Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
33 issues in environment
Solar for Good grant opportunity
Local nonprofits and community organizations can apply for up to $50,000 in solar grants through RENEW Wisconsin's Solar for Good program, with applications due October 31.
School food waste composting pilot
The waste reduction group is running small food-scrap pilots at a few schools, trucking scraps to UW-Green Bay's composter to prove the concept before asking the school board for bigger investment.
Recycling contamination at Bay Beach Amusement Park
Recycling bins at Bay Beach are contaminated with 25–35% trash, and much of the collected material ends up in the landfill anyway. The commission debated whether a reverse vending machine is the answer or whether more bins, better signage, and operational changes would work better — and held the decision a month.
Green Bay Packers Foundation grant for Conservation Corps
The corps faces a growing yearly funding gap but landed new grants, bought a UTV, and may take over maintenance of NWTC's neglected pollinator garden in 2027.
Reverse vending machine pilot at Bay Beach Amusement Park
The idea is a machine at Bay Beach that takes cans and bottles and rewards recyclers with ride tickets. Right now about a quarter to a third of what goes into the park's recycling bins is garbage, so a reward-based machine could cut contamination.
Waste Reduction Work Group activity
The commission's waste reduction work group shared its latest update, covering ongoing efforts to cut landfill waste citywide.
Nuisance tree ordinance and UWGB trees
The city will study giving the City Forester power to declare trees nuisances, and will raise the UWGB tree issue with the Board of Regents after resident comment.
Nuisance tree ordinance for private property
A proposed ordinance would let the City Forester declare dead or diseased trees on private property a nuisance and force removal. Supporters say it protects neighbors from hazardous trees; the city forester warns it would mean a big inspection and enforcement workload with no current budget.
2027 recycling agreement with Brown County
A free annual renewal that keeps Brown County's recycling education and outreach going, which the city needs to keep its state grant funding.
EPA Brownfields program progress
The first $500,000 assessment grant is fully spent — 13 sites, about 58 acres assessed — and a new $500,000 grant was awarded in June. Over $364,000 has gone to Badger Sheet Metal cleanup, and the greenway construction contract was recently awarded.
Home Electrification seminar
Menasha Utilities is hosting a free beginner-friendly seminar on switching gas appliances to electric, including rebates and incentives. Open to all residents, not just Menasha customers.
East River flood warning system
After six years of work, roughly seven communities along the East River have verbally committed to cost-share a new river gauge near Bellevue — a key step toward the region's first flood warning system for one of its largest watersheds. Brown County's emergency manager is helping coordinate.
Household food waste reduction grant
Commission members joined the school district's new Waste Reduction Subcommittee and found Green Bay Area Public Schools is behind on basic recycling and food waste — a partnership is forming to help.
Stormwater pond safety near Star Elementary
Alderpersons raised resident concerns about a dry stormwater pond next to the new Star Elementary holding water during heavy rain, raising child-safety questions. Staff explained it's designed for only about six inches of water and that construction fencing is in place.
Badger Greenway stormwater corridor
A $374,000 green-infrastructure project on the old Badger Sheet Metal site will connect Seymour Park to the shipyard, filter stormwater before it reaches the Fox River, and help fix a flooding problem created when the old slough was filled in.
Historic preservation survey grant
The city accepted a $20,000 state grant requiring no local match to designate a new historic district — the fifth round of such funding the city has used.
DPW rooftop solar design
A $53,000 design contract with Berners-Schober Associates moves the city toward solar panels on the Public Works building.
Rooftop solar at Public Works
The city hired an architect to design rooftop solar panels for the Public Works building — a step toward lower energy bills.
Energize Green Bay clean energy campaign results
The Clean Energy workgroup delivered a routine update, received and filed with the other workgroup reports.
Neighbors for Nature pollinator program
The plant kit giveaway has drawn over 400 registrations, capped at 300 households due to space, funding and staffing. Commissioners want press coverage to publicize the program that replaced No Mow May.
Native plant kit giveaway and pollinator corridor
The pollinator-friendly plant kit program is a hit — 95 of 300 kits went out on the first pickup day, with two more dates at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Three residents have already registered their yards under the city's natural landscape ordinance after picking up kits.
Food waste reduction with schools and community partners
Commission members joined the school district's new waste-reduction subcommittee and hosted a composting education series at the Brown County Library. Broader plans include bringing in representatives from farms, grocers, and food recovery groups to cut food waste.
Atkinson Marsh Restoration (AOC) Project
Northeast Asphalt won the $1.71 million contract to restore Atkinson Marsh.
Connect the Bay coastal resilience grant
The city accepted a $913,482 federal grant to fund final design for community coastal hazard risk reduction along the Fox River.
Flood resiliency projects and Green Tier reporting
The city authorized its annual MS4 stormwater report to the Wisconsin DNR — the yearly paperwork showing Green Bay is managing stormwater runoff to state standards.
Storm flooding and green stormwater infrastructure
Recent storms caused localized flooding, sewer backups, and an East River above bank level. The director reported the Webster swales and Ashland-area upgrades appear to be helping.
Pilot community food waste composting program
Dane County's new locked food-scrap drop-off boxes caught the commission's attention as a possible model for Green Bay. The group is gathering data from UW-Green Bay and Brown County's past program and watching for grants, though Wisconsin only got $3 million in federal climate pollution funding compared to Minnesota's $200 million.
800-tree donation for the East River Greenway
The city accepted a donation of 800 trees funded by a federal grant to the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory, to be planted along the East River Greenway.
EPA Environmental Education Grant opportunity
The Community Engagement Work Group wants work groups to brainstorm ideas for a federal environmental education grant, targeting a March 2027 application.
City energy benchmarking and community energy tracking
Staff need help entering city building energy data into Energy Star Portfolio Manager for 2025, and utilities aren't yet offering automated data feeds. Community-wide usage data was just received for the Green Tier report.
Youth engagement on the Sustainability Commission
City staff are trying to restart a youth engagement effort, meeting with Southwest High School's environmental club to give Green Bay students a voice at Commission meetings.
OneEnergy solar land lease
The city's solar land lease with OneEnergy would pay $1,000 per acre, rising 2% a year — the council let the Mayor finalize terms worked out in closed session.
Stormwater grant and complete-and-green-streets program
A DNR stormwater grant could fund a 'complete and green streets' program, but the planning-grant round apparently slipped to 2027. Staff suggested the construction-grant cycle instead could fund GSI projects like the East River project or a stormwater pond at Bay Beach.