Bismarck City Commission Meeting - September 23, 2025: Fire Station, Strategic Plan, and Street Utility Fee Discussions
Bismarck City Commission Meeting - September 23, 2025
On September 23, 2025, at 5:15 PM in the Tom Baker Room of the City County Building, the Bismarck Board of City Commissioners convened. The meeting featured special recognitions, public comment on a fire station location, updates on the Land Development Code, annexations, and zoning changes, and extensive discussions on a proposed street utility fee and extension of the half-cent sales tax for roads. Commissioners also received an update on the draft 2025 strategic plan and approved routine items.
Special Events
- Mayor Schmitz presented the inaugural Certificates of Achievement to Susan Lundberg and Stephanie Delmore for founding and sustaining Sleepy Hollow Theater and Arts Park for 36 years. Both spoke about the impact of the outdoor youth theater program.
- A proclamation declared September 26, 2025, as Monica Hanna Day, honoring her 44-year broadcast journalism career and 38 years informing North Dakota citizens. Monica Hanna was recognized for her contributions as news director at KFYR-TV.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously (5-0) with no discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Fire Station 6 Location – Opposition: One speaker, representing residents near the proposed site on 43rd Avenue and Calypso, argued the location is too quiet and residential compared to other fire stations. The speaker suggested moving the station to city-owned property at Burley Avenue and Boston Drive to better serve the south side without significantly increasing response times.
- Fire Station 6 Location – Support: Brian Clipfall of Southport spoke in favor of the proposed location, stating it provides quick response for emergency medical and fire calls in Southport.
Discussion Items
- Land Development Code Update: Consultants Jenny Baker and Mary Madden presented Module 2 of the zoning and subdivision code update. Highlights include new sections on open space, mobility and connectivity (including bicycle/pedestrian standards), outdoor lighting, and landscaping with a focus on trees. Downtown zoning will be handled separately with sub-districts. Public outreach at street fairs reached over 100 people. A consolidated draft is expected by year-end, with adoption targeted for spring 2026.
- Public Hearing – Annexation (Northern Sky): A request for a continuance to October 14, 2025, was granted due to financing issues. Vote: 5-0.
- Public Hearing – Boulder Ridge Commercial Edition (Annexation, Zoning, Subdivision): The three items were approved unanimously (5-0) after no public testimony. The replat eliminates odd-shaped landscape lots and extends the CG commercial district.
- Public Hearing – Downtown Fringe Zoning and Land Use Amendment: A zoning map amendment from RM-30 to Downtown Fringe for lots near Avenue B and North Third Street was approved unanimously (5-0) to create a contiguous downtown district.
- Public Hearing – Concrete Sidewalk Assessments (2024): Approved unanimously (5-0) with no public comment.
- Public Hearing – 2025 Special Assessment Districts: Commissioner Rish questioned an appeal from Cheryl and John Patch regarding assessment calculations. City staff explained that benefit is not determined by access, and the median lot size used in the calculation was unusually small due to condominium parcels. The commission approved the assessments as presented (5-0).
- Street Utility Fee and Half-Cent Sales Tax Update: Gabe Schell presented options for two separate 2026 ballot measures. The half-cent sales tax (current 2018 measure sunsets in 2029) would be renewed for arterial, collector, and some local roads. The proposed scope includes 20 miles of arterial, 3 miles of collector, and 2 miles of local roads (estimated $200+ million total; priority projects ~$90 million). The street utility fee would replace special assessments for street maintenance, with a proposed flat residential fee of $30-$35/month and commercial rates based on impervious square footage. Commissioners expressed general support for moving forward with public engagement and detailed analysis.
- Strategic Plan Update: Doug presented the draft 2025 Strategic Plan, which shifts from community-focused to internally focused goals. New vision, mission, and values were developed with a steering committee. Strategic focus areas include infrastructure, economic vitality, safe community, emerging issues, engaged community, desirable lifestyle, and organizational excellence. Adoption is planned for the second meeting in October 2025. Commissioner Zenker emphasized the importance of aligning commission decisions with the plan.
- Fire Station 6 Update: Fire Chief provided a brief update, noting that an architect (EAPC) has been selected and city departments are coordinating. Staff have engaged with the public on operational concerns.
- Bid Awards – Terminal Doors and Walk-Off Mats: The terminal door replacement bid was disqualified due to missing bid bond; it will be rebid. The walk-off mat replacement bid was awarded to House of Color for $29,950 (alternate 1), below the engineer's estimate of $35,000. Vote: 5-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 5-0.
- Continuance (Northern Sky Annexation): Granted to October 14, 2025, 5-0.
- Boulder Ridge Commercial Edition (Annexation, Zoning, Subdivision): Approved 5-0.
- Downtown Fringe Zoning and Land Use Amendment: Approved 5-0.
- Concrete Sidewalk Assessments (2024): Approved 5-0.
- 2025 Special Assessment Districts: Approved as presented 5-0.
- Half-Cent Sales Tax Renewal & Street Utility Fee: Commissioners directed staff to proceed with public engagement on the two ballot concepts and report back in early 2026.
- Walk-Off Mats Bid: Awarded to House of Color for $29,950 (5-0). Terminal door rebid to be readvertised.
- Strategic Plan: Draft review continues; adoption targeted for October 14, 2025.
- Executive Session: Entered executive session under NDCC 44-04-19.2 for negotiation strategies (unanimous).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. It's the 23rd of September, it's 515. And we're in the Tom Baker room of the City County Building. This will be the Board of City Commissioners. But before we get started, we would I'd like to ask Chaplin Wolfgram to come forward for the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation, please. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm back. I keep coming back. Greg Carr was supposed to be here. He is serving our firefighters tonight, so we're grateful to Greg Porter for serving in that capacity. Let us pray. Last week you showered us with rain to replenish the earth. And today these first days of fall, you give us the beautiful sunshine and warmth. We are grateful for the many blessings you give to us in our community. Today we are grateful for our media for them, keeping us informed about all of the activities around here. We thank you for the devotion and dedication of Monica as she looks to retire. Thank you for her time spent here and pray your care and blessing for her in her retirement in the next chapter of her life. We pray your care and blessing also for our city, for those who serve in emergency services. Be with these leaders, with mayor and with the uh commissioners as they uh deliberate and consider things before them. That your good and gracious moment we accomplished to serve our community. Again, we are grateful to you for who you are, for who you have made us. Grant us your peace this night. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands on nation under God. Liberty and justice are all. Thank you, sir. If we can call roll to call the meeting to order, please. Commissioner Rish. Here. Commissioner Zenker. Here. Commissioner Connolly? Here. Commissioner Cleary, here. Mayor Smith. Here. So first we have a couple of special events tonight. Um the first one is we're kicking something off new. Um it's my honor to do that, try to have a new tradition for for the city of Bismarck and City Commission meetings moving forward. Um I I truly believe community engagement is important, and certainly when we have members of our community who have done a lot of things to help with that engagement in multiple ways. So today we're is the first of this, and we're going to recognize a couple of individuals tonight. Um I will be presenting the initial inaugural certificates of achievement to two individuals, Susan Lundberg and Stephanie Delmore of Sleepy Hollow Theater Park Arts and Park. Sleepy Hollow began of all places on a family road trip they were on as the Lundbergs traveled and conversed about what it might be that could be important to Bismarck. A powerful question. What does Bismarck need? The family had deep roots in the arts, and they believe the answer was clear. More opportunities for youth to get involved, to participate, to learn, and to create, and to feel a sense of belonging through the arts. So drawing on their childhood summers near Reagan, where Susan and Stephanie built a playhouse and stage productions, the idea for Sleepy Hollow Theater and Arts Park began to take shape. Classes and performances followed.
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