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Roseville launches Climate Equity Action Plan process with state, county grants
Summary
City staff outlined a yearlong planning effort to produce a Climate Equity Action Plan, backed by a $49,975 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency planning grant and existing federal formula funds; the plan will include a community engagement program and a climate-justice advisory group.
Roseville city staff on May 5 outlined plans to develop a Climate Equity Action Plan using a mix of funding sources and technical support from Ramsey County, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and potential federal assistance. The council did not take a vote but authorized staff to proceed with consultant selection and community engagement work.
Sustainability Specialist Noel Bakken summarized the city's sustainability work and described the funding and scope for the new plan. "We received $76,000 in formula funding in 2023 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act to do some kind of climate change or resiliency project," Bakken said, noting that the U.S. Department of Energy technical-assistance voucher tied to that funding was still uncertain. Separately, Roseville was awarded an MPCA local climate-action planning grant of $49,975; the city must provide a 50% match ($24,987.50) from its environmental budget.
Bakken said Ramsey County applied for the same MPCA grant and will provide technical assistance and a county-level template; Roseville's grant will be used primarily for robust community engagement and local storytelling to root the plan in Roseville priorities. Proposed activities include a community-wide survey, workshops, internal staff planning sessions, a storytelling consultancy to capture residents' climate experiences and youth art engagement, and creation of a small climate-justice advisory group ("a core group of 12 to 15 people," Bakken said) to guide equity-centered outreach.
Bakken presented a draft schedule that aims to complete engagement and plan drafting by June 2026, consistent with MPCA reporting requirements: "This process will be wrapped up by June of 2026 because that's the requirement from the MPCA grant," he said. Staff said they plan targeted summer engagement events, tabling at community festivals (Juneteenth, Community in Bloom, Taste of Rose Fest), and to return to council with consultant awards (anticipated May 19) and a draft plan for council review in mid-2026.
Council members supported the planning effort and emphasized using prior Roseville vulnerability studies and existing comp-plan goals to inform the work. Bakken said the plan will align with county and state climate frameworks to increase opportunities for future grant funding and implementation partnerships. There was no council vote required at this session; staff will bring consultant agreements and formal plan documents to the council for future action.
