[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588454,"mediaKeyId","5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3","parentId",5610075,"title","Residents press council on housing conditions, right-to-repair, commissions and labor; councilers promise follow-ups","audioSeconds",382,"startMs",2748000,"endMs",3130000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3&start=2748&end=3130","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3/thumbnail_2748000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588454/Duluth/St-Louis-County/Minnesota/Residents-press-council-on-housing-conditions-right-to-repair-commissions-and-labor-councilers-promise-follow-ups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588454-4d4bd2d4762902a3c461b19aa9b88fa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775071545&Signature=CI~JhS901AQ3vOBfY2ftwsMkiwtG5-0naOVeztvMJP~IiBthaP6BROmWrEYw-wcWkWb2W20l~Vsbga07cBG-zYFlWduPRegCkpaP~JShD1hjLKrdS1zfbfKOUWKW~KzUbEkAzEw-RDZLAabFovR00Bjf~~yx6Z1qrvbeW0yZmOplv9NLuO92J4a6KgCk1lpRGFXtgZdoRA06ypbV3-puEBrGPQzXrDiPZGsPN7D2EnGTlOdNV9R4ISSK8S9zH7ciNHskzzlQjlCr5u9P96SoKjK32zbqO-M0Z3bGHAB15dG5YggShKt5s7H6sD~YoS~HVbDXn~4TSxaPXm-fkI-PZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Duluth City","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the public comment period to press the Duluth City Council on tenant protections and building maintenance, the right-to-repair ballot initiative, establishment of a transportation commission, improved outreach and appointments to the LGBTQ+ commission and labor issues involving nurses.

Tenant conditions and right to repair: Rachel Anderson, a long-time Duluth resident, described prolonged exposure to mold and substandard rental conditions that she said caused illness and required help from multiple county workers and medical specialists to secure relocation. \"Buildings need to be maintained. That is why we pay rent,\" Anderson said, and she urged stronger ordinances and enforcement to ensure landlords maintain safe housing.

Liana Sweezer and other speakers urged the council to support tenant-driven measures, saying tenants lack political access and are often excluded from decision-making. Sweezer criticized councilors she said favored landlords and said tenants must exercise democratic power to protect housing dignity.

Transportation commission: Eleanor Dolan and other speakers urged the council to create a Transportation Commission, saying prior council decisions to table or delay creation of such a body disappointed constituents. Councilors later discussed the item in the meeting and administratively agreed to work on staff edits; the council voted to keep the transportation commission ordinance on the table with a target to return it to council by Aug. 25 for additional review.

LGBTQ+ commission and civic engagement: Mr. Veil Roberts (transcribed as Mistfield Roberts) and Jonas Randa spoke about the LGBTQ+ commission, saying the current directory is outdated and that applicants had not received timely responses. Speakers asked the city to update the directory and improve responsiveness to commission applicants and community involvement.

Nurses and labor: Eleanor Dolan and several councilors referenced an ongoing nurses'related labor dispute; Dolan urged the council to support nurses in bargaining and criticized councilors for silence. Councilors later said they supported nurses and encouraged the union to resubmit written material to the full council for signatures.

Incline Village and development process: Lauren Martell commented on a private incline/development project, urging caution on contract language and suggesting the city require greater public input before approving any future plan related to the property.

Public appointment delays: Multiple commenters noted slow turnaround on commission appointment notifications and asked the clerk's office to respond more promptly; Jonas Randa and others were directed to contact the clerk for specific timing.

Council response and next steps: Several councilors later thanked public speakers, acknowledged the housing and tenant concerns, expressed support for nurses and said staff and council would pursue follow-ups. Council leadership and administration agreed to rework transportation commission language with staff and advocates and to return it for council consideration by the agreed date. The right-to-repair ballot measure was noted by council as already scheduled for the November ballot with language approved on the consent agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Duluth City Council on 2025-07-28 ","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, residents described hazardous rental conditions and urged stronger tenant protections and building maintenance, while advocates pushed for a transportation commission, an updated LGBTQ+ directory and faster responses on commission appointments; speakers also urged council support for nurses seeking contracts.","taxTitle","Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota","taxId",3769,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588458,"Council adopts pay increase delay, approves solar lease and several zoning ordinances",147,7743000,7890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3&start=7743&end=7890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3/thumbnail_7743000.jpg","/articles/6588458/Duluth/St-Louis-County/Minnesota/Council-adopts-pay-increase-delay-approves-solar-lease-and-several-zoning-ordinances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588458-0697c1e34802da17f7aaa9bd993b8cc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775071545&Signature=fpqmb1tW2ug8oZoCtMH~l4uHM8A4zqO-2o~JR3s05tBRxaOMBPpZDq8KQqljjyw53~QDKZibSttizqNM173bjD9limBDqbGtDjDf48AcFiesJcuygW3VKaAZA3AHmTzGPRqT8O~6MNm0~7JaSIfeAKZKrVb909Kusuzm5PBNsjqp6nnywPSZOqf-WQY4pm8veJ9l-1grsRuigmmctlx4cbyQA-0sjVIWOlW~wFibfSw~HuWrVZri9rOvGHv27cWDAGx90FBY8SAj3UgHUlIDGnBDD7enF~Fm2TiLbp5klz2dzCZOdTmDd1Ic7HjhX4gYWUGnOiutvRvWLNo4EhjCuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Duluth City Council took multiple formal actions at the meeting, including amending the effective date of a Charter Commission recommendation on council compensation, authorizing negotiation of development and lease agreements for a city solar project, and approving three zoning-related ordinances.

Council compensation: The council voted to adopt the Charter Commission's recommended fee for council members but amended the effective date so the new pay would begin Jan. 1, 2027. Councilors Randolph and Forsman moved and seconded the amendment to delay implementation; the amendment passed on a roll call vote, 8-0. The full resolution as amended was then adopted on a subsequent vote, 8-0. City staff and council members discussed that the Charter Commission calculated its recommendation based on a decade of inflation and personnel changes; finance staff noted the total budget impact is small (about $29,000, roughly 0.07% of the property tax levy and immaterial in the context of the city's $108 million general fund) though several council members said delaying implementation would help navigate an otherwise uncertain budget cycle.

Hayfield Solar Energy Project (Eden Renewables): The council moved to authorize negotiation of development and lease agreements with Eden Renewables for the Hayfield Solar Energy Project. City staff described the proposed site as a 38-acre installation with an expected output of about 10 megawatts, roughly enough to serve about 1,700 homes over the 25-year facility lifespan; staff estimated the project would prevent about 60,000 tons of carbon emissions over that period and generate approximately $1.6 million in revenue for the city. Councilor Forsman announced a conflict of interest and abstained from the vote; the motion passed 7-0 with one abstention.

Zoning ordinances: The council approved three ordinances on second reading:
- Ordinance 17: Reclassify parcel 010-1773-00010 and part of adjoining right-of-way from Residential Urban R-2 to Mixed-Use Neighborhood (passed 8-0).
- Ordinance 18: Amend screening rules for commercial containers in Chapter 50 (passed 8-0).
- Ordinance 19: Reclassify several parcels from Residential Traditional R-1 to Residential Planned RP (passed 8-0).

Other procedural votes: The consent agenda and approval of the minutes passed unanimously (8-0). The meeting also included a public hearing on a state affordable housing aid grant resolution (25-0615) for $725,000 to One Roof Community Housing; the hearing was opened and closed with no public speakers for that item.

How votes were recorded: The record shows roll-call and voice votes. The Charter Commission amendment and the final compensation resolution were recorded with a roll call; the Hayfield Solar resolution recorded Councilor Forsman as abstaining and otherwise passed with all remaining council members voting in favor.

What this means: The council's action delays the council pay adjustment until after a difficult municipal budget year, provides a path forward for the city's first large municipal solar lease to move into negotiation, and finalizes several zoning reclassifications that had been on second reading. Additional ordinance or contract approvals and final negotiated agreements will return to council when staff or partners bring them forward for formal approval.","Duluth City Council voted to delay a Charter Commission pay recommendation until Jan. 1, 2027; approved negotiation of a lease for the Hayfield Solar Energy Project (Eden Renewables); and passed three zoning ordinances in unanimous or near-unanimous votes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588463,"City staff presents Maxfield housing analysis showing tight rental market and demand for senior units",1735,88000,1823000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3&start=88&end=1823","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610075-08f15a2b6e39a61cf7a3b7919e0f18b3/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6588463/Duluth/St-Louis-County/Minnesota/City-staff-presents-Maxfield-housing-analysis-showing-tight-rental-market-and-demand-for-senior-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588463-204b4b705da4ebb8b9c3eea553d37cac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775071545&Signature=cnm~gXz8TO3OboeMVwxUZA044p4D4JQ~U0~5-myPpvqrA317-W-0971EcsG0zTojHE6ajVSVvWZWOpaHbV5Cf73Si4Tf7roM3AqcG04ZDjnwlDm7lHkhMhS4WKgsCgAJIlR1LXwyHr3-MOEXLR9oJFZFBE-4r9mjZ781rheMZtGQQri2QtbLzbqQuezFbLRlz4LmCKFsdhEhYp-OJ4leyYPMviWk~fLVRJ4R20sZkCpHxKgmgCDMJa7b0keWQ1VTTwL5WOiRkfAYYZo5pOyrb0Dz4ZN23CElRbP~tGGGXBltBc96bw1pVJZ-OVtseuuqbM4-Snm-pLLl~nsHs5OSzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Church, a senior housing developer with the City of Duluth, and Lena Fan Cook, a housing planner, presented findings from the updated Maxfield 2024 comprehensive housing needs analysis at the Duluth City Council's committee of the whole session.

Maxfield's analysis shows Duluth's population rose by roughly 0.5 percent between 2010 and 2020 (about 500 people) and estimates the city added about 1,300 people between 2020 and 2025, with a similar increase projected to 2030. The consultants project the city's population will exceed 90,000 by the mid-2030s, reversing years of stagnation.

The report found the city issued about 1,800 building permits from 2018 to 2024 (roughly 230 per year) and reported a banner year in 2024 with 621 certificates of occupancy. Still, Maxfield projects a need for roughly 6,000 new housing units by 2030 across for-sale, market-rate rental, and age-restricted senior housing. An additional roughly 2,500 units would be needed between 2030 and 2035.

\"We need just over 6,000 housing units of all kinds, by 2030,\" Church said, summarizing the five-year planning horizon the city will use for action and updates. The analysis breaks demand into for-sale, market-rate workforce rentals (above 60% AMI), and affordable/subsidized rentals (below 60% AMI). The presenters emphasized continuing demand for affordable rentals and the role of Minnesota Housing Finance Agency funding for subsidized projects.

Lena Fan Cook summarized the rental survey Maxfield carried out for the city. The median rent for market-rate units citywide was reported as $1,443 per month, up about 6.5 percent from the prior reported median of $1,355 in 2022. Maxfield estimated the vacancy rate for market-rate stabilized properties at 1.8 percent (well below a typical 5 percent healthy vacancy) and found vacancy for affordable units at about 1.1 percent. The presenters also reported 53 percent of Duluth renters are cost-burdened (paying more than 30 percent of income for housing).

Council members asked about methodology and specifics. When Councilor Forsman asked how demand is calculated, Church said Maxfield uses census and American Community Survey population forecasts, employment and workforce data and market data to project housing demand and that the consultants would present methodology in greater detail at a separate fall briefing.

On housing product mix, staff highlighted a persistent dominance of single-family detached construction and very low townhome permitting: staff said townhome permits were near zero in 2022'-2023 and only about nine since 2020. Staff and Maxfield recommended diversifying housing products to include townhomes, condominiums and co-ops to provide more homeownership options and to free single-family stock as seniors move to age-restricted units.

Church and Fan Cook also noted Maxfield's finding that building senior housing can create market movement: Maxfield estimates roughly a 50 percent per-unit return effect, meaning new senior units can help free up one existing single-family unit for others.

The presenters closed with next steps: staff will develop an action plan in response to the study; Maxfield will brief the council in person in September; the housing trust fund response will be discussed in October; and the city will host the Duluth Housing Strategies Conference on Nov. 14.

The presentation was informational; council did not take action on the report at the meeting.

Sources and attribution: All direct quotes and figures above are taken from city staff remarks and the Maxfield presentation given during the committee of the whole. The presentations noted the full report (about 200 pages) contains additional detail that staff will make available and that the consultants will present methodology in a follow-up session.

What to watch next: an in-person Maxfield presentation to the council in September, a staff action plan in October, and the Duluth Housing Strategies Conference on Nov. 14.","City housing staff summarized Maxfield's updated 2024 comprehensive housing needs analysis, reporting Duluth's recent population growth, very low vacancy rates, rising rents and a projected need for about 6,000 new housing units by 2030, with particular demand for senior and affordable rentals.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press council on housing conditions, right-to-repair, commissions and labor; councilers promise follow-ups

Council adopts pay increase delay, approves solar lease and several zoning ordinances

City staff presents Maxfield housing analysis showing tight rental market and demand for senior units