Title
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO CONTINUE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF PARKS-BASED ATHLETIC VENUE IMPROVEMENTS THAT SUPPORT SPORTS TOURISM AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the city council on January 23, 2023 passed a resolution asking the State of Minnesota to authorize the City of Duluth to extend an existing one half of one percent food and beverage tax and an existing one half of one percent hotel-motel tax for the purpose of funding an additional $36 million bond issue for capital improvements to parks-based athletic venues in support of sports tourism and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota in its 2023 session authorized the city to extend both taxes as requested; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 42A-44 of the Duluth city code, 1959, as amended, the city council intends to enact the tax to be used for the state-authorized purpose by passing a resolution accepting the state law and an ordinance enacting the tax; and
WHEREAS, the City Council on October 10, 2022 passed a resolution approving and authorizing implementation of Essential Spaces: Duluth Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan, a plan that provides guidelines and priorities for reinvestment in Duluth’s parks-based athletic venues; and
WHEREAS, in order to justify further investment of time and money in developing plans and designs for specific athletic venue projects, the city of Duluth seeks confirmation that it is proceeding with a preliminary slate of projects and funding levels that is generally in keeping with the City Council’s intent;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council supports moving forward with the specified projects, phases, and funding levels as generally laid out in Exhibit A
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to preliminarily set forth and affirm the array of parks-based athletic venue capital improvement projects generally laid out in Exhibit A that the City Council intends for the City of Duluth to advance over the next several years with $36 million in bond issues paid for with the proceeds from a one-half-of-one-percent increment in both the City of Duluth food and beverage tax and the City of Duluth hotel-motel tax.