Council amends timing for pay increase, approves Hayfield solar lease talks and advances childcare zoning changes

The Duluth City Council on a busy evening approved several items with full votes or amendments, including a delayed implementation of a Charter Commission recommendation on council pay, authorization of lease negotiations for a proposed 10-megawatt solar project, and amendments to the Unified Development Code to ease location rules for daycare facilities.

Council pay: The council voted 8–0 to adopt the Charter Commission’s recommended fee increase for council members but amended the effective date so the change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Councilor Kelsey Randolph and Councilor Forsman offered the amendment to delay implementation while the council proceeds through a difficult budget year; the amendment passed 8–0 and the full resolution as amended passed 8–0. Debate preceding the vote featured multiple councilors saying they support equitable compensation for public service but want to avoid creating budget pressure in a year with potential program and staff reductions. Councilors discussed options for establishing a regular, independent cadence for future adjustments and for moving mayoral compensation review to the Charter Commission.

Hayfield Solar: The council approved a resolution to authorize negotiation of development and lease agreements with Eden Renewables for the Hayfield Solar Energy Project. Philby Williams (representing the developer) told the council the proposed site is about 38 acres and a 10‑megawatt installation; he estimated the project would generate enough electricity for about 1,700 homes, avoid roughly 60,000 tons of carbon over a 25‑year lifespan and produce about $1.6 million in revenue for the city over that period. The motion to authorize negotiations passed 7–0 with Councilor Forsman abstaining; Forsman told the council she was abstaining because of her employment with Minnesota Power.

Daycare zoning: The council approved an amendment to an ordinance changing how childcare/daycare facilities are treated in the city’s zoning map and use table. The amendment, authored by Councilor Nephew and Councilor Swenson, removes redundant local requirements that conflicted with state licensing and aims to make it easier for licensed child‑care providers to locate in more neighborhoods, including some residential zones, subject to state licensing rules. The amendment passed 8–0 and will be treated as the ordinance’s first read; a second read will be required at a later council meeting.

Consent items and hearings: The council approved the consent agenda 8–0 earlier in the meeting; one consent item was a public hearing on a proposed $725,000 statewide affordable housing aid grant to One Roof Community Housing (hearing opened and closed with no public testimony recorded). Several other ordinances received second‑reading approval without extended debate.

Why it matters: The actions address city revenue and land‑use questions that affect long‑term planning and infrastructure (solar lease) as well as near‑term equity and service capacity (council compensation and childcare siting). The pay vote prompted sustained discussion of the tradeoffs between making council service more accessible and avoiding additional budget stress in a difficult fiscal year.

Ending: Councilors and staff said they will continue drafting long‑term approaches for compensation review and may seek Charter changes to set a regular review cadence; the solar developer was thanked for attending and staff said they will proceed with negotiations as authorized.