Duluth City Council votes on public safety ordinance changes
Updated 8/12/2024
The Duluth City Council considered 12 proposed public safety ordinance changes in a meeting on Monday, July 29.
The proposed changes amend ordinances already city code by either changing the language of particular ordinances – redefining terms and/or modernizing language – or changing the means of enforcement for violators.
The following ordinances were up for consideration
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTION 30-1 OF CHAPTER 30 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO REDEFINE ABANDONED PROPERTY
Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this ordinance is to provide a new definition of abandoned property in line with Minnesota statutory definitions.
RESULT: PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 34-5 OF CHAPTER 34 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH DISTURBING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A MISDEMEANOR OFFENCE.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Section 34-5 of Chapter 34 to establish the act of disturbing a neighborhood as misdemeanor offenses.
RESULT: PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 34-14 OF CHAPTER 34 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO MODIFY LANGUAGE FOR FALSE SOLICITING.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Section 34-14 of Chapter 34 to modernize language.
RESULT: NOT PASSED
A proposal to repeal sections 34-14 was proposed in Monday’s meeting and will be discussed at the next council meeting.
UPDATE 8/12/2024: Section 34-14 has been repealed
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 34-41(b) and 34-41(c) OF CHAPTER 34 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF GRAFFITI STICK AND ESTABLISH DEFACEMENT AND/OR POSSESSION OF GRAFFITI IMPLEMENTS AS A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Chapter 34-41 to correct typographical errors and remove the definition of chalk from the definition of graffiti stick. Additionally, the ordinance establishes defacement by graffiti as a misdemeanor offense.
RESULT: PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO ADD SECTION 34-46 PROHIBITING CAMPING ON CITY PROPERTY.
Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit camping or establishing campsites on city property.
(Motion to Amend) – Removes misdemeanor charges from proposed amendments.
RESULT – PASSED AS AMENDED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO MAKE VIOLATIONS APPLICABLE ON PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY AND MAKE CERTAIN VIOLATIONS MISDEMEANORS.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Chapter 35 to include both parks and city owned property as well as to provide misdemeanor penalties for prohibited conduct.
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 44A-2 AND 44A-3, OF CHAPTER 44A OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO MAKE DEFACING THE SKYWALK A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE AND PROHIBITING SMOKING OR VAPING IN THE SKYWALK SYSTEM.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Chapter 44A to include a misdemeanor offense for defacing, damaging, littering, urinating, defecating, or smoking cannabinoid within the skywalk system. The amendment includes adding the prohibition against smoking or vaping of cannabinoids within the skywalk system.
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 45-1 OF CHAPTER 45 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE FOR BLOCKING PASSAGE ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Article I, Section 45-1 of Chapter 45 to provide for a misdemeanor offense for blocking passage on streets and sidewalks
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 45-6.3 OF CHAPTER 45 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE FOR OPERATING AN ATV UNLAWFULLY ON PUBLIC LAND.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Section 45-6.3 of Chapter 45 to provide a misdemeanor offense for unauthorized use of recreational vehicles, ATVs, etc. on public land.
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTION 49-8.2 OF CHAPTER 49 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO PROVIDE FOR A MISDEMEANOR PENALTY FOR UNLAWFULLY POSSESSION OR FIRING OF AN AIRGUN OR GEL SOFT GUN.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Section 49-8.2 of Chapter 49 of the Duluth City Code to clarify the penalties for the offense of possession and the offense of discharge involving airguns as well as addressing the ongoing concerns regarding possession and discharge of gel soft guns (also known as orbeez guns).
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I, SECTION 21-5 AND SECTION 21-8, OF CHAPTER 21 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO UPDATE THE CITY’S OPEN BURNING AND TENT AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURES ORDINANCES.
Statement of Purpose: This ordinance amends Chapter 21, Article I, Section 21-5 and Section 21-8 of the Duluth City Code to update references no longer in existence in state statute and clarify penalties for unauthorized burning.
RESULT – PASSED
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 34-38 OF CHAPTER 34 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO PROHIBIT MARKING OR PLACING SIGNS ON PRILEY FOUNTAIN.
Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this ordinance is to recognize the historical importance and value of the Priley Fountain and to protect it against any actions that could result in impairment or damage to the fountain.
RESULT – PASSED