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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Green Bay Common Council Meeting – November 12, 2025: Short-Term Rental Debate, USL Soccer Agreement, Zoning Overhaul, and Other Actions

Common Council — Wednesday, November 12, 2025

BodyGreen Bay, Wisconsin

SessionCommon Council

DateWednesday, November 12, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 6:42:36

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

2:13

I call to order the meeting of our common council for Tuesday, November 11th.

2:17

Clerk.

2:18

Yes, thank you, Honor.

2:19

We have twelve members in the room and twelve members signed in civic club.

2:23

All right.

2:23

Thank you so much.

2:24

Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:41

You can be seated.

2:43

It's my turn for the invocation this evening.

2:46

Um, so I was just hoping that we could uh take a moment of silence and uh for everybody here to think of uh a veteran in their life, uh that means a lot to them.

3:08

All right, thank you.

3:10

Now on to uh approval of the minutes.

3:14

Motion to approve made by Alder Prophet.

3:16

Second by Alder De Lee.

3:18

Any changes here.

3:20

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

3:24

The ayes have it, the minutes are approved.

3:26

Approval of the agenda.

3:28

Motion to approve, made by Alder Presley and seconded by Alder Stevens.

3:32

Any changes here?

3:35

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

3:37

Opposed nay.

3:39

The ayes have it, and the agenda is approved.

3:42

Report by the mayor.

3:43

Um keep this pretty quick because we have an extensive agenda tonight, and a lot of folks who have turned out.

3:49

Um, but as you'd expect, based on uh the invocation here, just want to recognize Veterans Day and uh recognize all who have served this country.

3:58

I know we've got a number on staff, a number in our senior staff who we uh really appreciate but from the top to the rank and file, uh, especially in public safety and police and fire.

4:08

We've got countless veterans who uh have done so much for our country, you know, serving the armed forces, but then continue to be such great examples of employees and and citizens and uh and friends and neighbors.

4:20

Uh, so want to recognize and and thank them all uh for their service to our country and everything that they continue to do in this community.

4:27

Um, also just want to touch on a couple of items on the agenda.

4:31

Um, we've got this uh very exciting opportunity in in my mind with the USL, this exclusive letter of intent.

4:38

Um RDA has, of course, uh, approved that.

4:41

Looking forward for your approval tonight.

4:43

Um, I think a great opportunity um to bring big time soccer to this community, but as importantly, um, view sports-oriented development as as a real chance for us to revitalize uh critical areas of our of our community.

5:00

So looking forward to hopefully getting some support from our common council on that item and moving forward with that relationship with the USL.

5:06

Also just want to appreciate the Equal Rights Commission for the work that they've done on the short-term rental debate.

5:13

Clearly, we've got a lot of folks in the community that want to express their opinions on this uh this important subject.

5:20

Um and so just you know want to want to thank the the commissioners for the work that they've done there.

5:25

Um without forming an opinion on on recommendations.

5:28

I was just hoping that our council could accept that report um without weighing in on XYZ policy.

5:35

Uh I think we're gonna have a healthy debate on ordinances that that might be suggested as a result of that and are coming forward from Alder Henckfish and Alder Presley.

5:44

Um but just you know, these are citizens, right, who have who have stepped up to lend their time and and talents to the city, and so just really want to accept that report in and then move along to the policy debate where I think there's gonna be a lot of a lot of discussion.

5:58

Um and then finally, just wanted to ask again for the council's support on um a good number of zoning changes that have been proposed as a result of some really good discussions with with stakeholders, um, you know, with our home builders, with our uh with our realtors, with neighborworks, habitat for humanity, uh, grassroots residents um who are looking toward these changes.

6:21

Um we've got a housing affordability crisis in the city and state and country.

6:25

Um, and so just feel like we we need to do what we can to ease that burden for our residents, and I think a lot of these zoning changes will will do some good there.

6:33

So hoping that we can move those along.

6:35

Um with that, I'll go to council for announcements.

6:40

Any announcements.

6:43

All right.

6:44

Seeing no announcements, um, we've got a fun one here under recognitions and awards for two meetings in a row.

6:51

Um, this one though is for Carrie Yang, who's our community liaison uh within the the mayor's office here.

6:58

Uh she recently received the Professional of the Year Award from the Mmung, Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce for 2025.

7:05

Uh recognized for her work in uh two community roles.

7:08

One, as I said, within uh the mayor's office here, uh, but also as the president and co-founder of the nonprofit Hmong Autism Neurodiverse Disability Support.

7:17

Um this is a nonprofit that that she and her her sisters have started and doing some great work within the community.

7:23

Ms.

7:24

Yang has been recognized by Madison 365 as Wisconsin's one of Wisconsin's 20 most influential Asian American leaders of 2025 as well.

7:33

So if you could all congratulate her on that achievement.

7:44

All right, congratulations, Carrie.

7:47

Next we've got appointments, just one appointment here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Short Term Rentals██████████████████████████████████████38%

Zoning And Land Use█████████████13%

Affordable Housing█████████████13%

Procedural██████████10%

Licensing And Permits████████8%

Economic Development█████5%

Public Safety███3%

Public Engagement███3%

Engineering And Infrastructure███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Green Bay Common Council Meeting – November 12, 2025

The council convened at approximately 6:00 PM and addressed a lengthy agenda including approval of a letter of intent with the USL for a professional soccer club, a contentious public hearing on short-term rental regulations, and a broad package of zoning code amendments aimed at increasing housing affordability. The meeting ran late into the night, with extensive public testimony and multiple roll-call votes.

Consent Calendar

Minutes and Agenda: Approved unanimously. The meeting date is recorded as November 12, 2025 per council records, though the transcript references "Tuesday, November 11th" – a discrepancy noted here.
Appointment: One appointment approved unanimously.
Recognition: Carrie Yang received the Professional of the Year Award from the MMOUN Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce for her community liaison work and co-founding the Hmong Autism Neurodiverse Disability Support nonprofit.

Public Comments & Testimony

Short-Term Rentals (STRs): Nearly two dozen speakers testified on the Equal Rights Commission’s advisory report. The majority opposed proposed 180-day annual cap and 7-night minimum stay, arguing these would harm small businesses, reduce tax revenue, eliminate jobs for cleaners and maintenance workers, and not meaningfully address affordable housing. A few supported regulations to preserve neighborhood character and increase housing stock. Key statistics cited: 87% of Green Bay STRs are owned by single-property owners; 94% of bookings are under 7 days; only 11 STR properties (under $200,000) are affordable to median-income households. Testimony from STR owners highlighted hosting families visiting hospitals, travel nurses, and supplementing retirement income. Commissioners John Shelton and Chair Tara defended the report as a tool to prioritize housing for residents and called for common-sense regulation.

Discussion Items

Mayor’s Report: Recognized Veterans Day, supported USL letter of intent, urged acceptance of Equal Rights Commission STR report, and backed zoning changes to ease the housing affordability crisis.
USL Exclusive Letter of Intent: Justin Papadakis, USL CEO, presented the opportunity for a men’s and women’s professional soccer club. Council members expressed excitement and asked about ownership (privately held, likely local), stadium requirements, and community engagement. Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Alley Closure (Tarleton Theater/Truckyard): Debate on closing an alley at 400 block W. Walnut Street to allow contiguous liquor license for a food truck park. Neighboring business owner Taiwan Lee opposed, citing delivery access and grease trap issues. Staff proposed a loading zone on S. Broadway as compromise. Council voted 7-5 to hold the item to December 16, 2025 for further legal review.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Referral: Communication from Alders Hinkfis and Presley to staff to draft ordinance with 180-day cap and 6-night minimum. After debate, Alders moved to refer with amendments: remove 6-night requirement, add three-strike policy and information sharing requirements. Amendment passed 7-5; referral as amended passed 9-3. Public hearing set for November 17, 2025 at Plan Commission.
Zoning Code Amendments (Items 2-10): Extensive debate on comprehensive changes to allow more duplexes, reduce lot sizes, adjust impervious surface coverage, and regulate first-floor residential and full residential developments. Motions to change duplex cap to 15% (failed 5-7) and 20% (failed 6-6); original 25% cap retained. Lot size minimum of 50 ft width survived a motion for 60 ft/6,000 sq ft (failed 4-8). Impervious surface amendment (40-80% depending on district) adopted. First-floor residential in downtown removed (amendment passed 9-3). Full residential in commercial corridors made a conditional use (amendment adopted). Items 3-6 and 10 advanced on first/final reading unanimously. Items 2,7,8,9 advanced to second reading as amended.
Evergreen Theater Conditional Use Permit: For 1806 Bond Street to use former school for theater space and nonprofit offices. Approved unanimously.
Liquor License Revocation: For Taste of the South (114 S. Broadway) due to inoperability over 60 days and loss of property interest. Licensee confirmed she was seeking a new location. Revocation approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

USL Letter of Intent Approved (unanimous).
Alley Closure Held (7-5) to December 16, 2025.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance Referred to Staff with amendments (removed 6-night minimum, added three-strike policy and information sharing). Public hearing on November 17, 2025.
Zoning Amendments Advanced: Items 3,4,5,6,10 adopted on first and final reading. Items 2,7,8,9 advanced to second reading with specific amendments (impervious surface, downtown residential, commercial corridor conditional use).
Evergreen Theater Conditional Use Approved (unanimous).
Liquor License for Taste of the South Revoked (unanimous).
Collateral Assignment of Development Agreement to Johnson Bank Approved (unanimous).
All other committee reports (Finance, Park, Personnel, Public Arts, Sustainability) approved.

Meeting Transcript

I call to order the meeting of our common council for Tuesday, November 11th. Clerk. Yes, thank you, Honor. We have twelve members in the room and twelve members signed in civic club. All right. Thank you so much. Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. You can be seated. It's my turn for the invocation this evening. Um, so I was just hoping that we could uh take a moment of silence and uh for everybody here to think of uh a veteran in their life, uh that means a lot to them. All right, thank you. Now on to uh approval of the minutes. Motion to approve made by Alder Prophet. Second by Alder De Lee. Any changes here. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. The ayes have it, the minutes are approved. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve, made by Alder Presley and seconded by Alder Stevens. Any changes here? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it, and the agenda is approved. Report by the mayor. Um keep this pretty quick because we have an extensive agenda tonight, and a lot of folks who have turned out. Um, but as you'd expect, based on uh the invocation here, just want to recognize Veterans Day and uh recognize all who have served this country. I know we've got a number on staff, a number in our senior staff who we uh really appreciate but from the top to the rank and file, uh, especially in public safety and police and fire. We've got countless veterans who uh have done so much for our country, you know, serving the armed forces, but then continue to be such great examples of employees and and citizens and uh and friends and neighbors. Uh, so want to recognize and and thank them all uh for their service to our country and everything that they continue to do in this community. Um, also just want to touch on a couple of items on the agenda. Um, we've got this uh very exciting opportunity in in my mind with the USL, this exclusive letter of intent. Um RDA has, of course, uh, approved that. Looking forward for your approval tonight. Um, I think a great opportunity um to bring big time soccer to this community, but as importantly, um, view sports-oriented development as as a real chance for us to revitalize uh critical areas of our of our community. So looking forward to hopefully getting some support from our common council on that item and moving forward with that relationship with the USL. Also just want to appreciate the Equal Rights Commission for the work that they've done on the short-term rental debate. Clearly, we've got a lot of folks in the community that want to express their opinions on this uh this important subject. Um and so just you know want to want to thank the the commissioners for the work that they've done there. Um without forming an opinion on on recommendations. I was just hoping that our council could accept that report um without weighing in on XYZ policy. Uh I think we're gonna have a healthy debate on ordinances that that might be suggested as a result of that and are coming forward from Alder Henckfish and Alder Presley. Um but just you know, these are citizens, right, who have who have stepped up to lend their time and and talents to the city, and so just really want to accept that report in and then move along to the policy debate where I think there's gonna be a lot of a lot of discussion. Um and then finally, just wanted to ask again for the council's support on um a good number of zoning changes that have been proposed as a result of some really good discussions with with stakeholders, um, you know, with our home builders, with our uh with our realtors, with neighborworks, habitat for humanity, uh, grassroots residents um who are looking toward these changes. Um we've got a housing affordability crisis in the city and state and country. Um, and so just feel like we we need to do what we can to ease that burden for our residents, and I think a lot of these zoning changes will will do some good there. So hoping that we can move those along. Um with that, I'll go to council for announcements. Any announcements. All right. Seeing no announcements, um, we've got a fun one here under recognitions and awards for two meetings in a row.

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