Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in De Pere, WI public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with medium priority
Business Improvement District 2027 operating plan
The plan sets how downtown properties are assessed ($2 per $1,000, $3,000 cap) and how roughly $166,000 is spent on downtown promotions, events, and visitor tracking. The budget is up about 7% from 2025.
One Barrel Brewing retail license
One Barrel Brewing Company at 303 Reid Street received approval for a full-service retail sales license, supporting its downtown taproom operations.
Youth recreation project planning (skate park, ice rink, and other concepts)
The Signature Project subcommittee is discussing a possible skate park and ice rink, and Parks Department staff plan to visit a future meeting to hear teen ideas — including foot golf and a kickball tournament.
Refurbishing Wisconsin Historical Society markers
The new historic/information kiosk sign for the De Pere Lock and Dam Historic District is now installed on the Riverwalk. It was approved by the DNR and the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway and matches the look of the city's other historic district signs.
CLG subgrant for 405 S Wisconsin St
The commission wants to designate up to six local properties on state/federal historic registries, but funding was unavailable until July 2027, making the process competitive. Three property owners got letters of interest in August and none has responded, so outreach may need a second try.
Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendments
Two proposed map changes would re-designate land for multi-family residential — one on Chicago Street and one on North Ashland Avenue — signaling where housing could be built.
Downtown housing growth goal
Rezoning to RM-2 clears the way for an 82-84 unit apartment building near Southbridge Road.
Downtown walking tour expansion
A joint project with Downtown De Pere to refresh the historic downtown walking tour on their website. Work is just getting underway now that summer business activity is slowing down.
Workforce Housing Near Humana
Two WHEDA applications — a 42-unit senior housing project near Chicago Street and cottage-style workforce housing on North Ashland — advanced with comp plan amendments, though neighbors raised concerns about density and property values.
Bellmark Plant 7 expansion zoning
Belmark, which took over a warehouse site originally planned for Bedford Paper, keeps expanding. The amendment extends its original deal — roughly $1.1 million in pay-go and land assistance over about 14 years — against an estimated $8.8 million increase in building value.
Street tree requirements in new subdivisions
New subdivisions will have to include street trees, with a fee letting the city plant them so the urban canopy is even and healthy instead of patchy. Alderperson Hansen has pushed this for years.
Downtown shipping container conditional use
A downtown developer wants to use a shipping container as a food-and-beer venue behind Pasquale's and the future Nicolet Aleworks. Commissioners are wary of bare containers but intrigued enough to have staff draft design rules for a future vote.
De Pere Parking Garage final payment
New parking rules for the rebuilt Williams Street and Wisconsin Avenue area — three-hour parking, a hotel loading zone, and restrictions in the Bungalows subdivision — plus a new stop sign at Preserve Court and Employers Boulevard.
Main Avenue slope design
The city had to pick how to fix the weedy, unmowable slope by the railroad bridge on Main Avenue as part of the upcoming DOT project. Prairie plantings won out over half-a-million-dollar concrete — cheaper, prettier, and what most nearby residents wanted.
2535 Lawrence Drive land acquisition
The Redevelopment Authority is moving to buy the GG Rebuilders property at 2535 Lawrence Drive, tied to a condemnation process, for up to $440,000. The Common Council still has to give final approval before the deal closes.
NFL Alumni Youth Football Camp at VFW Park
A Packers-affiliated youth football camp for kids ages 6-14 will use VFW Park's field and shelter in June 2027 after losing its St. Norbert College site. The city earns a share of registration fees and the camp still needs a legal agreement and council approval.
City Government Restructuring
A commissioner proposed the city create a dedicated sustainability coordinator position, noting much of the workload falls on staff whose jobs it isn't. It would have to wait for the 2028 budget cycle, with a case statement and peer-city research from Green Bay to support it.
Compost reimbursement program sustainability
The city's composting reimbursement program has grown to about 24 active properties, with nearly all participants requesting their reimbursements. Members think more promotion could grow it further.
Stormwater recognition and Wisconsin Stormwater Week
Stormwater Week runs September 19-27 with social media pushes and a mayoral proclamation. Commissioners want to do more — email campaigns to Adopt-a-Drain participants, yard signs, and possibly billboards — to grow the program.
Native gardens and planned natural landscapes in city parks
The commission reviewed proposed pollinator garden locations at four city parks and praised the native grasses and flowering plants going into city roundabouts. Emily Castellanos continues working with the Conservation Corps on planting projects.
Sanitary Lateral Replacement Program Changes
The city is scaling back its generous lateral replacement program: instead of paying 100% for pipe bursting during street projects, residents will get a 50% match for work beyond the right-of-way. The city will also cover risers tied to deep sewer mains, and plans outreach to encourage participation.
Pedestrian Safety at Flicker and Red Wing
A resident asked for a stop sign near a popular new playground, but traffic counts were too low to warrant it. The board asked staff to take another look at a yield sign or crosswalk solution.
Business park development agreement with NSN Real Estate
Two new development agreements — Jim Cornell Plumbing and Bliffert De Pere Holdings — advance business park growth and the local tax base.
Carney Park playground surfacing replacement
Volunteer Park gets turf surfacing, Carney Park will be rebid after a lone expensive tile bid was rejected — part of the city's ongoing playground safety upgrades.
Sister Cities youth leadership opportunities
De Pere Sister Cities wants to expand teen participation, including starting a club at West De Pere High School to match East's, plus opportunities like the 2027 Youth Leadership Summit and a global art and writing competition.
Voyageur Dock replacement
The council awarded two park contracts — a $231,139 Wilson Park project and a $221,577 Voyageur dock replacement — partially funded from unassigned reserves. A new Nelson family pledge of up to $25,000 will reduce the reserve hit for Wilson Park.
Volunteer Park recognition sign and project progress
The new Waterview Heights park is named 'Volunteer Park' after the De Pere-area Civil War volunteers of Company F, the 14th Wisconsin Regiment's 'De Pere Rifles.' A plaque will explain the history, and a Lee Recreation playground is coming.
Grant Street railroad crossing disrepair
Residents have complained about the rough railroad crossing on Grant Street. CN Railroad hasn't responded to repair requests since February; if the railroad keeps ignoring the city, the council could refer the matter to the state Office of the Commissioner of Railroads, which can force action.
Operator license denials appealed by bartenders
Two bartenders whose operator licenses were denied over past offenses — misdemeanors for Sandra Rodriguez and three OWIs for Chelsea Cure — appealed in person and were approved unanimously. Their cases now head to the Common Council.
Pedestrian beacons on Broadway
Flashing crosswalk beacons are planned at Broadway & Randall and Broadway & Cass in the 2027 budget, targeting two of the toughest four-lane crossings downtown near a bus stop and Fox River Trail access.
New yard waste site opening June 1
The new fenced, code-access yard waste site is residents-only, and the board confirmed it stays that way after a landlord complained. Non-resident property owners can still use curbside brush and yard waste pickups.
Regional food truck fire inspections
De Pere joins a Fox Valley coalition where food trucks get one standardized NFPA fire inspection and a sticker honored across the region — saving city inspectors time and easing vendor frustration. Health department inspections are unaffected.
Mobius after-school childcare facility TIF grant
The city will give MTR Brothers $90,000 to support converting the former Destiny Church at 411 Destiny Drive into the Mobius after-school and childcare program — addressing a real childcare need, including summer programming. The property, previously tax-exempt, will now generate about $30,000 a year in taxes.
Downtown parking garage rates
The new downtown parking garage will charge monthly reserved stalls at $95, daytime non-reserved at $50, plus hourly rates with daily maximums and a special-event pay-on-entry option. Half the 224 stalls are committed nightly to the Marriott hotel and the 550 William Street project, and those tenants pay the same public rates.
Element Properties expansion at 2081 Profit Place
Element Properties gets a $55,000 cash grant to complete an expansion that rising construction costs had threatened, adding roughly $450,000 in assessed value to the South Bridge Business Park area.
2026 Fox-Wolf IMPACT Award for De Pere water quality work
The city — Public Works plus the Sustainability Commission — was anonymously nominated for an award recognizing water quality efforts like pond sweeping and Adopt-a-Drain outreach. The ceremony is October 1st, with the award presented at the October Common Council meeting.
Trellis Drive subdivision (37 lots in Ledgeview)
The council approved an extraterritorial preliminary plat for a 37-lot residential subdivision at 4546 Trellis Drive in the Ledgeview area, adding future housing options in the greater De Pere growth area.
Trellis Drive subdivision in Ledgeview
The council approved an extraterritorial preliminary plat for a 37-lot residential subdivision at 4546 Trellis Drive in the Ledgeview area, adding future housing options in the greater De Pere growth area.
Ice Arena flooring replacement
The ice arena gets new flooring for $149,490.70, with youth hockey families raising $50,000 and the arena fund temporarily dipping to zero until fall revenues return.
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.
Multifamily housing at 2108 Lawrence Drive
Rezoning to RM-2 clears the way for an 82-84 unit apartment building near Southbridge Road.
Fox Point Boat Launch repairs
About $14,276 from reserves will fix the boat launch and its restroom roof — good news for anglers and boaters.
Shared animal response services with Howard (CART)
De Pere and the Village of Howard will share Citizen Animal Response Team (CART) services under a new intergovernmental agreement. That means coordinated volunteer help for animal emergencies across both communities.
South Broadway resurfacing and potential bike lane
The DOT is resurfacing South Broadway next year, and Alderperson Hansen wants the city to ask about extending a bike lane from Merrill Street to Bomier Street. Staff will check with the state and report back.
De Pere Canopy Growth Plan
The commission is exploring how to grow the city's tree canopy, but the forestry department is already maxed out with ash tree removals. Ideas on the table include tree giveaways, hiring Green Bay's sustainability corps crew, or volunteer plantings — with watering and upkeep the biggest hurdle.
June 2026 Zoning Code Amendments
Annual technical updates to the zoning code: multifamily setbacks, a new 'pay-loan deposit business' category, egress windows, EV charging placement near building entrances, home-business rules, rooftop HVAC, street trees, fences and signs.
Declining childhood vaccination rates
Alderperson Hansen raised media reports of falling childhood vaccination rates; the health department confirmed De Pere mirrors the statewide trend and is responding with public messaging and provider connections.
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.
State transportation fund sustainability
De Pere joined the call for a long-term, sustainable fix to Wisconsin's transportation fund — a signal to Madison that local road needs aren't being met.
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.