The City Commission of Bismarck convened on December 16, 2025, to address a wide range of administrative and policy items, including transit funding, economic development initiatives, alcohol licenses, pension plan amendments, and the establishment of a new Event Center Authority Board. The meeting featured significant public testimony regarding the cultural preservation of event center staff and mixed support for the third-party management proposal. Key outcomes included the unanimous approval of the transit sales tax allocation, the Bismarck Business Pitch program, and the new Authority Board appointments, alongside the postponement of item I-1 regarding municipal court appointments.
December 16th, it's 5 15. We're in the Tom Baker room of the City County Building. This will be the Board of City Commissioners. But before we start, if Chaplin Lucas would mind coming forward with Benediction and the Pledge of Allegiance, please. On behalf of Crisis Care Chaplain C thank you to the commission for allowing us to participate. If you would, if you are able, if you would stand with me for the invitation and then remain standing for the pledge. Heavenly Father, we come before you uh tonight with thanksgiving for all the many blessings that you bestow upon us. A nation where we are free. Elections that give the people a voice, public meetings like this where people also have a voice. We thank you that the people have an opportunity to serve their city as these commissioners are as well. We pray uh protection and wisdom to our first responders as they serve this city in the many capacities uh that they serve in. We ask you to provide wisdom and discernment to this group tonight as they make decisions going forward. And during this Christmas season, may we be a little more kind, may we be a little more generous, and may we be a little more empathetic during this season. We ask all these things in your holy and precious name. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, sir. All right, if we can call the meeting to order and call roll. Commissioner Rish. Here commissioner Zenker? Here. Commissioner Connolly? Here. Commissioner Cleary? Here. Mayor Schmidt. Here. We are at public comment. Public comment is restricted to the consent agenda consent agenda, regular agenda or prior city commission agenda, excluding any public hearings that are noted for tonight. So public comment period is now open. Anyone who wish to speak, please come forward, state your name, and sign in on the log. Well just all the way. No one would move by call for the city of Man. So I would make that continue upon the City of Man participating. This is a joint community of public transit. It is for both of our communities, and I don't think Bismart should just have to pay the bill. I I do understand if you have to, but I think they have their own sales tax too. So I would just ask that you consider that. Thank you. Thank you. Again, this is a public comment. Anyone who wishes to speak, please come forward, identify yourself and the topic. Hello, my name is Susan Dingle. I want to speak about the third party management recommendation and the approval of the idea of selecting advisory board members for the event center. I myself still have mixed opinions about the idea of choosing a third-party management organization for the Bismarck Event Center, but I am confident at the same time that the process for soliciting applicants and making the recommendation were transparent and fair. That is not what I'm here to comment about. What I am here to comment about is my hopes for event center staff. The event center staff are the secret sauce of the event center. They are why it has succeeded and why it can continue to succeed. Many of these people are members of families that have had other family members working at the event center for generations.