Parks committee approves engineering contract, accepts AmeriCorps grant and adopts annual bird-day resolution

The Green Bay Parks Committee on Feb. 26 approved several routine but budgetary actions: it voted to hire GEI Consultants Inc. to complete engineering design for the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and Bernard Island nearshore enhancement work using an EPA grant, accepted a $14,737 AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund grant to support the Green Bay Conservation Corps' volunteer events, and adopted the committee's annual resolution supporting World Migratory Bird Day.

Staff said the EPA AOC grant of $500,000 will fund design services; GEI Consultants was recommended after an RFP process and scored highest by a three-person review panel. The recommended contract amount for design services is $496,532; staff explained price was one factor among several scoring elements. Committee members confirmed the grant will cover the design cost and that further construction-phase funds would be sought through future EPA construction grants if needed.

On the AmeriCorps grant, staff reported the city would receive $14,737 and must provide a $2,653 match; staff said a recent private donation of $5,000 will cover the city's match so there is no net cost to the city. The grant will fund 20 volunteer events over a six-week period, including a large volunteer day on Earth Day.

The committee also adopted its routine resolution in support of World Migratory Bird Day and received the draft 2025–2029 Green Bay Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan as informational; staff said the draft will be available for two weeks for public comment and would return to the committee with a formal adoption resolution in two weeks’ time.

Each of these items passed on voice votes during the meeting. The transcript records that Alder DeLee voted yes on the GEI motion; other individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the public transcript for these items.