November 17, 2025 · 6:00 PM

City Council

Council changed the city’s snow-and-ice sidewalk rules and split on whether to delay a broad fee-schedule update. Transit funding for Maritime Metro’s Route 1 surfaced as a major budget pressure, with residents warning service cuts would hit riders directly.

Key Decisions

Council updated the sidewalk snow/ice rule, giving more flexibility around the 24-hour clearing expectation and strengthening the city’s ability to bill owners and escalate penalties for repeat problems. This matters because it affects what homeowners and landlords must do after storms—and what it can cost if the city has to step in.

Council voted to table (delay) a major update to the city’s master fee schedule—including short-term rental fees, building permit fee changes, and a new harbor sludge tipping fee—signaling disagreement about how and when to raise fees instead of relying on property taxes.

A resident used public comment to warn that cutting Two Rivers’ share of Maritime Metro Transit Route 1 funding would reduce service, including paratransit, and laid out the 2026 cost numbers being discussed. Transit access is a daily-life issue for riders and a recurring budget choice for taxpayers.

Public Input · 2 speakers

Katherine Dahlke

Spoke about Maritime Metro Transit Route 1 in Two Rivers, saying the city is averaging about 120 rides per day and ridership is back to roughly 90% of pre-COVID levels. She said operating Route 1 in 2026 would cost about $205,378.30 and that Manitowoc is asking Two Rivers for $156,000 (about 76% of the operating cost); she warned cutting that funding would reduce service in the city, including paratransit.

Councilmember Darla LeClair relayed constituent feedback

Encouraged residents to use the city’s “Contact the Council” tool and said the council received numerous encouraging emails in recent days.

Agenda Items

City of Two Rivers Financial Contribution to Maritime Metro Transit Route One

Council discussed exploring ways to reduce how much Two Rivers property-tax money subsidizes Maritime Metro Transit Route 1, noting the subsidy has increased 44% over five years. The stated goal is to keep the route running while shifting to a funding model that relies less on local taxpayers—an approach that can sound reasonable but usually comes down to who pays and whether service gets cut. With a resident warning that reduced funding would mean reduced service (including paratransit), this is a real access-and-equity issue, not just a budget line.

📄 See in official document: Page 1, Page 2

transit funding Full history → property tax Full history → bus route subsidy Full history →

25-227 Ordinance to Amend Section 4-1-6 of the Municipal Code, Regulating Snow and Ice Removal

Passed 8-0

Council approved changes to the sidewalk snow-and-ice clearing rules, shifting toward a “reasonable timeframe” that is presumed to be within 24 hours after snow stops falling. The ordinance also strengthens the city’s ability to recover costs when it clears sidewalks itself (including staff time) and adds escalating penalties for repeat violations, plus expands who can enforce the rules beyond Public Works. This is a meaningful change for property owners because it affects both expectations after storms and the potential bill if the city decides to do the work.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 8 yes

Mark Bittner yes

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski yes

noise regulations Full history → snow removal Full history → sidewalk snow removal rules Full history →

25-228 Ordinance to Amend Chapters 1-2-1 of the Municipal Code, Fees

Tabled 5-3

Council voted to table the proposed fee-schedule overhaul to a future work session instead of adopting it that night. The proposal included higher short-term rental license fees, a new harbor sludge tipping fee that could be charged to the Army Corps of Engineers, and a rework of building permit fee calculations—changes the city framed as “fairness” and reducing reliance on property taxes. The split vote suggests the council isn’t aligned on the timing or details, and residents should expect this to come back with real pocketbook impacts depending on which fees rise and who pays them.

📄 See in official document: Page 2

Roll call vote 5 yes 3 no

Mark Bittner no

Doug Brandt no

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Bonnie Shimulunas yes

Scott Stechmesser no

Adam Wachowski yes

building permit Full history → harbor Full history → fee schedule Full history → short term rentals Full history → harbor sludge tipping fee Full history →

← Back to Meetings