Wendy Durrwachter

4th Street bike lane and no-parking zones

Conditional funds would unlock design work; amounts not stated.

School district referendum tax impact

Payments of nearly $14 million on a $50 million maintenance bond begin in 2031.

Vape shop near MacArthur Elementary

Short-term rental regulation

Licensing and enforcement will require dedicated city staff and resources; cost not specified.

Councilor conduct and code of conduct resolution

city council legal obligations on Lester Golf development

Development of the lower 63 acres could yield $500,000 to $1 million in property tax revenue, but infrastructure costs — possibly including a new reservoir — remain unknown.

2027 city budget update

A 5% salary increase for LELS 363 members, already allocated within the 2027 budget.

Protective designation of 1,500 acres of former tax-forfeited land

Backed by a $900,000 federal grant secured in 2020; no new cost to taxpayers in this resolution.

Legacy Housing TIF District

TIF diverts new property tax value to support the project's financing rather than general city funds.

Downtown Development Strategy and climate action

Adoption could open pathways to additional funding for downtown redevelopment.

Tourism taxes and the 2027 budget

Tourism tax projections for 2026 were lowered after weak July hotel occupancy; the general fund budget aims for no cuts to core services.

Leicester Park Initiative ballot question

Potential litigation costs for the city and disputed development versus parkland value on 267.5 acres of former golf course.

Homelessness and the Streetwise organization

Police lieutenants' union contract for 2027

Includes a market adjustment dating back three years to keep DPD wages competitive for recruitment.

Minnesota Power franchise fee increase for climate funding

The franchise includes a fee structure summarized in the staff's franchise fee document.

148th Fighter Wing F-35 mission support

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.

2026 Prescribed Burn Program

Vape shop next to Hamlin Music Academy

Trap-neuter-return ordinance for community cats

Supporters say TNR would lower taxpayer costs from repeated trapping and impoundment.

Affordable housing funding for Decker 2 and Mission Heights

Each project requests $400,000 in 2027 HUD funds; successful applications could bring over $10 million each in state funding.

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

Consent agenda (items 2-8)

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

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

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.

Approval of October 6, 2026 Meeting Summary

Adjournment

Approval of Meeting Minutes (26-032)

Consent Agenda (Items 2-13)

Resolution 26-0881R — Strategic Public Lands Realignment Substantial Completion

Resolutions 26-0872R and 26-0873R — 4th Street Bike Lanes and No Parking Zone

Resolution 26-0856R — 2027 LELS 363 Police Contract

Ordinance 26-041-O — Water Utility Grant Anticipation Revenue Notes

Ordinance 26-042-O — Minnesota Power Franchise Fee

Adjournment

Approval of Minutes

Accessible parking request — 631 E. 3rd Street

Accessible parking request — 1222 N 7th Ave E

Temporary Expansion - Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community

Approval of Council Minutes (26-027)

postpone the resolution to after the November General Election

adopt this resolution

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

Shared concerns about federal use of military bases and wanted to wait until after the midterms

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

Supported postponement until after the election and declined to vote on the underlying resolution

approve

Resolution 26-0856R — 2027 LELS 363 Police Contract

Consistent with her prior opposition to a 5% increase for a department whose members already earn double the average citizen's income.

Resolution 26-0793R — Legacy Housing TIF Plan

The public lacked access to the pro forma and but-for documentation before the hearing

Resolution 26-0761R — Lester Park Golf Course comprehensive plan amendment (Kennedy/Nephew amendment)

Resolution 26-0761R — Randorf amendment retaining 207 acres as P-1 open space

Resolution 26-0761R — final adoption as amended

Resolution 26-0725R — Luke Medis to Building Appeal Board

Wanted the appointment tabled until the appointee's required qualification was confirmed

Ordinance 26-037-O — reduce Building Appeal Board to seven members

Argued reducing membership weakens expert oversight of building and zoning appeals

26-0725R — Appointment of Luke Medis to Building Appeal Board

We should table this and not make an exception only for one board when we're not making an exception for every board.

Resolution 26-0679R — Lester Park petitions preempted

The charter obligates the council to place the ordinances on the ballot; preemption is speculation for a judge to decide.

Suspension of rules for 45 minutes of public comment

Table Resolution 26-0679R (preemption finding)

Table Resolution 26-0681R (special election submission)

Approval of meeting minutes

Consent agenda

Resolution 593 — Police Chief Sanoa contract amendment (salary increase)

Pending whistleblower litigation naming the chief makes supporting the raise inappropriate, and the raise conflicts with the city's fiscal messaging.

Resolution 546 — Jerry Goldfarb, DECC Authority

Resolution 547 — Jason P. Gresh, Spirit Mountain Authority

Resolution 549 — Steven Gall, Spirit Mountain Authority

Resolution 450 — Downtown Development Strategy (as amended)

Resolution 555 — Lincoln Park Special Service District service charges

Ordinance 18 — Tallhouse LLC conditional use permit, 1712 West Third Street

Ordinance 19 — Unified Development Chapter revisions

Ordinance 20 — Establish the Lincoln Park Special Service District

Resolution 26-0348R — Ehlers and Associates financial consulting

Believes per-project contracting with varied advisors would offer flexibility and better vetting

Resolution 26-0355R — TIF District No. 39 (Duluth Armory)

Wants the but-for analysis, a full pro forma and the development agreement presented together before voting

Resolution 26-0346R — Orchards of Morgan Park Housing TIF plan

Carries forward the same information-process concerns raised on the Armory TIF

Resolution 26-0349R — Shopper's Ramp demolition change order

Believes large change orders and out-of-scope work should be competitively rebid under state statute

Durrwachter amendment to shorten HRA police officer agreement to one year

Past practice was one-year approvals and the budget is renewed annually.

Resolution 248 — HRA community-based police officer agreement (Item 11)

Five years locks in too much; prefers one year with revised language and social-worker collaboration.

Resolution 2601 — Records management system agreement (Item 19)

Cannot control access policies of 15 other agencies; records systems reported vulnerable to hacking and misuse.

Resolution 2703 — Chester Bowl chalet reconstruction contract (Item 22)

Resolution 173 — Standing rules amendments (final adoption)

Opposed the consent agenda motion-and-second requirement as a legacy risk for future councils

LexisNexus Accurint/Tracs agreement amendment

Said she could not vote yes without seeing a third contract and an ACLU attorney's review.