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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Personnel Committee Interview and Council Agenda Session - July 24, 2025

City Council — Thursday, July 24, 2025

BodyDuluth, Minnesota

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, July 24, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 56:14

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:27

Well I'll that um I would love that really that's a big reason why I have not that I did that not cheap.

0:36

No, I'm gonna figure that out.

0:41

Oh my god, but you know, you don't get your kids on the you know drawing wrong people wrong out and then you I mean I think that was no I love to be um I don't know what the apple um the one from it that always have a light that always throw everybody and then have a room like everyone's apple but I forget to scan um right something like it was smaller by all that far and then you're oh yeah so you're well so I have to skip another button whatever stuff on I mean Facebook oh yeah I don't care I just want to know who they are yeah I'll just get my information from y'all I don't know who they are we got you know that comes I know yeah because I really actually have to it's regularly um yeah you should be that kind of they did much oh yeah I keep trying to put a garbage can over there for us to make my hint the cat wants me because my cat show you work for your I'm gonna put a sign over that garbage here so I guess I tried that my wow garbage here but that's my cat and two I'll be it's sometimes you know I wonder what they do maybe not sample finds it in the evening and yeah that's name it's one that's coming on US or something.

3:44

Yeah even though you're not gonna wonderfully I could carry around but if you don't go down to sign that post it's leave a garbage can here's the sorry that's okay.

4:13

Sending out contracts why isn't this one show and there's been that we need to make that support and then the all right slowly just melting up there.

4:47

I don't believe you have the one that we all use.

4:49

Yeah what's you can be very well you wear about where about it.

5:00

That's a crack my eye box actually.

5:00

I'm like, is this a person that hmm?

5:05

Most of the time.

5:09

Thank you, Rachel.

5:12

Where's that song coming from?

5:21

Yes, something's open.

5:24

It's a recording.

5:28

They're testing the audacity.

5:39

Yeah.

5:40

That's your office fifth talking point to go, right?

9:01

She has to have asked for that.

9:07

Otherwise I'll have her dad.

9:09

Yeah, that's it.

9:16

Do you just see the I got one too?

9:23

That's lovely.

9:28

I mean, it's good.

9:38

That's pretty cool.

9:42

I know.

9:44

I got one of the guys all welcome.

9:46

Well, uh, the two of us in the air and we've not got all the kids.

9:50

I didn't get one.

9:51

Well, maybe you need to come with us on the basics.

9:54

Well, I can't call you when you can show them how all the stuff you do.

9:59

Yeah, that'd be great.

10:01

That'd be fun to have them in there.

10:02

Can we add to next year?

10:03

Well, maybe like Jammer.

10:05

Is it or somebody's in there during the day?

10:09

Yes, well, should be the public safety.

10:12

And you can't read that anyway.

10:15

I see that so classic.

10:19

Yeah, we'll move over to public safety.

10:20

So that'll be uh very far back for you.

10:23

So when I I'm gonna ask to read the data.

10:28

Can I be in under public safety or does it have a standard?

10:37

So there isn't any dishes.

10:38

So why don't we do it?

10:40

Why don't we just read it and then just read it?

10:43

I'll read it in the app so we'll let people know it's gonna be functional.

10:49

Okay.

10:50

And then I'll be able to hear what's on tomorrow, like tomorrow.

11:10

Oh, yeah, yeah.

11:20

And then we're gonna stream.

12:18

Hello.

12:19

Uh we will begin the personnel committee meeting and personnel interview for Nathan Johnson, who is applying for resource renewal, the new brand name of Western Lake Superior Sanitary District.

12:36

And personnel area or Johnson.

12:41

It's really weird to hear my voice back.

12:43

We need Kenny.

12:49

We will wait.

12:53

Yeah.

12:54

Alyssa was mentioning we can get started without her, but she saw it.

13:05

Um there's an echo, just a heads up.

13:14

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Miscellaneous█████████████████17%

Procedural████████████████16%

Personnel Matters███████████████15%

Energy Planning███████████████15%

Budget Equity Analysis███████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%

Land Use Planning██████6%

Public Safety████4%

Water And Wastewater Management███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Duluth City Council Personnel Committee and Agenda Session - July 24, 2025

On July 24, 2025, the Duluth City Council Personnel Committee conducted an interview with Nathan Johnson for appointment to the Resource Renewal (formerly Western Lake Superior Sanitary District) board, followed by a council agenda session reviewing multiple resolutions and ordinances.

Personnel Committee Interview

Nathan Johnson, a professor in civil and environmental engineering at UMD, interviewed for appointment to the Resource Renewal board. He cited his technical expertise in environmental engineering and a recent shift toward applying research to wastewater systems. He discussed promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through involvement in faculty search committees. Councillors expressed support, and the appointment will be considered by the full council in the first week of August.

Consent Calendar

Items 2–5 (resolutions 596, 605, 615, 619), items 8–12 (resolutions 606, 608, 609, 611, 612), items 13–14 (resolutions 564, 567), and items 19–21 (ordinances 17, 19, 20, 21) were read with no questions and will proceed to the council agenda.

Discussion Items

Resolution 607 (Crime Victim Grant): Authorizing acceptance of a $70,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to partially fund a victim services specialist. Councillor Awell asked about the remaining funding source and FTE. Attorney Lair clarified that the remainder comes from the general fund and the position is a 0.8 FTE that already exists.
Resolution 595 (Council Member Fee Increase): Charter Commission recommendation to increase council member fees. Councillor Randorf questioned the timing given upcoming budget challenges. Mr. Staling stated the increase would come from the council budget and that the commission did not consider the city's budget. No decision was made.
Resolution 618 (Tenant Right to Repair): Petition ordinance to place a tenant right-to-repair question on the November 4, 2025 ballot. Councillor Awell asked if an alternative resolution would be brought forward; Attorney Lair said no.
Resolution 613 (Spirit Mountain Electrical Upgrades): Authorizing a $199,969 contract with PEC Solutions for electrical upgrades for the new chairlift installation. Councillor Derwachter asked about the additional cost. Mr. Philby Williams explained that the existing infrastructure is 50 years old and the upgrades will also benefit snowmaking and lighting. The total chairlift cost is $4.4 million.
Resolution 614 (Hayfield Solar Energy Project): Authorizing negotiation of a lease with Eden Renewables for a solar project. Estimated financial benefit to the city is $1.6 million over 25 years, including lease payments and a portion of energy production taxes. Councillor Awell asked about location, benefit, and revenue. Mr. Philby Williams stated the project is north of Hawk Ridge and subject to Minnesota Power approval.
Ordinance 17 (Daycare Facilities): Amendment to city code regarding daycare facilities. Attorney Laird provided an amendment. Councillor Kennedy requested a first read to allow vetting. The item will be brought to the Monday council meeting as a first read.
Ordinance 18 (Transportation Commission): Ordinance to establish a Duluth Transportation Commission. Councillor Awell asked about staff edits. Administrator Staling said edits will take a few weeks. Councillor Awell offered to assist.

Key Outcomes

No formal votes were taken during the agenda session.
The personnel committee concluded the interview; Nathan Johnson's appointment will be considered by the full council in the first week of August.
All discussed items will be on the council agenda for the next meeting (Monday, July 28, 2025) or at a later date as noted.
Ordinance 17 (daycare) will be moved to a first read on Monday.
Ordinance 18 (transportation commission) will be tabled for further staff edits.

Meeting Transcript

Well I'll that um I would love that really that's a big reason why I have not that I did that not cheap. No, I'm gonna figure that out. Oh my god, but you know, you don't get your kids on the you know drawing wrong people wrong out and then you I mean I think that was no I love to be um I don't know what the apple um the one from it that always have a light that always throw everybody and then have a room like everyone's apple but I forget to scan um right something like it was smaller by all that far and then you're oh yeah so you're well so I have to skip another button whatever stuff on I mean Facebook oh yeah I don't care I just want to know who they are yeah I'll just get my information from y'all I don't know who they are we got you know that comes I know yeah because I really actually have to it's regularly um yeah you should be that kind of they did much oh yeah I keep trying to put a garbage can over there for us to make my hint the cat wants me because my cat show you work for your I'm gonna put a sign over that garbage here so I guess I tried that my wow garbage here but that's my cat and two I'll be it's sometimes you know I wonder what they do maybe not sample finds it in the evening and yeah that's name it's one that's coming on US or something. Yeah even though you're not gonna wonderfully I could carry around but if you don't go down to sign that post it's leave a garbage can here's the sorry that's okay. Sending out contracts why isn't this one show and there's been that we need to make that support and then the all right slowly just melting up there. I don't believe you have the one that we all use. Yeah what's you can be very well you wear about where about it. That's a crack my eye box actually. I'm like, is this a person that hmm? Most of the time. Thank you, Rachel. Where's that song coming from? Yes, something's open. It's a recording. They're testing the audacity. Yeah. That's your office fifth talking point to go, right? She has to have asked for that. Otherwise I'll have her dad. Yeah, that's it. Do you just see the I got one too? That's lovely. I mean, it's good. That's pretty cool. I know. I got one of the guys all welcome. Well, uh, the two of us in the air and we've not got all the kids. I didn't get one. Well, maybe you need to come with us on the basics. Well, I can't call you when you can show them how all the stuff you do. Yeah, that'd be great. That'd be fun to have them in there. Can we add to next year? Well, maybe like Jammer. Is it or somebody's in there during the day? Yes, well, should be the public safety. And you can't read that anyway. I see that so classic. Yeah, we'll move over to public safety. So that'll be uh very far back for you. So when I I'm gonna ask to read the data. Can I be in under public safety or does it have a standard? So there isn't any dishes. So why don't we do it? Why don't we just read it and then just read it? I'll read it in the app so we'll let people know it's gonna be functional. Okay. And then I'll be able to hear what's on tomorrow, like tomorrow. Oh, yeah, yeah. And then we're gonna stream.

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