Sustainability Commission

AGENDA OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025, 5:00 PM In person at City Hall, Room 310. Virtual attendance also available via Zoom. A. Zoom Meeting Information. 1. Join Zoom Meeting Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82236285137?pwd=bzBScDVVRysrQlpSZEZpK2FMSnd4Zz09 Or call in by phone: +1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 822 3628 5137 Passcode: 769016 If you wish to speak at this public meeting or leave a comment, please fill out the online Comment Form prior to the meeting. More detailed Zoom Instructions can be found online. B. Roll Call. 1. Chair- Christa Kananen; Vice Chair- Ned Dorff; Alder Joey Prestley; Julia Noordyk; Jenny Brinker; Amy Kox; Mark Walter; Daniela Beall; Staff person- Maria Otto C. Approval of the Agenda. 1. Approval of the agenda for the Thursday, November 20, 2025, meeting of the Sustainability Commission. D. Approval of Minutes. 1. Approval of the minutes from the October 16, 2025 meeting. E. Announcements. 1. Farewell and thank you to Dr. Amy Kox for serving on the Sustainability Commission since 2021. Best wishes to Amy as she gets ready for retirement. 2. Green Bay Accelerator Cohort Agenda of the Sustainability Commission November 20, 2025 Page 1 F. Regular Business. 1. Continue discussion of Sustainability Commission Work Plan for 2026 work group priorities and initiatives. 2. Discussion and possible action to choose a name for the No Mow May alternative initiative. G. Informational. 1. Healthy Habitat for All Work Group Report 2. Staff Report(s) 3. Next Meeting: December 17, 2025 H. Adjournment. 1. Adjournment of the Thursday, November 20, 2025, meeting of the Sustainability Commission. 1) THIS MEETING IS RECORDED: THE VIDEO OF THIS MEETING AND MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.greenbaywi.gov 2) ACCESSIBILITY: Any person wishing to attend who requires special accommodation because of a disability, should contact the City Safety Manager at 920-448-3125 at least 48 hours before the scheduled meeting time so that arrangements can be made. 3) QUORUM: Please take notice that a majority or quorum of the Common Council will attend this Sustainability Commission meeting and will constitute a meeting of the Common Council for purposes of discussion and information gathering relative to this agenda. 4) REPRESENTATION: The party requesting the communication, or their representative, should be present at this meeting. Agenda of the Sustainability Commission November 20, 2025 Page 2  Report to the Sustainability Commission of the City of Green Bay MEETING DATE November 20, 2025 AGENDA ITEM # D.1 Approval of the minutes from the October 16, 2025 meeting. BACKGROUND RECOMMENDATION FISCAL IMPACT ATTACHMENTS 1. Sustainability Minutes 10 16 2025 100 North Jefferson Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-5026 greenbaywi.gov  MINUTES OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025, 5:00 PM In person at City Hall, Room 310. Virtual attendance also available via Zoom. A. ZOOM MEETING INFORMATION. 1. Join Zoom Meeting Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82236285137?pwd=bzBScDVVRysrQlpSZEZpK2FMSnd4Zz09 Or call in by phone: +1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 822 3628 5137 Passcode: 769016 If you wish to speak at this public meeting or leave a comment, please fill out the online Comment Form prior to the meeting. More detailed Zoom Instructions can be found online. B. ROLL CALL. 1. Chair- Christa Kananen; Vice Chair- Ned Dorff; Alder Joey Prestley; Julia Noordyk; Jenny Brinker; Amy Kox; Mark Walter; Daniela Beall; Staff person- Maria Otto Present: Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Jenny Brinker, Joey Prestley (left meeting at 5:30), Daniela Beall (joined late), Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto Excused: Amy Kox, Mark Walter Absent: None. C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.  1. Approval of the agenda for the Thursday, October 16, 2025, meeting of the Sustainability Commission. Moved by Ald. Joey Prestley, seconded by Maria Otto to approve. Motion Passed. Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Joey Prestley, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Moved by Ald. Joey Prestley, seconded by Christa Kananen to approve. Motion Passed. Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Joey Prestley, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. 1. Approval of the minutes from the September 17, 2025, meeting. E. ANNOUNCEMENTS. 1. Energize Green Bay, a City of Green Bay initiative, is hosting an information session October 24, 2025 at NWTC to educate and promote the adoption of air source heat pump technology. The session is open to local municipal employees who work in HVAC-related or policy roles, representatives from community-based organizations, and interested members of the public. Additional details and a QR registration code is attached. 2. Salt Awareness webinar will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Alyssa Reinke from the Fox-Wolf Watershed, Emily Henrigillis from the De Pere Sustainability Commission, and City of Green Bay Public Works staff Nathan Wachtendonk and Josh Brassfield will be the presenters. The webinar is sponsored by JOSHUA Environmental Justice Task Force. F. REGULAR BUSINESS.- NONE G. INFORMATIONAL. 1. Discussion of Sustainability Commission Work Plan ideas for 2026 priorities and initiatives. Moved by Julia Noordyk, seconded by Ned Dorff to open the floor. Motion Passed.  Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Jenny Brinker, Joey Prestley, Daniela Beall, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. • Member of the public: Selena Darrow, Address: 2768 Creekwood Circle, Green Bay. Moved by Christa Kananen, seconded by Maria Otto to close the floor. Motion Passed. Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Jenny Brinker, Joey Prestley, Daniela Beall, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. Member of the public: Selena Darrow, Address: 2768 Creekwood Circle, Green Bay. 2. Work Group Reports a. Climate Resilience Workgroup Moved by Christa Kananen, seconded by Ned Dorff to receive and place on file. Motion Passed. Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Jenny Brinker, Daniela Beall, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. b. Healthy Habitat for All Workgroup 3. Next Meeting: Thursday, November 16, 2025. Correction: Next meeting is Thursday, November 13 at 5pm. H. ADJOURNMENT. 1. Adjournment of the Thursday, October 16, 2025, meeting of the Sustainability Commission. Moved by Ned Dorff, seconded by Jenny Brinker to adjourn. Motion Passed. Yes-Ned Dorff, Christa Kananen, Jenny Brinker, Daniela Beall, Julia Noordyk, Maria Otto, No-None, Abstain-None. A WEBINAR ON WINTER SALT IN GREEN BAY, WI TO EDUCATE ON THE IMPACT OF SALT ON OUR ROADS NOV 11, 2025 | 12 PM Visit joshua4justice.org/environmental- justice for more information. BE ONE OF TEN BUSINESSES LEADING THE WAY TO A CLEANER, MORE RESILIENT GREEN BAY. The Green Bay Accelerator is a hands-on cohort designed to help local businesses start their sustainability journey and implement nature-based solutions to reduce costs, improve resilience, and strengthen community impact. Through coaching, peer collaboration, and access to expert guidance, your business can become a local leader in sustainable transformation. Available at no cost in 2026 for select businesses in Green Bay. PROGRAM BENEFITS Value: Lower costs, reduce risks, improve resilience, and strengthen your reputation. Impact: Contribute to community resilience, flood protection, and healthier neighborhoods. Visibility: Showcase your business as leading sustainable transformation in Green Bay. Accessibility: Access proven processes, hands-on coaching, and peer learning PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS Businesses must:  Have fewer than 500 employees.  Be operating within the City of Green Bay.  Have decision-making control over facility and land use.  Demonstrate interest in engaging strategically in sustainability as a value driver for stakeholders. READY TO LEAD CHANGE IN GREEN BAY? Apply now to be part of a community-based cohort driving measurable impact—improving water quality, reducing emissions, and enhancing community resilience. 궾 궽 Eligibility: Businesses with <500 employees operating in the City of Green Bay 궼 茫 Cost: FREE, thanks to our generous partners at the Daybreak Fund 茪 茩 茨 茧 茦 궋 Time Commitment: 15-20 hours between February – August 2026 궊 궉 궈 권 궇 궆 궅 궄 궃 궂 궁 Learn more and apply at: www.wisconsinsustainability.com/gbaccelerator Questions? Contact christa@sustainablebusinesscouncil.org  Report to the Sustainability Commission of the City of Green Bay MEETING DATE November 20, 2025 AGENDA ITEM # F.1 Continue discussion of Sustainability Commission Work Plan for 2026 work group priorities and initiatives. BACKGROUND The Sustainability Commission’s Work Plan is intended to guide the activity of the commission, ensuring our efforts are impactful and aligned. This has facilitated incredible progress, including passage of a commitment to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050; development, approval, and implementation of the Clean Energy Green Bay (CEGB) and Green Stormwater Infrastructure plans; incorporation of climate resilience in the Go Big Green Bay 2050 Comprehensive Plan; and implementation of multiple City policies and initiatives that support pollinators and native species. To continue to leverage the expertise of Commission members and drive impact toward a more sustainable community, we propose the following: • Sustainability Commission members will prepare a list of all possible 2026 Commission initiatives to discuss during the October 16, 2025 meeting. This should include personal/professional input and input from represented stakeholders. All ideas are welcome – this should be a comprehensive list of all possible action by the Commission in 2026. • During the October meeting, the Commission will compile and discuss the proposed ideas and assign them to the appropriate Work Group. Additional Work Groups may be proposed at this time, as needed to address recommended actions. Each Commission member is encouraged to participate in at least one Work Group; each Work Group must have participation of 1-3 Commission members to be considered active, and only active Work Groups will be reflected in the 2026 Work Plan. Work Group leaders should be prepared to request additional support from the Commission at this time, to ensure that each group has the resources it needs to achieve its 2026 priorities. • Between October and November 2025, Work Groups will meet to discuss the proposed ideas and identify 1-3 initiatives for 2026. Initiatives should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound (SMART). If additional funding or outside resources are needed to accomplish the initiative, steps to secure those resources should be outlined as part of the 2026 plan. • During the November 2025 meeting, each Work Group will present its 2026 plan to the Commission for discussion. • Between November and December 2025, the Work Plan will be updated to reflect the 2026 Work Group initiatives. • During the December 2026 meeting, the Commission will vote to finalize the 2026 Work Plan. RECOMMENDATION Each workgroup will review and discuss 1–3 priorities and initiatives for consideration in the 2026 Work Plan. 100 North Jefferson Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-5026 greenbaywi.gov  • Clean Energy • Climate Resilience • Healthy Habitat for All • Waste Reduction • Youth / Community Engagement FISCAL IMPACT None at this time. ATTACHMENTS 1. Clean Energy Work Group 2026 Initiatives 2. Community Engagement Work Group 2026 Initiatives page 2 of 2 Clean Energy • Goal o 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality for the City of Green Bay by the year 2050 (Resolution 5/4/2021). • Research, Data, or Evidence o Clean Energy Green Bay Plan – adopted December 2023 • Actions o In Q1 2026, define internship opportunities and expectations for college students to support achievement of the City’s clean energy and carbon neutrality targets. o Collaborate with the Sustainable Business Council to deliver the Green Bay Accelerator Cohort program by Q3 2026, in support of the City’s Clean Energy Plan. o Provide three outreach touchpoints to the Large Energy Users workgroup to advance the City’s Clean Energy Plan by year-end 2026. • Target Dates o Internship Opportunities and Expectations – Q1 2026 o Deliver Green Bay Accelerator Cohort – Q3 2026 o Three Touchpoints to Large Energy Users – EOY 2026 • Partners o Internal City Employee Energy Team o WPS o Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition o Green Bay Metro Transit o Green Bay Water Utility o Green Bay Neighborhoods o Focus on Energy o Large Energy Users group o Sustainable Business Council • Funding Source o Daybreak Fund grant (to Sustainable Business Council) for GB Accelerator cohort • Point People o Jenny Brinker, Christa Kananen Community Engagement  Goal: Build relationships across the private, public, nonprofit, education, and youth sectors to foster community participation in local sustainability initiatives.  Research, Data, or Evidence:  Studies on community engagement in effective local governance ▪ Loeffler, Elke, and Tony Bovaird. “From Engagement to Co-Production: The Contribution of Users and Communities to Outcomes and Public Value.” Voluntas, 23 (4): 1119–1138 , 2012. ▪ Putnam, Robert D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster, 2000. ▪ Rowe, G., & Frewer, L. J. (2000). Public Participation Methods: A Framework for Evaluation. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 25(1), 3-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/016224390002500101 (Original work published 2000)  Existing community engagement programs in other WI municipalities (e.g., Dane, MKE)  Actions: o Establish & promote a central list of sustainability-related volunteer projects, in collaboration with City staff and local partners. o Coordinate with the outgoing Clean Energy Connector, to ensure resources and connections established during their tenure are not lost and to identify opportunities to continue this important work.  Target Dates: o Meet with the Clean Energy Connector to initiate handoff by the end of Q1 2026. o Establish a list of sustainability-related volunteer projects by the end of Q4 2026.  Partners: o Green Bay Conservation Corps o Local schools (e.g., Green Bay Area Public Schools) o Higher education institutions (e.g., UW-Green Bay, NWTC) o Youth organizations (e.g., Boys & Girls Club, Youth Action Council) o Wisconsin K–12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) o WI Youth Engagement Coalition + Conservation Corp  Funding Sources: o None needed at this time  Point People: Christa Kananen, Maria Otto, Ned Dorff  Report to the Sustainability Commission of the City of Green Bay MEETING DATE November 20, 2025 AGENDA ITEM # F.2 Discussion and possible action to choose a name for the No Mow May alternative initiative. BACKGROUND No Mow May will be replaced by a program that promotes gowning native plants during the entire growing season. The Healthy Habitat Work Group narrowed options for names down to three: 1. Pollinator Pocket; 2. Healthy Habitats; 3. Neighbors For Nature. RECOMMENDATION Recommend the Sustainability Commission to choose one of the three proposed names. FISCAL IMPACT ATTACHMENTS None 100 North Jefferson Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-5026 greenbaywi.gov  Report to the Sustainability Commission of the City of Green Bay MEETING DATE November 20, 2025 AGENDA ITEM # G.1 Healthy Habitat for All Work Group Report BACKGROUND Discussion regarding replacement of No Mow May. RECOMMENDATION FISCAL IMPACT ATTACHMENTS None 100 North Jefferson Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-5026 greenbaywi.gov  Report to the Sustainability Commission of the City of Green Bay MEETING DATE November 20, 2025 AGENDA ITEM # G.2 Staff Report(s) BACKGROUND RECOMMENDATION To recieve and place on file staff report (s). FISCAL IMPACT ATTACHMENTS 1. EGB Update November 2025 2. Resiliency Coord_November 2025 100 North Jefferson Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301-5026 greenbaywi.gov November 20, 2025 Clean Energy / Energize Green Bay Campaign updates Submitted by Alex Galt, Clean Energy Connector • Grow Solar – Green Bay, the group purchase program the City of Green Bay partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association has now concluded. The program provided solar PV systems to 20 households in NE Wisconsin. Half of these were within Green Bay city limits, about 3/4s in the greater Green Bay area. In all, this added 70 kW of additional solar PV to the City’s grid. • With substantial solar PV arrays under construction by the Green Bay Area Public Schools at East High School and Lombardi and Washington Middle Schools, overall, the City of Green Bay permitted ~ 1.2 mW of solar PV in 2025. To put that into perspective, during the ten years prior, 1.5 mW of solar PV was installed. • As the 2025 public outreach season ends, we’ve engaged approximately 1,450 people this year through one-on- one conversations. The quality of these interactions varied—some were quite in-depth, others more surface- level, and a few were unproductive. It remains difficult to assess the overall impact of this work. Promoting independent events, such as those we hosted earlier in the year with neighborhood associations, proved to be of limited value. For future outreach efforts, I recommend focusing on farmers markets—especially the Saturday market—and other venues where people are already gathered. • As the Energize Green Bay campaign enters its fourth quarter and the IRA provisions that it was designed to promote begin to sunset, we are shifting our focus toward addressing the extreme energy burden faced by low- income families in Green Bay. We’re doing this in several ways: o The Energize! Green Bay board game will be distributed via foamcore stands that will be sited in various well trafficked places in Green Bay. o Educating leaders within local community-based organizations (CBO) about energy efficiency and clean energy - hopefully in partnership with Brown County United Way, who can provide access to up to 32 local organizations. • We are also working to create an online resource for small business owners. We have begun talking to The New North. TO: Sustainability Commission FROM: Melissa M. Schmitz DATE: November 20, 2025 RE: Staff Report Over the past couple months, I continued advancing several key resiliency and clean energy initiatives for the City of Green Bay. Much of this work centered on supporting the East River Flood Solutions wetland restoration projects, including preparing narrative sections and refining materials for grant submissions. I continue to manage grants for East River flood resiliency, Connect the Bay, and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Time was spent reviewing project budgets, monthly invoices, matching requirements, and consultant scopes to ensure alignment with funding opportunities and project timelines. In support of the Clean Energy Green Bay Plan, I advanced planning related to municipal solar installations, including refining potential system sizes for the East and West Side Garage. I also began evaluating the next phase of the Energize Green Bay campaign with the Clean Energy Connector as IRA incentives begin to sunset. Additional efforts included coordinating with partners to strengthen long-term flood resiliency planning, contributing time with department staff for planning a food waste compost pilot and a No Mow May replacement initiative. Alternative funding mechanisms for stormwater and flood mitigation infrastructure were investigated. Overall, recent work involved project management, grant development, and cross-departmental coordination to support the City’s long-term climate resilience and clean energy goals.