Human Rights Commission - July 17, 2025

The Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, July 17, 2025.

The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:

Present: Xavier Welty, Sekou Sirleaf, Kristin Nelson, Carolyn Becraft, Aaron Kawreh, Nancy Boyle.

Absent: Tambah Saah, Ritchell Aboah, Zoe Absey, Cody Severson.

Others: Brenda Derrig, Administration

Item 1. Welcome and introductions:
o The meeting was called to order by Sekou.

Item 2. Approve or amend agenda:
o Motion by Carolyn to approve the agenda.
o Second by Xavier.
o The motion was passed unanimously

Item 3. Approval of June 19, 2025 meeting minutes:
o Motion by Carolyn to approve minutes of June 19, 2025 meeting.
o Second by Kristin.
o The motion was passed unanimously.

Item 4. Strategic Planning Discussion
o Sekou said at last month’s meeting, two strategic priorities were established: Enhancing meaningful community engagement and Unity in Action.
o Brenda said this item will be kept on the agenda and the Board will continue discussions as these strategic priorities move forward. It was discussed having a booth at as many events as possible as long as the booth is staffed.
o Sekou said the Board is open to invitations from the community to participate in programs and events.

Item 5. Fargo’s Rental Processes - Inspections:
o Inspections Director Shawn Ouradnik said the City’s rental inspection program involves going through as many rental units as possible in a year to ensure they meet minimum safety and sanitary standards. So far in 2025, there have been more than 1,300 inspections, 135 complaint investigations and the department manages more than 4,700 active rental licenses. The City enforces the International Property Maintenance Code and inspects safety and maintenance issues. His department also inspects home daycares as part of the rental program. Inspections collaborates with multiple departments, he said, including Planning, Engineering and others, as well as State and outside entities. Each property is inspected every three years unless there are significant issues. Structures newer than 20 years are not inspected unless there is a complaint. After a complaint is received, Inspections works with property managers and owners to correct violations. The team for rental and daycare inspections is two full-time inspectors and one residential inspector, who works half-time to help with the workload. For serious safety issues, immediate action is required, and for less serious issues, property owners have 30 days. The goal is to achieve compliance as quickly as possible, and after 30 days, a second inspection is done and if the violation is not corrected, fines start at $150.00 per inspection with inspections done daily until there is compliance. If that is not enough, he stated, the City Attorney gets involved.
Kristin asked about rental homes and Shawn said the City cannot force people to tell Inspections which homes are rentals; however, new code changes are being implemented that will require a secondary Certificate of Occupancy to rent anything in Fargo. Inspections finds out about rental homes through complaints from neighbors or sometimes property management companies. Many home owners come in voluntary and ask what is needed to rent their home; therefore, Inspections knows about most of the home rentals. Without a Certification of Occupancy, the owner will be in violation of the law. If an owner refuses to fix violations, letters are sent to the tenants telling them they have to move due to the fact that the City is going to rescind the Certificate of Occupancy and that pressure is usually enough to get owners to comply. Otherwise, there is language in ND Century Code regarding tenants’ rights and the City directs tenants to legal services and other resources. Unless it is an emergency, tenants are given plenty of time to find a new place.

Item 6. Strong Towns Fargo
Arlette Preston said Strong Towns Fargo is a local effort connected with a national organization based in Brainerd, Minnesota. The national group's mission is to influence development patterns in American cities toward a more resilient and financially sustainable model that makes cities more livable, safe and healthy. At the local level, the group promotes biking, walking and skateboarding to reduce car-related injuries and negative health impacts. A walkable and bikeable neighborhood needs well-maintained infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes, and mixed-use development where residential and commercial areas are integrated, which makes services much more accessible. The City's growth plan identifies neighborhood centers where services are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride or by public transit, including traffic calming to slow cars and make streets pedestrian-friendly and access to public spaces for community gatherings. A car-centric design, however, creates a sense of insecurity and wide, multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic and narrow sidewalks right next to the street are common. Car-centric cities disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color in several ways, including higher exposure to air and noise pollution, economic disadvantages, limited access to opportunities and inadequate public transportation, health concerns, social inequities and infrastructure-led segregation. The benefits of the Strong Towns approach are on the physical side, promoting active lifestyles improves health, reduces the risk of chronic illnesses and builds physical activity right into daily life. There are also significant financial benefits with housing costs rising faster than incomes, and many people are finding it difficult to afford rent, the cost of car ownership is a major factor and for low-income households, eliminating this expense can make a huge difference. Car-dependent households spend 15% to 25% of their income on transportation, however, a walkable community frees up money for housing, savings and local spending. For the City, mixed-use and higher-density developments generate more tax revenue per acre, and lower infrastructure costs help small businesses thrive. Locally, the Strong Towns Fargo group is focused on safe streets advocacy, and has been studying the potential conversion of 10th Street and University Drive from one-way to two-way streets
Carolyn asked about the lack of public transportation in far south Fargo and asked how it can be expanded. Arlette said many people cannot afford a car and some choose not to have one. The goal is to provide opportunities for everyone to access services by walking, biking or taking public transit. Downtown is very walkable and a major employment center, however, the vision is to build similar areas in other parts of the City, which will take many years.

Item 7. Community Presentation: Liberians
o Sekou said Liberians are the largest immigrant community in North Dakota, with more than 4,700 in Fargo.
o Ebenezer Saye, president of the United Liberian Association in ND, said Liberian Independence Day celebrations will be July 19 and July 26. He said Liberians lack a dedicated space to gather, celebrate heritage and mentor youth. This year, he said, the goal is to raise $50,000.00 to establish a community center for Liberians in North Dakota and Moorhead. The center will be a hub for cultural enrichment, education and social engagement. It will also foster unity and pride within the community. It will be open to other African communities in the Fargo-Moorhead area, he said, strengthening bonds and promoting growth. He said he is appealing to city, state and federal officials, human rights organizations and advocates for financial contributions.

Item 8. Administration Update:
o The August meeting will be for strategic planning and the next regular HRC meeting will be in September.

Item 9. Announcements:
o Brenda said applications have been received for the one vacant seat on the HRC.
o Brenda said funding for the MLK and Juneteenth events may be cut for next year and that several social services are on the list for possible cuts.

Public comment:
o One speaker about Disability Awareness Month.

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 1:05pm

Next meeting:
o Strategic Planning Meeting August 21, 2025 at noon in the Meadowlark Room.
o Regular Meeting September 18, 2025 at noon in the Commission Chambers