De Pere Common Council Regular Meeting – July 21, 2026

The De Pere Common Council met on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers and virtually. Mayor James Boyd presided. Seven alderpersons were present; Mike Eserkaln and Casey Nelson were excused. The Council held two public hearings, recognized Ryan Funeral Home's 100th anniversary, approved all new business items and resolutions unanimously, and set a future agenda item for yard waste site eligibility.

Public Hearings

• Area Development Plan – 2100 Block Lost Dauphin Road: Clerk Carey Danen confirmed the hearing notice was published in the Press Times on June 26 and July 3, 2026. Development Services Director Dan Lindstrom reported the Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of adding future streets to the Official Street Map, primarily in the Southern Bridge corridor near Red Maple Road/Elderberry Lane. No one spoke during the public hearing. Ordinance #26-14 was adopted by unanimous roll call vote (7-0).
• June 2026 Zoning Ordinance Amendments – Ordinance #26-15: The Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval. Lindstrom summarized amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 14, including R2 district setback corrections, a new pay-loan deposit business conditional use category, egress window location clarification, parking ramp electric vehicle charging station locations, home-based business clarifications, rooftop HVAC setbacks, street tree spacing standards, fencing/berm corrections, and clarified prohibited signs. No one spoke during the public hearing. The ordinance was adopted by unanimous roll call vote (7-0).

Presentations/Awards/Recognition

• Mayor Boyd read a proclamation celebrating Ryan Funeral Home's 100 years of service, noting the business will mark its 100th anniversary in August 2026. He proclaimed August 1, 2026 as Ryan Funeral Home Day and presented a key to the city to co-owner Scott Baton. Baton thanked the Council and the city.

Public Comments

• No members of the public offered comments.

New Business and Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes: The July 7, 2026 Common Council meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• License Committee Recommendations: The Council unanimously approved requests by Sandra Rodriguez and Chelsea Cure to appear before the License Committee regarding denial of their operator license applications, and approved the Producer Full-Service Retail Sales application for One Barrel Brewing Company at 303 Reid Street.
• 2025 Management Letter and Financial Statements: Elizabeth McMasters of CliftonLarsenAllen LLP presented the audit results. The City received an unmodified “clean” opinion, the highest available. There was one finding related to the auditors preparing the annual financial report, a practice McMasters said occurs in approximately 95% of municipal audits; no noncompliance with state requirements was found. The unassigned general fund balance is approximately $10.6 million, equal to 46.7% of expenditures, above the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommended 15–25% range; McMasters recommended staying on the higher end due to rising costs. The water utility generated $416,000 in cash flow in 2025 and is recovering through rate cases, with full impacts expected over the next one to two years. The medical self-insurance fund used reserves by design and premiums have been adjusted. Alderperson Hansen asked whether staff still aimed for the former 35% unassigned reserves target; Finance Director Pam Manley responded that the 2026 budget included spending down reserves and that future use would be for one-time or capital items, not recurring operations. The report was accepted and placed on file unanimously.
• TDS Internet Service Quotation: The Council unanimously approved the TDS Telecommunications, LLC internet service quotation for the 224 N. Wisconsin Parking Ramp.
• Merrill Street Well Station Inspection Project: The Council unanimously approved the Board of Public Works recommendation.
• Fox Point Restroom Roof Repair: The Council unanimously approved using $4,504 from Unassigned Reserves to repair the Fox Point restroom building roof. City Manager Kim Flom explained that, because the roof was storm-damaged and a metal roof was already planned in the Capital Improvement Plan, staff recommended installing the metal roof now rather than replacing only the damaged shingles.

Resolutions

• Resolutions #26-66, #26-67, #26-68, #26-73, and #26-74: The Council suspended rules and approved these together unanimously. They authorize amendments to Stantec Consulting Services master services agreements for Broadway/Front Streets environmental work and grant services; approve the updated Fox River Fire District Automatic Aid Agreement; authorize a planned maintenance agreement with Total Energy Systems, LLC for backup generators; and authorize payment to property owners for temporary limited easements related to the STH 32 reconstruction from Eighth to Third Streets.
• Series 2026 Borrowing Resolutions (#26-69 through #26-72): Justin Fischer of Baird reviewed the 2026 borrowing plan: $11,800,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026A, for capital projects; $7,150,000 Taxable General Obligation Promissory Notes, Series 2026B, for TIF district projects with capitalized interest; and $3,900,000 Note Anticipation Notes, Series 2026C, for the parking ramp project. He explained the fourth resolution is needed because the note anticipation note is not a general obligation note but may be converted later, securing a better interest rate. Estimated rates were 4.5% (not to exceed 4.75%) for Series A and C, 5.75% (not to exceed 6%) for Series B, with a 7.15% not-to-exceed parameter related to capitalized interest. A Moody’s rating call had occurred and the rating was expected within a week; the sale was tentatively scheduled for the week of August 5, 2026, with closing on September 2, 2026. Fischer noted the City’s general obligation borrowing capacity remained strong at about 49.5% after this financing. Finance Director Pam Manley clarified that only part of Series A, tied to the Municipal Service Center expansion, would be repaid over 20 years; the rest would be repaid over 10 years. All four resolutions were adopted unanimously by roll call vote.

Future Agenda Items

• Alderperson Hansen requested a future discussion on whether non-resident property owners may use the city yard waste site, based on a constituent call. It will be placed on a future Board of Public Works agenda.

Key Outcomes

• All motions, ordinances, license approvals, and resolutions passed unanimously (7-0), with two alderpersons excused.
• The 2025 audit was accepted and placed on file, with a clean opinion and one customary finding.
• The Council authorized $4,504 from Unassigned Reserves for the Fox Point restroom roof and approved the full 2026 borrowing package, including issuance parameters for up to $11,800,000 in Series 2026A notes, $7,150,000 in Series 2026B notes, and $3,900,000 in Series 2026C notes.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.