Manitowoc Common Council Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Common Council of Manitowoc met on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall, with a remote Zoom option. Nine alderpersons were present (Beeman, Cummings, Anderson, Schlei, Sitkiewitz, Norell, Reckelberg, Brey, Benzinger); Alderperson Dunbar was excused. The meeting included presentations, a public hearing, public input, appointments, a consent agenda, and numerous committee reports. All votes were unanimous except one abstention on a parking ordinance.

Presentations

• Oath of Office & Badge Pinning: City Clerk administered oaths to Fire Lieutenant Phillip Stodola and Motor Pump Operator Tyler Fischer. Family and fire department members attended for support.
• Commendation to WOMT Radio: Presented a commendation honoring WOMT's 100th anniversary of serving the community as a trusted local news and entertainment source. Mark Seaver, Mark Stehafer, and Terry Stevenson accepted on behalf of the station, expressing gratitude and commitment to local broadcasting.
• Dedication of Jim Brey Conference Room: Mayor announced that the conference room north of the council chambers will now be known as the Jim Brey Conference Room, honoring Brey’s 30+ years of public service at city and county levels. Alderperson Jodi Brey (relative) expressed appreciation.

Public Hearing

A public hearing was held at 6:31 PM on a proposed street vacation for an unnamed street between Deerbrook Lane, Homestead Road, and Kellner Street. The City Clerk confirmed proper publication on August 3, 10, and 17, 2026. City Planner Adam explained the purpose: to vacate a portion of an existing street and rededicate a portion just north to create more buildable lots south of the previous road while maintaining a sanitary sewer line within the right-of-way. The Plan Commission had approved without objection. No members of the public appeared to speak. The hearing was closed, and the item was later considered under the Plan Commission report.

Public Input

Two residents addressed the council:

• Sean Shimke presented a petition with 844 signatures from local taxpayers opposing the city's contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate reader cameras. He argued the cameras constitute an unconstitutional digital dragnet and that the city bypassed voter input by funding them through vague budget labels. He demanded a roll-call vote at the next council meeting to place a moratorium on the cameras and remove them. He claimed the police chief and mayor signed off without public debate, and criticized the budget for a 3.7 million dollar increase, including 1.23 million for payroll and benefits, funded by an 8.31% property tax hike.
• Carl Kimmis (resident of Two Rivers; daughter lives in Manitowoc) described an incident on June 26, 2026, involving police response to his daughter's situation with an ex-husband. He alleged police misconduct, lying, and failure to press charges, and requested a meeting with council members to present video evidence. He asked if there was a contact like Jim Brey to hear his concerns. The mayor directed him to council members' contact information on the city website.

Appointments and Business Presented by the Mayor

Mayor made appointments to two committees:

• Crime Prevention Committee: Gabriella DeVry
• Municipal Tree Commission: Andy Janicy Both appointments were approved unanimously (motion by Sitkiewitz, second by Reckelberg).

Consent Agenda

The consent agenda was approved unanimously without removal. It included:

• Minutes of July 20, 2026.
• Finance Committee items: 2nd Qtr 2026 Claims Report from City Attorney’s Office; 2nd Qtr 2026 Budget Exception Report; Class B liquor license for Green Street F&S LLC; Hecker/Viebahn Agricultural Land Lease Renewal with Charmwood Farms (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2031); Operator’s licenses for E. Whatley (1-year), M. Malczewski (2-year), I. Reyes (1-year); General City Claims totaling $6,095,559.95.
• Public Works Committee items: Award of bid to Hamann Construction for Manitowoc Public Library renovation ($310,583.00); Award to Aqualis for televising sewers ($28,741.20).
• Public Safety Committee item: Denial of parking prohibition on S. 35th Street/Lindbergh Drive but approval to install double yellow centerline pavement marking on the curve.
• Parks & Recreation Committee items: Approval of events (Manitowalk vs ALS, High School Girls Fall League, Flyover Silver Creek, Halloween Glow Space Race); Waiver of fees (Annual Celebration of Clients, Shipbuilders Fastpitch tryouts).

Committee Reports

Committee of the Whole – No business.

Finance Committee – Four items approved unanimously:

1. 26-0698: Scope of engagement for issuance of up to $5,637,072 in Taxable Private LSL Replacement Revenue Bonds (Safe Drinking Water Loan).
2. 26-0699: Resolution authorizing the bond issuance and sale, and approval of the Financial Assistance Agreement.
3. 26-0707: Partial release of easement for Manitowoc Tool & Manufacturing LLC, Lot 1 of Certified Survey.
4. 26-0737: Resolution authorizing submission of a WEDC Idle Sites Grant application for infrastructure at the River Point District.

Personnel Committee – Approved unanimously:

1. 26-0738: Resolution to revise employee alcohol misuse prevention and anti-drug policies for both non-DOT and DOT-regulated employees.

Public Works Committee – Four items approved unanimously:

1. 26-0700: Amendment No. 1 for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Master Plan.
2. 26-0704: Funding for storm sewer repair on easement at Waldo and Fleetwood Drive (CAWG funding).
3. 26-0706: Approval of usage of Quay Street Dock for loading concrete trucks (clarified by Alderman Schlei that they are loading trucks, not concrete on the dock; only for a couple of days).
4. 26-0742: 2026 Computer Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location Contract with Transit Technologies.

Public Safety Committee – Five items approved unanimously, with one abstention:

1. 26-0725: Ambulance service agreement with Roncalli High School.
2. 26-0726: Ambulance service agreement with Lincoln High School.
3. 26-0739: Ordinance to amend Section 10.390 (Parking Prohibited on Riverview Drive and Meadow Lane). Vote: 8-0-1 – Alderman Anderson abstained because he is an employee of Holy Family Memorial, which the ordinance affects.
4. 26-0740: Ordinance to amend Section 10.170 (Through Intersections – S 22nd St and Summit St) to install a stop sign.

Parks & Recreation Committee – Approved unanimously:

1. 26-0745: Report recommending approval of multiple special events subject to council action: Manitowoc Metalfest 4 (9/11-12/2026), Hoods & Hops 5th Annual Classic Car Show (10/4/2026), Festival Foods Turkey Trot (11/26/2026, with noise ordinance waiver 7-8 AM, park hours waiver 5-6 AM, road closures 7-10 AM), Lincoln High School Homecoming Parade (9/25/2026), Nightmare Off 8th Street (10/3/2026), Maritime Lofts Press Event (8/27/2026).

Plan Commission – Approved unanimously:

1. 26-0542: Resolution approving the discontinuance of a portion of Deerbrook Lane, in the interest of the public, per Wis. Stat. 66.1003(4). This is the same street vacation addressed in the public hearing.

Other Business

• The next Finance Committee meeting will be September 8, 2026 (rescheduled from Labor Day) at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers.
• The next Personnel Committee meeting is September 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM in chambers.
• The next Public Works Committee meeting is September 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM in chambers.
• The next Public Safety Committee meeting is September 14, 2026.
• The next Parks & Recreation Committee meeting, originally August 26, was moved to September 2, 2026, due to a conflict with the Library Board meeting.
• The next regular Common Council meeting is Monday, September 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM.

Key Outcomes

• All appointments, resolutions, ordinances, contracts, and agreements were approved, many without discussion.
• The only dissenting vote was Alderman Anderson's abstention on the Riverview Drive/Meadow Lane parking ordinance.
• No items were removed from the consent agenda.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM.