The Manitowoc Common Council took action on a range of items at its October meeting, approving grant applications, personnel items, ordinances and resolutions, land-use items previously recommended by the plan commission, and a technical addendum for a sewer lift station. The council approved the actions listed below, most by unanimous vote; one appeal was denied with an abstention.

Key approvals and council actions

- EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant (Document 7-27): Council approved a request to apply for a Fiscal Year 2025 Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant for up to $2,000,000 for work in the River Point District. The finance committee recommended approval and the council accepted the report unanimously.

- EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant (Document 7-28): Council approved a request to apply for a Fiscal Year 2026 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant for up to $500,000 for the former mall property. The finance committee recommended approval and the council adopted the recommendation unanimously.

- Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP) contract: The council approved a grant/contract for $350,000, with $280,000 from GLSNRP and a $70,000 local match, to support sediment and nutrient reduction work. The finance committee recommended approval.

- Ordinance to amend Section 3.15 (Document 7-30): Council adopted an ordinance amending the Manitowoc Municipal Code regulating the room tax commission. Committee and council votes were unanimous.

- Fire union letter of agreement (Document 7-61): Council approved a signed letter of agreement between the City of Manitowoc and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 368, which establishes a trial 48/96 schedule for the next year; the personnel committee recommended approval and the council adopted the agreement unanimously.

- Benefit plan recommendations (Document 7-63): The council adopted a resolution approving benefit plan recommendations for 2026 as recommended by the personnel committee. Alderman Sitkiewicz highlighted that overall health insurance costs produced roughly a 13% increase in rates to reflect industry costs, with dental showing a decrease of about 2%; the city will continue an $800 HSA contribution for each covered employee and spouse. The personnel committee recommended adoption and the council carried the resolution unanimously.

- Lidded recycling containers (Document 7-04): The council referred the matter of lidded recycling containers back to the Public Infrastructure Committee for further debate and possible next steps.

- Street snow removal boundary resolution (Document 7-06): Council adopted a resolution updating the boundaries of the street snow removal area.

- Winter parking / snow emergency amendment (Amendment 7-13): The council adopted an amendment to Section 10.41 of the Manitowoc Municipal Code to more clearly define snow-emergency parking rules and penalties, and to clarify downtown-specific parking restrictions when called.

- Abatement of nuisance assessment (Document 7-58): Council approved the nuisance abatement assessment as recommended by the Public Infrastructure Committee.

- Addendum No. 1 with Foth for Archer Lift Station (Document 7-59): Council approved an addendum with engineering consultant Foth for hydraulic review and a technical memo regarding the Archer Lift Station; staff said the pumps in question have reached the end of their working life and action was needed to prevent potential catastrophic failure.

- Noxious weed assessment appeal (Board of Public Works report 09/17/2025; Document 7-60): Council denied an appeal regarding a noxious weed assessment for 1715 Madison Street and upheld the fine. Alderman Schley recused himself and the motion carried 8–0–1 with Schley abstaining.

- Plan commission items adopted by council included the conditional use permits for Muddy Boots Daycare LLC at 4801 Expo Drive (Document 6-82) and Brett's Towing and Truck Repair at 4355 Calumet Avenue (Document 6-83); both approvals were unanimous. (Those two items are covered in separate articles.)

- Consent agenda and committee reports: The council approved the consent agenda and adopted multiple committee reports as presented, including scheduling information for upcoming committee meetings and other administrative items.

Votes and procedural notes

Most items passed unanimously; the transcript records nine members present at roll call. On the noxious weed assessment appeal, Alderman Bill Schley recused himself because of a long-standing personal connection to the property owner; the denial carried 8–0–1. Several items were referred back to committee for additional consideration (for example, the lidded recycling container proposal).