Duluth — Mayor and Council Regular Meeting, October 13, 2025
These are the official minutes of the Duluth Mayor and Council meeting held on October 13, 2025. During the meeting, the Council denied a special use permit for a personal care home on Pine Needle Drive following resident opposition, but approved updates to the FORWARDuluth 2045 Comprehensive Plan. They 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, the Council accepted a GDOT grant for the Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector and approved funding for four new police officer positions.
Topics
- zoning
- transportation
- public_safety
- splost
- finance
- grants
- it_technology
- procedural
Actions
Adjourn to Executive Session
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Graeder · Second: Councilmember Doss
A motion was made by Councilmember Graeder, seconded by Councilmember Doss, to adjourn to executive session at 5: 40 p. m.
Return to Regular Session
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Harkness · Second: Councilmember Cummings
After the discussion, a motion was made by Councilmember Harkness, seconded by Councilmember Cummings, to return to regular session at 5:55 p. m.
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 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 Hwy Decorative Crosswalks Contract and Budget Amendment
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $134,000 · 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 ( to be completed by a third party), and $ 2500 in construction oversight for a total budget amendment ( BA- FY26- 13) request of $ 134, 000 in 2023 SPLOST Transportation Funds
SU2025-004 — Special Use Permit for Personal Care Home - 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 02025-43 for Case Number SU2025- 004.
TA2025-005 — Ordinance to Amend Comprehensive Plan (FORWARDuluth)
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Councilmember Cummings · Second: Councilmember Harkness
A motion was made by Councilmember Cummings, seconded by Councilmember Harkness, to approve ordinance 02025- 42 for the FORWARDuluth text amendments as presented.
Award of Bid - Public Safety Roof Replacement
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $130,000 · 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 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - Public Safety Roof
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $130,000 · 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 - Sunrise Retaining Wall
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $34,500 · 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 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - Sunrise Retaining Wall
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $46,850 · 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 - Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $172,000 · 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 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - Pine Needle Trail
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $860,000 · 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 / Budget Amendment
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $232,000 · 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 Match Grant - Pine Needle Pedestrian Connector
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $1,400,000 · 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
BA-FY26-12 — Tyler Records Management Systems Software Upgrade
approved · Vote: 5-0 · $321,000 · 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:
Ask about this meeting
Ask Gwin what the Duluth council decided on October 13, 2025