Duluth City Council Meeting - October 27, 2025

The Duluth City Council convened at 6:00 PM on Monday, October 27, 2025, in Council Chambers. All nine councilors were present: President Terese Tomanek, Vice President Lynn Nephew, and Councilors Azrin Awal, Wendy Durrwachter, Arik Forsman, Janet Kennedy, Deborah DeLuca, Roz Randorf, and Tara Swenson. The council approved the previous meeting's minutes unanimously, heard extensive public testimony, adopted consent agenda items, debated a land use study for the former Lester Park Golf Course, and acted on short-term rental and human rights commission ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously, except for item 12 which was pulled and voted separately.
• 25-0809R: Authorized purchase of computers, laptops, and docking stations from Insight Public Sector for $198,180.59.
• 25-0842R: Authorized city officials to purchase/contract for software and technology products/services subject to city attorney and IT review.
• 25-0826R: Approved amendments to the Property & Evidence Specialist civil service classification.
• 25-0827R: Approved amendments to the Assistant City Clerk classification, including a title change to Deputy City Clerk.
• 25-0815R: Authorized DEDA to apply for a contamination cleanup grant for the Lot D project and provide a 25% match, not to exceed $150,000.
• 25-0824R: Partial vacation of a drainage easement in Atlas Industrial Park.
• 25-0825R: Renewed agreement with the Duluth HRA and One Roof Community Housing for the Tenant Landlord Connection program, accepting $22,500.
• 25-0828R: Authorized a first amendment to the Hartley Hills development agreement and accepted permanent utility and recreational easements at no cost.
• 25-0831R: Authorized an assessment agreement for 114 West 1st Street for abatement of hazardous conditions.
• 25-0816R: Increased the LHB Inc. engineering services contract for Aerial Lift Bridge inspection by $116,302.06, for a new total of $140,852.06.
• 25-0820R: Accepted a temporary construction easement from Alessandro Giuliani in Lincoln Park.
• 25-0822R: Increased the Short Elliott Hendrickson Cross City Trail Phase 3 contract by $5,700.00, for a new total of $227,822.00.
• 25-0823R: Authorized municipal consent to St. Louis County for a scrub seal project in 2026.
• 25-0829R: Amended a right-of-way maintenance agreement with Reed and Mistica Blazevic.
• 25-0830R: Accepted permanent street and utility easements from Miller & Holmes Inc. in Lincoln Park.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ansel Schimpff (Executive Director, Cyclists of Kitchigumi Shores): Expressed concerns about transferring Lester Park Golf Course to the economic development authority, saying the process lacks a genuine public process and that geology makes development costly. Called trickle-down housing "fantasy" and warned against urban sprawl.
• Asher Estrin-Haire (District 4): Accused councilors of conflicts of interest regarding the Lester Park transfer and the Minnesota Power data center, alleging secrecy and that public input would be ignored.
• Kayla Pridmore (Food Access Program Manager, Community Action Duluth): Reported the mobile market distributed over $150,000 in low/no-cost food this year, farmers markets distributed over $30,000 and supported over 40 small businesses; expressed concern that food access programs may be paused or cut despite community need.
• Aparna Katre: Said the Nourish program serves about 175 individuals weekly with healthy meal kits; worried that instability at Community Action Duluth could collapse healthy food access, especially as SNAP benefits decline.
• Barbara Montee: Supported renewal of the Tenant Landlord Connection program; opposed the "rent repair" ballot initiative, calling it a "blowtorch" that could harm tenants.
• Chad Ronchetti (Hermantown resident): Asked the council to censure Councilor Durrwachter for social media statements he characterized as baseless and defamatory, citing the city's ethics code.
• Mark Edgette (Human Rights Commission member): Opposed automatic integration of protected class commissions, insisting on affirmative votes and no arbitrary deadlines; supported consolidation only if commissions choose it voluntarily and have voting representation.
• Eleanor Dolan (District 4): Opposed transferring Lester Park Golf Course to DEDA without a land study; said DEDA lacks a record of delivering affordable housing and the land should remain public green space.
• Mikayla Haynes (Lakeside resident): Emphasized the historic and ongoing public use of Lester Park Golf Course as open space and urged a proper public process.
• Rene Goodrich (Indigenous Commission): Opposed folding the Indigenous Commission into the Human Rights Commission, citing sovereign nation status and treaty rights; said the commission voted to remain sovereign.
• Phoebe Davis (Indigenous Commission Chair): Confirmed the October 20, 2025 vote by consensus to remain a sovereign Indigenous commission.
• Brandon Parker (District 4): Criticized alleged secrecy around the Hermantown data center, accused councilors and Chamber officials of conflicts of interest, and demanded transparency.
• Julie O'Leary: Said the Lester Park resolution lacks a genuine public process and presupposes housing on land zoned as parkland; urged following both the letter and spirit of the 2019 plan.
• Mike Casey (vacation rental permit holder): Opposed a new moratorium on short-term rentals, saying the existing 120-unit cap already limits them; called for closing loopholes and enforcing penalties for large developers.
• Rich Staffon (former Izaak Walton League president): Said the 2019 compromise preserving most of Lester Park as parkland is being backtracked on; urged caution and protection of green space.
• Matt Baumgartner (Chamber of Commerce): Defended civic and business leaders against "bourgeois" and "cabal" rhetoric; noted the chamber's foundation granted over $100,000 this year; raised concerns about the "rent repair" ballot initiative; advocated for economic development.
• The minutes also list Jill Crawford Nichols as a speaker on Lester Park.

Discussion Items

Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study (Resolution 25-0845R)

• Councilor Forsman explained the resolution requests a land use study, not a transfer. He noted the city has over $100 million in deferred park maintenance and said housing is intentionally included based on past working group input and the Maxfield study.
• Councilor Randorf stressed the need for a robust study with the Parks and Natural Resources Commissions and proposed pairing the Lester Park study with potential expansion of protected parkland, citing a 2022 acquisition of nearly 1,900 acres of tax-forfeit land.
• Councilor Durrwachter emphasized community engagement and said the resolution brings stakeholders to the table.
• Councilor Awal highlighted the public process and the commitment to reinvest at least 50% of any net benefit into park capital and maintenance.
• Councilor Nephew gave park acreage comparisons: Duluth has 105.7 acres per 1,000 people vs. 31.8 in Bend, OR; 16.4 in St. Cloud, MN; 48.9 in Fayetteville, AR; and 10.6 in Bozeman, MT.
• President Tomanek supported the resolution, referencing a prior task force.
• The resolution passed 9-0.

Interim Controls on Short-Term Rentals (Resolution 25-0808R)

• The resolution was initially on the table, then taken off, discussed, and re-tabled unanimously.
• Councilor Forsman cited an example of a would-be applicant who had already spent significant money; Councilor Durrwachter thanked those tabling it.

Minnesota Power Electric Vehicle Charging License (Resolution 25-0821R)

• Authorized a license agreement with Minnesota Power for EV charging stations in Canal Park through 2035 at no cost to the city.
• Councilor Forsman abstained, citing his employment with Minnesota Power. Passed 8-0-1.

Protected Class Commissions Ordinance (25-027-O)

• Councilor Swenson introduced an amendment setting a June 30, 2026 deadline for commissions to vote on incorporation into the Human Rights Commission; if a commission fails to meet quorum or vote by then, it automatically incorporates; if it votes against, it remains independent.
• Staff members John Dukic and Dr. Marsha Liu explained the committee structure and potential budget/staff efficiencies.
• The amendment passed 8-1, with Councilor Kennedy voting no. The amended ordinance was moved back to a first read and will be considered again at a future meeting.

Short-Term Rental Moratorium Ordinance (25-028-O)

• Tabled unanimously (9-0).

NQT2SLGBIA Commission Ordinance (25-026-O)

• Councilor Kennedy withdrew the ordinance, saying more robust community conversations were needed and that the NQT commission plans to vote on November 3rd.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda (minus item 12) unanimously.
• Approved Resolution 25-0845R (Lester Park land use study) 9-0.
• Approved Resolution 25-0821R (EV charging station license) 8-0-1 (Forsman abstained).
• Tabled Resolution 25-0808R and Ordinance 25-028-O unanimously.
• Amended Ordinance 25-027-O (8-1) and returned it to first reading.
• Withdrew Ordinance 25-026-O.
• Councilor comments included: Randorf announced staff will bring rezoning of Lester Park properties to council by January; Forsman celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1200 Fund ($12 million invested, 93 companies, 1,900 jobs created); Awal previewed a Flow Street working group resolution and promoted Native American Heritage Month events; Kennedy noted investments in the Spirit Valley area; President Tomanek announced a budget meeting Friday and a trick-or-treat event at City Hall.