Bismarck City Commissioners Meeting Summary - November 13, 2025

The Board of City Commissioners convened for a regular meeting on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in the Tom Baker room of the city county building. The meeting commenced with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda adjustments were made to remove Items 3F and 3G for insufficient notice and to swap the order of Items A and B. The commission addressed public comments regarding initiated measures and tax misinformed claims, followed by deliberations on strategic planning, public health funding, flood control, and road improvements before entering executive session.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the consent agenda items, including routine approvals and actions previously vetted by staff or committees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carl Young: Representing a committee, Mr. Young requested the city approve the wording for an initiated measure aimed at a ballot petition for June, citing Article 5 of the City Charter. He expressed that while the committee does not seek endorsement, they insist the city follow the legal process to allow circulation. He stated that if approval is not granted by the next meeting, his committee intends to file a writ of mandamus to compel the city to perform its ministerial duty. He expressed a strong position that the process must not block citizens' legal rights.
• City Attorney Position: The City Attorney explained that while the commission is not legally required to approve the petition wording (citizens can file it directly), the submitted drafts contain formatting errors (indentation, underlining, striking of text) that must be corrected to comply with state legislative manual guidelines and the City's Home Rule Charter requirements. The Attorney expressed a position of helping petitioners achieve compliance rather than obstructing the process.
• Wayne Martinison: A citizen and landowner in Section 27 of Burnt Creek Township (106 acres), who expressed a position requesting the removal of the Enhanced Traffic Area (ETA) designation from his property. He stated he was never notified when the ETA was applied to his land and that his land is split by a railroad. He expressed willingness to cooperate and noted other neighbors in the same section faced similar removals.

Discussion Items

• New Freedom Center (Finance): The commission considered a recommendation to provide a local match for a flexible pace interest buy-down for a permanent loan to the New Freedom Family Center, a substance abuse treatment center operating in a former motel. Joshua Olsen, the project representative (a family member of the owner), stated that the project is currently at capacity and that funding has been supported significantly by personal finances due to the representative's personal health struggles. He expressed that donations in kind (clothing/toys) are helpful but cash donations have not been a major campaign element. He expressed a position that the buy-down is essential for the facility's survival.
• Community Triage Center Planning: Health Management Associates (HMA) presented an environmental scan and data review regarding a proposed low-barrier shelter and triage center. The presentation identified a target population of 33-65 year olds with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs. Commissioner Cleary and Commissioner Zenker expressed a position that the project should be regional in scope (covering Region 7 and surrounding areas) rather than just Bismarck-centric to maximize value and funding opportunities. Commissioner Cleary expressed support for a non-profit (501c3) governance model, noting the community's reliance on them. Commissioner Zenker emphasized the critical need for Burleigh County's Sheriff and detention center to remain partners in the proposed regional triage center and expressed a position that the county must provide a formal plan before the city alters existing health agreements.
• Public Health Joint Powers Agreement: The commission discussed the 2026 agreement with Burleigh County. Commissioner Cleary expressed a position that the current "Joint Powers Agreement" is legally inaccurate and effectively a contract for services, arguing the city should operate its own public health unit and transition away from the current structure. The Mayor and Commissioner Zenker expressed a position that the city should maintain the status quo for 2026 but formally request the County Commission in writing to state their intentions for 2027 explicitly, ensuring a buffer zone while the county determines its own path. The Mayor expressed a position that the city should not proceed with the draft GPA but wait for formal written communication from the county.
• South Bismarck Flood Control Project: Public Works provided an update on the flood control project, noting that initial concepts (involving a large conduit under Bismarck Expressway and airport land) faced significant cost increases (up to $180M+) due to FAA, DOT, and Park & Rec constraints. Staff presented a revised concept focusing on widening the existing South Bismarck drainage ditch to increase storage capacity. Staff expressed a position that this revised option would reduce the estimated cost to approximately $100M and still remove significant properties from the floodplain. Commissioner Rish expressed a desire for clarification on whether the ditch would be widened or deepened. Commissioner Zenker highlighted the flat grade of the ditch as a primary operational issue requiring the pump station.
• 2026 Strategic Plan: City Administrator Robert G. (Doug) presented the final draft of the 2025 Strategic Plan. The plan includes a new vision of Bismarck as a "dynamic community" with specific focus areas like infrastructure, economic vitality, and organizational excellence. Commissioner Zenker expressed a strong position that the plan must be implemented with accountability, requiring quarterly reports and ensuring department heads communicate the plan to frontline staff. Commissioner Cleary expressed a position that the plan should remain a "living document" with progress tracked transparently for both internal leadership and the public.
• DOT Road Programs: Administration proposed projects for the 2030 Urban Road Program (Main Avenue concrete repair) and Urban Regional Road Program (sign replacement, storm sewer evaluation at 7th/9th, signal replacement on Tyler Parkway, and trail rehab). Staff expressed a position that Main Avenue is a strategic candidate due to the lack of adjacent private properties to absorb special assessments, particularly given the railroad and park boundaries.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• New Freedom Center: Approved the recommendation to support the local match for the flexible pace interest buy-down for the New Freedom Family Center (Vote: 4-0).
• Strategic Plan: Accepted the final draft of the 2025 Strategic Plan with instructions for quarterly reporting and implementation accountability (Vote: 4-0).
• Public Health Agreement: Decided to not send the draft 2026 Joint Powers Agreement to the County. Instead, City Admin will draft a formal letter to the Burleigh County Commission requesting their written intentions for 2027 before the city's budget session, maintaining the current service arrangement for 2026 (Decision made via discussion, no vote tallied on a motion).
• Flood Control: Approved the revised concept for the South Bismarck Flood Control Project focusing on widening the drainage ditch to reduce costs to approximately $100M (Vote: 4-0).
• DOT Programs: Approved the request to pursue the specified Urban Road (Main Avenue) and Urban Regional Road Program projects (Signs, 7th St/9th St storm sewer, Tyler Parkway signals, State Street trail) (Vote: 4-0).
• Executive Session: The meeting adjourned to executive session for contract negotiations and negotiation strategy under NDCC 44-04-19.1 and 44-04-19.2 (Vote: 4-0).
• Annexation Hearings: Items D (Silver Ranch 5th Edition) and E (William Blackstone Edition) were heard in public, but the provided transcript ends before the final vote counts for these specific items are recorded, though they were presented for approval.
• Item C (Alcohol License): Approved unanimously (Vote: 4-0).