Bismarck City Commission Regular Meeting – February 10, 2026

The Bismarck Board of City Commissioners met on February 10, 2026, in the Tom Baker room of the City County Building. The meeting included a prayer and pledge of allegiance, followed by public comments, approval of the consent agenda, and action on several agenda items. Key topics included a new fiber internet franchise agreement, a road reconstruction bid, expanded Bizman Transit services funded by a dedicated sales tax, and discussion of a proposed street utility fee, including options for a non-binding advisory vote or home rule charter amendment.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to pass the consent agenda was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (5–0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Speaker 1 (supporter of Bizman Transit request, item number three): Asked the commission to support the request, stating it was a long time coming and time to approve changes to move forward.
• Dustin Governorow (resident of Bismarck, speaking to item number five – street utility fee): Expressed full support for an advisory vote rather than a broadly structured open-ended concept. He noted he had done research and held town halls, and was not hearing much cry for a drastic change. He said if it's not to be, it's not to be, and suggested a timing window may have been missed.
• Susan Dingle (speaking to Bizman Transit ask for money from the city sales tax): Urged support for the ask, describing proposed service expansions (four more hours Monday–Friday, three more on Saturday, expanded Sunday hours as a pilot project). She stated that good public transportation supports business relocation, employee attraction, student retention, and is beneficial to Bismarck. She cited a UMARI faculty member who said he would not have come to Bismarck without Bizman Transit.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing – Right-of-Way Agreement with Gateway Infrastructure LLC (Item A): Derek Leafert of Gateway Fiber presented a proposal to provide fiber-to-the-home internet service. The company offers 99.998% uptime, one-size-fits-all pricing ($65/month for 300 Mbps, up to $150/month for 2 Gbps), plus a 2.5% franchise fee. They emphasized a community-focused approach, third-party damage prevention, and timely installation. Commissioner Rish noted the 18-page contract seemed completely fair. Questions were answered about the franchise fee (supporting city infrastructure, not video services) and the company's focus on residential/commercial, not data centers.
• Highway Construction Project HC 174 (Street Improvement District 593) (Item B): Gabe presented a bid summary for the reconstruction of Ottawa Street from north of 43rd Avenue to Canada Avenue. The project was awarded to Strata Corporation for $4,394,957.55. Gabe noted the project had been continued from the previous meeting to discuss funding updates from the DOT. The project received a $2 million Prairie Dogs grant from NDDOT, but funding is not guaranteed until state buckets are filled. Gabe recommended awarding the project regardless of grant outcome. Commissioner Rish questioned high engineering costs (~25%); Gabe explained that low contractor bids make percentages appear higher, and that such fees are typical. Motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (5–0).
• Bizman Transit Service Changes (Item D): Deedra presented proposed expansions: extending fixed-route (CAT) hours Monday–Saturday (weekdays: 6am–10pm; Saturdays: 7am–10pm); extending Sunday paratransit hours to 7:30am–6pm; and opening Sunday/holiday demand-response service to the general public for the first time (reservations 24 hours in advance, $3/ride). Partial-year cost (Apr–Dec 2026) is $664,100; full fiscal year 2027 is $953,470. Funding comes from the dedicated sales tax passed by voters. Finance Director Paige Gogallin reported a current balance of $2,245,000 (collections Apr–Nov). Commissioner Rish noted a future MPO study will look at additional infrastructure needs (hubs, shelters). Commissioners expressed strong support, noting the community's need and that a UMARI faculty member chose Bismarck because of transit. Motion to approve service changes was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (5–0).
• Street Utility Fee Options (Item E): Gabe presented two main options for public input: a non-binding advisory vote (potentially June 2026) or a home rule charter amendment (for a vote on June 9 primary or later). Gabe outlined that a simple advisory vote would only ask if the public supports replacing special assessments with a fee. A home rule charter amendment could be more detailed, including clauses that special assessments would no longer be created for projects funded by the fee, and requiring the commission to adopt an ordinance defining fee scope, classes, initial rate, adjustments, and fund balances. Commissioner Connolly raised concerns about multiple ballot measures in June (school bond, half-cent sales tax extension, and this). Commissioners discussed timing: June is crowded, but November provides more time and a fully developed home rule charter. Consensus emerged to pursue a non-binding advisory vote in June, with a home rule charter amendment possibly in November. Gabe will bring back draft language for approval at a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously (5–0).
• Right-of-Way Agreement with Gateway Infrastructure LLC – Approved unanimously (5–0).
• Highway Construction Project HC 174 / Street Improvement District 593 – Awarded to Strata Corporation with a base bid of $4,394,957.55 (unanimous, 5–0).
• Bizman Transit Service Changes – Approved unanimously (5–0) as presented; financial details will be brought back at a later date.
• Street Utility Fee – Consensus to proceed with a non-binding advisory vote in June 2026; staff will return with proposed ballot language for approval. The commission intends to consider a home rule charter amendment in November 2026 if the advisory vote is favorable.
• Public Warning – Mayor Schmitz warned of a scam: someone claiming to represent the Bismarck Police Department soliciting money for poor children. The chief confirmed it is not a legitimate effort.