Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues in environment with medium priority
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.
Green Bay Packers Foundation grant for Conservation Corps
The Corps wrapped its program year with 36 people serving nearly 50 terms and 22,000+ hours of restoration, trail, and education work. It met its pollinator corridor goal, is recruiting fall crews, and got a donated UTV to boost efficiency.
Safe Streets for All grant project
A federally funded street-safety project spanning 30 to 36 months kicked off this summer, with the first community listening session planned this fall.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Atkinson Marsh Restoration (AOC) Project
Northeast Asphalt won the $1.71 million contract to restore Atkinson Marsh.