Green Bay Common Council Meeting - May 5, 2026
Green Bay Common Council Meeting - May 5, 2026
The Green Bay Common Council held a regular meeting on May 5, 2026, covering a range of topics including city-county collaboration, land use amendments, a conditional use permit for a sober living rooming house, and a resolution regarding the Neville Public Museum. The meeting featured public testimony, committee reports, and several votes on ordinances and resolutions.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from April 21, 2026, meeting.
- Approval of the agenda.
- Approval of new appointments and reappointments.
- Reports from the Redevelopment Authority, Protection and Policy Committee, Finance Committee, Park Committee, Traffic Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, and Sustainability Commission were approved.
- Operator licenses from the Green Bay Police Department were approved.
- Committee of the Whole report on fire truck antitrust litigation was approved.
- Resolutions 1-13 were adopted unanimously, including creation of Ward 48 due to a land swap.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing on CPA 26-02: No members of the public spoke on the amendment to the comprehensive plan for 1696 Janice Avenue.
- Public Testimony on Conditional Use Permit for 828 Cherry Street: Kevin Platt, a neighbor at 117 North Van Buren Street, expressed concerns about the number of residents (20 men), 24-hour management, and privacy fencing. David Nelson, the applicant, stated that the maximum would be 20 residents, a house manager would be present, and privacy fencing would be installed. Monty (via Zoom) clarified that the facility is a sober living home, not a treatment program, and that managers would be in recovery. Alder Grant expressed hesitation due to lack of detailed plans for management and proximity to a women's shelter, but Alder Prophet noted that neighbor concerns were addressed at a community meeting.
- Public Testimony on Neville Museum Resolution: Multiple speakers voiced support for the resolution and the museum's public mission:
- Supervisor Patrick Evans (1692 Nancy Avenue) emphasized collaboration, stated the museum is not moving or being privatized, and that a new executive director will be hired.
- Mary Papas (1947 Lakeside Place) urged a transparent community engagement process.
- David Corey (1917 Lakeside Place) highlighted the museum's cultural and economic impact, citing the Green Bay Film Society's screenings.
- Lisa Rose Lambson (2575 Wodell Avenue, UW-Green Bay teaching professor) argued that a public history museum is not interchangeable with a children's museum and warned of irreversible loss of collections.
- Dr. Rebecca Netsvet (118 South Washington Street) praised the museum's complex exhibits and opposed privatization or merging with a children's museum.
- Charl Knight, owner of the Tarleton Theater, proposed public stewardship and opposed privatization.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Ordinance 03-26 (PUD for Brown County Library/Third on the Square Project): Dan Teeters of Brown County expressed concern about language tying parking to the Job Center and Grounded Cafe, as the Job Center is a state entity and the cafe is ADRC-funded. The council approved an amendment (by Alder Prophet) to replace "Job Center" with "public or semi-public users" (11-1). A subsequent amendment to make the cafe generic (by Alder Eck) failed. The PUD was adopted as amended 11-1.
- Plan Commission Item 1 (PUD amendments): Amendments to street patterns and density table cleanup were approved; no change in density or units.
- Personnel Committee Item 3: A motion to refer back to staff (to reconsider a process change for open positions) failed. The council then approved the change (9-3) to place an open positions roster on the informational agenda, aimed at streamlining hiring.
- Neville Museum Resolution: The council debated a resolution affirming support for the museum. A motion to lay the item on the table (to allow further county collaboration) was made and passed, with several council members noting the importance of not interfering with county operations while supporting the museum.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes and Agenda: Approved.
- Appointments: Approved.
- Public Hearing (CPA 26-02): Closed with no speakers.
- Ordinances 1, 2, 4 (Second Reading): Adopted unanimously.
- Zoning Ordinance 03-26 (PUD): Adopted as amended 11-1.
- Redevelopment Authority Report: Approved.
- Improvement and Services Committee Item 7 (Barn Contract): Approved with amendment making acceptance contingent on receipt of non-state grant funding.
- Protection and Policy Committee Report: Approved with one abstention on item 9.
- Plan Commission Item 1 (PUD Amendments): Approved.
- Conditional Use Permit (828 Cherry Street): Approved.
- Personnel Committee Item 3: Approved 9-3 (motion to refer back to staff failed).
- Neville Museum Resolution: Laid on the table (motion passed).
- Resolutions 1-13: Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution 14: Tabled.
- Ordinances First Reading: Advanced to second reading.
- Meeting Adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, thank you, Ronnie. We have twelve members in the room and twelve members voting in Civic Clark. All right, thank you, Clerk. Now please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for an invocation offered by Alder Debaker. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Alder Debaker. All right. So some words to guide us tonight as we go through the meeting. Let us approach each decision with clear thinking and openness to different perspectives, especially when they challenge us. Let us practice patience and respect, even when the discussions are difficult. May we keep in mind that every item before us affects real people, neighbors, families, and businesses who depend on a steady, thoughtful leadership. Let our decisions reflect not short-term pressures, but long-term well-being of the community. And let us leave this, leave this community knowing we have acted with accountability, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to public service. Thanks, Alder. Appreciate that. Next we have approval of the minutes. Motion to approve made by Alder DeLee to approve the minutes from our April 21st meeting, seconded by Alder Ritterbush. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. The ayes have it. The minutes are approved. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve made by Alder Presley. Second. Seconded by Elder Orlowski. Any changes here? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. The ayes have it. And the agenda has been approved. Report by the mayor. Just a couple quick comments. We have two items on tonight's agenda that I think are related to city-county collaboration. And so just wanted to thank the county for moving forward with the library and ADRC and job center consolidation project. We're going to be hopefully moving forward with the second reading of a PUD on that project. Have also worked, you know, pretty extensively with the with the county on the coal pile relocation effort. That seems to be moving forward well. We have the Renard Island easement that our parks committee and council approved within probably the last few months to allow for a permanent easement and access to Renard Island. And then we've got the museum resolution on the agenda tonight. And just wanted to make the point that all of this has been done in the spirit of collaboration. And I know we have got some county board supervisors in the audience who who might want to weigh in on a couple of those questions. And um, and not to speak for the author of the the Neville uh resolution, but I think that's uh the spirit under which this resolution was offered too is just to sort of recognize the community asset that we have in the Neville Museum and and really just make the point that the city's here uh to assist wherever possible um to make sure that it's uh it's a treasured institution now and into the future. Um so with that we'll move along to announcements from our council. Any announcements Alder Delete. I just wanted to make everyone aware that the first groups on the green event kicks off this month on the 29th from 6 to 8 p.m.
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