Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Public Works Committee convened on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers, with all five members present. The meeting featured extensive public comment and deliberation on the Michigan Avenue reconstruction project, followed by unanimous approvals of several infrastructure and administrative items.
Several residents from the Michigan Avenue area spoke primarily about the proposed street reconstruction between North 13th and North 18th Streets.
During the discussion item, Jenny Schneider (1518 Michigan Ave) reiterated the neighborhood’s desire for collaboration, asked about alternative designs that could save more trees, and requested involvement in planning, including access to arborist assessments and tree commission input.
Proposed Reconstruction of Michigan Avenue – North 13th to North 18th Street (26-0881):
The committee discussed the project’s status. Alderman Sitkiewitz noted the committee had previously recommended not including the project in the 2027 budget. Mayor confirmed that, consistent with the committee’s direction, he does not plan to include Michigan Avenue in the 2027 budget. City Engineer Dan Koski stated no final design exists; only a preliminary layout based on a 36‑foot width was prepared. He explained that aging utilities under the street require replacement, which will impact tree roots, and noted that the city’s forester found more than half of the trees to be dead, diseased, dying, or dangerous (4D). He stressed that staff wants to preserve trees but faces physical constraints.
Committee members expressed openness: Alderman Brey suggested including residents in planning to improve transparency. Chair Schlei noted that other communities (Fish Creek, Waukesha) require annual assessments for features like bump-outs and parklets, and said he will ask about alternatives at an upcoming convention. The item was placed on file with no action.
Note: The agenda listed this as a discussion and action item, but no vote was taken on a reconstruction plan.
WDNR WPDES Permit – Separate Permit for Collection System (26-0878):
The committee approved the recommendation to separate the city’s collection system permit from the Manitowoc Public Utilities (MPU) treatment permit, as is common in similar cities and supported by the DNR. The change reflects existing operational segregation and will require separate compliance reports.
Ayres Contract Amendment No. 1 for Washington & Calumet Sanitary Sewer Plan Preparation (26-0868):
The committee approved a $31,000 amendment for surveying approximately 100 manholes to verify grades for sewer design, ensuring accurate plans and avoiding costly rework.
Transit Development Plan (TDP) and Fare Increase Approval (26-0877):
The committee approved the TDP, which includes route efficiencies, marketing recommendations, capital improvements, exploration of on-demand services, and recommended fare increases (first since before COVID). A public hearing will be scheduled at the October Common Council meeting.
DOT Proposed Functional Classification Update – Manitowoc-Two Rivers Urban Area (26-0876):
The committee approved the final resolution and updated classification maps, fulfilling the federal 10-year review. Changes include upgrading North 18th Street to principal arterial and downgrading several former one-way streets.
CAWG Unbudgeted Request for Concrete Paving on N. 2nd Street (Reed Ave to North-Dead End) (26-0875):
The committee approved an additional concrete paving request (including curb, gutter, and some driveway replacement) not to exceed $55,000, triggered by MPU water main work. The request was referred to the Common Council.
Authorizing Resolution – DPW to Sign Real Estate Documents for Washington & Calumet Reconstruction Project (26-0867):
The committee approved a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to sign real estate acquisition documents for the project’s 150–200 parcels, with 100% state reimbursement. Unusual or high-cost requests will be brought back to the committee.
The committee took the following actions:
The meeting adjourned at 6:39 PM.
It is 5 30. I will call the public works committee to order. Roll call. All members are present. That would move us on to uh the agenda, uh, which begins with public comment. Uh, if you're here to comment on uh uh the the discussion of alternatives for Michigan Avenue, there will be representative from your neighborhood that's gonna be talking about that. However, if you do want to speak, it is public comment, it's open to anyone. All you need to do is tell us your name and address, and uh please limit your comments to less than five minutes. And is there anyone here to speak to public comment? Yes, please come on up to the microphone here and name and address, please. Hi, my name is Amanda Saraki. I live at 1415 Michigan Avenue, and I prepared just a little letter that I'm going to share with all of you. Um we were here a year ago to um talk about the street project on Michigan Avenue, and we've done some research as a neighborhood on alternatives to the project, and spoke to some other communities that have done similar projects. And I had the opportunity to talk to a gentleman out of Fish Creek, um, Gibraltar did a similar project. Um I just want to share that I care very deeply about this uh project, but what what it will look like when it's finished. Um we as a neighborhood and a community understand that the needs of infant infrastructure need to be updated, that we live on an old street. Um, but we're asking the uh city of Manitowak to explore alternatives to the reconstruction of the street, as did Fish Creek. The thing I liked about the Fish Creek Project is they replaced a collapsed storm sewer, installed new curbs, gutters, and pavement, um, replaced lines under uh utility lines that were old, um, but they did it with preserving the trees in mind. That was always at the forefront of the project when they went to get a engineer, an engineering company to draw plans that was in the notes that um the trees had to be preserved, and the canopy canopy had to be um intact as it provides a lot of benefits to the street in the future. Um another thing that struck me most from their project is that um not just what they did with the trees, but what they did, the town board did with the citizens. They had a committee of of neighborhood people just like the neighbors that are here today that were on the committee, and they worked together to create a plan that worked for everybody involved. And I think we had a walkthrough with some city members, and I felt like our voices and our concerns as citizens on that street weren't heard. It was that the decision was made already, that the engineering process and design and everything had already um been in place, and it was kind of the way it is. And we live on a beautiful street, and we would love to maintain that. Um that beauty for years to come. Um the mature trees are part of what makes Michigan Avenue so great. Once they're gone, we can't put them back. Um, so we're just asking that um everybody look at that and consider it. Thank you. Thank you. I forgot to mention by the way that uh any questions would have to come up uh later because we're not allowed to respond to any questions. Public comment is specifically one way of the public speaking to us. We're not allowed to speak back or answer questions. Thank you for your comment. Uh anyone else in the gallery for comment? Anyone at all? Anyone online? Okay. Well, wait a minute. Sorry. My