Duluth — Mayor and Council Regular Meeting, March 9, 2026
At the March 9, 2026 meeting, the Duluth Mayor and Council approved several items, including the certification of the estimated roll-back millage rate, multiple board appointments, and an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County School District for parking at Coleman Middle School. They also approved budget amendments for Pine Needle Drive improvements and Public Safety building upgrades using SPLOST funds. These official minutes were approved on April 13, 2026.
Topics
- procedural
- millage
- appointments
- contracts
- transportation
- splost
- public_safety
- finance
Actions
Approval of Meeting Agenda
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Doss · Second: Thomas
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Thomas, to approve the March 9, 2026 Council Agenda as presented.
Approval of Minutes
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Graeder · Second: Park
A motion was made by Councilmember Graeder, seconded by Councilmember Park, to approve the February 9 and 23, 2026 meeting minutes as presented.
Authorization for Certification of Millage Rate
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
Approval of this item certifies the Estimated Roll-Back Rate at 6.551 mills and further authorizes the Mayor to sign the letter.
BA-FY26-37 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - $300,000 - Program Mgr
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $300,000 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
Approval of this item authorizes ordinance BA-FY26-37 to add $300,000 in 2017 SPLOST Transportation Funds to Pine Needle Drive Improvements - Roadways & Walkways - Professional Services - line item, including associated transfers.
O2026-07 — Ordinance to Appoint Alcohol Review Board
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-07 appointing Rod Parris, term ending March 2027 and appointing Robert Edwards and Jay Lastinger, terms ending March 2030.
O2026-08 — Ordinance to Appoint Ethics Board
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-08 appointing Jamin Harkness (Mayor Whitlock), Lovnish Mahajan and Brenda Ehly (Councilmember Park), Jeffery Hicks (Councilmember Doss) and Mariadelcarmen Gilley (Councilmember Graeder), terms expiring March 31, 2030 and further reappoints Chip Sweney (Mayor Whitlock) term ending March 2028, Brett Duke (Councilmember Thomas) and Nate Benard (Councilmember Doss) terms expiring March 31, 2030.
O2026-09 — Ordinance to Appoint DDA Members
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-09 appoints Ashley Towers and Kathy Parker, terms expiring March 31, 2030, and further re-appoints Ken Odum and Tammy Lopez with terms expiring March 31, 2030.
O2026-10 — Ordinance to Appoint Art Commission Members
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-10 re-appointing Shaena Leuthe, Marissa "Ginger" Tontaveetong and Ken Sebastian, terms expiring March 31, 2030, and further reappoints Mayor Greg Whitlock, term expiring March 31, 2030, to the Duluth Public Arts Commission.
O2026-11 — Ordinance to Appoint Employee Benefit/Audit Review
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-11 appointing Lucia Cameron and Sarah Park terms expiring March 31, 2030, and further re-appoints Carla Montgomery, Helen Boyce and Susan Porteous, terms expiring March 31, 2030, to the Employee Benefits and Audit Review Committee.
O2026-12 — Ordinance to Appoint Parks & Rec Board Members
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-12 appoints/re-appoints Curt Lindner, Ryan Marcinik, Sharon Parris, terms ending March 31, 2030, and further re-appoints Mark Carter, term ending March 31, 2028.
O2026-13 — Ordinance to Appoint Parsons Alley Design Review
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-13 appointing Carey Fisher (PC Chair), term expiring March 31, 2030 and further re-appoints Trang Tran, Ben Bailey, and Ken Odum (DDA Chair), re-appoints Mayor Greg Whitlock and Councilmember Shenee Johnson Cummings representing the Governing Body with terms expiring March 31, 2030 to the Parson Alley Design Review Committee.
O2026-16 — Ordinance to Appoint Planning Commission
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-16, appoints Oyindamoia "Oh" Falegan (alt), term expiring March 31, 2030 and further re-appoints Elizabeth Baggett, term expiring March 31, 2030 to the Planning Commission.
O2026-14 — Ordinance to Appoint Urban Redevelopment Agency
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-14, which re-appoints Marline Thomas to the Urban Redevelopment Agency, term ending March 31, 2030.
O2026-15 — Ordinance to Appoint Veteran's Marker Committee
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-15, appointing Carey Fisher (PC Chair) term expiring 3/31/30.
O2026-17 — Ordinance to Appoint Zoning Board of Appeals
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Doss
approval of this item approves ordinance O2026-17, reappoints the Joe Nunes, term expiring March 31, 2030, to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Intergovernmental Agreement - Coleman Parking
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Park
A motion was made by Councilmember Thomas, seconded by Councilmember Park, to approve the IGA between the City and Gwinnett County School District for use of the Coleman Middle School parking areas and authorize the Mayor or City Manager to execute the agreement as presented.
BA-FY26-36 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - $73,368 - Public Safety Bldg
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $73,368 · Motion: Graeder · Second: Doss
A motion was made by Councilmember Graeder, seconded by Councilmember Doss, to approve ordinance BA-FY26-36 as presented.
BA-FY26-35 — Ordinance to Amend Budget - $73,206 - Public Safety Bldg
approved · Vote: 4-0 · $73,206 · Motion: Doss · Second: Thomas
A motion was made by Councilmember Doss, seconded by Councilmember Thomas, to approve ordinance BA-FY26-35 as presented.
Adjournment
approved · Vote: 4-0 · Motion: Thomas · Second: Graeder
A motion was made by Councilmember Thomas, seconded by Councilmember Graeder, to adjourn at 6:23 pm.
Sources
Everything above is extracted from the city's own published record: