Fargo City Commission Meeting - June 24, 2026
Fargo City Commission Meeting - June 24, 2026
The City Commission met on June 24, 2026, to address a range of items including a license transfer, a dangerous building declaration, a major subdivision and zoning change (Lost Creek), convention center site selection, funding for a winter warming center, and dissolution of the Human Rights Commission. The meeting concluded with farewells to outgoing commissioners and public comments.
Consent Calendar
- License Transfer: Approved unanimously with no public testimony. Staff confirmed background checks and 30 years of local experience for the new owners.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Convention Center: Romani Kildi, a downtown resident and board member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, urged selection of the downtown Civic Center site, citing avoidance of $250,000 annual operating costs and $2 million demolition costs, and called it fiscally responsible stewardship.
- Concluding Public Comments:
- West Philomay thanked outgoing officials, acknowledged past conflicts, and expressed cautious optimism about Mayor-elect Josh Boucher.
- Austin Sletmall announced he had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit (42 USC §1983) against the city and four police officers, seeking $300,000 in damages per defendant, and reported a threat to drop the lawsuit.
Discussion Items
- Dangerous Building (111-113 32nd Avenue North): The property is a 1,152 sq ft duplex in foreclosure, owned by Bobby Stephenson. Deficiencies included no water (terminated Oct 2025) or electrical service, missing siding, junk accumulation, structural damage, and vagrant entry. Staff noted 35 police calls. The building was declared dangerous; approval was unanimous.
- Lost Creek Subdivision & Rezoning: A request to rezone from agricultural to single- and multi-dwelling residential with a conditional overlay and public/institutional. Staff recommended denial due to unresolved infrastructure concerns (sewer, water, roads), public safety risks (snow drifting, emergency access), and lack of a finalized developer agreement. The planning commission had recommended approval. Key disagreements: road type (asphalt vs. concrete), developer wanting not to floodproof basements (contrary to city policy), and funding mechanism (developer opposed special assessments). After extensive debate (including presentations on infrastructure costs: ~$1M for sewer extension, $600K for water main, and varied road costs), Commissioner Kolpak moved for approval with conditions preserving city commission authority on design and funding. The motion passed 4–1 (Pepcorn opposed).
- Convention Center Site Selection: Review of two final proposals – Bruhalla and Downtown Civic Center. Baker Tilly found both feasible but with risks; Bruhalla’s bonding capacity was lower ($47.8M vs. $58.5M). Commissioner Kolpak presented slides arguing for Bruhalla to preserve the Civic Center for a future performing arts center, citing the Sioux Falls model and the need for long-term opportunity. Commissioner Turnberg countered that Bruhalla’s proposed $100M TIF had not been discussed with the county or schools, and the downtown site uses an existing TIF. The first motion to select the downtown site passed 3–2 (Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney yes; Kolpak, Pepcorn no). The second motion to begin TIF financing for the selected site passed 3–2 (same vote).
- Spirit of Fargo Funds for Warming Center: Staff explained that ~$144,000 remained from 2009 flood donations (with Dakota Medical Foundation as fiscal agent). The funds were originally for flood fighting but later modified to cover other natural disasters. The mayor proposed directing the funds to the Resource and Recovery Center’s winter warming program. A motion to table (for the new commission) failed 2–3. The main motion to request the Impact Foundation release the funds passed 3–2 (Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney yes; Kolpak, Pepcorn no). (One commissioner’s vote was ambiguous in the transcript.)
- Human Rights Commission Dissolution: Commissioner Strand moved to conclude the commission, arguing it was not effective and that activists could organize independently. The motion passed 3–2 (Strand, Turnberg, Mahoney yes; Kolpak, Pepcorn no).
- Appointments to Boards/Commissions: Approved unanimously.
- Property Tax Exemptions for Building Improvements: Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- License transfer approved.
- 111-113 32nd Avenue North declared a dangerous building.
- Lost Creek subdivision approved with conditions (infrastructure, design, and funding to be determined by future commission decisions).
- Downtown Civic Center site selected for convention center; staff directed to pursue TIF financing.
- Spirit of Fargo funds to be directed to the Resource and Recovery Center’s winter warming shelter (pending Impact Foundation approval).
- Human Rights Commission dissolved.
- Appointments and tax exemptions approved.
- Farewells to outgoing commissioners and mayor; recognition of Mayor Mahoney’s 20 years of service.
Meeting Transcript
Um nothing else is changing, just the owners only. There are no issues with the background check. The one owner and managers listed, and they have locally 30 years of experience. There are no issues with the background check, so I'm looking for a motion to approve this license transfer. Anyone president wish to speak to this transfer? Is anyone present wishing to speak? If not, no public speakers, I close the public hearing. Do I have a motion? Make the motion. Sir, second. Second. Roll call vote, please. Pepcorn? Turnbird? Aye. Call pack. Aye. Strand. Yes. Mahoney. Aye. Public hearing. Uh hearing a dangerous building located at 111-113 32nd Avenue North. Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners. We're here about an up and down duplex at 111 and 113 32nd Avenue North. Um this is an eleven hundred and fifty-two square foot by our wood-framed bi-level duplex structure owned by Bobby Stephenson. It was constructed in 1976, and the taxes are current on this structure. Um the deficiencies with this one is there's no water service or electrical service at this point. There's a siding missing from the outside. Junk is all over the was all over the property. Um it's currently in foreclosure, and it appears to meet about five of the dangerous building criteria. Um, here's a list of the timeline for events that have happened on this. Um, some notable ones in October, on October 15, 2025, the um water was terminated to the structure, and uh on 5-6, 2026, the power was terminated to the structure. During this time, there was uh water being stolen from uh neighboring properties as well as being stored on site trying to use it. Um we did post the structure as a dangerous building on 429 26, and we sent the notices. Um we continued to receive complaints and on 5426. Uh, we got a the current owner to sign an agreement for nuisance abatement and special assessments so we would abate all the junk on the property and special assess it back to the property. Um that went very well for us. Um the interior of the property was inspected on 5626, and uh again we were we secured the property on 5626 to make sure that uh nobody was entering the property. Um, like we said, this property is in foreclosure and it's been in foreclosure for quite some time. Um this timeline of events does not capture everything that has happened with this property, and it's been kind of a lengthy process for us because of some extenuating circumstances. Um here's some pictures of the property as we were doing different inspections, and most of these are pretty recent in 2026. You can see that there's a number of deficiencies and some problems with the property. Um, you know, there's been some vagrants that have broken in. We've secured it. Um there's junk and junk accumulation all over. Um there is structural defects and just the general unsafe conditions within this property. Um, there's water damage and smoke detectors are deficient, um, electrical problems and broken windows, and our recommendation is on the screen, and I'll stand for questions. Anybody have any questions, Sean? Do I have a motion?
openpublica.com