Fargo Youth Initiative - April 6, 2025 Minutes
A Meeting of the Fargo Youth Initiative Members of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in Atomic Coffee, 222 Broadway N #100, at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, April 6, 2025.
The Fargo Youth Initiative Members present or absent were as follows:
Present*: Aiden Rosten, Ashley Hsu, Isabella Meyer, Harper Reiniger, Justin Jiang, Kaj Naujokas, Lucy Paul, Minou Babingui, Reanna Quiah, Setiya Hamidi
Absent: Abigail Hamilton, Ava Bach, Drew Burris, Kallie Anderson, Erica Johnson, Koral Siegal, Lillian Dybing, McKenzie Olson, Rose Ali, Steph Kramer
*Due to lack of quorum for an official meeting, the meeting commenced with informal presentation and discussion.
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Meyer welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Agenda & Minutes
Vice Chair Babingui moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the March 2, 2025 Fargo Youth Initiative meetings be unofficially approved. Second by Member Hamidi. Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried unofficially.
Item 3. School Engagement
No updates were heard for this item.
Item 4. Youth Public Health
Fargo Cass Public Health Public Information Officer Holly Scott and Fargo Chief Communications Officer Gregg Schildberger shared about a potential youth substance abuse prevention campaign. Members asked questions and gave feedback on outreach and messaging strategies. Those interested in serving on a smaller focus group are encouraged to email Holly at HScott@FargoND.gov.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared updates on behalf of Fargo Cass Public Health Community Health Educator Abby Lange, including thanks to FYI members for supporting the Anti-Tobacco Youth Action Summit on March 4 and serving on the youth panel of the Cass Clay Suicide Prevention Coalition’s summit on April 8.
Item 5. Youth Homelessness
Commissioner Kolpack provided updates on the City’s efforts to address homelessness,
Including advocacy at the legislative session for funding and continuing to lean on nonprofit partners in the “United to End Homelessness” program. She encouraged Members to stay engaged, make public comments at City Commission meetings, and share their perspectives as youth.
Item 6. Fargo Transit Discussion
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared information on behalf of Transit Planner Luke Grittner regarding MATBUS usage and responses to questions Members had submitted. Members expressed interest in learning more about how situations are monitored on the bus and what interventions are possible to ensure youth rider safety and comfort.
Commissioner Kolpack invited members to attend MATBUS Coordination Committee meetings which are technical but always open to public input. She also described funding issues the transit system currently faces.
Item 7. North Dakota Legislative Session
Commissioner Kolpack shared an overview of key legislative activity of impact the City including property tax reform, approval voting revocation, and funding for the Red River water supply. Further discussion was held regarding other bills such as cell phone bans, housing funding, book bans, and library and museum funding.
Item 8. Volunteering Discussion
Chair Meyer said she is working to set up a group volunteering effort for something related to homelessness, to align with the board’s focus areas this year.
Item 9. Liaison and Staff Reports
Commissioner Kolpack shared a report on City Commission items including the budget cycle and the upcoming mayoral and City Commission race, including consideration for adding two more seats to the City Commission.
Member Hamidi shared a report on the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee.
Assistant Planner Christie shared a report on behalf of Librarian Anna Lynch that she is tabling at the high schools in response to Members’ input last meeting. Christie also shared that she submitted their feedback for the City’s Land Diagnostic Code re-write and there is interest in further collaboration in June. Meanwhile, Members can visit FargoLDC.org/Project-Documents and watch “Code Connect” session recordings for updates.
Item 10. Announcements
Vice Chair Babingui shared an invitation to attend an Umoja event on April 18 at 5:30pm at the Arbors for students to review and present solutions on improving their communities.
Item 11. Adjourn – Next meeting May 4, 2025
The time of adjournment was 2:57 p.m.