[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270183,"mediaKeyId","3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363","parentId",3038315,"title","Council authorizes removal of St. John’s Park playground equipment and calls for master plan","audioSeconds",238,"startMs",10611000,"endMs",10849000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363&start=10611&end=10849","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363/thumbnail_10611000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270183/Green-Bay/Brown-County/Wisconsin/Council-authorizes-removal-of-St-Johns-Park-playground-equipment-and-calls-for-master-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270183-4cbda039e960d362f2db574134d99397/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022300&Signature=KwUWPhhcFd-lKKE2Ps03yg1ZisCoAgWt2TrIkCLnaGt30r3vFG9TOcHXkjN4MbjlZvbd7ezSJASZfW2PRg9ufhZvtHBrNh4ithkoLfSagWfOU05ZAaMLEiyoHBolJVS86K7uggMz4MdY7fqb7eOfilmalZor3dNmw2~0GbNvPK13PlgMrgsqom8cPsknMsp5fJu8TyhBW-3Rt3v4O6MXmxtirVj0ePIP8Q~9yPpLCk0Uva-~HykKF17XdRrPPawkIUcH2TF2ROBVuHJSTgkl1zEHtze8ITwndAxJj0qP2y8~4j~zUAy9i52v4kufRUzYz9HYh39yFKGiBZDAIM9H~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Green Bay, WI","date","2025-04-17T14:15:52.607Z","article","The Common Council voted April 15 to remove the oldest playground equipment at St. John’s Park and to refer the park to staff for master‑planning work.

Parks staff said the equipment dates to 1994 and would require an immediate investment (estimated $2,000–$3,000) in engineered wood chips plus ongoing inspections and repairs to remain a safe playground. Council members and staff described persistent disorder at the park — including camping, discarded personal belongings and periodic criminal behavior — that has limited use by neighborhood families. Police and parks staff outlined continuing outreach and enforcement steps, and the mayor noted weekly park cleanups and coordinated homeless outreach and placement work that has helped place several chronically unhoused people into housing.

Public commenters said the park is still important to families and urged the city to repair and maintain play space rather than remove it. Parks staff and police said a master plan will examine long‑term use, safety, maintenance and whether a community playground remains the best fit for that location. The council approved removal, citing the need for a coordinated plan and the park’s current condition; the motion also directed staff to develop a master plan and to consider funding and timing for any replacement amenities.

What happens next: Parks will draft a master plan and present recommendations on park use, amenities and funding options. Meanwhile the city will continue weekly park cleanups and outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council 4-15-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved removal of aging playground equipment at St. John’s Park and directed staff to prepare a park master plan, citing chronic disorder, maintenance needs and ongoing homelessness outreach work in the area.","taxTitle","Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin","taxId",2853,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270188,"Council orders informational tax‑bill line showing Green Bay levy tied to private school vouchers",3565,5166000,8731000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363&start=5166&end=8731","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363/thumbnail_5166000.jpg","/articles/6270188/Green-Bay/Brown-County/Wisconsin/Council-orders-informational-taxbill-line-showing-Green-Bay-levy-tied-to-private-school-vouchers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270188-aef36740180a5be9db241c1c0e128497/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022300&Signature=Kt70Mhqk6IOm4o9alVLgcK9z7fHx6Vxpaa8neZ~Ix0tQf2bqxcJKadvHN5Jd5Wred888Tk7lIC6~PNd8r5GIjYGd-~lHJMsM8cqJFM23vD-X2D55Yt-5J2YSi9hpNU~4~As4caBUrXk3WpBQiK2OM-BrhABS54fUgMZk-zwMEppxci-gvujqB2mmTtYp037MJp8COQvPLv7yw9bJ1sQFI-ZXoX9EPZpPpHjFFDbUNvOChJ0l2g9QmRFUdqS~~w8BT4-xyhWEkrnfBDmm8dLw0KEyyyOdyLy~z2-IDve4lB6VqumOSNILSiCX4EQAvFrhkOQmNs4K9rlOQxBTImJdOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Green Bay Common Council voted April 15 to add an informational line to the City of Green Bay property tax bill showing the dollar amount of the municipal levy that the Green Bay Area Public Schools identifies as funding private‑school voucher payments.

Council members heard more than an hour of public testimony from business leaders, school representatives, parents and residents. Speakers were divided: some argued the line promotes transparency and helps taxpayers understand how local levies are allocated; others warned the change could be misleading given the complexity of school finance and urged the council to push for state‑level “decoupling” instead (moving voucher payments fully to state funding rather than local levies).

What the bill will show: The council adopted a staff‑sourced informational sentence stating the city‑level levy amount for vouchers. At the time of the vote the figure provided to council staff by the school district for the City of Green Bay levy was $8,991,023.65; the council directed staff to include the information with the caveat that the number will change annually and that the school district is the source of the number.

Why it matters: Citizens, council members and school officials said they want clearer information about how local levies relate to school funding flows. Supporters said adding a single line will help residents who examine only the tax bill; opponents said the property tax bill is not a place to explain the full and complex mechanics of school finance and recommended pursuing reform at the state level (decoupling) or expanded explanatory material on district websites.

Council action and votes: After debate the council approved the informational tax‑bill line by a 7–6 vote. Several council members said they supported the measure as a limited, factual disclosure while continuing to pursue broader state and district‑level discussions on school finance and voucher policy.

Next steps: City staff will add the line (using the school district’s published figure for the levy attributable to vouchers) to the informational portion of the city property tax bill. The council and several speakers said they will continue outreach to state legislators about decoupling and clearer statewide accounting for school funding flows.","After extensive public testimony and discussion, the Common Council voted 7–6 to add an informational line on city property tax bills indicating the portion of the Green Bay Area Public Schools levy that is associated with private‑school voucher payments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270193,"Council doubles hourly ramp rates for three draft days to cover staffing and security costs",460,2501000,2961000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363&start=2501&end=2961","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363/thumbnail_2501000.jpg","/articles/6270193/Green-Bay/Brown-County/Wisconsin/Council-doubles-hourly-ramp-rates-for-three-draft-days-to-cover-staffing-and-security-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270193-dbd2e1324f6297f78a3cc1fca96c38ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022300&Signature=IBQqfD~xLFx4bNr0bR7K28uXKw3BQpyIiy448Lt4WhUgSaegpEmUxu1NHTSXaix6BE1POPqj9WDtALJQtmmVwkG9lTI1g6ziLaXuf09PaC27N0COYmzH874NBVEeM2aqqKrYsk-Mb-1gExUE-ZduDNR0xXDymwaDJnB7kcD0HCc4bD7QNBbV1fqamkYtx3vp2HcDKx97V8i~RRd8pPihdkkNW09CC5wETZgv0qCt8JMfxf1sT277~Bx9S5Grfnsu9fS99V0EBEAQpRcpeWDKzA9aEKV8s432pPGSmPp3smFXbrixcTvFSWlp339Lmub2AS2pcZq5PIBvc-45TRzVuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Green Bay Common Council voted April 15 to temporarily raise hourly parking ramp rates for the three days of the NFL Draft to cover extra enforcement, liaison and security costs.

Public Works Director (referred to in meeting as Director Grenier) told the council the ramps are a special revenue fund and must cover event overtime and security costs without general‑fund support. Under the approved resolution the ramp hourly rate will increase from $1/hour (with a $12 daily maximum) to $2/hour (with a $24 daily maximum) for the draft days only; monthly parkers and on‑street meters were not affected.

Why it matters: The city expects very high downtown parking demand for the draft and needs the temporary revenue to staff enforcement and security at scale. Director Grenier estimated approximately $6,000 per day in additional ramp revenue if ramps reach projected occupancy; the increase is limited to the draft period and reverts to normal rates after the event.

Public comment in favor was brief; Frank Torres spoke in support. Council members discussed meter logistics and enforcement hours; Director Grenier said the hourly enforcement window remains 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and that physically reprogramming hundreds of on‑street meters for a short window was not cost‑effective, so the ramp increase was the chosen approach.

The council adopted the resolution. Staff said the increase would be applied only for the specified draft days and revert to the normal schedule the following Monday.","The Common Council approved a temporary increase in hourly ramp parking rates for the NFL Draft weekend, raising ramp hourly from $1 to $2 (daily max $12 → $24) to fund added enforcement and security costs during the event.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":80,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270197,"Council approves Kosmoski neighborhood plan with cap on multifamily units after heated debate",5413,3318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363&start=3318&end=8731","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038315-13e352f84f26422878e01f4a085c3363/thumbnail_3318000.jpg","/articles/6270197/Green-Bay/Brown-County/Wisconsin/Council-approves-Kosmoski-neighborhood-plan-with-cap-on-multifamily-units-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270197-fab29df69e2fe5fca34c4d99d990e13b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022300&Signature=eXMSWPNYwXgH9PfADXWnBN7MaxdspjMi7RyWN7GZXAR4Qy8kVQaoLyvSaS5pw4-7HW6VqW0~77MEXN6V4yy1dQY5EDhBWXhqpJehXgcFDt7YAIDcqudCx70epLjdarNbal~c4STyeVC-s1SgQfmVZKmrG1dSZ1Mxt5sIrz8XTnGjEBVWHKb3FJ7sSuJtklZyeGmpNNwo1DNoTOiLHKixyV91fCm3fqe-dPA60yLfYrR2N5Shgt8miSlgDfXWuaI9z5aNuYQM2mWQcPY7mh~6mcsPxMdlyXQN6iTOSGBJxE-k~af~NEWWHLSmUzh1tw79XLqPzsVMnm~UbydOfoWyHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A divided Green Bay Common Council approved a planned unit development (PUD) for the Kosmoski family’s proposed 67‑acre Red Smith subdivision on April 15, 2025, after months of neighborhood meetings and a lengthy public hearing.

The PUD as approved leaves a mix of single‑family lots, duplexes and commercial land in place, and permits multifamily development on a specified parcel — but the council adopted an amendment limiting multifamily to 160 units. The cap was adopted after a failed attempt to remove the multifamily (R‑3) overlay entirely and a separate failed amendment to replace the overlay with only single‑family zoning.

Why it matters: The project would add housing supply to a part of the city where residents and the developer disagree over scale, environmental constraints and traffic. Supporters said the PUD creates housing options and follows the comprehensive plan’s guidance for a mix of housing types; opponents said the R‑3 overlay would permit excessive density next to existing low‑density neighborhoods and raised concerns about wetlands, traffic and school enrollment.

Council debate and public testimony centered on density, wetlands permitting and access. Kent Bond, speaking for hundreds of neighbors, said the area should remain low‑density and that wetland permitting and endangered‑species reviews had not been completed. Developer Connor Kosmoski and representatives from Kosmoski Companies and its engineering team outlined a multi‑phase plan: early phases of single‑family construction, water‑pressure infrastructure and later multifamily development. Kosmoski said the multifamily portion likely would be built in phase two or three and that infrastructure work — including a pressure‑reducing valve to serve the site — must come first.

Environmental and permitting concerns were raised by neighbors. Bond said the developer had not yet completed necessary DNR wetland approvals and U.S. Fish and Wildlife consultations, and warned the final plan could change after permitting. The developer’s representative said wetland delineations had been done and buffers were shown on submitted plans, and that the project would be phased over many years.

Council members pressed the developer and staff on traffic, access and the possibility of converting a private internal road to a public street in the future to enable for‑sale townhomes rather than rental apartments. The council also debated whether to give staff authority to accept certain land‑use mechanisms that could enable future redevelopment (for example, air rights discussion appeared later in the meeting on a different item).

Votes and outcomes: A motion to remove the R‑3 multifamily overlay failed on a 6–6 tie. A subsequent amendment to cap multifamily at 160 units passed on a roll call (9–3). The PUD was then approved as amended. Council members who supported the cap said it preserved options while responding to neighborhood concerns; members who opposed caps said they would constrain future design flexibility and the project’s ability to meet local housing demand.

Next steps: The developer may proceed with permitting and phased infrastructure work under the approved PUD. The council directed staff to continue working with the developer and the neighborhood; any material amendments to the PUD or site plan must come back to the council for approval.

","After hours of public testimony and amendments, the Green Bay Common Council approved a planned unit development (PUD) for the Kosmoski family’s 67-acre Red Smith area project, removing an open R‑3 multifamily overlay and limiting multifamily to 160 units after motions and votes changed the original proposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes removal of St. John’s Park playground equipment and calls for master plan

Council orders informational tax‑bill line showing Green Bay levy tied to private school vouchers

Council doubles hourly ramp rates for three draft days to cover staffing and security costs

Council approves Kosmoski neighborhood plan with cap on multifamily units after heated debate