Green Bay Common Council Meeting: Shipyard Funding, Election Update, Park Renaming - August 18, 2026

The Green Bay Common Council met on August 18, 2026, to address a range of items including a $750,000 additional TID allocation for the Shipyard Phase 2 project (offset by a new $2.15 million EPA grant), a detailed election update regarding duplicate ballot incidents in the spring and August primary, and the renaming of Beaverdam Park to MacArthur Family Park. Several routine approvals were passed, and a conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower at 2222 Deckner Avenue was approved after public testimony.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the previous meeting approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Agenda approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Appointments approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Reports from the Redevelopment Authority, Protection and Policy Committee, Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, and Traffic Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission were each approved by unanimous voice vote without separate item discussion.
• Operator licenses report from the Green Bay Police Department approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Item 1 from Improvement and Services Committee (referral to staff regarding overnight on-street parking study) approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Informational items (Building Report for July 2026 and Election Update) were received; no vote taken.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Richard Lardner (316 Blonde Avenue, approximately 230 feet from proposed tower site) spoke against the conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower at 2222 Deckner Avenue. He expressed concerns about RF radiation exposure, lack of independent monitoring, unclear safe distance standards, tower fall zone risks to adjacent residential properties and school fields, loss of property value, and visual blight. He noted his prior opposition to towers installed in 2012 and questioned the council's knowledge of RF radiation before approving the conditional use permit at the July 27 Plan Commission meeting.
• No speakers were present for the two scheduled public hearings: partial closure of the 700 block of Oeasy Street (SC26-01) and amendment of future land use at the 600 block of Woodside Road (CPA26-03). The clerk noted no one was present for either hearing.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Report: The Mayor announced the upcoming Art Fest weekend and encouraged volunteer support. He requested council support for staffing a lead innovation and data strategy position in the Mayor's office, part of the "Connect Green Bay" three-year data strategy plan now in its second year. He also introduced the Shipyard project item, noting that Director Ditchite would provide details and that this would likely be the last funding request for public improvements at that site. On Agenda Item K4 (renaming Beaverdam Park), the Mayor offered a friendly amendment to recognize Arthur MacArthur Jr. (Douglas MacArthur's father and Medal of Honor recipient from Wisconsin) alongside Douglas, suggesting the name "MacArthur Family Park."
• Improvement and Services Committee – Item 11 (Shipyard Phase 2 Contract): Alder Eck moved to amend the motion to approve the contract award to A Pine Inc. for $11,668,826.70 (base bid plus alternates 1, 2, and 5) subject to council approval of an additional $750,000 TID 22 funding. Director Ditchite explained that an EPA grant of $2.15 million was received that day, allowing the full project scope including a dog park, sports lighting, and bollards, plus a 10% construction contingency and consultant for construction observation. The city must provide matching funds; the $750,000 is the remaining match needed to reach the total $7.15 million in grants requiring a 50-50 match. The amendment and the amended motion were both approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Plan Commission – Item 2 (Conditional Use Permit at 2222 Deckner Ave): After public testimony, the council discussed the cell tower proposal. Alder Prophet noted that the city's local authority is limited due to federal rules, and that staff responses to questions about RF emissions and fall zone were not fully satisfactory. He indicated he would continue to look into the concerns but acknowledged the council could not deny the application. The motion to approve passed by unanimous voice vote.
• Plan Commission – Items 7 and 8 (Irvington Street Rezoning and Conditional Use): Alder Eck read a prepared statement explaining that the rezoning of east-facing parcels on Irvington Street from commercial C1 to office residential OR, and the conditional use permit for existing homes, aim to balance near-term neighborhood stability with long-term redevelopment potential for Military Avenue. He encouraged developers to bring forward proposals that align with corridor revitalization goals. Both items were approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Park Committee – Item 4 (Renaming Beaverdam Park): Alder Eck, after consulting with the MacArthur Heights Neighborhood Association president, moved to amend the name to "MacArthur Family Park" to honor both Arthur MacArthur Jr. and Douglas MacArthur. The amendment and the motion as amended were both approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Election Update (Informational): Attorney Cochart and Clerk Menke presented a detailed report on duplicate ballot incidents in the March 2026 spring election and the August 2026 partisan primary. In March, 152 duplicate ballots were sent due to a printing error by former Clerk Jeffries; in June/early August primary, 244 duplicate ballots were sent (out of over 5,000 requests) from a different batch. Both incidents were identified quickly, and no duplicate ballots were counted at Central Count due to enhanced verification procedures. A new multi-step reprinting procedure has been implemented for the November election. Clerk Menke reported that the August primary had 19,547 ballots (up from 18,566 in 2024) with results delivered to Brown County by 9:07 PM. The city will need approximately 500 poll workers for November. Council members expressed support for former Clerk Jeffries and confidence in the security of Green Bay elections.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes and Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Appointments: Approved unanimously.
• Ordinances (Second Reading): Items 1-3 (miscellaneous ordinances) adopted unanimously (11-1 on one item? The transcript says "11 to 1" but then says "adopted unanimously” – likely a transcription error; the vote was unanimous with one member perhaps absent or marked differently; the final call was “the ayes have it” for adoption). Item K4 (miscellaneous ordinance 04-26) was held over to the September 15, 2026 meeting by a motion from Alder Hutchison, seconded by Alder Hinkfus, approved unanimously.
• Shipyard Phase 2 Contract: Approved as amended to $11,668,826.70 for base bid plus alternates 1, 2, and 5, subject to council approval of $750,000 additional TID 22 funding. Motion carried unanimously.
• Conditional Use Permit (Cell Tower at 2222 Deckner Ave): Approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Irvington Street Rezoning and Conditional Use (Items 7 & 8): Both approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Park Renaming: Beaverdam Park renamed to MacArthur Family Park, approved unanimously.
• Committee of the Whole: Approved additional $750,000 in TID 22 funding for Shipyard Phase 2, by unanimous voice vote.
• Resolutions: Suspension of rules and adoption of all resolutions approved unanimously.
• Ordinances (First Reading): Items 1,2,4,5,6 advanced to second reading by unanimous voice vote. Item 3 (zoning ordinance with scrivener error) was amended and advanced as amended by unanimous voice vote.
• Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously.