Council approves Resolution 26-0918R supporting the 148th Fighter Wing's F-35 selection, 7–0

Resolution 26-0918R supporting the 148th Fighter Wing's F-35 selection

7 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain

Arik Forsman (yes), Diane Desotelle (yes), Janet Kennedy (yes), Roz Randorf (yes), Terese Tomanek (yes), David Clanaugh (abstain), Jordon Johnson (yes), Wendy Durrwachter (abstain), Lynn Marie Nephew (yes)

postpone the resolution to after the November General Election

0 yes, 7 no, 2 abstain

Lynn Marie Nephew (no), Wendy Durrwachter (abstain), Jordon Johnson (no), Terese Tomanek (no), David Clanaugh (abstain), Roz Randorf (no), Janet Kennedy (no), Diane Desotelle (no), Arik Forsman (no)

Motion to postpone F-35 resolution until after the November election

2 yes, 7 no

Jordon Johnson (no), Terese Tomanek (no), Wendy Durrwachter (yes), Diane Desotelle (no), Arik Forsman (no), Lynn Marie Nephew (no), David Clanaugh (yes), Roz Randorf (no), Janet Kennedy (no)

Approval of October 13, 2026 meeting minutes (26-034)

9 yes, 0 no

Consent agenda (items 2-8)

9 yes, 0 no

MEETING MINUTES OF THE DULUTH CITY COUNCIL 2026-10-13_City Council Minutes

9 yes, 0 no

THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH INFOSEND, INC., FOR UTILITY INVOICE MAILING SERVICES FOR THE YEAR OF 2027, FOR AN ANNUAL ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $215,550.00.

9 yes, 0 no

Lester Park Golf Course reclassification (PLUMA-2609-0003)

Lester Park Golf Course, Duluth, MN

An ordinance to rezone parcels within the Lester Park Golf Course got its first reading; it will come back for a public hearing and vote later.

still under-review

Right-of-way vacation, Dickerman's Division (PLVAC-2410-0007)

Dickerman's Division plat, Duluth, MN

The council adopted a resolution vacating certain unimproved platted rights-of-way within the Dickerman's Division plat.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Tourism taxes and the 2027 budget

Visit Duluth walked the finance committee through how it will hand out discretionary tourism tax dollars in 2027, with stricter reporting requirements including visitor origin data. The council will vote on the total allocation November 9.

What it means: The council approved a $695,000 discretionary allocation last year; tourism tax revenue has been flat.

Homelessness and the Streetwise organization

Two speakers urged the council to treat unhoused residents with dignity and invest in housing and mental health solutions rather than enforcement.

What it means: Unhoused residents and the organizations serving them.

Vape shop near MacArthur Elementary

A resident criticized the city's handling of vape shop licensing near schools, daycare facilities, and youth centers, arguing the administration is using a narrow definition of 'school' under state statute.

What it means: Vape shop operators under the current licensing rules.

School district referendum tax impact

A resident warned that the school district's ballot referendum would create a long-lived, inflation-indexed operating levy and criticized the board's non-voter taxing authority.

What it means: The referendum's baseline cost is $78.6 million for question one and $112.6 million for both questions.

2027 city budget update

Budget manager Missy Harold reported health insurance costs rose 9 percent instead of the budgeted 7.5 percent, adding about $198,000 in expenses, partially offset by new Minnesota Power franchise fee revenue of $196,700. Key budget votes come December 14.

What it means: About $198,000 in added health insurance costs, offset by roughly $196,700 in new franchise fee revenue.

Trap-neuter-return ordinance for community cats

A veterinary technician asked the city to formally adopt trap-neuter-return as its preferred method for managing community cats and exempt free-roaming cats from leash rules.

What it means: Animal shelters, community cat caregivers, and taxpayers.

148th Fighter Wing F-35 mission support

The council weighed whether to formally back the Duluth Air National Guard base's bid for the F-35 mission. Supporters cited about 1,000 jobs, over $100 million in annual economic impact, and the wing's airport firefighting role; two councilors wanted to wait until after the election.

What it means: The wing generates roughly $107.5 million a year and 1,000 local jobs; losing it could cost the airport authority hundreds of thousands annually in firefighting costs.

Councilor conduct and code of conduct resolution

A resident accused two councilors of hostile behavior and praised six others for pursuing a code of conduct resolution, saying it was blocked from the consent agenda.

What it means: Residents seeking a more civil council environment.

Duluth Heritage Sports Center contamination cleanup

DEDA was set to apply for a state contamination cleanup grant to support the Duluth Heritage Sports Center project, which could help remediate polluted land for community recreation use.

What it means: The Heritage Sports Center project and residents who use it.

U of M research at Becks Road property

A license agreement would let the University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute conduct research on DEDA's Becks Road property.

What it means: NRRI researchers and the local research economy.

Shopper's Ramp demolition costs

The demolition of the Shopper's Ramp was set to cost more, with a change order raising the contract total to about $3.22 million. The ramp's removal is part of downtown redevelopment work.

What it means: The demolition contract total would rise to $3,220,441.56.

Historic Armory project financing

Historic Duluth Armory, LLC sought DEDA's consent to assign its development documents as collateral to Sunrise Banks, a step tied to financing the Historic Armory project.

What it means: The Historic Armory project and its financing partners.

Downtown property acquisition from Peter Pascente

DEDA was set to buy downtown real property from Peter Pascente and take on a mortgage and loan agreement of up to $46,602.43, a small but notable public land purchase.

What it means: Up to $46,602.43 in assumed mortgage and loan obligations.