Tim Meyer interviewed for Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission seat

Tim Meyer, an applicant for the District 1 seat on the Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission, told Duluth City Council interviewers that his decades-long architecture career and personal experience in team sports would inform his work on parks and recreation issues.

Meyer said he has two architectural degrees from North Dakota State University and has practiced architecture for 38 years, “most of that in the city of Duluth.” He also described long-term involvement in organized sports and youth coaching, and noted recent participation on a working group studying redevelopment of Lester Park Golf Course with Mayor Reinert.

Meyer told the council he supports public–private partnerships to maintain and develop recreation facilities as the city faces tighter budgets. “I really believe that public private partnerships are going to be the wave of the future to kind of do the work that the city has traditionally done in, maintaining and developing our recreation facilities,” he said. He also said he helped campaign for a parks levy that was defeated by referendum and that he would “make the commitment that needs to be so that I have full participation with the parks and rec commission.”

Council President Tomanek and Councilor Forsman questioned Meyer about how his background would apply to parks work and budget constraints. Forsman asked what baseline responsibilities the city should keep and what could be shifted to partners; Meyer responded that the city must “attack problems more as a community instead of expecting the city to provide” all recreation services. Tomanek praised Meyer’s thoroughness and said the council would vote on the recommendation in a later cycle.

Meyer said he currently serves on the HRA commission and plans to leave that appointment at the end of his term this fall to focus on parks and recreation if appointed.

No formal appointment vote appears in the meeting transcript.