluntary program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The program, launched in 2010, is based upon 29 best practices that focus on cost savings, energy use reduction and innovation. The program includes five steps of recognition and 127 participating cities.
Minnetonka advanced to Step 4 in 2019, which makes the city just one of 21 cities to reach Step 4 or 5. Step 4 recognizes cities that have recorded a year’s worth of metrics regarding sustainability best practices in categories such as buildings and lighting, transportation, land use and environmental management.
Overall, the city has met 41 best-practice actions, including efforts to add a sustainable purchasing policy and provide resources to businesses to assist with energy and sustainability audits.
Visit Minnetonka’s GreenStep Cities profile.