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Council to consider contract with MIG for skywalk study; consultants to engage public and evaluate options
Summary
The council reviewed a staff recommendation to contract with Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG) to study the downtown skywalk system, gather public input and recommend options for repair, partial closure, or other approaches. Councilors asked about timeline and possible duplication of prior downtown work.
The council heard from staff about a proposed professional services contract to study Duluth’s downtown skywalk system and advise on potential next steps.
City staff said the recommended firm is Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG), the same consulting group that worked on the Imagine Duluth effort, and that the firm is familiar with the skywalk system. The proposed work includes community engagement with business owners and users, an assessment of economic viability, and recommendations about repair, improvement, partial closure or other alternatives. Councilor Auwel asked whether the contract duplicates prior work done by Downtown Duluth and asserted that MIG’s prior work makes them well suited to build on existing studies rather than duplicate them. City Administrator Staling and staff said the firm will build on prior studies, perform new outreach and return recommendations to the council; the anticipated timeline for recommendations is later this year into winter.
Councilors also asked about the composition or status of the skywalk working group; city staff clarified this contract would bring in consultants to perform community engagement and analysis rather than rely on an existing citizen working group. The proposed contract amount (noted in the agenda) is to be considered; no final vote is recorded in the transcript excerpt.
