900 Quay Street  
Manitowoc, WI 54220  
www.manitowoc.org  
City of Manitowoc  
Meeting Minutes  
Public Safety Committee  
Monday, August 25, 2025  
5:00 PM  
Council Chambers  
Note: This meeting will also be held via Remote  
Conferencing Software (Zoom)  
1. Call to Order  
2. Roll Call  
Present:  
3 - Beeman, Reckelberg and DeBaets  
1 - Cummings  
Excused:  
Absent:  
1 - Anderson  
3. Public Comment  
No Public Comment  
4. Consent Agenda  
These items will be approved by one motion unless any Committee Member wishes to remove an  
item for discussion.  
REMOVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: None.  
Approval of the Consent Agenda  
Moved by Reckelberg, seconded by DeBaets, to accept the Consent Agenda  
Items and recommendations of the various committees The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
3 - Beeman, Reckelberg and DeBaets  
1 - Cummings  
Aye:  
Excused:  
25-0616  
August 11, 2025 Public Safety Minutes  
Attachments: 08-11-2025 PS MINUTES  
5. Previously Tabled Items  
25-0588  
Prohibited dangerous animal objection by James Surrells for Fafo.  
Attachments: James Surrells - Animal Order  
James Surrells objection letter  
FAFO Bite  
Memo to Public Safety Committee re Procedures for Dangerous  
Animal Appeal- Final  
Attorney Nycz clarified that the Chief of Police is responsible for deciding  
whether an animal qualifies as a Prohibited Dangerous Animal. Should the  
animal fit this definition, the Chief orders its removal from the city. The  
owner has the right to contest this decision, prompting a review by the  
Public Safety Committee. This committee serves as a quasi-judicial entity,  
providing the animal's owner or caretaker the opportunity to present  
evidence against the classification.  
Chairman Beeman outlined the procedures for the hearing.  
Chief Reimer presented the evidence, followed by a question-and-answer  
session with the board members.  
The opposing party, James Surrells, then had the chance to present his  
evidence, after which board members were again invited to ask questions.  
Both Chief Reimer and James Surrells were allotted time for their closing  
statements.  
Subsequently, the board motioned to support Chief Reimer's determination  
and voted to uphold it. The board finalized the Finding of Facts and  
Conclusion of Law, concluding that Fafo had indeed inflicted bodily harm to  
an individual on either public or private property.  
Moved by Reckelberg, seconded by DeBaets, that this Action Item be placed on  
file. The motion carried by the following vote:  
3 - Beeman, Reckelberg and DeBaets  
1 - Cummings  
Aye:  
Excused:  
6. Adjournment  
A motion was made by Alderperson William DeBaets, seconded by Vice Chair  
Todd Reckelberg, that this meeting be adjourned at 5:51 p.m. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
3 - Beeman, Reckelberg and DeBaets  
1 - Cummings  
Aye:  
Excused: