Green Bay Common Council Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Green Bay Common Council met on March 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM (approx.) with 11 members present. The meeting included recognition of outgoing alders, approval of ordinances, a public hearing on a dangerous dog appeal, and updates to personnel policies. Key outcomes included adoption of a Downtown Alcohol Restricted Area (DORA) with modified hours and a one-drink limit, denial of a dangerous dog appeal, and approval of a recruitment policy allowing moving expense reimbursement for candidates living more than 100 miles from Green Bay.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes approved with a correction to ordinance section number (Z3: 44-1580, not 55-1580).
• Agenda approved.
• Ordinances (second reading) except item 4 adopted 11-0.
• Improvement in Services Committee report approved.
• Protection and Policy Committee report approved except item 4.
• Police Department operator licenses report approved.
• Finance Committee report approved.
• Park Committee report approved with an amendment to add CTLA abbreviation.
• Personnel Committee item 2 (benefits admin savings) approved, with Alder Hinkfus noting at least $500,000 in savings.
• Resolutions adopted 11-0.
• Ordinance advanced as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carl Crossy (1283 Crooks, Green Bay) appealed a dangerous dog declaration. He stated his dog jumped a fence and fought with another dog, but claimed the other owner threatened him with a knife. He argued Officer Meeves did not give him time to respond to calls and that the dog is not a threat to people.

Discussion Items

• DORA Ordinance (Item 4): Alder Profit offered two amendments based on collaboration with business owners, neighbors, and the downtown BID: (1) change hours to Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (instead of the original proposal), and (2) limit patrons to one alcoholic beverage per person at a time. Both amendments were adopted unanimously.
• Dangerous Dog Appeal: Alder Margaret summarized Officer Mavis’s testimony: the dog was involved in two prior incidents (May 2025: attacked a Great Dane, almost tearing off an ear, and bit the owner, resulting in $2,842 in expenses; February 2026: attacked a lab mix, causing puncture wounds to the dog and handler, $900 in expenses). The Protection and Policy Committee had voted 4-0 and 3-1 to deny the appeal. Council denied the appeal.
• Recruitment Policy (Personnel Item 1): Alder Grant moved to amend the relocation reimbursement policy to require candidates live more than 100 miles from Green Bay to qualify for moving expense reimbursement (up to $10,000 per current policy, with additional amounts needing committee approval). Director Olofson noted a national search for an assistant DPW director has been open nine months and that the policy change would help attract candidates. After discussion, the amendment was adopted, and the policy was approved as amended. Alder Hinkfus expressed concern about the lack of detailed reimbursement caps, but Director Olofson clarified it is a reimbursement up to $10,000 with receipts, and the policy applies to director-level and hard-to-fill positions.

Key Outcomes

• DORA Ordinance adopted as amended: Hours set to Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a one-drink-per-person limit.
• Dangerous dog appeal denied: The council upheld the animal control officer’s declaration after hearing testimony of two prior incidents with significant injuries and costs.
• Recruitment policy amended and approved: Moving expense reimbursement now limited to candidates living more than 100 miles from Green Bay, up to $10,000 reimbursement, with additional amounts requiring personnel committee approval.
• Recognition of outgoing alders: Mayor and council thanked Alder Galvin (served since 2016) and Alder Johnson (absent, served since 2018) for their service.
• Mayor’s report: Recognized first responders, DPW, and Metro Fire for response to the second-worst blizzard in Green Bay history and a major fire.
• Announcements: Alder Glee announced the Green Bay & Northeast Wisconsin Music Hall of Fame will open at the former Helen Keller School (1806 Bond St) with a tentative grand opening May 15, and the Grooves on the Green concert series will expand to eight dates this summer.