Green Bay · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
Public Works financial oversight restructuring
Public Works has been splitting its financial work across multiple divisions, raising the risk of errors and burying oversight in director-level roles. The new Finance and Business Manager position puts all departmental finances — including stormwater, sewer and parking funds — under one person.
Public Works finance oversight consolidation
Public Works has been splitting its financial work across multiple divisions, raising the risk of errors and burying oversight in director-level roles. The new Finance and Business Manager position puts all departmental finances — including stormwater, sewer and parking funds — under one person.
Fair housing enforcement and public services funding
Four nonprofits split about $121,000 in federal block grant money for transportation, youth programs, autism services, and reentry work — but a fifth award to NEWCAP was paused over recent concerns about how the organization handles its resources. That leaves roughly $30,500 unawarded for now.
Revolving loan fund health and delinquent borrower
One borrower that was behind is now current, the city is moving toward foreclosure on the GeneTax Solutions building, and a few newer loans are slightly late on first payments. Staff says it's a timing issue, not a crisis.
Elimination of City Assessor position
The city is cutting its in-house City Assessor job and hiring Forward-Appraisal to handle appraisal work instead.
Bay Beach parking revenue program
Alderperson Eck asked how much the Bay Beach parking program has collected; revenue figures are due next week and there's no set threshold for continuing or ending the program.
West Side Municipal Garage HVAC replacement
The city is spending $80,000 on design work for replacing the aging heating and cooling system at its West Side garage — the first step before construction.
Draft ordinances: overnight parking and second-cart fees
The weekend overnight no-stopping rule downtown is changing on a 90-day trial: most of it goes away, but a stretch near Doty Street gets a new restriction, and the Walnut Street loading zone is reworked. Trial results could make the change permanent.
2026 Budget Amendment for Special Events Overtime
The council amended the 2026 budget to cover unbudgeted overtime for special events.
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.
Agricultural lease rates on city farmland
The city leases about 105 acres of farmland to local farmers while it waits to develop it. Rates go up $20 to $150 per acre — still below state and county averages — with one parcel on a shorter lease because of the coming solar farm.
2027 Business Improvement District operating plans
All four BIDs get new operating plans with modest assessment increases — Downtown's first rate change in 25 years, Broadway's ~5% bump, Military Avenue's first cap raise since 2014. The money funds cleaning, beautification, events, marketing, and business recruitment downtown.
2026 IBEW Local 158 labor agreement
Council approved the city's 2026 labor agreement with IBEW Local 158, covering city electrical workers.
2027 Parking Division rate structure
The council adopted new parking rates for 2027, affecting anyone who parks downtown or at city meters and ramps.
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.
2027 Employee Benefits and Labor Negotiations
Council approved 2027 health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits and directed staff on fire and police labor agreement negotiations.
2027 City Fee Schedule
Next year's citywide fees for permits, licenses and services — including higher commercial building permit fees and a corrected new-construction rate — now head to the Common Council. Most residential fees held steady while commercial fees rose to cover city costs.
2027 Employee Health and Benefits Package
Health premiums rise just 1% — far below the ~13% market rate — because the city switched pharmacy managers and savings plan administrators. Employees could save up to $100 a month on disability coverage thanks to the premium-holiday income continuation plan.
2027 Police and Fire Labor Agreements
Contract talks with both the fire and police unions are underway for 2027. Details were discussed in closed session and not made public.
Mason Manor rent adjustment
At the December 1 contract renewal, rents will move to project-based voucher standards, bringing in about $9,866 more per month (roughly $118,000 a year) without raising what tenants pay.
Responsible bidder threshold increase
An ordinance would raise the city's responsible bidder approval threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, affecting which public works bids get extra scrutiny.
Revolving loan fund reallocation to parks
HUD rules forced the city to move $200,000 out of the business loan fund because early payoffs pushed it over carryover limits. The money goes to park improvements in lower-income neighborhoods instead of new business loans.
2025 Audit Results
The city's 2025 audit came back clean with no findings. Fund balance is healthy at $33.8 million and general obligation debt of about $309 million sits well under the state's 5% cap.
Foreclosure at 1028 9th Street
The RDA will foreclose on a delinquent business loan after the borrower — a tax prep business — stopped communicating and paying in April, owing roughly $195,000 plus back taxes.
Communication process for appointed city members
Ald. Delie's petition would let appointed commission members submit agenda communications, not just alders. The committee sent it to staff for a memo on current onboarding and what neighboring cities do.
City sustainability staffing and funding
The Commission's community engagement work group had planned to recommend adding city staff for sustainability initiatives, but Mayor Genrich said new headcount is very unlikely during budget season. Instead, the Commission will bring staffing needs to him case-by-case.
2027 Employee Insurance Changes
The council set up income continuation insurance for employees starting in 2027 and switched the pharmacy benefits manager to SmithRx and the Family Savings Plan administrator to Associated Bank.
Public Works Traffic Division staffing change
Green Bay is creating a dedicated Traffic Manager to run the Traffic Division, handling traffic calming, signal timing, safety studies, and staffing the Traffic, Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. The pay grade bump makes the job competitive and clears the way to hire.
Innovation and data strategy leadership
A new Lead — Innovation and Data Strategy position in the Mayor's Office will be paid from the Innovation Fund, backing the last year of the Connect Green Bay plan and more public-facing performance data.
Family Savings Plan administrator switch to Associated Bank
The popular Family Savings Plan moves from Network Health to Associated Bank, dropping costly shared-savings payments and cutting administrative costs by about $560,000. Employees get a reimbursement debit card and HSA eligibility with minimal disruption.
Employee disability coverage enhancement
The city is adding state-managed Income Continuation Insurance that gives employees free long-term disability coverage starting January 1, 2027, replacing what workers currently pay for themselves. Each employee saves at least $285 a year, with a short-term option to fill the 7-to-30-day gap if enough employees enroll.
Pharmacy benefits manager transition to SmithRx
The city is switching its pharmacy benefits manager from Optimum to SmithRx, projected to save about $650,000 in year one through better rebate deals and cost controls. Employees keep using the same pharmacies and specialty medication users get personalized transition help.
Citywide Efficiency and Organizational Review
Berry, Dunn, McNeil and Parker LLC was hired to conduct the city's efficiency and organizational review.
Personnel policy Chapter 9 changes
City employee policies were updated on vacation accruals, funeral leave — now including up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave for pregnancy loss — and volunteer time limited to eligible nonprofits in the city. A related referral on leadership-recruiting vacation accruals was tabled.
Fleet replacement for DPW mechanics
Council bought a small fleet's worth of 2026 equipment — dump trucks, two street sweepers, a sewer vacuum truck, a bucket truck, snow gear, and refuse truck bodies.
Citywide fleet GPS tracking expansion
The city will outfit all 552 vehicles and equipment with Precise Telematics GPS tracking, cutting per-unit costs by 10%. It helps with salt usage, liability claims, and maintenance tracking — but adds about $110,000 a year to future budgets.
Paid volunteer day for city employees
Full-time employees get one paid day per year to volunteer, with verification and no carryover. The committee limited it to City of Green Bay charities on a 3-1 vote, so taxpayer-funded time benefits the city itself.
Expanded vacation accrual for city employees
The city is boosting vacation for non-union workers to compete with other municipalities for talent. New hires get three weeks immediately, and everyone gains an extra day every two years. It addresses 78% of turnover coming from employees with under five years.
Volunteer time limited to city charities
The committee approved paid volunteer time for employees but added a restriction — hours can only be served with City of Green Bay charities. One alder objected to the limit.
2026 CDBG and HOME Annual Action Plan
The Authority approved the 2026 plan directing federal CDBG and HOME grant dollars to housing and community development activities.
TID 12 I-43 Industrial Park allocation amendment
The board reviewed a proposed allocation amendment and amended project plan for the 20-year-old I-43 Industrial Park TID. A vote on the amendment is set for July 24, 2026.
TID 12 closure (I-43 Industrial Park)
The Authority amended and then terminated TID 12, the I-43 Industrial Park district, closing out its financing chapter.
TID 12 wind-down and $1.4M shipyard transfer
Up to $1.4 million left over in the closing I-43 Industrial Park TID would go to the shipyard district, helping match a federal grant for the over-budget $12 million shipyard park phase two and cleanup of the old Badger Sheet Metal site.
36-month Cellcom contract
A three-year Cellcom contract was approved after being referred to staff in May — routine telecom procurement.
Employee vacation accrual increase
The city is raising vacation accruals for non-represented employees to better compete for talent, after its 2025 employee survey flagged pay and benefits as the weakest area. 78% of voluntary turnover in the last five years came from employees with under five years of tenure, and staff hope richer vacation slows that.
2025 General Fund Overtime
The committee reviewed how 2025 general fund overtime spending stacked up against the budget and approved the report.
Funeral leave modernization
Employees can now use bereavement days for tasks around a death — handling affairs, travel, family needs — not just the funeral itself. No extra days, just more flexibility.
Public Arts Commission staffing transition
The commission has operated without a coordinator for about eight months but has hired Michelle Diedrich, who starts July 20. Time-sensitive ARPA-funded projects, including a labyrinth at Old North Crossing, need to be completed by year's end.
RLF delinquent loans
Gina's Tax Solutions has stopped communicating and the city is pursuing legal action, while Legacy is behind on all three of its loans after a management change. Staff is working with both to get payments back on track.