OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting – March 3, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Tuesday, March 3, 2026
BodyManitowoc, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:38

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right, it is 5 30.

0:06

I will call the finance committee meeting to order.

0:10

First up is poll call.

0:14

Everybody is present this evening.

0:16

Is this not?

0:34

Well, we'll just up.

0:37

All right.

0:37

So the first up is roll call.

0:39

The entire committee is present.

0:43

Then we'll move on to public comment.

0:50

Well, we thought there'd be some clunkiness with all the work, so that's okay.

0:55

So up next is public comment.

0:56

Is there anybody from the public that wishes to address the finance committee this evening?

1:02

Second call for public comment.

1:06

Third and final call for public comment.

1:10

Are we on Zoom this evening?

1:13

There's nobody on.

1:15

Okay.

1:16

When C none, I will close public comment.

1:18

Then we will move on to the consent agenda.

1:21

We have a couple items on consent.

1:23

Is there any item that any member of the committee wishes to have removed from the consent agenda?

1:30

None, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda.

1:33

So move to second.

1:35

There's a motion and a second.

1:38

There's no discussion on consent.

1:40

So all those in favor and opposed.

1:43

All right, consent passes.

1:46

First up is 26-0157, which is a hearing on a denial of a taxi cab license application.

1:54

Uh for Jay Hawker Hockerton.

2:02

So John, if you want to come up to the table, uh Corey, please come up to the table.

2:06

And then John, I'm gonna have city clerk Mackenzie Reed swear you in.

2:26

All right, John, as I mentioned prior to the meeting starting, this is your opportunity to address the committee this evening.

2:32

Um if they have any questions for you, that'll be their opportunity.

2:36

And then if the city, which is represented by Deputy Chief Pusel, um, if he has any questions of the testimony you're giving, uh, he'll have that opportunity as well, too.

2:45

So this is your opportunity.

2:53

Um so I I guess what I'd mainly like to address is there were there were two convictions that I had in my past that were cited in the recommendation item.

3:02

Uh one would uh WI and the other was a violation, but no contact order.

3:10

Um I've done a lot of things in the last 15 months or so um to change my life and the things that were troubling me at the time that I need I take full responsibility for my actions, but there were things in my life that were not right.

3:29

Specifically, I'm a recovering alcohol at the time of those incidents.

3:34

I was active in my addiction.

3:37

So um specifically to those um for the second OWI and my alcoholism in December 2024.

3:47

I saw treatment um residential 96 program in at Exodus in Glostum, Wisconsin.

3:55

Um did that program um in March last year and moved to one of their sober living houses also in Blask.

4:06

Um after a couple of months of the sober living, um I had an opportunity to become the house manager for that house.

4:15

Um not big responsibilities, but but some and uh I also was given the opportunity to be one of their uh van drivers taking the people that were in the house to events, uh recovery events and sold for did that on a regular page, and there is a letter from my counselor index to this case that we've said um I have enjoyed sobriety since that agreement so almost for a few months.

4:53

Um in November, uh I made the choice to move to a silver living house here at Manitobal.

5:02

Um, there were some it was some personal issues that I that I was having with one of the residents, and it just became awkward, and I decided to remove myself from that situation.

5:13

Something came of it.

5:14

I don't know, you know, I can talk in that way, but I just decided to review myself in that situation.

5:19

And I came to restoration house here in Manitow Penn Street, another silver living group on.

5:28

Um, and in about a month ago, uh, I became one of the house leads for that one.

5:34

Well, similar to the house manager I had down at X.

5:38

Um I I take my recovery very seriously.

5:43

Um my recovery program is solid.

5:46

Um I live with other recovering addicts, so I have constant support things of that nature.

5:53

Um far as the other um even no contact order.

6:03

That was with my ex-wife after our divorce.

6:07

Um again during my active addiction.

6:10

And I have since, especially since my treatment now over the past year plus, um, have largely repaired the relationship that I have with her.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Liquor Licensing█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Mental Health Awareness████████12%
Procedural███████10%
Parks and Recreation███5%
Water And Wastewater Management███5%
Public Works██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting – March 3, 2026

The Finance Committee of the City of Manitowoc met on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. All five committee members (Sitkiewitz, Schlei, Reckelberg, Dunbar, Brey) were present. The meeting covered a hearing on a denied taxicab license, several license approvals, a grant agreement, and an ARPA subrecipient amendment.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of the February 3, 2026 Finance Committee meeting.
  • Approved the 4th Quarter 2025 Capital Allocation Working Group (CAWG) Request Log Report.
  • Both items were approved unanimously without discussion.

Discussion Items

26-0157: Hearing on Denial of Taxicab Driver’s License (TD-2605) for J. Honkanen

  • Applicant J. Honkanen testified, acknowledging prior convictions (OWI and violation of no-contact order) but describing his recovery from alcoholism over the past 15 months. He presented letters of support from his treatment program (Exodus) in Glostum, his sober-living house manager role, and his ex-wife. He stated he had completed training with Maritime Cab and was offered a position.
  • Deputy Chief Pusel explained that city ordinance prohibited him from recommending approval due to the applicant's conviction record.
  • Committee members commented positively on the applicant's testimony and letters, particularly from his ex-wife and recovery community. Alderperson Schlei noted he had never heard anyone say they were “enjoying their sobriety” and found the ex-wife’s letter “speaks volumes.” Alderperson Dunbar emphasized that the support letters and the applicant’s commitment to recovery were key factors.
  • Motion by Reckelberg, seconded by Schlei, to approve the license pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 111.335. Carried 5-0.

26-0158: Application of “Class B” Retail Intoxicating Liquor & Fermented Malt Beverage License (TAV-2542A) for Trattoria Tennie LLC, 2204 Washington St.

  • A brief discussion about the LLC name not appearing on the application form. City staff noted the cover sheet includes the LLC designation. Alderperson Schlei spoke in favor, noting the applicant is a constituent and the restaurant will be a great addition. Motion to approve carried 5-0.

26-0159: Request from PetSkull Brewing for Temporary Extension of Premises for Food Truck Rally on North 11th Street

  • The request covers Tuesday food truck rallies from May 5, 2026, to September 29, 2026, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on the boulevard between York and Buffalo Streets. Clarified that the area is west of PetSkull Brewing and involves only a small turnaround road that will be blocked for the events. Motion to approve carried 5-0.

26-0160: 2025 Municipal Court Statistics Report

  • A financial report submitted by the municipal court. Placed on file unanimously.

26-0161: Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Recreation Aids Grant Agreement (SADLP6261473_URGP626199) for $500k with $500k Local Match

  • Discussion noted this grant relates to the Red Arrow Park project phases 1 and 2, with $500,000 borrowed for Phase 2 in 2025. The grant provides $500,000, bringing the total project cost to $1.5 million. Motion to approve and enter into the agreement carried 5-0.

26-0162: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Subrecipient Agreement with Manitowoc County for Water Main Extension Phase 2 & 3 Amendment

  • The amendment adjusts the agreement to include change orders that were not part of the original estimate. The city negotiated with the county to allow the change orders; the agreement had already been executed due to timing constraints, but the formal acceptance was placed on the agenda for approval. Motion to accept the agreement carried 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • The committee approved all agenda items unanimously (5-0).
  • The taxicab license for J. Honkanen was granted despite the initial denial recommendation, based on his recovery efforts and support letters.
  • The DNR grant and ARPA amendment were approved, enabling continued progress on the Red Arrow Park project and water main extension.
  • No items were removed from the consent agenda.

Meeting Transcript

All right, it is 5 30. I will call the finance committee meeting to order. First up is poll call. Everybody is present this evening. Is this not? Well, we'll just up. All right. So the first up is roll call. The entire committee is present. Then we'll move on to public comment. Well, we thought there'd be some clunkiness with all the work, so that's okay. So up next is public comment. Is there anybody from the public that wishes to address the finance committee this evening? Second call for public comment. Third and final call for public comment. Are we on Zoom this evening? There's nobody on. Okay. When C none, I will close public comment. Then we will move on to the consent agenda. We have a couple items on consent. Is there any item that any member of the committee wishes to have removed from the consent agenda? None, I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. So move to second. There's a motion and a second. There's no discussion on consent. So all those in favor and opposed. All right, consent passes. First up is 26-0157, which is a hearing on a denial of a taxi cab license application. Uh for Jay Hawker Hockerton. So John, if you want to come up to the table, uh Corey, please come up to the table. And then John, I'm gonna have city clerk Mackenzie Reed swear you in. All right, John, as I mentioned prior to the meeting starting, this is your opportunity to address the committee this evening. Um if they have any questions for you, that'll be their opportunity. And then if the city, which is represented by Deputy Chief Pusel, um, if he has any questions of the testimony you're giving, uh, he'll have that opportunity as well, too. So this is your opportunity. Um so I I guess what I'd mainly like to address is there were there were two convictions that I had in my past that were cited in the recommendation item. Uh one would uh WI and the other was a violation, but no contact order. Um I've done a lot of things in the last 15 months or so um to change my life and the things that were troubling me at the time that I need I take full responsibility for my actions, but there were things in my life that were not right. Specifically, I'm a recovering alcohol at the time of those incidents. I was active in my addiction. So um specifically to those um for the second OWI and my alcoholism in December 2024. I saw treatment um residential 96 program in at Exodus in Glostum, Wisconsin. Um did that program um in March last year and moved to one of their sober living houses also in Blask. Um after a couple of months of the sober living, um I had an opportunity to become the house manager for that house. Um not big responsibilities, but but some and uh I also was given the opportunity to be one of their uh van drivers taking the people that were in the house to events, uh recovery events and sold for did that on a regular page, and there is a letter from my counselor index to this case that we've said um I have enjoyed sobriety since that agreement so almost for a few months. Um in November, uh I made the choice to move to a silver living house here at Manitobal. Um, there were some it was some personal issues that I that I was having with one of the residents, and it just became awkward, and I decided to remove myself from that situation. Something came of it. I don't know, you know, I can talk in that way, but I just decided to review myself in that situation.

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