411 West First Street

City of Duluth

Duluth, Minnesota 55802

Minutes

Parking Commission.

Friday, May 1, 2026

7:30 AM

Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall

ROLL CALL

Members Present

•

Antonio Davis

Jordon Johnson

Mike Mayou

Andrew Paszak

Branden Robinson, President

Robert Woods

Mark Bauer, Ex Officio

Members Absent

•

Brandon Van Tassel, Vice President

Guests Present

•

Amanda Paszak, Chair – City of Duluth Commission on Disabilities

John Ramos, Investigative Reporter – Duluth Monitor

Jason Rolfe, Owner – Liila Boutique

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

City of Duluth Parking Services Manager Mark Bauer presented the April 2026

Duluth Parking Commission meeting minutes for approval. Commissioner Robert

Woods motioned that the minutes be approved. Commissioner Jordon Johnson

seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0 (Commissioners Antonio Davis

and Mike Mayou had not yet arrived).

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Liila Boutique owner Jason Rolfe presented several questions to the Commission

regarding parking configuration plans for Lincoln Park. He stated that he

supported a request by Bali Asian Cuisine to convert an on-street loading zone

into metered parking and then place a parklet in the zone for more restaurant

seating. Mr. Bauer stated that he was aware of this request and did not support

it, based on the area’s need for loading zones and his observed use of the one in

question. Mr. Rolfe inquired into plans for on-street payment technology once

the upcoming Superior Street redevelopment project was complete. Mr. Bauer

stated that that the area would feature updated version of the T2 Systems

multi-stall payment kiosks located elsewhere in the city. Mr. Rolfe inquired into

the details on how the Park Duluth mobile payment application functioned,

which Mr. Bauer provided.

ON-STREET ACCESSIBLE PARKING ZONE REQUEST

Mr. Bauer presented one on-street accessible parking zone request. He stated

that he had researched the request, for 1926 East 2nd Street and performed a site

visit. He stated that, due to the timing of the monthly Parking Commission and

Commission on Disabilities meetings, he had not presented the request to the

Commission on Disabilities but that he would provide them information on the

request in their next meeting. He stated that during the site visit he noted

several off-street garage stalls associated with the apartment building at the

address but that the applicant had stated that there were internal building

obstacles that prevented her from using them. Commissioner Woods motioned

that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion,

which was approved 6-0.

PROPOSAL TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE ZONE ON THE

100 BLOCK OF NORTH 1ST AVENUE WEST

Mr. Bauer presented a proposal to create an emergency vehicles only parking

zone on the 100 block of North 1st Avenue West, adjacent to CHUM Center Duluth.

He stated that the request had been generated by the director of CHUM and was

supported by the Duluth Police Department. He stated that there were frequent

visits to the site by emergency vehicles and that the public parking in the area

had, in the past, caused public safety challenges. Commissioner Woods

suggested that a no parking zone be placed in the area instead. Mr. Bauer

stated that the Parking Services Division preferred signing the zone in as close

alignment with its intended use as possible and added that other such zones had

previously been employed in the downtown area. Commissioner Johnson stated

that it was more likely that an emergency vehicles only zone would be respected

than a no parking zone. Commissioner Andrew Paszak stated that he regularly

noted emergency vehicles visiting the building, adding that driver and pedestrian

sightlines were sometimes compromised when emergency vehicles parked in the

drive lane instead of an on-street parking area. Commissioner Mayou motioned

that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion,

which was approved 5-1 (Commissioner Woods dissenting).

PROPOSAL TO CREATE A BUS DROP-OFF ZONE ON THE 200

BLOCK OF WEST MICHIGAN STREET

Mr. Bauer presented a proposal to create a bus drop-off zone on the east end of

the 200 block of West Michigan Street. He stated that the Duluth Transit

Authority’s Director had referred a representative of FlixBus to him, following

FlixBus’ request to designate a pick-up/drop-off zone related to new bus service

from Duluth to other destinations. He stated that the DTA Director had

communicated that there was inadequate room within the Duluth Transit Center

but that an adjacent on-street zone could serve their needs. Mr. Bauer stated

that he had identified an on-street area to the immediate east of the DTC, on the

lower side of Michigan Street, that could serve this function. He stated that while

parking demand was stronger to the west of the zone, demand in the zone area

itself was not as strong. Commissioner Woods stated that he would like

clarification on the usage and timing of bus service in the zone. Mr. Bauer noted

that any bus could use the zone, including DTA buses. Commissioner Mayou

inquired whether road width was adequate to accommodate the zone; Mr. Bauer

stated that it was wide enough. Commissioner Davis noted that the area in

question was already being utilized as a bus zone at times. Commissioner

Paszak motioned that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Woods

seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0.

PROPOSAL TO CREATE A 2-HOUR TIME LIMIT ZONE ON THE 200

BLOCK OF WEST 4TH STREET

Mr. Bauer presented a proposal to create a 2-hour time limit zone on the 200

block of West 4th Street, in the area adjacent to the Center for American Indian

Resources building. He stated that the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior

Chippewa leadership had requested the zone to serve their clients and that the

off-street parking lot that served the building sometimes filled. Commissioner

Johnson inquired whether the zone, if approved, would be retained following the

upcoming redevelopment of 4th Street. Mr. Bauer stated that he believed that

would be the case. Commissioner Woods motioned that the proposal be

approved. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 6-0.

OFF-STREET PARKING UPDATE

Mr. Bauer provided an update on off-street parking. He stated that Interstate

Parking Company was in the process of preparing for the summer season, with

washing and restriping of the lots and ramps to begin in early May. He stated

that updated and replacement signage was being ordered for all Canal Park

Lots, to be followed by update signage for the ramps in time for Grandma’s

Marathon. Mr. Bauer stated that Lot B, Pickwick Lot, Hartley Lot, and Sculptured

Wall Lot had been converted to Interstate’s proprietary InFlow revenue control

system to better differentiate between on- and off-street parking systems. He

added that Interstate had been noting high payment compliance in all the

locations.

ON-STREET PARKING UPDATE

Mr. Bauer provided an update on on-street parking. He stated that installation of

new signage that indicated the new additional payment methods for on-street

parking, as well as removal of the single-stall parking meters, was complete. He

stated that while there was a certain amount of negative feedback to the

changes, none was unexpected, and staff were committed to working through

solutions with parkers. Commissioner Mayou inquired into long-term on-street

signage plans and suggested that items such as braille be included in the future.

Mr. Bauer confirmed that the new kiosks that would be installed in Lincoln Park

would accept cash and coin. Commission President Branden Robinson inquired

into on-street parking stall designations, particularly regarding diagonal stalls.

Mr. Bauer stated that stall designations were generally not employed, except on

Superior Street, but that additional stall marking may be necessary in the future

for diagonal stalls, particularly noting challenges in determining stall locations

on Priley Drive, adjacent to City Hall.

PUBLIC COMMENTS FOLLOW-UP

Commission on Disabilities Chair Amanda Paszak spoke to the group and

encouraged enhanced communication and brainstorming between the two

commissions to best serve those with disabilities and/or accessibility challenges.