Public Meetings - Manitowoc, Wisconsin

The City of Manitowoc Police and Fire Commission met in the lower-level meeting/training room of the Public Safety Building and via Zoom on March 11, 2026. The agenda and approved minutes list the meeting date as March 10, 2026, while the provided context identifies it as March 11, 2026; this summary uses March 11 in the title as instructed. The transcript also refers to the excused commissioner as Matthew Sower, whereas the minutes list Commissioner Sauer. Four commissioners were present (Vander Bloomen, Zigmunt, Schema, and Wellner), and Commissioner Sauer was excused. The commission unanimously approved routine reports, acted on a Captain of Patrol eligibility list, entered closed session for personnel matters, and established a Fire Rescue Chief eligibility list. Consent Calendar - Approved by a single 4-0 motion, with no items removed: January and February 2026 Police and Fire Commission minutes; January and February 2026 Police Department monthly reports; the 2025 Police Department Annual Report; January and February 2026 Fire Rescue Department monthly reports; and January and February 2026 Building Inspection monthly reports. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke or submitted comment during the public comment period. Discussion Items - Police Chief reports: For January and February 2026, crashes were up slightly compared with the prior year in both months; traffic citations and warnings were also up, which the Chief attributed to increased staffing. The 2025 annual report was presented as a historical document and is available online. - Fire Rescue Chief reports: January and February 2026 reports reflected the transition to NERIS, the national electronic reporting incident system, effective January 1. The new format grouped incidents into seven main fire incident types and no longer included monthly structure fire details or property loss/saved dollar values. The Chief expressed some dissatisfaction with the loss of that detail and said the data could still be obtained on request. EMS out-the-door times remained above the department's 90% goal. A commissioner asked that the month and year be added to page two to prevent pages from being mixed up. - Building Inspection reports: No anomalies were reported for January and February; staff were busy with progress inspections for new coffee shops and commercial additions and renovations. The Fire Rescue Chief noted that Lead Building Supervisor Bill Nichols is retiring; his last day will be April 6, with a coffee reception on April 2 from 8 a.m. to noon. - Police Captain of Patrol eligibility list (Item 26-0181): The Police Chief stated that he is retiring in a few weeks, Captain Jansen will become Assistant Police Chief, and a third-shift Captain position is being opened. The sole applicant, Lieutenant Robert Harps, was described by the Chief as a seasoned lieutenant with patrol and training experience. The commission approved the eligibility list for six months to allow his promotion. Key Outcomes - Approved the consent agenda 4-0, with Sauer excused. - Approved the Police Department Captain of Patrol eligibility list, including Lt. Robert Harps, for six months, 4-0, with Sauer excused. - Convened into closed session at 4:11 p.m. under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) to consider police and fire employee performance updates and to interview an internal applicant for Fire Rescue Chief; reconvened in open session at 5:10 p.m. - Placed on file the Police Department Employee Performance Update (26-0173), Fire Rescue Department Employee Performance Update (26-0174), and the internal applicant interview for Fire Rescue Chief (26-0175), each by 4-0 votes, with Sauer excused. - Established the Fire Rescue Chief eligibility list (26-0176) with all internal candidates for three months, 4-0, with Sauer excused. - Adjourned at 5:18 p.m. on a 4-0 vote.

The Public Safety Committee of the City of Manitowoc met on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. All five committee members (Beeman, Reckelberg, Cummings, DeBaets, Anderson) were present. The meeting lasted approximately 35 minutes and covered routine reports, a sex offender residency appeal, an updated school resource officer agreement, and discussions on snow removal and pedestrian safety near schools. Consent Calendar - February 2026 Public Safety Minutes – Approved. - February 2026 Police Department Monthly Report – Approved. - 2025 Police Department Annual Report – Approved. - January 2026 Fire Rescue Department Monthly Report – Approved. - February 2026 Fire Rescue Department Monthly Report – Approved. - February 2026 Building Inspection Monthly Report – Approved. - February 2026 Blight Fund Report – Approved. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public offered comment. Discussion Items 26-0171: Sex Offender Residency Board Appeal for Domanick Robinson Police Chief Reimer recommended denial of the request, noting that the appellant is currently incarcerated at Kendall Marine Correctional Institution and has no connections to Manitowoc. The probation officer reported that the appellant is from Green Bay but cannot reside there due to proximity to a school or park. Chief Reimer also noted the incomplete application form. The committee voted unanimously (5-0) to deny the appeal and refer the matter to the Common Council. 26-0172: School Resource Officer Agreement – City of Manitowoc and Manitowoc Public School District Chief Reimer explained revisions to the agreement: mileage reimbursement will now be based on actual miles driven (replacing a flat $40/month stipend), and D.A.R.E. instruction has been removed from the SRO’s duties at the request of MPSD. The city is also converting one police squad car for SRO use, with the school reimbursing the city for mileage in that vehicle. The committee unanimously approved the agreement and referred it to the Common Council. 26-0187: Discussion on Public/Private School Snow Removal Alderperson DeBaets raised constituent concerns about snow removal around schools, particularly side streets not on the salt route. Operations Division Manager Billy Hutterer noted that most schools already have at least one adjacent street on a salt route. He identified a few schools (Rock Holly, Bethany, Roncalli, Jefferson, Washington, Wilson) where additional streets might need service. Discussion included the costs of signs, ordinance changes, and potential extra salt/plow time. Alderperson Cummings expressed caution about resource constraints but supported referring the item to the Public Infrastructure Committee. The committee voted unanimously (5-0) to refer the matter to the Public Infrastructure Committee for data collection and evaluation of plowing/salting all streets surrounding public and private schools after each snowfall. 26-0188: Discussion on Safer Parking and Pedestrian Crossings Near Schools Alderperson DeBaets reported complaints about vehicles parking too close to corners and blocking sidewalks, especially at Franklin and Rock Holly schools, creating visibility hazards. Chief Reimer suggested that targeted enforcement and education would be more effective than broad policy changes, as specific problem areas can be addressed with observation. Discussion also covered the role of crossing guards (not to be diverted from safety), and the possibility of residents reporting repeat offenders with photos. The committee voted unanimously (5-0) to place this communication on file, noting that ongoing communication with the police department will help address specific locations. Key Outcomes - 26-0171 Denied and referred to Council – Unanimous (5-0). - 26-0172 Approved and referred to Council – Unanimous (5-0). - 26-0187 Referred to Public Infrastructure Committee – Unanimous (5-0). - 26-0188 Placed on file – Unanimous (5-0). - Meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary can be generated.

The Board of Public Works held a brief meeting on March 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM in the Common Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Alderperson Norell with six members present (Reed, Nycz, Norell, Beeman, Reckelberg, and Beeman) and two absent (Nickels and Koski). The board received and referred bids for the 2026 Concrete Paving I Program and quotes for 2026 Ready Mix Concrete to the Department of Public Infrastructure for tabulation and evaluation. No change orders, pay estimates, or contractor payroll affidavits were presented. The meeting adjourned at 4:03 PM. Bids for 2026 Concrete Paving I Program, Project WS-26-1 - One electronic bid was received from Vinton Construction Company in the amount of $1,911,997.76, which included a bid bond. - A motion was made by Nycz, seconded by Beeman, to refer the bid to the Department of Public Infrastructure for tabulation and evaluation. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). Quotes for 2026 Ready Mix Concrete, QM-26-1 - Three quotes were received: Carew Concrete ($107,850.00), R&J Fricke ($129,050.00), and Schmitz Ready Mix ($137,400.00). - A motion was made by Nycz, seconded by Reckelberg, to refer the quotes to the Director of Public Infrastructure for tabulation and recommendation. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). Other Agenda Items - No change orders, pay estimates (various engineering/public works projects), or contractor payroll affidavits were presented. - A motion to adjourn was made by Nycz, seconded by Beeman, and carried unanimously (6-0) at 4:03 PM. Key Outcomes - The single bid for the 2026 Concrete Paving I Program was referred to the Department of Public Infrastructure for tabulation and evaluation. - The three quotes for 2026 Ready Mix Concrete were referred to the Director of Public Infrastructure for tabulation and recommendation.