Providing cooperative planning and funding solutions to foster
healthy and thriving communities within the region.
An Economic Development District serving Northeast Wisconsin for nearly 
50 years.
IN THIS ISSUE
Sheboygan MPO
CONTACT US

(920) 448-2820
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STAFF

Cindy  Wojtczak
Executive Director

Brandon 
Robinson
Assistant Director

Emily Pierquet
Administrative Assistant
Ext. 101
 
Jeffrey 
Agee-Aguayo
Transportation Planner

Madison  Smith
Environmental Planner
Ext. 106

Nicole  Barbiaux
GIS Specialist
Ext. 104

Sydney Swan
Economic Development Planner
Ext. 108

Harry Graham
Community Assistance Planner
Ext. 109


E-NEWSLETTER VOLUME 9,  ISSUE 9/September  2019 
 
2018 Annual Report Released!

We are pleased to announce the official release of Bay-Lake RPC's 2018 Annual Report. The annual report highlights work that was completed and ongoing throughout the fiscal year 2018 along with providing an overview on the Commission's continued programs.

Click here to view the 2018 Annual Report.

Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grants
Coastal counties and communities are fortunate in that Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) grants can be used as an option to help offset the cost of updating a comprehensive our outdoor recreation plans. The WCMP is currently seeking proposals to enhance and restore coastal resources within the state's coastal zone (i.e., all counties adjacent to Lakes Michigan and Superior, with their 1,000 miles of shoreline). WCMP grants are also available for projects under the following categories:
 
  • Coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration
  • Nonpoint source pollution control
  • Coastal resource and community planning
  • Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation.
 
The WCMP anticipates awarding approximately $1.5 million in grant funding. WCMP applications are due November 1, 2019.
 
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact  Brandon Robinson or Madison Smith  of the Commission for additional information, or  WCMP staff  to discuss ideas for project proposals and application requirements. Application materials and the Request for Proposals are available on the  WCMP website .

Marinette County Hazard Mitigation Plan  Public Review
Hazard Mitigation is defined as any action taken before, during, or after a
disaster to permanently eliminate or reduce the long term risk to human life and property from natural and man-made hazards. Hazard mitigation planning is a process that assesses risks and evaluates the community vulnerability from potential hazards. Marinette County has worked alongside the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission to create the updated  Marinette County, Wisconsin Hazard Mitigation Plan 2020-2025.

Please review the draft document online and submit written comments on the proposed updated hazard plan. Feedback can be emailed to  Madison Smith  or also submitted on the  Marinette County website .

A public informational meeting to present the draft plan, maps, and materials will be held October 23, 2019 from 4:00-6:00PM at the Marinette County Courthouse in the Jury Assembly Room (Annex basement) at 1926 Hall Avenue in Marinette County.

East River Revitalization Plan
Working together with The Nature Conservancy, we have been meeting with numerous municipalities and conducting a field work inventory to gather current existing trends of the native species, water quality, and bank erosion. We will be working to create a visual drone imagery segment of our project which spans over the lower East River corridor. The goal of this revitalization plan is to not only increase river restoration education, but to work with communities to identify areas along the East River with the greatest opportunity to increase an inter-urban element and create a healthier natural environment.

We are seeking public input. Please fill out our survey with the link here.

If you have questions or input please contact Madison Smith or Sydney Swan.
 
Completed Coastal Projects
Bay-Lake RPC has completed a number of projects this summer which were funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and NOAA. These projects include the Ahnapee River Water Trail Plan, Olson Park Master Concept Plan, and the Lakeshore Coastal Recreation Study. If you are interested in learning more, please check out our website where you can find the entire plans, posters, and our story maps for the Ahnapee water trail and lakeshore coastal recreation inventories! The link can be found  here.


 
Watershed Planning
Interested in learning more about the Menominee River and Watershed? If you are a resident of Marinette or Florence County, we would like to hear from you! This is designated as an Area of Concern (AOC) by the DNR and we are looking for individuals who are interested in sharing their knowledge of the area, and also open to learning more! Please contact Madison Smith for more information.
 
 
Multimodal Local Supplement Program
The 2019 - 2021 state biennial budget created a one-time transportation funding program for counties, cities, villages, towns and tribal governments across the state. This program is known as the Multimodal Local Supplement (MLS) program.  Over $73.2 million is available under this program, including nearly $26.1 million for counties, over $18.4 million for cities and villages, and over $28.7 million for towns. The program pays up to 90 percent of total eligible costs, with local governments providing a minimum 10 percent cost share.  This funding is available for  new projects related to: roads; bridges; transit vehicle purchase and facility projects; bicycle and pedestrian accommodations; railroads; and harbors.   The deadline for submitting an application is December 6, 2019, and  p rojects must be completed within six years.



Informational webinars regarding the MLS program will be held on the following dates and times:
  • Monday, September 30 at 9:00 a.m.;
  • Wednesday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m.; and
  • Thursday, October 10, at 2:00 p.m.
Each webinar is 90 minutes in length and provides the same information.To register for a webinar, please send an e-mail with your preferred date and time to  DOTLocalPrograms@dot.wi.gov.

Additional information regarding this program can be found HERE.

Please contact Jeff Agee-Aguayo or Brandon Robinson for additional information regarding this program.
 
Invasive Species Update
2019 treatment is well underway for Kewaunee County!  During early July, Wild Parsnip was treated at over 30 sites across the county. Wildlife & Wetland Solutions is back to treat Phragmites and Japanese Knotweed. Due to heavy rain, the team decided to only use the marsh master and return late-September to complete treatments by foot.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact  Madison Smith.

 

Upcoming Events/Meetings
September 24, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
Town of Sevastopol Comprehensive Plan Update Open House
Town of Sevastopol Town Hall

September 27-29, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky

October 17, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
Town of Pittsfield Comprehensive Plan Update Open House
Town of Pittsfield Town Hall

October 23, 2019, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Marinette Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Open House
Marinette County Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room, Marinette

October 24, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
Sheboygan County Administration Building, Sheboygan

October 25, 2019, 10:00 a.m.
BLRPC Executive Committee Meeting
Commission Office, Green Bay


Is your community or organization looking for speakers or meeting facilitators?
The staff of the Bay-Lake RPC are happy to speak to your boards/councils, committees, organization, or community groups about what is happening in our region. 

We are also available to assist communities and counties with meeting facilitation. 

Please contact us at (920) 448-2820 or   letsplan@baylakerpc.org .

Available Grant Opportunities 
The following is a list of upcoming grant opportunities and their due dates. Please contact the Commission if you have a project idea, or need assistance with preparing or administering a grant, or if you are interested in partnering with the Commission on a project.
Please contact
Emily Pierquet for any links that are not working properly.  Thank you!