Green Bay council refers short‑term rental changes to staff after hours of testimony

The Green Bay Common Council voted Dec. 2 to refer proposed changes to the city's short‑term rental rules back to staff for further work with alderpersons, the Short Term Rental Alliance, the Equal Rights Commission and community members.

Alder Brian Johnson proposed an amendment to remove two high‑profile provisions from the current draft'a minimum‑stay requirements and a 180‑day annual cap'and to give staff direction to craft enforceable regulations and an improved enforcement mechanism. The council approved Johnson's amendment and then voted to adopt the planning commission recommendations as amended.

The debate drew dozens of speakers over several hours. Housing advocates and renters told the council that conversions of homes to short‑term rentals reduce the supply of long‑term housing and drive rents up. "Short‑term rentals are a cancer and must be stamped out," said David Badillo during public comment. Operators and members of the Green Bay STR Alliance countered that stronger enforcement of existing rules and clearer operator practices would address most neighborhood problems. "We can improve how the tools that we have are applied, and we can be far more effective than adding on extraneous things," said Mark Danan of the STR Alliance.

At the meeting, Alder Grant had urged three staff priorities: a letter template notifying neighbors when a property seeks a permit, a short list of house rules that must appear in online listings and on site, and work to strengthen enforcement of the city's noise ordinance. Director Renier Wig told council staff could develop those items but asked for clear direction about scope and pace.

Council members also debated whether the city currently has authority to impose caps or minimum stays without state action. State Representative Ryan Spouti, speaking from the floor, urged the council to use the tools it still has and to press for more local authority at the state level.

Council President Johnson said rejecting the minimum‑stay and annual cap for this legislative cycle was intended to give staff and stakeholders room to co‑create an enforceable policy rather than enact measures that could be ambiguous or legally vulnerable. The motion to refer carried after a roll call; several alderpersons recorded nays.

What happens next: staff will work with alderpersons, the STR Alliance, the Equal Rights Commission and other community stakeholders to draft ordinance and policy recommendations. Councilmembers said the resulting proposal will likely return to the appropriate committees (planning, protection & policy) for additional refinement before a final council vote.

The council framed the action as an attempt to balance neighborhood protections, enforceability and the city's tourism economy, and to produce a clearer enforcement regime rather than immediately imposing minimum‑stay or annual caps that some members said could have unintended consequences.