OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Fargo, North Dakota/City Commission
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - August 31, 2026

City Commission — Monday, August 31, 2026
BodyFargo, North Dakota
SessionCity Commission
DateMonday, August 31, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:07:42

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:03

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our Monday, August 31st City Commission meeting.

0:08

We'll start the evening with a Pledge of Allegiance, so I invite you to stand to join us if you're able.

0:31

Thank you.

0:32

And with that, we'll do the roll call.

0:35

Gullickson, here.

0:37

Peterson?

0:38

Here.

0:38

Strand?

0:39

Here.

0:39

Turnberg?

0:40

Here.

0:40

Oh, Shea.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Thank you, everyone.

0:44

Tonight we'll have a video featuring the highlights from the Fargo Police Department's annual community picnic that happened a few weeks ago, so you can pay attention to the screens on the walls above.

2:20

I promise to treat others.

3:22

Well, thank you to our police department, our comms GA team for putting on a success, another successful event.

3:28

Always great to see our public safety partners from around the region as well as uh community partners uh participate in that event.

3:34

I know a lot of folks continue to talk about how much fun it was, and of course, seeing the like looks on those kids' faces uh certainly speaks for itself.

3:41

So thank you for your hard work.

3:44

With that, we have an agenda in front of us, Commissioners.

3:47

Is there a motion to approve the order of the agenda?

3:50

So moved.

3:51

Thank you.

3:52

Second.

3:52

There's a motion and a second.

3:53

Is there any discussion?

3:56

Discussion?

3:59

Hearing none, all opposed say or all in favor say aye.

4:02

I agree.

4:04

All right.

4:04

We have an approved agenda.

4:06

We have our minutes from our last meeting on August 17th, 2026.

4:09

Is there a motion to approve or amend the mean the minutes before us?

4:13

I so move.

4:14

Thank you.

4:16

Second.

4:17

Thank you.

4:17

Any discussion?

4:20

Discussion?

4:22

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

4:24

Aye.

4:24

Oppose nay?

4:26

Motion carries.

4:27

We have in front of us the consent agenda, items one through seventeen.

4:31

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

4:33

So move.

4:36

Second.

4:37

Second.

4:38

Thank you.

4:38

Any discussion about the motion?

4:41

Commissioner Peterson.

4:42

Mr.

4:42

Mayor, thank you.

4:43

Uh just for future reference, not worth pulling down, but I'd like to see item item similar to thirteen E, which is the contract we have with our bus station folks that are relocating with uh the help of our structural engineers.

4:53

I'd like to see those become hourly contracts.

4:55

Right now it's a flat fee based on some correspondence we just got from the mayor.

4:58

So uh just again, future reference.

5:00

This can be discussed at a different time.

5:01

Not worried about it today, but in the future I sure would like to have uh hourly to a max.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████25%
Alcoholic Beverage Licensing███████████████████████23%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Infrastructure███████████████15%
Homelessness██████████10%
Public Transit████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - August 31, 2026

The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, four public hearings, appointment of a Transit Director, discussion of a new airport liquor license, liaison reports, and public comments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 17 consent items including: Games of Chance applications; Right-of-Way Use Agreements with MBA Investments (214 6th Ave N) and Central at the Horizon (11 12th St N); Cost Participation Agreement with NDDOT for Improvement District BR-26-G1; Permanent Easement with Classic Restaurant Corporation; Encroachment Agreement with Fargo School District (1025 3rd St N); Payment of $7,616.00 to Cass County Electric Cooperative; Reimbursement of $33,400.00 to Krueger Construction; Change Order No. 1 for $5,135.00 and time extension for BR-26-A1; Contract and bond for UR-26-G1; Lease Agreement with Downtown Community Partnership; Pledged Securities as of 6/30/26; FAHR items (Sales Tax update, grant amendments, surplus auction resolution, task order no. 9 with KLJ for $20,000.00); Piggyback purchase of two Diamond Coach buses for $277,336.00; Bus wash refurbishment not to exceed $110,000.00; Employment Agreement for Water Utility Instrumentation Specialist Mateo Oliva; Bills totaling $21,719,241.

Public Hearings

  • 18. Dangerous Building – 1433 4th Avenue South: Built 1902, 1,400 sq ft, met all 10 criteria for dangerous building. The Commission voted unanimously to direct the City Attorney to prepare findings and order removal by October 30, 2026, and authorize the Inspections Department to solicit demolition bids if not removed. The owner and a potential investor requested an extension to evaluate the property, but the Commission maintained the October 30 deadline, noting the owner could demolish it themselves before then.
  • 19. Dangerous Building – 1334 1st Avenue South: Built 1900, 1,600 sq ft, met 5 of 10 criteria (considered salvageable). The Commission voted unanimously to order removal or remedy by March 31, 2027, allowing time for mortgage holder Gate City Bank to complete foreclosure and clean up the property. The bank committed to removing hazardous materials and winterizing the structure.
  • 20. Alcoholic Beverage License – Red Lobster Hospitality LLC (ownership change): Continued to September 28, 2026, at 5:05 PM for further review.
  • 21. Class "GH" Alcoholic Beverage License – Anand LLC (Anand Indian Cuisine): Approved unanimously. The restaurant will offer beer and wine only, with food sales exceeding liquor sales.
  • 22. Class "GH" Alcoholic Beverage License – The Fly Rail, LLC (Fly Rail): Approved unanimously. The establishment will serve beer and wine, sandwiches and light snacks, with no physical bar.

Appointment of Transit Director

  • The Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Jordan Smith, current Assistant Transit Director, as Transit Director. Smith has been with the City for nearly 9.5 years. Commissioner Strand highlighted Smith's Eagle Scout background and vision for transit.

Discussion and Action on Airport Liquor License

  • Received and filed ordinances relating to a proposed new Class "Airport" Alcoholic Beverage License for Hector International Airport's concessionaire, SkyDyne. The Commission discussed three areas of difference: hours of operation (10 p.m. vs. flexibility to 2 a.m.), pre-security area alcohol sales (no immediate plans, to be addressed later), and security responsibility (city prefers vendor responsibility). The Commission directed staff to incorporate feedback and bring for first reading on September 14, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.

Liaison Reports

  • Commissioner Peterson: Tour of Great Plains Food Bank (potential matching challenge lost); water treatment plant visits; utility committee; budget work; solid waste meeting; CVB meeting.
  • Commissioner Turnberg: Budget work continues.
  • Commissioner Strand: Task force on housing and renters (60% of Fargo residents rent); upcoming listening session; legislative preparation.
  • Commissioner Gullickson: Update on Flock cameras (guidelines, triggers, no individual tracking); tour of Great Plains Food Bank; routine meetings; budget questions.
  • Mayor Boschee: Budget timeline (Finance Committee Sept 8, public hearing Sept 14, final action Sept 28); attended funeral of Sgt. Tyrell Fosky; relocation of MAT bus and municipal court; ND DOT interstate coordination; special election on form of government (Oct 6); HUD Regional Administrator visit; legislative session attendance.

Public Comments

  • Maarja Krump: Raised concerns about two sober living houses on College Street operating illegally (out-of-state owner, drug sales, extortion). Asked the city to protect vulnerable clients.
  • Olivia Fisher: Opposed proposed budget cuts to social services to fund nine additional police officers. Argued police are criminalizing unhoused individuals (camping ban), while resources for housing and shelters are insufficient. Called for revising the camping ban and prioritizing social services.
  • Rachael Harvey: Highlighted police harassment of unhoused individuals sleeping on blankets in parks, while families are not bothered. Opposed reducing social service funding for more police officers, stating that lack of support infrastructure exacerbates homelessness.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items, public hearing actions, appointment, and airport license action were approved unanimously by Commissioners Gullickson, Peterson, Strand, Turnberg, and Boschee.
  • The dangerous building at 1433 4th Ave S must be removed by October 30, 2026; the building at 1334 1st Ave S by March 31, 2027.
  • Red Lobster license hearing continued to September 28, 2026.
  • The airport liquor license ordinance will be drafted incorporating Commission feedback and return for first reading on September 14, 2026.
  • Jordan Smith appointed as Transit Director.
  • The next Finance Committee meeting is September 8, 1-3 PM; the preliminary budget public hearing is September 14 at 5 PM; final budget action is September 28.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our Monday, August 31st City Commission meeting. We'll start the evening with a Pledge of Allegiance, so I invite you to stand to join us if you're able. Thank you. And with that, we'll do the roll call. Gullickson, here. Peterson? Here. Strand? Here. Turnberg? Here. Oh, Shea. Here. Thank you, everyone. Tonight we'll have a video featuring the highlights from the Fargo Police Department's annual community picnic that happened a few weeks ago, so you can pay attention to the screens on the walls above. I promise to treat others. Well, thank you to our police department, our comms GA team for putting on a success, another successful event. Always great to see our public safety partners from around the region as well as uh community partners uh participate in that event. I know a lot of folks continue to talk about how much fun it was, and of course, seeing the like looks on those kids' faces uh certainly speaks for itself. So thank you for your hard work. With that, we have an agenda in front of us, Commissioners. Is there a motion to approve the order of the agenda? So moved. Thank you. Second. There's a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Discussion? Hearing none, all opposed say or all in favor say aye. I agree. All right. We have an approved agenda. We have our minutes from our last meeting on August 17th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve or amend the mean the minutes before us? I so move. Thank you. Second. Thank you. Any discussion? Discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Oppose nay? Motion carries. We have in front of us the consent agenda, items one through seventeen. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So move. Second. Second. Thank you.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com