Green Bay City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025
Green Bay City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025
The Green Bay City Council met on October 8, 2025, at 2:02 PM. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation led by Tanya Matoxin of the Oneida tribe. The council approved the minutes from September 16, 2025, and the agenda. Major discussions included the comprehensive plan, Shawnee Avenue improvements, alley closures, and the mayor's salary. The meeting adjourned after addressing all agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes and Agenda: Approved unanimously (September 16 minutes and current agenda).
- Appointments and Reappointments: Motion to approve by Alder Prophet, seconded by Alder Ritterbush; all approved unanimously.
- Ordinances – Second Reading: Suspended rules and adopted by unanimous roll call.
- Committee Reports: Reports from Protection & Policy, Police Department (operator licenses), Finance, Sustainability, and others were approved with noted exceptions. Resolutions adopted unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Mayor’s Report: Mayor thanked planning staff for a workshop on the comprehensive plan and requested council advance it to a second reading, noting openness to changes. No vote taken.
- Improvement and Services Committee – Shawnee Avenue Agreement: Alder Johnson reported meeting with DOT; the resurfacing agreement (Monroe to Taylor) is for 2031, which is undesirable. Alder Johnson moved to approve the agreement but direct staff to explore improving the Oakland-Shawnee intersection design. The motion passed with a voice vote. Alder Johnson and Alder Profit also advocated for moving the project timeline earlier.
- Plan Commission Item 1 – Vanderbrack Street Alley Closure: Alder Prophet moved to amend the motion to follow staff recommendation to close a small portion of Vanderbrack, citing safety and railroad orders. Director Juza explained the closure is needed due to track layout and accident history. The amendment and the amended motion were approved by voice vote.
- Plan Commission Item 6 – Liquor License Expansion and Alley Closure: Alder Johnson moved to hold the item until the October 21 meeting, citing incomplete petitions and concerns from property owners. The city attorney noted differences in notification requirements for closure vs. vacation. The hold was approved unanimously.
- Personnel Committee – Mayor’s Salary: Extensive discussion on raising the mayor’s salary from $92,221 (2019) to $140,000 (committee recommendation). Alder Grant moved to amend to $128,000 (staff recommendation), but the amendment failed 3-9. The final motion to approve $140,000 passed 9-3. Alder Grant argued that consultant recommended $114,000 and average salaries for similar cities are lower; Alder Profit and others cited the scope of work and comparisons to other cities. Alder Eck noted taxpayer concerns.
- Public Arts Commission – Poet Laureate Term: Alder Hutchison moved to correct the term from three years to two years (December 31, 2028 to January 1, 2028). The amendment and the amended motion passed by voice vote.
- TBNP Item 3 – Crosswalk/RRFB Installation: Alder Johnson and Alder Prophet submitted a joint communication for a crosswalk near the railroad. After discussion on funding (estimated <$10,000), the council approved the item with staff to seek funding.
- Equal Rights Commission Report: Alder Presley moved to refer the report back due to a quorum issue at the commission meeting. Approved.
- Ordinances – First Reading: Items 2-6 were advanced to second reading; item 1 (related to earlier alley closure) was held to October 21; item 7 (mayoral salary) was advanced to second reading after the salary vote.
Key Outcomes
- Comprehensive Plan: Council will advance to second reading; changes remain possible.
- Shawnee Avenue Agreement: Approved with directive to staff to pursue earlier timeline and intersection improvements with DOT.
- Vanderbrack Street Closure: Approved as amended (partial closure per staff recommendation).
- Liquor License Expansion: Held to October 21, 2025, for further review.
- Mayor's Salary: Set at $140,000, effective for future mayor. Vote: 9-3 in favor.
- Poet Laureate Term: Corrected to two-year term (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027).
- Crosswalk/RRFB: Approved; staff to identify funding source.
- Equal Rights Commission Report: Referred back due to quorum issues.
- Ordinances First Reading: Items 2-6 advanced; item 1 held; item 7 advanced.
Meeting Transcript
We have 11 members in the room and 11 members in the clerk. Great. Thank you, Clerk. Microphone. Thanks, Clerk. Now we will rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for our invocation offered by Alder Eck. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic by which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mayor. So I have in I've um invited my good friend Tanya Evangelist Tanya Matoxin, um, who is from the Oneida tribe to come and lead us in invocation today. Good evening. Um first of all, I thank give God all the glory and honor praise for this opportunity. And I thank you, God, uh, for Mayor Genrik, and for each and every city council member that is here today. I am I'm totally blessed and honored to be here. I just want to read a scripture and say a nice blessing and prayer over each and every one of you. I want to do Psalms 91. He that dwellth in a secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress. My God in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the follower from the noise and pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shall thou trust his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shall not be afraid for the tear by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilent that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at the right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shall thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most high thy habitation. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plaque come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, they shall dash thy foot against the stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the dragon shall thou trample under feet. Because he set his love upon me, therefore I deliver him. I'll set him on high because he had known my name. He shall call upon me and I'll answer him. I'll be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. I thank you, Heavenly Father, for each and every individual that is here today. I pray blessings of Deuteronomy 28, 1 through 13 upon each and every one, and that no weapon formed against the city council shall prosper, and every ton of rise against him with judgment shall be condemned. I pray that they um that walls and barriers come down. I pray that they come together on one accord in love, unity, and faith. And I pray that they make sound decisions, and I pray, Heavenly Father, that they have the wisdom of God as they make these decisions for Green Bay. And I thank you for the families and for the children, and I bless each and everyone with Deuteronomy 28, 1 through 13. Let the joy lord be their strength, and greater is he that's in them than he that's in the world is Jesus Christ. They can do all things through Christ Jesus, which strengthens them, and whom the sun set free is free indeed. Mount them up with wings of an eagle, and that they soar like an eagle, and they do not get wearied and well doing. Let the joy lord be their strength. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, Amen. Amen. Thank you. Amen. I told her she only had two minutes, so she had to speak fast.
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