Duluth City Council

Proposed Plans for Duluth Golf Courses Pass to City Council

Plans propose scaling back and developing Lester Park Golf Course.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Public Golf Courses are now $2.4 million in debt. The city’s recommendations, which the Parks and Recreation Commission passed with a 6-2 vote on Wednesday, would scale back the 27 holes at Lester Park Golf Course to 18 to make way for housing. Plans would also improve the infrastructure at Enger Park Golf Course. Among the proposed…

Future of Duluth Golf Courses

The City of Duluth is recommending one Duluth golf course will be downsized

DULUTH, Minn.- The City of Duluth is recommending nine holes of the Lester Park Golf Course be sold off following the 2019 season for a housing development that could be turned into up to 400 multi-family housing units. The City’s recommendation would improve the infrastructure at Enger Park Golf Course while continuing to operate the other 18 holes at Lester…

Ordinance To Restrict Duluth Massage Businesses Gets First Read

Some are in favor of some new city regulations, but say current proposal hurts their legitimate businesses.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council had its first read of an ordinance that would tighten up restrictions for massage businesses. Amendments to the ordinance include broadening hours of operations from 6 am to 11 pm, allowing clients to enter or exit through more than one entrance, and allowing doors to be locked during business hours. Previously, the ordinance stated…

First Street to be Evaluated for Two-Way Traffic

City proposes traffic study to city council Monday night.

DULUTH, Minn.- As the city starts work on the reconstruction of Superior Street, they’re also looking ahead to a possible redevelopment of First Street. On Monday night the Duluth City Council is expected to vote on whether to have a traffic study done. The study would look into converting First Street between Mesaba Avenue and 24th Avenue East from one-way…

Theresa O’Halloran-Johnson Running for Duluth City Council

Johnson announcing she's running for the 3rd District.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth resident and activist Theresa O’Halloran-Johnson announced she’s running for Duluth City Council, in the third district. A resident of more than 10 years, Johnson said she knows the neighborhood and its issues, and will try to be as accessible as she can be to residents. “I wanted to make sure that we had a strong voice for…

Duluth Councilors Pass Ordinance To Help Ease Child-Care Shortage

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s estimated at least 1,100 more child-care spots are needed in Duluth to meet the demand right now, according to the Northland Foundation.  But Monday night, city councilors voted to help ease that shortage. Councilors passed an ordinance with an 8-0 vote that allows companies and other mixed-use businesses to have a child-care facility on site. Councilor Jay…

Convenience Stores Find Loophole to Sell Flavored Tobacco

Korner Store in Gary New Duluth opening up smoke shop.

DULUTH, Minn.- At least two convenience stores in Duluth have found a way around a year-old city ordinance that bans the sale of menthol and flavored tobacco products. Derek Medved, owner of the Korner Store in Gary New Duluth, is creating a separate retail establishment as a smoke shop within his convenience store. The 10 foot by 10 foot section…

City Council Approves St. Luke’s Helipad Move

Old parking lot being turned into new helipad.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council has approved the move of Saint Luke’s helipad as the hospital continues to look to expand. Citizens had previously expressed concern about the noise caused by the new location. The resolution also approves the hospitals plans for the reconstruction of its parking deck, including an ambulance garage on East Second Street, where the new helipad would…

Duluth Council OKs $88K For External Review Of Police Dept.

DULUTH, Minn.- City councilors have unanimously approved Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken’s request to purchase an external evaluation of his department at a cost of roughly $88,000. The funds would come from the department’s already-approved operational budget for 2019. The assessment would be performed by a third party, and police say it would help them better allocate their limited resources…

Gary Anderson To Run for Second Term on Council

Current first district councilor announces he'll run for second term

DULUTH, Minn.- To cheers from his supporters at Vanilla Bean in Duluth, First District City Councilor Gary Anderson announced he will be running for council for a second 4-year-term. Anderson is currently the Vice President of the council. During his term has helped craft and vote on the Earn Sick and Safe Time Ordinance and changing the age to buy…

Goodbye 18, Hello 21. Duluth’s Legal Age To Purchase Tobacco Products Rises

Ordinance Will Take Effect In 120 Days

DULUTH, Minn.- In a 6-2 vote Monday night, the Duluth city council voted in favor of raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. “I know people will say this is a complex issue. But the lives of our children–is simple,” said Tonya Sconier, principal at Denfeld High School, before the vote was made. About a…

Council Passes TIF Agreement for High Rise Apartments in Downtown Duluth

2 Councilors Vote Against, One Absent

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth City Council passed a TIF increment financing package for developers, who plan to build a luxury apartment complex downtown. $6.2 million of the $70.4 million cost will come through public financing. A packed city hall Monday night illustrates the urgency presented by this issue. The developers for the high rise presented their plans for the construction. The…

City Council Approves New Budget

Budget for Fiscal Year 2019 Goes Up, Minimal Cuts

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth City Council approved a new budget for the city Monday night. The budget is expected to be $3 million bigger than 2018’s. Councilors said the amount of cuts in this budget are minimal at best. Changes include adding $280,000 for park maintenance. At the council meeting they also had the first reading of an amendment that…

City Council Approves Riot Gear As Protesters Take Over Chambers

Disruptions Don't Stop Approval of Riot Gear Purchase

DULUTH, Minn.- After two tabled votes, and three community meetings involving the topic, the Duluth City Council voted 6 to 2 in favor of purchasing roughly $83,000 of riot gear for Police Officers. Counselors Gary Anderson and Joel Sipress voted against the purchase. Em Westerlund was out of town for work. Westerlund missed a city council meeting like no other….

Community Voices Heard One Last Time for Riot Gear

Issue with Comments from Meetings Now Goes to City Council

DULUTH, Minn.- “…we stop being oppositional and look for ways to make our community safe.” The tired plea from one concerned citizen at a third community meeting discussing whether the Duluth Police Department should purchase new riot gear. The Citizens Review Board held its final community meeting about the proposed purchase of riot gear. The feedback along the way will…

Businesses Feel Impact of Flavored Tobacco Ordinance

The ordinance on flavored tobacco products has been in effect since June 12, four months after the council passed it.

DULUTH, Minn. – The city of Duluth has now restricted the sales of flavored tobacco products at some businesses for more than two months. It’s an ordinance that went into effect 120 days after the city voted to ban those products from grocery and convenience stores, limiting them to be sold at adult–only smoke shops. It’s business as usual at…

Montgomery Announces Retirement

Longtime Chief Administration Officer Bids Adieu

Duluth, Minn- A big change is coming to the Mayor’s office in Duluth. After nearly ten years in his position, Chief Administration Officer Dave Montgomery is retiring. Montgomery is the longest serving Chief Administrative Officer in Duluth for 30 years. The farewell crowd at City Hall included former Mayor Don Ness, members of the Fire Department, and various other city…

Duluth City Council Votes To Pass ESST

The ordinance won't go into effect until Jan. 2020, so businesses would have time to make adjustments.

DULUTH, Minn. – A decision on the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) ordinance has finally been reached. The ordinance passed during Tuesday’s Duluth City Council meeting. Ater a vote of 7-1, ESST is officially happening in Duluth. The council chambers weren’t packed compared to past meetings and four speakers spoke. This vote has been a long time coming with several amendments…

City Council Votes On Latest Earned Sick and Safe Time Amendments

There have been more than 18 amendment to the ESST ordinance.

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s been debated for months, whether to establish new minimum standards for Duluth workers to Earn Sick and Safe Time (ESST) at their jobs. The Duluth City Council is once again discussing the issue with two new amendments being introduced. Several small business owners were in downtown Duluth in support of this ordinance. They’re ready for this ordinance…

Housing Tax Credits and Nordic Center Also On Duluth City Council Agenda

DULUTH, Minn. – The City Council is also expects to make a decision on low–income housing tax credits. There are five projects on the agenda for discussion. One Roof Housing has proposed a nine percent tax credit for the Decker and Brewery Creek Apartments. The three projects under construction for a four percent tax credit include re-purposing certain floors of the Board of…

No Decision Made in On-Going Earned Sick Time Proposal.

The earned sick and safe time proposal has been discussed for nearly three years now.

DULUTH, Minn.- The on–going controversial earned sick and safe time proposal was the main topic Monday at the Duluth City Council meeting. The earned sick and safe time proposal has been discussed for nearly three years now. Supporters with Take Action Duluth Coalition say 24 municipal, 3 county, and 9 state wide ordinances have been passed during this time period….

Historic Homes In Duluth May Be Like New Again With New Housing Program

The Council will wait and see how this program turns out before moving forward.

DULUTH, Minn. – Renovating old homes in Duluth is getting easier thanks to a new pilot program. The Duluth City Council has approved launching the program by waiving building permit fees for qualifying properties. Most of the eligible properties for the program are in Duluth’s Hillside, Endion and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. If homeowners meet certain criteria they can earn 50…

Vote On Flavored Tobacco Ordinance Expected By Monday

Under the Ordinance Customers Would Still be Able to Buy Flavored Tobacco Products from Adult Only Smoke Shops

DULUTH, Minn. – The issues with the restriction on the sale of flavored tobacco products inside Northland convenient stores isn’t going away anytime soon. Several local retailers are standing united and are against the city council approving this ordinance. Today they made one last effort before the council make its decision. Inside the Snyder’s Drug Store in Duluth local retailers…

Duluth City Council To Have First Read For Possible Tobacco Flavored Products Ban

If this ordinance does pass businesses would be given a 120 day notice to comply.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth City Council will have the first reading of an ordinance that could ban the sale of flavored tobacco products in convenience stores. Staff at the Piedmont Milk House in Duluth say they don’t want to sell flavored tobacco products to minors, but don’t agree with the city picking and choosing who can and can not sell those products. The store…

Duluth City Hall May Undergo Million Dollar Renovation

Years ago the Police Department had offices on the ground level at City Hall.

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s City Hall may be getting a nearly $2 million makeover. The Duluth City Council will take up a resolution for City Hall interior renovations on Monday, Jan. 22. Most of the renovations are focused on keeping the building functional. It consists of working on the electrical system, infrastructure of the building and reworking some of the office spaces. “Part of the…

Downtown Duluth May Have Another Million Dollar Housing Project

CityView Flats would be a three to four story building.

DULUTH, Minn. – A new housing development is in the works in Central Hillside. This Monday council members will decide whether to approve an $800,000 grant to support the development. The proposed $20 million project would be located at 1st Avenue West and 4th Street. Right now most of the property is a parking lot, but it could be the future site of a…

Ordinance May Restrict Flavored Tobacco Products In Duluth Convenience Stores

The Ordinance Would Amend Chapter 11 of the Duluth City Code

Management from both smaller local convenience stores and big names like Kwik Trip are speaking out against the proposed ban. Gary Milk House Owner Derek Medved carries a variety of flavored tobacco products. But the store owner does not want young people buying them. “We’re here to work with the city on that to prevent of course selling to minors,”…

New City Budget Could Increase Your Property Taxes

Mayor Emily Larson's budget proposal is nearly a six percent increase from 2017's budget

DULUTH, Minn. -Along with drawing from the city’s reserve fund, the typical Duluth homeowner could see a $30 property tax increase if a city budget proposal passes. Duluth Mayor Emily Larson’s proposal would try to fill the budget gap partially through cutting staff from city departments and increasing your property taxes. Part of the proposal includes spending an additional $1…

Morning Update 7-28-17

Local news and weather making headlines in the Twin Ports

Categories: News Update Tags: Brett Scott, Duluth City Council, Headlines, KQDS, News, Sick TIme, Update, Vote, weather, William Seay