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Record of Proceedings

Green Bay Common Council Meeting - September 15, 2026

Common Council — Tuesday, September 15, 2026

BodyGreen Bay, Wisconsin

SessionCommon Council

DateTuesday, September 15, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:04:11

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

4:15

Called order.

4:17

The meeting of our common council for Tuesday, September fifteenth, twenty twenty-six.

4:20

Clerk.

4:25

Now please rise for the pledge of link and remain standing for an invocation.

4:57

May our words and actions reflect the unity we strive for.

5:01

Amen.

5:03

Thank you, Alder.

5:06

Approval of the minutes.

5:09

Motion to approve by Elder Delee.

5:11

Second by Elder Ritterbush.

5:12

Any changes here?

5:14

Seeing none.

5:15

All in favor say aye.

5:16

Aye.

5:16

Oppose nay.

5:17

The ayes have it.

5:18

The minutes are approved.

5:20

Approval of the agenda.

5:21

Motion to approve made by Alder Presley, seconded by Alder Orlovsky.

5:25

Any amendments here?

5:28

Seeing none.

5:28

All in favor say aye.

5:30

Aye.

5:30

Oppose nay.

5:31

The ayes have it.

5:32

And that report has been approved.

5:34

Or I'm sorry, the uh agenda has been approved.

5:37

Report by the mayor.

5:38

Um, just uh a couple quick notes.

5:40

We've got a few items here related to uh the fire station, new fire station and the apartment development that's associated with it.

5:47

So, of course, asking for your approval on those items, and then just really wanted to thank our fire chief and his team for all the work that they've put into this project.

5:56

Our deputy director, uh, Matt Buchanan has spent a long, long time figuring out the uh the capital sp stack in particular, along with uh General Capital, who's been a great partner as uh developer on this project.

6:10

Uh attorney Kochart has spent a lot of time on this one as well.

6:14

Um it's just it's a great project, both on the private apartment side of things and then meeting the needs of uh our fire department, um, which is desperately in need of of new facilities, and I think what has been proposed here really does justice to to what's necessary there, but also you know, just special recognition to Chief Featon and his team for for being flexible all the way through and um being willing to value engineer when when necessary to meet the needs of the department, but the the city as well.

6:43

Um so just kudos and and thanks to everybody involved in asking for support of council on that.

6:49

Um with that we'll move along to announcements from council.

6:55

Any announcements going once, going twice?

7:00

Appointments.

7:03

Alder Prophet makes motion to approve the appointments, uh the new appointments so seconded by Alder Delee.

7:09

Any discussion there?

7:12

Seeing none, all in paper say aye.

7:14

Aye.

7:15

The ayes have it, uh reappointments.

7:19

Motion to approve, made by Alder Presley.

7:22

Seconded by was it Shelton?

7:24

Alder Shelton, any discussion here?

7:26

Seeing none, all in favor say aye.

7:28

Aye.

7:29

Plose nay.

7:30

The ayes have it, those reappointments are made.

7:33

Then we have something a little new for you.

7:35

Um, so it's a water commission election.

7:38

We've been handling these as appointments um until this one here, but after a review of state statute, um, it's it's clear that there needs to be a slightly different process.

7:48

So I'm just gonna read the the language here since it's our first time through.

7:52

But the City of Green Bay Water Commission consists of seven commissioners who are elected by council for a seven-year term.

7:56

The current position is held by Thomas Carmen, who has indicated his intent to seek a re-election.

8:01

The term will run through October 2033.

8:04

As this is an elected position, the city will entertain a motion for any other candidates.

8:09

So I will entertain a motion for any candidates who might be interested in this position that we are unaware of.

8:19

Any nominations?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████46%

Procedural██████████████████18%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%

Water And Wastewater Management███████7%

Public Safety██████6%

Arts And Culture██████6%

Licensing And Permits███3%

Affordable Housing██2%

Public Engagement██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Green Bay Common Council Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Green Bay Common Council met on September 15, 2026, to consider a variety of items including public hearings on road vacations and a comprehensive plan amendment, committee reports, and several ordinances. Key decisions included a vote to deny a road vacation request, approval of a comprehensive plan amendment, and approval of a public art sculpture for a development.

Consent Calendar

Approval of minutes, agenda, appointments, reappointments, and the water commission election (Thomas Carmen elected) were all approved unanimously.
Reports from the Redevelopment Authority, Improvement and Services Committee, Protection and Policy Committee (with item 6 held), Police Department operator licenses, Finance Committee, Public Arts Commission, and Traffic Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission were approved with no dissent.
Resolutions were adopted unanimously under a single roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public hearing on vacating a portion of unimproved South Chestnut Avenue: No speakers.
Public hearing on removing future road between Sussex Road and Future Durham Road: Brad Reimer (Vierbicher) spoke in favor, explaining the 3.29-acre parcel, a neighborhood meeting with no opposition, drainage concerns, and the high cost of road construction. A resident on Scottwood Drive spoke via Zoom in favor, citing increased water runoff from development. Property owners Mai Chong and Jack Ying spoke in favor, describing their desire to build a home on higher ground for family and garden. No opposition was voiced.
Public hearing on amending the Go Big Green Bay 2050 comprehensive plan for 3290 Humboldt Road: Brad Reimer spoke for applicant Steve Bead, outlining a mixed residential development with townhomes, condos, and single-family lots. He noted a neighborhood mailing with no attendees. Staff clarified this is a policy step before a formal rezone.

Discussion Items

Mayor's Report: Mayor thanked the fire chief, deputy director Matt Buchanan, and developer General Capital for work on the new fire station and associated apartment development, asking for council support.
Water Commission Election: Alder Morgan spoke in favor of Thomas Carmen's re-election, citing his asset to the board. Carmen was elected unanimously.
Ordinance Second Reading – Item 4 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment): Alder Grant moved to hold the item until October 20, citing feedback from neighbors and the existence of a formal plan. Staff stated no formal plan was submitted and argued the comp plan amendment is a policy direction. Motion to hold failed 5–7. Motion to adopt passed 8–4.
Plan Commission Item 5 (Road Vacation): Alder Grant motioned to approve, noting the property owner's desire to build, neighborhood support, and water issues. Staff recommended denial, citing long-term planning and lost development potential. Several alders debated; Alder Grant argued the three-acre parcel is not a major development. Motion to approve failed 5–7. A motion to deny was made and passed.
Plan Commission Item 6 (Referral): Motion to refer back to staff at Director Renier Wick's request, passed.
Committee Item 1 (Dead Trees on Nicolay Drive): Eric Rakers spoke in favor of action, describing dead ash trees overhanging a county highway with 8,500 cars daily, and a tree that hit a car. Motion to refer to staff passed.
Committee Item 4 (Public Art Sculpture): Alder Morgan questioned the $90,000 cost, suggesting alternative uses. Staff clarified the developer is required to spend at least $80,000 on public art, and the sculpture is an original piece commissioned with community input. Motion to approve passed.

Key Outcomes

Road Vacation (Plan Commission Item 5): Motion to approve failed (5–7). Motion to deny passed.
Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Ordinance Item 4): Motion to hold failed (5–7). Motion to adopt passed (8–4).
Public Art Sculpture: Approved.
Dead Trees Referral: Approved.
All other items were approved as part of consent agendas or committee reports.
Zoning Ordinance 1026 advanced to second reading; items 2–6 from first reading were referred back to staff.

Meeting Transcript

Called order. The meeting of our common council for Tuesday, September fifteenth, twenty twenty-six. Clerk. Now please rise for the pledge of link and remain standing for an invocation. May our words and actions reflect the unity we strive for. Amen. Thank you, Alder. Approval of the minutes. Motion to approve by Elder Delee. Second by Elder Ritterbush. Any changes here? Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. The ayes have it. The minutes are approved. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve made by Alder Presley, seconded by Alder Orlovsky. Any amendments here? Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose nay. The ayes have it. And that report has been approved. Or I'm sorry, the uh agenda has been approved. Report by the mayor. Um, just uh a couple quick notes. We've got a few items here related to uh the fire station, new fire station and the apartment development that's associated with it. So, of course, asking for your approval on those items, and then just really wanted to thank our fire chief and his team for all the work that they've put into this project. Our deputy director, uh, Matt Buchanan has spent a long, long time figuring out the uh the capital sp stack in particular, along with uh General Capital, who's been a great partner as uh developer on this project. Uh attorney Kochart has spent a lot of time on this one as well. Um it's just it's a great project, both on the private apartment side of things and then meeting the needs of uh our fire department, um, which is desperately in need of of new facilities, and I think what has been proposed here really does justice to to what's necessary there, but also you know, just special recognition to Chief Featon and his team for for being flexible all the way through and um being willing to value engineer when when necessary to meet the needs of the department, but the the city as well. Um so just kudos and and thanks to everybody involved in asking for support of council on that. Um with that we'll move along to announcements from council. Any announcements going once, going twice? Appointments. Alder Prophet makes motion to approve the appointments, uh the new appointments so seconded by Alder Delee. Any discussion there? Seeing none, all in paper say aye. Aye. The ayes have it, uh reappointments. Motion to approve, made by Alder Presley. Seconded by was it Shelton? Alder Shelton, any discussion here? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Plose nay. The ayes have it, those reappointments are made.

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