The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, September 14, 2026, beginning with a 4:00 p.m. executive session in the Red River Room to receive city attorney advice about anticipated litigation involving former city employees and related legal and fiscal strategy, as authorized by NDCC 44-04-19.1 subsections 2, 5, and 9 and NDCC 44-04-19.2(1). The open portion of the meeting included routine consent items, an annexation and subdivision/development agreement, discussion of a code-enforcement case, the 2027 budget schedule, and public comments.
The consent calendar included:
Public comment was limited to 2.5 minutes per speaker, with 30 minutes total allowed. The commission also granted an additional 2.5 minutes to the property owner in the 1433 4th Avenue South matter.
Mayor opened the public hearing on the annexation of part of the north half of Section 10, Township 138 North, Range 49 West. The entire annexation area will be included in the Cubby Ranch Third Edition subdivision. Staff displayed a map showing the newly annexed area and an adjacent area already inside city limits, with proposed land uses including limited commercial, MR3 multi-dwelling residential, SR4 single-dwelling residential, and PI public/institutional.
No members of the public spoke during the annexation hearing. Jace Hellman, speaking on behalf of the development group, said he had no additional information.
Staff highlighted the developer agreement and said the project would be bid so as to attract as many bidders as possible and help control costs. Commissioners discussed future special-assessment policy questions and how they might affect edge or greenfield development. One commissioner said assessments are viewed as an incentive but that future decisions about assessment splits, percentages, and priorities could change policy; that commissioner was not in favor of changing what the city currently offers but acknowledged those topics were forthcoming. The commission approved the annexation and related items by roll-call vote.
City staff and the property owner discussed the repair-and-demolition case. Staff reviewed the procedural history: the owner received an extension to March 27, 2026; a later extension request was denied; the owner filed litigation; and the city entered into an agreement allowing 90 days to get the structure “weathered in” — meaning roofed, with windows and doors tied back — and 120 days for it to be cited.
A staff member said the two demolition bids considered earlier were checked again on July 2, 2026, and both bidders confirmed they would still honor those bids after the 90-day period. Staff reported that the city had not had one proper inspection of the property, that workers often were not on site and did not call in inspections, and that, based on what was there on the 28th, roughly three to four weeks of work would still be needed to complete the project properly. Staff said another two-week extension would likely set the owner up to fail and that they expected the matter would return to the commission.
A commissioner said they would rather see more than $46,000 put into the house than spent on demolition. The mayor and other commissioners urged the owner to work with staff and follow all ordinances. One commissioner said they would support the owner and trust the work would be completed within the next two weeks, but explicitly warned: if the matter returned after that, they would vote without hesitation to demolish the home. Staff said the permit could be reopened so the owner would not incur another permit fee or additional cost. The commission then held a roll-call vote on the matter.
The mayor said the Finance Committee will meet September 23 at 10:00 a.m. in the commission chambers, and the commission’s final budget discussion will occur at the September 28 commission meeting, where the commission hopes to pass the 2027 budget in order to meet the statutory deadline for local political subdivisions. The mayor also said public input on the budget had been “palpably loud and clear” and encouraged residents to continue sharing their thoughts.
Will join me uh for part of the presentation for item 36. Item 35 is the mayor stated here is an annexation of port part of the north half of section 10, Township 138 North Range 49 West. This is 64th Avenue South here. This is North Dakota State College of Science and Capstone Academy. The uh black outlined area depicts the area to be annexed. Uh this is a one shot of it here. Uh the uh there are no structures in the annexation area. Again, here's the State School of Science, College of Science and Capstone Academy. In the annexation area, there are no structures. The area has recently been under cultivation. Uh this is an excerpt from the Fargo Growth Plan 2024. The subject property is shown here in uh section three of Supergrid A at the December 2nd, 2025 Planning Commission. That commission found the annexation is consistent with the Fargo Growth Plan. This is the annexation plat. Again, it's a required part of the annexation. It depicts the annexation area. The entire annexation area will be included in the uh Cubby Ranch Third Edition subdivision, which will be our next agenda item. The annexation has been uh noticed as required by North Dakota Century Code. The applicant's representatives, Jace Hellman and Don Dabbert of Dabert Custom Homes are with us this evening and they wish to address the Commission. The recommended motion is stated in your staff report and shown on the screen. That concludes staff's presentation. Thank you, Commissioners. Any questions for Mr. Cress? All right. Is there anyone present who wishes to speak to the Commission regarding this annexation? Please state your name. Good evening, Commissioners. Jay Selman, on behalf of the developer for this project. I don't have anything additional to add to that. I appreciate Donald for the presentation for that. Just here to ask any questions you guys may have. Thank you. Any questions for the developer? Questions? All right. Is there anyone else here to speak to the city commission regarding the annexation? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Uh is there a motion, Commissioners? So move. Thank you, Commissioner. Second. There's a motion and second. Any discussion related to the annexation presented in front of us. Discussion. Right. Hearing none, we'll do a roll call vote. Strand? Yes. Turnberg?