David's Blog

The change is subtle. Yet, it can have a profound impact on how we view developments within our beloved community. The change to which I am referring is viewing the multiple “construction zones” we encounter each day as “progress zones.”

What a difference one word can make. For example, we can respond to a rerouting of traffic caused by one of these progress zones with fascination instead of frustration. Challenges can take the place of problems. Homework becomes home-learning. The Chamber’s leadership views our community’s challenges with positive expectancy. When our Board of Directors gather for our annual off-site planning session, we call the session an “Advance” instead of a “Retreat.”

We have been faced with a challenging economy in recent years. Nonetheless, there is optimism within the Chamber and, increasingly, within our Shining City on the Hill. The revitalization of our historic downtown continues. We can all see the progress being made as the dream of a new DECC Arena is becoming a reality. Our public schools are being revitalized. Our city and county streets are being rebuilt. Student enrollment is at record levels within our institutions of higher learning. New restaurants and hotels are opening within our Zenith City. There are many examples of progress and reasons for optimism – if we choose to acknowledge them. These progress zones are setting the pace for a new and exhilarating spirit in Duluth.

Throughout this past year, the Chamber has marshaled its resources to promote developments that signal excitement in our city. Private and public development will reach a record high of approximately $750 million infused into our community over a period of a few years. This development is generating jobs and opportunities for our community members. Duluth’s unemployment rate is lower than the state and national unemployment rates. This is a positive reversal of our past experience.

True enough, there are calculated risks inherent in the multiple progress zones that the Chamber and others have labored so long to make possible. All real progress involves risk and challenges. However, Duluth has the vibrancy to accept the risks and stride forward boldly. Let us together resolve to embrace the opportunities that now lie before us and begin 2010 as a city experiencing remarkable progress.

In support,
David

The City of Duluth’s administration was poised to raise our city utilities fees again when the Duluth City Council meeting convened Monday, November 9th. The only thing between yet another increase to our city sewer, water and natural gas rates was a vote by the city councilors. Thankfully, before the councilors voted, there was an opportunity for citizen’s to address the councilors related to the proposed fee increases.

Only six Duluthians took the opportunity to speak on the proposed fee hikes. The first four spoke in support of the fee increases, rationalizing that increased fees were the only way to protect our beloved Lake Superior, the Greatest of the Great Lakes.

The remaining two citizens who addressed the councilors were strongly opposed to the proposed fee increases. I was one of these two citizens. My Chamber colleague, and brother in commerce, Andy Peterson, was the other voice in opposition of the fee increases.

Like the four citizens who spoke prior to us, Andy and I want to protect our treasured Lake Superior. It is our community’s most precious and remarkable asset.

Yet, Andy and I know better than to assume there is a direct link between increased utilities fees and increased protection of our pristine drinking water. The proposed fees increase had far more to do with protecting the city’s union workers and the union’s antiquated, inordinately costly, and unsustainable public sector union benefits.

Councilor Todd Fedora gave powerful testimony detailing the concerns he had relative to the union utility workers alarmingly expensive on-call, overtime and minimum staffing requirements.

The city’s unions have the city’s administration, our city’s utilities, and, consequently, every citizen of Duluth up against a wall – and they are reaching for our collective wallet. At a time when businesses are being called upon to provide more services and products at reduced prices, the City of Duluth is calling upon its citizens to pay more fees. Innovation and creativity are needed within the City’s utilities departments – not more fees to feed the system.

However, all is not lost. There is reason for optimism. The City Council strongly rejected the administrations recommended utility rate increase by a 7-2 vote. The only councilors who voted for the increase were Tony Cuneo and Greg Gilbert. I hope you will join me in applauding the seven councilors who opposed the increase. After voting against the fee increase, city councilors asked city administration to provide them information regarding the utilities department’s union work contract concerns Councilor Fedora shared with them prior to their vote on fees. It is information I also look forward to seeing. I suspect the information will not be comforting. I will keep you posted.

In support,
David Ross

As our Shining City on the Hill looks to revitalize our business districts and bring in new developments, there are many considerations for how this development could or should look. The City of Duluth is undertaking the significant task of modernizing its zoning code with immense community input and response. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is an enthusiastic partner in this effort. I was proud to serve as a business community representative on the Comprehensive Land Use Development Plan Committee, which completed the plan in 2006. I am equally pleased to continue representing you on the Zoning Advisory Committee, charged with completing these new zoning regulations by spring of 2010.

Zoning affects us all and we can all be part of the solution to a 50 year old code that does not allow for newer modern buildings, mixed use opportunities, and pedestrian friendly business districts. Our residents and Chamber members are constrained by outdated regulations which do not provide room for creativity and only offer limitations to the usage of existing buildings.

The effort to change the zoning regulations coupled with the City’s work to establish a more effective and efficient permitting process bodes well for the future of Duluth and the revitalization efforts of our downtown area and the city as a whole. Duluth is undergoing a significant revival and these efforts will help to sustain development, growth, and offer a new quality of life now and into the future.

Our beloved Zenith City is fortunate to have an active and engaged citizenry. I encourage community members, and especially our Chamber members, to participate in the City’s public process. The second of four modules on the proposed zoning regulations, or what is formally known as the Unified Development Chapter (UDC) of the City’s Legislative Code, will be presented at a public meeting on: Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Depot.

There is still time to have your voice heard within this important initiative.

If you cannot attend the meeting, information on the first two modules of the proposed zoning regulations can be found on the City’s website at: http://www.duluthmn.gov/planning/udc/meetings.cfm
Comments can also be directly submitted on-line at: http://www.duluthmn.gov/planning/udc/connected.cfm

In unwavering support,

David Ross
President and CEO
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce

• Maureen Booth said she couldn’t comment on Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) specifics because she had not been allowed to view the plan. We encourage her, and anyone else seeking detailed information about the Long Range Facilities Plan, to visit the ChooseDuluthSchools.com website that has been live for several months.
• Art Johnston said that while he supports Plan B, he is not a member of Let Duluth Vote. That’s apparently a change in his position, because he was the Let Duluth Vote spokesperson who presented Plan B to the School Board on June 23.

The two challengers who said they’d vote to keep more schools open – Johnston and Kasper – did not provide any ideas for how they’d pay for them.

Here is how the candidates responded to three key questions people are asking:

• Which plan do you support? All four incumbents said they support the LRFP now underway. Johnston and Stromgren support Let Duluth Vote’s Plan B. Kasper said he supports aspects of the LRFP, but would keep Nettleton and Morgan Park schools open. Booth said she could not answer because she had not seen details of the LRFP.
• If elected, would you stop all work on the facilities plan? – Booth, Kasper and Johnston said they would stop work on the plan. The four incumbents said they would not stop work on the plan. Stromgren chose to not answer this question.
• Would you vote to keep more schools open than the LRFP currently includes? – Booth and the four incumbents said they would not vote to keep more schools open. Stromgren again chose to not answer at all.

Those who answered yes were asked if they would pay for the extra schools by seeking an operating levy, cutting teachers, freezing employee pay, cutting existing education programs, cutting extracurricular activities, or something else.

Johnston and Kasper said they would indeed keep more schools open. However, they would use steps other than the five options suggested. They did not provide specific ways to pay for the extra schools.

Johnston also said he’d like the community to have more discussion about Plan B, and we agree with him. We believe it’s vitally important for voters to realize the financial, educational, environmental and safety implications of Plan B versus the approved Long Range Facilities Plan.

This blog and Tuesday’s well-attended FORVM are tangible indications of the Chamber’s commitment to help voters go to the polls on November 3 with accurate information on which to base their important decisions.

In support,
David Ross

Earlier this summer, my Chamber colleagues and I completed a walking tour of First Street during which we stopped in every business located between City Hall (on the west end) and SMDC (on the east end). We queried each of the fifty-four business owners and operators regarding their view of crime in the Downtown area.


We did so because we had heard from a few of our members who did business in the Downtown section of First Street and who believed crime was becoming a growing problem. Our tour clearly illustrated that although there were a few isolated areas of concern - especially at certain times of the day - First Street remains a safe and vibrant place to do business and enjoy visiting.


After completing the tour, we shared our findings with Police Chief Gordon Ramsey. He, in turn, was gracious in sharing with us the plans he was even then (May, 2009) implementing to intensify the City's crime fighting efforts in the Downtown.


Four months have now passed since the completion of our tour and the increase of crime fighting efforts. This is a list of those efforts which have been implemented:

• Two new, energetic officers now routinely walk or bike through the Downtown.
• Seven additional seasonal officers are now patrolling Downtown and Canal Park. This is the largest police presence in many years in these areas.
• A new skateboard ordinance has been implemented in Canal Park. (There have been positive reports on the ordinance from business owners in Canal Park.)
• Two additional plain clothes undercover officers have been patrolling the problem areas of Downtown.
• Officers are working with the Downtown bars that have excess police calls and have placed the bars on police calls reduction plans.

The cumulative impact of these initiatives has resulted in a safer, friendlier Downtown Duluth. As a result, there are more people visiting and enjoying Downtown than in many past years. More arts and entertainment venues are drawing greater numbers of patrons. More people are residing in the increasing number of condominiums and apartments available in the Downtown, and greater numbers of tourists are concurrently making their way from Canal Park into our historic Downtown.

There has never been a better, safer time to enjoy the sights, sounds, and energy of our community's meeting place. I look forward to seeing you there.

Yours in support,

David Ross

President & CEO

Downtown Duluth has enjoyed a transforming revitalization. The Technology Village, located at the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street, was an extraordinarily bold project that sparked this revitalization. In one monumental effort it transformed a dilapidated and unsightly block of decaying buildings into a triumphant centerpiece for our downtown. In doing so, it heralded a new and positive era for Duluthians fortunate enough to live and work in our beloved downtown.

A&L Properties, which built the Tech Village in 1999, invested over $26 million in this highly visible landmark. The City of Duluth, as their part of the building project, promised to build a skywalk connecting the Tech Village to the existing skywalk system. The skywalk was planned to span Lake Avenue. The City assured A&L Properties that the skywalk would be completed by the time the Tech Village opened in 1999.

That's right, 1999. Unlike the music icon, Prince, the leadership of A&L Properties could not - Party Like It's 1999. They are still waiting to celebrate the completion of the promised skywalk connection over Lake Avenue. Thankfully, the City of Duluth finally approved and financed the skywalk extension. It is being constructed at the cost of $2.35 million. It is scheduled to be completed by October. It is difficult for us to fully appreciate the difficulties A&L Properties endured while waiting ten years for the City to fulfill its part of the Technology Village bargain. The City's disappointing performance, at a minimum, does not engender confidence in their ability to fund and build future skywalk extensions.

This is one understandable reason why A&L Properties is willing to privately fund and build the next skywalk originating from the Technology Village. Rob Link, of A&L Properties, is hoping to build a skywalk linking the Technology Village and the recently completed Wieland Block development. The Wieland Block is another bold and beautiful showpiece within our downtown - also developed by A&L Properties. It is bringing additional private investment, character and optimism to our downtown. The proposed skywalk would pass over Superior Street just east of Lake Avenue. It was part of the original Master Plan and vision for the Technology Village, approved by the City of Duluth.

Construction of the Wieland Block skywalk will be friendly to downtown motorists. It will be designed in a way that will not require Superior Street to be closed for an extended period. It will be installed in sections during nighttime hours. Its floor-to-ceiling glass and compelling design will enhance the beauty of our downtown.

All that is required to make this needed, tax-free addition to the downtown a reality are some approvals within City Hall. A&L has filed a request for a building and a concurrent use permit from the City of Duluth. The Duluth Planning Commission is scheduled to take action on the requested permit August 11. The Planning Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Duluth City Council, which will act to approve or deny the permit.

Please join me in encouraging the Planning Commission and the City Council to approve the permits. It would be wise to allow A&L Properties to continue investing resources and spirit in the welcome renewal of our historic downtown.

In support and advocacy,
David Ross
President & CEO

In 1960, the population of our beloved Emerald City on the Hill’s population peaked at 106,884, and our city’s future looked bright. A thriving port city, Duluth was still riding on a post-war manufacturing high.

Fast forward to July 2009. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Duluth’s population declined by 2,634 people between the years 2000 and 2008 – to a population of 84,284. Can a community lose 22,600 members (21%) within 48 years and still remain vibrant? Can we do something to reverse our population’s downward spiral? Does our beloved community’s future still look bright?

Each of us has his own perspective on the situation. Nevertheless, the recent census figures vividly illustrate that we cannot achieve the goal voiced by many Duluthians to “keep Duluth just the way it is.” Communities either grow or decline; it is impossible to maintain a community in a static condition. Attempts to “keep Duluth just the way it is” will only end in frustration.

My strong conviction is that no community can shrink to greatness. Declining numbers lead to under-funded and under-utilized school systems and to oversized municipalities which demand each taxpayer pay an ever larger share of the bill for government. It means fewer opportunities for young people and less investment in community services. A declining city population inevitably loses political clout in the State Legislature and Congress.

My friend, Tony Barrett, Ph.D., professor of economics at the College of St. Scholastica, shared in a Chamber publication his view of why people promoting economic development in Duluth are often frustrated by opposition. He points out that developers may fail to realize that large numbers of Duluthians simply do not want growth. Dr. Barrett identifies this “no growth” bloc of voters as: 1) older citizens who believe expansion will raise taxes; 2) native Duluthians who have remained in Duluth because they like the status quo; 3) people who choose to live here because they like the environment; and 4) business people who wish to avoid further competition.

Barrett admits these are generalizations. However, they offer a rationale for the intense scrutiny and frequent objections to which we subject many economic development projects. Ironically, it will be the jobs created by these often bitterly opposed development proposals that will be the catalysts for the reversal of our population decline. It is these development projects that infuse our community with private investment, funding for our city services, such as police and fire protection, and employment options for members of our workforce.

The challenge of population decline warrants lively debate. It constitutes a pressing issue that should be publicly aired in the media, in neighborhood associations, within City Hall, in political discussions, and at the dinner table. Our children’s future in Duluth depends on our response to the issue. College students and young talent have a special interest in the discussion.

The Duluth Area Chamber’s leadership is actively engaged in the dialogue. I am confident that within our community and within ourselves, we will find the answers and the motivation to strengthen this city we all cherish.