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Commission Work Program and Budget

The Commissioners approved the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission's 2014-2015 Work Program and 2014 Annual Budget at their meeting on December 13^th. The Work Program is prepared to ensure that the Commission is allocating the necessary resources to serve its member counties and communities, partner organizations, as well as state and federal departments as efficiently and effectively as possible. In addition, the Commission is required by Wisconsin State Statute to prepare and adopt an annual budget by October 1^st of each year for the subsequent fiscal year. For a copy of the Commission's 2014-2015 Work Program and 2014 Annual Budget, please contact Richard Heath. 

Incredible Edible Green Bay ~ A Celebration of Green Bay's Local Food Initiatives

Join New Leaf Foods and the Milwaukee Victory Garden Initiative at Kavarna Coffeehouse (143 N. Broadway) on Friday, January 17, 2014 at 6:00 PM for Incredible Edible Green Bay - a presentation of local food initiatives happening in Northeast Wisconsin.

Green Bay is a rich and vibrant community with a diversity of local food producers and food initiatives working to build a healthy food culture. From local farmers in the fields to cooks in the kitchen, from the gardeners and growers in our urban open spaces, from our schools, hospitals, restaurants, and grocery aisles to our family table, community members are coming together to create a healthy local food system. Come hear speakers from local organizations describe what they are doing to create a sustainable local food culture and discuss future plans for New Leaf Foods.

The following groups will be giving presentations with representatives and materials available: New Leaf Market, New Leaf Foods, Inc., Brown County Extension - Community Gardens, NWTC Sustainable Agriculture Program, Oneida Community Integrated Food Systems, Helfenstein Soup Council, Glacierland Resource Conservation & Development, Live 54218, UWGB SLO Foods, UWGB Heirloom Plant Sale, Trust Local Foods, Farmory, Brown County Culinary Kitchen, Seymour Park Garden & food Forest Project, and The Victory Garden Initiative.

Great Lakes USA launched a new sports travel brochure that complements Brand USA's promotion of sports in the US. Brand USA is a public private partnership with the mission of promoting international travel to the US. The guide covers football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, golf, motor racing, and local activities and events. It also highlights the diverse range of sporting experiences available in the Great Lakes region as well as facts about the sports, teams, and stadiums.

Great Lakes USA launched the brochure at World Travel Market, the UK's premier travel trade show. "In previous years we produced guides on shopping, great escapes, winter and the outdoors but this year we have decided to tie in with Brand USA's promotion of sports tourism.

Sports draw people together and watching a sporting event is a great way to add an extra dimension to a Great Lakes holiday," said Toby McCarrick, Great Lakes USA Executive Director. (Article from The Compass: A Report of the Council of Great Lakes Governors)

The Commission moved to its current office in October 2013, and staff have found it to be very accommodating for our operations and very close to downtown amenities. There are additional office spaces available in the complex. Open space includes a 321 sq. ft. suite; a 540 sq. ft. three-room suite; and a 2,176 sq. ft. multi-office area on the ground floor that is adjacent to the breakroom and restrooms. The rate is $9.00 per sq. ft. and includes utilities and parking. If you are interested in being the Commission's a neighbor, contact Bill Van Ess at (920) 884-2850 ext. 5080.

Sheboygan MPO Update

Commission staff has completed the process of quantifying population, housing and employment growth between 2010 and 2045 to traffic analysis zones (TAZs) in Sheboygan County for three land use scenarios: (1) continuation of existing trends; (2) compact/infill development; and (3) corridor development.  Commission staff is making small modifications to these growth distributions based on comments from members of the MPO advisory committees at recent meetings.  An open house will be scheduled to present all three scenarios to the public and obtain feedback in early 2014.  In addition, MPO staff will ask WisDOT travel forecasting staff to calculate various transportation performance measures in 2045 for all three scenarios.  These efforts should help members of the MPO advisory committees to reach a decision regarding which scenario should be carried forward in the remainder of the process to develop the Year 2045 Sheboygan Area Transportation Plan (SATP).

Commission staff prepared a report on 2013 transportation system performance indicators in December.  This report was presented to the MPO advisory committees at their December joint meeting.  Commission staff thanks WisDOT staff, other state agency staff and local staff (particularly the Sheboygan County Planning and Conservation Department for bicycle facility data and Shoreline Metro for transit data) for their cooperation in the completion of this report.

Commission staff is in the process of amending the Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Calendar Years 2013 - 2016.  Primary TIP elements being amended include Tables 5 (Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Projects) and 6 (Street and Highway Improvement Projects).  Staff from the Sheboygan County Planning and Conservation Department assisted Commission staff in determining changes to the timing and funding of existing Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NMTPP) projects, while WisDOT Northeast Region staff assisted Commission staff in determining changes to the timing and funding of street and highway improvement projects.

For more information, please contact Jeff Agee-Aguayo.

Richard Heath 

Executive Director

Jeff Agee-Aguayo

Transportation

Planner

Richard Malone 

Office Accounts

Coordinator 

Angela Pierce 

Natural Resources

 Planner

Brandon Robinson 

Community Assistance

Planner

Joshua Schedler

GIS Coordinator