OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Duluth City Council Meeting – July 21, 2025

City Council — Monday, July 21, 2025
BodyDuluth, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Could you introduce yourselves and then start your presentation, please?

0:03

Be happy to.

0:04

Hello, my name is Nomi Ostrander.

0:06

My pronouns are she they.

0:07

I am the chair for the Human Rights Commission and with me.

0:10

Hi, everybody.

0:11

Luis Angel Islas Navarro.

0:14

Oh.

0:15

Pronouns are he and I have been with the Human Rights Commission for about three months now.

0:19

Bring your mic closer, please.

0:22

Thank you.

0:23

Thanks.

0:24

Alright, so off we go.

0:28

Maybe.

0:29

Maybe off we go, maybe not.

0:32

No.

0:33

Oh, there we go.

0:36

Awesome.

0:38

So this slide is just the photos of the commissioners that we have, and I want to thank you all for processing through applications for three of our new commissioners, including Luis.

0:50

You'll note, I should note that in the top right is blank for a second, is Jen Harris, who is our vice chair.

1:03

And bottom left is Amanda She, who is our secretary.

1:11

This is largely just a description of what the Human Rights Commission is.

1:16

This is the charge that came from the ordinance, and that we promote cultural diversity in Duluth and promote the elimination of hate, prejudice, discrimination against persons or groups based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, and so forth.

1:32

You all can read forward on that.

1:36

And that is also available on our website.

1:39

So largely what we do is that we review human rights complaints.

1:43

We have a finance committee.

1:45

We have a mandate to do that from the from the ordinance.

1:50

And so if somebody in Duluth has a complaint based on human rights, they will initially go to our human rights and equity officer.

2:01

And those get presented to the finance committee, and based on that conversation with our human rights and equity officer and three other human rights commissioners.

2:16

And then our human rights inequity officer will follow up on that.

2:21

And some things don't raise to that level.

2:33

And we partner with other city commissions for social media posts.

2:44

And then we collaborate with community organizations, and we're also very active members in the community, again, as you'll see shortly.

2:56

And also the complaint form can be downloaded from here if there are folks who have human rights violations that they'd like to talk about.

3:05

This has been such an interesting year, I think, for the commission for a number of reasons.

3:11

As you all know, our previous human rights officer has left and gone over to St.

3:19

Louis County.

3:37

Great job with that hire, I have to say, uh, for the city.

3:40

Um and so we had a period where we didn't have a human rights officer.

3:45

Um we did have tremendous amount of support from Laura Leckinson Lexinen during that time, and that was invaluable.

3:53

Uh and then for a while, uh at the start of this calendar year, we went three months when we couldn't meet because we didn't have quorum.

4:02

Um, and that was largely because uh no applications had been uh processed, and so again, thank you so much for turning your attention to that.

4:11

Uh and still we're under we're under staffed.

4:15

We should be at nine, and I think currently we are at six.

4:18

Um, so we got room if there's any floating around.

4:21

Um, and of course, we're pitching the commission for other folks as well.

4:25

Um I think that's all of the slide.

4:29

Uh this is just looking at complaints um that we have fielded um both last year and this year, just so you can get sort of comparison.

4:36

Um last year, and we presented this when we when um Dr.

4:40

Liu was here um last summer.

4:44

Um we had 42 cases.

4:46

You can see sort of the spread, um, most of them coming to mental health resources, um, employment and disability.

4:53

Uh this year we had fewer.

4:56

Um again, largely I think because we didn't have a human rights officer, um, it was hard, I think, for people to know where to go.

5:02

I think some people went right to the state, which they are certainly free to do.

5:07

We had 22 cases that were heard by the finance committee.

5:12

We had 35 that didn't go to the finance committee for various reasons.

5:15

Those might have been forwarded on to the state or may not have met the threshold.

5:20

And you can see sort of employment and disability continued to be areas where we saw a lot of complaints.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████25%
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Human Rights Commission███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Healthcare Access█████5%
Public Transportation█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Public Safety████4%
Boards And Commissions███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Duluth City Council Meeting – July 21, 2025

The Duluth City Council met on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting included reports from the administration, a presentation from the Human Rights Commission, public testimony on multiple issues, approval of a consent agenda, and deliberation on a proposed Transportation Commission. The meeting adjourned after a vote to table the Transportation Commission ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approved: Minutes from June 16, June 26, and July 1, 2025, were approved 7–0.
  • Boards & Commissions Reports: Reports from the DPC, Library Board, NRC, and Planning Commission were received.
  • Resolutions Adopted (all 7–0):
    • Participation in the State Auditor’s Performance Measurement Program.
    • Issuance and sale of six taxable Grant Anticipation Revenue Notes (Series 2025B through 2025G) totaling $19,281,595.
    • Premises application approval for Irving Community Association.
    • Temporary on-sale liquor licenses for Ragnar Relay Race and temporary expansion for Ridgeview Country Club.
    • Confirm appointments to City boards and commissions.
    • Amendments to civil service classification for Budget Manager.
    • Confirmation of Terese Tomanek to the Duluth Parking Commission.
    • Second amendment to sublease for CareerForce location in Duluth Athletic Club Building.
    • Rescinding Resolution 19-0529 and vacating a portion of Gladstone Street with utility easement retention.
    • Appointment of election judges for August 12, 2025 Primary and November 4, 2025 General Election.
    • Appointment of Alyssa Denham as Responsible Authority under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
    • Amendment to seasonal closure dates of Skyline Parkway.
    • Purchase of 9,600 tons of road salt from Morton Salt, Inc. for $629,134.00.
    • Utility easement restoration agreement over London East lots.
    • Acceptance of $24,490 grant from the State of Minnesota for hazardous materials training.
    • Agreement with Human Development Center for FY 2024 Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance Use Site-Based Program.
    • Three-year agreement with ISD No. 709 for four School Resource Officers and one Community Policing Sergeant totaling $1,077,096.08.
    • Conservation Practice Assistance contract with South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District ($190,000 for Buckingham Creek Restoration).
    • Three-year lease agreement with ISD No. 709 for Washington Center space for Head Start and Early Childhood programs.
    • First amendment with Minnesota Historical Society for Lakewalk Interpretative Plan implementation.
    • Second amendment with U.S. Steel for recreational use of property between Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth (no cost to city).
    • Third amendment with U.S. Steel for access to city-owned property near former U.S. Steel site.
  • Resolution 25-0582R (vacating utility easement on 35th Ave E): Adopted 7–0 after brief discussion about a correction in the cover memo.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sandy Robbins (resident, RN): Expressed support for Essentia Health clinic nurses on strike; asked the council to urge Essentia to negotiate in good faith after nearly a year of failed negotiations. A sign-on letter was circulated.
  • Alice Tibbetts (Vibrant Streets Duluth): Urged urgency in creating a Transportation Commission, noting the frustration of community members trying to get safer infrastructure.
  • Naomi Gordon (mother of Tyreek Gordon): Described the death of her son in a single-car crash on Skyline Parkway; pleaded for guardrails on dangerous curves to prevent future tragedies.
  • Lisa Laney (sister of Steve Hoover): Recounted her brother’s death after being struck by two vehicles in a marked crosswalk; called for improved pedestrian safety measures.
  • Jenna Coldwell (physician assistant, MA APP union): Stated that Essentia Health continues to refuse to bargain with the Advanced Practice Providers union; referenced a letter signed by over 40 Minnesota legislators and asked the council to support getting Essentia to the table.
  • Pat Stirner (Minnesota Point 50, Park Point Community Club): Expressed full board support for establishing a Transportation Commission, noting the need to address pedestrian safety, accessible transportation, and speeding.
  • Aaron Krieger (Duluth Library Foundation): Reported that the library had over 300,000 visits in 2024 (9% increase) and 45,000 program attendees (28% increase); urged the council to protect library funding in the 2026 budget.
  • Mike Mayo (former councilor): Solidarity with striking nurses and support for the library; provided a detailed timeline of work on the Transportation Commission since March 2024 and emphasized the urgency given upcoming large transportation projects.
  • Jeff Schumacher (resident): Criticized Councilor Forsman’s suggestion to limit ballot initiatives, arguing that direct democracy is valid and that low voter turnout in off-off election years does not invalidate petition signatures.
  • Kristen Zarr (Vibrant Streets Duluth): Stressed the urgency of the Transportation Commission to improve safety for all users; questioned why failure of other commissions should delay creating one that saves lives.
  • Aaron Rose (resident): Accused Council President Tomanek of intimidating a local journalist over a social media username; criticized Councilor Forsman’s stance on ballot measures; called for transparency in filling the District 2 vacancy.
  • Eleanor Dolan (resident): Supported the Transportation Commission; criticized the council for voting down renters’ rights measures, the ceasefire resolution, and for perceived disrespect of workers; mentioned Councilor Forsman’s campaign donations from Essentia’s CEO.
  • Mike Casey (Smithville resident, DTA board member): Advocated for the Transportation Commission, noting that transportation injuries far outnumber those from fire or crime; argued that delaying the commission is a public safety failure.
  • Nicole Aches (Piedmont Heights): Shared personal experiences of dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists; supported the Transportation Commission to prioritize all modes of travel.
  • Brandon Parker (District 4 resident): Urged passage of the Transportation Commission ordinance without delay; called for professionalization of the council to better address community needs.
  • Laura Martell (resident): Raised concerns about a developer at Incline Village (lawsuits, bankruptcy, delinquent taxes, abandoned site); asked the council to exit the TIFF agreement and adopt stricter TIFF policies.

Discussion Items

  • Budget Process (Administration Report): City Administrator Matt Staling outlined the 2026 budget timeline: departmental proposals due by end of the week, departmental review meetings through August 8, mayor’s proposal in early September, council retreat on September 12, and levy certification on September 22. He also announced that Finance Director Jen Carlson will be leaving for a position at the College of St. Scholastica.
  • Human Rights Commission Presentation: Chair Nomi Ostrander and Commissioner Luis Angel Islas Navarro presented the commission’s work. They noted they are understaffed (6 of 9 positions filled) and had a period without quorum. In 2024 they handled 42 complaints; in 2025 so far, 22 were heard by the finance committee and 35 did not proceed. Upcoming work includes meetings with DPD on ICE enforcement and with ISD 709 on disproportionate suspension rates. Commissioners recruit and hold listening sessions.
  • Transportation Commission Ordinance (25-014-O, second reading): Extensive council discussion ensued.
    • Councilor Azrin Awal expressed a preference for a vote but acknowledged administration requests for edits. She moved to table after hearing from Administration.
    • Mayor Reinert’s letter (read by Staling) expressed support for the commission but tied it to a broader realignment of boards and commissions.
    • Councilor Durrwachter presented research on 12 similar-sized cities, many of which have more commissions; she supported the commission and noted the two paths (creation and consolidation) can happen simultaneously.
    • Councilor Randorf opposed tabling, stating the second read had been before them for weeks and language could have been finalized.
    • Councilor Kennedy supported the commission but favored tabling to ensure adequate staffing and to integrate with the realignment effort.
    • Councilor Swenson supported tabling to get the language and staffing right.
    • Vice President Nephew expressed grave concerns about adding a 10th commission to an already overburdened planning staff; favored tabling.
    • Councilor Awal took responsibility for not following up earlier on edits; she requested that if tabled, the work be completed as soon as possible, ideally for the next meeting.
  • Ordinances – First Reading:
    • 25-017-O (Rezone parcel to MU-N): Read for first time.
    • 25-018-O (Screening of commercial containers): Read for first time.
    • 25-019-O (Rezone parcels to R-P): Read for first time.
    • 25-020-O (Daycare facilities and definitions): Tabled 7–0 after Councilor Nephew moved to table for further staff review.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda adopted 7–0.
  • Resolution 25-0582R adopted 7–0.
  • Ordinance 25-020-O (Daycare code changes) tabled 7–0.
  • Ordinance 25-014-O (Transportation Commission) tabled 5–2 (Awal, Kennedy, Swenson, Nephew, Tomanek in favor of tabling; Durrwachter and Randorf opposed). The ordinance will be brought back after administration and stakeholders finalize edits and after progress on consolidating boards and commissions.
  • Councilor Kennedy offered to assist Councilor Awal with the boards and commissions realignment.

Meeting Transcript

Could you introduce yourselves and then start your presentation, please? Be happy to. Hello, my name is Nomi Ostrander. My pronouns are she they. I am the chair for the Human Rights Commission and with me. Hi, everybody. Luis Angel Islas Navarro. Oh. Pronouns are he and I have been with the Human Rights Commission for about three months now. Bring your mic closer, please. Thank you. Thanks. Alright, so off we go. Maybe. Maybe off we go, maybe not. No. Oh, there we go. Awesome. So this slide is just the photos of the commissioners that we have, and I want to thank you all for processing through applications for three of our new commissioners, including Luis. You'll note, I should note that in the top right is blank for a second, is Jen Harris, who is our vice chair. And bottom left is Amanda She, who is our secretary. This is largely just a description of what the Human Rights Commission is. This is the charge that came from the ordinance, and that we promote cultural diversity in Duluth and promote the elimination of hate, prejudice, discrimination against persons or groups based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, and so forth. You all can read forward on that. And that is also available on our website. So largely what we do is that we review human rights complaints. We have a finance committee. We have a mandate to do that from the from the ordinance. And so if somebody in Duluth has a complaint based on human rights, they will initially go to our human rights and equity officer. And those get presented to the finance committee, and based on that conversation with our human rights and equity officer and three other human rights commissioners. And then our human rights inequity officer will follow up on that. And some things don't raise to that level. And we partner with other city commissions for social media posts. And then we collaborate with community organizations, and we're also very active members in the community, again, as you'll see shortly. And also the complaint form can be downloaded from here if there are folks who have human rights violations that they'd like to talk about. This has been such an interesting year, I think, for the commission for a number of reasons. As you all know, our previous human rights officer has left and gone over to St. Louis County. Great job with that hire, I have to say, uh, for the city. Um and so we had a period where we didn't have a human rights officer. Um we did have tremendous amount of support from Laura Leckinson Lexinen during that time, and that was invaluable. Uh and then for a while, uh at the start of this calendar year, we went three months when we couldn't meet because we didn't have quorum. Um, and that was largely because uh no applications had been uh processed, and so again, thank you so much for turning your attention to that. Uh and still we're under we're under staffed. We should be at nine, and I think currently we are at six. Um, so we got room if there's any floating around. Um, and of course, we're pitching the commission for other folks as well. Um I think that's all of the slide. Uh this is just looking at complaints um that we have fielded um both last year and this year, just so you can get sort of comparison. Um last year, and we presented this when we when um Dr.

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