Green Bay Common Council Meeting - March 3, 2026
Green Bay Common Council Meeting - March 3, 2026
The Green Bay Common Council met on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to address a range of items including a major road improvement on Shawnee Avenue, adoption of a short-term rental ordinance, and creation of a designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) for downtown. The meeting featured public testimony, committee reports, and multiple votes on ordinances and resolutions.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes and agenda (unanimous).
- Reappointments to various boards and commissions (approved).
- Report of the Redevelopment Authority (approved).
- Report of the Improvement and Services Committee (approved, except item 16 handled separately).
- Report of the Protection and Policy Committee (approved, except items 1 and 5 handled separately).
- Report of the Green Bay Police Department granting operator licenses (approved).
- Report of the Finance Committee (approved).
- Report of the Park Committee (approved).
- Report of the Personnel Committee (approved).
- Report of the Public Arts Commission (approved).
- Report of the Traffic, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Commission (approved, except item 4 held).
- Report of the Sustainability Commission (informational).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kristen Johnson (115 East Walnut Street) spoke against the designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) ordinance, citing concerns about noise outside her bedroom window, safety for pedestrians at the Walnut and Washington intersection (she was hit by a car in 2024), potential litter from children, and the 10:00 p.m. time limit. She requested a neighborhood meeting before implementation. Alder Prophet agreed to hold such a meeting.
Discussion Items
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Mayor’s Report – Shawnee Avenue Mill and Pave: Mayor highlighted the upcoming mill and pave project on Shawnee Avenue, a state road, planned for early summer 2026. He thanked public works staff and noted community excitement. He also mentioned progress on short-term rental regulations.
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Shawnee Avenue Cost and Lifespan: Alder Johnson questioned Director Justin about costs ($400,000–$500,000 estimated) and expected lifespan (10–20 years, but only 5 years until state reconstruction in 2031). Johnson expressed disappointment that the city must spend half a million dollars of wheel tax revenue on a state road for only 5 years of use, and called for state assistance. Alder Galvin noted the state provides approximately $650,000 annually for state road maintenance, which is insufficient.
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Protection and Policy Item 1 – Appeal of Dangerous Dog Determination: Alder Stevens moved to refer the item back to committee after additional records were provided to alders just before the meeting. City Attorney Couch recommended the referral to allow review by Officer Mavis and the petitioner. The petitioner agreed. The council voted to refer back.
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Protection and Policy Item 5 – Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA): Alder Prophet moved to approve the draft ordinance. Kristen Johnson testified (see Public Comments). Alder Prophet committed to neighborhood meetings and outreach. The item was approved and will have a second reading at the next meeting.
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Plan Commission Item 1 – Conditional Use Permit Amendment: Alder Prophet offered an amendment to strike recommendation #4 (no building addition past front facade) after staff and applicant reached a compromise on design. The amendment was adopted, and the item was approved as amended. Alder Johnson thanked the applicant for expanding services to those in need.
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Plan Commission Item 3 – Short-Term Rental Ordinance: Alder Hinkfus moved to amend the application to include occupancy (maximum number marketed) and a designation of owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied. After debate, the owner-occupied language was amended to “owner’s primary residence” via an amendment by Alder Hutchison. The occupancy language was kept as “occupancy” (marketed number). The ordinance was approved as amended.
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Traffic Item 4 – Parking on Washington Street: Alder Johnson moved to hold the item (no parking from midnight to 3 a.m.) to allow police department review. He noted that meters are covered from 6 p.m., reducing downtown parking availability during peak hours, and suggested future consideration of a pickup/drop-off zone and later meter covering times. The item was held to the next Traffic, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Commission meeting.
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Finance Committee Item Q5 – Innovation Fund Approval: Alder Eck moved to reconsider the item to correct the record: the wording was changed from “locations from the innovation fund above $50,000 require council approval” to “all funds must require council approval.” The council approved the corrected language.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes and Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Reappointments: Approved unanimously.
- Public Hearing – Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Lime Kiln Road): No public speakers; ordinance adopted 10–2.
- Improvement and Services Item 16 (Shawnee Avenue): Informational only; no motion needed.
- Protection and Policy Item 1: Referred back to committee (unanimous).
- Protection and Policy Item 5 (DORA): Approved (voice vote, unanimous).
- Plan Commission Item 1: Approved as amended (unanimous).
- Plan Commission Item 3 (Short-Term Rentals): Approved as amended (unanimous).
- Traffic Item 4: Held to next committee meeting (unanimous).
- Finance Item Q5: Corrected and approved (unanimous).
- Committee of the Whole – Wellhead Protection Ordinance: Approved (voice vote).
- Committee of the Whole – Special Assessments (Streets): Approved (unanimous; Alder Johnson abstained).
- Resolutions: Approved unanimously (roll call).
- Ordinances First Reading: Advanced to second reading except item 3 (short-term rentals), which was amended and advanced (all voice votes).
- Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
I would call to order the meeting of our common council for Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. Clerk? Yes, thank your honor. We have 12 members present in the room and 12 members voting in Stick Clark. All right. Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for an invocation offered by Alder Presley. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And for which it stands. Approval of the minutes. Motion to approve made by Alder Prophet, seconded by Alder Stevens. Uh any changes here? Seeing none, all in paper say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. The ayes have it. The minutes are approved. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve made by Alder Presley and seconded by Alder Hinckfus. Any changes here. Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Pose nay. The eyes have it, and the agenda has been approved. Report by the mayor. Um plenty of things to say, but I'll keep it to uh Shawnee Avenue and short-term rentals. So um just an informational item on the uh INS report, but um want to thank Director Justin and Assistant Director Brunette uh for both providing an update on uh kind of a recap on what was done in twenty twenty-five and then also sharing with the council and the community what is planned for twenty twenty-six. I think the highlight there is Shawnee Avenue um being improved with our our mill and pay program. Um yes, everyone's very excited. Uh we wished uh the state would have moved a little faster and um and take taking care of this obligation, which which is theirs, but recognizing how much this the street has deteriorated over the years. Um I think everybody agrees that this is the right move. Um so very excited to see that happen in uh in early summer of twenty twenty-six. Next, uh short-term rentals. We've had a lengthy conversation about short-term rentals. Um in this body here and in the community, and I think we're we're at a good spot given the constraints that our council gave us the constraints we're operating under with state law, so just want to recognize Chief Faulds and uh and our planning folks, um, our alders who uh initiated a lot of this conversation, equal rights commission citizens who've been very actively engaged. Um, as I said, I think we we got to a good point with it. Um so looking forward to approval on that item later this evening. Uh announcements from council. No announcements. Reappointments? Motion to approve the reappointments was made by Alder Prophet and seconded by Alder Galvin. Any comments? Seeing none, all paper say aye. The ayes have it, and those reappointments are made. We have one public hearing. This is miscellaneous ordinance number zero one-two six, an ordinance adopting an amendment to the Go Big Green Bay 2050 comprehensive plan of the city of Green Bay related to the property located at 801 and 821 Lime Kiln Road from neighborhood commercial to regional commercial. CPA 26-01. Um here would like to speak to that item. Anyone here who would like to speak to that item? Anyone here who would like to speak to that item? Uh clerk, please let the record reflect there's no one here to speak to that item.
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