Far More is Happening Here

Board of City Commissioners - August 31, 2026 Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 o'clock p.m., Monday, August 31, 2026.

The Commissioners present or absent were as shown following:
Present: Boschee, Gullickson, Peterson, Strand, Turnberg.
Mayor Boschee presiding.

A video was shown featuring highlights from the Fargo Police Department Annual Community Picnic.

Order of Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Turnberg moved the Order of the Agenda be approved.

Second by Gullickson. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Minutes Approved:
Commissioner Turnberg moved that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board held on August 17, 2026 be approved as read.

Second by Gullickson. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Consent Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Strand moved the Consent Agenda be approved as follows:

1. Applications for Games of Chance.
2. Right of Way Use Agreement with MBA Investments, LLC and MBA Development Company located at 214 6th Avenue North.
3. Right of Way Use Agreement with Central at the Horizon, LP and Annex Construction of North Dakota, LLC located at 11 12th Street North.
4. Cost Participation, Construction and Maintenance Agreement – LPA Federal Aid Project with the NDDOT for Improvement District No. BR-26-G1.
5. Memorandum of Offer to Landowner and Permanent Easement (Sidewalk) with Classic Restaurant Corporation (Improvement District No. PR-26-F1).
6. Encroachment Agreement (Bus Pullout) with Fargo School District located at 1025 3rd Street North.
7. Payment to Cass County Electric Cooperative in the amount of $7,616.00 for Improvement District No. TN-26-A1.
8. Reimbursement to Krueger Construction in the amount of $33,400.00 for repair and backfill of old borrow site at 2669 65th Avenue South.
9. Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $5,135.00 and 3-day time extension to Interim, Substantial and Final Completion dates to 8/18/26, 10/6/26 and 11/5/26 respectively for Improvement District No. BR-26-A1.
10. Contract and bond for Improvement District No. UR-26-G1.
11. Lease Agreement with Downtown Community Partnership for BID operations.
12. Pledged securities as of 6/30/26.
13. Items from FAHR meeting:
a. Receive and file General Fund Sales Tax Update as of August 21, 2026.
b. Approve the notice of grant award amendment from the ND Department of Health and Human Services for grant number G25.003B CFDA 93.069.
c. Approve the notice of grant award amendment from the ND Department of Health and Human Services for grant number G25.014B CFDA 93.069.
d. Approve the resolution authorizing the Fall 2026 City of Fargo Surplus Auction, including retired City fleet, equipment and impound vehicles, through Steffes Group, the City’s contracted auction provider (Attachment “A”).
e. Approve Task Order No. 9 with KLJ in the amount of $20,000.00 for emergency site observation, evaluation and engineering services completed at the Ground Transportation Center (GTC).
14. Piggyback purchase of two Diamond Coach cutaway buses from Foreman Sales & Service, Inc. in the amount of $277,336.00 utilizing North Dakota State Contract 300-FORE (PBC27004).
15. Refurbishment of bus wash at the Metro Transit Garage in an amount not to exceed $110,000.00 (EX26220).
16. Employment Agreement Instrumentation Specialist (Contract) with Mateo Oliva in the Water Utility.
17. Bills in the amount $21,719,241.

Second by Peterson. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Peterson, Gullickson, Turnberg and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Hearing on a Dangerous Building Located at 1433 4th Avenue South: City Attorney’s Office Directed to Prepare the Appropriate Findings of Fact and Order:

A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on a dangerous building located at 1433 4th Avenue South.
Inspections Director Shawn Ouradnik said the property is a wood framed 1 ½ story single family dwelling and detached garage structure that is currently vacant and is uninhabitable due to condition and has met all 10 of the criteria for a dangerous building. The property has been a nuisance since early 2022, he said.

Property owner Amanuel Tedla said he has halted all repair efforts on his vacant house due to a lack of funds and he understands the City's concerns; however, he maintains that the building does not pose an immediate danger to the public. A City-issued "danger" sign posted on site has actively deterred prospective buyers, preventing him from listing the home effectively, he said and in light of these challenges, he is requesting an extension from the City to give him adequate time to sell the property to an investor rather than facing municipal demolition.

Representing potential investor Autopilot Properties, Kerry Johnson said the property owner recently contacted him, leaving little time to complete a full property assessment. He said based on City photos, Autopilot Properties considers the structure beyond repair and intends to demolish it to build a new home. The lot is situated in the Jefferson Historic District, he stated and any new construction must adhere to strict local historical Ordinances. To navigate these compliance requirements, he said, he is requesting a one-month extension on the City's demolition plans. This extension would allow Autopilot Properties to finalize its feasibility evaluation and design a compliant structure, he said, with the goal of pouring the foundation before the winter freeze, building throughout the winter and placing the new home on the market by spring.

Mr. Ouradnik asked the Commission to uphold an October 30th deadline to declare the hazardous property a dangerous building, explaining that while private demolition is far more cost effective for the owner than City-funded removal, which gets reassessed onto property taxes and the structure must be gone by that date regardless of parallel sales or rebuilding negotiations. He said with immediate City demolition due to long-standing safety risks, the Commission and the potential investor agreed that the owner and developer may proceed with their own less expensive tear down within the 60-day window, with the firm understanding that the City will step in and execute the demolition itself if the building is not removed by October 30th.

Commissioner Strand moved the City Attorney’s Office be directed to prepare and serve the owner with the appropriate Findings of Fact and Order and the Inspections Department be authorized to solicit proposals for the removal of this structure if it is not removed within the time allowed by the Board’s Order.

Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Turnberg, Gullickson, Peterson and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Hearing on a Dangerous Building Located at 1334 1st Avenue South: City Attorney’s Office Directed to Prepare the Appropriate Findings of Fact and Order:

A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on a dangerous building located at 1334 1st Avenue South.

Inspections Director Shawn Ouradnik said this property is a 1,600 square foot wood-frame home built in 1900 and while the owner has failed to address ongoing deficiencies, the property taxes are current and it meets 5 out of 10 criteria for a dangerous building. He said the two-year history of City involvement with the property involves multiple junk abatements, trespassing reports and hazardous living conditions, including utility disconnections and interior generator use that left the home blighted. Mortgage holder Gate City Bank has intervened through foreclosure proceedings to save the property, he said and the City supports this in order to preserve affordable housing. He said he recommends an extended demolition deadline of March 31, 2027, rather than an immediate order, giving the bank sufficient time to navigate the legal foreclosure process, clean and evaluate the structure and potentially vacate the dangerous building order if the property is successfully remediated.

Commissioner Turnberg asked whether the Inspections office could act against the severe blight, rodents and abandoned vehicles filling the yard to alleviate the eyesore for neighbors, and in response Mr. Ouradnik said the City has already secured ongoing court authority for junk abatements and has cleared the lot twice; furthermore, the previous owner no longer lives there, junk is no longer accumulating and the City is relying on Gate City Bank to help maintain the exterior until they gain full control.

In response to questions from Commissioner Peterson regarding occupancy and physical security, Mr. Ouradnik confirmed the home is completely vacant and the City officially secured the structure alongside the Fargo Police Department ensuring the site remains safe while legal proceedings unfold.

Gate City Bank representatives Sue Anderson and Jay Krabbenhoft explained that after learning the homeowner had left and the property boarded up, the bank obtained authorization from the borrower to enter and clean up the premises and to prevent safety hazards or public health risks. They said the bank is hiring a professional private company, rather than relying on the owner to clear out hazardous materials before winterizing the structure. Ms. Anderson said the ongoing foreclosure process is expected to wrap up by February, after which the bank intends to remove remaining personal belongings, clean the property and list it for sale to preserve affordable housing in the neighborhood. Mr. Krabbenhoft said the home will ultimately be auctioned at a sheriff's sale. Both representatives assured the Commission that if Gate City Bank takes direct possession, they remain fully committed to securing, maintaining and restoring the home to serve the community.

Commissioner Gullickson moved the City Attorney’s Office be directed to prepare and serve the owner with the appropriate Findings of Fact and Order and the Inspections Department be authorized to solicit proposals for the removal of this structure if it is not removed within the time allowed by the Board’s Order.

Second by Peterson. On call of the roll Commissioners Gullickson, Peterson, Strand, Turnberg and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Hearing on an Application for an Ownership Change of the Alcoholic Beverage License for Red Lobster Hospitality LLC d/b/a Red Lobster #309 Continued to September 28, 2026:

A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on an application for an ownership change of the Class “A" Alcoholic Beverage License for Red Lobster Hospitality LLC d/b/a Red Lobster #309 located at 4215 13th Avenue South.

Commissioner Turnberg moved the Hearing be continued to 5:05 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Second by Gullickson. On call of the roll Commissioners Turnberg, Gullickson, Peterson, Strand and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Application Filed by Anand LLC d/b/a Anand Indian Cuisine for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:

A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by Anand LLC d/b/a Anand Indian Cuisine for a Class "GH" Alcoholic Beverage License at 1109 38th Street South, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo. No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.

The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
Deputy City Auditor Angie Bear said Anand LLC originally applied for a Class “F” liquor license and updated the request to a “GH” license after opting for beer and wine service only, with no spirits and under this “GH” license, food sales must exceed total alcohol sales. She said Anand Indian Cuisine is a modern Indian restaurant offering a lunch buffet alongside full-service evening dining.

Commissioner Gullickson moved the application be approved.

Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Gullickson, Turnberg, Peterson, Strand and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Application Filed by The Fly Rail, LLC d/b/a Fly Rail for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:

A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by The Fly Rail, LLC d/b/a Fly Rail for a Class "GH’ Alcoholic Beverage License at 1531 University Drive South, Unit D, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.

The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
Deputy City Auditor Angie Bear said a “GH” liquor license permits beer and wine sales only, with food sales required to exceed alcohol sales. She said Fly Rail will offer light snacks and sandwiches alongside gaming options and will operate without a physical bar.

Commissioner Turnberg moved the application be approved.

Jordan Smith Appointed Transit Director:

City Administrator Michael Redlinger said the Transit Director Selection Committee completed the final component of the selection process for the Transit Director position on August 21, 2026. Following the assessments, the Committee discussed the candidate’s rankings and recommended Jordan Smith, currently the Assistant Transit Director for Fleet & Facilities, be appointed as Transit Director.

Mr. Smith expressed gratitude to the City Commission for their confidence in appointing him to lead the Transit Department and he looks forward to collaborating with employees, partners and City Commissioners to address the immediate challenges facing the Transit system.

Commissioner Strand moved Jordan Smith be appointed Transit Director.

Second by Turnberg. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Turnberg, Gullickson, Peterson and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

An Ordinance Amending Section 25-1506 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25, of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Licenses-Classification, an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1507 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25, of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Licenses-Fees and an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1508 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25, of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Issuance and Transfer of Licenses-Restrictions- Hearing Required to be Placed on First Reading at the Next Regular Meeting of the Board:

Assistant City Attorney Will Wischer said this Ordinance creates a new Class “Airport” license tailored to Hector International Airport, only one Class “Airport” license may exist and be issued only to the food and beverage concessionaire operating under a written agreement with the Fargo Municipal Airport Authority. The license authorizes the on-sale sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits at approved locations within the airport terminal and the Ordinance designates time of operation and food sale requirements, he said. The Ordinance establishes an initial issuance fee of $115,000.00 and an annual fee of $1,700.00, he said. For the initial issuance, the $115,000.00 fee will be waived and the current concessionaire must surrender the existing Class “A” license to the City without payment, compensation, reimbursement or credit and the surrendered Class “A” license will return to the City’s control, he said. The Class “Airport” license is tied to the concession agreement and cannot be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise conveyed, he said and if the concession agreement expires or terminates, the Class “Airport” license automatically terminates and reverts to the City without cost or compensation and all alcoholic beverage sale privileges immediately cease. He said the City and Sky Dine remain in discussion over several key aspects of the proposed alcohol service policy, primarily concerning operational flexibility and oversight. He said the Ordinance presently provides a 10:00 p.m. service cutoff and case-by-case Resolution authority for pre-security sales, while Sky Dine seeks upfront authorization and the flexibility to serve drinks past 10:00 p.m. and for alcohol consumption expanding across gate areas. The City requires stringent, vendor-led staffing, signage, training and security protocols, he stated, whereas Sky Dine favors an approach that relies on existing TSA and airport staff. He said while the license can be granted, the final motion must be refined using input from Commissioners and airport representatives, with the completed security and alcohol management plan ultimately requiring approval from the Police, the Auditor’s office and the City Commission.

The Commissioners discussion focused on a proposed Resolution to permit passengers to carry alcoholic beverages throughout the airport terminal, offering flexibility for future airport expansions, security plan updates and service hours extended up to 2:00 a.m. to accommodate flight delays. Commissioners noted that allowing drinks at departure gates relieves congestion in small restaurant areas and aligns with standard national airport amenities, emphasizing that regulations against boarding while intoxicated remain in effect. To address public safety and City budget concerns, the Commissioners agreed that primary monitoring responsibility should rest with the vendor rather than City police, proposing a one-year review to adjust rules or implement ID measures if needed. While no pre-security drinking venues currently exist, they stated, the Resolution leaves room to revisit the issue if future plans change.

Commissioner Peterson moved an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1506 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Licenses-Classification, an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1507 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Licenses-Fees and an Ordinance Amending Section 25-1508 of Article 25-15, of Chapter 25, of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Issuance and Transfer of Licenses-Restrictions - Hearing Required be received and filed and placed on first reading at the next Regular Meeting of the Board.

Second by Gullickson. On call of the roll Commissioners Peterson, Gullickson, Strand, Turnberg and Boschee voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates:
The Commissioners gave reports on the Boards and Committees on which they serve.

Public Comments:
Maarja Krump, Olivia Fischer and Rachael Harvey spoke.

The meeting adjourned at 6:07 o’clock p.m.