Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting – May 11, 2026

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.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the April 27, 2026 regular meeting.
• Second reading and final adoption of Ordinance Amending Section 11-0809 (Environmental Nuisances).
• Settlement Agreement and Release with Daniel H. and Edna T. Holm Revocable Living Trust.
• Site Authorizations and Applications for Games of Chance.
• Change Order No. 2 ($15,900) for Project TM-25-B1 and Final Balancing Change Order No. 3 ($385.32) for Project UR-24-C1.
• Contract Award for Multimodal 3D LiDAR Vehicle & Pedestrian Detection System with Aeva Inc. ($206,850).
• Infrastructure Construction Agreement with Eastdale, LLC for 4000 County Road 81 North.
• Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 ($383,287) for Improvement District BN-25-A0.
• NDDoT Flexible Transportation Fund Program Agreement (Prairie Dog Grants Program).
• Bid awards: Northern Improvement Co. ($1,864,164.38 for PR-26-E1), Dakota Underground Company Inc. ($5,666,676.30 for PR-26-F1), KPH, Inc. ($569,690 for SW 26-01), Johnson & Schock Excavating ($559,431 for WA2510), J.D. Kraemer Enterprises ($671,701 for WA2511).
• Creation of Improvement District BR-26-D and adoption of Resolution of Necessity.
• Contract and bond for Improvement District BR-26-F.
• Purchase Agreement with Hempel Industrial Acquisitions, LLC for Fire Department Training Center property (115 and 107 31st Street South).
• Benefit Plan Agreement and Group Insurance Policy for Dental Benefits with Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND.
• First Choice Client Agreement with First Choice Research and Investigations, LLC for background checks.
• Second Amendment to Consulting Service Agreement with CPS HR Consulting (employee engagement survey term extension).
• Direction to City Attorney’s Office to prepare an Ordinance to Amend Table R301.2 of the 2024 International Residential Code.
• Extension of unpaid leave for employee Isabella Cody.
• First Amendment to Mosquito Spraying Agreement with Airborne Vector Control, LLC.
• Contract and bond for Project WA2505.
• Bills totaling $6,622,169.

Discussion Items

Police Chief Appointment (Item 27)

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.

Board of Appeals Appointments (Item 28)

The commission unanimously approved the recommended appointments to the Board of Appeals. (No further details on appointees were provided in the transcript.)

Property Tax Exemptions for Improvements (Item 29)

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).

Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates (Item 30)

Commissioners provided updates on various boards and committees. Mayor Mahoney delivered a detailed analysis of the city’s debt portfolio:

• Total debt: $1.3735 billion, broken down into:
  • Improvement bonds (special assessments): $580 million – repaid by property owners; city pays 75–80% of rehab specials.
  • Facility debt: $48 million (fire stations, city hall, etc.) – repaid by general fund.
  • Utility infrastructure debt (state revolving fund loans): $328 million (water/wastewater plants) – repaid by utility rates and 1¢ infrastructure sales tax; most at 2% for 30 years.
  • Fargo diversion debt: $41 million – to be fully repaid in 2026 by FMDA using sales tax revenue.
  • Parking ramps: $37.3 million (Mercantile, ROCO, NP grants) – repaid by parking revenues and TIF; currently not fully covering costs but backed by TIF.
  • Development-related debt – repaid by developers and TIF.
  • Non-traditional obligations (accrued leave, pensions): $265.5 million – decreasing due to strong market returns.
  • Bond premiums: $35 million; leases: $11.6 million (Fargo Dome equipment).
• Mayor Mahoney noted that removing special assessments and diversion debt reduces the city’s effective debt to $752.7 million, all with dedicated revenue sources. He also highlighted:
  • The city’s reserve fund is now at 25% (up from 20%) after adding $9 million from last year’s savings.
  • The communications department budget was cut from $2 million to $486,000, now staffed by six employees.
  • The annual audit by I. Bailey (August 27, 2025) produced clean findings; calls for forensic accounting should be directed to the city attorney for investigation.

Commissioner Piepkorn responded, noting:

• The special assessment system (42% of debt) is a risk due to the city subsidizing infrastructure for new developments, which contributed to a Moody’s downgrade. He advocated shifting responsibility to developers.
• Regarding the diversion, he questioned how much remains to be paid and how much of the proposed 1¢ sales tax extension would fund it, given that Minnesota has contributed zero and the project is 80% local, 20% federal.
• He also asked whether the water supply project debt (approx. $50 million) was included; Mayor Mahoney clarified that it is in separate utility debt but is still city debt.
• Commissioner Piepkorn congratulated Mayor Mahoney on receiving an Army medal.

Other commissioner updates:

• Commissioner Kolpack reported that spring cleanup week is halfway through, with 773 tons collected so far; week B recycling pickup is ongoing.
• Commissioner Strand acknowledged the Employee Appreciation Event, noting over 4,000 combined years of service among city employees.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment of Travis Devanowitz as Police Chief – unanimously approved (5-0). Swearing-in set for May 27, 2026.
• Board of Appeals appointments – unanimously approved (5-0).
• 13 property tax exemptions – unanimously approved (5-0).
• Consent Agenda (items 1–26) – unanimously approved (5-0), including significant contract awards and the directive to prepare an ordinance amendment.
• Bills approved totaling $6,622,169.
• No public comments were offered (first meeting with zero public speakers, per Mayor Mahoney).
• Meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM.