Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - March 16, 2026

The Fargo City Commission held its regular meeting on March 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. Prior to the open session, the Commission met in Executive Session from 4:34 to 4:57 PM to discuss pending litigation involving Angela Lipps. The meeting was streamed live on TV Fargo Channel 56 and online. Mayor Mahoney presided, with Commissioners Kolpack, Piepkorn, Strand, Turnberg, and Mahoney present. A St. Patrick's Day Parade video was shown. The agenda was approved with item 22 moved to the regular agenda. The minutes of March 2, 2026, were approved.

Consent Calendar

The Consent Agenda (items 1–29, excluding item 22) was approved unanimously. Key items included:

• Interest Buydown Agreement for PACE Program with Bank of ND and Coneflower Farmhouse LLC.
• Final adoption of a rezoning ordinance for Mehl/First Addition (second reading).
• Multiple contract awards: Northstar Safety Inc. ($492,715 for TM-26-A1 and $61,722 for TM-26-B1), Roadway Services Inc. ($122,320 for PR-26-B1), Border States Paving ($1,029,252.50 for SR-26-A1), Dakota Underground Company ($2,785,515.83 for BR-26-C1), Asphalt Preservation Company ($2,025,988.23 for PR-26-C1), and Johnson & Schock Excavating ($396,437 for WA2507).
• Piggyback purchases: Great Plains Fire Equipment ($143,570 for structural firefighting gear), Swanston Equipment ($102,973.66 for an articulating wheel loader), and New Flyer of America ($2,925,305.24 for four heavy-duty transit buses).
• Creation of Improvement Districts BR-26-F (paving/utility rehab) and UR-26-F (sanitary/storm sewer lining).
• Approval of bills totaling $6,375,314.05.
• Other routine items including games of chance, bridge maintenance agreement, and a dangerous building hearing date.

Public Hearings & Agenda Items

Special Assessments for Sewer Repairs (Item 30)

Approved. The sewer repair program for 2025 included 230 parcels totaling $3,000,377.95, financed at 5% interest over 15 years. Vote: 5-0.

Section 5310 Federal Transit Grant (Item 31)

Approved the preliminary program of projects for 2026–2027 for mobility management services. The grant apportionment increased from $234,000 (FFY2024) to $246,000 (FFY2025). Vote: 5-0.

Clara Barton School Addition Zone Change and Plat (Item 32)

Approved a zoning change from P/I (Public and Institutional) and SR-2 (Single-Dwelling Residential) to P/I, and the plat consolidating 25 lots owned by the school district. The district recently acquired an adjacent property to be demolished; no immediate plans for new development. Vote: 4-1 (Commissioner Strand dissented, expressing regret over losing a residential lot).

Annexation of 236.16 Acres (Item 33)

Approved the annexation of land in Section 35, Township 141 North, Range 49 West. No property owner protests were received. The city will not assume additional road maintenance. Vote: 4-1 (Commissioner Strand dissented, stating he saw no compelling need to leapfrog to this section).

Sign Badgers Property Tax Exemption (Item 34)

Continued the public hearing to March 30, 2026 at 5:05 PM. Vote: 5-0.

Appointment of Chief Communications Officer (Item 35)

Approved the appointment of Scott Anderson, formerly of El Paso County, Colorado. Anderson will start March 23, 2026. The selection committee included community members from Fargo Cass Public Health and Fargo Public Schools. The communications department has been reduced from 12 FTEs to 5; this fill brings it to 6, and the position was already budgeted. Vote: 4-1 (Commissioner Piepkorn dissented, citing a history of department growth and a recent Moody's downgrade).

Sanford Ambulance Annual Review (Item 36)

Tim Meyer, Senior Director of Emergency Services, presented 2025 data:

• Accredited agency (only one in ND); 140 staff, 130 patient care providers.
• 15,625 emergency 911 calls in Fargo; 93% response within 9 minutes (goal 90%).
• Top primary impressions include alcohol use and behavioral/psychiatric episodes.
• Overdoses increased sharply: Narcan doses up 48% citywide; opioid-related impressions up 38% in Fargo.
• Critical cases: 31 STEMI heart attacks, 88 trauma alerts, 173 strokes.
• Bystander AED use: 46.2% (above national average of 13.7%).
• Whole blood program (started July 2025) delivered 9 units.
• Discussion highlighted the impact of behavioral health calls on EMS resources.

Police Department 2025 Annual Report (Item 37)

Chief David Zibolski presented the report, covering the department’s 150th anniversary. Key metrics:

• Total calls for service: just under 100,000; top call type: traffic stops.
• Overall crime down 10% for the second consecutive year; violent crimes dropped significantly: 52 fewer rapes, 83 fewer aggravated assaults, 298 fewer burglaries, 25 fewer motor vehicle thefts, 24 fewer robberies.
• Increases in shoplifting and theft of motor vehicle parts.
• Traffic Safety Team set records for stops and citations; driving under suspension/revocation is the most common violation.
• Officer wellness program expanded; real-time crime center upgraded.
• Online reporting saves 12,000 officer hours annually ($683,000).
• Fargo Police Foundation funded canine replacements and wellness initiatives.
• Chief Zibolski announced his retirement effective March 22, 2026, and thanked the community.

Infrastructure Sales Tax Extension (Item 38)

Approved a resolution to extend the existing 1-cent infrastructure sales tax for 20 years and adopt ballot language for the June 2026 election. The tax generates ~$34 million annually and is legally restricted to streets, water supply/treatment, sewage, and flood control. The state funds 75% of the Red River Valley Water Supply Project; the city's local share is 15.5%. The Chamber of Commerce expressed support. Vote: 4-1 (Commissioner Piepkorn dissented; Commissioner Kolpack noted this is an extension, not a new tax).

Interim Leadership and Police Chief Recruitment (Item 39)

City Administrator Michael Redlinger outlined the transition plan. Assistant Chief Travis Stefanowitz will be appointed interim police chief effective March 28, 2026 (formal appointment March 30). Recruitment timeline: position posting by April 27, closing mid-June, selection committee reviews in late June, finalist interviews in July, and a new chief named by August–September. The new city commission (elected in June) will participate in final selection. Commissioner Piepkorn proposed moving the selection committee start to July 1 to allow new commissioners full involvement. Commissioner Strand raised concern about the gap between March 28 and March 30; Redlinger clarified the assistant chief will serve as acting chief by default. The interim chief is permitted to apply for the permanent position.

Resource and Recovery Center Financial Overview (Item 40)

Mayor Mahoney reported on the relocation from downtown to a leased space. Fit-up cost estimate reduced from $2.5 million to $1.4 million. Received $100,000 in in-kind donations and $70,000 in free architectural services from Bloomberg Associates. $750,000 in pledges raised. The city has a two-year lease with move-in anticipated May 1, 2026. Commissioner Piepkorn expressed concerns about anonymous donations and the city's financial position, citing the Moody's downgrade. The mayor defended the project as a community need.

Agreement with Richland County Health Department (Item 22)

Approved a contract for Fargo Cass Public Health to provide family planning services in Richland County. The contract is a 100% pass-through; Richland County reimburses all costs. The health department also services other counties under state-funded agreements. Commissioner Piepkorn opposed, stating Fargo should focus on its own responsibilities. Vote: 4-1 (Commissioner Piepkorn dissented).

Property Tax Exemptions for Home Improvements (Item 41)

Approved six 5-year property tax exemptions for owner-occupied residential improvements. Vote: 5-0.

Public Comments

• Bradley Foster criticized the city and police over the wrongful detention of Angela Lipps (a Tennessee grandmother held over 100 days based on AI-generated evidence). He called for resignations of those who knew about the technology and warned of costly lawsuits and tainted juries.
• Joseph Garcia, a local business owner, complained about lack of oversight and alleged failures by the police to investigate crimes reported against his business partner. He stated the prosecutor declined to pursue fraud charges, citing lack of a credible expert witness.

Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates

Commissioners gave brief reports on their board and committee assignments. Commissioner Strand highlighted Colon Cancer Awareness month events and the new 110-unit Laskowitz affordable housing building, noting city efforts to ensure quality design and amenities.

Key Outcomes

• The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 30, 2026, with a public hearing on a dangerous building at 115 6th Avenue North and the continued Sign Badgers hearing.
• Formal interim police chief appointment will be made on March 30, 2026.
• The police chief recruitment timeline will be refined to accommodate input from the new commission seated in July.
• All routine consent items were approved; all public hearings resulted in approval except the continued hearing.