Duluth City Council Agenda Session – March 6, 2025
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Duluth City Council Agenda Session – March 6, 2025
The Duluth City Council held an agenda session on March 6, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. to review and discuss resolutions and ordinances scheduled for the regular council meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025. Council members received updates on several items and raised questions on funding, project scopes, and community engagement.
Consent Calendar
- Items 3-5: Resolutions related to a five-year agreement with Visit Duluth, property insurance with Hanover Insurance Company ($350,000), and an agreement with the Duluth Airport Authority for property and boiler insurance.
- Items 6-14: Purchasing and licensing items including sanding body equipment from Bert’s Truck Equipment of Moorhead Inc. (totaling $579,262), workers’ compensation insurance renewal with SFM Risk Solutions ($72,312), liquor license transfers, and temporary expansions.
- Items 15-16: Confirmations of Chiamaka Anymore and Ann Bailey to the Duluth Economic Development Authority.
- Items 17-19: Planning and economic development items including an amendment with Islers and Associates Inc. ($75,000 increase to a new total of $300,000), DEDA resolution authorizing phase two building demolition ($252,200), and the third amendment to the Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund.
- Items 20-34: Public works and utilities items including the 2025 gas blanket project ($1,110,895), Northwest Passage bridge repairs ($284,200), eight permanent easements for the Eklund Avenue reconstruction project, West Superior Street reconstruction amendment ($498,551 increase to $2,909,551), 2025 lead water service replacement ($9,545,940.50), parking changes on West Superior Street, and Skyline Parkway safety improvements ($92,919).
- Items 35-36: Recreational libraries and authorities – grant application to MN DNR for Norton Park ($350,000) and a three-year contract with accurate LLC for work order software ($44,702.50).
- Items 37-38: Ordinances amending floodplain and use definitions in the Unified Development Code.
Discussion Items
- Visit Duluth Five-Year Agreement (Item 3): Lynn Williams, board chair of Visit Duluth, stated that the five-year term provides stability and includes a two percent annual increase. Councilor Randorf asked about the previously discussed funding gap. Williams explained that costs for an executive director search (~$30,000) and a destination master plan are being managed by shifting meeting and convention marketing funds (about $30,000-$60,000) to Madden marketing and using salary savings from a resigned part-time staff member. Williams noted the contract allows for special funding requests and that marketing contract transitions occur in years two and three. Councilor Mayo asked if the executive director position is budgeted within the two percent increase; Williams stated no staffing changes are planned.
- Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund (Item 19): Director Van Tassel explained the fund was established by council in 2004 to raise private funds for community goals. The amendment eliminates the advisory board because fundraising has declined; the fund will still generate approximately $15,000-$20,000 in annual interest. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation will continue to manage the fund, and the city will oversee distribution to city departments. Councilor Kennedy asked about project types (library materials, park equipment, etc.) and future reporting; Van Tassel confirmed annual reports to council. Councilor Derwachter asked why the fund is kept separate; Van Tassel noted dissolving a trust is complicated.
- Phase Two Demolition at Former Pastor Terra Site (Item 18): Ms. Hobbes (staff) explained the $252,200 contract covers debris hauling, site leveling, cleanup, and seeding. The Clayton Jackson McGee Memorial is being consulted to ensure proper access.
- Eklund Avenue Reconstruction Easements (Items 22-30): Engineer Duncan Swenson stated that the existing 50-foot right-of-way requires permanent easements for proper stormwater crossings and property line corrections. Three public meetings and personal conversations with residents were held, with full support from property owners. Sixteen temporary license agreements are also being obtained for driveway adjustments.
- Skyline Parkway Safety Improvements (Item 34): Councilor Mayo asked why the $92,919 contract is presented before a planned community meeting. A city representative responded that the meeting is an update, not for new input, as previous feedback was collected. The contract exceeded $50,000, requiring council approval. The representative said they are happy to collect any further input.
- Parking Changes on West Superior Street (Item 33): Councilor Derwachter asked if parking will return to normal after construction. Mr. Staling (city staff) said he would check with the city engineer’s office and report before Monday. Councilor Swenson asked about business engagement; Mr. Staling also committed to follow up.
- Norton Park Reconstruction (Item 35): Mr. Philby Williams (staff) described four community priorities: a picnic pavilion replacing a dilapidated building, playground replacement, stormwater improvements, and new accessible sidewalks. The scale depends on whether a DNR grant is awarded; if not, the city will invest more for a smaller scope.
- Floodplain Ordinance Amendments (Items 37-38): Manager Moses explained that the definition updates are part of a larger floodplain ordinance package, separated on attorney’s advice because they impact other areas of the UDC.
Key Outcomes
- Councilors requested additional information before the Monday, March 10 meeting: whether parking changes on West Superior Street are permanent (Councilor Derwachter) and the extent of business engagement on those parking changes (Councilor Swenson).
- No formal votes were taken; the agenda session serves to prepare for the regular council meeting.
- The meeting adjourned after all items were discussed.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. It is five fifteen, and we will begin our agenda session. Reading in for Councillor Forsman. Counselor Kennedy, would you please finance committee? Um yes, I'm reading in for Councilor Forsman. It's item number three under finance. That's uh seven resolution seven twenty two seventy-two authorizing a five-year agreement with Visit Duluth. Item number four, uh resolution one ninety-four authorizing a contract with Hanover Insurance Company for property insurance at the cost not to exceed three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Uh item number five, resolution one nine five authorizing an agreement with the Duluth Airport Authority to ensure certain Duluth Airport Authority property and equipment under the city's property and boiler insurance policies. Thank you, Councillor Kennedy. Reading in for Counselor Forsman. Uh in the queue, Councillor Randorf. Thank you so much, um President Tomonic. I have a question and then I know we have a couple speakers here uh coming to talk about Visit Duluth. Um Mr. Staling, um this is a five-year agreement with Visit Duluth. Um my question is on item three. We we've been doing three year agreements. I know we did one for the special service district for downtown Duluth to align it with the uh the term of this office. Is there a reason this one isn't a three year to do that same cadence? Um Council President Tomonic, uh Councillor Randorf. I was not part of the uh negotiations uh when this agreement was formed. Um so I would have to defer to uh either uh our our city attorney or perhaps uh Lynn Williams uh is here or or Ms. Piank. Also, but I uh I don't know specifically the reason for the five year term. Sounds good, do you want to follow up? I see I see people deciding who's going to speak. Okay. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Nice to see you. I believe there is a do you want to state your name, please? Lynn Williams, and I'm currently the board chair of visit to Luth. Thank you. Yes. Um so Councillor Randor, uh President Tom Tom and I think the reason that we were talking about that was stability. And it goes back to the conversation we'd had previously. So this idea that we want to give the organization a long enough time to get the foundation rolling and to uh not necessarily change with administrations so that there is some stability there for the organization that doesn't always fluctuate when things fluctuate in city hall. Go ahead. Um and then my follow-up question for you. Um Lynn Williams is um we had talked about a funding gap that you currently have. That's an important gap that we need to fill. And we talked about that during the visit to Luth presentation a couple months ago. Could you talk a little bit more about where that is at and where the talks are? Because this is only a portion of that funding. Tell us how much that other piece is, and again, how close we are and what those talks look like. Yeah, Councilor Randorf, thanks for the question. So where we landed was consistent funding for the sales in the visitor center portion of the contract. However, the for this year. However, the contract has a two percent annual increase.
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