Duluth City Council Meeting - April 24, 2026
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Duluth City Council Meeting - April 24, 2026
The Duluth City Council met on April 24, 2026, in an agenda session to consider a wide range of resolutions, including consent items, planning and economic development projects (notably the Armory Tax Increment Financing district), public works and utilities contracts, recreation and library matters, and a committee of the whole update on the Wabigana/Martin Trail shoreline access ordinance. Several items were pulled for further review, and no final votes were taken on the pulled items. The meeting included extensive discussion on the Armory TIF, the Shoppers Ramp demolition change order, street preservation contracts, and the new shoreline access ordinance.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 336: Authorizing a five-year lease of a mail machine and services with Pitney Bowes for a total of $40,231.20.
- Resolution 350: Authorizing the purchase of election polling pads from No Inc. in the amount of $68,160. Councilor Desitel asked for clarification that these are for registration and check-in only, not for voting, which was confirmed. Councilor Klana questioned the high per-unit cost ($1,800), and staff explained that the cost includes software, iPads, and support, and that the purchase is dictated by state statute with a sole vendor.
- Resolutions 313, 355, 356, 357, 360: Confirming appointments to various boards and commissions (library, parks, community development, disabilities, public arts). No questions were raised, and these items were approved.
Discussion Items
- Armory Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District (Resolutions 335, 346, 348, 349, 351): The council discussed a proposal to establish a TIF district for the redevelopment of the Armory building into a community hub with a food hall, arts, entertainment, and artist studios. The developer, Tia Jacobs (Sherman Associates), along with Deb Shaber (new executive director) and Carolyn Sunquist (board president of the Armory Arts and Music Center), presented. Key points: The building has never been on property tax rolls and will be owned by a for-profit LLC (Historic Duluth Armory LLC) that will pay property taxes. The project is expected to create 250 new jobs (14 full-time, 76 part-time, 50 seasonal) with annual wages of $12-15 million after opening. The city has not put any funds into the building; the only prior city expenditure was for flood repairs to the creek infrastructure (tunnel) under the building, not the building itself. Councilors asked about the "but for" test, pro forma, and the difference between redevelopment and housing TIF. Director Van Tassel confirmed the project meets TIF criteria and the "but for" test. The resolution was pulled for further review.
- Shoppers Ramp Demolition Change Order (Resolution 349): Staff explained that contaminated urban fill was discovered beneath the ramp, requiring additional excavation and disposal. The change order increases the total cost by $500,000, with $400,000 from the city's Brownfields Remediation Fund (255) and $100,000 from DITA capital funds. Councilor Klana asked about cost escalation management; staff noted that 25% change orders are typical and this project had three change orders, the second of which triggered council approval. Councilor Timonic inquired about investment of the fund in account 255; Director Salinas will provide details at a future finance committee. The resolution was pulled.
- Public Works and Utilities Contracts: Several items were discussed, including:
- Resolution 308 (no parking zone on West Niagara Street) – Councilor Timonic questioned why it came to council rather than the parking commission; staff explained it is required for MnDOT funding.
- Resolution 318 (West Superior Street Reconstruction Project) – Councilor Klana asked about pedestrian and bike traffic management during construction; the project manager provided a detailed overview of detours and maintaining access.
- Resolutions 333 and 339 (change orders for street preservation projects) – Councilor Dirwachter noted that the amendments to design contracts for construction administration were 34% and 175% increases, respectively, and questioned why these were not rebid. Staff explained that the same firm that designed the project is typically retained for construction administration due to efficiency, and that rebidding is not common practice. Both items were pulled.
- Police Department Gift Bus (Resolution 307): The council accepted a non-monetary gift from the Duluth Police Foundation – a mobile engagement bus. Councilor Desitel asked how the bus builds community. Chief Sano read a response from Deputy Chief Morris detailing the bus's use at events, school visits, and community mourning, emphasizing its role in building trust and accessibility. The item was approved without pulling.
- PFM Property Purchase (Resolution 332): The council considered purchasing a building in the Oneota neighborhood for $1,175,000 to consolidate the city's fleet maintenance facility. Director Birklin explained that the purchase is necessary to create space for a new fleet services building, and that the existing fleet building will be sold. Councilor Klana asked about the building's condition (currently vacant, former ServePro facility) and value; staff noted it was listed at over $1.2 million and negotiated down. Councilor Dirwachter asked about the public arts commission percentage (1% of new building purchases) – staff will confirm applicability. The resolution was pulled.
- Committee of the Whole: Wabigana/Martin Trail Shoreline Access Ordinance: Jim Schoberg (landscape architect) presented a plan to revitalize the 3.3-mile trail, improve accessibility, and address unauthorized improvements on public land along the shoreline. The proposed ordinance would allow residents to apply for a $100 permit for egress (pathways) and docks, with a 50-foot shoreline setback. Permitted pathways must be natural surface, 4 feet wide, one per lot. The ordinance will have a first reading on May 7, second reading on May 26, with a 30-day comment period and a one-season grace period. Councilors asked about dock regulation (DNR jurisdiction), property tax implications (clarified that waterfront ownership is not taxed unless directly owned), and enforcement. The presentation was informational.
Key Outcomes
- Items pulled for further review: Resolution 335 (Armory TIF district), Resolution 346 (Orchards TIF), Resolution 349 (Shoppers ramp change order), Resolution 333 (2026 street preservation Gary New Duluth change order), Resolution 339 (2026 street preservation Lincoln Park change order), and Resolution 332 (PFM property purchase). These will be reconsidered at a future meeting.
- All other resolutions on the agenda were approved, including consent items, public works contracts, and the police gift bus.
- The Armory TIF district establishment (Resolution 335) is expected to come back for final approval at the next council meeting, with the TIF amount and plan details to be provided.
- The shoreline access ordinance will proceed through the council’s legislative process with first reading on May 7, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. We will call the agenda session to order. First in the queue is purchasing and licensing. Or would you like us to just get started? Okay. Vice President Kennedy, can you read in for Counselor Director while she's getting settled? She got it. Or are you good with reading? Okay. All right, go for it. Thank you, President F. Item number two. Item number two, resolution 336, authorizing a five-year lease of a mail machine and services with Pitney Bowes for a total amount of 40, 231 dollars and 20 cents. Item number three, resolution 350, authorizing the purchase of election polling pads from no inc in the amount of 68,160. All right, thank you. Um I do have a question that was sent in by Counselor Desitel for item number three. Um her question is polling pads. Are these electronic devices just for resistration and check-in? Please clarify that paper ballots are still Minnesota's backup for voting for the voting part. President Nephew, thank you. Um the polling pads don't actually have anything to do with the actual process of voting. They are simply for registration and check-in of voters. Um we um are using these to replace the paper rosters. So when you go to check-in to vote, you normally have to check in on a piece of paper. This will replace those um paper rosters. Thank you. Um counselor Klana. Thank you, President Nephew. Uh these are iPads, and they're they're at an $1,800 per unit cost. Um what is responsible for such a high cost for those? President nephew, uh, counselor Klanna. The cost of these is down to the software, and then also the cost of the iPads themselves. Um and the support that comes with them. Okay. Thank you. You're on um administration. Go ahead. It's worth the President nephew, Counselor Klana. Um we are we are uh the purchase of those iPads are dictated by the state of Minnesota in state statute. So we have certain equipment that we can purchase along with certain software, and we are um there are certain vendors that we can purchase that through. In fact, we don't even quote those out ourselves. St. Louis County has to quote those for us when we um when we state that we're interested in them, we give them a number, and then they quote those out. That equipment actually gets delivered to them. They do all of the setup and the storage of those based on election rules. Follow-up. So you said vendors. I mean is my my understanding is now no now inc. is like the only vendor in this market, niche. Is that accurate?
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