2024 Legislative Priorities
Every legislative session, the City of Duluth establishes a set of legislative priorities that are of vital interest to the region.
On May 19, 2024, the House and Senate adjourned without a bonding bill, leaving Duluth's legislative priorities unfulfilled. This legislative inaction left critical infrastructure projects unfunded. This work includes our water treatment plant that serves 130,000 people in our region and in four cities, the restoration of the Aerial Lift bridge, and the required seawall repairs needed ahead of the Lot D development.
A list of the mayor's legislative priorities follows:
2024 Top Bonding Priorities:
- Lakewood Water Treatment Plant:
- Repairs to the plant’s roof and other building components.
- Rehabilitation of the granular filtration system used to treat and ensure safe drinking water for Duluth, Proctor, Hermantown, and Rice Lake.
- Aerial Lift Bridge:
- Significant structural repairs to the bridge’s lift span, sidewalks, and painting of the overhead truss across the ship canal.
- Lot D in Duluth’s Bayfront area:
- Rehabilitate the lot to enable new economic development opportunities on the site.
- Costs will include seawall repairs, demolition of existing infrastructure, utilities, and other related site preparation.
- Spirit Valley multi-purpose community center and sports arena in Memorial Park:
- Provide wellness, recreation, and workforce programming across all age groups.
- Downtown Library Project:
- Planning to reconceptualize the project, envisioning a new library facility incorporating complimentary privately funded development including housing, commercial, and retail space.
2024 Additional Legislative Priorities:
- Duluth Airport Authority (DAA):
- Control tower project to replace a more than 70-year-old tower facility.
- DECC:
- Accessibility improvements, deferred infrastructure repairs and maintenance, and investments in energy-saving improvements.
- Duluth Armory:
- Support of the redevelopment.