Plan commission approves 2026 operating plans for four Green Bay business improvement districts

The Green Bay Plan Commission on Monday approved operating plans from four Business Improvement Districts and forwarded each to City Council for final consideration on Oct. 21.

Commissioners voted unanimously to send the 2026 operating plans for Downtown Green Bay Inc. (item 3), Old Main Street Inc. (item 4), Broadway Business Improvement District (item 5) and Military Avenue Inc. (item 6) to City Council. Each plan will appear on the Oct. 21 council agenda for formal adoption of the district assessments.

Rebecca Finco, the city's economic development specialist and staff liaison to the BIDs, introduced the agenda items and said the city receives annual operating plans from the BID directors for Plan Commission review.

Downtown Green Bay Inc. (presented by Jeff Marcus, executive director) highlighted a surge in residential development in the downtown core. Marcus said the organization is coordinating marketing, events and first‑impression initiatives while partnering with economic development and developers. "We're so psyched that 340 residential units are under construction in the heart of our downtown," Marcus said, citing projects including a Newland Enterprises development (NOVA Green Bay), 66 units at the U.S. Bank building and redevelopment activity at several former bank and fire department sites. Marcus also described ongoing security coordination with the police department, including a May security summit and regular communication with Police Chief Davis.

Old Main Street Inc. reported strong office and retail occupancy and new pedestrian infrastructure, including a trail from Baird to Erwin. Presenters described "Experience Old Main Street," an event that involved more than 20 small businesses and free trolleys, and said wayfinding signage and historic placemaking will be priorities.

On Broadway (presented by Brian Johnson) outlined a streetscape‑focused plan that shifts some public art funding toward smaller streetscape enhancements, proposes a streetscape microgrant program with 1:1 matches for small businesses, creates a summer design intern/residency to work with property owners, and continues a retail incubator and a mini‑grant program for lease incentives. Johnson said the Broadway BID has pledged multi‑year support to the public market capital campaign but will not release payments until the project reaches closing. The Broadway BID board is also proposing a modest assessment increase (the presenter stated the rate would move from $1.47 to $1.55 per $1,000 of assessed value, described as a roughly 5.4% change).

Military Avenue Inc. (presented by Mia Weicker) described a first‑time projected decline in BID revenues under a long‑standing assessment cap (the BID caps assessments at $2,500 per parcel), a new part‑time staff hire, a capital campaign to secure a permanent home for the farmers market, and a pilot project to test security cameras along a roughly two‑mile neighborhood corridor. Weicker said the BID is also pursuing improved monument‑sign messaging (subject to city sign rules) and has received a garden‑club grant toward a bike rack project.

Plan commissioners asked questions about development boundaries, the Broadway BID's assessment proposal and the public market pledge; presenters clarified that the Broadway BID pledge is being held in BID accounts until the project closes, and staff confirmed the bids had received internal board approvals and city attorney review. Each BID director asked the Plan Commission to approve the operating plan so the assessment can be set by Council.

The commission approved each operating plan by voice vote and forwarded all four items to the Oct. 21 City Council meeting for final action.