Green Bay Common Council Meeting: September 6, 2025

The Green Bay Common Council met on Tuesday, September 6, 2025, with 12 members present (10 in the room, 2 on Zoom). The meeting covered a range of items including minutes approval, agenda amendments, appointments, ordinances, redevelopment authority items, and committee reports. Notable discussions included the Fire Station Apartments project, evidence storage facility costs, Triangle Hill infrastructure, and a conditional use permit revision for St. John's Ministries women's shelter.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Approved as amended after correcting the record for a previous meeting's motion to hold an item.
• Agenda Approval: Approved as amended to move item J3 to W5 for first reading.
• Appointments: Reappointment approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sig Stroke Manis (Fox Point, WI), representing General Capital (developer of Fire Station Apartments): Expressed gratitude for the collaborative process and noted the project is in final details. Encouraged council support for the development agreement.
• Jesse Brunette, Executive Director of St. John's Ministries: Requested a conditional use permit revision to increase capacity from 58 to 70 women and remove the seasonal restriction at the women's shelter. Explained the request is preventative to avoid denying shelter; average 41 women per night over six months. Also stated the women's shelter is the appropriate location to pilot year-round operations.
• Dave Boyce (123 Quincy Street): Expressed support for the shelter expansion but raised concerns about security, parking, and fencing. Offered to donate channeling fence for the property.
• Frank Torres (670 Botter): Expressed support for the shelter expansion, citing the vulnerability of women and the need for year-round services.

Discussion Items

• Fire Station Apartments Development: Alder Johnson expressed support for the project, highlighting its affordable housing component and partnership with General Capital. Noted the difficult site and the project's importance to TID 21. The developer representative confirmed a challenging process but expected construction to begin summer/spring 2026.
• Evidence Storage Facility Leasehold Improvements: Discussion focused on the unexpected costs (approaching $1 million) for a leased property. Alder Johnson questioned the analysis process that led to the additional expenses, noting the understanding had been that the city would not invest significantly. Staff indicated the costs grew as interior walls were removed, triggering commercial code upgrades. The funding source is TID 21.
• Triangle Hill Infrastructure: Alder Johnson asked for clarification on item 4, which approved hiring a contractor for underground utilities at Triangle Hill (electric, gas, sanitary sewer, water). Noted the $461,000 is for utility work, not a garage as might have been implied.
• St. John's Ministries Women's Shelter Conditional Use Permit: Discussion focused on the need to increase capacity from 58 to 70 women and remove the seasonal restriction. Alder Johnson asked about plans for year-round operation; Brunette indicated a pilot program at the women's shelter, with potential to expand to the men's shelter later. The fence issue was raised again, and staff confirmed a fence is required.
• Position Salary Referral: Alder Johnson expressed concern that the base salary for a position may not be appropriate for the required skill level. He initially moved to approve the ordinance but refer the salary discussion to the next personnel committee. After further discussion, the item was referred back to committee for further review.
• Amendment to Personnel Committee Procedures: Alder Grant moved to amend a procedural item to allow all council members (instead of just personnel committee members) to review positions by a specified deadline. The amendment was approved.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes: Approved as amended.
• Agenda: Approved as amended.
• Appointments: Reappointment approved 12-0.
• Ordinances (Second Reading): J1 and J2 adopted 12-0.
• Redevelopment Authority Report: Approved except items 2 and 6.
  • Item 2 (Fire Station Apartments): Approved 12-0.
  • Item 6 (Evidence Storage Leasehold Improvements): Approved 12-0.
• Improvement Services Report: Approved except item 4 (Triangle Hill infrastructure). Item 4 was approved.
• Protection and Policy Committee Report: Approved without separate items.
• Operator Licenses: Approved.
• Plan Commission Report: Approved except item 2 (St. John's Ministries conditional use permit). Item 2 was approved.
• Finance Committee Report: Approved without separate items.
• Personnel Committee Report: Approved except items 4 and 5.
  • Item 4 (Ordinance/Position): Referred back to committee for further salary discussion.
  • Item 5 (Personnel Procedures): Approved as amended.
• Traffic, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Commission Report: Approved.
• Resolutions (Items 1-5): Adopted 12-0.
• Ordinances (First Reading): Items 1-3 advanced; Item 4 held until next meeting; Item J3 received and placed on file.
• Meeting adjourned.