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Duluth council certifies 6.551 mills, approves $300,000 for Pine Needle connector and multiple appointments
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Summary
At its March 9 meeting, the Duluth Mayor and Council certified an estimated roll-back rate of 6.551 mills, approved a $300,000 budget amendment to retain a program manager for the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector, and confirmed a slate of board and commission appointments under several ordinances.
The City of Duluth Mayor and Council on March 9 certified an estimated roll-back rate of 6.551 mills for the City’s Annual Notice to Taxpayers and approved a bundled consent agenda that included a $300,000 budget amendment to support the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector Project.
Councilmember Doss moved to approve the meeting agenda and Councilmember Thomas seconded; the agenda was approved by recorded vote with Councilmembers Park, Thomas, Doss and Graeder voting in favor. Later, Councilmember Graeder moved and Councilmember Park seconded approval of the February 9 and February 23 meeting minutes; that motion also carried with the same recorded votes.
The consent agenda listed a request to add $300,000 (ordinance BA-FY26-37) in 2017 SPLOST Transportation Funds to the Pine Needle Drive Improvements — Roadways & Walkways — Professional Services line to contract with Keck & Wood as a program manager for the connector project. Staff stated the program manager will oversee design and administration, a step that is expected to lead to an RFP, contract award and construction in subsequent phases.
The consent package also approved several appointments and reappointments across city boards and committees, including the Alcohol Review Board (ordinance O2026-07), the Ethics Board (O2026-08), the Downtown Development Authority (O2026-09), the Public Arts Commission (O2026-10), the Employee Benefit/Audit Review Committee (O2026-11), the Parks & Recreation Board (O2026-12), Parsons Alley Design Review Committee (O2026-13), Planning Commission (02026-16), Urban Redevelopment Agency (02026-14), Veteran’s Marker Committee (02026-15), and the Zoning Board of Appeals (02026-17). The minutes list the appointed and reappointed individuals and their terms; the consent motion to approve the full package was made by Councilmember Thomas, seconded by Councilmember Doss, and recorded as carried with Councilmembers Park, Thomas, Doss and Graeder voting for approval.
Why it matters: certifying the estimated roll-back rate is an administrative step required for taxpayer notification under state rules; the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector funding commits local SPLOST funds to advance design and procurement activity and allocates staff oversight via a contract. The appointments replenish boards that advise or make recommendations to the council, affecting project reviews and policy advice going forward.
What’s next: staff will execute the ordinance changes and proceed with contracting steps for the Pine Needle project. The council’s approvals were procedural and did not include contested debate during the meeting.