Fargo City Commission - May 27, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 o'clock p.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The Commissioners present or absent were as shown following:
Present: Kolpack, Piepkorn, Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney.
Absent: None.
Mayor Mahoney presiding.
A video was shown featuring the Engineering Department and Evan Olson, Engineering Tech II, received the “Rising Star” award.
Order of Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Kolpack moved the Order of the Agenda be approved, withdrawing Item No. “15” on the Consent Agenda.
Second by Piepkorn. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Minutes Approved:
Commissioner Turnberg moved that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board held on May 12, 2025 be approved as read.
Second by Kolpack. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Consent Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Strand moved the Consent Agenda be approved as follows:
1. Certificate of Completion, Tax Increment Revenue Note of 2025 (Tax Increment Financing District No. 2023-03) and Private Placement Memorandum with HN 8th Street, LLC.
2. Receive and file the following Ordinances:
a. Repealing and Re-Enacting Article 21-01 of Chapter 21 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Building Code.
b. Repealing and Re-Enacting Article 21.2-01 of Chapter 21.2 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Existing Building Code.
c. Repealing and Re-Enacting Chapter 21.3 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Energy Conservation Code.
d. Repealing and Re-Enacting Sections 9-0701 and 9-0704 of Article 9-07 of Chapter 9 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Fire Protection and Prevention.
e. Repealing and Re-Enacting Article 30.1-01 of Chapter 30.1 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Fuel Gas Code.
f. Amending Section 30-0106 of Article 30-01 of Chapter 30 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Mechanical Code.
g. Repealing and Re-Enacting Article 31-01 of Chapter 31 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Property Maintenance Code.
h. Repealing and Re-Enacting Article 21.1-01 of Chapter 21.1 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Residential Code.
3. Waive requirement to receive and file an Ordinance one week prior to 1st reading and 1st reading of the following Ordinances:
a. Ordinance Amending Section 25-1507 (F) of Article 25-15 of Chapter 25 of the Fargo Municipal Code, Relating to Alcoholic Beverages.
b. Ordinance Amending Section 25-1512 of Article 25-15 of Chapter 25 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Alcoholic Beverages.
4. 1st reading of an Ordinance Amending Section 12-0105(E), of Article 12-01, of Chapter 12, of the Fargo Municipal Code, Relating to Running At Large Prohibited - Habitually At Large; an Ordinance Amending Section 12-0117, of Article 12-01, of Chapter 12, of the Fargo Municipal Code, Relating to Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Dogs; and an Ordinance Amending Section 1-0305, of Article 1-03, of Chapter 1, of the Fargo Municipal Code, Relating to Classification of Ordinance Violations.
5. 1st reading of an Ordinance Amending Section 8-1425 of Article 8-14 of Chapter 8 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Traffic Code.
6. 1st reading of an Ordinance Amending Section 1-0305(C)(2) & (5) of Article 1-03 of Chapter 1 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Classification of Ordinance Violations.
7. 1st reading of an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1512, of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25, of the Fargo Municipal Code, Relating to Licenses - Termination, Suspension, Revocation, and Sanctions.
8. Site Authorizations for Games of Chance:
a. American Gold Gymnastics at The Box.
b. Fargo Park District Foundation at Edgewood Tavern.
c. Fargo Park District Foundation at KingPinz Social.
d. Fargo Post 2 Baseball Club at El Zagal.
e. Fargo Post 2 Baseball Club at Herd and Horns.
f. North Dakota Horse Park Foundation at Boss’ Pizza & Chicken.
g. North Dakota Horse Park Foundation at Newman Outdoor Field.
h. North Dakota Horse Park Foundation at North Dakota Horse Park.
9. Applications for Games of Chance:
a. Dakota Medical Foundation for a raffle on 6/6/25.
b. El Zagal Provost for a sports pool from 9/28/25 to 1/4/26.
c. Fargo Masonic Advisory Board for a raffle on 8/13/25.
d. FM AM Rotary for a sports pool from 9/8/25 to 12/29/25.
10. Agreement for Special Improvements with County 20 Storage & Transfer, Inc. (Special Improvement District No. BN-25-F1).
11. Direct the City Attorney to modify Fargo Municipal Code Section 25-1506 to allow Alcoholic Beverage License Class “FA-Golf” to receive Class E Permits.
12. Memorandum of Offers to Landowner for Permanent Easement Agreement and Temporary Easements with the City of West Fargo.
13. Encroachment Agreement (Parking Lot) with Fargo Public School District located at 801 17th Avenue North.
14. Memorandum of Understanding with the Cities of West Fargo and Moorhead for SMART Traffic Signal System.
15. Non-Exclusive Right of Way Occupancy Agreements with Gateway Infrastructure, LLC and Ubiquity North Dakota, LLC (withdrawn).
16. Amendment No. 2 with Bolton & Menk in the amount of $86,389.50 for Improvement District No. BN-25-A0.
17. Amendment No. 3 with Bolton & Menk in the amount of $118,569.75 for Improvement District No. BN-25-A0.
18. Change Order No.1 in the amount of $178,690.10 for Improvement District No. PR-25-E1.
19. Bid award to Paras Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $1,012,083.13 for Improvement District No. BR-25-G1.
20. Contract and bond for Improvement District No. PR-25-H1.
21. Bid award to KPH, Inc. in the amount of $553,003.00 for Project No. UR-24-C1.
22. Bid award to Key Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $178,772.00 for Project No. UR-24-I1.
23. Bid award to Key Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $40,892.00 for Project No. UR-25-D1.
24. Bid advertisement for Project No. NR-25-D.
25. Items from the FAHR Meeting:
a. Receive and file General Fund - Budget to Actual through 4/30/25.
b. Exempt Purchase with Andritz Separation in the amount of $1,549,344.00 for rehabilitation of four belt filter presses (exempt request).
c. Resolution (Adoption of City of Fargo Inter-fund Loan Policy) (Attachment “A”) and Resolution (Approving Inter-fund Borrowing for Financing of 700 NP Avenue Parking Garage Project) (Attachment “B”).
26. Notice of Grant Award from the ND Department of Health and Human Services for Sun Safety.
27. Purchase of Service Agreement with Mapleton Public School District.
28. Set June 23, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. as the date and time for a Public Hearing on a dangerous building located at 1102 1st Avenue South.
29. Resolution approving Plat of Valley View Eleventh Addition (Attachment “C”).
30. Resolution approving Plat of EagleRidge Plaza Addition (Attachment “D”).
31. Addendum - 2 Metro Street Crimes Unit to the Agreement for the Joint Exercise of Peace Officer Duties.
32. Auction Contract with Steffes Group, Inc. for Professional Online Auction Services (RFP25125).
33. ND Department of Transportation Amendment to Contract No. 38231169 for additional transit capital funds (CFDA #20.526).
34. Piggyback purchase through ND State Contract with North Central Bus & Equipment, Inc. in the amount of $336,830.00 for the purchase of two paratransit vehicles and Bus Order Agreement (PBC25178).
35. Bid award to Industrial Builders, Inc. in the amount of $1,026,995.00 for the GTC Deck Overlay Project (ITB25179).
36. Bid award to Micronics Engineered Filtration Group, Inc. in the amount of $45,500.00/year for sludge press filter belts (RFP25158).
37. Change Order No. 8 in the amount of $317,649.00 for Project No. WW1701 (Phase IIB Expansion).
38. Change Order No. 3 in the amount of $52,666.40 for Project No. WA2152.
39. Change Order No. 13 in the amount of $125,628.11 for Project No. WA2402.
40. Bid award to BC Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $1,295,335.35 for Project No. WA2502.
41. Submittal of the West Central Regional Water District Water Provider Questionnaire.
42. Extension to the Water Tower Lease Agreement with Sprint Spectrum Realty Company, LLC (T-Mobile) in the amount of $24,334.08 for Water Tower No. 6 until 12/31/25.
43. BlueConduit Platform-As-A-Service Agreement with Abernethy Schwartz Partners, LLC (d/b/a BlueConduit) for services related to the lead service line replacement project.
44. Bills in the amount of $12,042,270.77.
Second by Piepkorn. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Piepkorn, Kolpack, Turnberg and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Presentation on Strong Towns Fargo:
Zach Taylor, Strong Towns Fargo, gave a presentation on walkability, safe streets and long-term sustainable development.
Application Filed by Adibon A&E Fusion d/b/a A&E Fusion Cuisine for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by Adibon A&E Fusion d/b/a A&E Fusion Cuisine for a Class "GH" Alcoholic Beverage License at 1407 1st Avenue North, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said the owner is transitioning from a physical storefront to a catering-only model and this license allows the owner to easily obtain E-Permits for each catering event.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Turnberg, Kolpack, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Application Filed by Q Nail & Spa LLC d/b/a Q Nail & Spa for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by Q Nail & Space LLC d/b/a Q Nail & Spa for a Class "W" Alcoholic Beverage License at 1650 45th Street South, Suite 104, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said there is a growing trend in the nail industry and salons want to offer wine to clients, whether complimentary or for purchase. He said this is a wine only license which does not require food sales. The Liquor Control Board discussed the presence of minors with the applicant, he stated, and the salon is designed with a clear separation, allowing minors on one side and adults consuming alcohol on the other side.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Turnberg, Kolpack, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Application for an Ownership Change of the Alcoholic Beverage License for Ka-Rick, Inc. d/b/a Rick’s Bar and Off Sale Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on an application for an ownership change of the Class “AB" Alcoholic Beverage License for Ka-Rick, Inc. , Inc. d/b/a Rick’s Bar located at 2721 Main Avenue, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said as soon as the owner’s children were old enough, they started working at the bar and now it is time for them to officially become co-owners.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Strand. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Strand, Kolpack, Turnberg and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Application for an Ownership Change of the Alcoholic Beverage License for M&M Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Speck’s Bar and Off Sale Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on an application for an ownership change of the Class “AB" Alcoholic Beverage License for M&M Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Speck’s Bar and Off Sale located at 2611 Main Avenue, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said this application is the same as the previous application where the owner is making his children co-owners.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Strand. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Strand, Kolpack, Turnberg and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Application Filed by Tropical Spice Caribbean Cuisine, LLC d/b/a Tropical Spice Caribbean Cuisine for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by Tropical Spice Caribbean Cuisine, LLC d/b/a Tropical Spice Caribbean Cuisine for a Class "GH" Alcoholic Beverage License at 3132 Broadway North, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said this restaurant has been in business for about two years and the owner is now looking to add beer and wine to the offerings. He said with the beer and wine license, food sales must exceed alcohol sales.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Kolpack. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Kolpack, Strand, Turnberg and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Application to Transfer the Alcoholic Beverage License from Cairo Restaurant & Bar, LLC d/b/a Cairo Restaurant and Nightclub to Bar209Fargo, LLC d/b/a Bar 209 Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application to transfer the Class "FA" Alcoholic Beverage License from Cairo Restaurant & Bar, LLC d/b/a Cairo Restaurant and Nightclub to Bar209Fargo, LLC d/b/a Bar 209 at 3788 55th Avenue South, prior notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said this is a license transfer for a new bar that is still undergoing its build-out. The license is being transferred from the former Cairo establishment, which in December the Board gave some extra time in order to find a buyer for the license. He said the “FA” license requires that food sales exceed alcohol sales and it permits a physical bar within the building.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.
Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Piepkorn, Turnberg, Kolpack, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Fargo Public Safety Sales Tax Utilization Plan for 2025 and 2026 Approved:
City Administrator Michael Redlinger said at the May 14, 2025 Special City Commission meeting, the City Commission received a presentation from City staff and MRA, the City’s compensation consultant, on a proposed plan to implement and utilize Fargo's Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) in 2025 and 2026. The Plan outlined a comprehensive, thoughtful and sustainable plan that carefully considers the needs of the Police and Fire Departments, as well as the City’s existing General Fund support to these departments. He said an updated allocation plan for 2026 Public Safety Sales Tax expenditures includes feedback received from Commissioners following the May 14th presentation, he said. The updated Plan removes funding for existing public safety facility debt service, he stated, and those funds are reallocated to future ongoing operating and capital support for the Fire and Police Departments. No change is recommended to the 2025 proposed allocation of funds presented on May 14th, he said. The proposed Plan represents a unified approach to funding future personnel, operating and capital requests for the Fire and Police Departments, he said, and approval of the Plan will provide for timely implementation on July 7th.
In response to a question from Commissioner Piepkorn asking even though this is a 10-year projection, can the City Commission revisit this annually, and secondly, it is likely the funding will increase over time, similar to other sales taxes and is that factored into the projection, Mr. Redlinger said the City Commission will revisit this annually as this sales tax falls under the City Commission's authority, and the Commission will receive recommendations from Public Safety, Finance, Administration and Human Resources on how to best utilize the funds. Sales tax collections have been slower than hoped, he said, with a few flat or slightly down quarters recently; however, the City is taking a conservative approach to projections, aiming for a 2% increase. He said Finance will be checking on collections quarterly, the same as is done with infrastructure and Diversion sales taxes, and those findings will be reported to the Commission. He said he wants to avoid overestimating what will be available from the sales tax, so projections are conservative.
Ron Guggisberg, President of Fargo Firefighters Local 642, said it is hard to believe that just nine months ago, Firefighters started down this road after it was learned the City could not fund a new pay plan, hire more Police Officers and Firefighters or address aging Public Safety infrastructure. He said the Firefighters decided to pursue a sales tax measure and in November 2024, voters clearly supported it due to the fact that they want safer streets and better retention of Public Safety personnel. This proposal represents meaningful progress, he said, and the Firefighters and Police Offers are grateful; however, it falls short in a few key areas. He said those working behind the scenes on this plan knew some aspects would concern most of those who worked on Measure 3. Firefighters and Police Officers could have provided clarity had they been included in the early discussions, he said. It was made clear to voters that the revenue generated would not be used to pay down past debt or for initiatives unrelated to Police and Fire and thankfully, he said, this has been corrected. It was also communicated that the goal was to achieve equal pay with peers, not more, he stated, and many voters felt Public Safety personnel deserved to be paid more than average; however, that is a discussion for another day. The two main issues with the current pay plan, he stated, are step placement and variable pay. The pay study shows Firefighters at a certain average, he said; however, steps were moved back, and variable pay, which includes HazMat, technical rescue and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) pay, are not included in the study and those are things other Police Officers and Firefighters receive. This creates a pay gap between frontline personnel and management, he stated. There have been productive discussions with Fire Department staff, Human Resources and the Mayor's office, he said, and he is encouraged that these conversations are moving in the right direction. Commissioner Kolpack has taken the initiative to coordinate a meeting between the new Fire Chief, the Union and the Finance Department, he stated, and these are the conversations that need to happen early and openly. He said he supports moving this plan forward and asks that future decisions include earlier collaboration and communication with those most affected.
Commissioner Kolpack said the City has started collecting the quarter-cent sales tax; therefore, it is crucial the salary increases begin in July, which this proposal achieves. In the current economic climate there are still many unknowns about consumer spending, she said, which could impact the anticipated annual collections. She said she appreciates the conservative approach taken across the board, which Fire Department managers also acknowledged. She said the Commission must ensure that any changes are sustainable over time and has a commitment to fiduciary oversight for the public and all Fargo employees. The thoughtful approach taken in this process, she said, which included input from both chiefs, will help ensure long-term sustainability. There are still lessons to be learned and ways to improve the process moving forward, she said, and that conversation has already started. She said there is a promise of greater transparency as part of the annual market review, including the selection of the final peer cities that will be used consistently year after year. She said the July adjustment, the additional movement to the next step on the pay plan and the fact that all positions will receive one more additional step on their next anniversary in 11 months, every sworn fire position, even those currently capped, will be brought to at least 101% of market. This first salary adjustment is step one and annual discussions will be extremely important, she said. Items such as variable pay need to be examined as part of the overall benefit package, she stated, and there may also be improvements to schedules that could be impactful if discussed with the right people at the table. She said the new tax collections will not be used for existing debt payments and instead will be set aside for new capital for Fire and Police.
Commissioner Turnberg thanked the Firefighters for stepping up in their service and advocacy, stating the Firefighters saw a problem and instead of complaining, they acted. She said the Firefighters put this on the ballot, got it approved and had 70% of voters agree. The Firefighters are not asking to be the highest paid in the region, she stated, only to be paid at the regional average for the demanding and dangerous work they do. She said voters believed this funding would go toward increasing Firefighter pay and hiring additional Police Officers. The City has strayed from what the priority should be, she said. Fire, Police, water and streets are the core services a city must provide, she said, and those services should be fully budgeted for each year as a matter of basic responsibility. These core services should not require a special tax, she said, yet the City is now relying on this new tax to try and catch-up, while that same tax still does not bring the Firefighters' pay up to a reasonable standard. This is a Department so highly trained and professional, she said, that their very presence saves on insurance premiums for residents and businesses. If the City cannot afford to pay them fairly, how is an $11 million bridge that serves no critical function yet costs the City more than a quarter of a million dollars in consultant fees alone? Or a $12 million Diversion and Deflection Center, she said, while the City already pays $600,000.00 a year for the Downtown Engagement Center? She said to also not forget the City is nearly $1 billion in debt. Legally the City has discretion in how to spend these funds, she said; however, morally and ethically, it is bound to honor the intent of the voters who were told this tax would go toward hiring more Police Officers and paying first responders better. The City is making efforts to increase pay and there are plans to hire, she stated, yet the core issue remains unresolved. She said she met with the Firefighters after seeing the most recent proposal and within a few minutes, they had a better solution than the one put forward after tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees. There are men and women who have dedicated many years to this City and who are considering leaving, she said. The starting salary for a Firefighter is $56,000.00, which sounds livable, she said; however, broken down over a 56-hour work week, it is just over $19.00 an hour. As for Police, a Wellness Coordinator is a wonderful resource; however, what the public is asking for is Officers on the ground. She said if the City takes this tax and uses it for anything other than what the public intended, the City risks losing the trust of the people, and that trust, once lost, is hard to get back. If the City Commission wants to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, restore public confidence and to leave a legacy of service rather than skepticism, she said, the City Commission must use these funds exactly as voters believed, to pay the Firefighters better and to hire more Police Officers who protect Fargo every single day.
Mayor Mahoney said a significant amount of time went into this policy and some of the numbers presented are inaccurate. He said the starting salary for a Firefighter is $68,000.00, not $19.00 an hour. When this is calculated, he said, the hourly wage is based on the shift structure and it is closer to $28.00 an hour. He said Firefighters' starting salaries are at 105% of the market average, which is better than ever before. The City does face challenges, he said, including the fact that Moorhead has a pension plan that significantly differs from Fargo’s and there are various benefits and issues in Minnesota that impact pay. He said these are challenges the City will continue to address. The initial proposal was unsustainable, he stated, projecting significant debt for this tax within 10 years and now, this is a sustainable plan that will be reviewed annually and if sales tax collections increase, the City can explore different options. Each position within the Fire and Police Departments are changes in steps and grades, he said, and while it is difficult for the public to fully grasp, individual salaries can increase anywhere from 2.5% to 3% per step, leading to an overall salary increase of 8% to 9% and in any sector, public or private, an 8% to 10% raise is considered good. This has been a very difficult process for a dedicated team, he said, and both chiefs and representatives from Fire and Police Departments were in the room, thoroughly examining this issue before developing this proposal. He said this is a great start and while some may not be entirely satisfied, the City Commission also has a responsibility to all other employees and to the City to maintain a balanced budget. The City is planning for the future, he said, this is the first step and the second step will involve discussing alternative ways to enhance salaries, such as different shifts. He said he strongly supports this proposed plan.
Commissioner Strand thanked the Fire and Police personnel who carried this proposal directly to the public, knocking on doors and bringing people to the table. He said he has had to apologize to employees for not being able to provide what is needed and it is not just Fire and Police, it is across the board. There was not unanimous support from the City Commission to get this on the ballot, he said, so he is glad the Firefighters persevered in making it clear what the residents want. He said public safety is a core value and it is up to future Commissions to honor this and continue delivering the protections and safety citizens need.
Commissioner Kolpack moved the Fargo Public Safety Sales Tax Utilization Plan for 2025 and 2026 be approved, as presented.
Second by Strand. On call of the roll Commissioners Kolpack, Strand, Piepkorn and Mahoney voted aye.
Commissioner Turnberg voted nay.
The motion was declared carried.
Hannah James Reappointed to the Library Board:
The Board received a communication from Mayor Mahoney recommending that Hannah James be reappointed to the Library Board.
Commissioner Turnberg moved Hannah James be reappointed to the Library Board for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028.
Second by Kolpack. On call of the roll Commissioners Turnberg, Kolpack, Piepkorn, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.
Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates:
The Commissioners gave reports on the Boards and Committees on which they serve.
Resident Comments:
None.
Mayor Mahoney announced that the City Commission will retire into Executive Session in the Red River Room for the purposes of discussing economic development records and information, pursuant to N.D.C.C. §44-04-18.4 subsection 5 and for purposes of discussing negotiation strategy, to provide negotiation instructions to the City’s attorney or other negotiator regarding a potential contract regarding economic development. Discussing such negotiation and strategy in an open meeting would have a negative fiscal effect on the bargaining position of the City of Fargo. An Executive Session for this matter is authorized pursuant to North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-19.1 subsection 9 and North Dakota Century Code § 44-04-19.2 subsection 1, and for purposes of discussing negotiation strategy, to provide negotiating instructions to the City’s attorney or other negotiator regarding various and separate pending or potential contracts for the sale of land by the City located west of the landfill, said separate contracts being between the City and Galvanizers, Inc.; WMF Properties, LLC; Hazer Ventures, LLC; Scannell Properties, LLC; Thor Investments, LLC; and ARD Properties, LLC. Discussing such negotiations, strategy and pricing in an open meeting would have a negative fiscal effect on the bargaining position of the City of Fargo. An Executive Session for this matter is authorized pursuant to North Dakota Century Code §44-04-19.1 subsection 9.
Commissioner Kolpack moved the Commissioners meet in Executive Session in the Red River Room as authorized by NDCC Subsections 44-04-19.1 (2, 5 and 9) to discuss said matters.
Second by Strand. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
At 6:10 o’clock p.m. the Board moved to the Red River Room to discuss said matters in Executive Session.
Members present were: Kolpack, Piepkorn, Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney.
The Executive Session closed at 7:12 o’clock p.m. and the meeting reconvened in public session at 7:16 o’clock p.m.
Members present were: Kolpack, Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney.
Members absent: Piepkorn.
Mayor Mahoney presiding.
Commissioner Kolpack moved that the Board adjourn to 5:00 o’clock p.m., Monday, June 9, 2027.
Second by Turnberg. All the Commissioners present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
The time at adjournment was 7:18 o’clock p.m.