Finance Committee Meeting Summary – April 14, 2026
Finance Committee Meeting Summary – April 14, 2026
Note: The official minutes list the meeting date as April 9, 2026, but per instruction, the date used here is April 14, 2026.
The City of Manitowoc Finance Committee met on April 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the 1st Floor Conference Room West and via Zoom. All five members were present: Alderpersons Sitkiewitz (Chair), Schlei, Reckelberg, Dunbar, and Brey. The committee approved a consent agenda, held a closed session on two sensitive items, heard public comment, and voted on a series of licenses, ordinances, and agreements.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the March 3, 2026 Finance Committee meeting – approved and placed on file.
- 1st Qtr. 2026 Capital Allocation Working Group (CAWG) Request Log Report – approved and placed on file.
- 1st Qtr. 2026 Internal Controls To Prevent and Detect Fraud Report – approved and placed on file.
- 4th Qtr. 2025 Budget Exception Report – approved and placed on file.
- Report out on TID 24 Regional Stormwater Pond Payment – approved and placed on file.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Parker Conn, representing Gaffrian Kahn, spoke on behalf of Applebee’s regarding agenda item 26-0282. He explained that ownership changes and a new legal entity were necessitating a new liquor license for the Applebee’s Grill & Bar + IHOP dual-brand restaurant. He stated the operations would be effectively the same with the addition of breakfast menu items and offered to answer questions. The committee noted his comments and proceeded to consider the license later in the meeting.
Closed Session
- The committee convened in closed session under Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(e) and (g) to discuss:
- 26-0293: Development agreement with Gorman and Company for the former Mirro site development.
- 26-0089: Braun Building Center, Inc. claim against the City (amount >$5,000).
Upon reconvening in open session, the committee took the following actions:
Key Outcomes
- Development Agreement (26-0293): Unanimous motion (5-0) to instruct city staff to continue working on the development agreement with Gorman and Company for the former Mirro site.
- Claim Settlement (26-0089): Unanimous motion (5-0) to direct the City Attorney’s Office to prepare documents to settle Braun Building Center, Inc.’s claim against the City for an amount not to exceed $173,315.42, and to work with the Finance Department to pay the claim.
Discussion Items & Votes
- Weights & Measures Licenses (26-0222): Approved and placed on file by unanimous vote (5-0).
- Liquor Licenses (Multiple): Four applications approved unanimously (5-0 each):
- 26-0282: Applebee’s Grill & Bar + IHOP (transfer of license to new legal entity).
- 26-0283: Silver Valley Banquet Hall (transfer).
- 26-0284: Elbow Room (new license).
- 26-0285: Dos Caminos Latin Food (new license).
- 1st Qtr. 2026 Claims Report (26-0286): Accepted and placed on file unanimously. The City Attorney noted most pending claims were mailbox damage claims, with one older claim awaiting receipts.
- Ordinance to Amend MMC 3.120 – RWAM Boards and Association (26-0289): Approved unanimously (5-0). The ordinance reduces the board from 13 to 11 members and adds the tourism director as a permanent member. The discussion indicated this aligns with other city committees and recognizes the value of the tourism director role.
- Resolution to Increase Court Costs (26-0287): Approved unanimously (5-0). This allows the municipal court to increase costs up to state limits, with future adjustments as the judge sees fit. Alderperson Schlei noted the ability to revisit if needed.
- Ordinance to Create MMC 14.005 – Enhanced Penalties (26-0288): Approved unanimously (5-0). This clarifies that enhanced penalties for nuisance and noise violations apply based on convictions regardless of timing, similar to OWI laws.
- Ordinance to Amend MMC 11.060 – Licenses and Permits (26-0290): Approved unanimously (5-0). This gives the police department more discretion to evaluate the safety impact of convictions for taxicab drivers rather than automatic denial.
- Agreement with FASTER Fleet Management Software (26-0291): Approved unanimously (5-0). The implementation cost is $40,000 (budgeted $50,000) with a $10,000 annual fee for a five-year agreement. The solution replaces an unsupported Windows DOS program and offers enhanced tablet-based tracking, cloud functionality, and integration with diagnostics.
- 2026 Budget Amendment – General Fund (26-0292): Approved unanimously (5-0). The budget-neutral amendment reallocates $10,000 from the tuition reimbursement program to rewards and recognition, and $1,500 to the mayor’s budget for registration fees for awards programs.
Adjournment
Alderperson Schlei left the meeting after the budget amendment. The remaining four members voted unanimously to adjourn.
Meeting Transcript
Don't move too fast now. All right, it is 530. So I will call the finance committee to order. Uh roll call. The entire committee is present with our members two on Zoom. Public comment. Is there anybody for the public that wishes to address the finance committee this evening? Second call for public comment. I this is sorry, yeah. This is anybody on Zoom for public comment. Yes, I do. Okay, not hearing any. I will close public comment. Then we will move on to the consent agenda. Eric, can you hear us? Item that anybody member of the committee wants to remove the from the consent agenda. If not, I would look for a motion to approve the consent agenda. There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Motion and a second. There is no discussion on consent. Can you guys hear us on Zoom at all? And opposed. Okay, we're gonna hop around a little bit this evening. Eric full session items first. Eric, can you hear me? So notice this hereby given that the above government body may adjourn into a closed session during the meeting is authorized by section 19.851E. Who's got the statute with authorizes the governmental body to meeting the closed session for the purpose of deliberate or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whatever competitive or bargaining reasons require a post session? Specific subject matter that may be considered in closed session is 26-0293. City of Matwalk development agreement with Gorbin and Company for the former mural site development. And notice us here by given that the above government body may adjured in the closed session during the meeting is authorized by section 19.851g of the scratch statutes, which authorizes the governmental body to meet into closed session for the purpose of conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Specific subject matter that may be considered a closed session is 26-0089. Uh Brown Building Center claim versus the city, which is greater than $5,000. The motion to convenient to closed session was made by all their person. Reprof. Me. Ryan. All right, roll call. Aye, Reckleberg. Schlei. We're not getting any. He raised his hand. Not getting any audio. Okay. Okay. Dunbar. Okay. And Bry. Aye.
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