Green Bay Common Council Meeting - August 5, 2025
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Green Bay Common Council Meeting - August 5, 2025
This meeting of the Green Bay Common Council on August 5, 2025, addressed a range of agenda items including routine approvals, a major property purchase and lease agreement, several public hearings, and two quasi-judicial hearings on license non-renewals. The council also received updates from committees and made decisions on various development and policy matters.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of previous meeting.
- Approved the agenda as amended (item R2 moved before L).
- Approved new appointments and reappointments.
- Approved several ordinance second readings via a single roll call vote (12-0).
- Approved the Finance Committee report, Parks Committee report (except item 1), Personnel Committee report, Traffic Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission report, and Sustainability Commission report.
- Approved resolutions via suspension of rules (unanimous).
- Advanced first reading ordinances to second reading.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Drop Forge Site (R2): Bill Hoban (1341 South State Street) testified that the amendments discussed were acceptable, clarifying that certain heavy equipment not embedded in concrete could remain on site per mutual understanding.
- Development at 2958 Nicolay Drive (Plan Commission Item 3): No public speakers; Alder Grant noted community support after discussing lot size concerns.
- Citywide Software LLC Agreement (Item O5): Rick Van Derleese (President, Apartment Association of Northeast Wisconsin) expressed concerns about data accuracy and property listings appearing without owner consent in other cities. Jeremy Schmidt (Citywise) and Dominic Anselo (CEO) addressed concerns, stating they would work with landlords and the city.
- Tree Removal Invoice (Parks Item 1): Attorney Greg Gerbers (representing property owner Bao Key) argued that the ordinance should not hold the landowner liable when the contractor caused the damage, and that the citation should not be separate from the tree replacement cost.
- Quasi-Judicial Hearings:
- Sunrise Spa (Massage License): Attorney Brian Randall represented Hua Keller, arguing that standing issues should be resolved and that a new license application was pending. The owner of record, Mae Dian Yang, was not present.
- Stage One Bar (Liquor License): Alexander Graziano (owner) testified and presented a detailed security plan, apologized for past remarks, and requested time to implement new protocols. Police Department representatives provided evidence of 150 hours of police service, 17 meetings, six warnings, and three citations over two years.
Discussion Items
- Agenda Amendment: Moved item R2 before L per Alder Johnson.
- Drop Forge Site Purchase/Lease (R2): Alder Johnson offered amendments raising purchaser’s financial obligation cap from $50,000 to $75,000, contributing $2,000 to closing costs, and allowing certain heavy equipment to remain. Amendments were adopted, then the agreement was approved as amended.
- Invocation Policy: Approved without discussion.
- Closed Session: Convened to discuss development at 0 Grand Boulevard (parcel 23-243-1) for site grading ($265,874). Reconvened and approved.
- Landmarks Commission Report: Informational update from Alder Hutchinson.
- INS Committee Item 5: Referred back to committee until bids are available.
- Plan Commission Item 3 (146 single-family lots): Alder Grant moved to approve, noting that despite narrower lots, the square footage is standard quarter-acre; developer stated 75-foot width would be a deal-breaker. Corrected signage from 1 to 2 signs per entrance per Plan Commission recommendation. Approved.
- Citywide Software Agreement: After public testimony, council approved the agreement, directing staff to work with the Apartment Association to address concerns. Implementation timeline discussed (3-4 months).
- Parks Committee Item 1 (Tree removal invoice): Motion to deny the request to waive the invoice passed after discussion. Attorney Mace stated the citation would be dismissed if the invoice is paid.
- Quasi-Judicial Hearing – Sunrise Spa: Attorney Gochar argued the appellant (Hua Keller) lacked standing because she was not the license holder. Council denied the appeal, allowing the new license application to proceed through normal channels.
- Quasi-Judicial Hearing – Stage One Bar: Extensive deliberation. Police presented evidence of ongoing problems; owner offered a new security plan and voluntary early closure. Chief Davis acknowledged risk but noted potential with clear conditions. Motion to deny the appeal was made by Alder Eck, seconded by Alder Galvin, and passed.
Key Outcomes
- Drop Forge Agreement: Approved as amended (motion by Alder Johnson, seconded by Alder DeLee; voice vote).
- 0 Grand Boulevard Development: Approved after closed session (motion by Alder Johnson, seconded by Alder Presley; voice vote).
- Citywide Software Agreement: Approved (motion by Alder Prophet, seconded by Alder DeLee; voice vote). Staff directed to partner with Apartment Association.
- Tree Removal Invoice: Denied (motion to deny by Alder Johnson, seconded by Alder Eck; voice vote). Property owner remains liable.
- Sunrise Spa License Non-Renewal Appeal: Denied (motion by Alder Eck, seconded by Alder Galvin; voice vote).
- Stage One Bar License Non-Renewal Appeal: Denied (motion by Alder Eck, seconded by Alder Galvin; voice vote). License not renewed.
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress. All right. I call to order the meeting of the common council for Tuesday, August 5th, 2025. Clerk. Thank you, Your Honor. We have eleven members in the room and eleven members in Civic Clerk. All right. Thank you, Clerk. Uh now rise for the Pledge of Leadance and remain standing for an invocation offered by Alder Ritterbush. I pledge allegiance. Thank you. I'll make it short and sweet. I just wanna uh thank the police, the fire department, uh, Fisk Park, Navarino Park, and everybody else that's having national night out tonight. I wish we could change the council meeting to a different night so we could attend. But uh thank them all and uh let's have a good meeting. Thank you. Thank you all about the minutes. Motion to approve made by Alder De Lee. Seconded by Alder Prophet. Any changes here? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve made by Alder Presley, seconded by Alder Stevens. Any changes here? Alder Johnson. Motion to amend the agenda to move item R two before L. All right. Second by Alder Galvin. Any discussion. Seeing none, all paper will say aye. I pose nay. The ayes have it. The agenda is amended. Motion to move. Motion to approve is amended. Motion to approve is amended, made by Alder Johnson. Seconded by Alder Eck. Discussion on that. Seeing none, all favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it. And the uh agenda is approved as amended. Report by the mayor. Um just echoing Alder Ritterbush's comments. Really appreciate all the neighborhood associations uh who have come together once again um to sponsor national nights out. Um just a great opportunity for neighbors to come together and um demonstrate their support for one another and for their neighborhoods, and so the chief and I had the opportunity to attend just a couple. Um it's a tradition, Alder Ritterbush, for us all to bemoan the fact that we have a council meeting on on National Night Out. So unfortunately, we're doing that again, but um yeah, was was really glad to be able to get to Fisk Edition or to Navarino and thanks to everybody else who um has organized as well.
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