Monona committee asks staff to turn council�s 100% clean-energy pledge into an implementable plan

City of Monona staff told the Sustainability Committee on Jan. 15 that they will inventory existing sustainability goals and metrics across several documents, flag carbon-focused strategies tied to the councils 100% clean-energy resolution, and return with a concise status report and prioritized actions.

The committee was told the councils clean-energy resolution is adopted and signed by the mayor but currently lacks implementation steps and budget allocations. City Administrator Neil Stixschulte said the resolution "is adopted" but "doesn't have specific implementation steps" and that the committees updated plan can spell out who does what and when.

Why it matters: committee members have long pressed for measurable progress on the councils goals but said the volume of existing actions makes implementation difficult. Staff described the task as an inventory-and-prioritization exercise: consolidate goals from the sustainability plan, Green Tier/legacy actions and related resolutions into one spreadsheet, identify which items are already underway, and pull out a short list of items staff and the committee can realistically advance.

What staff will do: Neil and staff committed to prepare a February status report that flags carbon-related strategies and outlines available metrics and data sources. They also proposed drafting a 35-page strategic-priority summary that would present 510 proposed actions the committee could adopt and recommend to council for inclusion in the July capital improvement planning cycle. Neil described that summary as an "operator's manual" for how the committee and staff will work together to move priorities forward.

Capacity and financing questions dominated the discussion. Several members pressed for a dedicated sustainability professional; committee member Jamie McDevigalice said the work is difficult to carry out on top of full-time jobs. Committee member Tim Cruzer suggested focusing the short priority list on carbon outcomes: "I wonder if we might suggest that all of those 5 or 10 items are carbon focused," he said, arguing that clear numerical targets make it easier for staff to evaluate and for the committee to hold the city accountable.

Staff outlined options for technical help, including hiring consultants for discrete projects or pursuing performance-guarantee contractors (McKinstry was cited as an example used by nearby communities). One committee member reported that a consultant roadmap to 100% clean energy had cost estimates around $70,000 in prior outreach; staff recommended a more targeted, phased approach to limit budget impact.

The committee emphasized accountability: staff said they aim to present a prioritized list before July so potential projects and budget needs can be considered during capital planning. Next steps: staff will complete the inventory and deliver a status report by February, then circulate the short strategic summary for committee review ahead of a March/July timeline for council consideration.