Duluth City Council Meeting - October 26, 2026

The Duluth City Council convened on Monday, October 26, 2026, following a Finance Committee session. The main meeting featured a robust discussion on a resolution supporting the 148th Fighter Wing's F-35 bid, public comments on various local issues, and the unanimous approval of the consent agenda. Council also received updates on the 2027 budget and tourism tax distribution.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Unanimously: The consent agenda included resolutions for vacating certain rights-of-way, authorizing a contamination cleanup grant application for the Duluth Heritage Sports Center, approving an engineering services agreement for Hillside Culvert Repair Phase 3 (not to exceed $166,382.50), authorizing a utility invoice mailing services agreement with Infosend, Inc. for 2027 ($215,550), ordering a sanitary sewer extension on Roslyn Avenue, accepting a Towards Zero Deaths grant ($53,850), and amending a grant agreement for the Cross City Trail.

Public Comments & Testimony

• F-35 Resolution Support: Tom Warner, Executive Director of the Duluth Airport Authority, strongly urged support for the 148th Fighter Wing, highlighting its $107.5 million annual economic impact and its critical 24-hour firefighting support at the airport. Tiffany Hughes, Chair of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, also voiced strong support, noting the 148th is one of the region's largest employers with over 1,000 local employees.
• Community Issues (Non-Agenda):
  • Roy Hamlin criticized the city administration's handling of a vape shop licensing issue near a school, calling for stronger protections.
  • Shiloh Johnson and Babette Salmon (Streetwise) urged the council to address homelessness with dignity and invest in housing and mental health.
  • Abby Vicklin (Animal Allies) advocated for a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) ordinance for managing community cats.
  • Lauren Martell expressed concerns about the school district's operating levy referendum and its long-term financial impact on homeowners.
  • Genka Tarnowski criticized the conduct of Councilors Klana and Durlachter and expressed support for a proposed code of conduct resolution.

Discussion Items

• Finance Committee (Pre-Council):
  • Visit Duluth Presentation: Executive Director Haley Headstrom presented the FY2027 process for allocating discretionary tourism funds ($695,000 total). The application scoring rubric uses a maximum of 80 points. Council members discussed the timeline, the independence of the allocation decisions, the Madden Media contract, and metrics for measuring return on investment.
  • Budget Update: Budget Manager Missy Harold provided the 2027 budget timeline. Notable changes included a $198,000 increase in medical insurance costs (9% renewal vs. 7.5% budgeted) and a $196,700 increase from the Minnesota Power franchise fee.
• F-35 Resolution (26-0918R):
  • Councilor Klana moved to postpone the vote until after the November 3rd election, citing concerns over current federal foreign policy and the politicization of military spending.
  • Councilor Durlachter seconded the motion, raising additional concerns about potential federal mandates involving the military.
  • Councilors Nephew, Johnson, Forsman, Randorf, and Tomanek spoke against postponement, stressing the October 29th deadline, the economic importance of the base ($107.5M / 1,000 jobs), and the potential loss of critical firefighting services.
  • The motion to postpone failed 2-7.

Key Outcomes

• F-35 Resolution Passes: The resolution supporting the 148th Fighter Wing was approved with 7 votes in favor and 2 abstentions (Councilors Klana and Durlachter). President Kennedy confirmed the city will submit a letter of support by the October 29th deadline.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously by roll call vote.
• Zoning Ordinance (First Reading): An ordinance to reclassify parcels within the Lester Park Golf Course was read for the first time.
• Budget Schedule: The council outlined the path to the final budget, including the tourism tax resolution on November 9th and final budget approval on December 14th.