18th, Clerk.

Yes, thank you, Honor.

We have 12 members of the room and 12 members voting.

All right.

Thank you, Clerk.

Please now rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for invocation offered by Alder Delee.

And into the Republic or which as we near the end, as we near the close of the 25-26 school year, I'd like to take a moment to recognize something special.

An entire community of students who showed up, put in work, grew, and pushed forward from our youngest learners to those taking their next big step.

This year mattered.

It shaped futures, built confidence, and created momentum.

We also need to recognize the people who made that possible.

To our teachers, support staff, and school leaders, thank you.

Thank you for your dedication, your patience, and your relentless commitment to our kids.

You don't just teach lessons, you create environments where students feel safe, supported, and valued.

You are mentors, role models, problem solvers, and steady voices in moments that matter more than most people ever see.

What you do goes far beyond academics, and our community is stronger because of you.

Now, as we turn the page into summer, we welcome a different kind of energy.

This is the season of ball fields and busy parts of early mornings and late nights of kids chasing goals, friendships growing stronger, and families finding time to just be together.

It's the sound of games, the feeling of fresh air, and the simple moments that end up meaning the most.

Let's let's make the most of it.

Let's support one another, show up for our kids, and continue building the kind of community we're proud to be a part of.

A community where people look out for each other, where families feel connected, and where every kid has a place to belong.

And as a city council, this is our responsibility too.

We have the opportunity and the obligation to invest in the spaces and opportunities that bring the vision to that vision to life.

That means supporting our parks, strengthening our neighborhoods, ensuring safe spaces for kids to play and families to gather, and continue to partner with schools, organizations, and local leaders who are doing the work on the ground every day.

It means listening to our residents, being present in our community, and making decisions that reflect not just today's needs, but the future we want for our children.

If we do that, if we lead with intention, collaboration, and care, then we're not just take talking about a stronger community.

We're actively building one.

Here's to a safe, active, and memorable summer for our students, our families, and everyone who calls this community home.

Thanks for sharing those words, Alder.

Appreciate it.

Uh next up is approval of the minutes.

Motion to approve made by Alder Eck.

There's second.

Seconded by Alder Hinkfiz.

Uh any changes?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

Minutes are approved.

Approval the agenda.

Motion to approve made by Alder Eck.

Seconded by Alder Dalee.

Um any changes here?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

The agenda has been approved.

Report by the mayor.

Um, just wanted to mention um an event that that we have every year on Memorial Day at Admiral Flatley Park put on by the United Patriotic Society.

Uh Alder Eck has been there in the past.

I know others have as well.

And so just wanted to invite um the city council and all members of the public to join me um at Admiral Flatley Park.

I think things get going at four o'clock on Monday on Memorial Day.

Uh so as you all know, it's not just a long weekend.

This is it's an important opportunity for us to commemorate those who have given everything in defense of our country.

Um, so again, would would love to see you all down there and and members of the public as well.

Uh so with that, we'll move along to announcements from council.

Alder Prophet.

Um, so we have an item later on our agenda that I don't know will necessarily get pulled for discussion.

We're allowing the striker team to uh fundraise um to kind of make some improvements uh to Arnie Wolffield.

So I'd just like to formally invite everyone to help partake in that fundraising efforts.

Um, June 12th, they are partnering with the Green Bay Rockers for tickets, $15 tickets that come with a rocker's hat and seven dollars of all of those tickets goes right back to Green Bay Strikers um fundraising efforts for Arnie Wolf.

So if anyone needs the link to purchase tickets, I'd be more than happy to share.

We'll allow people to go to Ashwab for that event.

Sorry.

Um other announcements, Alder Delee.

Uh, we won't meet before this, but um kick off your summer with the first grooves on the green concert of the year.

Join us at Kennedy Park.

Uh it's 2227 Farland Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m.

for an evening of great music, good food, and community connection.

Bring a chair, relax with friends and neighbors, and enjoy the sounds of the rock and blues band Little Cisco.

Come hungry, our local food trucks will be on site, serving up delicious options.

Grooves on the green is all about bringing music into our neighborhood neighborhood parks and creating spaces where community can come together and enjoy some summer right here in Green Bay.

There's a full list of dates, times, and locations for the future grooves on the green events available online at Green Bay WI.gov forward slash guide, where you can find the 2026 summer guide.

This concert series proudly presented in partnership with the Tarleton Theater, Green Bay neighborhoods, and the city of Green Bay.

Excellent.

Thanks, Alder.

Everyone over here, Alder Morgan.

I'd like to make a personal acknowledgement and acknowledge my wife's mother, my mother-in-law Rose Lesay, because she lives on Fisk Street up near uh excuse me, Liberty.

Yeah, Fisk in the same house they built 65 years ago.

This Sunday, she will be 100 years old.

She's still sharp as attack, puts me in my place, and uh physically doing well and mentally doing super well.

That's incredible.

Well, happy birthday to her.

Other announcements, Alderek.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh yes, I would like to invite everybody out to a blue ribbon baseball game.

Yes, it's a green bay game.

Um, and our um neighborhood association, the John Mere Park neighborhood is running the concessions and is a double header starting at four o'clock.

Um, actually, there's a walk for um to end Alzheimer's um before that.

So you can come out earlier and uh you can come out and uh 50% of the prop proceeds go back to our neighborhood association.

So love to see you all out there.

Nice.

What's the date again?

Oh, I'm I apologize May 30th.

Oh, okay.

Very cool.

Saturday well, very well coached enterprise from what I hear.

Yes.

Any other announcements?

The date.

All right, thank you, Alders.

Now onto ordinances, second reading for adoption.

Um we have maybe a change.

So we just take that one.

Yeah.

Motion has been made to adopt uh one made by Alder Prophet.

Second by Elder Presley.

Next one.

All right, any discussion?

All in favor, say aye.

Oh, yes, we do.

Apologies.

We'll use the board.

And that is adopted unanimously.

Now on to I2.

Uh Alder Motion.

I'd like to make a motion to amend the proposed ordinance by striking section two dot d2 dot d in its entirety and amending section two dot dwo dot a by revising the phrase quote development areas a, comma, b and c quote to read quote development areas a, comma, b, comma, c and f, close quote.

Um is there any desire for staff to explain the change?

So that was the sounds like a great amendment, but might need explanation.

Is there a second for that?

Second.

Second by Elder Prophet.

Um, Director Nairwig or staff.

I think the reason for these amendments is to allow some construction to happen on these sites.

And so the setbacks were changed.

The size of the setbacks have been changed.

So that's tweaking this beauty, which will allow that housing development to happen.

Okay.

Thank you.

Any other comments or questions?

Seeing none, we will um all in favor of the amendment.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

The amendment has been approved.

Motion to adopt is amended.

Motion to adopt is amended made by Alder Profit, seconded by Alder Ritterbush.

Any discussion on that?

And we'll use the board.

All right, that also is approved unanimously.

On to the report of the redevelopment authority.

Motion to approve made by Elder Presley.

Second by Elder Hinkfis.

Any items here to be handled separately.

Hearing none.

All in favor will signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Oppose nay.

Yeah, I have it.

That report has been approved.

Improvement in services.

Motion to approve maybe Alder Delee and seconded by Elder Ritterbush.

Items here to be handled separately.

None.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Opposed nay.

The ayes have it.

That report has been approved.

Protection and policy committee.

Motion approved.

Motion to approved by Alder Prophet.

Seconded by Elder Delee.

Items here to be handled separately.

Nine.

Any others?

Hearing none others, all in favor of approving the remainder of that report.

Signify by saying aye.

Oppose nay.

Yeah, I have it.

The report has been approved, the exception of item nine.

Motion open the floor.

Motion to open the floor made by Elder Prophet.

Second by Alder Presley.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

The floor is open.

So we have Rick Hierman and John D'Angelo.

And then it is our custom uh to have our guests state their names and addresses.

And then you have three minutes for testimony.

Uh Rick Hirbin, uh, whiskey rolls wound 631 Bellevue Street.

Um I heard that they're gonna deny my liquor license back in 24 when it was a getaway, it had 52 police calls.

I turned it around.

I took all the drugs out of the place.

I had 13 calls last year and half of them were done from my business.

And the only reason why they're trying the police are trying to take my liquor license because one up in particular is trying to shut my business down.

I done nothing but fixed take all the drugs out of here.

Yeah, and John he's been working with Rachel Mayas, the city prosecutor on a couple tickets that I do have that were basically falsified.

I even had the file internal affairs against one cop, and that's why he is going after me to shut my business down.

Any other comments?

You know anything with what's going on with Rachel.

Uh attorney John D'Angelo, one law group uh over in Ashwabinan, so don't shoot me.

Um right now we're still in the midst of working with the citations.

Um we have some negotiations, uh they're still continuing.

Um had some communications with attorney Mays uh at this point.

Um my client is uh has provided documentation uh suggesting that a lot of the report that he had to sign.

There was a contract that he signed uh last year with his liquor license.

Um that the uh the officer who is the complaint is against hasn't been following exactly, and then he gets cited.

So we're working on that, uh, trying to work it as a it's a business that uh is is productive in the community, and we're just asking that the board reconsider the approval.

Thanks.

Questions uh for our guests.

Yeah, Alder Morgan.

I just I just have one question on our agenda.

We're talking about Jamrock.

Is that changed the name to Whisper?

No, no, sir.

Oh, yeah.

Are we on the same agenda then?

Yeah, did you say that it's in the top list?

Oh, okay.

Yeah, good call.

So it's in it's in the list that was attached to the um report.

Oh, I see.

Whiskey rose too is it's at the bottom in red, sir.

Yeah, good question.

Um, others with questions.

Okay, thanks for your testimony.

Thank you.

Anyone else on this item?

Motion motion to close the floor, maybe Elder Delee.

Second, seconded by Elder Prophet.

All in favor will say aye.

The ayes have it, floor is closed.

Uh invite comments from Alders.

Alder Ack.

Um, I'm not seeing any police reports attached to our agenda, and I'm just wondering if we could have maybe PD go over some of their concerns, please.

Yeah.

Yes.

Absolutely.

Uh attorney coach art.

Yeah, just really quick.

Um, from a procedural standpoint.

This is on this uh list as a notice of intent to non-renew.

So presumably, if approved, uh, a notice would go out to this establishment, and then they'd have an opportunity to request a hearing, and then that would be the point in time which um whether it's be the police department or anybody else's testimony to be provided theirs as well as documents, but it's just a a request so we can send the notice out because council has ultimate authority over uh alcohol licensing, so we have to come and ask for permission for that notice just for clarification.

This isn't a hearing, it wasn't planned to be.

Right.

Um, so are you advising council that it it's probably best not to have a debate about or a conversation about calls for service and things of that nature?

Yeah, I think that's appropriate again.

It it would be appropriate um to refrain from having conversation about calls or things like that because we haven't provided the information on license holder again.

Again, this is just a notice of intent based on the recommendation, which I think was probably presented at the PNP or protection policy just based on uh the police department clerk or inspections um their cumulative recommendation.

Okay.

Very good.

Yeah, elder profit.

Just one quick follow-up question for attorney co chart.

Um, it's my understanding as well that there is a deadline that is given.

I believe it was April 15th that would guarantee the applicant the full process um before the end of the licensing year.

Is that correct as well?

So the full quasi, if it were to come to that will all be fully resolved before the end of the licensing year.

Is that correct?

Yes, as long as the application was received by that deadline, we are required to process it by the June 30th deadline.

So if they did, um if the notice was given, they request a hearing that'll take place at one of the June uh council meetings.

Okay.

So with that in mind, I'd make a motion to approve what the list as we have it presented in front of us.

Alder Profit makes a motion to approve uh the item seconded by Elder was it presley?

Uh discussion on that, Alder Morgan.

I just wanted to stand for the your mic.

Thank you.

I just wanted to uh abstain for the part from the license for the Green Bay Blue Urban Baseball team.

Okay.

Thanks, Alder.

Any other comments?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Okay.

Oppose nay.

Yeah, I have it, and that item has been approved on to police department granting operator licenses.

Motion to approve made by Alder Presley.

Second by Alder Orlovsky.

Uh, any discussion, abstentions.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Oppose nay.

Guys have it.

That items been approved.

Plant commission.

Motion to approve, made by Alder Profit.

Second by Alder Presley.

Items here to be handled separately.

Two.

Two.

Any others?

Hearing none others, all in favor of the remainder of the report.

Signified by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed nay.

Yeah, I have it.

The report has been approved with the exception of item two, and that is to approve a request for a conditional use permit at 315 South Jefferson Street with conditions.

Motion open the floor has been made by Alder Prophet.

Seconded by Alder Shelton.

All in favor say aye.

Oppose nay.

Yeah, I have it.

The floor is open.

Um so I have two uh noted here people that would like to speak.

Um, but if you haven't registered, feel free just to approach the podium after these two speakers are done with their comments.

Uh first one is Sarah Hanson.

And again, it's the custom of uh council to require the name and address.

So if you could offer that, and then three minutes for testimony.

Thank you.

Um, I think we all want fewer people sleeping outside.

We want fewer 911 calls for preventable crises, and we want a neighborhood that feels safe and stable.

At this point, most of us agree that doing nothing is really not an option.

Name and address.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Sarah Hansen 2426 Deprey Street in Franken.

Great, thank you.

Uh recent point in time counts in Brown County have found roughly 80 to 125 people sleeping outside every single night, even in when the shelters are full or near capacity.

Many of these neighbors have mental illness or substance use disorders and simply cannot succeed in traditional shelters.

Safe Haven Hope Center is designed specifically for that high need group.

Um serving up to 20 adults in a supervised household style setting.

It's structured, it's a structured home with rules, accountability, and support.

The Jefferson Street location is the right size and layout with access to bus lines and downtown services.

And to be frank, many of the people we hope to serve are already in that neighborhood, sleeping in parks, bushes, doorways.

The real question is whether they remain unsupervised and unsupported, or come inside to a small staffed program with accountability and rules.

The model we're proposing is not experimental.

Um, it's a proven model that's built on national best practices, housing first and harm reduction oriented programming that have been studied across the country.

Large evaluations show that they dramatically increase housing stability and reduce ER visits, inpatient stays, police contact, and jail time without increasing substance use or neighborhood crime.

This is a supervised and accountable program.

We're going to continue to work closely with the Green Bay Police Department, Brown County Crisis, and nearby neighbors.

So concerns are addressed quickly and transparently.

We will track any police EMS calls and respond promptly to neighbor concerns so we can be held accountable.

If there's something that's not working, we are committed to fixing it rather than just walking away.

Approving this permit does not mean accepting chaos.

It means choosing a proven accountable model.

The unplanned status quo that already exists in our city is not acceptable anymore.

I respectfully ask you to approve the conditional use permit for Safe Haven Hope Center so that we can use move from an unmanaged crisis to evidence-based solutions that make our community safer, more stable for everyone.

So thank you for your time and your consideration.

Thanks for your testimony.

Any questions?

Sorry.

Thank you.

Uh next up, Binky Alstein.

Hi, my name is Banky Alstein.

I do not live in Green Bay any longer.

I live in Lena, born and raised in Green Bay, though.

Um, I'm gonna get right to the point.

Safe Haven exists because people in Green Bay need a safe place to sleep.

That's it.

Housing first, we need to take care of the people that need our help.

Um, you can't hold a job or manage your health or get back on your feet if you don't have someplace safe to lay your head and feel safe.

The people we serve are your neighbors, they're not strangers.

A lot of them work and a lot of them are trying hard.

Oh, they and they deserve dignity and our respect.

There have been concerns raised about the shelter, and I take that seriously.

We have policies, accountability, and structure in place.

We're a responsible organization, and we take our role in this community seriously.

What I don't accept is disrespect and treat people being treated with hostility.

So we need to accept these people and give them the help that they deserve.

They're human beings.

Safe haven operates with integrity.

We're not going anywhere.

And we what we're asking from this council is to support us in doing this work.

Housing first means people first, and that's what we're here for.

Thank you.

Thanks for your testimony.

Alderek.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yes, I have a question for you, Binky.

Um, so are you on staff there?

No, I'm on the board.

Oh, you're on the board.

Okay, just wondered because you were saying we.

So I just wanted to clarify.

Yes.

Um, that so all right.

That's it.

That's it.

I gave it made easy for you.

Thank you.

All right.

So that's the list of people we had registered.

So feel free just to approach the the podium stage name and address.

If anyone else would like to speak, hello, everybody.

My name is Stephanie Guzman, uh, 27-11 Melcore Drive.

Um, I'm somebody who has come here for a variety of different things.

I feel like I've got to know a lot of you guys with in a healthy debate, but also in good conversation and working together.

And I think that's one of the things that makes Green Bay so special that although we are on different sides of what is political noise, we actually have something in common, and it's that we want people to do well inherently.

I understand that what we have an idea about is how we get there is not gonna be the same for all of us, especially when we have different lived experiences, right?

However, I do want to say that as someone who has had to sleep in places that aren't unsafe, as someone who has had to find ways to make it in a city like this, uh, with no support.

Um, as someone who has had family members who have, let's say a felony from when they were 17 years old, and then that be used against them for housing, for jobs, um, to get better, um, to try to get to the next place.

It I'll tell you because I experienced it on a daily basis, it is almost impossible.

And now that trauma is also going on to the next generation, the kids.

And so a lot of these parents, I used to work for Brown County Child Support.

I remember wanting to call the dads and saying, Hey, can you pay?

Can you make a payment?

It's not for the person that it's not for a person, it's for your kids.

And a lot of them would be like, 'I can't get a job.

I don't have a place to live.' And so I'm telling you from lived experience and from working for the government that we need more places and less hate.

We need more safe havens and we need hope.

And so if we don't agree on what that looks like, I respect that.

But I think that we have talent here to be able to get there.

I think we have conversations that we need to be had.

I feel like there are obviously people here who want to work with us, and I think it'd be um it'd be actually something against what we all want if we don't take these things seriously.

And so I'm really excited to see what comes out of it.

I'm coming with it with hope.

I I literally know Elizabeth Feldhausen.

Um, it's nothing to do with with the place that we're talking about, but I got my cat from Safe Haven on Broadway.

We can help do good things at a small place, like the power of one.

So now imagine what we can do when we're talking about human beings, you know, and we're talking about people, and so I think that we're going to be able to come out of this in a better place.

I know that there's a lot of people who are worried about oh, there's needles and there's things, but I promise you, not everybody who's trying to make their life better, who doesn't have a home is a criminal.

Not everybody is a bad person, and sometimes they just need a little bit of help.

So that's all I want to say.

Thank you.

Feel free to form a line, it might make things a little bit quicker.

Yeah, hi.

My name is Don Radford, 408 South and Beard Street Apartment One.

Um I was listening to the radio the other day.

Uh, W O G B, I think.

Yeah, on Came on a song, um Fly Like an Eagle.

We've probably all heard it.

I'm sure we all know the lyrics, and uh, just came across while I was thinking about this, you know.

Um, how's all the people living in the street?

That song was released 50 years ago.

We still ain't got it done.

So we need to do something.

The situation has simply grown untenable.

And um, you know, I hear worries about the potential clients for this shelter.

My grandfather, who was a kid during uh the depression, grew up playing in coal piles over there while his dad was running moonshine through the drop forge.

Uh he owned the hammer in after prohibition's over.

I don't think it's any mistake that the tavern league has its headquarters right down on the corner.

So, you know, some people look at these uh people around here and see problems.

Uh I see the immediate descendants of people that my family invited into our houses, had served drinks, you know, left and danced with.

Um I can't just walk away from these people, not in good conscious.

And thank you.

Thanks for your testimony.

Thanks.

Hi, everyone.

Um, my name is Tony Greeno.

I'm 315 Jefferson.

Um it's good to be here.

Um I need this.

Everybody here needs this that's with me in a program.

Um come a long way off the streets, been off the streets for a few months, a couple months since he's and I just want to say that being at the Cat Haven when I was there, uh, they moved over and they got a little, they went through changes, and you know, I got to see how they were damaged too.

And I was damaged and all this, no.

Um just like the cats, I'm happy right now where I'm at and being with my people, Kathy.

I just have that.

Um, if you can keep it going, it will help a lot of us that you know aren't felons and aren't, but we're all the same in homelessness and love and all that goes right along with it, and so does the house.

Stability, and you know, I haven't used in almost it'll be 18 months.

And uh Kathy and Kathy and the Haven have and Elizabeth and the whole organization has have been a big part of that.

It's making me realize that I'm able to take to take care of myself, be myself, and love myself and along with others along with me as well.

So I appreciate appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Thanks so much for your testimony.

My name is Susan Wortela.

I'm currently living in the women's center.

Thank God there were no, it was a Packer weekend.

So all the hotels were filled, everything was filled.

So I didn't have to sleep in the grass again for two years.

My ex-husband um wouldn't give me any money.

I had none.

So I was on the street.

So I've personally witnessed what goes on with hip.

I'm a retired human resources manager at Wisconsin Public Service.

Kathy came to the house, the director came to the house or the hospital and visited me, discharged me early, and residents helped me at home.

They brought things to me.

I can't tell you how much that meant to me.

I can't walk anymore without AIDS.

I'm disabled, but my mind is still there.

And I can tell you, Green Bay, I've did all the equal employment opportunity reports for the 30 years I was in Wisconsin Public Service.

And I'll tell you, Green Bay, the city of is seriously out of compliance with national and state laws.

Um I'm going to file a 10 million dollar lawsuit against the city of Green Bay.

And um to make you change your acts.

Oh gosh, good job.

My name is Kathy Aretto.

I live at 102 South Ashland Avenue here in Green Bay.

And um I love these people to death.

And there's just about nothing in the confines of the law that I wouldn't do for them to help them.

Um be where they need to be and do what they need to do.

I'll tell you, there's some of them that I've worked with for over a year.

Um, and in that year, it took a whole year to get some of them just to go to the doctor.

Just to go to the doctor.

Now that's important because in that time they weren't stable, and they were outside and they were sleeping at the pavilion and in the bushes and wherever it was that they could find a place to stay.

They've been stable now for three or four months, really stable.

And yesterday, that person went to the doctor.

That person's also sober for the first time, and I don't even know how long.

Is everybody gonna stay sober?

No, I don't think so.

Do I hope and celebrate today for their sobriety?

You betcha.

And my hope is that they will continue to be sober and they will continue to make strides.

Harm reduction has a saying that says, any positive change is recovery.

We've decided somewhere along the way that recovery looks like this, and it's in this particular box, and I would challenge that thinking tonight to say recovery looks like any positive change.

And let me tell you, the whole house is here tonight, and every single person has made positive change in one way or another.

I can also tell you that we've been there almost two full months, and there has not been one police call, not one, and I don't know the stats because I'm not a stat person, that's Sarah and Sunny and other people.

They could probably tell you, the police could probably tell you.

That's not very common for folks that come from the park.

I don't think they go very often without police calls, but we haven't had any, and they tell each other daily, hey, we gotta do this, we gotta do that.

We want this, they want this.

We have buy-in and we have hope, and we have people that were committed a promise in January that I have literally gone to the ends of the earth to make sure it was fulfilled, and I will continue to do that day after day after day, because I take my promises seriously.

So understand that when I'm asking you to make a conditional promise to me by letting us be there, I take that seriously as well.

Thanks so much for your testimony.

I think what might have some questions.

Oh the profit and then all direct.

Um, so thank you, Kathy, for joining us tonight.

Um, and supplying a 203, I believe, page operating plan.

Um Sarah did it.

Thank you, Sarah.

Um appreciate the work.

It was a very comprehensive document.

Um, I had just uh received some information that maybe there were some name changes within there.

So I was just hoping maybe you could kind of address like has there been any staffing changes since that was provided in our packet, and has there been, you know, new names, new faces?

Yeah, there have been staffing changes almost all the way across the board.

When we first filled it out, um, we had filled it out with some immediate names that we knew we were going to be able to get help from right away.

Um, we have the full staff here, minus one, so not the full staff.

We have staff here minus one.

Um, and they're different.

And um our therapist will be different as well.

So we in looking, um, we had our therapist resign, and we wanted to make sure that we have the very best in trauma therapy in the greater Green Bay Area, dare I say Northeast Wisconsin.

Um, and we are in talks now with her.

Um and just working out the details.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I'll direct and then Presley.

Yeah.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, yes, a couple questions.

Um, and one was around the therapist, and just wondering if it's trauma therapy and um is it one person that's trained in trauma and like ADO AODA uh training?

So all of our staff has what's called lived experience.

And today in the recovery world for mental health and or substance use, lived experts are valued in that arena.

Um, and so personally, I would prefer to hire people with lived experience over degrees any day of the week, um, as long as they've come out the other side.

Um, and our staff has um they will also be trained and being trauma informed.

They will be trained in um recovery coach training, which we're working out now with uh a gentleman from Appleton to uh do that through SAMHSA, and so we should have that on the books within the next week or so.

Um collectively, we're also going to work with the gathering place surprise, they don't know that yet, and uh Amanda's house um and make it open to the community at large for recovery.

Um so we've got that for peer support.

We're also looking to do formal certified peer support training, but that costs about 25,000 to bring a class to Brown County, and there has to be someone willing to flip that bill.

If they if we don't have someone willing to pay that, they'll offer it to whatever counties will.

So at this time, we're waiting for Brown County to have openings enough for our staff to get in there because I'd like them all to be certified through the state, as I am.

Okay, so currently there's do you have any programming on site?

We do.

Um, we have a recovery coach on staff.

Um, and she currently is working through one-on-ones doing recovery coaching with individuals um and making sure that they each have goals, they have plans, they are working towards them, and looking at the short term and the long term and making plans for how to get there.

Okay, and then there were a couple um things, concerns that were brought up during your different meetings that you had um planning and your neighborhood meeting.

Um, and one of them was um a question of whether you have your own 501c3 um separate from Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary.

Has that been we it great question?

Um, and we clarify this repeatedly, it seems um rightly so.

They are completely separate organizations.

Um Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary is this, Safe Haven Hope Center is this, more like sisters, not parent child.

And so, yes, there are separate 501c3s at this particular time.

We're in process waiting with the IRS, and I don't know if you're familiar with that process, but apparently it can take a minute or two.

Okay, so it's in process.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay, well, because I know if it's a 501c3, you can receive donations.

It's hard to stay afloat without the donors, and they usually want to be able to, you know, a tax deduction.

Absolutely.

Um, and then there was also um brought up with a concern of reporting uh drinking on site and residents sleeping overnight.

I think I think that's what my understanding was.

Non-resident sleeping overnight.

I apologize.

Yeah, yeah.

Um, so what I'll tell you is that I haven't ever found that to be the case.

I haven't heard that from staff.

And the truth of the matter is just being really transparent, we will have people that break rules.

If these folks were role followers, they'd be in other shelters, and there would be no need for a safe haven hope center.

But the fact of the matter is not unlike myself and others, they are not really great at following rules.

That said, there are consequences if you break the rules.

And there are while we don't eject people, we do for a night.

We cut welcome them to come back in the morning.

Um, I'm a person of faith.

And so for me my mercies are new every day.

And so I feel like that's what we should offer them too.

So if they're found drinking, they will be asked to leave.

Their alcohol will be dumped out, and they will be ejected and then welcomed back tomorrow to try again.

And we will just continue to do that day after day after day.

Oh, yeah, thank you.

You're welcome.

All the press leading and then all the grant.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And thank you, Kathy, for being here and speaking.

It's very clear from all the other testimony how important and impactful your work has been.

Um, I know that you would do this for free.

Uh and have and uh do you do you have a plan in place to make sure that this uh hope center is financially stable going forward?

Oh gosh, I sure hope so.

Um we do actually.

We have had uh a SETI funder um that has been giving a small stipend.

We put out a number of what we needed to run bare bones, and we have received that monthly since we've been in the house.

Um, and we have um several people doing some work on the side.

We have fundraisers scheduled, we have um uh grants that we're looking at daily to try to see if we can qualify for um connecting with other people in the recovery world here in Green Bay to see if we can get together and do bigger grants that would satisfy our house and their need.

Yeah, and I understand you don't have the 501c3 set up just yet.

So that is a major obstacle.

Um do you have uh people on your board who have experience with this kind of fundraising, or do you have people in the organization that are prepared to take on that?

I I believe so.

Let me yes, it's they said yes, we do.

Um so I know that Binky is really good at fundraising.

She I think did so for John Dewey for the four years that she was president of their board, and um I know Sarah as a former pastor uh of a church did considerable fundraising.

I did it with her.

Um, and I know Sunny has got to have tricks up her sleeve, but more than that, we have had people coming out of the woodwork.

Um, I have one person in particular um that is an executive director for uh for quarter-appointed special advocates who used to do fundraising as uh her career for JNC, and she is offered to help me and coach us in any way that we need help.

That's excellent.

Yeah, I know I work in the arts nonprofit world.

Um, and I found that the people with the most passion for the subject tend to be the worst at finding money for it.

Um so I'm glad that you have you have folks who are who are helping you and are gonna help make this work.

So eases my conscience a lot with the vote and mine too.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you, man.

Thank you for your testimony and explaining everything today.

Um, just a couple questions.

Are you is your staff going to be CPR and AD trained?

Anyone on site?

That's a fantastic question.

I believe that Amanda is.

And Brandon are you, and Sarah is.

So all but a couple of us are.

And to be honest, I hadn't thought of that.

And yes, yes, we will be.

And I will be contacting someone this week to make sure that that's true.

Okay, perfect.

And I know in the plan it does say that someone a staff member is there overnight.

Is that correct?

Yes.

And how many I know during the um temporary permit, how many nights were you there on site yourself?

How many nights?

Oh gosh.

I don't know.

I could go back in the records and look.

I was like a few times, most of the nights, half the time.

I just wanted to see how often you were there experiencing everything to see how it was running to be able to let us know, you know, how many issues are we having and are they getting worked out and things like that.

There was concerns of the, you know, management of it.

So I just want to know how often you were there overnight for that.

10 to 20.

Um, I'm usually there for 12 to 14 hours a day.

Um, and so sometimes I go home and sleep.

Um I am there on Saturday and Sunday, um, and I'm grateful that I have staff willing to come in at night.

Um, they also know though that if any incidents arise, and I mean incidents arise, that I'm to be notified immediately after 911 if that's necessary first.

Um maybe one person on one call and one on the other, even.

So if any incidences of of any magnitude have arisen, I've been notified immediately.

Um actually got dressed one night in my clothes over my nightgown.

Okay.

Perfect.

Thank you.

And I know um you said that you are licensed.

I also saw that this was established in 2026, but you've mentioned that you've been working with people for over a year.

Yeah.

So I'm just wondering, like in what capacity, how are you doing that just voluntarily on your own time or with an organization?

So I used to attend Smarten's Heart Church, and I worked with Jerry Bader to develop what is now known as warming in the heart on Sunday afternoons.

Um, and from that got to know several of these folks and several of the people that were outside.

So my husband and I would go after an event or somewhere, if we went out to dinner and we'd just bring blankets, and then we started to really kind of connect with them.

And um, I found out that many needed health care.

Um, many needed health care advocates.

And then just started connecting with them much more closely.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you.

And then um, I was just reviewing your plan.

I did see a section here when we call the police or emergency services, just if uh weapons or credible threats, physical violence, serious medical issues.

Um, what about if drugs are found?

If drugs are found, we will not call 911.

Um, that's not an emergency.

Um, and I believe in our policies, we have an addendum to what we first originally put in that says that we will utilize the deter uh system of disposal so that the person, if drugs are found, they can have the option to leave or stay.

And if they stay, they need to, we will get deter and we will bring it to them, and they can dispose of their drugs there, and it renders them inactive, um, or they can leave.

Okay.

Um, and then just wonder question how how have you handled complaints or concerns from your surrounding neighbors over the past month?

We've only had um one neighbor complain so far, and we've handled that quite promptly.

Um, I thought within 24 hours, if not less.

Um, and we give 48, I think, and in our operation manual.

So um I thought we handled it quite well.

As soon as a grief we have neighbor grievance forms, and as soon as one is filled out and and submitted to us, um, at that time we coordinate and depending on where it needs to go, the board or myself, we address it.

Perfect.

In writing.

Okay.

And how many people are on your board?

Right now we have four.

Okay.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh older Shelton.

Kathy, just want to really thank you for being here.

Um, you know, I think probably most of us on this council believe that housing is a right that everybody should have here in the city.

Um, just as a way of summary, we've kind of heard a lot of uh other folks, you know, testify here tonight.

But why is there such a need for a shelter like this in our community?

So St.

John's does a fantastic job with a great number of people.

I commend them, I commend their staff.

I couldn't imagine that many people and trying to corral them.

My goodness, I'm hurting cats with nine or 12 or 15.

Um, but they have very strict rules and their rules are set in stone.

For instance, disrespect.

They can expel someone for disrespecting staff.

Sometimes when I get angry at home, I get angry and I will say words and I might yell.

Um, and my husband doesn't expel me because I vented or I got animated much sometimes.

He might want to.

Um, he doesn't do that.

And I don't think neither should we.

There have been times when residents and I have had words, and that's okay.

Um, the only way for people to learn to make um make amends and to learn to correct those things is through working that out.

So that's what we try to do.

Now, that said, if there were a hundred of them, that would be quite different, I imagine.

So St.

John's is great for most.

New community is very, very good.

Also, they do a phenomenal job.

They are completely sober.

So if someone's drunk or if they're still using any kind of substance, um, they're not allowed in.

Additionally, though, we learned that um in either shelter, trans people are not allowed either.

So we found that gap as well.

So now we have both of these gaps that we're filling, um, which are people that don't fit here and they don't fit here.

And in the meantime, they fall through the middle.

And so our hope is just to be that safety net that catches them so they don't fall.

Thank you.

Welcome.

So Alder Morgan.

You have stats of you know, your how many people are staying there so far.

We have nine people, nine residents.

Nine residents, and are they male, female?

Some of them.

Um we have, I don't know.

Oh one, one, two, three.

You're not there yet.

One, two, three, four, four females.

Okay, so you haven't gotten close to the 20 yet.

No.

No, do you have separate facilities then for males and females, or how does that work?

No, actually, they cohabitate.

Um, on the streets, sometimes friendships are made, and gender isn't important.

Um, and so that's not important to me either.

Wherever somebody wants to sleep and they're comfortable, then I want them to be comfortable because that's where they're gonna heal the best.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any other questions?

Alder Hutchison.

Um thank you for your testimony.

Um so I'm looking at the applicate applicant narrative and operations document.

It's this document.

Yes.

Okay.

I used to be uh I used to work on remediation projects, and we had something similar, similar.

It was called a site safe plan.

Um and you have it's actually 243 pages.

I was gonna say uh, which is not abnormal for a site safety plan.

Um this is the list of your addendums, yeah, which is not abnormal for a plan of this nature.

Uh because you can refer to it, you can go to it.

I don't know if you know how important this document is because it's your shield and it will be your sword.

Okay.

If you if you work according to this, you'll be safe.

Yes.

If you don't work according to this, you'll be vulnerable.

Right.

Okay.

It's so important on these projects I worked on every day.

We had a site safety plan.

It was five minutes.

It was the first thing in the morning.

And all the workers and all those people who are involved sat down for five minutes and they took one little piece of this and they discussed it.

So over the year, you could pretty much discuss this whole thing.

Okay.

And you get to know it.

I love that.

Okay.

I would highly recommend that.

And if you're not adverse to that, I would hope you would pick that up.

Uh I'm gonna totally steal it right now.

Okay, thank you.

No, thank you.

That uh I guess I don't have a question after that.

Anything else from the council.

Thanks so much for your testimony.

Okay.

Um, I'm also the owner of the historic Charlton Theater located at 405, West Walnut Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

543.

Um, let me start by um apologizing for following the headlining act.

But thank you to Kathy, Sarah and the board for their life-changing work.

My apologies to any folks who have suffered through my speech in previous meetings.

Supporting our unhoused and unsheltered community members is a deeply personal issue to me.

Years ago, I lived through houselessness and struggled with participating in our community due to barriers to housing.

Thanks to the compassion of community organizations, very similar to Safe Haven Hope Center.

I was provided with opportunities, which improved my quality of life and offered me the agency to live, work, and contribute in our community in a meaningful way.

Unfortunately, like hundreds of other American cities, Green Bay continues to face challenges in addressing houselessness and housing all of our community members.

Local shelters and service providers are regularly operating at or beyond capacity, or with waiting lists reaching hundreds of individuals throughout the year.

You all know by now the leadership at Safe Haven Hope Center have a proven record of rising to the occasion in our community to provide shelter mentorship, training, and connection.

They proving Green Bay looks out for one another.

The new facility will represent another vital private investment along with new community shelter in St.

John's and the well-being and stability of a segment of our community, which public services alone cannot fully address.

It's our opportunity to support private community partners in alleviating housing, an issue which aligns very closely with the city's own long-term planning and development mission.

Ultimately, community development and community leadership isn't about being perfect, though, it's about being brave.

I've worked very closely with their leadership over the last couple of years, and I have absolute confidence in their team to continue leading with compassion, neighborliness, and bravery in improving the overall quality of life in our community and filling a vital resource gap in our downtown financing was mentioned in order to contribute to Safe Haven Hope Center mission to house our community.

My team and I at the Tarleton Theater are coordinating with the Safe Haven leadership to organize a community fundraiser in August 2026.

You'll all be formally invited to attend closer to the fundraising date.

While the single fundraiser won't support their mission long term, I know a number of other community partners who have interest in financially supporting the very vital work of Safe Haven as they open their new facility.

I cannot tell you the number of times I've been told by local government.

It's a process.

Thank you.

Thanks for testimony.

Thank you.

Hello.

My name is Amy Zellner.

I live at 822 Pine Street.

And homelessness or houselessness or being unhoused is something that has affected me personally.

I have a deceased parent due to, I would say, lack of structure in this community for the unhoused.

This person died homeless.

And I feel like had they had more support, um, that maybe wouldn't have happened.

So it is it is personal.

Um then that those experiences for me um prompted me to go to law school and become an attorney to advocate for people that are like unhoused, disenfranchised, unable to have resources.

Um if anybody needs help with any issues like that, let me know.

But um yeah, it's it's unfortunate.

And whether it's harm reduction, whether it starts with small improvements in lifestyle, people need a place to do that, and it shouldn't have to be on the street, and we should have some kind of place for people to do that safely.

Um they're repeatedly treated awfully by any kind of establishment, they become scared to ask for help when they continue to receive harsh treatment and lack of support.

They stop asking for it, and then they die homeless.

So I hate to see more of that.

Thank you.

Thanks for testimony.

Just a note for a resident.

I I appreciate you know the applause, but we typically don't allow for that in uh in the audience.

So no applause when I step up, right?

Uh Jesse Burnett's uh 612 Stewart Street.

I'm the executive director of St.

John's Ministries.

Um, you know, at St.

John's Ministries.

We're part of a community network of shelter providers.

We're all committed to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-reoccurring.

Uh, a couple things that came out of this process, and I really hadn't intended on speaking, but I wanted to clarify a few things uh through this process.

So, number one, we at St.

John's are a low barrier shelter.

We have always been a low barrier shelter.

Uh this season we sheltered 140 people work per night between the two shelters for our emergency season.

Last year was 141, the year before that, 121, the year before that 102.

So we have grown year after year, but fortunately this last season, we have stabilized the numbers, which hopefully is a good sign for our community.

Uh I also want to make sure we're clear that when the issue came up for its safe haven when it was the cat shelter on Broadway when they were sheltering people.

I think there is some insinuation that the shelters were at capacity.

And I can't speak for any other shelter in town, uh, but St.

John's Ministries, we hadn't even reached close to capacity.

We're allowed per the permit that you all have approved 140 men per night.

The most we had this season was 128.

Uh this council approved us to go to 70 women.

We peaked at 50.

So we had room at the shelters.

However, even though we're a low barrier shelter, we do still have some barriers.

Number one, can't be on the sex offender registry.

Uh number two, if you have an open warrant to think it's very reasonable to settle that with the police.

We don't want to shelter people evading law enforcement.

Number three, and this is often difficult.

If a person is not able to provide self-care, uh, oftentimes we're not able to shelter them because we don't have medical staff on site and we're not a medical grade facility at any of our locations.

Third uh fourth, I would add was if a person is transitioning to other shelter options or other uh other housing options because we're a low barrier last resort shelter, we have made we have kind of followed policy much more strict, just so guests have forward movement.

We are an emergency shelter, we're not meant to be a long-term uh place for a person to live.

However, we have been sheltering people year after year for several years.

That's the chronically homeless population that Green Bay continues to struggle with, and your case coordinators for the city of Green Bay, Pete and Jeremy have done incredible work, big fans of theirs.

Uh, then fifth, and I want to touch on this because it's important.

Uh we have a lot of great, we we extend a lot of grace with the number of people we shelter to say that we just simply exit someone because they're you know, have a uh saying things to my staff.

Yeah, of course, if it escalates to that.

We try our best to extend a lot of grace, knowing the conditions that a person presents with uh mental health issues, drug alcohol addictions, sense of entitlement within some of our population we serve.

However, if it continues to escalate, then we have to ask a person to leave.

And even if we ask a person to leave, we usually allow them back in once they meet with our security director.

So when you're sheltering 128 men on a on a night, we can't have continual disrespect towards staff because what that will do is that it will discourage other people from being sheltered by us.

Who wants to, you know, be sheltered by an organization that allows you know profanity, vulgarity, vulgarity, sexual comments, racial comments that are very inappropriate.

So we have to enforce rules, but that doesn't mean that a person's expelled from our services entirely.

And then lastly, because uh supervisor uh or I said supervisor and picking county government alderman sheldon kind of mentioned this a little bit, and then someone responded.

We shelter people regardless of their gender identity.

So to say that we don't shelter people who identify as transgender is just simply not true.

We do shelter people uh regardless of gender identity.

I think the challenge is where and what shelter.

So we have a policy.

So I want to make sure very clear that when we have the full snap that our shelter was available for people, as long as they met that criteria.

And then second of all, if there's any member of our community who is a transgender, just reach out to us because if there is a need that you have, we'll try our best to shelter you with accommodations that would be sensitive to your personal situation.

Thanks for your testimony.

Any questions?

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so uh thank you for coming, Jesse.

Um, how many people I I know that you're extending, you've already been doing the men through the summer, and then now you're doing the women, and what are the requirements for that particular um for the women's shelter expansion?

So for newer members of the council in September, this council approved us to uh have the women's shelter be a year-round facility, and it was a pilot initiative.

Uh, we focused on four criteria.

One is if you're chronically homeless or very vulnerable and you can't survive on the streets.

Number two is if you're in an AODA program, so you're overcoming sobriety.

The third will be if you're employed and you uh just simply don't have enough money saved, but you're continually going to work, and we we continue to shelter you, and then fourth would be if you were transitioning to a housing plan.

So maybe you're saving a down payment uh deposit security deposit, whatever, and you just need it simply a place to stay.

We started that with a pilot thinking that any anywhere from five to twenty women.

I will say with the support of this council, we have been sheltering since April 30th, 20 women per night.

So last night I think it was 24 women.

So we are moving forward with being a more of a year-round shelter option for our community.

And then by having the women go to the women's shelter, we have maintained the safe sleep program at the men's shelter.

Historically, with the men and women sheltering together, it's just not always a good fit.

You know, the co-ed nature of shelter, it's just a lot of intimate things that happen in a shelter environment.

So with the women now at the women's shelter, we uh are able to shelter the men at the men's slate uh safe sleep program, and we have average 18 men per night.

So far, since April 30th, we've been sheltering 40 people per night here in Green Bay.

So good success for us.

It's a community effort, of course.

Thank you.

Anything else?

All right, thanks again.

Okay, thank you.

Any other testimony?

Hello, my name's Tim Turlet.

I'm at 315 South Jeff in Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301, which is the Safe Haven Hope Center.

Um, I've been there since day one.

Um I just want to touch on something that Genema said about St.

John's.

Obviously, I I stayed at St.

John's myself, and you as being homeless and being on the streets, you're thankful for it.

You can go to go to the show, you can go to the sleep.

So I'm not up here to bash them.

However, as far as um this gentleman speaking about his policies and how they work at St.

John's.

Uh I was woken up after two hours and kicked out in the middle of the winter at St.

John's.

I watched the guy get caught with a nicotine fake, kicked out for 45 days from St.

John's.

So I'm not saying that St.

John's doesn't do any good, but we don't do that in St.

Jalen Hope Center.

You know, you're not gonna get in show, but you need a cigarette, go outside and have a cigarette.

It's it's simple things.

St.

John's had a policy where if you're on the streets and it's cold, you can come to the door, ring the bell and ask for a blanket.

I was denied numerous times.

Supposed to be a policy if you're hungry, same as at the women's shelter, Wellspring, come press the doorbell, and we'll bring you a plate.

St.

John's doesn't do these things.

Do they house people?

Absolutely, 100%.

What you know I'm sorry that everybody that stays there, or at least hopefully most people are grateful for that.

But to have to sit back and hear if somebody who's to stay there that they're doing all these great things, they're kicking people out for the pettiest things that they can find on a daily basis.

And at Safe Haven Hope Center, we don't work like that.

There and met them on a group of people, we're like a family.

And are we gonna have arguments?

It's gonna be who wave my chips, you know, whatever you it's gonna be that.

Well, we haven't had any series incidents this day.

And you know, I don't know.

Father Paul.

Good evening.

Father Paul Jamuth, 413 St.

John Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin, downtown across the street from St.

John's Park.

Lived in the community for uh uh over 40 years and uh lived downtown, many of those.

I am uh uh one of the great cheerleaders for St.

John Shelter.

They uh they do a terrific job.

Uh but I also look out my front window uh quite often, and there is that segment of uh men and women who just don't fit in because of various reasons, and uh I think that uh the safe haven is an alternative that's gonna be very, very good for the community and for the individuals who uh uh just need a little bit more time, uh some nurturing and a family style kind of thing.

And uh I've been there three or four times since they've opened.

I've had a couple suppers with them and they're pretty darn good.

Um uh I just the atmosphere in the place so far that I have been able to determine is very good.

Kathy is doing a great job along with her uh her team, and uh I just want to affirm them in their new ministry.

It's gonna have bumps.

Uh that's for sure.

It's adjusting to the neighborhood, but I think it's not half bad that it's across the street from the police department park parking lot.

Uh you know, that's that's if we gotta have a location that if there are issues, someone can come readily and work with them, uh I think is a good thing.

So I speak in favor of uh the shelter and uh wish them the best as they work out all of the issues that they are going to need to and uh keep inviting me for supper.

Thanks for your testimony.

Anyone else?

Um my name's Christopher Pearson.

I live at 315 South Jefferson Street.

I was struggling with uh I was I got lost in addiction for a while.

Um, I I don't have any family left.

They're all passed away.

Um but this house is has welcomed me with open arms.

Um they they they've helped me find groups to go to.

Uh I'm sober now.

Um I've I've been able to accomplish a lot of things that I haven't been able to do in the last I'd say at least two years, and uh I've gotten it done within two months here at the house.

So they've they've really accepted me as part of their family there, and I really appreciate that.

Um yeah, keep it true and sweet.

Thank you guys.

Thanks for testimony.

Hello, my name is Sarah Lobbert.

I live at 900 Clement Street Apartment 6.

I have uh volunteered at the Hope Center.

I haven't had the joy yet of meeting everyone, but I have walked in one time with food in my hands, and look to my eyes and asked, can I get you anything?

Are you thirsty?

Are you hungry?

How are you?

And I think about that a lot.

That these people who need these supplies the most will see me ready to eat, ready to go, drink my hand, bag in the other, and ask what help do I need.

Man, I'm bored.

What what can I do at the Hope Center?

It's so nice there.

And maybe that's just who I am, but I feel it speaks volumes that I as a volunteer am constantly thinking, oh, what if we did that?

Would they like all these colored pens I have?

What if I ooh, what if we had like a spa day and all these ideas and all these everything to make this house feel more like a home than they've already made it?

Um I think it's very important to recognize that a lot of us in this room are one leg break, one car malfunction away from being cold and being on the street, and needing to ask for help.

And safe haven so far has answered those calls for help.

And I'd ask you guys when and if you need help.

Where would you like to go?

Wouldn't it be nice to have somewhere like this to go?

God forbid should anything happen.

Thank you.

My name is Sonny Lang.

I live at 1815 Cormier Road, which is a Schwabnon, so don't come for me.

And I know y'all love to see me up here.

Um I am on the board as the secretary.

So right now I kind of just take the notes and hang out.

My thing isn't necessarily housing, it's food.

I have uh food ministry at my house.

Um I rent, it's mobile, pull it in and out of my garage every day.

So I just put some non-perishables and fresh produce that I grow my community garden plots every year out for free.

And I have really enjoyed working on this project.

It's truly grassroots.

It it this is kind of backwards to be honest.

Um lot of other projects I've worked on have already had a plan in place before the doors have opened.

So as I understand it, conditional use mo uh permit means that we gotta come back to it and make sure everything's going well, right?

That's a genuine question.

Yeah, so uh nobody's expecting it to be perfect right away.

Um I already was really connected to my community, but working on this project has been a little bit different because last time I spoke at city council, I came up here staunchly opposed to short-term rentals, and I still am.

But you know who reached out to me and said, what can we do to help?

The short-term rental alliance.

So now they're having ideas about what can we do to help fill this need too.

Um, housing first is housing first, it comes first.

Uh yeah, so that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Anyone else.

Hi, my name's Lizard King.

I live at 611 Abrams Street Green Bay.

Um, and I'm a transgender man, so I wanted to speak on that gap that was mentioned.

And I do want to take a moment to say St.

John's is fantastic.

The fact that they have that structure allows them to help a much wider or larger amount of people.

But for people who need that additional help, you need smaller scale harm reduction type things.

It's the same as with schooling.

People are different, they have different needs.

So if we want to get people to the same place, successful in society, healthy, sometimes that means different solutions.

You know, so it's not a competition, it's people working together.

Uh to my understanding when I volunteered at St.

John's, it was that transgender people were put in the shelter aligning with their gender at birth, assigned gender at birth.

Is that still correct?

So if you're a transgender woman, you would be put in the men's shelter.

Okay, okay.

I really appreciate that change.

That's uh some a step in the right direction.

Um, but say a transgender woman has an ID that still identifies them as male.

Um statistically, we know that transgender women are one of the most at-risk populations for violence.

Putting them in men's shelters, in men's prisons, puts them at risk for violence.

And I'll also say um, you know, poverty, trauma, being homeless, it's very dehumanizing and being transgendered.

You often get dehumanized, and there is really good intentions, but just not enough education.

And I appreciate you.

I don't mean to put you on the spot, but you know, saying a transgender, um, transgender is an adjective.

Um, it's just stuff like that where it's the way I was spoken to as a volunteer at St.

John's.

There was um an incident, and they did come to me as as staff and say, like, this person shouldn't have been saying those things about transgender women.

Um, but to my knowledge, no further action was taken.

And it's when these things happen, it makes it hard as a transgender person to want to stay in that shelter.

It makes you feel even more dehumanized, even more in danger.

And so, for many of us, if a place doesn't fully understand where we're coming from, it makes it harder to accept that help.

And I think again, I love St.

John's.

You guys do amazing things.

It's just that there are so many different people.

We need different solutions to help everybody get to the point where they can be happy and healthy.

And so I think safe haven is going to be an amazing addition to our community.

And you know, that we don't need to have a single homeless person in Green Bay.

And statistics show that it costs less to just house people than the ER visits and lease calls and all of the other steps we have to take to take care of people on the street.

And I think it would be amazing if we got rid of homeless and green homelessness in Green Bay and put the city on the map and created a solution that could be used in other places.

So I really appreciate your time and I love everything about this community and everybody stepping up to try to solve this problem.

And yeah, again, I don't want to criticize St.

John's.

You guys do really great things.

But you know, as a as a transgender person, it can be an additional barrier in receiving help from these places.

And St.

John's could be a way, you know, we could we could have a small shelter like St.

John's just for great people.

So I think that this is a great step in the right direction for our community.

Thank you.

Thanks for your testimony.

There isn't anyone else motion to close the floor.

Motion to close the floor, offered by elder profit.

Is there a second second by other hank first?

All in favor say aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

Motions.

I'll start.

I'm sure there'll be more comments that uh to follow.

Uh first thing though that I want to say is I just want to really appreciate the nine residents.

I see Chris walking back in and I know we lost one.

Um, but I will never forget the first time I came to a city council meeting and I sat and I held the wall and got so nervous to come up and speak.

So I just want to appreciate you.

Um, Chris, you're like the cheeriest person ever.

So gotta keep up that cheer.

I really appreciate it.

Um I do think there are there is a middle ground, as Kathy mentioned, where some folks are just unfortunately um slipping.

Um this is a small home with a max of 20.

Um, I think we have I'm glad I was corrected 243 pages.

Um so a very robust plan in place that I think uh again directly next to the police department as well within I mean we could throw a rock and it would hit their property.

So um that makes me feel comfortable as well.

Um so again, just want to thank the residents.

Um they welcomed me into the home as well, and it was very nice to get a tour of the facility um beforehand.

I do have an amendment I'd like to propose it would be a seventh addition to staff recommendations.

Um so I would make a motion to add uh that the applicant shall appear before the common council approximately six months following the approval of the conditional use permit to provide a status report regarding operations and compliance with the conditions of approval.

Any other comments?

All right, comments on the amendment from all there.

Seeing none on on the amendment.

I just want to understand Sure.

Alder.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay, so just to make it clear, so coming back in six months, giving a report.

Basically, that's what you're asking for.

Okay.

All right.

And I was gonna make the motion for 90 days, so I guess I will compromise.

Thank you.

Sounds good.

All in favor will say aye.

Oppose nay.

You guys have it.

That amendment is adopted.

Alder Hutchison makes a motion to approve his amendment seconded by Alder Ritterbush discussion on that.

Alder Grant.

Staff.

Um question for the police department.

Are they required to contact non-emergency or someone if they are in possession of drugs?

Well, way the Wisconsin's drug possession statutes work.

Um it is possible for a staff member to be I I guess it it is conceivable at least that a staff member could uh run afoul of our drug possession laws by being in possession of drugs and disposing of them.

There's a whole section, and you know, I certainly not I don't want to give anyone legal advice, but there's a whole section on drug disposal programs and some exceptions to the drug possession rules in the Wisconsin statutes around 961 337 that I don't think would apply here because there I as I understand this, there has to be a federal permit.

Um but there are other options.

We don't have to charge every someone for every uh every amount of drugs that we seize for destruction, for example.

Um, so you know, maybe a way to make it a little safer for everyone would be for us to get together.

Okay.

I guess then next question for staff is that something that we can make part of the PUD that they are required to work out a program or system with our police department for disposal of drugs.

Director near wig yep absolutely we could add that as a condition.

Okay.

And then one last question if they have a license recovery coach does that require them to be licensed as any sort of uh like treatment facility when we're offering services like that no we don't believe so um other shelters have additional services that are provided um so I get it's just in a gray area but no okay all right then I would like to um offer an amendment to add as part of the PUD that they work with our police department and all drug confiscation must go through our police department seconded by older profit that motion sorry the amendment was made by um or offered by Alder Grant seconded by Elder Profit uh discussion Elder Hutchison.

Okay in their 243 page document there are the words that any attempt to bring in illicit substances drug paraphernalia or medication for the purposes of misuse we will result in the confiscation of items and may require police involvement okay consistent with SHHC's weapons contraband and safety policies.

So there's already words that connect this type of uh incident right connecting it to the police department clarification says may so I would like it to be required okay if it involves specifically illicit substances is that what you're talking about yeah it's all in words and so well I mean even prescription are legal if someone were to get their hands on a prescription drug that isn't meant for them it could be dangerous.

So like the police department said they have the option for every regular citizen to hand over those without any questions.

I'm not looking for a punishment or you know anything like that.

I just want to make sure that these are properly getting disposed of gotcha.

Okay thank you.

Uh just Chief Davis are any comments on the wording that's been offered um yeah I think if you change it to just that they work with us to dispose of drugs that are found on site um I didn't read the whole 247 page document but I do see in here where there's some plan 84 page 84.

There's a plan that's in the agenda item here that specifically says that basically staff and I think we heard that from one of the folks who spoke earlier um for staff to use these drug destruction pouches and that's where you know again let's be realistic.

I don't see the Green Bay police department going and initiating a criminal investigation um into drug possession by the staff at a facility like this but uh you know we also aren't the only police agency in town um so I can't speak for other agencies that have jurisdiction in our community um but I think a safer way of of doing that is just to require that we that we take it for destruction and I you know we'll have to have some discussions about the details of how that works but I don't even know why we would need to know who it came from just we found this in our facility someplace I think would be sufficient.

We can take it put it in the property room and we send truckloads of drugs off to be safely disposed of.

Okay great so you're comfortable with the amendment that's yeah great yes uh any other comments on the amendment alderaction forgive me mayor but thank you it's not there directly on this amendment but I I feel like it's it's something that needs to be said um that Green Bay has done a lot for the homeless um you know just kind of talking about some of the comments that were made and um we've come a long way um I think there's a lot of um different organizations um not one better than the other they each have their strengths each have their weaknesses so I would like to recognize that and I appreciate all of the organizations for where they fit within our community so I I just felt really strongly that I needed to say that um because I don't want this you know comparison um it's just not helping anything and I do also want to point out something um that was brought up actually I had gone to Ashwaban um when they were they had certain ordinances that they were considering and um they did talk about um homelessness being a regional problem and it is a regional problem and so far um if we look around the cities uh the towns around our area within Brown County Green Bay is the only place that has homeless shelters so yay for Green Bay um and I appreciate

And I do also want to point out something that was brought up.

Actually, I had gone to Ashwaban um when they were they had certain ordinances that they were considering.

And um, they did talk about um homelessness being a regional problem.

And it is a regional problem.

And so far, um if we look around the cities, uh the towns around our area within Brown County, Green Bay is the only place that has homeless shelters.

So, yay for Green Bay.

Um, and I appreciate all of the work that our staff does.

Um Steve and I mean Pete and Jeremy and Josh went on a ride along with them.

I learned a lot.

They're doing just tremendous work.

So I just want to do a shout out to all of our staff and all of the organizations within Green Bay.

And I'm putting out a challenge to the areas in this region to step up.

Thank you.

Thanks, Alder.

Anything else on Alder Grant's amendment?

Alder Press.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh can I just hear the text of the uh amendment again?

Wording.

Elder Grant.

Do you what did do you mind repeating what you said she did this?

I would yeah, be fine with your guidance.

I think Clerk Jeffries maybe has it.

Sure.

Clerk.

So what I have excuse me.

Um essentially giving the couple things you said to amend the pew day to change May work with PDE for drug confiscation to shop.

That's perfect.

Okay.

Right.

Anything else?

Okay.

All right.

Any more discussion on the amendment?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Okay.

Close nay.

Yeah, I have it.

That amendment is adopted.

Motion approved as amended twice over.

Uh Alder Prophet makes a motion to approve this amended, seconded by Elder Delee.

Any discussion on that?

The grant.

I do just want to make one statement to that, you know.

I thank you, Alder Eck, for echoing what our community does.

And I agree.

I am a little disappointed in our surrounding communities for not stepping up the way we have.

Um, you know, I am a little concerned about how people were treated in opposition of this.

I've seen some pretty nasty comments and how people were treated on social media in person, people who express concerns and constructive criticism.

Um, we're not treated very well.

And even the city itself was portrayed pretty negatively when a warning letter was sent versus a citation when we very well could have just sent a citation.

Um, I think when we lead with that, it causes tension immediately.

Um, if that is how this project is going to continue to be, you know, worked together on, I don't feel confident in it.

Um, we need to be able to communicate and hear each other's concerns and not treat each other with disrespect because we have a difference of how this problem can be solved.

Um, thank you, Steph Kuzman, for saying that.

It's not necessarily that people are against helping the homeless population.

Sometimes we have a difference in ideas of how to address it.

That was perfectly said.

And I do believe that you know, a lot of these shelters have rules, not just for getting people back on their feet, but for the safety of the residents and the staff themselves.

If we don't have staff and volunteers able to work at these facilities because of the way they're being treated or their safety, how are any of these places going to be successful?

And I think we all want to see success.

Um I appreciate the amendment of the six-month period.

I do wish it was 90 days.

Um I just I am very concerned that a lot of the you know concerns were treated with disrespect.

And I am nervous about the ability of this organization to you know make this successful in a safe environment for all people.

Thank you.

Anything else?

I'll say one last.

Yeah, Alder Hatcherson.

Um, I think with their guidance document, and if they do go through it in a daily basis and communicate internally.

And I think if there's a dialogue between the city and and safe haven, I think it increases the potential of being successful.

I think we want it all to be successful.

Um, and I think we can take their anchor and settle it down and have it more helpful.

I think we can all come together.

I think as we have, we and make this work.

Those are my final words.

Thanks.

Just one brief comment on the amendment.

I talked to staff about um their recommendation number four first before deciding to add the number seven.

So if at any point within those in the next six months, council, plan commission, um, our development director want to bring it forward before that six months, we all have the capacity to do that.

So that's why I recommended six months.

Cause um, if for some reason someone wants to bring it forward, they have that within their purview according to number four.

So that's why I did six months.

All right, Alder Ritterbush, then Presley.

I just want to touch on Alder Grant's comments.

Uh this came at the most vulnerable time in our city when it was so full that they decided to do what they did.

You know, yeah, they didn't get the permits, but I think we gotta forgive, forget, we gotta look out for the best interest of all of our citizens.

So to pin them in a corner to say that they broke ordinances back in January when it was 30 below zero.

I don't think that's proper to make those kind of comments.

I think they're gonna do a wonderful thing.

I thank them for stepping up.

Every shelter has stepped up, and yeah, we have work to do on our county side to get them to help us.

But I don't think it's right.

I don't think it's fair to to make comments like that that when we're in the most vulnerable time in the winter.

That's all I got to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh yeah, I I'm inspired by the work that this group has done.

Um, and I'm very happy to vote for this CUP.

Um, and I hope it goes through unanimously.

Um, because I think you know, the what Elder Grant and what Steph Guzman said, we all see a need.

Um, and we may have different ideas of how we're going to get there, but like these people saw a need and worked really, really hard and and based it on the passion that they have and then built the expertise behind them and the forces for the fundraising um and for the drafting their their plan um and getting the professionals that they need.

Um the that passion has driven them so far.

Um, and now this is where we can add on to that.

We can give them another thing that they need to drive that passion forward.

Um, I've not seen uh people as passionate as the people who spoke tonight who spoke at the plan commission.

We're at that neighborhood meeting.

There's just a real fire behind this.

Um, and I'm glad that this body has the opportunity to continue to build that fire.

Um, I'll just say as a piece of advice from fundraising perspective.

This is probably the most press you're going to get, unless something goes terribly wrong.

Um so roll that into a fundraising pitch, please.

Get get your funders out there, get that bag.

Um, but yeah, thank you.

Thanks, Alder.

Alder Sheldon.

Yeah, I just I just want to say that I I think I can speak for everybody on this council when I say we want this to be successful.

And I'm really I I think to me, this is what makes our community great is that people step up for each other.

And to echo what Alder Presley said, like that's what this shelter was about.

You can see that and in the passion with which uh so many people came and spoke in support of it.

And I I'm really proud to support this with the amendments.

I think we've had a very good conversation tonight where we've added two really strong amendments that will help ensure that this effort is successful.

So thank you.

Thanks, Alder.

Anything else, Alder Grant?

Just for clarification on Alder Ritterbush's comment.

I did not speak illy about the organization for their actions during the cold temperatures.

I spoke illy of their reaction of when the city said in order to operate like this, you must do it in the correct way, with the a warning letter and explaining how to move forward properly.

Thank you.

Anything else?

Now the motion is to approve is amended.

All people say aye.

Opposed nay.

Yeah, I have it.

And that item has been approved as amended.

Thanks to all for coming and for your advocacy and all the great work.

Um report of the finance committee.

Motion approved.

Motion to approve maybe Alder Profit.

Seconded by Alder Presley.

Uh items to be handled separately.

Five.

Five.

Any others.

I think that's the one.

Yeah.

I think she's good.

Yeah.

Uh any others hearing none others.

All in favor of approving the remainder of that report.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Guys have it.

The report has been approved with the exception of item five.

Uh Alder Hinkfitz.

Thank you.

Um during our our meeting, we had some very robust discussion on this.

And then based on some conversations that I've had with staff, um, I think we should I want to make an amendment that we go ahead and we approve the key.

What is it called?

Cafe.

The key cafe.

Um not understanding during that meeting that this was all kind of goes together with the GPS and everything like that.

If we wait, we cannot do it till January 1st, which we lose six to nine months um of data.

So I want to make an amendment and that we I recommend approval for the key capital.

Just a motion to approve to approve.

Motion to approve maybe by Alder Him, seconded by Elder Profit discussion.

Yeah, Elder Grant.

Uh thank you.

Uh Alder Hempis, you mentioned data on collecting, monitoring it.

I just have a question for staff.

We approved GPS tracking in the vehicles.

What kind of data can we collect from that that's different than this?

I guess I can start.

I'm definitely not the expert with the GPS or key cafe, but the difference is that the GPS is going to collect, I guess, the routes and also it has like a fault code in it so that mechanics know what's wrong with the vehicle.

Um, this is gonna be a scheduling software, which we can't we don't have in the GPS system.

That's what the biggest difference is.

In the GPS system, can we see you know, roughly how often a vehicle is utilized, like 50% of the time or 90% of the time?

I think you could, but what you don't what you can't do is you can't assign the vehicle and you don't know when it's available or not.

That's the biggest difference, the availability of the vehicle.

Okay, and then I guess if any staff want to speak to this because there's many departments here, how many times have you needed a vehicle and there was a shortage besides going to lunch?

Sorry, I didn't mean to say lunch, it wasn't for lunch.

Um, and I I misspoke on that.

So what I would say is I think most departments can say that when they need a vehicle, like police and fire work well together with like uh different vehicles, they usually know who to contact, they know who to call.

And I think some other departments at City Hall don't really have a system to really know what vehicles are available or not.

They just kind of know who to go to and they just hope that vehicle is available.

So if there's any other department that can speak to it, that's just minors.

Well, just uh on that, I mean it it's what we're trying to move to is uh is a situation where there's less of a kind of scarcity mindset, right?

Where every department is kind of siloed off from every other one.

And so, you know, parks needs five vehicles and DPW needs six vehicles, and uh, you know, community economic development needs five, you know, whatever it is, right?

We want to get to a point uh where you have a real shared motor pool and ultimately you could bring down the number of vehicles that you purchase because with the AVL, you're actually tracking how much mileage is going on each one.

And then with the key cafe, you have this motor pool that everybody can go to, uh, and you don't necessarily have to have X vehicles for each department.

So really what we're trying to do is is reduce spending overall with the number of vehicles that that we have within the city.

Sure.

And I do support that.

And I guess that's the reason why I was questioning utilization.

Say a parks department has an SUV that's used 50% of the time, and so does DPW.

Can they come together and say, hey, look, we have two vehicles at 50% of the time.

How can we share these or reduce our stock?

So that's why I'm just wondering if we're accomplishing some overlap in goals.

And like I said at the finance uh committee, I'm not against this idea.

I would just like to see if this is something that's gonna have ongoing expenses and be worked into the budget for the the price that it's at.

I would like to see if it can be worked into the budget.

I understand our ARPA pool is big, but it once it's gone, it's gone.

Um I just know there's a lot of needs within our city.

So that's the only reason.

Again, I'm not against this project.

I just would like a different funding source.

Anything else?

Alder Eck.

And uh thank you, Mira.

I would like to read reiterate what um Alder Grant is saying, and I think that if it's something that's gonna be an ongoing thing, that it should be in the budget.

Um, so I um against referring it to staff, and I would like to have it looked into adding to the budget.

Thank you.

Yeah, and I I appreciate that.

I the the real value though of this fund is that it uh, in my opinion, is that it is outside of the budget.

So it allows for us to respond more nimbly when somebody within a particular department or the organization has an idea to actually make things more efficient.

We don't have to wait for the full fledged budget cycle to play out so we can act more quickly, you know.

Hopefully to create more efficiencies within within the city.

So that's the whole, you know, that's one of the driving reasons behind establishing this in the first place.

Any other comments all in favor will say aye.

Opposed nay?

Yeah, I have it.

That item is approved.

Uh part committee motion approved.

Motion to approve made by elder profit, seconded by elder delay items here to be handled separately.

None.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Oppose nay.

Yeah, I have it.

Personnel.

Motion to approve made by Elder Presley, seconded by Elder Ritterbush.

Any discussion?

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed nay.

The ayes have it.

That report has been approved.

Informational items, building report and municipal court report in your packet.

Resolutions.

Motion to suspend the rules.

Motion to suspend the rules.

Yes.

I was just looking to see.

Yeah, we can't do that.

Oh, uh, we'll just number one.

Yes, motion to adopt number one made by Alder Presley.

Second.

Seconded by Elder Delee.

Discussion on that.

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it.

That resolution.

Oh no, we need a board vote.

Board vote on resolution one.

Yes.

It's approved unanimously.

Resolution two.

Motion to amend to improve condition seven.

That was added.

Motion to approve is amended as reflected earlier in the agenda.

Made by Elder Prophet.

Seconded by Elder Presley.

All in favor will say aye.

Oppose nay.

The ayes have it.

And the resolution is amended.

Motion to adopt as amended.

Motion to adopt is amended.

Made by Elder Prophet.

Um seconded by Elder Hinckfus.

Yes, Alder Debaker on that motion.

Did we not have a second amendment on that resolution?

Right.

So the the amendment was was to amend the resolution to reflect all of the changes that were made earlier on in the process.

Okay, that's everything.

Yeah.

All right, thank you.

Yes.

Uh any other comments?

Seeing none, we'll use the board.

Maybe vote.

All right, and that is passed.

10 to 2.

Adjournment.

Motion to adjourn.

Made by Elder Delee.

Second.

Second by Elder Ritterbush.

All favor say aye.

Second.

Opposed nay.

The ayes have it.

We're adjourned.

Thanks, everyone.