The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting lasted 20 minutes and covered a consent agenda of 26 items, a recommendation to appoint a new police chief, property tax exemptions, liaison commissioner updates, and a detailed presentation on the city's debt structure by Mayor Mahoney. All votes were unanimous.
City Administrator Michael Redingler presented the unanimous recommendation of the selection committee to appoint interim Chief Travis Devanowitz as the permanent Police Chief. The search process was condensed: the position closed April 28, the committee interviewed the sole finalist on April 29, and an in-person interview with a public presentation and Q&A was held May 6 (viewable on YouTube). Commissioner Piepkorn questioned whether the public had adequate opportunity to participate due to the shortened timeline. Redingler acknowledged the condensed process but stated it was in response to the commission's majority preference to move quickly, and that the committee did its best given time constraints. Commissioners expressed support, noting Devanowitz’s 25 years of service, his commitment to the community, and the value of a local candidate. The motion to appoint passed unanimously (5-0), with a swearing-in ceremony planned for the police academy graduation on May 27.
The commission unanimously approved the recommended appointments to the Board of Appeals. (No further details on appointees were provided in the transcript.)
The commission approved 13 applications for 5-year property tax exemptions for building improvements. The applicants included Mary and Michael Shulstad, Christopher Akers and Jessica Biesoit-Akers, Lisa Falk (two properties), Xochitl and Andrew Snyder, Nathan Larson, Kristen Wixo and Joshua McGavin, Kelly Peterson, Joel and Amber Hanson, Timothy Olson and Jo Marie Jensen, Roger Jaeger and Debra Welker, Rohrich Rentals LLC, and AQ Services LLC. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Commissioners provided updates on various boards and committees. Mayor Mahoney delivered a detailed analysis of the city’s debt portfolio:
Commissioner Piepkorn responded, noting:
Other commissioner updates:
We'll call the meeting to order. We'll begin with the pledge of allegiance. I invite you to join us. Roll call, please. Call pack here. Pepcorn. Here, strand. Here. Chairman, here. Mahoney. Here. Sir, motion to approve the order of agenda. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. So motion approved the minutes of April 27th, 2026 regular meeting. So move. Sir, second. Second. All those in favor say aye. Motion carried. So motion to approve consent agenda items one through 26. I so moved. Is there a second? Second. Roll call motion. Roll call, please. I'm sorry, Jody. Epcorn. I strand. Yes. Chairberg. Aye. Mahoney. Aye. Regular agenda. Recommendation for appointment of place chief. Michael Redingler to explain. Thank you very much. Very pleased this evening to present the unanimous recommendation of the selection committee to appoint Travis Devanowitz as the new police chief for the Fargo police department. I thought it'd be just important to give you a brief recap of the selection process and just to tell you where we've been, but really appreciate your consideration of this appointment tonight. So the police chief vacancy was advertised both externally as well as internally. It closed on April 28th. Our selection committee then met the next day on April 29 and interviewed the sole finalist candidate after that. Also took the opportunity to meet with our captains as well as the lieutenants of the department. I just really want to appreciate and lift up, you know, their good work that they provided, not only to the department, but also in support of the HR team, myself, within the search process. We received some great uh feedback on questions that we could potentially ask when we got to the in-person interview. So I just want to make sure I acknowledge the captains and lieutenants for all the things that they did to support our process and uh and support uh our interim leader. Uh the in-person interview uh with the sole finalist was held on May 6th, and that included both a presentation from the candidate on his vision for the Fargo Police Department as well as a conventional question and answer format again sourcing some of that direct information from our leadership within the department as well as our HR team.