Green Bay Equal Rights Commission holds proposed revision to Section 12‑11; commissioners discuss youth engagement, mediation and contracting equity

The Green Bay Equal Rights Commission on April 10 reviewed a preliminary draft to revise Section 12‑11 of the City of Green Bay’s Chapter 12 civil rights ordinance and voted to hold the draft until the next meeting so commissioners can submit written comments.

The draft, circulated to commissioners shortly before the meeting, is intended to add provisions that would clarify the commission’s duties and expand its tools for community outreach and dispute resolution. Chair, Equal Rights Commission, said she compared Green Bay’s ordinance with commissions in Madison and Milwaukee and “chose things that would be kind of low‑hanging fruit but also give our ERC a little bit more authority when it comes to enforcing some of this, equal rights initiatives.”

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the draft as an effort to make the commission’s role clearer to the public and to provide practical programs — from mediation to language access — that could help residents resolve disputes or access services without immediate litigation. Several commissioners said the changes could improve coordination between the commission and city departments, while others flagged legal or logistical constraints that will require follow up with staff and outside experts.

Key discussion points

Draft structure and next steps: The working draft was presented as two parts — additions to the ERC ordinance and a second set of items described as joint initiatives or implementation steps. The chair and Commissioner Hoffman will work to incorporate comments received from commissioners; the chair asked commissioners to email suggested changes to staff (Andrea Fox) or to her before the next meeting. The commission agreed to prepare an updated draft in about two weeks.

Authority to investigate and mediation program: Commissioners discussed adding language to allow the ERC to investigate complaints and to establish a local mediation program. Supporters described mediation as a lower‑cost, quicker option for resolving disputes when legal remedies are limited; one commissioner said she has attorneys in mind who would volunteer to help run a mediation program. Commissioners noted that the scope of any investigatory authority and the commission’s legal powers would need review before enactment.

Youth civic engagement and public recognition: Commissioners expressed broad support for a proposed youth civic engagement program and for a public recognition/incentive program for local businesses and community members. Supporters said such programs could increase community awareness of the ERC’s work and highlight longstanding local businesses and civic leaders.

Equity in contracting and procurement: The draft includes a proposed “equity in contracting/procurement” initiative. Commissioners questioned how that would interact with existing procurement rules that prioritize low bids and said city legal staff will need to weigh in. Several commissioners suggested the commission could start with education and outreach — helping minority‑owned and local businesses understand how to compete for city contracts — rather than seeking immediate changes to procurement law.

DEI training and internal accountability: The draft calls for enhanced diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training for city employees and proposes that each city department appoint an equity liaison to submit quarterly updates to the ERC. Commissioners described the department liaison idea as a “good faith” measure to improve coordination while acknowledging city staffing constraints.

Language access and accessibility: Commissioners discussed language access needs and emphasized that some community languages — notably Hmong dialects — pose special challenges where audio interpretation may be more effective than written translation. The chair noted the city already has some funds for multilingual and interpretive services and encouraged building on those resources.

Partnerships and community outreach: The chair reported several outreach opportunities: Andrea Preston, director of the city Office of Violence Prevention, invited the grants commission to an employee open house on April 14; Casa Oba is applying for a grant to address language barriers and has asked whether the city or the ERC would support a partnership; and Zania Saldanha, director of equity and community initiatives at the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, has expressed interest in learning more about the ERC. Commissioners also noted potential collaboration with Brown County United Way around housing work and suggested touring the East Side City Center.

Procedural vote

The commission voted to hold the draft for revision and further comment until the next meeting. The motion to hold the item passed; the chair announced, “The ayes have it.” Commissioners were asked to submit written comments to Andrea Fox or to the chair before the next meeting so revisions can be incorporated.

What’s next

Commissioners will review the original ordinance and submit comments by email; the chair and Commissioner Hoffman will revise the working draft and circulate an updated version ahead of the next meeting. Staff indicated the ERC should expect a revised draft in approximately two weeks and will provide ancillary information — for example, on procurement rules and existing city translation resources — as available.