De Pere Common Council Regular Meeting - December 2, 2025

The De Pere Common Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers at 335 South Broadway and virtually. All nine voting members were present: Dan Carpenter, Mike Eserkaln (remote), Pamela Gantz, Jonathon Hansen, Amy Kundinger, Shana Ledvina, Casey Nelson (remote), Devin Perock, and Mayor James Boyd. The council unanimously approved the previous meeting minutes, a Class A liquor license, creation of a Youth Commission, two annexation ordinances, and a resolution establishing new wards. No public comment was offered, and the meeting adjourned at 7:41 PM.

Call to Order and Routine Approvals

• Roll call was taken, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
• Minutes of the November 18, 2025 Common Council meeting were approved unanimously on a motion by Alderperson Dan Carpenter, seconded by Alderperson Shana Ledvina.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was made on matters not on the agenda; the public comment period was opened three times.

Discussion Items

• License Committee Recommendation: The council approved the recommendation for a Class A fermented malt beverage and Class A intoxicating liquor license for Bhawani Mart LLC, dba De Pere Minimart, 821 George St., agent Karuna Kunwar, Green Bay, WI. Motion by Alderperson Dan Carpenter, seconded by Alderperson Pamela Gantz.
• Youth Commission: The council approved the Finance-Personnel Committee recommendation to create a Youth Commission. Motion by Mayor James Boyd, seconded by Alderperson Amy Kundinger. Alderperson Dan Carpenter asked about the planned size; Deputy Clerk Jesse Pake responded that the number had not been decided, but the first-year maximum would be 15, depending on applications. Alderperson Shana Ledvina asked whether the Clerk's Office would oversee meetings; the proposal is for Clerk's Office oversight, with Deputy Clerk Pake leading the effort. Ledvina expressed support for the idea. Staff expect the commission to be operational by May after additional legwork. Teen advisors currently serving on the Sustainability Board and Board of Park Commissioners will continue. Alderperson Pamela Gantz thanked staff and called the commission a great opportunity. Deputy Clerk Pake's research found very few Wisconsin communities with a youth commission: about four total, including a couple of county-level youth commissions.
• Ordinance #25-18: The council adopted, by unanimous roll call, Ordinance #25-18 repealing and recreating Ordinance #25-16 and annexing Parcel L-481 to the City of De Pere. Motion by James Boyd, seconded by Alderperson Shana Ledvina.
• Ordinance #25-19: The council adopted, by unanimous roll call, Ordinance #25-19 repealing and recreating Ordinance #25-17 and annexing territory owned by Vanpay and Radue Homes, Inc., Parcels R-29-1, R-39, R-110, and R-114. Motion by Alderperson Jonathon Hansen, seconded by Alderperson Pamela Gantz. Alderperson Hansen flagged a typographical error in Section 4.2 (page 32): the text said the Department's determination that the Town of Rockland would not be able to provide sanitary sewer and water supply services to the annexed territory is erroneous, but it should refer to the City of De Pere. City Attorney Joanne Bungert confirmed the correction would be made in the final signed copy; the approved minutes record the correction as having been made.
• Resolution #25-127 Establishing Wards: The council adopted, by unanimous roll call, Resolution #25-127 establishing wards. Motion by Alderperson Dan Carpenter, seconded by Alderperson Devin Perock. Alderperson Jonathon Hansen asked why new wards were necessary for the handful of new residents in annexed territories rather than absorbing them into adjacent wards. City Attorney Joanne Bungert explained that although the territory is contiguous to existing wards, the legislative and county supervisory districts differ, so Wisconsin election statutes require creation of new wards; population requirements have an exception for annexation. Hansen also asked about a vacant future-parkland parcel south of Old Martin Road previously placed in Ward 9. Bungert responded that it had been an island territory absorbed into Ward 9 under the island-territory exception, but because the new legislative maps align with current city boundaries, Ward 9 is now surrounded by a different ward; the alignment is expected to be cleaned up at the next decennial census and redistricting.

Key Outcomes

• All action items were approved or adopted unanimously: minutes, the liquor license, the Youth Commission, Ordinance #25-18, Ordinance #25-19, and Resolution #25-127.
• The annexation ordinances and ward resolution each passed by the same 9-0 roll call vote.
• One correction to Ordinance #25-19 was confirmed for the final version to be signed.
• No future agenda items were offered, and the meeting adjourned by unanimous vote at 7:41 PM on a motion by Mayor James Boyd, seconded by Alderperson Dan Carpenter.

Future Agenda Items and Adjournment

• No future agenda items were identified.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 PM.