Duluth City Council Meeting – January 12, 2026: Officers Elected, Public Comments on ICE and Surveillance, LexisNexis Contract Renewed
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Duluth City Council Regular Meeting – January 12, 2026
The Duluth City Council held its first regular meeting of 2026 on January 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included the election of officers, approval of the consent agenda, public testimony on multiple issues, and separate votes on several resolutions and ordinances. The most contentious item was Resolution 26-0002R, authorizing an amendment to the LexisNexis Risk Solutions contract, which passed 7-2 after extensive debate. The meeting also featured statements from the administration regarding the Duluth Police Department’s relationship with federal immigration enforcement.
Election of Officers
- Councilor Lynn Nephew was elected President of the City Council (standing nomination).
- Councilor Janet Kennedy was elected Vice President (standing nomination).
- The election was approved by voice vote.
Consent Calendar
All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously (9-0). They included:
- Resolution 26-0001R: Joint Powers Agreement with MN DEED for vocational rehabilitation services ($35,568)
- Resolution 26-0025R: Designation of official newspaper for 2026
- Resolution 26-0003R: Contract with Hawkins, Inc. for water treatment chemicals ($489,330)
- Resolution 26-0004R: Contract with Thunder Bay Chemicals Ltd. for liquid aluminum sulfate ($267,952)
- Resolution 26-0005R: Approval of Duluth Energy System’s hot water rate for Eastern Canal Park
- Resolution 26-0006R & 26-0007R: Permanent and temporary easements from Zenith Base Camp, LLC (no cost)
- Resolution 26-0021R: Contract with K&H Excavating Inc. for Chambersburg Avenue water main replacement ($434,234)
- Resolution 26-0009R: Permanent easement from Kwik Trip, Inc. for recreational/trail purposes (no cost)
- Resolution 26-0013R: Engineering services agreement for Marten Trail Segment 7 ($140,744)
Public Comments & Testimony
Approximately 30 members of the public spoke, with the majority focusing on two topics:
Opposition to ICE and Surveillance / LexisNexis Contract (Items 14 and related)
- Multiple speakers (Julia Covert, Meg Litts, Kevin Brown, Danny Frank, Eleanor Dolan, Brandon Parker, Aaron Rose, Mae Gackstetter, Chance Wells, Alexandra Panovich, Geoff Schumacher, Jesse Dykhuis, Roland Dubius, Karin White, Annie Gettle, Stephanie Randby, Justin Dean, Olin Pogorels, Jonas Randa, Jim Klukert, Kathy Peterson, Anthony Olstad, Andrea Hanek) urged the council to end the contract with LexisNexis, arguing that the Accurint and Trax tools are used by ICE for immigration enforcement and that DPD’s collaboration with HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) amounts to cooperation with ICE. Many cited the recent killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE agents and expressed fear that local data could be accessed by federal authorities.
- Speakers also demanded that the council pass an ordinance prohibiting DPD from cooperating with ICE or HSI in any capacity, and that the police department stop interfering with constitutional observers.
- A few speakers (e.g., Hadrian DeMaioribus of Vibrant Streets Duluth) addressed street safety, noting Duluth ranks in the bottom 15% for biking and has higher traffic fatality rates per capita than larger Minnesota cities. He urged a “new normal” for streets.
- Roy Hamlin opposed a vaping/tobacco store locating near a school and handicapped facilities on Grand Avenue.
- Chrissy Rounds updated on Sister Cities activities, including the return of the Thunder Bay relationship and fundraising events.
- Roland Dubius spoke on wolf management.
Discussion Items
Resolution 26-0031R – Appointments to Duluth Public Utilities Commission
- Passed unanimously (9-0) after brief motion and second. No discussion.
Resolution 26-0014R – Land Use Study of Former Lester Park Golf Course
- Authorizes an agreement with Bolton & Menk, Inc. for $197,546. Passed unanimously (9-0) without discussion. Public commenter Mae Gackstetter urged a fair and accessible study, and cautioned against linking housing needs with parkland reduction.
Resolution 26-0002R – LexisNexis Risk Solutions Amendment (Accurint Virtual Crime Center with Trax)
- This was the most debated item. Councilor Tomanek moved approval; seconded by Councilor Kennedy.
- Chief of Police Sonoa clarified that DPD has read-only access to LexisNexis databases, does not upload local data, and that ICE cannot access DPD’s queries. He explained that the amendment consolidates payment for two existing subscriptions (Accurint since 2004, Trax since 2017) and aligns renewal dates, with a slight cost reduction.
- Councilors asked about DPD’s relationship with HSI/ICE. Chief Sonoa stated HSI agents work on task forces for narcotics and internet crimes, but DPD does not participate in immigration enforcement. He acknowledged two immigration enforcement events in the past year, but said DPD was not involved. He also addressed an incident at Denfeld High School where DPD followed a constitutional observer, explaining that HSI agents were under surveillance.
- Councilor Durrwachter raised concerns about not having seen all contract documents and suggested tabling for two weeks to allow civil rights experts to review. She noted she had not received an opinion from the ACLU over the weekend.
- Councilor Randorf argued that state and federal law already prohibit DPD from assisting ICE without a 287(g) agreement, and that the tool is essential for solving crimes. She called for unity and criticized the notion that voting yes supports ICE.
- Councilor Forsman noted he had voted on this contract twice before without discussion, and that rejecting the amendment would default to a more expensive rolling contract. He highlighted recent drug busts that used the tool.
- Councilor Clanaugh expressed hesitation due to the potential for federal misuse of aggregated data and the erosion of trust.
- Councilor Kennedy, a woman of color, urged civility and asked the public to be kinder to councilors, especially when they face personal attacks.
- After further debate, President Nephew called the question. A roll call vote resulted in 7 yeas and 2 nays (Councilor Clanaugh and Councilor Durrwachter voting no).
Ordinance 25-037-O – Zoning Map Amendment for Shoreland Overlay (Miller Creek and Coffee Creek)
- Read for the second time and passed unanimously (9-0).
Ordinance 25-039-O – Perpetual Easement for Highway Purposes
- Read for the second time and passed unanimously (9-0).
Key Outcomes
- Council Officers Elected: Lynn Nephew as President, Janet Kennedy as Vice President.
- Consent Agenda: All items approved unanimously.
- Public Utilities Commission Appointments: Desotelle, Durrwachter, and Kennedy confirmed (9-0).
- Lester Park Golf Course Land Use Study: Authorized ($197,546).
- LexisNexis Contract Amendment: Approved 7-2, with Clanaugh and Durrwachter dissenting. The resolution consolidates subscriptions and extends the term through 2029. Chief Sonoa reiterated DPD does not share data with LexisNexis. Councilors pledged continued oversight and potential future audits.
- Zoning and Easement Ordinances: Both adopted unanimously.
- Discrepancy Note: The meeting minutes record 8 councilors present (excluding Johnson) and list the LexisNexis vote as 6-2, while the transcript shows 9 present and a roll call vote of 7-2. The official minutes may contain an error; the council’s roll call at the start of the meeting indicated all 9 councilors were present.
Meeting Transcript
We will begin our meeting in two minutes. And for those people who would like, can I have your attention, please? For those people who would like to have a seat, next door is open, and the meeting will be live streamed there. The meeting of the Duluth City Council will now come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilor Klana. Counselor Desital. Councillor Deer Walter. Councilor Kennedy. Councillor Foresman. Councilor Johnson. Councilor Randor. Vice President Nephew. Here. President Tomonic. Here. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The agenda for the evening's meeting is posted on the bulletin board, and copies are available near the rear of the chambers. For those watching on public access television, the agenda for this meeting is available on the city's website at WW dotuluthmn.gov. Live streaming can also be found on our website under Council Meeting Media. Citizens in the audience who wish to address the council, please sign the sheet located near the clerk's desk right over here. It was pointed out to me that this year I've been asking people in the gallery to turn off their phones when I should have asked you to silence your ringers. So please do that now. Our first item of business is the election of our officers. Before we do that, I'd like to say just a few words. It's been a horrible week, as we all know. When Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, we read the Civility Pledge together in chambers. Do the all the good you can. By all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can. At all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. And I'll just do the election of the vice president before I turn the gavel over to you. Opposed, same sign. Congratulations. I would like to start off by welcoming you all to a regular meeting of the Duluth City Council. Tonight the council will conduct its official business and vote on several matters on the agenda. There will be an opportunity for public comment before we move to the consent agenda. If you wish to speak again, as uh counselor Tomonic said, please sign up with the clerk. Duluth City Council meetings are conducted in accordance with the council's standing rules and Roberts Rules of Order. These rules are established to ensure our meetings are fair, efficient, orderly, and provide a clear process for decision making. In accordance with these rules, please be respectful in your public comments and refrain from using profanity. Also, members of the public should be mindful to address the council as a legislative body and not call out individual counselors by name. If you have a matter you wish to address with a specific counselor, you can find the contact information for all counselors on the city's official website. You will be given three minutes to speak. There's a timer on the lectern. So you can track these your three minutes. Please finish your comments within the allotted time.
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