April 20, 2026 · 6:00 PM

City Council

The Council approved a set of rule changes and agreements, including a new sidewalk-repair enforcement process and an expansion of the city’s room tax to short-term RV/camper stays. It also green-lit multiple parks and grant-related items, with no public comments taken at the meeting.

Key Decisions

Council changed the city’s sidewalk rules so the city can step in when an owner doesn’t fix a sidewalk, then bill the cost back to the property owner—while also allowing the work to be done by city crews or through bidding. This is a direct pocketbook issue for property owners and a big shift in how aggressively the city can enforce sidewalk repairs.

Council expanded the 8% room tax to cover short-term RV and camper stays and added separate reporting for that revenue. This could raise costs for some visitors and operators, and it signals the city is tightening up how it tracks and collects tourism dollars.

Council authorized two DNR grant applications—one for Riverside Park Phase 2 and another for stormwater/pollution-control work along Mariners Trail. These votes don’t guarantee money, but they set the city up to pursue outside funding for projects residents will see on the ground.

Public Input · 1 speaker

Sean Griffin (City Attorney) relayed constituent feedback

He reported that a resident (Mr. Jayes) circulated a message about sidewalk issues; Councilmember Adam Wachowski replied to the group and said he contacted the Public Works Director. The message was read into the record, but the Council took no action.

Agenda Items

26-065 Authorization to Waive Ordinance, Section 7-1-5 "Parking in parks" and Section 7-1-6 "Park closing hours," to Allow the Parks and Recreation Event, "Great Neshotah Beach Campout" for One Night, August 29-30, 2026

Passed 7-0

Council approved a one-night exception to the city’s park parking and closing-hours rules for the “Great Neshotah Beach Campout.” This is a straightforward special-event carve-out, but it’s also a reminder that the city’s default rules don’t allow this kind of overnight use without Council sign-off.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

26-066 Resolution Authorizing 2026/27 DNR Stewardship Grant Application in Support of Riverside Park Phase 2

Passed 7-0

Council authorized the city to apply for and administer a DNR outdoor recreation grant tied to Riverside Park Phase 2, based on the Riverside Park Master Plan previously approved by Council (July 1, 2024). The key point: this is permission to chase grant funding, not a guarantee of an award or a final construction schedule.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

dnr grant Full history → riverside park phase 2 improvements Full history →

26-067 Resolution Authorizing 2026/27 DNR Non-Point Source and Storm Grant Application

Passed 7-0

Council approved applying for DNR stormwater/pollution-control grant funding, with the city authorized to sign required agreements and handle compliance if awarded. The minutes say the work would continue stormwater improvements planned with Stantec along Mariners Trail—an area where residents will care about flooding, runoff, and trail conditions.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

dnr grant Full history → mariners trail coastal resilience project Full history → stormwater management Full history →

26-068 Service Release Agreement with Wisconsin Public Service for Van der Brohe Arboretum Electric Well Service at 3800 Lincoln Avenue

Passed 7-0

Council approved an agreement with Wisconsin Public Service that lets City Utilities provide electric service to the well at the Van der Brohe Arboretum. The stated rationale is avoiding duplicate infrastructure while keeping WPS able to serve the area later—practical, but the minutes don’t spell out costs or long-term rate impacts for residents.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

26-070 Ordinance to Amend Chapter 4-1-4 of the City of Two Rivers Municipal Code Regulating the Construction and Repair of Sidewalks

Passed 7-0

Council adopted an ordinance expanding how the city can handle sidewalk repairs when property owners don’t do the work, including assessing the cost back to the owner under state law. It also allows the city to do the work with its own crews or through competitive bidding, which the summary says should improve consistency and reduce overall costs. Given the separate sidewalk-related resident communication earlier in the meeting, this is an area residents should expect to see enforced more actively.

📄 See in official document: Page 3

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

sidewalk replacement program Full history →

26-071 Ordinance to Amend Sections 6-11-1 and 6-11-3 of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers regarding Room Taxes

Passed 7-0

Council adopted an ordinance applying the city’s 8% room tax to short-term RV and camper stays and requiring separate reporting for that revenue. The city frames this as fairness across lodging types and better tracking of tourism activity; for operators and visitors, it’s also a clear expansion of what gets taxed.

📄 See in official document: Page 3

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

short term rentals Full history → tourism promotion spending Full history →

26-072 Application for Landscaping / Tree Removal License for Stangel’s Tree Service at 1216 Washington Street, Manitowoc

Passed 7-0

Council approved a landscaping/tree removal license for Stangel’s Tree Service, based on a written commitment to follow city rules on parking and storage of commercial vehicles and equipment. The application states equipment will be stored in Manitowoc, not Two Rivers—useful detail for neighbors who worry about commercial storage creeping into residential areas.

📄 See in official document: Page 3

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

26-073 Lease Agreement between the City of Two Rivers and Kevin Last for Parking Lot Rental at 1308 19th Street

Passed 7-0

Council approved leasing a city-owned parking lot at 1308 19th Street to Kevin Last for $350 per month, starting May 1, 2026, for one year with two optional one-year renewals. Leasing city property can be reasonable, but the minutes don’t explain why this lot is being leased out, what the city’s alternative uses were, or how the rate compares to market value.

📄 See in official document: Page 3

Roll call vote 7 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

← Back to Meetings