In the minutes: Two Rivers minutes, license plate reader (Sep 21)

ma TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
‘oe. | | R | V E R S Monday, September 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Council Chambers - City Hall, 3rd Floor
—D WISCONSIN 1717 E. Park Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
President Stechmesser called the meeting to order at 6:01PM.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL BY DEPUTY CITY CLERK
Councilmembers: Mark Bittner, Doug Brandt, Katherine Dahlke, Shannon Derby, Bill LeClair, Darla
LeClair (via phone), Tim Petri, Scott Stechmesser, Adam Wachowski

Also Present: Public Works Director Matt Heckenlaible, Community Development Director Jeff
Sachse, Library Director Terry Ehle, Police Chief Ben Meinnert, Patrol Officer Jessica Rogers, City
Manager Kyle Kordell, City Attorney Andrew Adams

4, CONSIDERATION OF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
MEETING FROM A REMOTE LOCATION
Motion to allow Councilmember D. LeClair to participate from a remote location made by Bittner,
seconded by Derby.
Motion carried with a roll call vote.
Voting Yea: Derby, B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, Bittner

5. INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC
Limited to 3 minutes per person - Resident addresses are requested but are not required to be
given
None.

6. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council members shared that they received a variety of communications from residents regarding
social media conduct, Spectrum audio/streaming issues during Council meetings, opposition to an
ordinance waiver related to the noise ordinance, BID matters, continued use of license plate reader
cameras, and both support for and opposition to fluoride. A positive message from a resident
expressing appreciation for the Two Rivers community was also shared.

*Deputy Clerk note: Councilmember D. LeClair joined by telephone at 6:06PM. President
Stechmesser went back to Item 4 at this time.

7. COUNCIL REPORTS FROM BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COMMITTEES
None.

8. CONSENT AGENDA
These titles will be read by the Council President and approved by a single Voice Vote. Any item
may be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion and separate vote by any City Council
member.

A, 26-162 Minutes of Meetings
1. Library Board, August 11, 2026
2. Public Works Committee, September 2, 2026
3. Zoning Board of Appeals, September 3, 2026

4. Public Utilities Committee, September 8, 2026
B. 26-163 Summary of Verified Bills for August 2026 of $4,698,779.51

C. 26-164 Proclamation Naming the Week of September 19-27, 2026, as Wisconsin
Stormwater Week

D. 26-165 Appointment of Kelly Ann Gerros to the Library Board for term expiring May 1,
2028 (filling board vacancy created by Ned Guyette's resignation)

E. 26-166 Appointment of Sari Saubert to the Zoning Board of Appeals for term expiring
May 1, 2028

RECOMMENDED ACTION FOR CONSENT AGENDA
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented

Motion made by Brandt, seconded by B. LeClair

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Voting Yea: B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner,
Derby

9. CITY COUNCIL - FORMAL ITEMS

A. 26-167 Resolution Adopting the 2026 Shared Community Vision for the Redevelopment
of the Former Hamilton Property

Summary: Council will consider adopting the 2026 Shared Community Vision for the
Redevelopment of the Former Hamilton Property, developed over months of community
listening sessions, stakeholder conversations, public meetings, and a community survey. The
Vision serves as a broad guiding framework for future planning and redevelopment while not
approving any specific development plan, property acquisition, developer, financing
commitment, or public expenditure at this time.

Recommended Action:
Motion to waive reading and adopt the resolution

Motion made by B. LeClair, seconded by Brandt

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, D. LeClair, Bittner, Derby, B. LeClair
Voting Nay: Wachowski

B. 26-168 Resolution Declaring the Former Thermo Fisher Scientific Property as a
“Blighted Property" for the Purposes of Blight Elimination, Environmental Remediation,
and Redevelopment

Summary: Council will consider a resolution declaring the former Thermo Fisher/Hamilton
Manufacturing property a blighted property based on historical environmental contamination and
its impact on future redevelopment. The resolution supports future City acquisition,
environmental remediation, and redevelopment of the approximately 12-acre site, while

authorizing staff to pursue applicable environmental liability protections and negotiate a future
acquisition.

Recommended Action:
Motion to waive reading and adopt the resolution

Motion made by Bittner, seconded by Derby

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner, Derby, B. LeClair,
Brandt

26-169 Ordinance Amending Section 2-5-8 of the Municipal Code Regarding Changes to
the Library Board Bylaws

Summary: Council will consider an ordinance updating Section 2-5-8 of the Two Rivers City
Code governing the Library Board to clarify its powers, appointment process, terms of office,
and membership requirements. The proposed changes include three-year terms for City-
appointed members, provisions for City Council, School District, and County representation, and
clarification of how vacancies are filled. The ordinance would also revise the term-limit provision
to allow City Manager appointees to serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms.

Recommended Action:
Motion to waive reading and adopt the ordinance

Motion made by B. LeClair, seconded by Brandt

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: Bittner, Derby, B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D.
LeClair

26-125 Resolution Approving Changes from the State of Wisconsin Department of
Transportation Functional Classification Highway System Impacting the City of Two
Rivers (tabled from July 6, 2026 meeting)

Summary: The proposed resolution approves updates from WisDOT to the functional
classification of certain City streets following the 2020 Census urban area boundary
adjustments. These classifications categorize roadways based on their transportation role in the
region and help determine eligibility for state and federal transportation funding. After local
approval, the changes will be submitted by WisDOT to the Federal Highway Administration for
final approval. Two roadway segments are proposed for reclassification within the City of Two
Rivers. 0.31 miles of Madison Street from 14th Street to STH 42 (Memorial Drive) being
upgraded from Minor Arterial to Principal Arterial, and a 1-mile stretch of STH 310 (Hawthorne
Avenue) from Madison to Columbus Street being downgraded from Principal Arterial to Minor
Arterial.

Recommended Action:
Motion to waive reading and adopt the resolution

Motion made by Bittner, seconded by Dahlke

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: Derby, B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair,
Bittner

26-158 Land Lease Agreement Between the City of Two Rivers and Randy Meyer (tabled
from September 8, 2026 meeting)

3

Summary: The City Council is asked to consider a new farmland lease with Randy Meyer for
83.7 acres of City-owned property at $90 per acre, or $7,533 annually. The proposed lease
would begin January 1, 2027, with the final term currently drafted as one year.

Recommended Action:
Motion to approve and allow City staff to sign the agreement on behalf of the City

Motion made by Bittner, seconded by B. LeClair

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner,
Derby

26-146 Consider Appeal of Denial of 2-Year Operator's License for Applicant, Ashley
Syrett (tabled from August 3, 2026 meeting)

Summary: Applicant has met the required qualifications to be issued a 2-year operator's
license.

Recommended Action:
Motion to approve license as recommended by the Police Chief

Motion made by Petri, seconded by Brandt

Motion carried with a voice vote.

Voting Yea: Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner, Derby, B.
LeClair

. 26-170 Request for Waiver of Noise Ordinance Regulations for Heroes Venture Arcade

for Live Music Events

Summary: This small business requests a waiver of the noise ordinance for the following dates
for live music events. The applicant requests a waiver from 7:00pm-11:00pm or 12:00am for all
events with a request to waive vibrations and increase the approved decibel-limit from 65 to 70
decibels.

+ 9/26/2026 - Mixed Genre

* 10/10/2026 - Indi Alt Rock

+ 10/17/2026 - Metal Show

* 11/6/2026 - Solo Mixed Genre

+ 11/7/2026 - Metal Show

* 11/14/2026 - EDM Show

+ 11/15/2026 - Metal Show

* 11/21/2026 - Metal Show

* 12/12/2026 - Mixed Genre Show
* 3/13/2027 - Metal Show

Recommended Action:
No formal staff recommendation; Council may consider and take action as it deems
appropriate.

Motion made by Bittner, seconded by B. LeClair to deny the waiver request.

Motion carried with a roll call vote.

Voting Yea: Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner, Derby, B. LeClair,
Brandt

10. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
The City Manager reported on several key updates, including continued progress toward harbor
dredging, with Two Rivers specifically included in federal legislation directing the Army Corps of
Engineers to expedite the work and $1.8 million earmarked for dredging. He highlighted the
completion of a new mural near City Hall and the Community Development Authority’s acquisition
of more than 23 acres near the high school for potential housing development. An update was also
provided on increasing Fire Department call volume and ongoing discussions regarding potential
regional ambulance service partnerships. Finally, leaf vacuuming will begin in early November this
year due to delays caused by the May 17 storm response. A Council member also recognized the
Community Development Authority for its prudent use of revolving loan funds toward the housing
property acquisition.

11. FOR INFORMATION ONLY
- City Council Work Session, Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 PM
- City Council Regular Meeting, Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:00 PM

Upcoming Events

- Pollinator Habitat Volunteer Planting, Saturday, September 26, 2026, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM,
at the Senior Center

- Optimist Club Electronics Recycling Event, Saturday, October 3, 2026, 9:00 AM-12:00PM,
at the Senior Center

- Wine Walk & Beer Gardens, Saturday, October 3, 2026, 3:00PM-6:00PM, at the
Van Der Brohe Arboretum

- Applefest, Saturday, October 10, 2026, 8:00AM-3:00PM, at Central Park West

12. CLOSED SESSION
The City Council reserves the right to enter into Closed Session, per Wisc. Stats 19.85(1)(g)
Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice
concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to
become involved.

— Discuss potential litigation related to enforcement of Section 9-9-6 of the City Code

Motion made by Derby, seconded by B. LeClair to convene in closed session at 7:49PM.
Motion carried with a roll call vote.
Voting Yea: Bittner, Derby, B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair

13. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
To consider possible actions in follow-up to closed session discussions.

Motion made by Wachowski, seconded by Derby to reconvene in open session at 8:40PM.
Motion carried with a voice vote.
Voting Yea: Derby, B.LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner

14. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes of this meeting and adjourn at 8:40 PM.

Motion Made by Wachowski, seconded by Derby.
Motion carried with a voice vote.
Voting Yea: B. LeClair, Brandt, Petri, Dahlke, Stechmesser, Wachowski, D. LeClair, Bittner, Derby

Respectfully submitted, Valerie L Vanderlinden, Deputy City Clerk

Vale J: Caudle 8