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District 8:
TRANSIENT RENTALS
**Packer Game Day. Everyone in Green Bay, especially those in my district, understands that game days are wild and crazy
events. We have the spirit of a college town. This is clearly evident in the new Packer Houses popping up along Shadow Lane.
**Some new owners have made impressive improvements. They are to be commended on these upgrades (and for paying more taxes)!
Generally, it is used only for themselves and is never a problem with neighbors. It is their second home.
**However, sometimes good things are taken to extremes and end up crossing the line. Some of the new Packer Homes have been
transformed into nightly rentals. They have created elaborate web pages touting themselves as year round lodging places. Even
with a city ordinance in place I believe we we see some of them continue to operat as normal and dare the city
to fine them. So be it. **The reason this type of use is not permitted has to do with zoning. Zoning
in a city serves an important purpose. As quoted from our zoning guidelines: “The residential districts are established
to preserve and enhance the quality of living in residential neighborhoods, to regulate structures and uses which may
affect the character or desirability of residential areas.” Furthermore, this area is our most restricted residential
zoning--R1. This means an environment of predominantly single family dwellings for use by one family or household.
**Many cities are dealing with this issue. Upon my investigation, and meeting with city staff, I fully believe that we must
define any rentals of less than 28 days as a ‘Transient Rental’. Transient rental occupancy is often
more intense than a family or individual owning or renting, overburdening the property and the neighborhood. The Supreme Court,
backing local zoning restrictions, has already refused to hear challenges to transient rental definitions. Who wants to live
next to a property that could have different residents literally every day of the year, with 8+ people staying there at a
time? Certainly not someone who bought a home in an R1 District. They simply expect the density and property use the zoning
code outlines to be enforced.
**Another concern is that these year round ‘transient rentals’ have an unfair advantage over actual lodging places
and may put their lodgers at risk. They do not have the extra scrutiny and cost of insurers, can go without local fire or
health inspections/requirements and do not pay any motel taxes. The STATE OF WISCONSIN actually requires anyone renting
nightly to apply with them for a license and be inspected!
IF you wish to report a nightly rental situation you can call the Brown County Health Dept. They enforce the
states licensing. From 8 am
– 4:30 pm, M-F, the phone #448-6400.
Outside of regular business hours the answering service phone number is 1-877-619-9221.
Fisk Park Tennis Courts
I secured $100,000 in federal grants along with matching school district funds to build a 7 court tennis facility at
Fisk Park. This will be used by the high school and is also open to all citizens. Somehow, when West was remodeled
it did not receive new tennis courts like the othe high schools did. I made sure this pathetic 'oversight' was corrected!
Here is a past article I wrote for the Press Gazette in regards to the hospitality referendum:
"Shall that area west of Broadway, formerly known as the City of Fort Howard prior to its consolidation with
the City of Green Bay, allow alcoholic beverage licenses for hotels and restaurants, in Business Districts and Industrial
Districts only?"
On April 5 that is exactly how the referendum question will read.
The original restriction was enacted by a referendum in 1895 as part of a charter ordinance when the cities
of Green Bay and Fort Howard merged. It stated: "No license shall be granted to or for any saloon or saloons within the territory
of the present City of Fort Howard, except on Broadway and Third Avenue, South of Elmore street and within the territory east
thereof."
The legal interpretation has been to forbid any alcohol license in the specified area, whether it was for
a tavern or a restaurant. I believe this to be a poor interpretation. I think the intent was to ban saloon like establishments
only. With a century of precedent behind it the only legal way to change the ordinance is with another referendum. This referendum
could be viewed as a correction of 100 years of misinterpretation.
Back then, most of the city of Fort Howard was farmland, the quickest way to get around was on horseback and
taverns were known as saloons. It was an entirely different era, only recently emerged from the Civil War. I am certain that
our forefathers did not want their saloon ban to impede economic growth 100 years in the future. Allowing a restaurant to
serve an alcoholic beverage with dinner is a far cry from the effort to control the wild saloons of yesteryear.
The reason this question will be on the ballot is because existing businesses in the affected area requested
it. They believe restaurant and lodging facilities should have an equal opportunity to compete with other businesses that
are able to offer alcohol. Green Bay’s City Council agreed. Now the citizens will decide its merits in the form of a
referendum.
There is an important additional benefit to the proposed change. Despite numerous inviting locations, major
new hotel or restaurant developments do not even consider the majority of the west side of Green Bay because they know they
cannot receive a liquor license. Instead, they build in a neighboring community and take their important tax base with them.
Growing the value of our tax base is one simple way to help control property taxes.
The proposed change would only modify the existing moratorium, not eliminate it. Saloons, or taverns as they
are called today, will still be prohibited, and any further changes would have to go through the same referendum process.
Furthermore, it cannot be stressed strongly enough that these licenses would only be allowed in areas zoned business or industrial.
Rezoning requests must go through a lengthy process involving plan commission review, neighborhood meetings and approval by
the City Council.
Change is often feared and irrational responses are to be expected. However, if we apply our common sense
to this proposal the benefits are clear. I support this initiative and think it is time for Green Bay to move out of the 19th
century and into the 21st.
LOMBARDI///LAMBEAU NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION:
LAST YEAR WHILE CAMPAIGNING I NOTICED THAT THE AREA AROUND LAMBEAU FIELD WAS QUITE UNIQUE. NOT ONLY ARE THERE SPECIAL
ISSUES FACING THIS AREA, BUT THERE IS A GENUINE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT I ADMIRED.
**I AM PROUD TO HAVE STARTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN THIS AREA,
IT HOPEFULLY WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF MY BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
THE ASSOCIATION IS STILL IN ITS INFANCY, ONLY RECENTLY RECEIVING OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY, BUT
THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING!!
**REMEMBER, GREEN BAY IS RUN BY THE CITIZENS AND NOT THE POLITICIANS.
8/02 RAILROAD BRIDGE TO BE REMOVED!!!
I received numerous complaints that rocks, bottles and even a bike were being tossed off the abandoned Shawano Ave.
RR bridge. I felt that this situation could lead to a terrible accident/injury, and demanded that the city
force the RR to fence both ends of the bridge, thus preventing access to the hazard. The railroad not
only put up the fences, but must have realized the liability they owned, because they are taking out the bridge
this August, YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!!
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City Issues:
Emergency Homeless Shelter
Channel 2 did a nice job of interviewing my Protection and Welfare committee members on this this subject recently.
Click the link below to see their news story. I am very pleased with the job the Diocese of Green Bay is doing. They
are providing an emergency shelter for those most in need and are connecting the homeless with other community agencies. They
are doing a great job of keeping problems out of the neighborhood--unlike COTS last year. Perhaps most important,
and at my request, they are gathering invaluable data on WHO is staying there, WHY they are not at a regular shelter and WHERE
are they are from. In spring we can examine this data and make much more informed decisions regarding emergency homeless
shelters.
**ST JOHNS HOMELESS SHELTER report by WBAY**
Downtown Security Plan--As Chairman of
the Protection and Welfare committee I discovered our Police Officers were spending far too much time downtown baby-sitting
bar hoppers on weekends. They should be handling more serious issues in the rest of the city. Thus, with the help
of the downtown BID district, I put into place a 'downtown security' plan. ALL establishments downtown that serve alcohol
MUST help pay for an additional 2 officers that will be on duty FRI/SAT nights to handle their unique issues. This will
free up officers to handle other more important issues.
Green Bay FireFighters Tribute
A group of private citizens and current fire fighters are attempting to identify and recognize every individual who ever
served in the GB Fire Dept. There will be a permanent tribute located near the museum along the Fox River. It
will consist of traditional fire fighter symbolism and two granite benches.
They need to raise approx $44,000 and YOU can help! There are various donor levels: $25 Fire Fighter, $50
Enginerr $75 Lieutenant $100 Captain $500+ Chief.
If you are interested in donating, please contact 920-430-1448 or make check payable to Green Bay Fire Fighters Tribute
& mail to 1570 Elizabeth St Green Bay WI 54302. Let's help them reach their goal!
EMERALD ASH BORER
The Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic beetle originally from Asia. Click on the purple and blue colored words to
see an image of the beetle and larvae.
It's larvae feed on and kill Ash trees. More than 20 million Ash trees have been killed in Indiana, Michigan
and Ohio over the past 3 years. Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in spring. Woodpeckers are known to love eating them. If you suspect an infestation, call our
city forester at 448--3379. If want more information on the Emerald Ash Borer--visit the link below:
CLICK HERE: EMERALD ASH BORER WEBSITE
WATER SALE TO SUBURBS
*AFTER MANY YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS, GREEN BAY OFFERED A REASONABLE PRICE FOR WATER TO THE SUBURBS AND ASHWAUBENON.
ASHWAUBENON ACCEPTED, BUT THE SUBURBS DECLINED. DESPITE PAYING MORE, THE OPTION FOR BUILDING A PIPELINE TO MANITOWOC
WAS CHOSEN. THEY BELIEVE/HOPE THAT 30 OR 40 YEARS FROM NOW THEIR RATES WOULD HOPEFULLY BE LOWER BY BUILDING THEIR OWN
LINE. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ASSUMPTION. FOR NOW, THEY MUST TRY TO CONVINCE THEIR RESIDENTS WHY THEIR WATER WILL
BE SO VERY VERY EXPENSIVE, WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER BUYING IT FROM GREEN BAY. I HAVE A FEELING THAT
THIS WAS POLITICS AT ITS WORST. WE COULD HAVE OFFERED IT FOR FREE AND THEY WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BUILD A LINE TO
THE MOON, INSTEAD.
*I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT BUILDING A SEPARATE PIPELINE TO MANITOWOC TO SERVE THE SUBURBS WOULD BE WASTE AND LUNACY
AT ITS GREATEST HEIGHT. MONEY WILL BE SAVED BY WORKING TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY FOR G.B. RESIDENTS.
Here is an article I wrote for the Press Gazette:
THE PRICE OF WATER
What does the average person know about the water talks in Brown County? We have all seen the endless stats, graphs, facts,
figures, charts, blah blah blah. These have been hurtled back and forth between Green Bay and the Central Brown County Water
Authority (CBCWA) for years. The average citizen has no idea which numbers are accurate, and thus no clue on what to base
their opinion. I have ultimate confidence that most people want a regional solution, and am disgusted with the pettiness of
the parties involved. We must not let past politics or current personality clashes cloud our judgment. This issue boils down
to reliability and economics.
Reliability. A single, forty-mile long, pipeline carries a large risk factor. Everyone in the suburbs, whether a homeowner,
a medical facility or a large business relying on vast quantities of water, should feel very uneasy knowing any problem which
shuts down that pipeline means zero water. The CBCWA has never approached Green Bay about being its backup supplier. I guess
they assume we will be and that this service would be free. Green Bay would need to plan, price and build this ’emergency
spigot’. Alternately, the assumption might be that nothing could ever happen to their beloved pipeline. Green Bay will
have two lines because we take reliability seriously, and understand that nothing should ever be assumed.
Economics. Brown County would be sending waves of cash to Manitowoc County. Remember when Brown County implemented
the half- percent sales tax to fund the renovation of Lambeau field? We asked surrounding counties to help fund this project,
from which they benefit. Who was the first county to shake their fist and shout NO to this tax? You guessed it. Manitowoc
County.
Countless times have I heard from the CBCWA that this is a regional problem and should have a regional solution. They even
stated this reason in their appeal to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, which sought to force Green Bay into selling
water to them. Pouring money into another county’s pockets is hardly a regional solution. I have seen the facts and
figures. Ashwaubenon has also. There is no economic sense involved in this decision. The pipeline will be built out of spite
or for the pure joy of owning a water pipeline. The water will flow from Manitowoc and the money will flow out of Brown County.
Sitting on Green Bay’s city council has given me the unique opportunity to see this issue firsthand. I commend our
Water Commission and Mayor for always keeping us informed. The same can be said of Ashwaubenon, whose village board took great
pride in knowing exactly what dealing with each entity meant for their ratepayers.
I have seen all the numbers, and I genuinely feel the CBCWA is not making a rationale decision. The Village of Ashwaubenon
came to the same conclusion. Obviously, the CBCWA believes the cost of having their own pipeline is worth inflated prices
for customers, giving tons of cash to another county and building a 40 mile pipeline with no backup plan. Somewhere along
the line stubborn bullheadedness about long past politics and personal dislike between public officials have clouded sensible
thought processes. I could have rehashed all the numbers with you today, but that has already been done. If you live in a
CBCWA community the time is now to question your leadership. Once the deal is sealed, and the costs and risks start piling
up, it is too late. Yes, you will have your own coveted pipeline. But at what expense?
EXOTIC ANIMAL ORDINANCE:
*BECAUSE EXOTIC ANIMALS POSE PHYSICAL DANGER AND POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS TO THE PUBLIC, AND BECAUSE THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES
OFTEN SUFFER IN THE LONG-RUN, I HAVE CREATED A NEW ORDINANCE BANNING EXOTIC ANIMALS. IT WILL BE LARGELY BASED
ON CLEVELAND, OHIO'S MODEL.
*I STRONGLY FEEL THAT NOBODY HAS THE 'RIGHT' TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY BY OWNING EXOTIC ANIMALS.
*OUR LAW DEPT, WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, N.E.W. ZOO AND HUMANE OFFICER OFFERED THEIR VAST EXPERIENCE AND
HELPED ME FINE-TUNE THE PROPOSAL, SCULPTING IT TO OUR LOCAL NEEDS AND DESIRES.
*THE NEW ORDINANCE SHOULD COME INTO EFFECT SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY.
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