Green Bay council adopts nonbinding economic and social 'municipal bill of rights' after hours of debate and public testimony

The Green Bay Common Council voted 9–3 on July 21 to adopt a nonbinding resolution the sponsors described as an "economic and social bill of rights," a statement of values that names items such as clean drinking water, access to parks and arts, a living wage and affordable housing as priorities the city should foreground.

The resolution’s sponsor, Alder Shelton, framed the measure as a vision statement rather than an immediate mandate. "What they had was a vision," Shelton said, comparing the resolution to the Declaration of Independence and saying the council could use it to "chart our path over the next couple of years." Shelton asked the council to open the floor for public testimony and discussion before the vote.

Supporters at the lectern emphasized dignity, accountability and local leadership. Harvey Kaye, a UW–Green Bay professor emeritus active in national campaigns for economic rights, urged the council to adopt the resolution as part of a longer history of American efforts to expand economic protections. "This will send a message that this city of Green Bay has also come out in favor of an economic bill of rights," Kaye said.

Amber Edwards, representing the City of Green Bay’s Equal Rights Commission, said the resolution would provide a public standard the city could use to guide decisions and hold officials accountable. "Please consider the words that you spoke when each of you accepted your seat when you vote tonight," Edwards told the council.

Opponents raised legal and practical objections in council debate and during testimony. Alder Morgan, citing state law, noted municipalities cannot set their own minimum wage under Wisconsin statute 104.001 and cannot mandate rent control or inclusionary zoning under 66.1015. "These are important goals, but calling them rights raises an important question: Who is responsible for providing them and who pays for them?" Morgan asked.

Alder DeBaker and others said the resolution lacked measurable outcomes, a funding plan and required stakeholder input from employers, utilities and legal counsel. "This resolution contains no implementation plan," Alder DeBaker said during debate, urging the council to avoid creating expectations the city cannot meet under current legal and budgetary limits.

Public comment ran through multiple speakers who both urged adoption and urged caution. Steve Campbell told the council he opposed the measure, saying the items are already covered by the U.S. Constitution and warning the resolution could create confusion. Other residents and nonprofit leaders testified in support, saying the document would set values and a framework for future policy work.

After the public comment period and more than an hour of council discussion, members moved to approve the resolution. The mayor announced the result as passing 9 to 3.

The resolution is nonbinding: it does not create new city programs or guarantees but records priorities the city says it will consider when making policy decisions. Several council members said the resolution would act as a touchstone for future discussion and as a basis for pursuing state-level changes where municipal authority is preempted.

The council recorded the result and moved on to other business. The resolution’s passage signals the city’s adoption of a stated framework of values, but it does not include the funding, timeline or enforcement mechanisms that opponents said would be necessary to make the listed priorities legally or operationally binding.