Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in De Pere, WI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Home Improvement Loan Program
Homeowners can now use the city's home improvement loan program for lead hazard fixes. The Health Department has mapped qualifying homes and will spread the word.
Weights and measures coverage after code enforcer resignation
The code enforcer who helped with fuel pump and scale inspections resigned in April. The health department is exploring contracting with an outside firm to keep those consumer-protection inspections going.
Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust v. City of De Pere
The council approved the Law Department's recommended action in the Walmart Real Estate lawsuit — details stayed out of open session.
2025 City Audit Results
The city earned a clean audit again. Its rainy-day fund is at $10.6 million — 46.7% of annual spending, way above the standard 15-25% band — and staff plans to spend some down, mostly on one-time capital items, as the 2027 budget is built. The water utility is slowly recovering thanks to the 2024 rate case.
Beer garden revenue allocation
About $81,000 in past beer garden revenue will be spread across several park projects — roofs on both sides of the river, soccer goals, outdoor hockey rink kits, and an epoxy floor — rather than one big project.
Community Service Grant program transition
The small-grants program that has funded Eagle Scout projects, Riverwalk beautification, and similar efforts is getting new rules: De Pere-based applicants or in-city projects, preference for first-timers, and a shift to one annual award round of up to five $600 grants starting in 2027.
24/7 AI assistant for city questions
The city is contracting with Polimorphic for an AI service that answers common questions by phone, text, or web chat around the clock, in up to 30 languages. It should cut repetitive calls to on-call staff, and the city can cancel if it underperforms.
Stormwater fee shift to commercial properties
The city is updating how it calculates stormwater fees using modern GIS instead of 2005-era estimates. Homeowners see no change; big commercial and industrial parcels will pay roughly $1,000 more per million square feet of building.
De Pere Ice Arena finances and lease
The fourth amendment to the Brown County Ice Management lease adds weekly open skates October–February and shifts sponsorship/advertising leadership to the City. St. Norbert College hockey was dropped from the advisory board because it no longer uses the facility.
Property assessment process change to every-other-year revaluations
The new four-year assessor contract moves De Pere from annual full revaluations to every-other-year updates with maintenance years between. Residents may see bigger jumps in reassessment years, and alderpersons flagged state compliance questions.