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Record of Proceedings

Manitowoc Public Safety Committee Meeting - October 12, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Monday, October 12, 2026
BodyManitowoc, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateMonday, October 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:26

Okay, uh it is 5 30.

0:28

I will call the meeting of October public safety meeting to order.

0:39

Uh roll call.

0:40

Everybody is present except Alder Cummings, who uh is excused.

0:46

He had called me earlier.

0:49

Um public comment.

0:52

Here I'm going to explain that if you're here to speak on the request for a four-way stop at the intersection of 21st and Flambeau, or if you're here to give testimony and comment on the speed consideration on Manasha Avenue, we will take that up when that item comes up before the committee.

1:14

So when we get to that item, I will call for additional public input specifically on that item.

1:21

But if you're here to provide public input on any other matter that is not on our agenda, this is your time to be recognized and speak.

1:32

Is there anybody here to just give general comments in public input regarding the city?

1:40

I call that once.

1:48

And I guess we do it three times.

1:51

So the third time public input, not hearing anything.

1:55

I will call public closed.

2:02

Uh consent agenda.

2:05

Are there any items on the consent agenda that the uh members would like pulled and discussed under discussion items?

2:15

Not seeing any, I would accept a motion to accept the agenda as presented.

2:21

There's a motion and a second.

2:23

Those in favor say aye.

2:25

Aye.

2:26

Approved unanimously.

2:30

Now we move on to our discussion and action items.

2:34

First item on the agenda is 26-0918.

2:44

For Giovanni Re Ortiz.

2:50

Chief?

Unassigned speaker

2:59

Yeah,

Speaker 2

3:00

thank you, Alder Reckelberg.

3:01

Um I guess uh so it was denied.

3:04

Let me bring it up here real quick.

Speaker 3

3:06

Um did you have any uh

Speaker 2

3:08

concerns after after reviewing the the document?

Speaker 4

3:16

Concerns with the

Speaker 2

3:16

denial?

3:17

Yeah.

3:18

No.

3:18

Okay.

3:19

Do you want me to explain a little bit of of where how I came to that conclusion?

3:23

Please.

3:23

Okay.

3:23

Yeah.

Speaker 3

3:24

Yeah.

3:24

I think I'll find it here.

Speaker 2

3:30

Um, so Mr.

3:32

Ortiz, uh, this is the second uh submission of the uh sex offender board of appeal um that he submitted.

3:41

Uh it was once declined under under Chief Reimer.

3:44

Um and Chief Reimer had uh some of the same concerns that I currently have.

3:49

Um the gentleman is homeless, uh no no uh community ties and has never lived in the city of Manitowk.

3:56

Um very incomplete Board of Appeals document that he submitted that you gentlemen have have seen.

4:03

Um Chief Reimer denied it already as we discussed.

Unassigned speaker

4:07

Um Giovanni was uh placed at the TLP, the transitional living place, um he intentionally violated uh one of his restrictions was to avoid uh the victim of uh what he was charged with.

Speaker 2

4:21

Um so he he the intentional act of going past the victim's residence uh shows tells me that obviously um he's not correcting the behavior.

4:34

Um so I guess those are my concerns.

4:36

If you have any other additional questions, I'd be more than happy to answer

Unassigned speaker

4:39

them.

Speaker 1

4:42

Anyone on the committee have questions of the chief regarding this matter?

4:47

No questions.

4:50

I'll make a motion.

4:52

There is a motion by Beaman to deny the request.

4:56

To deny the request.

4:58

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████████████████39%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Pending Litigation████████████████16%
Fire Safety███████████11%
Procedural██████6%
Public Works██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Homelessness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Manitowoc Public Safety Committee Meeting - October 12, 2026

The Public Safety Committee met on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers with remote participation via Zoom. Members present: Reckelberg, Beeman, Anderson, and Benzinger; Alderperson Cummings was excused. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the September 2026 Public Safety minutes, Police Department monthly report, Fire Rescue Department monthly report, Building Inspection monthly report, and Blight Fund update by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Residents of Menasha Avenue spoke during the speeding concern item. Richard Oz (4619 Menasha Ave), Diane Robinson (4550 Menasha Ave), and Tammy Jariski (4405 Menasha Ave) described frequent speeding, multiple accidents near Kellner and Menasha, dangerous conditions for elderly residents crossing the street, and near-misses. They urged adding stop signs or a traffic control device at Kellner or Canal, lowering the speed limit, and increasing enforcement. They also noted an upcoming development of about 40 homes in the area, which they argued would increase traffic and risk.

Discussion Items

  • 26-0918 Sex Offender Residency Board Appeal: Police Chief Musial recommended denial. The applicant was homeless, had no community ties, had never lived in Manitowoc, previously denied under Chief Reimer, and intentionally violated a restriction by going past the victim's residence. The committee voted unanimously to deny and refer to Council.
  • 26-0919 Four-Way Stop Request: A request for a 4-way stop at S. 21st Street and Flambeau Street was reviewed. Engineering staff recommended denial, citing traffic volumes that do not warrant a 4-way stop and accident data showing only one accident in five years, caused by failure to stop at the existing stop sign. The committee voted unanimously to deny and refer to Council.
  • 26-0921 Speeding on Menasha Avenue: Following public testimony, Chief Musial committed to step up traffic enforcement, create a patrol log documenting times and locations, contact businesses with speeding drivers (e.g., construction and waste companies), and look into additional technologies such as urban SDK. The committee placed the communication on file.
  • 26-0920 Fire Sprinkler System Compliance Checks: Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Wagner presented a proposal to transition to a third-party administrator (LIV Safe) for fire sprinkler and alarm compliance checks. The program would provide real-time digital reporting, cost the city nothing, and improve compliance. The current $35 permit fee would be eliminated; the minutes state this made the change cost-neutral for businesses, though the transcript indicates the city would add $12 to the $23 LIV Safe report fee to keep the total at $35. The committee unanimously approved and referred to Council.
  • 26-0922 Ordinance Amending Section 10.390: The ordinance updates no-parking restrictions near schools, removes closed schools, and ties restrictions to school hours rather than fixed times. Approved as amended and referred to Council.
  • 26-0923 Town of Kossuth EMS Service Contract: Fire Chief Kraynek reported that MFRD currently covers three-quarters of the Town of Kossuth. With Mishicot Ambulance dissolving, the town requested MFRD cover the remaining quarter (approximately 10.5 square miles and 500 residents). The plan is to include the entire township in a one-year contract for 2027. Approved and referred to Council.
  • 26-0924 Fire Rescue Billing Dispute: The committee convened in closed session and reconvened to deny the billing dispute for incident #26-2610. Motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All action items except the ordinance and contract update were referred to Council; consent items were approved.
  • The four-way stop request was denied.
  • The sex offender residency appeal was denied.
  • The fire sprinkler compliance program was approved for referral.
  • The Menasha Avenue speeding complaint was placed on file with enforcement and monitoring actions directed.
  • The Town of Kossuth EMS contract expansion was approved for referral.
  • The billing dispute was denied.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, uh it is 5 30. I will call the meeting of October public safety meeting to order. Uh roll call. Everybody is present except Alder Cummings, who uh is excused. He had called me earlier. Um public comment. Here I'm going to explain that if you're here to speak on the request for a four-way stop at the intersection of 21st and Flambeau, or if you're here to give testimony and comment on the speed consideration on Manasha Avenue, we will take that up when that item comes up before the committee. So when we get to that item, I will call for additional public input specifically on that item. But if you're here to provide public input on any other matter that is not on our agenda, this is your time to be recognized and speak. Is there anybody here to just give general comments in public input regarding the city? I call that once. And I guess we do it three times. So the third time public input, not hearing anything. I will call public closed. Uh consent agenda. Are there any items on the consent agenda that the uh members would like pulled and discussed under discussion items? Not seeing any, I would accept a motion to accept the agenda as presented. There's a motion and a second. Those in favor say aye. Aye. Approved unanimously. Now we move on to our discussion and action items. First item on the agenda is 26-0918. For Giovanni Re Ortiz. Chief? Yeah, thank you, Alder Reckelberg. Um I guess uh so it was denied. Let me bring it up here real quick. Um did you have any uh concerns after after reviewing the the document? Concerns with the denial? Yeah. No. Okay. Do you want me to explain a little bit of of where how I came to that conclusion? Please. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I think I'll find it here. Um, so Mr. Ortiz, uh, this is the second uh submission of the uh sex offender board of appeal um that he submitted. Uh it was once declined under under Chief Reimer. Um and Chief Reimer had uh some of the same concerns that I currently have. Um the gentleman is homeless, uh no no uh community ties and has never lived in the city of Manitowk. Um very incomplete Board of Appeals document that he submitted that you gentlemen have have seen. Um Chief Reimer denied it already as we discussed. Um Giovanni was uh placed at the TLP, the transitional living place, um he intentionally violated uh one of his restrictions was to avoid uh the victim of uh what he was charged with.

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