Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
36 issues with high priority
Patrol officer hiring
The Commission screened six Patrol Officer candidate backgrounds: two candidates withdrew, two were removed, and two advanced in the hiring process — part of ongoing police staffing efforts.
New single-family homes on South Broadway
Radue Homes got agreements to build 13 townhomes on the JBS redevelopment site plus three infill houses on S Broadway, adding market-rate owner-occupied housing.
Firefighter candidate retention
Great intern candidates are being lost because the fire department only hires once or twice a year. The Commission president asked HR to find a way to grab good candidates when they appear.
Annual WisDOT Local Road Certification
A routine but required filing: the city must certify its miles of public roadways to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation each year, which affects state road aid.
City Forester nuisance tree authority
The committee approved an ordinance change making fines for cutting down or damaging public trees clearer and potentially costlier — at least $500 per incident, up to the tree's appraised value. It also adds a public webpage notice so people know the rules before they act.
Eaton Heights III subdivision infrastructure dedication
The final payment to Calnin & Goss, LLC closes out the Phase 2 infrastructure package for the JBS Subdivision and Park.
Fire Station 6 remodel
Design work is moving forward on Fire Station 6 upgrades — HVAC, windows, and a new SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) room — to keep firefighters' equipment and working conditions up to standard.
Priority-based budgeting implementation
The city now maps nearly all of its $294 million budget to 385 programs and scores them against council priorities. Departments are reviewing cost-saving ideas from other cities, with 50 flagged for study — savings would likely show up in the 2028 budget, not next year's.
Scoring of affordable housing assistance
The budgeting model ranks affordable housing assistance among the least-aligned programs, which Ald. Proffitt called problematic given the city's growing unhoused population. She argued the scoring assumptions — or the strategic plan itself — may need rethinking.
Solar for Good grant opportunity
The city is pursuing rooftop solar at its east and west side DPW garages (30% federal tax credit, plus 10% extra for the west side's legacy energy community), solar on the JBS urban barn, and a 53-acre solar lease with One Energy on farmland near a WPS substation.
Recycling contamination at Bay Beach Amusement Park
The Commission is spreading recycling education resources — an ABC book for elementary teachers, the Waste Wizard, and the Betterbin barcode app — and plans to revisit trash and recycling receptacles at Bay Beach with suggestions for the parks crew.
Sex offender residency appeals
The board decides where registered sex offenders may live in Green Bay. Three people asked to live at specific addresses; one was denied, two were approved.
Vacant commercial property registration and fees
A new ordinance would make owners of long-vacant commercial buildings register them and pay escalating fees up to $4,000 a year, aiming to reactivate empty storefronts. The Realtors Association says it's a property-rights overreach; sponsors say vacancy shifts costs onto taxpayers and neighbors.
University Avenue commercial rezone
Seven properties on University Avenue were rezoned from General Commercial to Highway Commercial, opening up more intensive commercial uses along the corridor.
Vacant property registration and fee ordinance
The city wants to create a new registration and fee system for vacant commercial buildings, with penalties that follow properties through ownership transfers. Property owners and realtors showed up to oppose it, and the council couldn't reach agreement — it's heading back to committee for rework.
Grandview Industrial Park expansion
The city is spending $140,015 on design and bidding for a new road and utilities at the Grandview Industrial Park, with an industrial developer already in a planning option.
South Grandview Road temporary bridge repairs
The city awarded a $151,571.25 contract to Norcon Corporation for temporary repairs to the S. Grandview Road bridge.
Electric motorcycle fleeing and enforcement trends
Police report a jump in fleeing cases — about a third involve electric motorcycles, often ridden by young riders — plus two September fatal crashes and 13 serious-injury crashes in the third quarter.
Resurrection Lutheran Church accessory building at 1004 Shawano Avenue
The pantry serving families every two minutes wanted a garage-style building for freezer space and weather-protected distribution, but the board couldn't legally justify a 5-foot setback next to a home. The project can't proceed as designed; staff suggested working on alternatives.
Resurrection Lutheran food pantry expansion denied
The pantry serving families every two minutes wanted a garage-style building for freezer space and weather-protected distribution, but the board couldn't legally justify a 5-foot setback next to a home. The project can't proceed as designed; staff suggested working on alternatives.
Three-way stop at Greenbrier and Manitowoc Roads
A pedestrian was hit at this intersection earlier this year, and drivers average 34-35 mph in a 25 mph zone with no sidewalks nearby. The new three-way stop should balance delays and make crossings safer; sidewalk work is complicated because part of the area lies in the Village of Bellevue.
Traffic Calming Policy overhaul
Ald. Delie's detailed critique of the city's 2007 Traffic Calming Policy — which has never produced a single physical calming installation — was referred to staff for review and amendment.
Bay Beach Amusement Park Shoreline Walk
The wildlife viewing platform bid came in over $5 million — far beyond the $1.4 million set aside — so the EPA approved redirecting the full $2.4 million grant to a shoreline trail nearly four times longer, opening public access behind the rides. The platform survives only if bigger grants or a much smaller design emerge.
Construction communication improvements
Commissioner Refsguard found out via the Packers website that Metro would run regular game day service for the Badger game — without Metro being consulted. Better coordination on special event service is needed.
Health of the city's tax increment districts
The city is launching three new tax districts — Velp/Locust, Brook Park and 200 N Monroe — to subsidize nearly 450 new housing units and commercial space. Tax increment from future property taxes will repay developer incentives over the districts' lifetimes.
Global Optics headquarters and warehouse project
Global Optics, a Green Bay company since 1974, plans a $9.7 million headquarters and warehouse building on 8.65 acres of city land. The deal keeps the company in Green Bay and adds 15-18 jobs; the city invests in roads, utilities and stormwater that also open up the rest of its Grandview Industrial Park land for development.
Draft 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan
The city's five-year capital wishlist is on the table — about $90 million recommended for 2027 alone, from fire engines and police radios to street reconstruction and a new Bay Beach maintenance building. Only about $20 million would likely be borrowed; the real borrowing request comes later with the 2027 budget.
Street reconstruction and bridge maintenance funding
The Nitschke Bridge closes June 1-19, Shawn Avenue gets lane closures June 8-12, and a Grandview Road bridge stays closed two to three months pending a re-bid of repairs. Truck traffic will need alternate routes during the Shawn Avenue work.
Fire Department equipment purchases
Firefighters get 30 new thermal imaging cameras now, and the CIP discussion covered replacing aging fire hose (some 30-35 years old), med units, gas detectors with failing charging stations, and phasing in diesel particulate filters that cut station exhaust and cancer risk.
Lead and copper water sampling
The utility is continuing to test drinking water for lead and copper, an ongoing concern for homes with older plumbing. GM Brian Powell reported the latest sampling update to the commission.
Operator's license appeal and application disclosures
A bartender's license denial over an undisclosed old felony got a unanimous recommendation of approval, with members noting a broader problem: people mistakenly think old convictions don't need to be disclosed, and the police are required to deny those applications.
Mayoral Campaign Announcement
Green Bay City Council President Alyssa Proffitt is running for mayor, so the city’s leadership priorities are about to get a lot more airtime. For voters, that means an earlier look at the choices ahead on budgets, services, and development. The announcement alone doesn’t change any city policy or tax.
Police and Fire Department staffing levels
The Commission approved several key promotions, including an Assistant Fire Chief, a Battalion Chief and two Police Sergeants, plus promotional lists for Detective, Lieutenant and Sergeant. These moves shape the leadership of both departments that residents rely on for emergency response.
Tax Incremental District No. 35 (200 N Monroe)
The city created a new TID at 200 N Monroe to finance redevelopment there using future property tax growth within the district. It's a major economic development tool, though it diverts that incremental tax revenue from general city coffers while the district is active.
Irvington Street land-use change to residential
A stretch of Irvington Street properties was changed from future Regional Commercial to Mixed Residential in the city's comprehensive plan — shaping what can be built there.
2025 Justice Assistance Grant acceptance
The city can accept $62,043 in federal JAG money to buy portable police radios at no local cost. But new federal conditions about sharing immigration info with DHS spooked some alders, who wanted to know whether these terms are new and whether they apply beyond the radios before signing on.