Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - June 8, 2026
Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - June 8, 2026
The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting began with a tribute to retiring city employees Scott and Cindy Liudahl, who together contributed over 50 years of service to Fargo's urban forestry and public library. The meeting adjourned at 5:47 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the order of the agenda, moving Item 3 (Ratification of the Mayor's signature on the First Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding with Presentation Partners in Housing) from the consent agenda to the regular agenda for further discussion.
- Approved the minutes of the May 26, 2026 regular meeting.
- Approved the consent agenda (Items 1–23, excluding Item 3) unanimously. Key consent items included:
- Developer Agreement with Lennon Lofts, LLC.
- Agreement with Spencer Halvorson, the City of Fargo and Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA).
- 1st reading of an ordinance amending the International Residential Code.
- 2nd reading and final adoption of an ordinance amending zoning for EOLA Second Addition and J & O 45th Street Apartments Addition.
- Resolution for the City’s Wildlife Management Program for 2026-2027.
- Resolution consenting to refunding of bonds by the Metro Flood Diversion Authority.
- Site authorizations and applications for games of chance.
- Funding notification for the 64th Avenue South and I-29 Interchange Project.
- Encroachment agreement with Farmers Union Oil Company.
- Change orders, easements, improvement districts, contracts, and bonds for various infrastructure projects.
- Items from the FAHR meeting, including sale of water meters to Cass Rural Water Users District for $40,000 and budget adjustments.
- Setting a hearing for June 22, 2026, on a dangerous building at 111-113 32nd Avenue North.
- Plat approval for Jerstad-Thompson Second Subdivision.
- Bid award to Johnson & Schock Excavating, LLC for $439,814.00 for Project No. WA2513.
- Bills totaling $12,572,268.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Construction Update: City Engineer Tom Knakmuhs provided an update on ongoing and upcoming projects. Key points included:
- No injuries or safety incidents on city projects.
- Gateway fiber buildout is in its second year, with many areas completed.
- 45th Street South concrete pavement repair is a two-phase, two-year project.
- 32nd Avenue South is closed between 15th and 11th Streets for underground work and paving.
- NP Avenue is closed between 2nd and 4th Streets for utility work, encountering old infrastructure.
- Core neighborhood reconstructions are underway in Longfellow, Hawthorne, and Roosevelt neighborhoods.
- First Avenue North utility location verification is ongoing to prepare for future reconstruction.
- New development projects include Selkirk Place, Dakota Commerce Center, and 46th Avenue North Industrial Park.
- Southwest Metro Pond (Lake Fargo) excavation is about 85% complete.
- VA shared-use path and Belmont Levee/Floodwall are progressing.
- Upcoming projects include a new traffic signal at 23rd Avenue South and 55th Street, and impacts on 19th Avenue and University.
- Commissioner Strand asked about future-proofing infrastructure for technology and the impact of the 1% sales tax on projects. Knakmuhs noted that sales tax is critical for local match and infrastructure funding; without it, less work would be done or costs shifted to residents.
- CDBG and HOME Programs (Item 25): Nicole Crutchville, Community Development Director, presented the 2026 HUD Action Plan and Budget, and amendments to the 2025 Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan. She explained the shift from large construction projects to tenant-based rental assistance, single-family renovation, and infrastructure in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods like Madison. The plan focuses on three goals: affordable housing preservation and stability, ending homelessness, and public infrastructure. She noted that HUD funds are difficult to use locally and are best applied to infrastructure projects. Commissioner Strand emphasized the need for a housing roundtable and discussed inclusionary zoning, land trusts, rental registry, and eviction mitigation. The item was approved unanimously.
- Memorandum of Understanding with Presentation Partners in Housing (Item 3, moved from consent): Commissioner Piepkorn requested an update on the financial wherewithal of the project and questioned why Presentation Partners uses city space for free. Brenda (staff) explained that the MOU is a ratification of an existing agreement, and Presentation Partners pays for their own outfitting and infrastructure. The motion to approve passed 4-1, with Commissioner Piepkorn voting nay.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- CDBG/HOME Action Plan: Motion by Commissioner Kolpack, second by Commissioner Piepkorn, approved unanimously (5-0).
- MOU with Presentation Partners: Motion by Commissioner Strand, second by Commissioner Kolpack, approved 4-1 (Kolpack, Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney aye; Piepkorn nay).
- Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates: Commissioners reported on board and committee activities. Commissioner Piepkorn encouraged attendance at Metro Park Board meetings to achieve quorum. Commissioner Turnberg noted that the Southern Valley Rural Fire District litigation did not result in an injunction, and the police department received a national award for policy and procedures. Commissioner Kolpack congratulated graduates, including 45 seniors from Dakota High School. Commissioner Strand highlighted the grand opening of the Recovery and Resource Center and thanked the three commissioners running for mayor.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. Tonight I'd like to take a moment to recognize two remarkable public servants. Scott and Cindy Lindahl are both retiring after careers dedicated to serving the people of Fargo. Together, they represent more than 50 years of service to our community. Cindy spent 21 years helping children and families discover the love of reading and learning through the public library. Scott spent 30 years helping grow and protect Fargo's urban forest for further generations. Tonight we're honored to celebrate both of them and thank them for making Fargo a better place. Cindy joined the Fargo Public Library as part of the Bookmobile staff in 2005 and later worked at Northport Library location when it opened in 2006. Since 211, Cindy has worked in the Children's Services Department as a children's programming associate, where she has been familiar, welcoming face at events and in the library. Throughout her career, Sydney has touched the lights of countless youngsters and families across our community with her warmth and energy. She has been instrumental in developing and facilitating events, partnerships, to support the library's mission. Her creativity and passion are evident with every initiative and partnership she has fostered over the years. And today she had a special event with the children in which we got to see bubbles come up by the city hall. And I think the kids had a ball. But thank you for every book recommendation, every story time laugh, and for helping kids of all ages discovered that the library is a place where they belong. We would also like to recognize Scott, who joined the city of Fargo as Arborist supervisor in 1996 and became the Fargo City Forester in 1998, a position he has held with dedication and distinction ever since. Throughout his career, Scott earned numerous professional certifications and achieved many accomplishments. He has helped shape Fargo's urban forest, built strong partnership with organizations throughout the region and nation, and inspired countless volunteers, students, and professionals along the way. His leadership at events like Arbor Day and Reforest the Red has engaged thousands of community members in planting and caring for trees. He also helped establish the mutual aid agreements across North Dakota, ensuring communities could support one another during times of need, including the recovery efforts in following the Northward Tornado. Scott often says that some of the greatest rewards of his career have been becoming a city forester, serving on the ISA certification board, and building relationships with dedicated professionals who share his passion for urban forestry. Respect and admiration he's earned from his colleagues are testimony to his leadership and his commitment to the field. Scott's legacy will live in the trees growing throughout the Fargo, the programs he helped build, and the people he has mentored and inspired. Scott, may your retirement be much like your favorite tree, the hackberry. Strong, resilient, and continuing to thrive for many years to come. On the behalf of the City of Fargo, thank you, Scott and Cindy, for everything you've done for our community, and we wish you well in your next chapter. This is a great organization to be with. I've been here for 30 years, so yes. And the this community has been never thought that Fargo, North Dakota, would be my kind of final stopping place after a forest management degree out in Colorado. Surrounded by trees. But this is where I ended up, and it's been a lot of fun. And I met a lot of people, and I'm gonna miss a lot of things, including those people. So thank you. A librarian doesn't want to talk. We're not kids, okay. 50 years is a long time. Thank you. Appreciate that very much. Is there a motion to approve the order of agenda? Moving item three from the consent agenda to the regular agenda for further discussion. I also moved. They're a second. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. The motion approved the minutes of the regular meeting. May 26, 2026. So moved. Is there a second?
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