Fargo City Commission Meeting - May 27, 2025: Public Safety Tax Plan Approved, License Hearings, Strong Towns Presentation
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Fargo City Commission Meeting - May 27, 2025
The Fargo City Commission met on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Commission Chambers. The meeting began with a pledge of allegiance, roll call, and a recognition of the Engineering Department, including the presentation of a Rising Star Award to Evan Olson. The Commission approved a 44-item consent agenda (with item 15 withdrawn), conducted public hearings on six alcoholic beverage licenses, received a presentation from Strong Towns Fargo, and approved the Public Safety Sales Tax Utilization Plan for 2025-2026 after substantial debate. Commissioner Turnberg cast the sole dissenting vote on the tax plan. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss economic development negotiations.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items 1-44, excluding item 15 (which was withdrawn), by roll call vote (unanimous). Items included various ordinances, bid awards, agreements, and routine approvals.
- Specifically noted: 1st readings of ordinances amending alcoholic beverage regulations, dangerous dog ordinances, and traffic code; site authorizations and applications for games of chance; multiple bid awards and change orders for improvement districts and projects; agreements with West Fargo and Moorhead for SMART traffic signal system; and a notice of grant award from ND Department of Health and Human Services for sun safety.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Strong Towns Fargo Presentation: Zachary Taylor, a core planning board member and NDSU engineering student, presented the organization's mission to make Fargo more livable, walkable, and safe through sustainable development. He highlighted their studies on speed on University/10th (average speeds 5-10 mph over limit, top speeds 20-25 mph over), and advocacy for traffic calming and bike infrastructure. Commissioner Strand asked about their involvement in the last legislative session; Taylor responded that the chapter has only been active for about a year.
- Ron Gugasberg, President of Fargo Firefighters Local 642: Expressed gratitude for the public safety sales tax but noted concerns that the pay plan falls short in step placement and variable pay (e.g., hazmat, EMT pay). He requested earlier collaboration with the union on future decisions. He stated support for moving the plan forward.
- No resident comments during the designated period.
Discussion Items
- Public Safety Sales Tax Utilization Plan: Michael Redlinger (administration) presented the allocation plan for the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2024 with over 70% support. The plan covers 2025 and 2026, with projections for 10 years, and is reviewed annually. Key elements:
- 80% directed to personnel and pay structures for police and fire.
- Existing general fund support of over $60 million for public safety continues unchanged.
- In 2025: Fire department adds 3 captains and 3 firefighters, equipment, and a facility study. Police department adds equipment, technology, and a new motorcycle unit.
- In 2026: Fire adds 1 firefighter and a training captain. Police adds 3 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, 5 officers, a wellness coordinator, body-worn camera replacements, and new vehicles.
- Debt service for existing facilities was zeroed out based on commission feedback, redirecting funds to new capital and operating needs.
- Starting firefighter salary at 105% of market, but concerns remain about step placement and variable pay.
- Commissioner Kolpak emphasized the plan is sustainable and will be reviewed annually; he noted that all sworn fire positions will reach at least 101% of market within 11 months.
- Commissioner Turnberg delivered a strong statement opposing the plan as not fully honoring voter intent to increase firefighter pay and hire more officers. She cited a starting salary of $56,000 equating to about $19/hour over a 56-hour workweek, and argued the city is nearly $1 billion in debt. She voted against the plan.
- The plan was approved 4-1 (Turnberg no, others yes).
- Liaison Updates:
- Commissioner Strand reported 6 measles cases in Cass County, urging vaccination.
- Commissioner Kolpak announced the graduation of 6 new Fargo firefighters from the Metro Fire Academy and the open house for fire chief finalists on May 28.
- Commissioner Turnberg noted library events and EDIC meeting highlights: presentation on tax incentives expiring, and concerns about low-income housing due to federal funding reductions and state issues.
- Commissioner Pepcorn requested a brown bag session to discuss impacts of legislative actions on tax incentives and housing.
- Public Hearings (Alcoholic Beverage Licenses): All six licenses/transfers were approved unanimously by roll call.
- Adibon A&E Fusion d/b/a A&E Fusion Cuisine: Class GH license for catering business.
- Q Nail & Spa LLC: Class W wine license for salon.
- Ka-Rick, Inc. d/b/a Rick’s Bar: Transfer of ownership to owner's children.
- M&M Liquors, Inc. d/b/a Speck’s Bar and Off Sale: Transfer of ownership to owner's children.
- Tropical Spice Caribbean Cuisine: Class GH beer and wine license.
- Bar209Fargo, LLC: Transfer of Class FA license from Cairo Restaurant.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (all 44 items except withdrawn item 15).
- Public Safety Sales Tax Utilization Plan: Approved 4-1 (Turnberg opposing). Plan effective July 7, 2025. Includes pay plan adoption, 2025 equipment/facility requests, and 2026 personnel/equipment plan.
- Library Board Appointment: Hannah James appointed unanimously.
- Alcoholic Beverage Licenses: All six approved unanimously.
- Executive Session: Motion to enter executive session for economic development negotiations passed unanimously at the end of the meeting. The meeting adjourned after the session.
- Engineering Recognition: Rising Star Award presented to Evan Olson.
- Future Meeting: Commissioner Kolpak noted a meeting with the next fire chief, union, and finance department scheduled for August 11th to discuss variable pay and other issues.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting daughter. We'll begin with a pledge of allegiance. I invite you to join us. Pledge of legislatures. Underground. Roll call. Call Pack here. Papricorn? Here. Strand? Here. Turnberg? Here. Mahoney. Yeah. Tonight we are highlighting the city of Fargo's engineering department. This team has a huge hand in shaping the Fargo we know and love. Their work on key infrastructure projects has improved how we get around and how our neighborhoods function. Thanks to our efforts in the engineering department, Fargo continues to grow stronger, smarter, and more connected. They are truly some of the architects of our city's future, from enhancing our roads to managing stormwater projects and traffic systems. No matter the obstacle, whether it's last-minute challenge, unpredictable weather, or tight deadlines, our engineering team will find a solution and keep things moving forward. It's critical work and they handle it with skill and care. Thank you, engineering, for everything you do for our community. We will now share a video that underscores the work of the engineering department. When it comes to the City of Fargo Engineering Department, we really touch all the infrastructure our residents and businesses rely on every single day. And so whether that's uh getting up in the morning brushing your teeth, we're we're part of the water system that that gets that water to your door, flushing your toilet or doing your laundry, whatever it might be. And then going off to work or school, you're relying on the streets that we are overseeing, improving. Simply as I can describe it, is we're responsible for the preventive maintenance and preservation of all of our infrastructure as well as the improvement of it, and then also overseeing any work that's taking place within the public right away. When you look at our water system, our sanitary sewer, storm sewer, street lights, traffic signals, pavement, all those things, it's billions of dollars of assets that we're responsible for. It's really important that our inspectors are watching the work that the contractors do. We want this infrastructure to last as long as possible. A road that lasts 30 years versus 50 years is a big deal. And the longer we can extend our infrastructure and the life of our infrastructure, the cheaper it ultimately is for our residents. And that we won't have to dig it up and replace it anytime soon. At a time it really varies. Um each construction season, we usually have about 60 construction projects taking place throughout the city. In total capital improvement plan is usually right around a hundred to a hundred and twenty million dollars annually. We are a long linear city, and so you know, this year we'll be working up on 52nd Avenue North all the way down to 76th Avenue South. And so Fargo uh does extend a very long distance. We do really try to be sure that the the improvements that we're making are citywide. We do balance the resources throughout the city that way. There are a number of funding sources that we use. Utility uh funds are one of them. Sales tax is another really important one. We use sales tax on nearly every project we do that preserves our infrastructure or improves our infrastructure. Without it, we would really struggle to fund the projects that we do. Property taxes don't go towards construction projects that we do. We have a grade tool that I don't know that everyone is aware of, but if you go to Fargo Streets.com, we have a great interactive map that shows all the work that's taking place throughout the city. You can see examples of who's doing the work, uh, the size of the project, how the project is being funded, which is a great resource that relies on GIS. Well, it's it's not only a benefit to the residents, but to us as project managers or project engineers and inspectors, because we get to see the project from its inception and how it was designed.
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