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Green Bay Sustainability Commission compiles 2026 work-plan priorities, highlights stormwater, pollinators, composting and food-waste projects
Summary
The commission spent most of its meeting compiling candidate projects for a 2026 work plan, including green stormwater infrastructure, a public pollinator program and plant-kit giveaway, review of residential stormwater credits, a pilot composting program and food-waste partnerships. Several procedural motions were approved during the meeting.
The City of Green Bay Sustainability Commission on Thursday gathered a large list of candidate projects for its 2026 work plan and asked work groups to narrow priorities, focusing on green stormwater infrastructure, pollinator support, composting and food-waste diversion.
Commission members described a long list of possible initiatives and how each would align with one of the panel’s work groups. Julia Nordyke, a sustainability commissioner, summarized one of the top proposals: “It’s to reduce impervious surfaces and also provide, green infrastructure to stormwater treatment.” The program Nordyke described would pair street redesigns with pedestrian and bike improvements while adding stormwater treatment features.
The meeting's organizers said the aim is to assign each idea to a work group and have those groups choose a small number of achievable priorities by the commission’s November meeting. Krista Keenanen, who led roll call and motions during the meeting, said the list is meant to be comprehensive and “this is not the final list of things we’re gonna tackle in 2026.”
Nut graf: Commissioners emphasized selecting a short list of projects that work groups can realistically begin next year, rather than committing to every idea raised. That process will include staff input and follow-up with community partners who already lead related programs.
Key initiatives discussed
- Green and Complete Streets / green stormwater infrastructure: Several commissioners recommended a program tying street reconstruction to multi-benefit green infrastructure that treats stormwater while improving walking and biking. Members described this as complementary to the city’s existing stormwater plans.
- Business and residential outreach on green stormwater infrastructure (GSI): Commissioners proposed fact sheets and campaigns to promote incentives for businesses and to review the city’s residential stormwater credit rules, which currently require an engineer’s certification for some credits.
- Pollinator support and plant-kit giveaway: The commission discussed replacing the No Mow May initiative with a plant-kit distribution and a public-facing pollinator corridor map. Maria (city staff) and others said partners have offered to match an initial grant application that would fund 100 kits; the Green Bay Botanical Garden and a local nursery, Stone Silo, have also pledged to contribute kits. The planned giveaway would offer 15 plants per kit in sun and shade mixes; organizers said a full rollout could be 300 kits if matching donations and grants are secured.
- Composting and food-waste programs: Commissioners proposed piloting internal composting at city facilities and pursuing a multi-year community food-waste composting program. Selena Darrow of Rooted In later offered the organization as a potential partner for food-waste diversion (see separate article).
- Fleet and vehicle-use review: Commissioners suggested using existing city fleet data to identify opportunities to reduce the number of assigned vehicles, consider shared-use scheduling and plan for more fuel-efficient replacements when vehicles are due for replacement.
- Schools and youth engagement: A proposed cohort to attend the Green & Healthy Schools conference in Milwaukee and a transition of the youth engagement work group into a broader community engagement group that includes businesses and residents.
Process, next steps and community input
Commission leaders said staff support and the city’s operational capacity will affect what the commission can implement. They plan to distribute a cleaned, work-group-assigned draft of the list after the meeting and asked each work group to select one or two realistic priorities to pursue.
The commission also opened the floor to public comment and received an offer of partnership from Rooted In on food-waste initiatives. Staff and commissioners stressed that many proposals will need funding, partnership or pilot testing before full implementation.
Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval — motion approved (mover: Aldo/Aldert Presley; second: Maria). No opposition recorded.
- Approval of September minutes — motion approved (mover: Joey; second: Crystal). No opposition recorded.
- Motion to open the floor for public comment — motion approved (mover: Julia Nordyke). No opposition recorded.
- Motion to receive the Climate Resilience Workgroup update and place it on file — motion approved (mover: Krista Keenanen). No opposition recorded.
- Motion to close public comment — motion approved (mover: Krista Keenanen; second: Maria). No opposition recorded.
- Motion to adjourn — motion approved. No opposition recorded.
Why it matters: Many of the items discussed touch city infrastructure, public education and potential grant-funded pilots that could affect stormwater management, urban plantings and city operations. Commissioners repeatedly framed the meeting as a prioritization exercise to identify a small number of projects the commission and work groups can execute in 2026, rather than a final action plan.
Ending: Commission leaders said they will circulate an edited list organized by work group within a week and asked members to volunteer for at least one work group. The commission will reconvene on Thursday, Nov. 13, to finalize priorities for 2026.
