Council weighs creating Duluth Transportation Committee while administration seeks broader boards-and-commissions realignment

Councilors discussed Ordinance 14, a proposed amendment to Duluth City Code that would add Article 38 to establish a Duluth Transportation Committee, and debated whether to move forward now or delay while the administration completes a broader review of boards and commissions.

Councilor Alwal (transcript spelling varies) and Councilor Swenson described support for creating a standing transportation body to move the city from reactive to proactive street-safety work. Councilor Alwal said the Transportation Committee had been advocated by Councilor Mayo and by the mayor and that it would address safety issues that often follow injuries or fatalities on city streets. “This allows us to be proactive with our streets and our infrastructure from the beginning,” Alwal said in the discussion.

City administration asked the council to table the ordinance so staff can negotiate amendments requested by transportation advocates and city departments. City administrator Matt Sailing (transcript: "Mister Staling") told councilors the administration’s request is for a motion to table and to return with a staff recommendation. Administrator Sailing and Director Van Tassel said staff want to refine language about the commission’s scope and how it will interact with city departments to ensure the commission is "set up for success." An attorney advised that substantial revisions would require returning to first reading; smaller changes might not.

Councilors questioned timing and staffing. Councilor Kennedy and Councilor Nephew said they were reluctant to add another commission while the city is already reviewing and, in some cases, consolidating boards and commissions. Councilor Nephew asked for an update on the broader reorganization before adding more workload for staff. City administrator Sailing acknowledged the administration’s concern that staffing many commissions strains city departments.

Councilor Alwal said the personnel chair and senior adviser John Dukic have been working on drafts to consolidate multiple boards and commissions and that five draft ordinances or resolutions are circulating. She said conversations with commissioners and staff are ongoing and that some proposals could be brought forward as soon as August or September, but cautioned that the timeline depends on input and attorney review.

Several councilors signaled support for the transportation body in principle but accepted administration’s request to table the ordinance until staff and advocates reconcile language about the commission’s responsibilities, membership and how it will coordinate with departments such as planning and engineering. Director Van Tassel said planning staff currently support about a third of the city’s commissions and that adding another commission is a “big lift.”

The council did not vote on Ordinance 14 during the excerpted discussion. Administration asked that a formal motion to table — without a date certain — be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting so staff can bring a recommendation.

Councilors also discussed process: if revisions are substantial the ordinance will require a full first and second reading again; if they are smaller, the required readings may be fewer. Councilors asked for continued outreach to transportation advocates and commissioners and said they want to balance timely action on street safety with responsible staffing and inclusive recruitment for commission membership.