Manitowoc council authorizes up to $22.5 million in notes, accepts federal and state grants and confirms several committee reports

Manitowoc Common Council · February 17, 2026

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Summary

The Manitowoc Common Council unanimously approved a package of committee reports including a resolution to authorize up to $22.5 million in general obligation promissory notes, accepted a $625,000 HUD community project grant and a $250,000 WEDC Brownfields grant, and approved several related scope and contract items.

The Manitowoc Common Council on Feb. — called its February meeting to handle a slate of committee reports and funding measures including municipal debt authorization and several grants.

In a finance committee item, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance and establishment of parameters for not-to-exceed $22,500,000 in general obligation promissory notes. Alderman Eric Sitkiewicz told the council the package “is a combination of issuing debt for our capital projects as well as refinancing of debt and some TIF projects,” and emphasized it does not represent all-new borrowing.

The council also approved a related scope of engagement for that issuance without further discussion.

The body accepted multiple grant-related recommendations from committee. An agenda item described a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development community project funding grant for $625,000 with no local match; the council adopted the recommendation. The council also approved a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Brownfields grant for $250,000 that carries a minimum $250,000 local match requirement. Councilors additionally authorized submission of a Wisconsin DNR Federal Recreation Trail Program grant to support the River Point District Trail.

A slate of project- and property-related recommendations moved through the chamber without debate. The council authorized staff to accept an offer and enter negotiations on a term sheet for potential purchase of Riverpointe Drive Lots 1 and 2 and approved two separate USDOT-related grant submittals on behalf of private entities, described in committee documents as a BUILD grant and a MARAD PIDP application.

Committee of the Whole returned an ordinance to revise Manitowoc municipal code section 3.8 (code of ethics) with a scrivener’s correction; council adopted the committee report. The special events committee report and a memorandum of understanding for inspection services were also adopted.

All committee reports and funding measures were adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance - Document 77: Resolution authorizing issuance of not-to-exceed $22,500,000 general obligation promissory notes — adopted (committee recommendation). - Document 78: Scope of engagement for the issuance above — adopted. - Document 84: HUD community project funding grant, $625,000, $0 local match — adopted. - Document 85: WEDC Brownfields grant, $250,000 with minimum $250,000 local match — adopted. - Document 86: DNR Recreation Trail Program grant submission (River Point District Trail) — authorized. - Document 88: Staff authorized to accept offer and negotiate term sheet for Riverpointe Drive Lots 1 and 2 — adopted. - Documents 133 & 134: USDOT BUILD and MARAD PIDP grant authorizations on behalf of private applicants — adopted. - Document 121: Ordinance to revise municipal code section 3.8 (code of ethics) — adopted.

What happens next Council directives recorded in committee reports will proceed to staff action as authorized; specific financing parameters and final legal documents for the promissory notes will be executed under the authorized scope of engagement and subject to further administrative steps.

(Reporting note: the council recorded these items under committee documents and adopted each recommendation by unanimous voice vote; detailed vote tallies by member name were not read into the record during the motions.)