School lease ordinance stalls on one word: “customary”

The Great Expectations Foundation wants language in the city’s R-1 zoning that would let schools and houses of worship lease space to outside groups, the way schools and churches here already host WTIP, the Grand Marais Playhouse, and the food shelf. On October 7, the City Council could not get there. Councilor Michael Garry moved to approve Ordinance 2026-04, with “churches” changed to “houses of worship.” No one seconded it, and the motion died on the table.

The council then sent the proposed ordinance back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and further review, because, in the minutes’ words, the foundation’s request “has changed significantly.”

In discussion, councilors circled the word at the center of the ordinance: uses “customary” to schools and houses of worship. “Customary may be hard to define,” the minutes record. Members also raised the limits of school insurance and school rules, and the line the ordinance tries to hold: accessory uses, not primary ones. The city already allows accessory home occupations in R-1.

The same night, the council gave final approval to Ordinance 2026-03, which bans on-street parking between 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Highway 61. The second reading passed unanimously.

The city’s insurance renewal came in lower: an overall premium change of minus 2.65 percent from last year, with property, cyber-risk, municipal liability, and auto liability premiums reduced, partly offset by increases in auto physical damage, bond, liquor liability, and fireworks coverage. There is no dividend this year, the agent told the council, because of large hail claims across the state.

Votes (as printed in the minutes)

Consent agenda (agenda; September 16, 2026 minutes; payment of bills; BYO Ballot event permit; Visit Cook County Moose Madness Kids Race sidewalk permit; Park Board appointment of Bill Hansen; fireworks display permit for November 27, 2026): approved unanimously (Garry moved, Schulte seconded)
Ordinance 2026-04 approval, with “churches” changed to “houses of worship”: motion by Garry, died for lack of a second
Ordinance 2026-04 referred back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and further review: by council direction recorded in the minutes
Ordinance 2026-03 (Chapter 76 parking schedule), second reading: approved unanimously (Peters moved, Garry seconded)

No individual named votes are printed in these minutes; approvals are recorded as unanimous. Present: Mayor Tracy Benson, Ben Peters, Michael Garry, Craig Schulte, Bill Lovaas. Absent: none.

Spending

Payment of bills was approved inside the consent agenda; the minutes print no total. No other dollar-figure approvals appear in the record of this meeting.