5 15 on April 14th.

We're in the Tom Baker room of the City County building.

This will be the Board of City Commissioners meeting.

But before we start, if Chaplin Carr would be willing to come forward with invocation and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you, Mr.

Bait Guiding Wheels.

Is now joining.

And whoever is now joining, we thank you.

Please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, first of all, we want to pray and thank you for our telecommunicators, the first responders to every scene, Father, our 911 dispatchers here at SINCOM and State Radio, Father.

Thank you for them.

Pray your blessing upon them.

Now we turn our attention elsewhere, Father.

We turn our attention to the world and ask that you'll be with our leaders and our military as they protect and serve this nation.

And now, Father, we turn our attention locally.

And I ask that your wisdom will be with our commissioners and our mayors as they govern the city, continue to bless them and watch over them and to protect them.

Continue to bless this fine city, Father.

Be with all of our first responders and our city workers, protect them and watch over them and bless their families as well.

Be with us in this meeting tonight.

May your will be done.

We pray this in the name of your son.

Amen.

Please join me with uh by standing.

If you may, if you can, 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, Mr.

Mayor.

Commissioners.

All right, if we can call the media order by calling roll, please.

Commissioner Risch.

Here.

Commissioner Zenker.

Here.

Commissioner Connolly.

Here.

Commissioner Cleary.

Here.

Mayor Schmitz.

Here.

It's uh we have three proclamations today.

So I'll start with uh the first one, which is for public safety telecommunications week.

Whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property.

And whereas public safety communications specialists are the first responders delivering essential pre-arrival instructions and providing the most critical length that our citizens have with emergency services.

And whereas public safety communication specialists are the single vital link for our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel by monitoring their activities, providing them information and ensuring their safety.

And therefore, be it resolved that the Board of City Commissioners for the City of Bismarck joins the Central Dakota Communications Center Board of Directors and declares April 12th through 18th, 2026 is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in the City of Bismarck.

Signed today, the 14th day of April, 2026.

Next day of prayer.

Whereas throughout the history of America, prayers have been uplifted as every generation has sought direction, protection, provision, and glorification of bless America, resulting in our nation being filled with grace and goodness through answered prayers for over 250 years.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Michael Schmidt's mayor of the City of Bismarck, on behalf of this commission, do hereby proclaim May 7, 2026 as a day of prayer in Bismarck.

I urge all citizens to celebrate this day by setting aside a few minutes for reflection and ask for prayers to be lifted throughout our community.

And last, for fair housing.

Whereas one of the greatest freedoms enjoyed by Americans is the freedom to live in a home of one's choice.

And whereas the promise made to us, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which requires that all people be treated equally in connection with the sale or rental of housing, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or relation, and in North Dakota receipt of public assistance, marital status, and age.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Michael Schmitz, mayor of the City of Bismarck, on the behalf of this commission, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Bismarck and urge all citizens to honor and abide by this letter by the letter in the spirit of the Fair Housing Law signed the 14th day of April 2026.

So I don't know if there are some recipients of these letters in the audience that would like to receive them, and if they want a photo, we can take photos.

Um we'll do that.

All right, our next item before we get to public comment is going to be a recognition of the Bismarck Citizen Academy participants, and Doug is going to uh lead us through that.

Evening, Mayor and Commissioners.

As you know, this is the fifth year, fifth season that we've had Citizen Academy.

For those in the audience or that are listening that are not aware of what Bismarck Citizen Academy is.

It's an opportunity for the citizens of Bismarck to apply for a program which gives you an in-depth view of what all of our departments do.

So there's 17 departments in the city of Bismarck, and we take 12 weeks.

And each week it's a three-hour session, and it goes from six to nine o'clock at night, so it takes quite a bit of dedication from uh the citizens of Bismarck or the participants of the program to be engaged and involved in that process.

Um I think it's very beneficial for for the citizens, but as a city, it's an opportunity for us to be transparent to those that are in that are interested in all that we do and hopefully produce individuals that want to maybe lead in some capacity, serve the city on a on a board or a committee, or as Commissioner Rish has done, uh join the city commission.

So this this year has been great.

It's my second year to be a part of it, and um I'm with this group particularly.

I was super encouraged every week with uh the type of questions that they asked.

Um, not that other uh other seasons didn't ask great questions because they have, but I was just really impressed with this group of the type of questions, the thought that went into it, and really diving into the details about the operations for the various departments that they got to experience.

So we finished up uh the end of March and we got to do our bonus week, which was touring the wastewater plant last week, and this is the uh the final recognition.

So, with that, I'm gonna read the names of of those that participate, and then we have a few individuals that would like to share their experience.

Uh, before I read names, I just wanted to thank our staff.

Um, it's it's quite a bit of time, and we just get better and better every single year.

Um, our directors and those that participate in the presentations every week.

They take feedback that are given to them from administration from the participate participants, and they just dial it in even more every year.

So we get we get better, and it's an opportunity for some of our staff that don't typically get to speak and have that sort of experience in the public to get some new experience, which is beneficial for them in the long run as well.

So I I really appreciate all the work that our staff has done to to make this program happen.

Uh this year's participants, we have Jamie James Easton, Arlene Eyredal, Joshua Fern, Jason Grenick, Cindy Hogue, Eric Arani, Ben Cannelli.

Did I say that right?

Okay.

I was so nervous about saying your last name for some Beth Coaches, Taylor Coast Coster, Molly Lamaru, Mark Maum, Randy Mathern, Richard Sagmiller, Matthew Shaw, Melissa Shaw, Kelsey Stotz, David Tamisia, Roslyn Weber, Zachary Weand, Caleb Weiss Bark Garber, and Josh Fern.

So this year and last year, we were able to include a couple employees from the city of Bismarck.

So this year was Kelsey Stotz and Joshua Ferner procurement officer.

So that's a great opportunity for us as well because they were new employees this year.

And that's a little bit of a change that we've made.

So with that, I've got a few individuals.

Arlene, would you like to go first?

Sure.

Okay.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this great program.

A special thanks to Doug Wiles, who did an excellent job facilitating it to the city employees who graciously gave their time.

Jason, Kaelin, John for being at the meetings as well as to the city council for making this uh program possible.

This was a great opportunity for me to learn about the city.

I have a background in city finance in auditing cities in South Dakota and including the city of Rapid City, so I could kind of understand how that part of a city works, but this made an opportunity to see the city internally, the inner workings of it and all the departments.

So it was very valuable to me.

I was impressed with the smooth operations of the city overall, of the departments, and noticed the pride that the employees had in sharing about their departments and their high morale was obvious.

And then I was enriched from the fellow members from many different walks of life.

And I can see that we will have some continued friendships and networking.

And so this has been a good step toward that.

And so just overall again, thank you for the amazing experience.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I'm Beth Coach, and I'm a local teacher here in town.

I teach fourth grade at Elk Ridge Elementary.

And this has been just a wonderful experience overall.

I could parrot all the things that she said before me.

Um just a wonderful experience.

But participating in the Bismarck Citizens Academy has been such a meaningful experience to me.

Over the past 12 weeks, I've had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how our city really works from meeting department leaders and city officials to visiting facilities and learning how essential services are delivered every day.

It opened my eyes to just how much coordination, expertise, and care going into go into keeping our city running smoothly.

I now have a much deeper understanding of where our tax dollars go and the incredible amount of work that happens often behind the scenes to support our quality of life here in Bismarck.

What stood out most to me was the people, the dedication, professionalism, and pride shown by our city employees from the fire department, police department, public works, all the way to the city commission and administration departments gave me a whole new level of respect for those who serve our community every day.

Just as meaningful were the connections made along the way, getting to know my fellow fellow citizens academy participants, people who share a love for this community with such an unexpected gift.

These new friendships made the experience even more special.

This program truly reflects what it's all about.

Learning, connection, engagement.

It's an incredible opportunity to better understand our city, meet the people who make it run, and find more ways to be involved.

So if you ever have the chance to participate in the Citizens Academy, I highly encourage people to apply.

It would absolutely change the way they see their city in the best possible way.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you.

Good evening, uh, Mayor Schmidt's Commissioners.

Um my name is Rosie Webber, and I'm honored to speak today on behalf of uh the participants of uh Bismarck Citizen Academy.

Uh first I want to thank this commission.

Um we know that without your support, this programming would not exist.

Um a big shout out to the city's administration department uh for all their work building and executing uh this 12 weeks of programming.

Um well actually 13 weeks because of the bonus week.

So um a special shout out to assistant administrator, city administrator Doug Wiles, and City uh communication strategist uh Calen Ost for um hosting us each week.

Um we gave up our Thursdays uh and they also gave up their Thursdays evenings, so we appreciate that.

Uh I also want to thank uh the city departments and offices uh that hosted our groups each week.

Um all of uh the academy um sessions happened after business hours, and so all these staff um dedicated their time and we appreciate that.

Um I also want to express my personal appreciation for the Bismarck Citizen Academy.

Uh when I started this program, um I had recently found out that my husband and I were expecting our first child.

Um now I'm six months pregnant and this t-shirt barely fits.

Um my point is that as um someone who is still a newer resident of Bismarck.

Um this program has really made me feel incredibly fortunate to call North Dakota's Capital City home.

Um, you know, across all sectors of this city.

Uh we saw it extremely dedicated and professional staff that work for the city government um who are eager to keep Bismarck safe and make our community better today and in the future.

And so um this can it's very clear that the city has a uh a good great vision for the future, and um I'm incredibly um uh glad to raise my family here.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, good to see you all.

You guys all get to come up for a picture called C.

Thank you.

Okay.

Now we're to public comment.

Public comment is for those items on last meeting's agenda or the consent agenda today, or anything on the regular agenda that's not a public hearing item.

So in anyone who wish to speak, please come forward, identify which topic you're speaking to, identify yourself, and sign in.

I'm sorry.

Is that mic fun?

Thank you.

I would like to comment on the taxi cabin ordinance.

Well, I know uh that is a public hearing item.

Okay.

That's what I thought.

Yep.

So if we can wait till then, I'd appreciate it.

Is there anyone else who wish to speak?

A second call for public comment.

A third and final call for public comment.

Seeing no one and hearing no one, I'm gonna close the public comment period.

Moving to the consent agenda.

I personally need to uh poll item 4K 4 related to a contract because I have a potential conflict of interest independence-related issue related to someone working there.

So I would like to what number was it?

4K4, which is towards K4.

4K4, permission to award contract for management at risk.

Is there any other items?

I'd like to pull item D4.

And if there's no other items, I would motion to approve.

Second.

Okay.

So we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda with exception of those two items.

Any discussion?

Hearing none will call roll.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly.

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary.

Yes.

Commissioner Ish?

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Vice Chair Cleary, would you mind dealing with D4 first?

Okay, we can do D4 first.

Go ahead, Commissioner Connolly.

This again is the uh letter for uh the opportunity fund that always comes across our desk.

If it was a company, say um it was a pharmaceutical that's being made overseas, and a company wanted to open up here and there was no other competition in the community.

Um things like this would be easy, or a nonprofit that was buying a building so they could better serve our community.

Then I would be more for endorsing these.

This is an electric company that competes against other electric companies and changes the playing field.

Um I'm making a motion to deny this.

I'll second um okay.

So we have discussion.

I'm just gonna make the comment as I have last time.

This is this is a way of economic development occurring in the city of Bismarck and the state of North Dakota is providing funds for the interest buy down.

It's an interest buy down, and we aren't even participating.

We're just given a letter of support so they could take it to the North Dakota Opportunity Fund where they're borrowing money and repaying the money.

So that's my comment.

I will leave it at that.

Okay, Mr.

Mary.

I I I understand completely, but it's an electrical contractor in town.

There's lots of electrical contractors.

They want to build a new building or buy a new building.

Fine, good for them.

I'm I'm really supportive of that, but I don't know.

I think it should be more narrowly focused our economic development efforts, even though it's a state deal.

It's a state-sponsored deal, and the banks are encouraging them to provide to apply to the Bank of North Dakota for the funding, and this is our support to it.

So any other discussion.

A yes vote would mean you deny it.

A no vote would mean you do not deny it.

Correct?

Do I understand the motion correctly?

Okay, call roll, please.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary, no.

Commissioner Resch?

Yes.

Commissioner Zanker.

No.

Mayor Schmitz.

No.

Do I need to I would move to approve uh item D4?

Second.

Is there any further discussion?

Hearing none will call roll.

Commissioner Cleary.

Yes.

Commissioner Ish?

No.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly.

No.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Moving to regular agenda item A.

No, you have one pulled off.

Oh, I'm sorry.

What's the number again?

K4?

It's uh four.

Yeah.

K4.

K4.

Thank you for reminding me.

Okay, I'll move we approve K4 as presented.

You want me to run.

So uh this is under K4.

Consider the request for approval for the public works service operations department for the following item four permission to award construction management at risk for the new police headquarters to the team of JE Dunn Construction and Northwest Contracting Inc.

Any discussion?

I'll move we approve it as presented.

Second.

The motion and a second.

Any further discussion on the matter?

Go ahead and call roll.

Commissioner Ish?

Yes.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary?

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Abstaining.

Thank you.

Thanks for reminding me.

Moving to regular genome item 5A, receive the 2025 annual report from the City of Bismarck Human Relations Committee.

And who's presenting?

All three.

Okay, wonderful.

Good evening.

My name is Katie Hoole, and I am the current chair of the Human Relations Committee.

Mayor and Commissioners, we appreciate the opportunity to present our 2025 annual report and provide an overview of our committee's work over the last year.

The mission of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee is to create an atmosphere of inclusion, equality, and accessibility through education and outreach while recognizing the value of a diverse community.

Our work is guided by five core goals outlined in the committee's strategic plan.

First, to exhibit leadership in the areas of civil and human rights, ensuring that our work reflects non-discrimination, acceptance, and respect for diversity.

Second, to educate the public about civil and human rights through community outreach and participation in community events.

Third, to identify issues of principal concern related to civil and human rights by creating opportunities for community members to share input and perspectives.

Fourth, to recommend priorities and objectives to the city commission on issues affecting our community, serving as a bridge between residents and city leadership, and finally to advocate for compliance with federal and state civil and human rights law.

The committee is made up of seven citizen volunteers.

These members bring diverse experiences and perspectives and all share a commitment to helping make Bismarck a welcoming and respectful community for everyone.

It was a busy year for us and myself, Betsy and Sargiana are going to walk you through and highlight a couple of the initiatives and events that we were involved in in 2025.

One of the highlights of the committee's work each year is the Humanitarian Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to service in our community.

Last year, the committee received 57 nominations for the award.

I think really reflects a growing unawareness and engagement in the Humanitarian Award and the Human Relations Committee.

For the award, we also expanded to include a youth humanitarian award, recognizing the important contributions young people are making in our community.

Up there on the screen, you can see our first youth humanitarian award was given to Lauren Zent.

She was recognized for her work supporting individuals with disabilities through programs such as United Sound and Pride Inc.

Lauren clearly went above and beyond her volunteer work, organizing inclusive community outings and maintaining strong relationships with the individuals she supported.

The adult humanitarian went to Micah Stokeland.

She was honored for her volunteer leadership with Designer Jeans, where she organizes events that create connection and support for families of children with Down syndrome while raising awareness and promoting inclusion.

And the organization YouthWorks was recognized for its commitment to supporting young people by creating safe spaces, positive adult relationships, and strengths-based programming that help youth advocate for themselves and overcome barriers.

Good evening.

Mayor Schmitz and Commissioners.

Excuse me, inclusive spaces where all residents feel seen, heard, and valued.

Starting in January, we participated in the Martin Luther King Junior Day celebration, which featured a screening of February 1, a documentary highlighting the Greensboro 4 and the 1960 sit-in movement.

This event created space for meaningful reflection on the legacy of peace peaceful protests, excuse me, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

It also sparked thoughtful discussion about fairness, opportunity, and human dignity.

During this event, committee members connected with attendees, shared resources, and discussed our role in the community.

In April, we participated in The Families Around the World, an event at the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library.

This annual gathering celebrates cultures and traditions that shape our community.

The community hosted an interactive rock painting activity, creating a welcoming space for conversation and connection.

Through this hands on experience, we engaged with families and shared more about our role in promoting inclusion and strengthening relationships across cultures here in Bismarck.

We hosted an outreach table at the fourth annual Culture Expo, a vibrant celebration of Asian cultures.

The event featured performances, art, and cultural displays that highlighted the richness and diversity of these traditions.

It provided another valuable opportunity to connect with community members and support cultural appreciation and understanding.

And in June, we participated in Capital Pride, a family friendly celebration honoring the LGBTQ IA2S Plus community.

Through our outreach booth, we connected with attendees, shared information about the committee's mission, and engaged in meaningful conversations about inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity for all residents.

At this time, I'll turn it over to Sargiana to continue.

So continuing on in June, we sponsored and participated in the Juneteenth event.

This event celebrates the African American culture.

It is filled with learning and community spirit.

Our committee had a table at the event where committee members were able to visit with individuals in attendance about the purpose and mission of our committee as well as activities we're doing in the Bismarck community.

In September, we sponsored and volunteered at the Walk for Down Syndrome.

This event supports efforts to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome.

In addition to sponsoring this event, we also had committee members that played an active role behind the scenes.

Before the event, we had committee members who assembled team bundles and sponsorship kits and delivered them to the different sponsors.

And on the day of the event, we had members who assisted with check-in, welcoming families and supporters to the event, and also sharing our community's mission.

In December, we participated in the first annual World Aid Day event sponsored by Shine Bright and Live, and just kind of a shout out, Jason Greenwich, who used to be on the committee, is now the executive director of that organization.

This event brought community members together to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS in North Dakota through powerful storytelling, shared education, and acts of solidarity.

Attendees honored the lives of those who had passed, students' supportive individuals living with HIV and reaffirmed the community's commitment to compassion, inclusion, and continued progress in public health awareness.

For two years now, we've been doing community conversations forums.

This is an opportunity to facilitate important conversations about the diversities that many of our residents of Bismarck face.

A panel of subject matter experts as well as those with lived experience talk about various issues in our community with the hopes of building an ongoing conversation with the city as well as other community organizations.

In 2025, we had two events.

The first one was in May, and we had the conversation on transportation.

This event allowed the City Commission's Transportation Committee to receive direct feedback from subject matter experts, individuals with lived experience, as well as the public.

In November 2025, we hosted our community conversations forum on homelessness.

This event was our largest to date, with nearly a hundred community members and stakeholders coming together to discuss issues and the impacts of homeless in our community.

This conversation we found needs to be ongoing, so our next community conversations will also be on homelessness.

Our next community conversations is on April 21st, and from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Dream Center, and all community members are welcome to come.

And lastly, probably my favorite thing about being on the Human Relations Committee and a bucket list that I got to check off because of it was our These Are Your Neighbors podcast.

Tia Jorgensen and myself are hosts of the These Are Your Neighbors Podcast, and we've been having the podcast for the past three years.

Whose work strengthens the fabric of our community?

We record it at Dakota Media Access.

And for the podcast, we spotlight the stories and experiences of diverse voices, and we encourage residents to build connections and gain a deeper understanding who the of the people who live and work with them.

Our show airs three times a week.

And in 2025, we feature guests that include community leaders, advocates from a variety of sectors, each of them offering so much insight into how they're working to make Bismarck a more welcoming place.

So those are the events that we have for 2025, and that is a report.

And we hope you guys were here in 2026 to share about all the amazing things we did that year.

And we'll stand for any questions.

Are there any questions?

Thank you for the work.

Thank you.

Item B under the regular agenda is a public hearing on the request for a tax cab license for guiding wheels LLC.

This this is a public hearing.

Anyone who wish to speak to this topic, uh please identify yourself, sign in and Trevor Burnett uh citizen.

I'm concerned not just about the not so much the accessibility of their one cab, but also how do our community members know?

We don't we have some of them that don't have proper phone numbers, uh signage.

We don't even know when people are coming to the airport, they don't even know we're the capital city.

They don't even know that these one seat companies exist.

And I know it's a business plan, but I think the city needs to facilitate that because they're not getting the word out when we're the capital city.

When you come in from other states, they don't even know what's going on.

So I would just have us re-look at that ordinance.

Thank you.

Any questions.

Thank you.

Again, this is a public hearing.

Anyone wish to speak.

Hey, uh, this is Emer Basic with Guiding Wheels.

Um good afternoon, and thanks for having me on.

I'm I'm joining under Guiding Wheels, and then uh I called in for audio, but just to answer um the concern that the citizen had there.

Um so I was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota.

I graduated from Bismarck High, and then uh got my associate's degree um from Bismarck State College.

So I do know the area.

Um yeah, I I am familiar with the area, and uh so it wouldn't be a concern as far as you know knowing the capital city and stuff like that.

So just wanted to ensure you I am from the area.

Um, so you don't need to worry about that.

Does anyone have questions?

This was this gentleman is the owner.

My my question is how are you making known your telephone number?

So there is uh phone number on we have a Facebook um profile company profile, and then some brochures.

So this is just starting off.

Um, but you know, we need to go through the proper process before we can actually get fully started.

Um, you know, as far as getting the taxi application approval, but I will make sure that the phone number is uh easily found, you know, through the Facebook company profile, and then also we have a brochure that I planned on handing out.

And maybe even yeah, uh put it on Google.

So someone, you know, anyone looking for the service could easily call, but haven't quite gotten there yet.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

Susan, go ahead.

My name is Susan Dingle.

I am a citizen.

I have in the past been a frequent user of Taxi 9000, BTS.

And I have some concerns about this.

I can't tell from these applications.

Is this really a one vehicle company?

And that's all that you're offering.

Because I am sorry.

One vehicle in a metro area of almost 100,000 people is totally inadequate.

It amounts to a cosmic joke.

And again, there are stories.

I think our people in economic development could share them with you because I've heard them in other places.

Of out-of-town consultants coming in to talk to us about economic development coming into the to the airport.

And when do most flights come into the airport?

Why they come in at night.

And they weren't able to find a taxi.

And also, by the way, Uber and Lyft were not really available either.

At some length, I I can't remember how they did this, if they got in touch with one of the organizers, or if somebody from the airport gave this person a ride.

But it was kind of catch-as catch can.

This is not the way to go.

And it seems that we do have quite a bit of trouble now maintaining a taxi company.

I realize they do cost a lot of money.

Transportation is not cheap.

I know that.

But something has got to be done.

This is not an acceptable state of affairs.

And the other thing I have picked up, because I do talk to the drivers.

This was a little bit true with Taxi 9,000.

It was hugely true with BTS, and it is part of the application of another company that's been approved in the past, which charges $32 an hour for transportation.

Most of these people are making many of their trips and a lot of their money on medical transportation, both in town and more important, out of town.

They're going to Rolette and Devil's Lake, Dickinson, the Twin Cities, Fargo.

And so medical transportation seems to be kind of the subtext about this.

And as we know, medical transportation and rural transportation and links between systems are big issues.

Well, I do think between the city and the state and other entities, we need to get together and figure stuff out because this is not acceptable.

And the kinds of rates that are being charged with BTS, I paid $20 a trip.

I also discovered that if you wanted to go to the airport, it was $50 one way.

And I also heard from other people who were using assistive devices that they were being charged $30, which by the way, I think is illegal.

That's one of the things that Uber was sued for.

You cannot have differential rates in a public transportation system based on people's disabilities.

But somehow, you know, BTS was maybe getting away with this, or maybe I was getting a special favorite person rate, which again is probably not illegal is probably not legal either.

But we need to do much, much better.

We do not have a taxi system.

And you know, two or three one vehicle companies are not a taxi system.

They are two or three vehicles offering public transportation.

So Susan, I I appreciate the comments, but this is about this person's application for it.

It is not about the ordinance.

Okay.

And the ordinance is passed, and honestly, this is a free business enterprise.

So if somebody wants to ultimately bring forth an opportunity for us to look at an ordinance or whether we're going to publicly fund taxes, which I think will be very difficult to do, we can talk about that, but I think let's keep it to this particular application, please.

All right.

Well, to the individual applicant.

Um I don't think most people coming into the airport are checking Facebook to find out about transportation.

There needs to be some plan about marketing.

And marketing is not cheap.

But, you know, realistically to make a taxi company go, there are a whole bunch of items in a business plan that need to be addressed, and I'm not sure that they've been fully addressed here.

That's all I'm gonna say.

Thank you.

Anyone else wish to speak to this application a second call for public comment on this application?

A third and final call for comment.

Public comment period is now closed.

Commissioners, what are your wishes?

I'll move we uh approve as presented.

Second.

Any further discussion?

I'd just like to say I appreciate your remarks, Susan, but um we've got a shortage.

We've got a shortage.

It's the it's tough.

Um I use taxi 9000 all the time, and I was so sad when they could discontinued.

And um an Uber and Lyft, unreliable, to be fair.

Um we got snowed in at the Bismarck Airport.

They delayed the flight till the next day, cost me $50 to go home the night before, and the next morning when I came back out, it was $28.

So you never know what they're gonna charge you.

It's all over the map.

But this is one more, one more opportunity.

One more person that's gonna give it a shot and let them give it a shot.

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

Commissioner Connolly.

I concur with what Commissioner Rish said.

When we changed the ordinance, it was before we had a pretty high bar to where as far as accessibility and that and our environmental or our economic environment makes it difficult to start businesses.

I would rather see somebody starting off with a single car if they find success and build a business plan to where they can grow to two, three, and beyond.

If they get to the area to where all of a sudden they trip to where they can look at that accessibility space, there's a little nuance of insurances there, and hopefully they find that success to where they can grow into that space better, because to not have anything at all is not helpful either.

Well, I agree.

The other thing is Taxi 9000 had about 22 cabs to deal with Bismarck Mandia.

None of the ensuing companies have ever had as many vehicles.

Just saying.

Yep.

Commissioner Cleary.

Um I guess I would just like to kind of agree with what's already been set at the table, but to the point of I think when we discussed this ordinance to begin with, the goal was to try to entice people to create this type of business because it was not existing in our community and is needed.

And I think that the hope is to Commissioner Connolly's point, hopefully, one car leads to two.

Uh to Susan's point, marketing is not easy.

There's no proof at what type of marketing works for this type of company in this town because obviously there's a huge shortage.

But running a small business isn't easy, and there's going to be some learning curve, and I would like to have him similar to everybody else in this community have the opportunity to do that, and hopefully he succeeds, and we can see more of it because I think it's needed.

So Pusher Connolly.

This might be a good time to also mention that our um uh visitors bureau just added an application to where it's interactive, and that might be a good place for anybody that's licensed through the city to where that could be one of the uh featured points because there are some people out there not working under a blessing of the city, so to speak.

And uh for the ones that are willing to put themselves into that space, that might be a good resource because they would have the access.

They have a they modeled it at their annual luncheon last week to where you could type in the parameters of what you're looking for and all of that information aligned with restaurants, maybe it's transportation in this case and so on, to where people can look up specifically what they need in order to enjoy our city and our surrounding area for that matter more.

That's nice to hear about yeah, but there needs to be this kind of sharing and cooperation.

This is the the we have a discussion here at the table.

Um again, we're trying to grant a license so somebody has the opportunity to provide service.

That's really what we're about here.

And so I have a motion, I believe, on the table.

So do we have any further discussion?

Hearing and we'll call roll.

Commissioner Zenker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Yes, Commissioner Cleary, yes.

Commissioner Rish?

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Item C is a public hearing on ordinance 6657 and annexation of part of the south half of section 19, etc.

Daniel.

Good evening.

Uh Mayor Schmitz, Commissioners.

Uh this is the City of Bismarck uh petitioning for this annexation.

I'll read the full title just so we have it for the record here.

Uh the annexation of part of the south half of section 19, Township 139 North Range 80 West of Haker Township, uh, which is also included in document 975 320, and auditors lot B1 of the west half of section 20 of Township 139 North Range 80 West, Hate Creek Township, pursuant document 727, 447.

Pursuant document 72747.

So where is that?

That is north of Valley Drive, East Valley Drive, on the map that you see here.

This is land that is, as I mentioned, owned by the City of Bismarck.

It has been acquired within the last year.

For the purpose of creating stormwater detention, uh roadway improvements.

Most of the land is inside of the Cooley.

It is within the uh parks and open space category of the future land use plan.

There's a little bit of urban neighborhood as well in this area.

And about 54 acres in total you see here on the future land use plan with the extension of Tyler Parkway, which is planned through through this uh area.

Uh it is uh in our growth phasing plan identified as priority uh urban service area, and that really just means it's uh very contiguous to the city limits, it's almost surrounded by uh the city limits at this point.

So uh it is a one that we'd recommend uh annexing, and we are uh petitioning to do so.

Uh this did go to the planning and zoning commission on February 25th of 2026.

Uh they did recommend approval of that uh annexation at that time.

So this is a public hearing tonight, so we did notice this according to our standard procedures, including uh certified letters to the county and township, uh also a sign at the site and legal notice in the Bismarck.

Uh so based on the findings that are contained in your staff report, uh, the Planning Zoning Commission does recommend approval.

Any questions?

Doesn't look like it.

Go ahead.

I guess I have one question.

I I live there, but there's no what we're annexing, there's no room to build homes or things like that.

I mean it's a real steep coolie with a sharp drop-offs.

Is that correct?

Yeah, that's that's correct.

I I maybe I won't say there's no room possible to build any homes, but right now uh it's not really set up for that.

Okay, Commissioner Connolly.

Um this might be for land or whatnot.

Um why isn't the entire corridor of Tyler Parkway part of this?

Sure.

Uh Commissioner Connolly.

So so as a petitioner, we we only brought forward the portions that are under city ownership.

Um the north of here, some of that land has already been annexed.

There is a portion on the east side which has not yet.

And so uh at this time I think we would just wait until that area, which is intended to be developed in the near future.

Uh typically we just do that alongside of the subdivision and zoning map amendments.

We would wait for that.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Thank you, Daniel.

This is a public hearing.

Anyone who wish to speak to this topic, please come forward.

A second call for public comment.

A third and final call for public comment.

Seeing no one and hearing no one, the public comment period is now closed.

Commissioners, what are your wishes?

Move to approve.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none will call roll.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary, yes.

Commissioner Rish?

Yes.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Next item D is a public hearing on ordinance 6660, a zoning map amendment from A agricultural district to RR residential zoning district.

Um Isaac, I'll let you proceed because I think this is like the hearing on an appeal.

Yes, uh, that is correct.

Uh Mayor Schmitz and Commissioners, uh, this particular regular agenda item comes to us from Heather Jones and Lauren Fisher, who are requesting approval of a zoning change or zoning map amendment from the A agricultural zoning district to the RR residential zoning district, a major subdivision final plat, titled JFP Fox Haven Subdivision, and an accompanying major street plan amendment for a segment of a future alignment of 76th Avenue Northeast.

Uh this was appealed from a planning and zoning commission uh denial.

We'll get to that in a moment.

So as you can see on the screens uh before you here, this project is located northeast of Bismarck between 73rd Avenue Northeast to the south and Arcata Drive to the north, and primarily along the west side of 41st Street Northeast, although the major street plan portion does extend to the east side of 41st Street as well.

The plat area uh of the project would consist of 10 acres of currently undeveloped land and would create five lots in two blocks uh if approved as uh proposed.

And the zoning map amendment portion of the project would change the entire platted area from the existing A agricultural zoning district to the RR residential zoning district, and then the major street plan portion of the project would shift a proposed future alignment of an extension of 76th Avenue Northeast, uh which is listed on the maps shown here by the dashed blue line as a future collector roadway, approximately 200 feet to the north.

So the you know left side of the screen is the existing right side is the proposed there.

And this would uh rearrange uh the land on the west side, or according to the applicant would help rearrange the land on the west side to be developed there, as well as potentially rearrange land on the east side for some future development if that were to occur.

The plat area on the west side of 41st Street northeast there was identified as rural residential in the future land use plan, which are described as places for country living with convenient proximity to city life.

The plat as proposed is shown here, and all of these, of course, were included in your uh staff reports.

Uh prior to the planning and zoning commission hearing, the public was notified of this request via publications in the Bismarck Tribune on February 13th and 20th.

990 postcards were mailed to owners of nearby properties on February 13th, and a physical sign providing information on the public hearing was placed in a publicly available spot near the project location on February 9th, 2026.

In addition to the standard public engagement that we do for all projects, planning staff sent a letter provided more information on the major street plan uh specifically to the two to the two landowners on the east side of 41st Street Northeast on whose land uh the major street plan would shift that roadway.

Uh that letter was sent on February 5th, 2026.

The planning and zoning commission held their public hearing on February 25th of 2026, where planning staff recommended approval based on the findings of fact contained in your staff reports there.

Uh staff received three inquiries for more information prior to that hearing, including from the landowners directly to the east of the plat area uh who received that major street plan amendment letter.

Planning staff uh received a comment from them, and that was forwarded to the planning commission as well as to the city commission here.

And then during the public hearing, uh the landowners uh who submitted that letter provided some uh written uh provided that written comment, also spoke at the hearing and provided more detail on their concerns with the major street plan amendment specifically.

At the conclusion of that public hearing, uh the planning and zoning commission made a motion to approve the request, and then that motion failed with a three to five vote uh against, and the request was therefore denied as a majority of the commissioners did not concur with staff's determination that the proposed zoning change, major subdivision final plat, and major street plan amendment uh were consistent with the required findings of fact.

An excerpt of the minutes from that planning and zoning commission meeting were included with your agenda items for your considerations.

The applicant then appealed the denial, and the city commission uh heard the appeal, accepted it, and called for a public hearing at your March 10th meeting of this year.

The public was then again notified of the request via publications in the Bismarck Tribune on March 27th and April 3rd, and 90 postcards were again mailed to owners of nearby properties on March 27th.

A physical sign was placed in a publicly accessible spot at the project location on March 24th, 2026, and then to the best of my knowledge, planning staff did receive one additional comment as a result of that public engagement, and this was forwarded to the commission prior to this hearing.

As a cumulative result of the findings contained in the staff reports uh that you received, uh planning staff found uh that the proposed major subdivision final plant zoning map amendment and major street plan amendment would generally not adversely impact public health, safety, and general welfare, and that it was generally consistent with the comprehensive plan, Bismarck Code of Ordinances and Relevant State Law.

And as a reminder, the planning and zoning commission recommended denial at the commute conclusion of their hearing.

Um at this time I would stand for any questions that you may have for me.

Commissioner Rish.

I just want to say very thorough, very good job, Isaac.

Thank you.

So I would just like to make sure that it's clear that the major road design or the future road designation doesn't mean the road is going in any time soon.

The landowner where the land road would be would have to agree to it first.

Is that correct?

Uh Mayor Schmitz and Commissioners, that is correct.

The major street plan uh is not a legally binding document.

It is basically saying given trends that we have seen in the Bismarck area and seeing the growth over time, we will need more major roads in some locations.

And given information we have right now, staff think that you know this area on a map could be a suitable location for one of those more major roadways.

It does not require any landowner to develop their land or provide uh dedications for right-of-way or easements or anything like that.

It does not require any landowner to build or do something with their land if they do not want to do that.

No.

Thank you.

Commissioner Conley.

So in watching the meeting, the one landowner just to the east owns the north side, and they also own the south portion.

If we can bring of where the road is so you can sort of see the the small uh narrow lines there.

Uh those are the parcel lines uh from Burley County.

Um so regardless of if the future roadway in the plan were to stay where it is right now or shifted north, it would be within their land if that answers your uh question, Commissioner Connolly.

Not really.

Below the blue line there, did they also own that other portion of the section?

Uh no, that is a separate landowner.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other questions for Isaac?

Commissioner Cleary.

I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but now that I'm just like looking at that and to the mayor's point, it with the um major road put in there, can the west part be developed and then the like the uh east co the east side is a different property owner can and then they can say no to the east side of that road?

Is that what you're saying when you say that it's just a plan?

Commissioner Cleary, uh, for my own clarification, are you referring to the line sort of being disconnected so that there'd be two separate sections or are you referring to something different?

It just seems like when you're looking at the other photos, that the wet that the intention of the person is to develop the west side now, correct?

That is correct.

So like that road will go in and then just the east side of the road will not go in until it's like needed and or wanted by the landowner.

Yes, Commissioner Cleary, that is correct.

Okay, any other questions.

If not, we'll open the public hearing.

Anyone who wish to speak to this, please come forward.

Thank you, Mayor and Commissioners Land and Neimler of Swinsenaging Engineering representing Heather Jones.

Um yeah, just to add a a few points to what uh Isaac had presented already, and maybe some things that were not clear to at planning and zoning that that we should have gotten into a little a little deeper.

Um on this west side of the road that we're discussing tonight where the plat is going to be, the future land use calls for a rural residential type subdivision, which is what we're applying for tonight.

On the east side of that road, uh the future land use plan shows that as urban reserve.

So at some point, that land is is officially designated as what they would city would like to see there's urban style lots, city-style lots that would have city water, city sewer, and things like that.

Smaller lots than what you typically would see out in the county, they would be city-style lots.

Um to that end, the road that we have shown here on the west side of the road, and then relocating it on the east side as well if that were to ever happen.

Our intent there is not just an arbitrary line out in the middle of nowhere.

We are looking at where the location of the existing home and tree row is.

We're looking at where there's an existing water line on the west side of the road, which is now within the right-of-way that we are showing here today.

Uh, we're also providing them an era where they can show urban style lots a little more easily with the position of the road, we're positioning it further north so that those lots are not nearly as deep as what you would typically see uh in a rural setting.

Um top of that, there like you mentioned there's already a water line in place and we'll be putting it in the right-of-way.

Um really the the some of the questions about uh from the from the owner being concerned that they were going to have to uh remove their septic system or or move their home or anything like that, the home would not need to move.

We're we're leaving them ample space to meet setbacks.

We're we're staying out of what we would consider sort of the homestead area uh if their septic system is in that area whenever city services would be available, which could be decades, uh the septic system would no longer be necessary at that point because there would be sewer city cities who are available to them.

Um at this point, City of Sewer and Water, a couple miles away.

This this could be a long time before this parcel is ever developed into an urban style subdivision.

Uh but I can certainly answer any questions if you have.

Oh, the question I have, so to the east of what is it, 43rd Street?

41st.

41st.

41st would be urban style in the future.

Could the land be redesignated on the west side?

Could that be urban as well?

Could they develop that at this point in urban style?

Commissioner Richardson.

Because there's going to be utilities eventually going up in that area.

Thank you, Commissioner Rich.

I theoretically, yes, you could designate as urban style, but you couldn't actually develop it today because those services are just not available.

I think it might also be important to point out that this particular parcel of land that's being requested on for changes now is not even in the ETA any longer.

Is that correct?

Do I have that my memory right?

It was in the ETA until March.

The application was put forth before the ETA or as part of the whole transition process.

And so it is Burley County land jurisdiction moving forward.

So urbanizing it is even a further step down the road because it would have to come into the city through some desired result of those landowners.

Thank you, Mayor Schmitz.

That is correct.

When we started the process, it was the city's jurisdiction.

In that meantime, it switched over to the county jurisdiction.

However, we started with the city, so we will continue on with him through the plating and zoning process.

Whereas the land of the East is in the ETA.

Correct.

Commissioner Connolly.

So essentially, since it does shift to that, if anybody on the east say road depicted here, that's subject to change too.

They could move it.

It might be not a through street.

It might be something different because of the difference in planning and zoning, whenever that might occur.

Commissioner Connolly, that's correct.

Generally speaking, we could we could be looking at sort of where the intersection, where these two roads line up, but after that road is already in place at that intersection, that road can meander into any place that works for their subdivision.

Okay.

Any other questions for Landon?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Again, this is a public hearing.

Anyone wish to speak, please come forward.

Good evening, Mayor Schmitz and Commissioners.

My name is Heather Jones.

I'm here representing Jones Family Properties or what's listed as JFP for the subdivision.

I'm the potential developer of this property.

Just to kind of clarify what I do, this property development is not my day job.

And uh in fact, I live in the neighborhood.

My home is featured in every image that you've seen tonight.

I'm just adjacent southeast to this.

Um I've lived there with my husband for 21 years, raised two children.

And I think in the 21 years that I've lived there, we've seen this property be listed sold and bought.

I think this is at least the third time.

Um just to kind of fill you in on on the why of it.

If if we could just for my sake, pull back that road.

So currently that area again is listed agricultural, and the blue dotted line is the existing road plan.

And for my neighbors, um, which I I know all of them very, very well.

Some have been there as long as I have been, um, where the road runs it, it runs right behind um many of other properties.

And personally, every area around it is rural residential.

And uh if I don't want to call it a risk, but the next buyer could very well put a horse farm or goats or put the road in right behind uh three of my neighbors' properties, tree rows, the way it's drawn today.

And uh for the sake of our neighborhood, and this is my personal why, I'd rather have, you know, potentially five more great rural residential neighbors than sorry, small animals or large animals for that matter.

But um I I think if I could share, I think part of the angst of this, and and this is my feelings about it, is you know, we understand when we're asking for a road adjustment, city and county wants to know what it could look like 10, 20, 30 years from now.

And uh to be honest, if I were the owner of a rural 20-acre oasis and someone showed me an image of a hundred-plus half acre lots running through a property I've only owned for two years, it might cause some confusion.

Um, I wish we could have probably gotten gotten that um through to them before this.

But but either way, uh my goal would be is our property to the west.

I really believe that um this is what's best for our little piece of the world on the west side.

Um I just to be clear, I have no desire to tell anyone from the east what what they should or shouldn't do.

We just sort of painted a picture, I think, of of what it could look like.

Um that's kind of how it got a little bit confused in the communication of it all.

So um but as far as the whys, um just half jokingly, my husband says I should never get bored because I get ideas and I've learned a lot in this process.

I'm not I I may or may not ever try to develop again in the future, but um but it's been interesting and fun and um and challenging.

Commissioner Connolly.

Is it the normal setback like where that tree row is, the 50 feet from the center line of the road, or is it more than that?

Um so I I believe I maybe let land and answer that, but it should be the same as all the other rural residential lots.

All right.

Well, some that's where he could some uh developments choose a different setback than the standard.

Landon, can you confirm that?

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Connelly.

Yeah, it'll be the the standard setbacks that the uh the the R R resident zoning in City Bismarck or the R1 in the Burley County would would be would be applied or be 40 foot setbacks off of the property line.

Okay.

And does the is there an intention of making like a I say the tree rows and things?

Is that going to go up into this developed property, maybe a buffer?

Because the one thing that property has is they have a tree row to the development north of it.

Um they somewhat have a half one down, but they've kind of enjoyed having country on both the west and east side with this development.

Now that's going to change.

So would there be like another tree line on the development side or something to buffer that a bit?

So Commissioner Connelly, are you referring to the to the property to the east or the west?

On the west.

Yep.

To make that buffer continuous.

Sure.

I mean that there wouldn't be significant changes in the lots other than what we need to do for grading for stormwater management and things like that.

Um, but like Heather mentioned, this is intended to blend in with the neighborhood, obviously.

These are residential lots.

The intent is to be is to mirror what they have right now.

The only tree removal would come from, like I say, if we have to do any kind of stormwater management ponding and things like that.

All right.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Hello.

I am the co- it's my husband and I are co-owners of the property to the east.

And while you're speaking, if you don't mind signing in as well, just so we have it on record, but and state your name.

My name is Mona Hyde.

And um we own the property to the east side.

I guess I don't think we were confused on how this property was going to be set up and you know, with the going forth of building across the street.

Um the plans that we had seen were where they were putting a cul-de-sac in across the street on the west side of 41st, and that was going to be with five properties around this cul de sac.

But um the road that is proposed goes further south of our property, more towards the fence line where the the road that they have drawn up comes right about 40, 50 feet from our house.

Goes over our drain field, and then right after our house, it takes a dive up to the north, which then cuts our property off to the north side, leaving us with a bunch of useless land up north because it's right against the houses to the north of us, which like Heather was talking, they didn't want to have a bunch of properties built right behind those three houses to the south of the the west side of the road.

We have neighbors the same that are on the north side of us on the east side of the road that don't want a bunch of houses built right next to their property.

So either way that it goes, it's going, you know, but the way they have proposed the road, and I know I didn't pay them to make the surveys or or draw up these plans, but the only one that benefits from this property or this road development is the land is the ones who it's purchasing and starting this development because their road will go straight into their property where ours takes goes right by our house, and then takes a big dive north and cuts our property in half, or not even in half, it cuts it up to the north.

So I guess our decision was that we didn't want it to set up the way it's proposed because it the way it cuts up to the north and cuts off our property.

And then there's only like a 40-50 feet between our pro the road and the property to our to the north of ours.

And we've talked to a couple of neighbors to the north of us, and they don't want the road, you know, because then it would cut into their, you know, the back end of their lots.

Does anyone have questions?

Commissioner Rish.

Mona, where is your house exactly?

You're west of 41st.

I am east of 41st.

You're east.

Yes.

So it's the house that the road is.

Oh, I see it.

I see it, I see it.

Yeah, okay.

So if you see the proposed road, you know, the way it used to be, that blue line is way farther south from my property.

Or from my house, anyways.

Where the one that they brought up, it's right next to it.

Okay.

Commissioner Carly, do you have a question?

So and what I referenced when um Isaac was up here.

Do you own south of the blue line on the east side of 41st?

Um just a small portion of south of it.

Okay.

So um I think it's right on that tree on that fence line.

Okay.

Of ours versus the there's like an LLC or something that owns the property to the south.

Okay.

And then just to the east of you where you say it curves up and goes right through the center.

So you essentially own the top half of that whole section.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Um when we talk about it, you say because you're ETA now, so that would have to go through any development of that side of a road would have to go through the county, who a lot of times thinks sizably differently than what this particular board does.

Right.

Um actually they're in the their land is in the ETA, so that would come through planning and zoning and okay.

I misunderstood.

I apologize.

I I try to it it is confusing.

Yeah.

No.

I apologize.

I'll remove that comment.

Sorry to speak.

So I guess this would be uh Isaac question.

But I can wait until after the um maybe because she could still speak.

Is there any problem with where that road could go straight through?

I don't not the way it's proposed that they had planned it out.

I don't know.

Right.

But that would take the halving of the property out of the conversation.

So yeah.

Any other questions?

Thank you.

Yep.

Again, this public comment.

Anyone else wish to speak?

Please come forward.

Thanks, Commissioner.

I just want to clarify uh one item as far as the roadway network that we have shown there.

Um when we we put that in, we were trying to show developers what they could do with that parcel of property.

Other words, saying urban style lots would fit with this roadway here.

For our change to the roadway where we would like it, it's really only that intersection on 41st where where the two little roads would line up together.

If they determine at some point in the future when they want to develop it, they don't want to skew to the north, they can shift it to the south and match up with where that where that blue line is today and follow the old roadway master plan.

It's really only the intersection itself that we'd be changing.

And only to the west.

Only to the west.

Nothing to be built on the east.

Correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Public comment is still open.

Hey, second call for public.

Identify yourself and sign in.

Hello, my name is Lauren Fisher.

Uh and I own the property in question that uh Heather Jones is looking at purchasing.

Anyway, what I wanted to mention here is there's a lot of confusion on what's going on.

The property to the west is all rural development.

That means acre and a half lot minimum.

Property on the east side of 41st Street is uh basically city limits.

That means no other lots other than city-sized lots, which are basically about a quarter acre lots, can be put in there.

Unless something majorly happens, there's some sort of uh zoning change, but right now it's zoned agricultural.

And being also city limits, uh, that means city sewer, city water.

City sewer and water are not within two miles of this property.

So if somebody was going to develop that property on the east side, it's gonna cost an enormous amount of money to bring city sewer and water to that property.

Therefore, any developer would run.

Okay.

So there's there's a possibility this could happen someday that it may be decades down the road after everybody in this room and the commission is probably gone and dead.

That may happen.

But right now to the west side of the road, that's real life that we can do.

There's already rural water there.

There's lines in place, it's five lots to grow the community, and more tax revenue.

I know it's not supposed to be biased as far as in temper revenue, but that's more people paying in, contributing to the community, whether it's rural or city.

But the definite difference is rule on the west side, city on the east side.

And there's not going to be any need for the hides to move their house.

Nobody has ever said that, and nobody is ever going to say that unless they want to move their house.

Their septic field may go away if the city sewer eventually comes up there 20 years down the road, but then they get the benefit of having city sewer and water because septic systems have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Ask me.

I have one.

So there's a chance that these folks are gonna have to replace their septic system and their drainage field within the next few years anyway.

So then they start all over.

But nothing is in the process of being designed or built, no road easement.

It's just the future road plans that are drawn out on the east side of 41st.

And that as Landon has mentioned, that can all change.

It depends on the application when somebody is going to try to uh uh develop that if and when, and it could be 20, 30 years down the road.

You know, who knows?

Uh I'll probably be gone and dead.

And as far as the west portion of the uh the 10 acres section, I still own a five-acre lot there.

And the blue lines, the road go across that.

I I don't want a road going across that as long as I'm alive.

So that road's not going to continue, so therefore this road's not going to be a through street.

It's gonna dead in on 41st.

And it's gonna come in somewhat like a cul-de-sac until I'm gone and dead and someone else wants to do something with the five acres next to my house.

Because I'm another one that doesn't want a road next to my house.

Because if 76 goes across there, I lose half of my front yard.

My neighbors to the south of me lose a good portion of their backyard.

So I'm at a standstill, it's like, well, I don't want the road going across there.

And this is my best case scenario with what uh Heather Jones and and Landon have have proposed as far as coming in and and changing the roadway and utilizing that to make five lots.

Because building the road is expensive.

And the more lots they have, it helps share that expense.

And you know, beyond what anybody else would expect, there's not a lot of money being made in this project because everything costs a heck of a lot of money nowadays.

You guys know how that works.

You know, I just I feel that the hides unfortunately are a little bit misinformed or don't understand it 100% as far as what's going to happen.

Nothing is gonna happen with their property until they say it's gonna happen.

And if they wanted to sell it tomorrow to developer, developer is not gonna do anything with it either until the city and sewer comes closer, so that developers gonna have to sit on it for 10 to 20 years or more.

So therefore, making it really not feasible to sell and not really that marketable.

They may have thought they've but purchased a nest egg which is worth a lot of money, and it is, don't get me wrong.

Land is always worth money and always appreciates, but it's not a really a developable piece of property right now financially.

I guess that's all I've got to say.

Any questions?

Thank you.

A second call for public comment.

A third and final call for public comment.

Public comment period is now closed.

Commissioners.

Uh maybe I should have Isaac, can you come forward for a minute?

So I just need to have discuss description of what our options are and how we go about them for this.

Certainly.

So uh Mayor Schmitz and Commissioners you have uh a few different main options.

There could possibly be more, but the the main options would be you could uh uh approve the project sort of as they are presented, you wouldn't necessarily need to change findings if you did that.

If you were to move to deny the project, uh you could uh follow the planning and zoning commission's path, or you could uh alter the findings of fact as presented in the staff reports in in a different way if you think there's a certain finding that should be adjusted, that would be another round.

So if we move to approve the the request, the appeal, we do do we need to have findings of fact, or do we just rely upon the staff report?

The the findings of fact in in the staff report are still in the affirmative as if you would be approving in that case.

They're the same findings that were presented to the planning.

Or alter them in another way that is correct.

Okay, thank you.

I just need to I need to understand in my own mind.

I don't know if anybody else had confusion or not.

So Commissioners, what are your what are your thoughts?

I'm gonna move we approve I'll second.

Second.

Okay.

You can second.

Do we have discussion?

Commissioner Connolly.

Um these cases I error on the side of property rights and the people to the west certainly have them.

Um it's not infringing on the folks to the east and the folks to the east still have a lot of control because it does go through the vetting of planning and zoning.

I would hope that there would be a notation on this because I've seen it where history they kind of forget information of past discussions, that hopefully they consider if the land separation is still owned by the same property owner to not have the road split their property, so to speak, if there can be something in the history noted about that.

Well, the landowner will have that choice.

Yeah.

So they'll have that.

Just that there was a reference by history because I've seen the conversations come up in other planning and zoning issues that some of those conversations got lost.

Okay.

Any other discussion?

Here now we're going to call roll.

Commissioner Cleary, yes.

Commissioner Rish?

Yes.

Commissioner Zenker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

It is approved.

Moving to item E, consider requests for resolution awarding the contract for street improvement district SI 596.

Okay.

Mayor and Commissioners, uh, SI 596 or street improvement number 596 is our 2026 ditch section roadway pavement maintenance project where we will be working on 52nd Street between Apple Creek Road and Main Avenue.

We opened bids on April 8th, and we had two bidders on the project, as you can see on the screen.

We recommend awarding to the low bidder Northern Improvement Company with a bid of 1,364,415.

Any questions, Commissioner?

Commissioners, any questions?

What are your wishes?

Move to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Hearing none will call roll.

Commissioner Ish?

Yes.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary?

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Next item F consider requests for resolution awarding the contract for street improvement district SI 597.

Go ahead, Gabe.

Mayor Commissioner Street Improvement District 597 is our concrete pavement repair project that we'll be doing on Main Avenue between the Washington Street Bridge and about 7th Street.

We opened bids on this project also on April 8th, and we had two bidders.

Are there any questions?

Commissioners, what are your wishes?

Move to approve.

Second.

Any do any discussion?

Hearing none will call roll.

Commissioner Zanker.

Yes.

Commissioner Connolly?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary.

Yes.

Commissioner Risch.

Yes.

Mayor Schmitz.

Yes.

Moving to item G, consider request from Commissioner Risch to purchase two electric patrol cars for the Bismarck Police Department.

Commissioner, I'll turn it over to you.

Well, this is pretty exciting.

We've been discussing this for more than a year with the department.

The idea of trying a couple of electric patrol cars.

Far more efficient departments that uh use them around the country.

I'm not able to hear Commissioner Rish.

You need to pull your mic or turn.

Oh, excuse me.

Okay.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I'm sorry about sorry about that, Commissioner Zinker.

Yeah, um, this is kind of exciting.

We've been discussing this at the police department for the last year or so.

The idea is to try a couple of electric patrol cars.

First of all, I thought we'll try one, but the uh the chief was right in saying, well, sometimes we buy two vehicles that are just alike, and one's kind of a bummer and the other one isn't.

So the idea is to try two of these electric patrol cars.

Um some departments around the country.

I've seen reports where uh one the saving sixty, seven hundred dollars annually uh in operating costs in maintenance.

Very low maintenance.

Um, you're not being do um buying all the fuel you have to buy.

And with fuel prices going up as they are, and electricity in North Dakota being the some of the lowest in the country, we have the potential to save beyond that sixty, seven hundred dollars annually.

And certainly they've hardly anything to do as far as no oil changes, things like that, far fewer parts.

Plus it stays in town, and these vehicles are that we're looking at are the Chevy Blazer, and the Chevy Blazer is rated at 250 miles uh per charge.

So that's quite a bit, and they could certainly go do the 12 hour shift without any problem.

In addition, the electronics in the car really uses very little of the energy from the battery.

So that we were concerned about that to begin with, but that's that's an inconsequential thing.

Um they're more powerful, they make very little noise.

I was watching a video, a drone video that the chief sent me yesterday, or today it was rather, about this drones going after the bad guy and the patrol cars come running up.

Well, electric patrol car doesn't make any noise if you shut the noise off and they can sneak up on the bad guys better.

Um plus these things, they've got a real low center of gravity, so they're really stable.

It's very hard to uh roll over an electric patrol car.

There's just a bunch of stuff, and they've got five-star uh energy rate or safety ratings.

Uh the batteries are warrantied at 100,000 miles a year, uh, or 100,000 miles, and um that's about how much we use a police car anyway, about 100,000 miles we turn them over.

But anyway, they've got 498 horsepower.

Um, so I'm I'm pretty excited about um the potential of trying, just trying a couple of electric cars and see that where it goes.

Um, the only concern I have, the only concern at all is that um the patrolman might start fighting over he gets the electric patrol car at the beginning of the shift.

Maybe not.

But anyway, with that, um I uh I would move that we uh it's not oh the other thing, the costs of them, they're they're about the same cost as a um internal combustion engine.

They're not any more expensive.

So the initial cost we'll have to put in a charging station at the old station, but um that's part of the deal that'll last a long time.

So anyway, I'll move that we um approve this.

Oh, one last one last thing.

The reason it didn't actually go through the regular budget process is because they buy these cars quite a bit in advance, and it didn't get in with the um uh original package plan.

So we're not adding more patrol cars overall, but we're just gonna the next two we're gonna try and get electric or two we're good and get electric.

Second.

Okay, so we're open for discussion.

My first question is is which budget year are we talking?

Because we've probably already bought the cars for this current budget year.

That's a question for Eric, how he's gonna figure this out.

Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners.

Um, like you'd mentioned, we're in the 26th budget year.

Obviously, we have already procured and purchased all of our vehicles that were in the 26th budget plan.

Um the ordering window for these EVs, I believe, is April 24th.

That's why we're here tonight to talk about this.

Our plan would be to alter the 27 budget process to account for these two cars in our equipment replacement plan for the 27 budget.

Um, if you remember for the 26 budget year, at the end of 25, uh, once the budget was approved, we ordered our vehicles ahead of time for cost savings on the 26th budget plan.

So we will have some cost savings in 26, but the expenses will take place in 26 with some adjustment in the 27 budget plan to account for these essentially reducing the number of patrol cars that we'll be asking for in the 27 budget.

So would this then as I listen to you, this would require a budget amendment?

It is possible when we get to the end of the 26th budget year, um, depending on how the cost savings with the rest of the purchases of equipment through the course of the year, it may necessitate a budget amendment.

Um probably March of April March time frame in 27, recognizing what took place in 26.

I can't guarantee it will happen, but it is a possibility.

Okay.

Commissioner Cleary.

Since Eric's up here.

So the charging station, my guess would be um, I think the cost estimates were 20 to 30,000 to get the charging station necessary that we need.

Um that would likely take place in 2026 as well.

Um if I remember correctly in talking with uh Lieutenant Trom, if we meet the ordering window, we anticipate these vehicles being on the ground here in Bismarck late October, November time frame.

So it would be very end of the year before we would take possession of these things.

Okay.

Commissioner Connolly.

So with the timing of it being a little off from new station versus um the one we currently have.

Does that mean charging station at the current one?

And then consideration for a charging station at the new one?

That would be my understanding, Commissioner Conley, that we would need the charging station at the current at the current police department headquarters.

Um, and that would be permanently affixed to that property, and then going this route, it would be designed into the new facility um through that architectural and engineering process.

Okay, so that's the cost times two.

Yes.

Okay, thanks.

Any other discussion?

I but to be fair, with this building's not going away, and we're seeing more electric vehicles, so that charging station could be used probably for some other city vehicles in the future, or maybe even a patrol car if they want to set one down there after the new station's built.

Is there any other discussion?

So, Mayor?

Yes, go ahead, Commissioner.

Yeah, so uh thank you.

Mayor, commissioners.

Um, so I do have a couple concerns with this.

Um, one obviously this the size of the budget, and I guess it's gonna replace some cars.

I'm not quite sure if we've already ordered the cars, it's gonna be an addition, it more sounds like to me.

But what about what about the outfit of the cars to meet the patrol mids needs in the squad car scenario that we have?

Um I would I would assume that um there would be some difference between the gas powered vehicles and the electric vehicles.

Um if we do this for two, what's the cost?

And if we don't like it, we can't we've kind of we can't reuse some of that stuff, and sometimes you can't reuse that anyways when there's body changes, right?

Every model has an upgrade.

Um the other thing is uh I I wonder about the dependability of the electric vehicle in the winter time.

Um I do I do have friends who have some electric vehicles, and they do say that's you know, depending on the weather that um with their just running around uh the city, it's fine.

Uh they can charge it, not a big deal.

But if they make long extended runs, it's an issue.

Well, and these cars run, you know, the ships are eight, ten, twelve hours.

They're gonna be running continuing continually.

Are is there gonna be enough time to um make sure that one vehicle runs for one shift in those weather conditions, and we're not running back to the to the station to swap those out.

Um I guess I don't I don't fully electric um makes me a little bit nervous versus a hybrid scenario.

So if anybody's got any answers to that, that'd be great.

Good, Commissioner Rush.

Mr.

Mayor, uh Ms.

Commissioner Zinker.

Yeah, as far as equip equipment end of it, these are patrol cars, they're built as patrol cars.

They're wired specifically, and we can take the existing equipment and they'll be installed in these cars just like they were internal combustion engine.

Uh the estimate was for some reason it's 700 more to equip them, which is pretty non-kent uh consequential when you're dealing with this.

Ranges, you're correct that in the winter time they do get a reduced range, but at 250 miles, um that's that's quite a bit.

I'm not that concerned about it.

Uh, I wish I wish the um Chevrolet Silverado was in a police edition because that's 450 mile range.

That would be a lot more substantial.

They'd be a little more expensive, but um, this is where it's at right now with this the blazers 250 miles, which incidentally is at least as good as the extended range Ford lightning that's now been discontinued.

So I'm pretty confident that 250 miles will be adequate.

Um in the 30-40 below weather, yeah, it will have a a bit of an impact.

But if we can keep these things inside warm when they take off, then it's they they last a lot longer than leaving them outside.

I have a question, and this this comes back to budget for me, and I think that's probably my biggest concern here the order window.

I mean I can't, is there only one order window a year?

That's the confusing part for me because we were talking about this last year, and all of a sudden, oh no, we missed the window, and now all of a sudden we're about to miss the window again.

I don't I I don't understand that.

Because I would I probably would have less concern if we were going to be looking at it for the 27 budget and we knew the window would allow us a delivery date after December 31st.

That makes more sense to me.

But we're keeping keep in mind we're not adding additional vehicles, it would just be out of the 27 budget.

But it's still a budget number from one fiscal period to another fiscal period and tax revenues cross over the calendar year.

So that's my struggle.

Like I'm not opposed to trying.

I just don't want to add to the budget for 2026 when we already are living in a budget that is appropriately tight because of our what we do for property taxes with the legislative action.

What appeals to me about this is the potential savings, potential savings and maintenance, potential savings in reduce again.

My my concern is the budget cipher for the equipment purchase.

We're saving some money.

But we're not going to save the cost of the vehicle in the calendar year.

No.

So that's my that's my struggle.

I'm not opposed to the concept of trying, because I think it may be a valuable tool, but um so that's that's where I'm at.

Um we have any other discussion.

Eric or Chief or someone else who was in the conversations of this.

Do we know is that the only is there is there just one annually?

Is there a way that we have this discussion, but it just becomes part of 2027?

There's one ordering window a year.

Is that what we're doing?

I don't know specifically about the ordering window being available more than once with an EV.

Um the ordering window with the state contract for our traditional um gas-powered engines.

That does close, I want to say middle to end of October annually for those for that process.

Um I don't recall in conversation with Lieutenant Trump that we've explored the ordering window previously with the EVs.

Um I don't recall an ordering window coming up when we were initially talking about this um months ago with placing it with Ford for the the Lightning F 150 pickup.

Um it may this ordering window may be specific to the Chevy brand um with state contract, but I don't know specifically if they have a different ordering time frame for those vehicles.

It's something we can certainly ask about if the direction tonight is to include it in the 27th budget process.

We will definitely have to do more homework to try to fit these into the process.

Sure.

Okay.

Any other discussion or questions for Eric?

Okay.

I'm gonna call the vote.

Commissioner Connolly.

No.

Commissioner Cleary.

Yes.

Commissioner Rish?

Yes.

Commissioner Zenker.

No.

Mayor Schmitz.

No, I would like to consider it for the 2027 budget, though.

All right.

We're to other businesses.

Anyone else have other business?

Commissioner Cleary.

Um, I just want to remind everyone that it is spring cleanup week next week.

So you'll have your normal normal garbage day with your bin, but you can also put the available the there's certain items that are not allowed to be on the curb, but for the most part, your items can go out on the curb.

They get picked up by a separate team.

So if your garbage can gets picked up and you're like, why is the rest of the stuff still sitting on my curb?

They're coming the same day as your garbage pickup, but it is a separate crew that goes out to do that.

And so that'll be happening Monday through Thursday next week.

Uh, but during that week is also free drop-off at the landfill, and that runs Monday through Saturday out at the landfill.

So just wanted to remind people that that is happening.

Commissioner Connolly.

Um to reiterate with the uh community conversation, it's a new location being at the Dream Center.

Um we've had several at the library.

Um there's we'll see if there's an advantage with that.

Um it's certainly a nice room up there.

And I would encourage people that have those concerns, or even if you're just learning to uh come on April 21st at 5 30.

Thank you.

I was going to ask you for the time because that's next Tuesday.

Yep.

Commissioner.

Mr.

Mayor, Commissioners.

I just want to follow up with uh Commissioner Cleary.

This is a big thing for our city to pick up all this stuff and it's relatively new phenomenon.

We this didn't happen years ago.

But I just want to encourage people that when they put their stuff on the on the boulevard to put like the wooden stuff in one pile, the metal stuff on the other pile, because we've got these different trailers that come through.

And the people that are out there shopping, um, which is a technically against the law to go shopping and picking up other people's stuff without the um uh owner's permission, but I know people that do it.

But the people that are out there shopping don't make a mess of the piles.

I mean, leave them in better shape than when you you took them.

And um actually the people that are out there shopping and removing truckloads and truckloads of this stuff for good repurposing actually saves our landfill quite a bit.

Um so I want to give a shout out to a Star City employee.

I don't know if you read today my trusty tribune.

I read my trusty tribune, and um Tammy Rosler, 911 dispatcher, helped deliver a baby last October over the phone, and it's amazing.

If you go to the 911 Center, they've got oh, this incident comes up and they've got uh all the actions to take to help deliver a baby or whatever the case may be.

And she successfully um uh worked this husband through delivering a baby right out at the rest area uh east of Bismarck.

So I want to give a shout out for to Tammy because she did a remarkable job, and this is a really positive thing to have happen, and thank Michael and his team over there at 911 for the good work that they do.

Thank you.

Is there any other business?

Seeing none, hearing none, we are adjourned.

Thank you.