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Finance Committee sends proposed ARPA-funded 'urban barn' at GBS Park back to staff after public comment and fiscal questions
Summary
The Finance Committee on March 11 referred back to staff a request to dedicate ARPA funding (about $750,000, as discussed) to build an 'urban barn' at the new GBS Park after extended discussion and public testimony about funding sources, operations and long-term maintenance.
The Green Bay Finance Committee voted unanimously March 11 to refer back to staff a proposal to dedicate ARPA funding toward construction of an "urban barn" (urban farm building) at the new GBS Park, after more than an hour of committee discussion and public comment.
The proposal on the agenda asked the committee to consider dedicating ARPA funds from an allocation set aside for community and economic development and parks projects toward construction of a barn-like building to support an adjacent urban farm, and to provide limited public restrooms and storage. Committee members and public speakers discussed the projected cost, available funding sources, operational responsibility and long-term maintenance needs.
Natalie Bomstead, executive director of Willow, described Willow’s role as the city’s partner and said the structure would contain multiuse spaces: "We are in partnership and in contract with the city of Green Bay to help, really realize an area, around kind of that urban farm. Urban Barn is kind of our working title for that area that really kind of is an anchor, to the larger development." Bomstead said Willow had secured grant funding to purchase equipment that would go inside the building but that the grant would not pay for construction.
A consultant working on the project described prior community engagement and said the proposal was intended to carry forward priorities identified in earlier neighborhood planning sessions. Committee members pressed staff and Willow on financial details: Alderman Johnson said the ARPA allocation under discussion "was originally set aside for site acquisitions" to enable housing and expressed frustration that the $750,000 request was not on prior lists of ARPA requests. He asked whether Willow would consider moving its offices to the site to enable alternative TIF financing or a public–private development agreement.
Staff and Willow representatives said portions of the larger GBS project were TIF-funded and bonded: the meeting record includes references to a $5,000,000 grant, $5,000,000 in bonding, and a $500,000 donation received earlier in the project; staff also said the RDA approved transferring $2,000,000 from TID 12 into the project. Staff noted that TIF rules may limit using certain TIF funds for public buildings, and that ARPA funds have statutory deadlines for expenditure. Committee members asked for a phased plan, clearer cost estimates, operating and maintenance plans, and the exploration of private fundraising or development agreements to leverage city funds.
After public comment from Willow leadership and community partners urging that the build-out proceed, Alder Johnson moved to refer the request back to staff for additional analysis; the motion carried unanimously. The referral will require staff to return with additional financial detail, proposed management arrangements and potential alternative funding strategies.
