In a recent city council meeting, Woodbury was honored with two prestigious awards recognizing its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The League of Minnesota Cities presented the Sustainable City Award for 2024, highlighting the city's innovative Waterwise Implementation Plan, which aims to conserve water amidst growing demand. This plan is projected to save an estimated 282 million gallons of water annually, a significant achievement for the region.

Kristen Moroz from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also presented Woodbury with the Green Step Cities Award, acknowledging the city's successful participation in the program since 2013. Woodbury has consistently reported on its sustainability metrics, achieving notable milestones such as converting 100% of city-owned street and traffic lights to LED, maintaining a fleet of 14 electric vehicles, and increasing parkland acreage from 3,386 to 3,647 acres since 2017.

The meeting, which was streamed online for public access, began with the Pledge of Allegiance and included a roll call led by the acting city clerk, Angela. Mayor Burton emphasized the importance of these awards as part of the city’s strategic initiatives for environmental sustainability, thanking the staff and community for their ongoing efforts.

The council also discussed a $200,000 grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which will support the implementation of the Waterwise plan and other sustainability initiatives. The meeting underscored Woodbury's proactive approach to environmental challenges and its role as a model for other cities in Minnesota.