Duluth City Council Meeting – June 15, 2026

The Duluth City Council convened at 6:00 PM on June 15, 2026 in Council Chambers. Roll call showed eight members present (Clanaugh, Desotelle, Durrwachter, Tomanek, Johnson, Randorf, Vice President Kennedy, President Nephew); Councilor Forsman was excused. The meeting included a consent agenda, public comment periods, consideration of several resolutions and ordinances, and a committee-of-the-whole presentation by the Workforce Development Board prior to the regular meeting.

Consent Calendar

• All consent agenda items were adopted without objection except item 18 (Resolution 26‑0557R, CDBG reprogramming), which was pulled by Vice President Kennedy for discussion. That item was later approved unanimously (8‑0).
• Adopted consent items included: confirmation of delinquent solid waste, property violation, and utility fee rolls; acceptance of $441,377–$463,722 per year from the Duluth Joint Powers Enterprise Trust (2026‑2028); purchase of two plow truck chassis for $262,251.78; approval of lawful gambling, liquor licenses (new, temporary, permanent expansions, and 2026/27 renewals); correction of a software licensing resolution from $1,204,823 to $2,307,676; several board and commission appointments (Erik Julsrud, Michael Smisek, Sherri Puckett, Todd Olson, Ayana Izala, Nomi Ostrander); an I‑35 Reconnecting Communities planning study agency agreement; rescission and replacement of a Rice Lake operations and maintenance agreement; one‑way street designation in Canal Park; purchase of cold mix asphalt for $65,000; increase for an energy transfer skid ($20,000 to $169,949); storm system improvements contract to K & H Excavation ($749,065.05); application for a $750,000 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant for a Cody Street stormwater filtration basin; acceptance of a $309,000 auto theft investigator grant and a $36,966.98 Pathways to Policing grant; acceptance of a $32,926.02 Bulletproof Vest Partnership award; and two Marten Trail items (engineering amendment $54,936 and dock site designations).

Public Comments & Testimony

Agenda items (UDC, housing, development):

• Paula Tsufis expressed concern that proposed UDC changes (e.g., decreased setbacks, allowing townhomes in R1/R2) could harm neighborhood character and natural features; urged more time for assessment.
• Phil Luitjens (Essentia Health) supported the UDC updates and downtown development strategy, stating “housing is health” and that Essentia’s $1 billion downtown investment depends on more housing.
• Julie Singewald (Essentia Health) supported the UDC, noting 33 radiology openings and that candidates withdraw due to lack of housing; housing shortages directly affect healthcare delivery.
• Tom McNamara criticized the slow development process, urged partnering with large homebuilders (e.g., Lennar), and said the city should leverage experts who build at scale.
• Shaun Floerke (Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation) supported the UDC, citing New York Times articles on Austin and Vancouver; warned that without building supply, Duluth could face the same affordability crisis as Bozeman.
• Kristi Stokes (Downtown Duluth) supported the UDC as a way to simplify, streamline, and encourage infill housing, noting community priorities for affordable housing and missing-middle housing.
• Alexandra Panovich expressed frustration with the housing crisis and the lack of transparency, urging the council to make it easier to build housing and to involve the public honestly.

Non‑agenda items:

• Andrew St. Croix asked the council to propose a moratorium on data centers in Duluth, citing opposition from seven in ten Americans, environmental and health problems, and the growing number of cities and states with such bans.
• Roy Hamlin (Hamlin Music Academy) requested council support to separate a vape shop from his child‑oriented facility, raising concerns about aerosol exposure and safety.
• Andrew Streitz (chair, Duluth Natural Resources Commission) praised the city’s Natural Resources Program and its single employee, highlighting the successful Duluth Natural Areas Program and the upcoming final approval of the Lester‑Amity‑Hawk Ridge Natural Area.
• Loren Martell compared the city council’s public comment process favorably to the school board’s restrictive listening sessions, and urged the council to maintain open access.

Discussion Items

• Committee‑of‑the‑Whole: Workforce Development Board Update – Before the regular meeting, Ian Vincent (chair) and Alena Fauche (director) presented the department’s services, serving 4,000–5,000 people annually, including youth, adults, laid‑off workers, and employers. They emphasized local control, federal funding (only $50,000 from city general fund), and key metrics: 80% of adults trained entered employment or continued education, 23 youth completed GED, 79% earned industry credentials. Councilors asked about residency requirements (none), tuition assistance (yes, for financial need), and the impact of AI (digital literacy remains a baseline challenge). The board committed to biannual updates.
• Resolution 26‑0557R (CDBG Reprogramming) – Pulled by VP Kennedy. Director Van Tassel explained that leftover funds from older projects were being reprogrammed into already‑funded HUD projects that meet low‑income benefit rules. VP Kennedy noted a missed opportunity for a community facility (Washington Center curtain) and asked for more equitable distribution in the future. The resolution was adopted 8‑0.
• Personnel Appointments (Resolutions 26‑0544R, 26‑0546R, 26‑0547R, 26‑0549R) – Matt Massman (DECC), Gerry Goldfarb (DECC), Jason Gresh (Spirit Mountain), and Steven Gall (Spirit Mountain) were nominated. Councilor Tomanek moved to table each, stating that council custom is to interview and vote two weeks later. All four were tabled unanimously (8‑0). Interviewees had earlier answered questions in a pre‑meeting committee session; no final votes occurred.
• Lincoln Park Special Service District (Resolution 26‑0555R) – VP Kennedy moved to table the resolution to align it with the related ordinance (first reading later in meeting) and to allow more time to review financial numbers. Councilor Clanaugh agreed, noting business support and the model potential. The resolution was tabled 8‑0.
• Unified Development Code Amendments (Ordinance 26‑019‑O) – The ordinance was read for the first time. Councilor Desotelle moved three amendments (changing “alternative energy” to “local energy” and increasing solar‑ready pre‑wiring from 25% to 50%). After discussion, most councilors requested more time to review; the motion to amend was withdrawn, with the expectation that the amendments would be revisited at the next agenda session.
• Downtown Development Strategy (Resolution 26‑0450R) – Remained on the table, pending the committee‑of‑the‑whole session.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Adopted as amended (item 18 approved 8‑0).
• CDBG Reprogramming: Approved 8‑0 after pulled item discussion.
• Appointments (Massman, Goldfarb, Gresh, Gall): All tabled 8‑0 to allow a two‑week process.
• Lincoln Park SSD: Tabled 8‑0 to align with ordinance and review tourism tax numbers.
• Downtown Development Strategy: Remained tabled.
• Ordinance 26‑018‑O (Tall House LLC concurrent use permit): Read for first time.
• Ordinance 26‑019‑O (UDC revisions): Read for first time; proposed amendments withdrawn for further study.
• Ordinance 26‑020‑O (Lincoln Park SSD): Read for first time.
• Ordinance 26‑016‑O (Minnesota Power concurrent use permit): Read for second time and passed 8‑0.
• Ordinance 26‑017‑O (Marten Trail egress regulation): Read for second time and passed 8‑0.
• Adjourned: Motion carried 8‑0.