League of Women Voters of Duluth
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • LWV Duluth Board >
      • Upcoming Board Meeting Agenda
      • Board Meeting Minutes
    • LWV Duluth Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
    • LWV: Minnesota & US
    • History of League of Women Voters Dulutlh
    • Policy, Program, Positions >
      • Nonpartisan Policy ( May 2021)
      • LWV Duluth Program
      • LWV State Positions
      • LWVUS Position on Reproductive Choices
    • LWV Duluth Bylaws
  • Membership
    • Join
    • New Member Meet & Greet
    • For More Information About Membership
  • Events & Newsletter
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
    • Recordings of LWV Events
    • March 28 2023: Women of Influence
    • February 25, 2023 "Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up" Documentary
    • January 28, 2023- Citizens in Action Workshop
    • January 8, 2023- Legislative Roundtable
    • December 8, 2022 - Holiday Open House
    • Nuclear Weapons: A local Problem
    • October 1, 2022 "The Rally for Peace"
    • September 8, 2022 - LWV Duluth Fall Kick-Off
    • Events September 2021- June 2022 >
      • September 22, 2021 - LWV Duluth Fall Kick-Off
      • November 16, 2021: Voting Rights
      • December 2 - The Status of Copper Nickel Sulfide Mining in Minnesota
      • Dec. 14, 2021: Sandy Hook Vigil
      • January 6, 2022- We the People January 6 Day of Remembrance and Action Duluth News Tribune
      • January 6, 2022- We the People January 6 Day of Remembrance and Action
      • January 11, 2022- Judicial Selection and Elections via Zoom
      • January 19, 2022- Medical Aid in Dying
      • January 23, 2022- Legislative Roundtable
      • January 28, 2022- Citizens in Action Virtual Workshop
      • February 24 - Redlining in Duluth. It Happened Here
      • March 15 - Medical Aid in Dying
      • April 6, 2022: Women of Influence
      • April 12 - How Duluth is Addressing a Shortage of Affordable Housing
      • April 20 - It's Not Easy Being Green!
      • May 12, 2022 - Annual Meeting
      • June 11 - Annual Plant and Book Sale
    • Past Events: 2020-21
    • Past Events: 2019-20
    • Past Events: 2018-19
    • Past Events: 2017-18
    • Past Events: 2016-17
  • Local Committees/Groups
    • Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee
    • Environmental Action Committee
    • International Relations Committee
    • Program Committee and Advocacy Action Team
    • Observer Corps Reports
    • "The Sisters" Book Club
  • Voting
    • 2022 Voting Information
    • 2022 Candidate Forum Recordings
    • Redistricting
    • National and State Elected Officials
    • County Elected officials
    • City Government
    • Duluth School Board

2017 - 2019 LWV Duluth Local Program:
The program of the LWV Duluth consists of action to implement the principles of the LWVUS and those local governmental issues chosen for concerted study and action.
​
Education
Support of the adoption and implementation of long range plans and procedures by the Duluth School District:  the object is to ensure equal opportunity for all.
Comprehensive Planning
Comprehensive Planning for the city of Duluth should be based on the following:

Guiding Concepts:

1. Preserve the character of the community and promote community identity at neighborhood and city wide levels.
2.  Conserve open space.
3.  Ensure the areas of new growth are coordinated with existing and proposed development.  Prevent urban sprawl.
4.  Maintain or improve the level of community services.
5.  Develop a community with a diversity of housing types to enable citizens from a wide range of economic levels to live within city boundaries.
6. Plan ahead to avoid environmental problems.
7.  Promote aesthetics and preserve historic and cultural features.
8.  Create a citywide network of streets, pedestrian paths and bike paths.  Provide an adequate and accessible mass transit system.
9.  Encourage flexibility and innovation in development techniques to promote diversity within the community to show the increase in development costs.
10.  Encourage citizen output.
11.  Promote public safety.

Implementation guidelines.
·     
Provide consistency in the plan implementation over time and across administrations.
·      Provide consistent rules and statutes to match the plan.
·      Put structures in place to consistently implement and update the plan, including a schedule for evaluation     
       and review.
·      Encourage regional collaboration.
·      Coordinate citywide and neighborhood issues.
·      Make land use decisions based on a current natural resources inventory.

Infrastructure.

1.  LWV Duluth is opposed to the sale of the gas utility.
2.  LWV Duluth supports development of a comprehensive plan for reinvestment in Comfort System utility infrastructures.  The plan should be integrated, coordinated plan of action with specific timelines, identified and committed fund sources to maintain each of the four utilities in standard operating condition at all times, and be developed with input from citizens and businesses, as well as from utility workers and management.
3.  LWV Duluth supports the City's continued aggressive efforts to obtain grants from all possible sources for repair and replacement of Comfort Systems infrastructure.  LWV Duluth also supports taking loans and approving bond issues to finance Comfort Systems infrastructure repair and replacement on four conditions:
              a) Adequate grant sources are not available in a timely way.
              b) Need is in accordance with a long-range capital utility improvement plan.
              c) Careful discernment is reached between needs and wants in prioritizing utility bond issues with other  
                  City bonding obligations.
              d) There is adequate projected revenue for debt payback without untenable rate burdens thrust on low-
                   income households.
4.  LWV Duluth conditionally supports a rate increase for Duluth public utilities for the purpose of necessary infrastructure improvements in order to sustain reliable utility services for citizens and businesses only if:
              a) An increase proposal demonstrates that efficiency has first been adequately sought out in the utility 
                  requesting the increase.
              b) Accurate accounting numbers have been clearly laid out so the public will understand why the            
                  rate is increasing.
              c) A short and long-term financial plan for the proposed rate increase has been presented in an
                 understandable way to the public.
              d) A public discussion and debate has occurred prior to any utility rate increase, including methods to
                  protect particularly vulnerable consumers.

APPROVED 05/13/15  ANNUAL MEETING