Green Bay · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Patrol officer hiring
Two patrol officer candidates were reviewed and both removed from the hiring process, meaning the Police Department continues to search for new officers. Staffing levels for patrols may be affected while recruiting continues.
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.
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.
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.
Grass and weeds abatement charge appeal at 811 Ernst Drive
The city cut long grass and weeds at 811 Ernst Drive and billed the owner $451.54; the owner is appealing. Staff say the work was done per ordinance and recommend denying the appeal.
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.
Lincoln School area signage changes
The Traffic Engineer's recommended sign modifications around Lincoln School were approved, aimed at keeping kids safer around the school.
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.
School pickup congestion at Lincoln Elementary
Cars parking both sides of narrow Caroline Street during pickup are jamming the road, made worse by school consolidation and nearby construction. New signs will restrict parking to one side while allowing quick student loading.
West Side Municipal Garage HVAC improvements
The city hired an engineering firm to design heating and cooling upgrades for the West Side Municipal Garage, the first step of a facility improvement project.
Thermal imaging camera purchase
The city is buying 30 Bullard TXS thermal imaging camera bundles — gear that helps firefighters see through smoke and find people in the dark.
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.
Firefighters grievance (GBPPA Grievance 2026-01) finalized
The committee wrapped up a grievance filed by the Green Bay Firefighters by adopting the official written findings. It stems from a decision made at the September 29 meeting, and the document will be signed and issued, ending the process.
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.
Rewrite of alcohol beverage licensing code
Chapter 4 of the municipal code gets its first full overhaul in years, swapping stipulation agreements for correction meetings and dropping a blanket 24-hour surveillance camera mandate.
Police and Fire Department staffing levels
The fire department expects at least four vacancies by early next year, and the police department is down 15 officers with four retirements coming, leaving roughly 151 deployable officers. Both departments are rolling out new recruitment tactics — farmers markets, Gambler games, rebranding, and possible TV appearances — to fill the ranks.
Police promotional processes (Commander, Captain, Detective)
The police department is running Commander, Captain, and Detective promotional processes with healthy applicant pools for the first two, and the Detective posting just opened. The commission will later approve the selection panels and final picks.
Firefighter intern hiring pipeline
Thirteen former fire department interns never got a shot at applying under the old one-time hiring process. The commission approved giving them first chance through the same Public Safety Answers test and interviews before opening recruitment to the public.
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.