Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting July 7, 2025
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Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting July 7, 2025
The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers. The meeting began with an executive session from 4:06 p.m. to 4:58 p.m. to discuss litigation and negotiating strategy regarding Northdale Oil, Inc. and Eastdale, LLC. The public session reconvened at 5:00 p.m. with all five commissioners present: Denise Kolpack, Dave Piepkorn, John Strand, Michelle Turnberg, and Timothy Mahoney. The meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda (items 1–45, excluding item 10 moved to regular agenda) unanimously. Key items included:
- First reading of an ordinance amending floodplain management regulations.
- First readings of ordinances amending zoning for The Pines at the District Seventh Addition, traffic code, and criminal/moving violations.
- Resolution concluding the Community Development Committee and related parking and public ways ordinances.
- Findings of fact for a dangerous building at 1102 1st Avenue South.
- Directing the City Attorney to repeal ordinances to conclude the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee and the Police Advisory and Oversight Board.
- Site authorization for games of chance for the North Dakota Horse Park Foundation.
- Multiple game of chance applications, permanent easements, consent to construction, encroachment agreements, and contract awards.
- Bid awards for Project NR-25-D1: general construction to CC Steel, LLC ($2,154,712.00) and electrical to JDP Electric ($159,418.00).
- Negative final balancing change orders and final balancing change orders for various improvement districts.
- Items from the FAHR Meeting including a sales tax update, $190,476 allocation for the Axon Draft One Contract, $30,650 donation from the Fargo Police Foundation for a K9 unit, and fee schedule changes.
- Multiple grant awards from the ND Department of Health and Human Services for public health emergency preparedness, HIV/HCV prevention, and tobacco prevention.
- Financial award from the ND Housing Finance Agency for the ND Homeless Grant.
- Directing the City Attorney to revise the Keeping of Chickens Ordinance.
- Resolutions approving plats for Champions Gate at Prairie Farms, Dakota Commerce Center North, and Family Healthcare Center additions.
- Directing the City Attorney to draft ordinances on electric vehicle stalls and motorized scooters.
- Contract and bond for Public Works Administrative Building Exterior Improvements, change orders for several projects, and task order for water tower demolition.
- Bills in the amount of $14,770,843.14.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joseph Garcia, a local downtown business owner, requested a formal inquiry into two incidents: a DUI felony hit-and-run at his business (case 24-42406) and an assault by his former business partner (case 24-48160). He stated that evidence he provided to the Fargo Police Department was deemed insufficient to pursue charges, and he was denied audiences with the mayor’s office, prosecution, and investigating detectives. He expressed concern that justice is not equally applied.
- Ryan Netterville (identified as Shane’s brother) spoke briefly, stating that sending officers to ambush someone with PTSD is not smart, and demanded justice for his brother’s death. He referenced a prior incident and said his rights and his brother’s rights are being violated.
- Christopher Coen, a Fargo resident, continued his comments from June about using police resources more efficiently. He noted that public safety consumes 44% of the discretionary budget, with 24% for police. He advocated for alternative response teams (e.g., for mental health crises, noise complaints, false alarms) and cited examples from Albuquerque, Olympia, Rochester, Denver, New Orleans, and Durham.
Discussion Items
- Executive Session Outcome: Commissioner Piepkorn moved to direct the City Attorney to work with the City Auditor to present an ordinance adding a liquor license class for property in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction upon annexation. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 46 – Prairie Crossing Addition Rezoning: Public hearing for a zoning change from SR-2 (Single-Dwelling Residential) to P/I (Public and Institutional) with a Conditional Overlay at 3910 25th Street South. The property, previously a church and private school, will be developed by the Memory Cafe (Alzheimer’s/dementia support). The Planning Commission recommended approval. The commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning and the first reading of the ordinance.
- Items 47 & 48 – Annexation and Northdale First Addition: Public hearings on the annexation of 87.89 acres (4370 52nd Avenue North, etc.) and the Northdale First Addition zoning change (AG to LI with Conditional Overlay) were continued to July 21, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. by unanimous vote.
- Item 49 – CDBG/HOME 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan: Nicole Gutzke presented the five-year strategic plan and 2025 action plan. Top priorities: affordable housing, ending homelessness, public infrastructure, and fair housing. The 2025 allocation includes $874,000 in CDBG and $457,000 in HOME funds, plus reallocations of $617,000 and $1.1 million from previous years. A public hearing was held; no public testimony. Commissioner Piepkorn expressed concern about potential federal funding cuts. The commission voted unanimously to accept the plan.
- Item 50 – Airport Authority 2026 Budget Request: Paula Eckman (Airport Authority Chair) and Tana Aasand (Eide Bailly) presented the request to maintain the two-mill levy for capital improvements at Hector International Airport. Key points: 546,000 passengers boarded in 2024 (14 consecutive months of growth); a new daily Atlanta nonstop on Delta will start; the terminal expansion, apron glycol, and apron reconstruction total $161 million; the airport has $50 million in reserves but expects to need $27 million in additional debt by 2027. Commissioners discussed the regional nature of the airport and whether other municipalities should contribute. Commissioner Strand asked for a financial model showing parking ramp revenue covering future needs. The item was informational; no vote was taken.
- Item 51 – Renaissance Zone Authority Reappointment: The commission approved the reappointment of Tony Grindberg (4-1, Commissioner Strand voting nay). Commissioner Strand noted a disagreement with the county over the number of years (five vs. eight) of tax breaks.
- Item 52 – Property Tax Exemptions: Approved applications for Matthew and Courtney Sizer (5 years) and Clyde Jr. and Katherine McArthur (5 years) unanimously.
- Item 10 – Denial of Folkways Broadway Closure Request: Joe Burgum (Executive Director of Folkways) requested closing one block of Broadway on July 24, 2025, for the Night Bazaar and a Guinness World Record attempt (no intersections closed). Staff recommended denial based on the Downtown In Focus plan, which reserves Broadway closures for legacy events (undefined). The PUPEC committee supported denial. Commissioner Strand moved to uphold the denial; the motion passed unanimously (Commissioner Kolpack noted the need to define “legacy events” and improve community input).
- Liaison Commissioner Reports: Report on water utility meeting EPA standards, water reclamation expansion, and library time capsule event.
Key Outcomes
- Executive Session Motion: Unanimously directed city attorney to prepare an ordinance for liquor licenses in extraterritorial jurisdiction upon annexation.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (items 1–45, excluding item 10).
- Prairie Crossing Rezoning: Approved unanimously (rezoning and first reading).
- Annexation and Northdale Continuance: Continued to July 21, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. (unanimous).
- CDBG/HOME Plan: Approved unanimously (public hearing closed, plan accepted).
- Renaissance Zone Reappointment: Approved 4-1 (Strand nay).
- Property Tax Exemptions: Approved unanimously.
- Folkways Broadway Closure: Denied unanimously (motion to approve staff denial).
- Airport Budget Request: No vote; discussion only; commissioner requested financial projections.
- Resident Comments: Heard; no formal action taken.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting back to order. Roll call, please. Call pack here. Pepcoin? Here. Strand? Here. Turnburg. Here. Mahoney. Here. I invite you to join us with the Pledge of Allegiance. I invite you to join us. You have a motion from the executive session. Uh, Mr. Chair, I make the motion. I move to direct the city attorney to work with the city auditor to present an ordinance with specific terms and conditions to add a license class for liquor licenses for property in the extra territorial jurisdiction of the city of Fargo upon annexation of the property. So moved. Any discussion. No. Turnberg. Aye. Hi. Tonight we're highlighting the work of the Fargo City Auditor's Office. As many of you know, the auditor's office is the first floor of City Hall, right next to the main entrance. The staff at the auditor's office provides customer service that is true, truly second to none. They make sure everyone gets the help they need. If they aren't able to help someone, they find the department that can. They go the extra mile every day. Along with utility billing of four for thirty-five thousand customers, the auditor's office handles the laundry list of government functions. From pet licenses to liquor licenses. The list goes on. But they also are in charge of our city elections, and they keep track of all the city contacts and many other important records. The auditor's office manages all these duties with a lean team of staff members who are dedicated to serving our community. We will now share a video that spotlights the work of the Sargo City Auditor's Office. The auditor's office is the public-facing department in the city. But I'd say the primary interaction that people have is with the utility billing. Paying utility bill, there's lots of different options you can do. You can pay with cash, money order, credit card check. You can go online and pay or come into the office. You can mail in payments. So to keep all that straight and to stay with, you know, in contact with the businesses. And then relationships with customers. So working with the customers that are having troubles making their payments and that type of thing, providing them guidance on where they can go get some assistance. I try to assure them that it'll be the last time you're transferred until we know that we get you to the right place. Election Day is you know run by the county now. We've got an agreement with the county that they'll do that. But it's our responsibility to have all city measures and any candidates that are properly filled out their paperwork, put together and get that over to the county so that they can print their ballots and then conduct the actual election. There are occasions when we will have a special election and the city office here will have to conduct the election ourselves. And it feels good when you're able to help someone understand.
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