Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in De Pere, WI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
8 issues in taxes budget with low priority
Board of Review stipend increase
Citizen members of the Board of Review — the only compensated city board — will get their stipend raised from $35 to $85 per half-day session, or $150 for a full day, to reflect the going rate in other communities.
Property tax rescission on St. Norbert College parcel
The appraiser failed to remove a tax-exempt college parcel from the 2025 roll, so St. Norbert paid $2,637.02 it didn't owe. The committee approved the refund under the state's palpable error statute.
Youth Commission liaison term change
The city is changing the De Pere Youth Commission's alderperson liaison from a three-year term to a one-year term to match how other alderperson appointments work. Staff will also sweep other boards for similar inconsistencies.
Municipal code amendments on appointments and permit appeals
Code cleanups let the mayor appoint the youth commission liaison like other board appointments, add DNR-required waste collection language, and route food truck and solicitor permit appeals to the License Committee instead of the full council.
New city website provider (Govstack)
The current website provider is exiting, so the city is switching to Govstack for $15,204. Ald. Hansen got assurance the popular design will carry over in improved form.
Forte payment processing for beer gardens and pools
The city was considering the Forte merchant-services platform with a service fee model for beer garden and pool payments — affecting how residents pay at those facilities.
New consent agenda format
A redesigned agenda bundles routine items into one vote to save five to ten minutes per meeting, with a cleaner layout for residents. Anything potentially controversial gets pulled to new business, and any council member can move an item off consent by majority vote.
Termination of grant consulting contract with MSA Professional Services
The city paid a consultant to hunt for grants but got little value — mostly notices staff already received. Ending the contract saves money, and staff say grant opportunities still reach the right departments. If a major grant needs professional grant-writing, they'll hire help per-project.