Green Tier Legacy Community Committee — Agenda packet

Posted On: 05/19/2026 GREEN TIER LEGACY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. This Meeting Will Be conducted Via Zoom Video Conferencing To access the meeting electronically, click: https://zoom.us/j/4439901723?pwd=yAVpi40M1OIqgNufcVUE8XWCUSkKaH.1&omn=97063638580 Meeting ID: 443 990 1723 Passcode: 304078 To connect by phone: 1-301-715-8592 - Meeting ID 443 990 1723# For additional information check: www.sisterbaywi.gov 1 Chair – Louise Howson Staff Representative(s): 2 Paula Anschutz Village Admin Assistant – Sarah Bertges 3 Jill Wiebe Village Administrator – Benjamin Andrews (as needed) 4 Lisa O’Hearn 5 Mary Smythe Public Works Supervisor – Erik Linczmaier (as needed) 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of the Agenda 3. Approval of the Minutes a. April 22, 2026 4. Comments, Correspondence, and Concerns from the Public 5. Discussion/Action Items: a. Tree Giveaway - Recap b. Schedule - Strategic Planning Framework For 2026 Green Tier Activities c. Composting Program Implementation Status d. Updated Budget Request Consideration for Bags and Composting Equipment 6. Matters to be Placed on Future Agenda, Referred to a Committee, Official or Employee 7. Adjournment Public Notice Questions regarding the nature of the agenda items above or more detail on the agenda items scheduled to be considered by the governmental body can be directed to Sarah Bertges , Administrative Assistant, at adminassist@sisterbaywi.gov. It is possible that members of and possibly a quorum of members of other governmental bodies may attend the meeting to gather information; no action will be taken by any governmental body other than the body specifically referred to above in this notice. Upon reasonable notice, a good faith effort will be made to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aid at no cost to the individual. Due to the difficulty in finding interpreters, requests should be made as far in advance as possible, preferably a minimum of 48 hours. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Sister Bay Village Administration Office at 854-4118, (FAX) 854-9637, or by writing to the Village Administration Building, 2383 Maple Drive, PO Box 769, Sister Bay, WI 54234. Copies of reports and other supporting documentation are available for review online on the Village’s website. The Village of Sister Bay is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider 1 1 AD HOC GREEN TIER LEGACY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 1 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026 2 (Unapproved) 3 4 1. Call to Order & Roll Call 5 The March 27, 2026 meeting of the Green Tier Legacy Community Committee was called to order by 6 Administrator Andrews at 3:05 P.M. 7 Motion by O'Hearn to nominate Smythe as temporary chair, second by Wiebe. Motion carried – all 8 ayes. 9 10 Present: Mary Smythe, Jill Wiebe, Lisa O’Hearn, and delayed members joining later in the meeting; 11 Paula Anschutz and Louise Howson. 12 13 Staff: Benjamin Andrews Village Administrator, Sarah Bertges Administrative Assistant and Erik 14 Linczmaier Parks & Streets Director. 15 16 2. Approval of the Agenda 17 Andrews requested amending the agenda to move item 5c (Composting Program Implementation 18 Status) to first position in the discussion items to accommodate Erik's schedule. 19 Motion by Wiebe to approve the agenda as amended, second by O'Hearn. Motion carried- all ayes. 20 21 3. Approval of the Minutes – March 27, 2026 22 Motion by Wiebe to accept the minutes as written, second by Smythe. Motion carried-all ayes. 23 24 4. Comments, Correspondence, and Concerns from the Public 25 No members of the public were present. Smythe noted communication regarding the Green Tier 26 Legacy Communities quarterly member meeting held on Monday, March 30, 2026, which was 27 included in the meeting packet. 28 29 5. Discussion/Action Items 30 31 c. Composting Program Implementation Status 32 Andrews provided background on the composting program discussion from the previous meeting, 33 noting that a volunteer third party would collect specialized buckets from restaurants throughout 34 Sister Bay. The inquiry was whether the parks building could provide storage space and washing 35 capacity for approximately 25-50 buckets. 36 Erik from Parks Department discussed storage and cleaning logistics. Key concerns identified 37 included: 38 ● Need for indoor storage of clean buckets (approximately 10x10 space required) 39 ● Water access limitations at community gardens during winter months 40 ● Drainage concerns about organic waste in floor drain systems at parks facility 41 ● Alternative storage possibilities at Logger Quiz property 42 Howson explained the program details: participating restaurants include NWTC, Analog, Goose and 43 Twigs, potentially The Pig, Al's Restaurant, Zero Sum, and Northern Grill. The program would operate 44 year-round on a limited basis, with lighter activity during winter months. 45 Smythe suggested exploring whether Mighty Winds Farm could assist with bucket cleaning and 46 storage. Cost sharing was discussed, with Climate Change Coalition of Door County agreeing to fund 47 half of the bucket costs ($15 each for 50 buckets) and volunteer coordinator Mike Schneider's 48 stipend. 49 Linczmaier and Howson agreed to arrange a site visit with Schneider to evaluate storage options at 50 both the community gardens and Logerquist property, considering seasonal water availability and 51 cleaning logistics. 52 2 Minutes of the April 22, 2026 Meeting of the Green Tier Legacy Community Committee - Unapproved 2 1 a. Strategic Planning Framework For 2026 Green Tier Activities 2 Andrews presented a framework for strategic planning to organize the committee's annual goals and 3 activities. The process would involve identifying major goals, establishing objectives, setting 4 priorities and timelines, and assigning responsibilities. Andrews suggested this could be 5 accomplished through a workshop format using brainstorming methods. 6 O'Hearn noted the committee had attempted similar planning efforts previously with limited 7 success. Discussion focused on the need for an in-person workshop session to effectively develop 8 the strategic plan. 9 Smythe emphasized the importance of understanding sustainability priorities from Destination Door 10 County and Sister Bay Advancement to align efforts. Howson offered to provide DDC's updated 11 strategic plan and suggested coordinating with the Climate Change Coalition. 12 The committee agreed to schedule a separate in-person workshop meeting to develop the strategic 13 framework, covering activities from June 2026 through June 2027. 14 Motion by Wiebe to restore Howson as committee chair, second by Anschutz. Motion carried- all 15 ayes. 16 17 b. Reusable Bag Procurement and Design Updates 18 O'Hearn reported on bag procurement pricing from August 2024: $1.86 each for 1,000 pieces (12" x 19 13.5" x 7" recycled PET bags) with 3-4 month production timeline from Thailand. She noted the need 20 to update pricing before proceeding. 21 Anschutz suggested incorporating the bag initiative into a broader plastic awareness campaign, 22 including development of restaurant resource sheets. She indicated Ryan's donated design was 23 abstract rather than Sister Bay-specific and recommended considering more locally-themed artwork. 24 Discussion addressed material concerns, with Smythe questioning the use of recycled PET plastic 25 given the committee's sustainability mission. Alternatives discussed included canvas bags, though 26 cost implications were noted. Wiebe suggested researching Egg Harbor's canvas bag sourcing as a 27 comparison. 28 The committee agreed to bring various bag samples to the in-person workshop for evaluation and to 29 finalize decisions on material, design, and procurement approach. 30 31 d. Sustainability Policies for Municipal Landscaping and New Building Project 32 Andrews reported that the RFP for the new administrative building had been approved and would 33 be issued soon. The committee's sustainability input would be provided to the selected architectural 34 firm, including energy efficiency measures, solar panel readiness, and native landscaping 35 considerations. 36 Anschutz raised the possibility of incorporating rain barrel and water catchment systems, noting the 37 absence of such provisions in current village code. Smythe discussed potential county regulations 38 requiring on-site stormwater management and the importance of permeable surfaces. 39 Howson noted the village's existing efforts on energy-efficient lighting and dark sky-friendly street 40 lighting. The committee's recommendations will be forwarded as part of the building design process. 41 42 e. Updated Budget Request Consideration for Bags and Composting Equipment 43 Howson outlined the current budget status: $2,500 allocated for 2026, with approximately $600 44 spent on plants, leaving $1,900. Additional costs include $350-400 for composting buckets (split with 45 Climate Change Coalition), leaving approximately $1,500. 46 Discussion focused on requesting additional funds for the bag procurement project. Andrews noted 47 the request could be submitted to the finance committee as an unbudgeted item up to a specified 48 amount. 49 Based on comparison to the previous year's $5,000 budget (of which only $495 was spent), the 50 committee agreed to request up to $3,500 in additional funding, bringing the total potential budget 51 to $6,000. 52 3 Minutes of the April 22, 2026 Meeting of the Green Tier Legacy Community Committee - Unapproved 3 By consensus, Green Tier Committee Members agreed to request up to $3,500 in additional funding 1 from village reserves for the Green Tier Legacy Community Committee, to be submitted to the 2 finance committee. 3 4 6. Matters to be Placed on Future Agenda, Referred to a Committee, Official, or Employee 5 6 a. Tree Canopy Enhancement and Reforestation Initiatives 7 Howson reported that four new hardwood trees have been ordered for planting in the waterfront 8 park area north of village hall, scheduled for planting within the next month or two. These trees will 9 contribute to future canopy coverage over the street area. 10 11 b. Protecting Night Skies from Light Pollution 12 Discussion referenced recent concerns about Sister Bay's impact on Newport State Park's Dark Sky 13 designation. The committee has previously implemented stringent outdoor commercial lighting 14 requirements. 15 Smythe suggested the committee could assist businesses in transitioning to appropriate LED colors 16 and fixtures that direct light downward rather than outward. She noted successful light reduction 17 experiments at Woodcrest Village. 18 Options for public education were discussed, including developing informational materials for 19 homeowners and business owners. Howson noted Egg Harbor's success with sustainability-focused 20 newsletters and suggested similar communication strategies for Sister Bay. 21 22 Additional Item: Tree Giveaway Planning (Saturday May 9) 23 Detailed planning was conducted for the upcoming tree giveaway event: 24 ● Location: Piggly Wiggly, 9 AM to 3 PM 25 ● Trees: 180 trees (10 trays of 18) in four species, stored at Jeff's residence 26 ● Staffing: Two shifts -8-11:30 AM (Wiebe, Anschutz, O’Hearn) and 11:30-3 PM (Smythe, Howson 27 and neighbor. 28 ● Materials needed: Tags, informational handouts, tables, promotional materials 29 ● SBA promotional support confirmed 30 Anschutz will coordinate tree pickup logistics. O'Hearn will redesign tree tags featuring the Green 31 Tier logo and environmental messaging. Howson will obtain informational handouts from the 32 Climate Change Coalition regarding tree care and planting instructions. 33 34 Meeting Schedule 35 Two meetings were scheduled: 36 ● Regular meeting: Wednesday, May 20 at 1:00 PM via Zoom 37 ● In-person strategic planning workshop: Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM in the small conference 38 room at the fire station. 39 40 7. Adjournment 41 A motion was made by Smythe, second by O’Hearn to adjourn the April 22, 2026 meeting of the 42 Green Tier Legacy Community Committee at 4:51 P.M. Motion carried – all ayes. 43 44 Respectfully submitted by Sarah Bertges, Administrative Assistant 45 46 4 STAFF REPORT Date: May 20, 2026 To: Green Tier Legacy Community Committee Re: Tree Giveaway - Recap The Sister Bay Green Tier Legacy Community Committee hosted a satellite Big Plant event outside the Piggly Wiggly beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event was supported by the Village Board and aligned with the county -wide goal of increasing climate resilience thr ough expanded tree planting. Ten flats of conifer saplings were purchased through the Climate Change Coalition's Big Plant program and distributed to the public at no cost. A total of 180 trees were given away, consisting of: • 2 flats white spruce • 2 flats balsam fir • 3 flats white pine • 3 flats red pine Trees were offered on a one-per-person basis. The final red pine was claimed at approximately 2:40 p.m. Event staffing was provided by community volunteers, including: • Paula Anschutz • Mary Smythe • Jacki Kieckhefer • Jill Wiebe Volunteers distributed saplings, provided care instructions, and answered questions related to tree planting, the Big Plant program, Green Tier initiatives, and broader community sustainability topics. $231 in donations were recieved , dedicated toward purchasing buckets for the new Sister Bay Composting Initiative. Overall, there was strong engagement with residents seeking guidance on tree care and local sustainability programs. Special thanks were expressed to: Page 1 5 Page 2 • Piggly Wiggly for hosting and partnering with the Sister Bay GTLC. • Innovative Printing for producing informational handouts provided to participants. The 2026 Big Plant tree giveaway successfully advanced community sustainability goals, strengthened local engagement, and contributed 180 new trees toward climate resilience efforts in Sister Bay and the surrounding county. ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Donations Received 6 7 8 Page 1 STAFF REPORT Date: May 20, 2026 To: Green Tier Legacy Community Committee Re: Schedule - Strategic Planning Framework For 2026 Green Tier Activities PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026 Andrews presented a framework for strategic planning to organize the committee's annual goals and activities. The process would involve identifying major goals, establishing objectives, setting priorities and timelines, and assigning responsibilities. Andrews suggested this could be accomplished through a workshop format using brainstorming methods. O'Hearn noted the committee had attempted similar planning efforts previously with limited success. Discussion focused on the need for an in-person workshop session to effectively develop the strategic plan. Smythe emphasized the importance of understanding sustainability priorities from Destination Door County and Sister Bay Advancement to align efforts. Howson offered to provide DDC's updated strategic plan and suggested coordinating with the Climate Change Coalition. The committee agreed to schedule a separate in -person workshop meeting to develop the strategic framework, covering activities from June 2026 through June 2027. Motion by Wiebe to restore Howson as committee chair, second by Anschutz. Motion carried- all ayes. In-person strategic planning workshop: Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM in the small conference room at the fire station. NEXT STEPS • Proposing Green Tier Meeting for Strategic Planning, proposed for Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 AM. 9 Page 1 STAFF REPORT Date: May 20, 2026 To: Green Tier Legacy Community Committee Re: Composting Program Implementation Status Louise to provide update on Composting Program Implementation Status. 10 1 Ben Andrews From: Lisa O'Hearn <irishirish5@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 6:29 PM To: Sarah Bertges Subject: Reusable Bag Documents Attachments: Reusable Bag Ideas - Sister Bay GTLC (1).pdf; Green Tier Reusable Bag Letter - DRAFT (2).pdf; Green Tier Logo.png Hi Sarah, Attached are the two reusable bag documents I mentioned I'd send. I'm also including the Green Tier logo so that you have it if you need it for anything. thanks! Lisa 11 12 Reusable Bag Ideas Sister Bay Green Tier Legacy Community Background: The GTLC is considering the implementation of a plastic bag ban for Sister Bay. If such a ban is put into place, we would like to be able to provide reusable bags at low or no cost for Sister Bay residents. These bags could also be sold to Sister Bay visitors if they are unique and fun! Option #1: Recycled PET grocery bags: These would be similar to those available for purchase at the Pig or other grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s. Ecology Sports in Sister Bay currently uses a similar (but smaller size) bag for some of their customers. I actually used the tag inside one of those to find this vendor, Custom Earth Promos. If we go this route, I would consider either a contest to design the bag, or ask a Sister Bay artist to do so. The sky is the limit in terms of what this can be - full color, any design - totally customizable with lots of “surfaces” to personalize. Getting a sponsor (Piggly Wiggly?) would also be a huge help - someone like the Pig could also then sell the bags themselves. Some options of this type of bag with pricing. I have samples of all of these. a. My personal top choice. I like the woven handles better than “self fabric” handles. These bags are quite thick and sturdy. This size (12” x 13.5” x 7”) can be adjusted to something larger. If we do something like this, it is fully customizable - all sides can be our own design. For 1000 pieces, the cost is $1.86 each. The production shipping time is substantial - probably about 3-4 months. 13 b. A different, but similar bag. The difference in price may just be due to the larger size of the bag - price for 1000 - $1.92 each. My personal preference is for a size a bit smaller than this, but larger than the one above. c. I didn’t ask for this sample, but they sent it to me anyway. It’s a cooler bag - more expensive (and only available in 1000 or more) - but an interesting idea. The sample they sent me is actually for the Mercer County NJ “Clean Communities” initiative and is printed with lots of info on recycling. Price for 1000 - $3.14 each. 14 Option #2: Canvas Tote Bags Alternatively, we could also provide / sell canvas bags. They would need to be sufficiently sturdy (heavy canvas) with a large enough gusset to make them useful (ie, not a book bag that has no “width” to it). ToteBagFactory.com has a huge selection of tote bags that can be either screen printed (up to six colors) or digital printed (all colors). I worked with them earlier in 2024 to make a digitally printed tote bag using original art - it turned out beautifully. If we went this route, I’d probably just do the “Green Sister Bay” logo on one or two sides of the bag. The area for printing on these bags is much smaller, and the price is bigger. The lead time is only a couple of weeks since they have the bags and they just print them. Canvas bag choices: a. The tote bag mentioned above that I have done. It is 12 oz. cotton canvas. The prices below are for two color screen printing on both sides. Price for 1000 - $6.13 each (note, you can get very small quantities of this at higher pricing) b. This is an organic version of the first one. It is 10 oz. organic cotton canvas. I have a sample of this one. It is a bit stiffer than the first one. The info below shows prices for two color screen printing on both sides. Price for 1000 is $6.41 each. 15 c. This is a larger version of the first option. The prices below are for two color screen printing on one side only. The second side is possible at an additional cost. Cost for 1000 of this bag is $5.61 each. d. A larger organic cotton canvas tote - 10 oz. Also with only one side screen printed in two colors. Cost for this bag is $7.14 each for 1000. Lisa O’Hearn August 2024 16 Dear Sister Bay Business Owner, Happy Spring from the Sister Bay Green Tier Legacy Community Committee! Our committee was formed by the Village Board in November 2021 with the following mission statement: “The Sister Bay Green Tier Legacy Community Committee works towards educating the Village Board, community leaders and citizens on the benefits of sustainability.” Since then, we’ve worked together with the village in a variety of areas including promotion of proper recycling practices, ban of coal-tar sealants, and the semi-annual electronics recycling day in the Village. We also partner with the Climate Change Coalition of Door County to offer free trees to residents as part of their annual “Big Plant” every year around Earth Day. Our focus for 2025 is reducing the use of plastics in Sister Bay - in particular, single-use plastic bags. To help encourage the use of reusable shopping bags, we are looking to produce our own laminated RPET shopping bags with original Sister Bay inspired artwork by local artist, Ryan Miller, featured on the front and back. We have a supplier who can produce such a bag, designed and produced specifically for us. We are looking for area businesses to help sponsor the production of these bags. As a sponsor, your logo would be included on the side of the bag. As more people take reusable bags to grocery stores, etc. we will see a reduction in the use of single-use plastic bags, reducing the amount of plastic in our waste stream. In addition to the positive environmental impact, sponsorship of the bag would be a great marketing tool for your business! We plan to order 3,000 bags, sized approximately 13” W x 15” H x 7” D - similar in size to a grocery store paper bag. A portion of the bags will be given out to Sister Bay residents with the remaining sold to visitors and other interested parties. We’d love to have the chance to discuss this opportunity with you. Please contact us at …………………….. We look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Sister Bay Green Tier Legacy Community Committee 17