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RESOLUTION SUBMITTING A PETITION ORDINANCE TO VOTERS AT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 4, 2025, AMENDING THE DULUTH CITY CODE TO GIVE TENANTS THE RIGHT TO REPAIR IN RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY AND DEDUCT THE COST OF REPAIRS AND SETTING THE BALLOT QUESTION FOR THE NOVEMBER 4, 2025, ELECTION
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2025, the Duluth Tenants Union and Housing Justice Center submitted a petition to add a new article to Chapter 29A of the Duluth City Code allowing residential tenants to make repairs on rental properties and withhold up to half a month’s rent or $500, whichever is greater, to pay for the repairs and deduct the cost of the repairs from the tenant’s future rent or receive a reimbursement from the landlord, if the landlord has not provided the tenant with a scheduled repair date or the required repair is not completed within 14 days of the tenant providing written notice to the landlord.
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2025, the city clerk certified the petition and forwarded the petition ordinance to the city council;
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2025, the city council failed to pass the petition ordinance, identified as ordinance number 25-015-0;
WHEREAS, under Section 51 of the Duluth City Charter, the petition ordinance must be placed on the ballot for the next municipal election held on November 4, 2025.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the petition ordinance 25-015-0 amending Chapter 29A of the Duluth City code is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of the city of Duluth at the municipal election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided for by law.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the city clerk shall place upon the ballot at such municipal election the question hereinafter set forth.
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CITY QUESTION |
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To vote for a question, fill in the oval next to the word “Yes” on that question. To vote against a question, fill in the oval next to the word “No” on that question. |
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City of Duluth Question |
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TENANT RIGHT TO REPAIR IN RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY ORDINANCE |
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Shall the petition ordinance 25-015-0 amending Chapter 29A of the Duluth City Code be passed to give tenants the right to make repairs in residential rental property, and withhold up to half of a month’s rent or $500, whichever is greater, to pay for the repairs and deduct the cost of the repairs from the tenant’s future rent or receive reimbursement from the landlord, if the landlord has not provided the tenant with a scheduled repair date or the required repair is not completed within 14 days of the tenant providing the written notice to the landlord? |
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0 YES |
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0 NO |
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Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution directs placement on the November 4, 2025, municipal election ballot, an ordinance submitted to the city council by petition pursuant to section 51 of the Duluth City Charter. The ordinance, identified as ordinance no. 25-015-0, and drafted by the Duluth Tenants Union and Housing Justice Center, provides tenants with the right to make repairs in residential rental property, and withhold up to half of a month’s rent or $500, whichever is greater, to pay for the repairs and deduct the cost of the repairs from the tenant’s future rent or receive reimbursement from the landlord, if the landlord has not provided the tenant with a scheduled repair date or the required repair is not completed within 14 days of the tenant providing the written notice to the landlord. The city council voted not to approve the ordinance on July 1, 2025. Therefore, the voters will determine whether this proposed ordinance will become law by a simple majority vote. If passed, this ordinance cannot be amended or repealed except by a future ballot question passed by a majority vote.
This resolution provides the specific language of the question that will appear on the ballot.