Council approves Safe Haven baby box and traffic rules changes; adopts parking and stop-sign ordinances

The Manitowoc City Council unanimously approved multiple Public Safety Committee recommendations, including entering into a lease/service agreement for a Safe Haven baby box and adopting local traffic ordinances.

The council approved item 91, described as a Safe Haven Baby Box information packet and lease/service agreement; the item will be implemented with the fire department as the likely participant in the program, according to committee discussion. Alderman Schley spoke in favor, recounting a personal anecdote about a friend whose life was changed because of a similar program elsewhere and saying, “I wholeheartedly support this program.” The committee recommendation to enter into the agreement was adopted unanimously.

The council also adopted changes to the municipal code: Section 10.39 prohibiting parking on North Twentieth Street between Michigan Avenue and New York Avenue, and an ordinance amending Sections 10.17 and 10.21 to add a three-way stop at South Eighth Street and Columbus Street. Both ordinance changes were adopted by unanimous vote.

The Public Safety Committee reported no additional items; committee chairs said the next regular meeting would be in October, with a special meeting noted for later in the month.