De Pere Common Council Meeting - April 8, 2026

The De Pere Common Council convened on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers and virtually. All nine council members were present. The meeting lasted approximately 47 minutes, adjourning at 8:17 PM. The agenda included a recognition ceremony for Alderperson Dan Carpenter, several routine items, and an in-depth annual update from the De Pere Fire Rescue department. All votes taken during the meeting were unanimous.

Presentations & Recognition

• Mayor James Boyd led a presentation recognizing Alderperson Dan Carpenter for his 10 years of service on the Common Council and his extensive prior service as a City of De Pere employee. Mayor Boyd highlighted Carpenter's contributions to major projects like the Shoptko development and the South Ridge Connector, praised his institutional knowledge, and noted that he is stepping away on his own terms. Carpenter thanked District 4 voters, past and present council members, and all city employees for making De Pere a great place, noting that 68% of his life has been involved with the city.

New Business & Discussion Items

• Volunteer Park Naming: The Council unanimously approved naming the new park in the Waterview Heights Subdivision "Volunteer Park." Parks and Recreation Director Marty Kosobucki confirmed the name honors Company F of the 14th Wisconsin Regiment, known locally as the "De Pere Rifles," a group of Civil War volunteers from the area. Alderperson Casey Nelson asked if alternate names, such as "Company F Park," were seriously considered. Director Kosobucki explained that staff consulted the De Pere Historical Society for naming suggestions, and that a plaque explaining the name's origin will be installed in the park. Alderperson Jonathon Hansen added that the unit was also known as the De Pere Rifles.
• EMS MOU with Town of Lawrence: The Council unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Lawrence to enhance emergency medical services. Fire Chief Brett Jansen explained the MOU outlines cross-credentialing of Lawrence paramedics and EMTs, allowing them to operate under the City's Department of Health Services license to assist De Pere ambulance crews while on scene in Lawrence. The MOU indemnifies the City of De Pere from liability for actions taken by Lawrence personnel and carries no direct budget impact for the City. Chief Jansen also noted that the Town of Ledgeview has expressed interest in establishing a similar agreement.
• El Bistro Taco Premises Change: The Council unanimously approved a premises description change for the liquor license application submitted by El Bistro Taco, located at 400 Reid St Suite M, following a recommendation from the License Committee.
• Ordinance #26-11 (Power Loading Ban): The Council unanimously adopted an ordinance amending De Pere Municipal Code Chapter 30 to prohibit power loading (using a boat's motor to force the boat onto a trailer) at city-owned boat launches.
• Playground Design and Installation (Resolutions #26-27 & #26-28): The Council unanimously authorized professional services agreements with Minnesota Playground, Inc. (MWP Recreation) for a modular playground at Carney Park and with Lee Recreation, LLC for a modular playground at the Waterview Heights Subdivision park. Director Kosobucki confirmed that the Carney Park contract does not include poured-in-place surfacing, which will be bid separately, and that installation for both playgrounds is expected around September. Alderperson Hansen expressed strong support for the projects, noting that the recently completed playgrounds at Legion Park and Voyageur Park are heavily used by the community.
• Voyageur Park Dock System Design (Resolution #26-29): The Council unanimously authorized an agreement with GRAEF-USA, Inc. for design and specification services to replace the dock system at Voyageur Park. In response to an inquiry from Alderperson Hansen, Director Kosobucki clarified that while the City has historically received DNR grants for dock repairs, this specific project is not funded by a DNR grant, as it would not rank highly enough under current grant criteria.
• ATM Site/Location Agreement (Resolution #26-26): The Council unanimously approved an ATM site/location agreement with Convenient ATM Services, Inc.

Informational: De Pere Fire Rescue Annual Update

Fire Chief Brett Jansen presented the department's comprehensive 2025 annual report. Key points included:

• Personnel & Staffing: The department experienced significant changes in 2025, including six retirements, seven internal promotions, six full-time hires, and two paid-on-premise hires. For approximately 10 months of the year, the department operated four to five members short of full staffing while facing increased call volume. The City has authorized one additional full-time firefighter position for 2026.
• Call Volume: 2025 was the highest call volume year on record with 3,463 total calls (2,922 emergency medical services (EMS) calls and 541 fire calls). This represents a 36% increase in call volume since 2014, a period during which no full-time staff were added until the 2026 authorization.
• Response Data: The average emergency response time within the city is four minutes. The average turnout time (from tone to apparatus leaving the station) is two minutes. Chief Jansen stated that if the average citywide response time reaches eight minutes, it would be a benchmark indicating the need for an additional fire station. Call volume patterns are shifting, with the busiest period moving from daytime to overnight hours in 2025.
• Financials: The department generated over $1.2 million in EMS billing revenue in 2025. Additional revenue sources include EMS contracts with neighboring municipalities, the state fire inspection program (2% dues), a GMT grant reimbursing 60% of unpaid Medicare balances (totaling almost $90,000), and EMS funding assistance from the Department of Health Services.
• Duty Crew & Mutual Aid: The department's back staffing (duty crew) system was activated 418 times in 2025, but staff responded only 168 times (a 40% response rate), usually with just a single member. This system is not functioning as intended. The department relies on mutual aid, receiving assistance from other agencies 103 times while providing aid 40 times. An automatic aid agreement exists with seven neighboring departments through the Fox River Fire District.
• Other Highlights: The department conducted 1,700 fire inspections, identifying and correcting 480 violations; provided public education to nearly 1,800 students; logged over 2,300 hours in specialized training; and took possession of the city's original 1886 hose wagon from the Oshkosh Fire Department, a project being pursued with the De Pere Historical Society for potential restoration.
• Council Q&A: Alderperson Carpenter asked about compensation for back staffing (overtime, minimum hour, 1-for-3 hour guarantee). Alderperson Hansen asked about mandatory overtime provisions in the collective bargaining agreement (minimum staffing of six, rotations among bottom 12 members) and the priority for future apparatus replacement (an aging 1993 Pierce ladder truck kept as a backup, and a 2014 Horton ambulance slated for replacement in the 2027 capital improvement plan, already on pre-order).

Key Outcomes

All actions on the agenda were approved unanimously by roll call vote. Key outcomes included:

• Approval of "Volunteer Park" as the name for the new park in the Waterview Heights Subdivision.
• Adoption of an EMS MOU with the Town of Lawrence.
• Adoption of Ordinance #26-11, prohibiting power loading at city boat launches.
• Authorization of design and installation agreements for new playgrounds at Carney Park (MWP Recreation) and Waterview Heights (Lee Recreation).
• Authorization of a design agreement with GRAEF-USA for the Voyageur Park dock replacement.
• Approval of an ATM site agreement with Convenient ATM Services, Inc.
• Receipt and discussion of the 2025 De Pere Fire Rescue annual report.