Duluth — City Council Regular Meeting, October 13, 2025
The Duluth City Council met for an official regular meeting on October 13, 2025. Key decisions included denying a special use permit for a personal care home on Pine Needle Drive due to neighborhood opposition, and approving updates to the FORWARDuluth 2045 Comprehensive Plan. The Council also authorized several SPLOST-funded projects, including decorative crosswalks on Buford Highway, a roof replacement for the Public Safety Building, and a retaining wall on Sunrise Lane. Additionally, funding was approved for four new police officer positions and a major software upgrade for the police department's records management system.
Topics
- procedural
- zoning
- contracts
- transportation
- splost
- finance
- public_safety
- grants
- it_technology
Actions
Approval of Meeting Agenda
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Doss · Second: Councilmember Cummings
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Cummings, to approve the October 13, 2025 Council Agenda as presented.
Approval of September 8 and 22, 2025 Meeting Minutes
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Cummings · Second: Councilmember Harkness
A motion was made by Councilmember Cummings, seconded by Councilmember Harkness, to approve the September 8 and 22, 2025 meeting minutes 'as presented'.
BA-FY26-13 — Buford Highway Decorative Crosswalks Contract and Budget Amendment
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $134000 · Motion: Councilmember Graeder · Second: Councilmember Doss
approval of this item authorizes staff to contract with StreetScapes in the amount of $109,791 to complete both crosswalks. In addition, staff recommends a contingency of $20,209, a new handicap ramp at Brock Road in the amount of $1500... and $2500 in construction oversight for a total budget amendment (BA-FY26-13) request of $134,000
SU2025-004 — Special Use Permit for Personal Care Home at 4021 Pine Needle Drive
denied · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Harkness · Second: Councilmember Doss
A motion was made by Councilmember Harkness, seconded by Councilmember Doss, to deny ordinance O2025-43 for Case Number SU2025-004.
TA2025-005 — Ordinance to Amend FORWARDuluth 2045 Comprehensive Plan
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Cummings · Second: Councilmember Harkness
A motion was made by Councilmember Cummings, seconded by Councilmember Harkness, to approve ordinance O2025-42 for the FORWARDuluth text amendments as presented.
Award of Bid for Public Safety Roof Replacement
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $130000 · Motion: Councilmember Doss · Second: Councilmember Cummings
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Cummings, to approve awarding the Public Safety Roof Replacement project to CGS LLC in an amount not to exceed $130,000 as presented
BA-FY26-11 — Budget Amendment for Public Safety Roof Replacement
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $130000 · Motion: Councilmember Harkness · Second: Councilmember Graeder
A motion was made by Councilmember Harkness, seconded by Councilmember Graeder, to approve ordinance BA-FY26-11 as presented.
Award of Bid for Sunrise Retaining Wall
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $34500 · Motion: Councilmember Graeder · Second: Councilmember Doss
A motion was made by Councilmember Graeder, seconded by Councilmember Doss, to approve the award of the contract for a new retaining wall along Sunrise Lane in the amount of $34,500 to IP Construction
BA-FY26-09 — Budget Amendment for Sunrise Retaining Wall
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $46850 · Motion: Councilmember Cummings · Second: Councilmember Harkness
A motion was made by Councilmember Cummings, seconded by Councilmember Harkness, to approve ordinance BA-FY26-09 as presented.
R2025-12 — Resolution to Accept Grant Match for Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector Project
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $172000 · Motion: Councilmember Doss · Second: Councilmember Cummings
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Cummings, to approve R2025-12 to match the grant from the Georgia DOT with an amount of $172,000 to cover the preliminary engineering phase of the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector Project (CD-73).
BA-FY26-14 — Budget Amendment for Pine Needle Trail Federal and Local Match Funds
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $860000 · Motion: Councilmember Harkness · Second: Councilmember Graeder
A motion was made by Councilmember Harkness, seconded by Councilmember Graeder, to approve budget amendment BA-FY26-14 as presented.
BA-FY26-10 — Police Department Staffing Request and Budget Amendment for Four New Officers
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $232000 · Motion: Councilmember Doss · Second: Councilmember Harkness
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Harkness, to approve ordinance BA-FY26-10 authorizing the police positions as requested.
R2025-11 — Resolution to Commit 20% Grant Match for Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector Project
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $1400000 · Motion: Councilmember Harkness · Second: Councilmember Cummings
A motion was made by Councilmember Harkness, seconded by Councilmember Cummings, to approve resolution R2025-11 to match a grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation in the amount of 20% of the total project value, should the City be awarded said grant for the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector Project.
BA-FY26-12 — Budget Amendment for Tyler Records Management Systems Software Upgrade
approved · Vote: 5-0 · $321000 · Motion: Councilmember Graeder · Second: Councilmember Doss
A motion was made by Councilmember Graeder, seconded by Councilmember Doss, to approve budget amendment BA-FY26-12 as presented.
Sources
Everything above is extracted from the city's own published record:
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