History of Green Bay


	2000 The Last Watch for Robert John Langan, 69, a Green Bay, Wis., resident and former resident of Yonkers, N.Y., occurred when he died at home on Thursday morning, Aug. 27, 2009, after an unexpected and rapid encounter with Cruetzfeldt-Jacob Disease. The son of the late Maurice Langan and Roserita (Burns) Johnson, and stepson of Arthur Johnson, was born on July 10, 1940, in Yonkers, N.Y. Bob was a graduate of Charles E. Gorton High School (Yonkers, N.Y.) in 1958; earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Police Science from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 1974; graduated from the FBI National Academy 101st Session in 1985; and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1991. On Feb. 8, 1964, Bob married the love of his life, Nan Lee Aerts, at St. Boniface Church in De Pere, Wis. He began his law enforcement career as a patrolman on the Westchester County Police Force, Irvington, N.Y., in 1963. In January of 1966, he began his service as a patrolman with the Green Bay Police Department, retiring after 29 years of service as the Chief of Police in May of 1995. Bob loved his career serving and protecting the citizens of Green Bay.
	2000 Lambeau Field Renovation. Faced with challenges to keep the Packers monetarily competitive along with the need for stadium updates, Packer Chairman/CEO Bob Harlan and President/CEO John Jones, in October 1999, assembled a plan to ensure the Packers viability. The plan was unveiled in January 2000 and won voter support that September. The plan included more than 12,000 additional seats to increase capacity to 72,922. A 5-plus story atrium was constructed on the east side of the stadium and houses the Packer Pro Shop, Hall of Fame and various restaurants. The projects voter approved financing came from a one-half cent sales tax in Brown County. It is estimated millions visit Lambeau Field and the Atrium annually bringing with them countless tourism dollars.
	2001 Washington Commons, the former Port Plaza Mall, was sold to local developers through negotiations with the city. The developers planed to revive the facility by turning it into a combination of shops, office and eateries. Their efforts eventually failed and in 2004 the property reverted back to the city.
	2003 Newly elected Mayor Jim Schmitt declares June 25 of each year as Kids’ Day. A day especially designed for Green Bay Children, the day falls exactly halfway from Christmas. The days events were free for children and included swimming, bowling, movies, rides at Bay Beach and more. The annual event draws thousand of Green Bay children and parents.
	2004 The city celebrated once again. This year was the 150th anniversary of Green Bay becoming a city. Planning for the year long events began in early 2003 and culminated with the celebration gala at Lambeau Field Atrium on February 25, 2004. Over 1,000 persons attended the event. The evening was packed with food, music, dancing and appearances by former mayors or the descendents of former mayors and topped off by a champagne toast and birthday song to the city. Kids’ Day was dedicated to the Sesquicentennial celebration and in August a huge parade and festival was held. The parade began at City Hall where a time capsule was buried and wound through downtown and over the Main Street Bridge to the Leicht Memorial Park Festival Grounds.
	2004 In May, 2004 Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Ashwaubenon Village President “Nubs” DeCleene announced an agreement that would serve Ashwaubenon residents with water supplied by the City of Green Bay. Water flowed to Ashwaubenon residents in 2005.
	2005 Riverfront Development. In May 2005 the City Council voted in favor of the Boardwalk Plan brought forth in 2004 and refined throughout the year. The plan called for softening the river’s edge bringing pedestrian in touch with the historic river. Boat docks, pedestrian walks, open spaces and stage areas were part of the plan.
	2005 Two major developments are approved for downtown. City Council approved plans for two major developments for the north end of Washington Street. In the effort of downtown revitilazatiion, Astor Place and River Center projects were given the go ahead. Astor Place, a 17-sotry condominium with retail on the first three levels and included a market area on the ground level. The River Center project, which would replace the former Younkers Building, would be a mixed-use development including a relocated Children Museum. The city hoped for a tax value in excess of $81 million from these developments.
	2006 Leicht Memorial Park was completed and dedicated in June of 2006. A gift of the Leicht Family, the 2.5 acre park was landscaped and featured a stage area, boat landing and a row of 20 international flags representing the ethnic heritage of the area.
	2006 Bay Fest, a long-standing tradition held by UWGB, was now a city event. The newly acquired festival was held on the grounds of Leicht Memorial Park festival grounds and featured games, rides, music and ethnic food. The event is held each June.
	2006 On July Green Bay hosted the three-day Baylake Tall Ship Festival held on the grounds of the new Liecht Memorial Park. The event drew 16 tall ships from coast to coast with entertainers and artisans celebrating Green Bay's rich maritime history. The Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival, the largest nautical festival in Green Bay's history, coincided with the Tall Ships Challenge Race Series. More than 100 media articles and stories of the event showcased and publicized Green Bay as a beautiful, exciting and international port city. Attendance exceeded expectations with 59,000 in attendance, including 43,000 paid admissions and thousands more viewing from the bridge, the river's edge and by boat.
	2006 University Heights Commerce Center. The city purchased over 1000 acres of land in the northeast side of the city to provide a new center for businesses. The area is owned by the city, the Town of Scott and private developers. The center is expected to generate millions of tax dollars.
	2006 It was announced by Mayor Schmitt on July 6, 2006 that a new United States ship will be built in New Orleans and to be named the USS Green Bay. The LP 20 San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ships are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked landing craft or amphibious vehicles augmented by helicopters in amphibious assault. It is the second ship to be named in honor of the city. It is expected to be commissioned in 2008 or 2009.
	2006 A major referendum was on the ticket in November this year for voter approval of a new high school planned for the far east side of Green Bay. The project was promoted by the school district as a plan for elimination of crowding and planned growth in the district. It was an unprecedented expense of taxpayer dollars totaling $69 million. The plan went before taxpayers in the November election and was overwhelmingly defeated leaving school district official to re-evaluate their options.
	2007 City Council President, Chad Fradette brings forth a resolution restricting child molesters from living within an area of 2000 feet from schools, parks, churches and areas where children gather. The mapping results in a 99% coverage of the city. The proposal passes the council and outlying areas affected by the law research their options.
	2007 Immigration issues explored Green Bay considers immigration issues. In an effort to prohibit illegal immigrants from obtaining work in the city, the council considers an ordinance to prohibit businesses from obtaining a city license or retaining that license if they knowingly employ illegal aliens. The Hispanic Community in the area puts up a fight citing it is a Federal issue, not a local one. On June 19, 2007 the Council passes the ordinance prohibiting the issuance of licenses to illegal immigrants or businesses that employ illegal immigrants.
	2007 Fisk Park Rejuvenated Through efforts of the “Friends of Fisk Park" and Mayor Schmitt, Fisk Park got it pool back. Due to age and tight budget concerns, Fisk Pool was closed and destined for extinction in 2003. A loyal group of west-siders joined to raise money to replace the facility. Alderman Chris Wery formed Friends of Fisk Park and spearheaded the effort to restore the local icon by raising $500,000. Mayor Schmitt enlisted the aid of Dick Resch, President of KI International, who grew up on the west side of Green Bay and frequented the pool as a youngster, for a substantial donation to the project. The new center was named in his honor and the Resch Aquatic Center opened in June 2007.
	2007 Homeless issue a hot topic in the fall of the year St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church planned to offer temporary shelter again this winter. Neighbors complained against the proposal citing loitering and property damage. The City arranged for the New Community Shelter to run a temporary shelter in a warehouse on Mather Street. However at the October Council meeting 40 neighbors complained that theri area already attracts too many homeless people. The Council then denied the required rezoning effectively ending the proposal. After weeks of debate, the Council finally gave approval the the original site at St. John's. It set forth many restrictions and rules for the church to follow.
	2007 The City Council, after an approval by the Advisory Committee votes to allow placement of a Nativity Scene on the north overhang entrance of City Hall. The placement raised concerns of church/state seperation and it was decided to allow any religious group to display their symbols. Following this decision several individuals requested their images be placed. The display was removed December 26. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and 14 Green Bay residents later filed a lawsuit over the display.
	2008 The new year began with high hopes of a Green Bay Packer Super Bowl Championship. Pep rallies were held on Walnut Street and Mayor Schmitt challenged New York Mayor Bloomberg in a friendly wager over who would win. The NFC Championship game was played in Green Bay on January 20, 2008 with temperatures at minus 4 degrees and a wind chill at minus 24 degrees. It was a sad day for Packer fans, however. The game ended with a Giant win over the Packers, 23 - 20.
	2008 Roman Denissen died on January 21, 2008 at a local nursing home. He was 90 years old and served as the city's 34th mayor from 1959 to 1965. He regarded his greatest greatest achievements as being able to convince the Town Board of Preble and the Green Bay City Council to vote on consolidation. This consolidation occurred in 1964 and more than doubled the size of the city. In his later years he forged a close friendship with Mayor Schmitt. The two would often spend Packer game days watching the game at the nursing home which Denissen recently lived. Read more on Mayor Denissen
	2008 Spring finally arrived in Green Bay on March 21st after a brutally cold and snowy season. The City endured a record snowfall of 72.7 inches breaking the record set in the 1920's. The City, along with area municipalities, ran low on salt for the streets causing them to either limit salting or scramble for alternate sources.
	2008 The April 1 Spring Election brought some changes to the City Council. Alderman Fradette chose not to run for re-election. Dan Piton won this seat with 513 to opponent Shae Sortwell's 207. Alderman Gary Kriescher lost his seat to newcomer Amy Kocha. Totals were 398-254.
	2008 Mayor Schmitt presents his State of the City Address on April 7, 2008, outlining his initiatives for the coming year. The speech touched on the vision for the City ranging from the CityDeck, scheduled to begin construction this spring, to trail expansion, Bay Beach expansion, and neighborhood improvements. The event took place at the Meyer Theatre and was free and open to the public. Approximately 250 people attended.
	2008 July 15 - Homeless Issues At the invitation of Mayor Jim Schmitt and County Executive Tom Hinz, co-chairs of the Brown County Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness, Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness was in Green Bay to offer guidance and suggestions on homeless issues. Mr. Mangano spoke to the Task Force delivering a dynamic speech filled with solutions that have worked in other cities across the nation. The Task Force came away with renewed vigor and enthusiasm in their purpose. The Mayor and Task Force Facilitator, Mike Troyer took Mangano on a driving tour of various programs aimed at helping the poor and homeless in Green Bay including stops at the N.E.W. Community Clinic, Paul’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Freedom House and St. John the Evangelist Church. A working lunch was held at the New Community Shelter where Mangano addressed area public officials and community leaders. The Task Force will bring forth a plan in late fall.
	2008 October 7 A lawsuit brought against the City of Green Bay and Mayor Schmitt over the Christmas display at City Hall during the Christmas season of 2007 was resolved in court today without answering lingering Constitutional questions. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and 14 Green Bay residents had sued Green Bay, Mayor Jim Schmitt and former City Council President Chad Fradette over the display that Fradette installed Dec. 11 over an entry to City Hall. U.S. District Court Judge William Griesbach dismissed the case Tuesday for lack of jurisdiction. The nativity scene already was removed, and the city imposed a moratorium on future such displays, and so there remained no basis for continued dispute, Griesbach ruled. In a 23-page decision issued Tuesday, Griesbach said the plaintiffs basically won everything they were fighting for. "The defendants have changed their offending behavior," he wrote. "Having obtained a real-life victory, there is nothing to be gained from spending years and thousands of dollars to obtain a piece of paper saying that the plaintiffs were right."
	2008 November 19 Peace Tree The annual Peace Tree Lighting took place on the Courthouse lawn Wednesday evening. The event began in the Rotundra with younsters Jackson Joseph, 3rd grade, Lindsay Grunewald, 4th grade, both from Doty Elementary School and Bret LaPlante, 6th grade from Red Smith School reading their peace essays. The 4th & 5th graders from Tank Elementary School sang peace songs. The crowd then gathered on the lawn around the tree and at the count of ten, the tree was lit. The Tank students led the crowd singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth".
	2008 November 22 Holiday Parade The 25th Annual Time Warner Cable Holiday Parade rambled eight city blocks in downtown Green Bay with hundreds lining the streets along the route. The 90 minute parade featured 80 entries ranging from floats, bands, horses, dogs and the Milwaukee Brewer's famous Racing Sausages. The mood of the holidays began before the parade with Frank Hermans and Amy Riemer-Kruk of Let Me Be Frank Productions signing carols to the crowd. Following the parade, Santa headed to the Daily Buzz in the Historic Bellin Building to hear what the children wanted for Christmas.
	2008 Record snowfall Green Bay received a record snowfall and broke the previous record of 36.4 inches falling in December, 1887. By December 26, 2008, the snowfall which began in late November, was recorded as 39.7 inches.
	2008 December 29, 2008 Entering their final game of the season with a 5 and 10 record, the Green Bay Packers hosted the Detroit Lions who entered that game with a season total of 0 and 15. The Green Bay Packers had the opportunity to put the Lions at an NFL first with a season of zero wins. The Packers pulled out a win with a final score of 31–21 leaving the Lions with the dubious distinction of a season total of 16–0. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.
	2009 March 3, 2009: Military Avenue Planning for the reconstruction of Military Avenue began in 2007. The over-worked road needed improvements to the surface and the businesses in the corridor were invited to add input towards the final design. Town meetings were held to display design ideas and input was taken into consideration. A web site was launched in December 2008 to inform the public on design criteria. Three options were submitted to the Improvement & Service Committee at the January 26, 2009 meeting. They included a six lane with traffic signals, a four lane with traffic signals and the third option of four lanes with six roundabouts. The Improvement and Service Committee voted along with the Military Avenue businessmen for the four lane option with traffic signals. The Improvement & Service report came before the Council on February 3, 2009. At this meeting the Council overrode the committee recommendation and voted 7-5 for the roundabout option. The business association and citizens voiced their objections by signing petitions and calling city hall and aldermen. Over 700 phoned the Mayor’s office urging the Mayor to veto the council vote. On Sunday, February 8, 2009, the deadline for a veto from the mayor, Alderman Tom Weber came forth saying he would call for a council reconsideration. At the Council meeting on February 16, 2009, the council heard from interested parties regarding the roundabouts. From the approximate 100 people attending, 45 spoke both in favor and against the roundabout. The Council decided not to reconsider the issue after a seven hour meeting. Following the Council’s action, citizens began collection of signatures for a petition drive against funding for the project. On February 23, 2009 the Mayor made a formal request to rescind and amend the Council’s action of February 3rd in order to explore alternative proposals for the reconstruction. The Council met on March 3, 2009 and heard from 28 citizens opposed to roundabouts and 2 against. A vote was eventually taken for a four lane design with two roundabouts. The vote was tied with the Mayor casting the no vote. A second vote was then taken for a four lane design with signalized intersections. The vote was 10-2 with Theisen and Weber voting no.
	2009 June 11, 2009: President Barack Obama Visits City The President was greeted at the airport by Wisconsin Govenor Jim Doyle, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, Milwaukee Mayor Barrett, and Madison Mayor Cieslewicz. President Obama held a town hall style meeting at Green Bay's Southwest High School in front of approximatelly 1500 people focusing on his health care reform. The President spoke for 20 minutes and followed up with a 30 minutes session of questions from the audience. The President noted that Green Bay is a place where residents receive exceptional health care at affordable prices. That is his goal with the national health care reform.
	2009 June 15, 2009 US Conference of Mayors Green Bay’s one-of-a-kind Kids’ Day celebration will be recognized as a day to celebrate childhood and introduce youth to city services in hundreds of cities across the United States, the result of a resolution passed at the annual summer meeting of the US Conference of Mayors(USCM). The resolution, co-sponsored by ten mayors representing every region of the United States, is now part of the official policy of the USCM, and calls for each City to designate June 25th as an annual “Mayor’s Kids’ Day” in their community, complete with a variety of free activities for local youth. Green Bay's own Kid's Day will be celebrated on Thursday, June 25th.
	2009 December 2, 2009 New Veterans Clinic Announced Mayor Schmitt and Congressman Kagen announced the location for the new Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinc in Green Bay at 2800 University Avenue. “We have been working with property owners and Veterans Administration officials on this project since July,” said Mayor Schmitt. “It has been a long five months and an unbelievably competitive project. This is an important facility for all the veterans who depend on the services provided by the Veterans Administration as well as for the greater Green Bay community. This will create several hundred permanent full-time positions and nearly 500 construction jobs. We couldn’t be happier that they chose to locate this facility in the City of Green Bay.” The new facility will serve approximately 20,000 veterans, staffed by at least 250 and parking for approximately 1,200 cars. Milo C. Huempfner is Brown County’s highest decorated soldier in World War II. Huempfner earned the reputation of ‘One Man Army’ for his attacks against an armored Nazi column during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944.
	2009 December 8-9, 2009 Storm of the Decade The State of Wisconsin was in the midst of a "Storm of the Decade" beginning the evening of December 8th and continuing through December 9th. Heavy snow and winds up to 40 MPH engulfed the area causing hazardous travel conditions and numberous closings of businesses. Green Bay Metro pulled its buses off the road for safety reasons the morning of the 9th and didn't return to service until December 10th. Governor Doyle issued a state of emergency for the entire state closing all state offices except for emergency personnel. Green Bay received 14.6 inches of snow on the 9th with the heavy winds causing blowing and drifting. The stom was the worst since 1888 when 29" fell on the area.