Title
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE EVALUATION OF THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SKYWALK SYSTEM.
Body
BY COUNCILORS FORSMAN, RANDORF, NEPHEW AND SWENSON:
WHEREAS, since the 1970’s, the city of Duluth has invested in the development and maintenance of the downtown public skywalk system to provide safe, convenient, and weather-protected pedestrian access; and
WHEREAS, the downtown public skywalk system has long been a vital part of the downtown infrastructure, supporting local businesses, tourism, and the overall economic vitality of the area and serving as an important link for customers, tenants, and visitors of downtown who rely on it to move between, public buildings, hotels, restaurants, other businesses and the DECC year-round; and
WHEREAS, changes in urban development, transportation trends, and economic conditions that accelerated during and since COVID-19 necessitate a refreshed and comprehensive evaluation of the downtown public skywalk system's long-term viability and potential adjustments necessary for continued, safe operation; and
WHEREAS, public safety concerns have been identified within the downtown public skywalk system, connections with public parking ramps, and the downtown, necessitating a thorough evaluation to ensure the safety and security of all users; and
WHEREAS, the city council recognizes the importance of planning for the future to ensure that the downtown public skywalk system continues to meet the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors in a downtown that has changed significantly in recent years; and
WHEREAS, maintaining the downtown public skywalk system has presented challenges for the priority of creating a vibrant and active street-level downtown environment, which is essential for the economic and social vitality of the area; and
WHEREAS, other cities, such as Cincinnati, Des Moines, and Dallas, have recently undergone similar evaluations of their skywalk systems to enhance street-level vibrancy and address public safety concerns.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city administration, in partnership with representatives of the city council, is hereby requested to conduct a thorough evaluation of the long-term future of the downtown skywalk system, including the potential for change in operations, pilot projects to trial potential long-term changes, and reinvestment, reduction, or closure of parts of the public system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the current condition and usage of the public skywalk system, potential impacts of reinvestment, reduction, or closure, financial implications, public safety concerns, seasonality and hours of usage, consistency of availability, and the integration of the public skywalk system with other modes of transportation and urban development plans.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city administration and city council shall collaborate with stakeholder groups, including the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Duluth and Imagine Duluth 2035 initiative, property owners, local businesses, residents, and skywalk users to gather input and recommendations as part of a comprehensive and inclusive evaluation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that complimentary programs, such as storefront loans and grants, should also be studied to help encourage more investment in the downtown on a parallel path to any longer-term changes to the downtown public skywalk system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the findings and recommendations from this evaluation shall be presented to the city council within six months from the adoption of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city administration and city council shall use the findings from this evaluation to make informed decisions regarding the future investments and policies related to the downtown public skywalk system, including the consideration of potential change in operations, pilot projects to trial potential long-term system changes, and reinvestment, reduction, or closure of parts of the downtown public skywalk system.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution calls for the city administration and members of the city council to conduct an evaluation of the long-term future of the downtown skywalk system. The evaluation is to include assessment of the current condition of the skywalk system, impacts of various changes to the system, and collaboration with stakeholder groups. The city administration is charged with presenting findings and recommendations based on the evaluation within six months of the effective date of this resolution.