00:00:03,830	Good evening everyone. It is August 20th and we are at the Bismarck Park Board. Um, commissioners meeting. And, Julie, first thing I’d ask you to do is call roll for us. Commissioner Herzog here. Redmann here. Hanson here. Gilbertson here. President Jeske here.

00:00:23,570	I would ask that we all stand if we are able remove our caps as we do the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

00:00:50,770	We’ll move on to item number three, which is the approval of the agenda. I need a motion, please. So moved. Second. I have a motion by Commissioner Redmann. I have a second by Commissioner Gilbertson. If there’s no discussion, I will ask Julie to please call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann I. Hanson.. I. Gilbertson I. President Jeske.

00:01:12,700	I, um, today we have our featured partners and programs. We’ve got Dave Nash with the Bismarck marathon. He’s appearing before the board to talk about this year’s marathon. Dave, come on up to the podium. We’re excited to have you here. Thank you. Yeah. Andy Nielsen and Patrick Johnson couldn’t be here, so they called me off the bench.

00:01:33,570	So that’s why I’m here. I’ll give you a few, uh, updates. This is a little bit stale, but there’s 1425 registered so far. And from 37 states and D.C., and four for foreign countries. We have, uh, 280 are from outside North Dakota going to be visiting Bismarck Mandan.

00:01:58,100	47% of the total is Bismarck Mandan residents. And what else do we have here? The age range is all the way from 13 to the age of 85. Are participating. There’s 120 200 age 18, 59% of are women, and 51 are relays teams, which are are sold out.

00:02:21,570	Uh, I wanted to do a while. I had a chance do a little history of this and and personally thank the park board because, uh, without the park board, we probably wouldn’t have been able to maintain the marathon as long as we did.

00:02:34,970	Uh, I met with, uh, Bill at the Y in about 94, and they were kind of wanting to transition out of doing the marathon. So I got together with some friends, and we decided that we would do 1 or 2 years, we’d help, and then we would take it over.

00:02:52,030	So another person I want to mention is Keith Glatt, who was a major sponsor for the first five years of the race. But, uh, yeah, we started we had to move to, uh, Pioneer Park for a couple of years, and then the road caved in.

00:03:12,600	So then we moved to Sir Thomas, and we got the flood. So then we moved over to, uh, uh, the park Cottonwood and stilled the flood. So I was an expert at the certifying marathon races for a while, but, uh, and it was, you know, the park helped.

00:03:35,530	They brought pumps because there was a one part where we were literally pumping the water out as the cottonwood, as the runners were coming through. And, uh, that was a big help for sure. So the partner and then we had guys that would come out and show us where not to put our post for the, you know, at Cottonwood. So we weren’t hitting irrigation and stuff like that.

00:03:54,500	So, so really it was it’s really kind of thrilling. I had a chance to it’s been a while since I’ve been involved with it, although they found me this year.

00:04:09,670	Uh, to think back at how it really makes you proud to be part of a community like this, because it was, you know, I mean, the park board didn’t have anything invested in it other than, you know, supporting someone in a in a local race. It was it was really nice. So that’s it for what I’ve got. What are any questions. We do, Commissioner Redmann.

00:04:24,430	Thank you, president Davis. So nice to see you. And and yes, there’s no hiding. They found you that no one gets off the island. But, um, it’s. You’re right. The history. But it’s also involving a park all the time. And we’re just so, so proud of that. Just the days of Pioneer Park.

00:04:40,100	And, you know, Nancy Thompson driving the school bus to lead the runners out. And so I know you stand on lots of big shoulders and but you’re also one of them. So thanks for all that you do for the running community and all the opportunities you provide. So thank you so much. You bet. Thank you guys.

00:04:54,270	Dave, can I tell my one favorite Dave Nash story? So I think we’re at the Boston Marathon. And prior to the race we were all on the bus and you said, gosh, I probably should have ran more than six miles before the Boston. And yet I think you still beat me.

00:05:11,130	So, um, really appreciate all that you do for the running community. You know, you volunteer a tremendous amount of your time. You put a lot of heart into everything. And thank you for, for, for everything that you do. You bet. Thanks to my pleasure. Thank you guys. Thank you Dave. All right.

00:05:30,100	We’ll move on to item number five, which is the disposition of bids. We have the Custer Park stage disposition, and we’ll ask Brad. Sorry. From AGL to present and review the bids. Good evening, president Jeske commissioners. Executive director, Lehrer again. I’m Brett Holt here tonight to just walk you through a bid opening we held for the Custer Park stage replacement project.

00:05:56,230	And if you’re not aware, that is removing the existing wooden stage and replacing it with a concrete stage roughly of the same size, maybe a little bit larger, but generally of the same size? Uh, open bids on August 12th, we only received one bid of from phase Concrete, and they’re out of Cedar City, Utah.

00:06:19,170	I’m not familiar with that company. We didn’t have any correspondence with them leading up to the bid, but they did submit a bid of 90,000 for base bid.

00:06:36,830	We we did bid an alternate, which is to put a form liner surface on the outside of the concrete wall, help it to tie in with the park, kind of a cobblestone field. Look, that price was 6000. And so when you combine base bid in the alternate one, we have a total bid price of 96,000. Uh, we did do an opinion of cost and our opinion of cost for the base bid and bid alternate was 47,500.

00:06:59,370	So when you look at the discrepancy between our estimate and the actual bid, we don’t feel comfortable recommending an award to to that. So we would ask you to consider rejecting that bid. We’ll work with staff to pick some schedules and get a schedule for next season. Uh, to rebid the project.

00:07:20,770	Uh, we do feel like numbers will be more competitive if we give them a little more time. We did hear from one contractor that they would have bid it, but they just were booked up with work for for this fall. So, uh, that’s kind of the summary. We have the the numbers on the, bid opening summary for you to look at.

00:07:38,770	If you need further information, but happy to stand for questions if you have any. Commissioner Gilbertson. Um, Brad. Do you think bidding doesn’t matter if we bid in the fall or in the spring or. I mean, what’s what’s your opinion? I think we should bid it this fall yet. Uh, get get it rebid, get the numbers. But the completion date would move.

00:08:00,800	Obviously will be in the winter, so we’ll pick a date in spring or early summer of 27. Uh, we’ve talked a little bit with staff. We’ll just have to look at the schedule for events there and make sure we can. We can get it in there. Um, we’re probably looking at about a month start to finish. So.

00:08:18,730	I have one more question to if I’m if I could when you say concrete, I mean, so you’re looking at this is three, four feet of solid concrete across the lake. I mean how how does. Great question. President Jeske does.

00:08:37,000	That go? Commissioner Gilbertson so we’ve we’ve designed it with a a small wall about two feet in height. Then we will backfill that wall elevation with sand, and then we’ll pour a four inch slab over the top of that. So it’s not a full depth, uh, slab of concrete, but, uh, pretty, pretty straightforward. Cool. Yeah. Thank you. Commissioner Hanson. Uh.

00:09:01,400	President Jeske, just to follow up on Commissioner Gilbertson question, uh, the it’s very typical of the industry to have fall bids to get ready for the next season with sharper pencils and more interest.

00:09:21,400	So I completely agree with the recommendation that is brought before us and the reasoning behind it, because I’m confident we’ll get better bids if we do in October or November. Bid lighting. Thank you, thank you. Brett, if I may, I have one other question for you.

00:09:39,830	Why are we looking at doing concrete as opposed to like a wood alternative product? President Jeske, my understanding, and it’s kind of industry known that that will be a like a 20 year lifespan would just as you know, doesn’t perform quite that well. And the existing stage, you know, has its limitations on its age currently. So it’s time to replace it with something more durable. Yeah. Commissioners, any other questions? At this time? I’ll look for a motion, please.

00:10:03,400	President Jeske I would I would move that we we accept the recommendation before us and we reject the bid received and and rebid the project for the spring 2027 construction season. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Hanson. We have a second by Commissioner Herzog. Do we have any other additional discussion? There be a nonetheless. Julietta, please call the roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann. A Hanson. A Gilbertson.

00:10:26,270	A president. Jeske. I thank you, Brad. Thank you. We’ll move on to the 2027 parking lot. Improvements. And we will have Brad Croxton come to the from clay, come to the podium. Hello, Brad. Hello, president. Jeske. Commissioners. Executive director, leaker.

00:10:52,530	I’m here tonight to present to you what we’ve called the 2026 parking lot renovations project. Uh, this is a project that we put out to bid. Bids were due August 12th, and we did advertise three times as required. We on this project, we requested bids from a single general contractor for all 11 different parking lot projects that were bid as separate bid schedules. In this project. Um.

00:11:22,870	We put together an engineer’s opinion of probable cost, those based on recent bid prices on similar projects in 2026. Uh, we ended up receiving two bids on this project. Uh, they were open and read aloud.

00:11:45,900	They were both, uh, good bids, and they were from Strata Corporation doing business as knife River and from Northern Improvement Company. I believe in your packet is a list of the bids for each project, and it has an itemized list from each contractor for each schedule. The total of the bids, uh, received were strata being the low bidder at $6,031,237.24, and Northern Improvement was slightly higher, about 90,000 higher than that.

00:12:22,930	Both of these bids were lower than our estimate of approximately 6.2 million. So all really close between our estimate and the bids, which is generally an indication of very good bids based on that. And in the fact that we know your bond, you have a limited budget.

00:12:45,330	We looked at these projects and we had to determine which project or which parking lot, you know, couldn’t fit within the budget. And this was known going in. Um, when we sat down and put this project together that we knew you had a certain bond budget, and we bid at least one extra project in there just in case.

00:13:08,300	We got really, really good bids and that we could fit them all in. But in talking with staff, we decided that the Bismarck Municipal Country Club East parking lot is the best one to not do at this time. Um, largely because it fit the right price range of one project that could be pulled out.

00:13:35,930	And um, also due to allowing some more time for scheduling of weddings and other things like that, that they could work around. So we also decided to pull out the shelter. Eight parking lot, which was just adding four stalls to that parking lot.

00:13:56,670	The bids received there were quite a bit higher than our estimate, and it just didn’t seem a good value for the price to add those four stalls. So with that, we’re recommending that you award schedules one through four, schedules six through ten, and schedule two. Alternate A in the amount of $5,308,804.25 to Strata Corporation, doing business as Night Forever.

00:14:31,770	And just one other thing to add, uh, the completion date for this project. It’s kind of a multiyear project. They can start work on the parking lots this year as soon as they’re awarded, but they have to be complete by basically before Thanksgiving next year.

00:14:50,100	One other thing is that working with staff, we looked at the times that those parking lots are most used, and we’ve limited the time that contractors can work into those parking lots on each one. Each has its own schedule to a time that works well with all the user events going on at each site. So with that, I’ll stand for any questions.

00:15:10,400	Commissioners questions. Commissioner Herzog. Um, president. Commissioners. Brad, thanks. Um, just maybe a stupid question, but did we ever look at breaking them up to have Northern Improvement? Do some strata do some, depending on the cost of each? Because obviously they were lower on some in strata, you know,

00:15:29,600	overall strata was was lower on all of the pieces. But is that just a kind of a pain in the butt for them to get people rolling? And or is the price reflect? We want to do all the projects and you’re getting all the project discount. Here. Uh, president Jeske commissioners.

00:15:46,170	Commissioner Herzog. We did look at all those different scenarios. We kind of worked through those with, uh, former executive director, Klipfel and staff and talked about the different options. What might be the better option or not. We also talked to some of the local contractors and got their opinion on what might be best.

00:16:06,430	Um, no way to tell exactly what the best way would have been. But based on that information we had at the time, it was determined that it would be best to bid it to one contractor.

00:16:25,470	Um, largely due to efficiencies and, you know, both on the contractor side understanding they have a larger project on our side managing it. Um, in a very variety of other reasons. So thanks, Brad. I think just people would probably want to know, hey, one of these was lower, but why didn’t we pick that? So I appreciate the explanation. And I appreciate that. Brad.

00:16:44,370	My question was going to be why? Why were we going with a single general contractor? What’s the value of that? But you explained it quite and quite nicely. So thank you so much for. That. Commissioners. Any other questions for Brad? I’m looking for a motion.

00:17:02,300	President Jeske I move that we, uh, award schedules one through four, schedules six through ten and schedule two alternate A in the amount of $5,308,804.25 to Strata Corporation, also known as knife River. Second, that. We have a motion by Commissioner Gilbertson. We have a second by Commissioner Redmann. If there’s no further debate, I’d ask Julie to please call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann. Hi. Hanson. Hi, Gilbertson.

00:17:33,470	I president Jeske. Hi, Julie. Do we need to also make a motion to not approve schedule for your. Fine. Okay, we’ll move on to item number six then. Thank you. Brad, which is the potential tariff impacts to Schaumburg Ice Arena refrigeration package replacement.

00:17:54,570	And I would ask Jeff Ogle to please come up to the podium. Hello, Jeff. How are you? Good. Good to see you, president Jeske. Good to see you too. Park board members, good to talk with you. Um, so I’m here today, as you may recall, uh, earlier this year, we bid the replacement of the refrigeration package for the Schaumburg Ice Arena.

00:18:12,430	Um, at that time, Simcoe Refrigeration, which is a Canadian company. Uh, they do a lot of their, uh, ice. Uh, products are manufactured out of Toronto or between Toronto and Canada. So they’re a Canadian company? Uh, they do have businesses, business units within the US, but those are largely commercial refrigeration units.

00:18:35,430	So groups that build large, um, for instance, meatpacking plants, those types of things. And so that was approximately a $2.9 million bid. Simcoe was awarded that bid. Uh, contracts were written and engineering started on that process. So over the last few months, engineering has been has been going on. And the, the, the skid itself hasn’t been gone into production yet.

00:18:59,900	However, parts have been ordered in order for it to go into production. Uh, the delivery of the plant is scheduled for May of 2027. So this was going to be a year long production process in order to get this plant.

00:19:23,900	So, um, um, as you may be aware, um, uh, in July, in mid-July, uh, the US government decided to, um, through executive order, um, place a 50% tariff on Canadian goods. Certain Canadian goods. At the time, there was a lot of discussion that this was hockey sticks and maple syrup and whiskey. Well, as we found out at the end of July, it includes much more than that.

00:19:46,300	And so on July 31st, this was a Friday. I received a phone call from Drew Perriman, who is the account manager for Simcoe. Um, Simcoe, US operations.

00:20:05,030	Drew called me up and told me that, um, after visiting with their, uh, customs attorneys and brokers and advisors, that they are suspecting that that the refrigeration plant is a piece of is a product that will also be subject to these tariffs. And he indicated at the time that, uh, the following week he would send a letter that would identify what they projected, that tariff amount to be.

00:20:22,630	Um, uh, I, of course, called Mike, which Mike Wald. What? He wasn’t too happy about me ruining his Friday afternoon, and I think he. Mike hesitated to, uh, to let, uh, Executive Director Lee. No, let him have the weekend off from. this from this topic? Yeah, yeah.

00:20:43,270	That said, the following week, on August 4th, we did receive a letter, which I believe is in your packet. This came from, um, the vice president of, uh, Simcoe Refrigeration, their US operations, Jeff Henson. Uh, this very clearly delineates how they arrived at of at their view of this particular issue. Um, within a couple of days of that, I received a follow up.

00:21:06,470	Um, in which Simcoe was trying to look for solutions to, to resolve this issue, at least, at least to try to reduce the impact. And so what they indicated to us is that the tariff, as it stands, based on their assumptions, through the advisement of their folks, would be an additional

00:21:26,670	$530,000. And so this is a 50% tariff on the on the retail price of the package itself. So the entire bid includes a lot of other things that don’t have the tariff on it, such as, for instance, labor or pipe that might they might be buying here.

00:21:49,700	Um, uh, the follow up provided an alternative which would which they’re suggesting would be, um, less cost, still increased cost. But what they would do in this instance is, is they have a new refrigeration factory that they have built in South Carolina, and they were suggesting that they could move the fabrication of this plant down to South Carolina.

00:22:12,670	However, that doesn’t come without a cost, primarily because this plant isn’t designed to fabricate this type of equipment. So all the pieces and parts that are Canadian would still have to come across the border and be subject to tariffs. At the same time, they would have to bring specialists down from Canada who work on this type of equipment.

00:22:33,100	Um, and that itself provides some concern for me personally, having folks that, that, uh, don’t typically build this kind of equipment working on it. So this information was also shared with, uh, with Parks and Rec staff on Monday.

00:23:00,700	Um, myself, uh, executive director, leaker Mike Wald, Cathy Feist and the park director, parks board attorney met just to talk through what options are in front of us. Uh, the first thing we looked at was the contract. Now, I know from my experience that typically contractors, when they bid projects, this shows up in both their instructions to bidders as well as their contract. It says very explicitly that they’re responsible for covering the cost of all taxes.

00:23:19,900	But it also says all taxes known at the time of the bid. So that tells me that this clearly, when you look at when this was bid and when the tariff came into place, there was no way that Simcoe could possibly know that that that this was going to happen.

00:23:37,330	So that kind of backs us into a corner a little bit. So we looked at the three alternatives that we have in front of us. Uh, alternative one is the Park district does have it within the contract and within their ability to terminate the contract with Simcoe.

00:23:53,700	With that, it sounds easy, but it’s not quite as clean as just saying we’re just fine. We’re just not going to take this piece of equipment. Um, as you can imagine, Simcoe has has been working on engineering of this. They’ve ordered parts of that. So with that comes costs.

00:24:10,900	Uh, and having some recent conversations with them today, I think I mentioned at our meeting on Monday that I thought the the engineering costs would be somewhere in the neighborhood of about $150,000. Um, in questioning what Simcoe has into this project right now, it’s probably closer to 2 to 25. They’re going to break that down for me.

00:24:29,730	Um, so that would be at even at the point of terminating the contract, there would be an expectation that the park district would have to pay for something somewhere in that range. Um, and of course, by, by terminating the contract, then we have to go through the process of rebuilding it, because that equipment is getting any younger and we lose an entire another ice season

00:24:49,100	where we are limping along with that, that, uh, aging equipment, uh, option number two was to leave the plant prefabrication up in Canada and roll the dice. And what I mean by that is wait to see what’s going to happen with this tariff.

00:25:09,370	Um, if you’ve been following this at all, this tariff was supposed to go into effect on August 19th. It’s currently in a three day pause, which, you know, I’m not a political insider, but I would presume that that means that negotiations are ongoing.

00:25:28,370	And so one option would be just to keep things status quo, keep moving forward, and then see if the two the two countries can negotiate this issue out. And maybe this all just goes away. And, and, um, we can forget that I even came today. Um, option number three is to move the production of this plant down to South Carolina.

00:25:45,700	Um, I didn’t mention that, but the, the premium on moving the production of this plant down to South Carolina is $371,000. The challenge with that is that if we make that decision to move it south down to South Carolina, that’s not something that can be unwound.

00:26:01,530	Once we do that, once we make that decision, that cost is an input cost, we’d have to write a change order in order to allow them to do that. And then we move forward. If the tariff falls off on Monday, then we’re stuck with with the $371,000 bill.

00:26:16,270	So I don’t want to speak for the folks that were in the meeting, but I think that we had some consensus that, uh, the prudent thing to do was to leave the plant production up in Canada. Um. And let this thing play out for a few more months and see if the two sides can’t come to some sort of negotiation.

00:26:33,300	Uh, they have essentially the plants, like I mentioned, isn’t scheduled for delivery until mid-May of 2027. So there’s several months that can go by to allow for this to happen.

00:26:52,000	Um, of course, the risk in that is that, you know, um, someone gets mad at the other side of the border and all of a sudden the tariff goes 75%, you know, who knows? So, um, but I think that’s that’s the considering that they’re that they’re currently in negotiations. Um, and we’re on a pause. That sounds like maybe that’s probably the best thing to do.

00:27:09,170	So I’m not sure if executive director, leaker or anyone else would like to provide any other comments, but I’d sure answer any questions you might have. No, thank you for that. Update is very concise. And detailed.

00:27:24,070	So I mean, and after that meeting, um, with the people that were in the room, I did send out an update to each one of you. So, um, I think Jeff did a very good job of explaining in more detail than I had sent out via email.

00:27:41,330	But I think a consensus for everybody in the room was that, um, you know, as Jeff said, if we do take that option to move it to South Carolina and it does, um, the tariffs don’t go into effect and we’re stuck with $271,000.

00:27:59,930	So I think in working with, uh, finance Director Feis that, you know, we have some options on the table, if we do end up having to pay that $530,000 in capitals for next year, it’s not the greatest option. But hopefully that’s just a very low percentage of that happening. Um, you know, they might not completely disappear the tariffs, but they might get greatly reduced. So I think we all concur with Jeff’s and our legal counsel’s. The best option is to kind of sit back and and do nothing at this time.

00:28:19,400	Commissioners, any questions for Jeff? Jeff, this is um, yeah, disappointing news, of course. And, uh, I always feel bad because it seems like you have to stand in front of us a lot of times and take the bullet, but we really appreciate you explaining this to us. Um, commissioners questions. And then I have some Commissioner Herzog.

00:28:36,470	Uh, president, commissioners. Thanks, Jeff. Yeah. It’s like, uh, how much risk are you willing to absorb sort of scenario? Um, and this. is where just the little park board of Bismarck, North Dakota. But what are our options for reaching out to our federal representatives and saying, ouch, this is and this. is significant for us? Yes. President Jeske.

00:29:01,500	Commissioner Herzog, we’ve done that. Uh, we reached out to Senator Tobin’s office, uh, about a week ago and put this in front of them. So they’re they’re aware of it. Yeah. Commissioners. Commissioner Redmann. Thank you, president Jeske.

00:29:24,800	I was just going to say if if one, um, poke is enough or if individuals should and then that would, I would leave that with the executive director or with you if multiple, um, emails or phone calls should be made, please let us know how to do that. But again, Commissioner Herzog right is us in Bismarck, North Dakota.

00:29:41,870	For us, tariffs are probably not a great big voice, but we’re certainly willing to flex what muscle we have to make our concerns be known. So if you feel that that would be important, please let us know. I think all of us would be willing to make those calls or make those contacts. Please.

00:29:56,100	Well, not to make you feel any better, but this is happening to to ten park districts across the country right now that are all facing the same exact thing. Simcoe has ten plants waiting to cross the border. And they really are the expert in this refrigeration equipment, correct? I mean, that’s they’re just the standard in which, um, everybody looks to.

00:30:14,130	Yes. Yeah. They, they set the bar for this type of equipment and their equipment is in all of the ice rinks in Bismarck. Okay. Yep. All right. President Jeske. Commissioner Gilbertson. Um, yeah.

00:30:39,830	I just want to say that I, I do also agree, um, with the sentiment that is, um, being talked about because, um, I mean, it it doesn’t take much to realize that there’s no, uh, rational or reasonable cause for a lot of these things that happen. And, and they could change 6 or 7 more times before September. So, um, putting us in a financial bind unnecessarily or early, I don’t think is is is a good thing.

00:31:09,300	And to your point, given the fact that there are ten other park districts or departments in this country that are going through the same thing, I have a feeling that there probably will be some pressure, especially with it being an election year. Jeff, I’m trying to remember here too.

00:31:31,770	Um, so the plant in South Carolina, like I said, they really don’t have the, um, the, the experts. So they would bring them in from Canada. Correct. So if this like if are we able to like prepay everything either way we’d have to pay the tariff once everything comes across.

00:31:51,300	If they waive the tariffs and we prepay, we’re still going to have to pay the tariffs if they are in place in September. And also executive director, leaker and Jeff two, um, my understanding is like we’re on borrowed time with this equipment. This is not something that we can put off for like two years.

00:32:09,500	Even one year is a substantial risk because we could potentially lose ice in that arena. Yeah. So the tariffs aren’t due until the plant crosses the border, till it reaches Customs and Border patrol. Then they make the determination.

00:32:32,100	Simcoe is very clear that they expect that, that even if it was $530,000, they identify that as being a cap because it’s still subject to what customs believes is the retail price. It’s kind of a really archaic process, really. Um, and so, uh, so propane or anything of that nature doesn’t really make the tariff go away.

00:32:56,730	The only thing that does is if if, for instance, uh, I’ve suggested to Simcoe, knowing that this could happen again, let’s get the plant built as fast as we can with, of course, a high level of quality control and get it across the border, and we’ll find somewhere to park it until we need to put it in its permanent location.

00:33:11,770	But that’s really what’s what’s going to what’s going to save us on this one is the tariffs being being gone and the plant coming across when they’re gone. Um, and then in regards to other comment, yes, that plant is uh is at the end of its useful life.

00:33:30,730	Um, there’s a cooling tower down there that I know that, uh, that Dan CTV doesn’t even like to look at when he walked by it. Um, because it could it could fail at any time. And so, yes, this is something that that really needs to get done in order to ensure that that facility stays up and running for many years. Thank you. Jeff. Commissioners, any other questions for Jeff? Thank you. At this. Oh, Commissioner Hanson.

00:33:52,000	Just a just a comment to follow. Commissioner Gilbertson comment about the tariffs. They have been very fluid and they’re on again. , off. Again on certain things. And I don’t expect that things would be any different than who knows how they would go.

00:34:08,570	So I think with the options that are ahead of us that while not ideal, I think stay in the course for the recommendation of the working group is probably the best thing to do now, given the fluidity of the the topic we’re discussing. Okay. Yes. Commissioners, if there’s no other questions for Jeff, I’ll look for a. Motion.

00:34:30,470	Don’t all raise your hands at once. I move. to continue. You know, let’s stay where we’re at here and and go with the work group’s recommendation that we just keep moving forward as is. And, you know, if it’s done.

00:34:45,430	And then the tariffs go away for three days, we’re just send Jeff right up there to grab it on a semi. Yeah I don’t know if that’s all in the motion. We want Jeff to go get it. If there’s the tariffs. Are off. So but uh Executive director Lee said we could park it at his place. Yep. Tom will pay the storage fees, not the tariffs.

00:34:59,330	I will second the motion. Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Herzog. We have a second by Commissioner Hanson. If there’s no additional discussion, I’ll ask Julie to please call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Sorry, Julie. And thank you. You got you got it all. All good. My blabbering motion. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Redmann. I Hanson. Hi, Gilbertson I.

00:35:21,670	President Jeske I and I want to thank the workgroup and Jeff especially for getting together and putting a lot of thoughtful consideration into what our, our options were. I think that’s so important for us. So thank you very much. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed, okay.

00:35:41,530	We will move on to an update on the Bismarck Indoor Recreation and sports Facility feasibility study. Dana, welcome to the podium. It’s nice to have you here. Good evening, president Jeske, commissioners and executive director. Liquor. Uh, wanting to report that work on the Bismarck Indoor Recreation Sports facility feasibility study. It’s a mouthful. Is, uh, which we’re doing in partnership with the city of Bismarck is well underway.

00:36:02,230	Um, and getting ready for some community engagement starting next week. Uh, so our consultant will be in town holding some stakeholder interviews and focus groups. Uh, we’re also hosting a community open house that will be Wednesday, October August 26th from 630 to 8 p.m. at Bismarck Public Works.

00:36:23,170	Um, this is going to be an opportunity for anyone who is interested in the project to stop by, provide some feedback on, uh, potential amenities for an indoor recreation sports facility. Learn a little bit more about the study.

00:36:40,170	There’s not a formal presentation, so we invite people to just stop by for a few minutes, share their input if they wanted to stay a little bit longer and more, learn more about the whole process. They’re certainly welcome to do that as well. But the consultants and the project team will be available during that hour and a half open house. So we encourage the public to join us for that.

00:36:53,300	Uh, the survey portion of the project, we expect to start in the next couple of weeks as well. There will be a statistically valid survey to start with, and then we will also open the survey to the community, probably toward the end of September, for additional feedback that way.

00:37:09,630	Um, finally, we have some additional community engagement planned in October. And then with the goal of presenting the final plan or project plan, then in February of next year. So with that, I’d be happy to answer any questions. If there are any.

00:37:28,470	Commissioners, any questions for Dana? Dana, I appreciate the fact you are going to put out a public notice about the fact that we could potentially have multiple commissioners there, so appreciate having you, um, make that notice out there up, Mister Redmann. Thank you, president Jessica, you said there’s not a formal presentation, so somebody comes in.

00:37:44,300	Just so it’s not scary, but what does that look like when somebody comes in and you said there’ll be some options for them to look at. So show me what that looks like. Certainly our president Jeske commissioners, Commissioner Redmann. So there will be like a very short PowerPoint that’s kind of scrolling, highlighting some key things that the consultant is looking at.

00:38:03,500	Um, kind of highlighting potential amenities that there could be inside an indoor recreation sports facility. There’ll be some boards for people to make notes on about ideas, programs, activities, amenities that they’re interested in. Um, some photographs to give people ideas of what could be there.

00:38:21,970	Um, and then also just other handouts and things for people to learn about the scope of this study and then just provide their feedback. So very informal, casual kinds of thing. No pressure. If you wanted to stop in and just ask some questions. Perfect. Thank you so much for that explanation. So great okay. Any other questions for Dana? Dana, thank you. And we look forward to the public meeting. Thank you. Okay.

00:38:38,130	All right. We will move on to item number eight which is the commissioner Committee appointments. So um, we have a list of recommendations. I know Commissioner Herzog has sent some recommendations as well. I think per policy, we should get a motion a second and then we go into discussion. Okay.

00:38:59,500	So I would look just for a motion based on the information that has been put together, um, through the park district. So we have our administration division, we have our operations division, and we have our facilities and programs division.

00:39:25,100	And so, um, that last meeting last month, we really talked about how can we utilize these betters and really what is the what is the purpose of some of the assignments, and is it really necessary that we have a presence at some of these meetings? I know our relationship has changed substantially from like the, um, the Bowl Authority. We used to manage it.

00:39:42,970	We no longer manage it. We’re not paying any money towards their in terms of upkeep, things like that. But we have the Bismarck Recreational Council, the Bismarck Community Bowl Authority, the Forestry Advisory Board, Sleepy Hollow Liaison Committee, the Renaissance Zone Authority.

00:40:03,030	And then we have the BSc Aquatics and Wellness Center Advisory Board. And one thing we’ve talked about is developing a youth advisory committee. And, um, we would potentially look to have one, um, commissioner lead that, um, formation of that advisory committee. So, um, looking for a motion and then we can move into a lot of discussion. So moved. I’ll second that.

00:40:30,970	Okay. So we have a motion by Commissioner Gilbertson, and we have a second by Commissioner Redmann. And let’s open this up for discussion. And Commissioner Herzog, would you like to lead off. Yeah. Thank you. President Jeske. Commissioners.

00:40:47,030	Um, after we talked about this at our last board meeting and then we all kind of were sent to think about, you know, is this what we want to do? How how has things changed? Um, and I saw some recommendations, and, um, Mr. Baker was very gracious and sitting down with meeting with me on a Friday afternoon at like 330.

00:41:05,200	So, again, I probably wrecked your weekend on the, uh, tariff thing, but, um, and so I had thought about it for a couple of weeks, and it was, as you guys have heard me say a few times, you know, is the board as active as it should be? We don’t want to do the work of the staff, but we

00:41:18,970	really, you know, we meet once a month versus all the other boards meeting twice a month. Um, our portfolio meetings are only quarterly.

00:41:33,300	And so my thought process was a little bit how can we kind of beef up what the commissioner’s duties are and what the the community may be expects from us to do a little bit more work. So, um, as a good Germans from Russia person, I’ve added some things to my list and I’ll just read them. Um, um, my explanation was sort of above which I, um, Mr.

00:41:49,770	Leaker, did send out to all of you, but, um, the board chair, um, has admin, HR, finance and the BRC, and the BRC has to stay with the board chair, so I wouldn’t see that changing at all.

00:42:05,830	And one thing I thought would be kind of interesting would be to have the vice chair attend the admin, HR and finance, um, meetings, not have that be their portfolio, but kind of find a way to, um, have the vice chair.

00:42:21,570	And obviously Commissioner Gilbertson has been the chair before, but in a scenario where you have a vice chair, that’s not been the chair, learn the roles of the admin and finance and the budget. So kind of create a little bit of a leadership pipeline on the board. Um, BRC stays with the chair. Um, RGA.

00:42:39,500	I would think our renaissance on would stay with operations, and partly I think because that youth advisory board, there’s something similar or something happening with the city that might fall under the Human Relations Committee with the city. So at this point, I wouldn’t I would hold off considering that part of someone’s portfolio until we know what they’re asking from the schools, parks, city, etc.. Um, so we’re not maybe doubling up on anything there.

00:43:00,030	Um, Sleepy Hollow to stay with operations, aquatic and wellness stays with facilities. Um, Missouri Valley Complex I thought potentially could move to operations because I think Dave does a lot of the work out there. Um, from an operations standpoint.

00:43:19,770	And that would give operations, um, a little bit more beef and the Community Bowl Authority to move to facilities again, giving them a little bit more beef. Um, the executive director can be the designee. The voting designee, the Missouri Valley Complex at the Community Bowl. But I do think the commissioner of that portfolio should also be there when they can. So they’re understanding what’s happening as well.

00:43:35,700	And, um, just be a little bit more involved. So not not be the voting member necessarily have the executive director still do that. Um, but attend as it would sort of fall under their portfolio, if that makes any sense. So those are just my suggestions.

00:43:51,900	After we left the meeting, we were talking about, should we make these changes? I think the other thing Mr. Lee and I discussed was are these do these portfolio systems still fit the board necessarily? Obviously, like you said, President Jeske, there’s been some changes with our relationship with Burleigh County. There’s, you know, other things going on.

00:44:13,430	So aside from a wholesale change about how we do our portfolio system, this is what I thought would work within the existing portfolio system that we have now. And those are just my recommendations to hopefully, maybe get, um, the board just a little bit more involved in meetings and have a little more, a little more work to do. I want to earn my $200 a month.

00:44:29,570	So, um, but that’s all I’ll be happy to stand for. Any questions or if anyone has other thoughts or ideas. Commissioners. The only thing I think I heard that was a little bit different for Missouri or the, um, Bowl Authority, is that I don’t know if we need a commissioner there, if they’re if our

00:44:50,300	executive director is there because we really have nothing else to do with that facility if we don’t manage it, we don’t run it. We we use it once a year for the track meet. So I don’t see us involved in it in any way.

00:45:05,770	So I’m not sure if we need a commissioner there. So that was my only thought, is not having it. So that was the only thing I heard differently from um from from some of your thoughts. And then the other one was the youth Commission was and I and I wasn’t involved.

00:45:22,930	I know, Mike, you were really interested in that when you heard another candidate, a Park district candidate, Brian, who will talk about it. And that was something that you grabbed on to and liked it and thought mostly in the Park District area. Not really. City of school at this time, but maybe the mostly the park.

00:45:38,900	So, um, and maybe you should talk more about that. So maybe grabbing that not really involving other entities at this time, but you should take over at this point. So I don’t miss Miss State. What you’re thinking of. Well, I’m President Jeske president Redmann commissioners.

00:45:57,500	Um, I mean, I, I as well as Commissioner Herzog did meet with, um, I mean, I met with Brian and his wife, um, and the the conversation was, was very, very wide ranging. Um, and it it went from, you know, I think I don’t want to speak for them, but they’re what I gathered was a, a citizen like a youth citizen.

00:46:28,070	Um, some type of, um, academy, uh, entity. Um, would be what their vision is going. Um, I’ve looked into and done some, um, I guess, research into various park districts, and there are some, uh, park districts and departments around the country that, that do, uh, run very successful youth commissions,

00:46:59,000	uh, youth boards. Um, I reached out to, uh, one that is a lady who runs one, I believe, in new Jersey, who’s giving a presentation at the National. Uh, conference. And I’m going to meet with her, uh, when we attend that in Philadelphia. Um, just to find out what is going on.

00:47:24,730	I think that there are a lot of there are a lot of really cool ideas about it. Um, I mean, that is my life, um, working in the schools and, you know, with, with kids and, and such.

00:47:48,630	Um, so it just it really struck, um, it really struck a tone with me, um, in visiting with, uh, executive director, leaker, he reached out to Renee because one of the things that we talked about would, uh, help with the Capra accreditation, um, the Capra accreditation says that.

00:48:15,830	Correct me if I’m wrong, director leaker, but that, um, we need to be working with working with a board or working with, um, another entity. So we wouldn’t necessarily need a specific spot on that.

00:48:45,170	Um, it could be a liaison relationship, but given the fact that Bismarck has, you know, of the major cities in North Dakota has the highest percentage of youth based on its population, um, youth are our one of our major users, um, of this that there are I think we do have the opportunity to really do something cool. Um, with that and I mean, I would, I would whether or not it is a formal, um, portfolio assignment.

00:49:08,270	I mean, I would love to be involved in that and continue to work with Brian and Katie and, and, um, a couple of the others because, uh, I think there is a passion for that.

00:49:32,700	Um, and like we mentioned in our, uh, discussions as well, um, they get the middle school where I work, um, our student council advisor last legislative session, she had her kids up there, I think four times. Uh, testifying. And, um, I know when I sit here and we have, like, for instance, when the young lady from was at the Nisha. Bowman. I mean, late seeing that. Yeah.

00:50:00,630	I mean, yes, we I love it when adults from our, our partner organizations. But when a kid shows up and in our articulate young person shows up, um, I think that there’s a ton of opportunity and potential, um, to harness that with our with our entity alone, because we have so many things coming up.

00:50:30,900	But could also dovetail into if there was a, um, a citywide thing. Um, youth board, youth council, whatever iteration that would take. Um, could dovetail into that and work.

00:50:56,130	Well, um, I mean, I wouldn’t Brian and I and his wife were talking was, you know, a lot of things we do are very interesting to kids, a lot of things the school does are very interesting to kids. I mean, with the city, I mean, I don’t know if we’re going to get kids to be interested in water rates.

00:51:15,730	And I mean, they you know, that it’s I mean, they’re not saying that that is not an important thing, but, um, I just I believe that with that, we we just have such there is a lot of potential there. And I would hate to see any of that. Um, fizzle out and, uh, you know, because I think, um, the, the rules and I don’t know, the other lady. Sorry. Yeah.

00:51:43,430	The, um, I think they they are, they’re excited about it. And and it’s it’s awesome. And, you know, and anytime we can get young people in this community to be able to talk and present and be recognized, other than the sports page, which my son was an athlete and I love it. And he was in the paper. And for great reasons.

00:52:08,070	And his but there are so many kids out there that are good at so many things. And, and there are kids that are striving for the opportunity to, um, get involved and learn leadership skills. And, you know, to your point, a leadership pipeline. I mean, that’s that’s those, you know, that that’s what it is.

00:52:34,230	And you get kids, you get kids excited about that. So I guess that’s a really long winded. way of, of getting to your, to your. Answer. If I may continue, but I, I hear your passion so much. Um, Commissioner Gilbertson and I love that.

00:52:49,170	But I also hear, um, not really a wait and see approach, but you’d certainly be willing to hear other voices coming into whether it’s a portfolio or a task force or whatever you want to call it. But I, I hear that of your interest and your, um, rationale for wanting to move forward with that. And I applaud you for that. So. Um.

00:53:06,230	Commissioner Ryan, if I could answer, maybe your your two questions to at least on on the Community Bowl authority, per the bylaws of the community bowl. We do have a seat. We have a voting seat. So we have one vote. Um, University of Mary has one vote. BSc has one vote and has three votes.

00:53:24,900	So I do think it’s important that we’re there. And I do think that as you marry, maybe moves out to their campus, BSc is bringing on football. There probably are going to be some more in-depth discussions about the Community Bowl as a facility citywide.

00:53:42,070	So that was that’s my kind of rationale for it’s already used quite a bit, and I think BSc would like to use a little bit more when they have football. And how does it all get divvied up. So I guess that would be my my answer on the Community Bowl.

00:53:54,830	I think with the youth board, I absolutely think we should be a part of it in some capacity. Um, Sergeyevna Watsuki, who used to be the Human Relations Committee president, and now Katie Proudhon, who is Brian’s wife, is the current chair of the HRC.

00:54:12,970	So if they’re going to meet with or they are currently meeting with the school board, the city, I’m not sure if they’re meeting with the county or not. So it just feels like maybe it’s being an HRC led thing. I think we should be a part of it.

00:54:26,300	I just from a organizational standpoint, I don’t know how they’re trying to set it up, I guess, but I do absolutely think we should be a part of it. I just don’t know that it’s in the stage that we’re a part of it right now, because they’re still kind of going shopping it around and stuff like that.

00:54:37,000	So I just don’t mind if we start our own stage. I don’t think we need to wait. I think we could sometimes we take a back seat. Sometimes instead of saying, we have some ideas and let’s run with them.

00:54:48,900	Is is a thought and getting back to the bowl again. But it’s still, um, we don’t have we I mean, we have one event there. It’s still not our facility. And so and if we have a representation there, I think it’s fine to have just the executive director.

00:55:02,700	I don’t really know if it’s necessary to have a commissioner there to have two people there. Just again, my opinion. So sorry if I can continue. And since I’ve only been I’ve only been on for two years, but so executive Director Klipfel went to the Missouri Valley complex meetings. Yes. but and. I was there, but I was non-voting, right. So I just sat in the first row and did nothing.

00:55:25,000	So that’s what I would be suggesting in this capacity as well, that the commissioner is at least there to, you know, be there in, in, in a similar capacity. And I will say, I did talk to Steve new about it, and I just said, you know, I don’t see the need to have two there.

00:55:41,030	So there would be the and and he pretty much agreed with me at that point. And he did say, um, well, we probably have to do is just do an amendment to it. But that relationship is changing a lot as well.

00:55:56,530	Um, because we no longer, you know, do the maintenance out there. So to me, like I said, I don’t know if it’s a great use of time, to be honest with you. I mean, I think it’s fine for the executive director to be there. He has a seat at the table. He is a voting member.

00:56:09,600	But to have a commissioner sit there for an hour, um, basically just, um, listening and taking it in. But we, you know, executive Director Lee, her come back can come back with any information that we need, um, and share it with within the commissioners.

00:56:28,630	I don’t think it has to necessarily be another person from this table sitting out in the audience. Sure. And that’s I guess that’s just my opinion, is I would prefer to be more involved.

00:56:44,570	Not Dave would be the voting person there, but I guess I find it interesting to sit in that meeting for an hour and hear what’s going on, and it gives me more layers of understanding, you know. Are you volunteering. For that one? Can that committee. You know, again, I want to earn that $200 that I’m getting that I give to the feds every year. So. Um. Yeah, as a goes through my checking account.

00:56:59,200	So but those are just my suggestions. So we had the month to think about it, and that’s what what Dave and I discussed. Yeah. And you know, I’m just going to say I’m very excited about the idea of a starting a youth commission. I think it helps us fulfill a capital requirement.

00:57:18,370	I think we’re so fortunate in the fact that we have Vice President Gilbertson, who is involved with the school district. He’s passionate about kids, and I think he can help, um, pull this together because he understands the inner workings.

00:57:37,500	Um, so I to me, I think, you know, um, personally, I would love to see Mike be the liaison on that one. Um, just to help navigate those waters, because sometimes that’s a little hard to do. So he can open up some doors for us. Um, help us understand how things, the inner and outer workings are for the school district. But that’s just my my opinion on. That one.

00:57:55,700	And if I could just continue on that, I guess since those folks brought us that idea and then we would just I guess I would want to see where theirs goes before we. Oh, great. You know, good idea. We’re going to take it do our own.

00:58:10,570	And you guys, you know, I would like there to maybe be a little bit. more cooperation with them until we see what they’re doing before we maybe jump out on. Our own. Commissioner Gilbertson. President Jeske commissioners.

00:58:33,270	Commissioner Herzog I know that was what I, I talked to them about that regardless of how of what it what version it takes or what that it it will be done in conjunction with them and their input. Because, you know, I like I told Brian that it was his idea and he brought it up. And I’m not going to sit here and say, this is my idea and I’m responsible for this.

00:58:59,630	I 100% I think, you know, Brian absolutely deserves the credit for. And if he had Gotten elected, it would probably would be a park. Park district thing, you know, and and I, um, but I do I got the feeling that very much.

00:59:21,430	And I don’t know if you got a different feeling when you met with them, but that it’s it is about it’s about getting the kids involved. And however that, um, however that comes about, I think that there are. I just, I really believe that it has the opportunity, even if there is a, if they start a youth, you know, like they have the adult. career citizens Academy. Citizens.

00:59:51,070	If they do a youth citizen’s academy, then that is going and seeing various things here, which is awesome. And the park district should 100% be involved in that.

01:00:18,630	I, I guess some of the feeling that if we can find a way to give the youth of Bismarck, uh, a louder voice for what we do, and it might be where we have a youth commission to do this, or a youth advisory board, and then we can have a member to the youth. I mean, how. How ever, however it works. But, um, but I just I think there are so many things that we talk about as adults that are we do leave.

01:00:46,430	We do leave the voice of the youth out. And, and I think it’s important to, if we can, to find a way to give them, give them that voice. And if I can, I, um, Mr. speaker, when I introduce Mr.

01:01:03,930	Speaker to that group, said, can we invite them to our October board meeting here and have them talk about what they talked about with us so that we can kind of understand what they’re thinking? And, um, since September was our budget meeting and, and whatnot, October seemed like a better time for them to be here. So.. So I won’t Billy bridge. Yeah.

01:01:21,070	From the National at that point too. So I think that’d be a good thing. Okay. So commissioners, we do have a motion and we have a second. Okay. Um, I guess we really need to sit down and look at.

01:01:43,070	Do we go with the recommendations that the, um, staff has put together for us? And I value and and really respect the time that they took, because I know, Julie, you spent time going through all of these contracts and agreements to make sure that we were fulfilling our obligations. So I really appreciate you doing that. Um, so. President Jeske. Commissioner Gilbertson.

01:02:04,870	I guess I would say as the as the vice president, um, to Commissioner Herzog’s point, I have sat in that chair, but the first time you sit in that chair, it’s a whirlwind.

01:02:30,070	And, um, I mean, if we do decide to it make that I mean, I have I have no problem and would actually welcome the opportunity to be able to have discussions with you about, you know, budget and finance and such.

01:02:46,570	Because I remember the first time they asked me, like, what do you want to do for the pay raise? Like what? What what do you mean, what do I want to do? That that is, um, and, you know, it was just be a matter of making sure that, um, uh, notices got out and stuff, but, um, also, I don’t know.

01:03:10,300	I mean, I know our interests are very different, but I, um, I ran for the park board because I didn’t want to be on the city commission, and I didn’t want to be on the county commission.

01:03:33,030	Um, and, um, you know, I, I think that, um, you know, as of right now, I think that, um, we do we are able to make our decisions and do our things, but, um, I do I would welcome the opportunity, if need be, to attend some of those things and, and take some of those recommendations to, um, just to, you know, be ready if I need to sit there for a month or whatever. So I’m not going anywhere. You might be in you might be in Norway again or Italy or someplace.

01:03:55,470	I don’t want to spill all the tea here, but you know, the the beauty of having executive director liquor coming from a another park district is he brings some of the, um, goings on that happened in that park district.

01:04:17,330	And so we’ve talked about several different things too, and I can’t say too much about it, but we are looking to maybe change, maybe the frequency of some meetings, things like that, because I agree. Um, I remember sitting here and ah, and talking to former presidents, uh, Zimmerman and he would say, oh, yeah.

01:04:35,570	Um, Kevin and I met with so-and-so, and Kevin and I did this, and I’m just like, wow, you know, some of that information would be so good to know. Um, going into these meetings. So we’re we’re working on becoming more transparent, more involved, things like that. So there’s there’s things in the works.

01:04:51,370	We’re we’re, um, you know, we’re going to eat this elephant a bite at a time. So we’re going to start with the tail and we’ll move up from there. But yeah, there’s some things that are going to happen that I think are going to be great. And I think it’ll satisfy some of the things and concerns that you have.

01:05:04,170	Commissioner Herzog and, and I think the rest of us have kind of said to, you know, um, we’re we’re pretty good, we’re pretty smart and we’re, we’re ready to take this park district to an even higher level. So back to this assignments.

01:05:26,200	And if I can just one more comment, president Jeske commissioners, obviously, Dave is pretty new here. So for him to come in and try and do a wholesale change in two months is just we wouldn’t do that to the poor guy. So we’re giving him three, right? So I mean, I maybe it’s something we revisit in three months or something like that.

01:05:41,900	And um, once he’s had more of a chance to just absorb the drinking from a fire situation, I’d welcome. That. Uh, we’ll keep that suggestion in our pocket and we’ll go from there. So we have a motion and we have a second.

01:06:07,370	Um, do we want to vote on the recommendations that were put in front of us and then decide who takes what portfolio at that time, or do we want to mix it up a little bit? This is usually not so painful. I think you probably have to vote on the motion first. And then okay, and do the.

01:06:28,200	President, Jeske and commissioners, I think just by the teaser that you gave and working through some of the the other minutia of some of the things when these meetings are I think some of those some of the recommendations that Commissioner Herzog brought forward, I think would be met, um, and have the opportunity to be met, I think, to get it

01:06:52,170	going and get this off the plate, the recommendations that the staff have, I think we would I, in my personal opinion, it would be prudent to do that because I think that this is going to be as we have the opportunity to have you get executive Director leak or get on his feet and get a little

01:07:14,570	bit more, we can revisit this whenever we want. These can be tweaked. Yeah, we we can, we can we can revisit this whenever we need. So, um, that would be my, my preference. So are we okay calling for roll. Okay. Uh, Julie, would you please call roll? Commissioner Herzog, no.

01:07:34,370	Redmann. I Hanson, I Gilbertson I president Jeske. I. Um, at this point. So, um, do we want to. like the youth advisory? Okay, so if that falls under facilities and programs. Um, okay.

01:08:04,230	I mean, could that be something where if if the opportunity could I, could it just be where I’m allowed to continue to have conversations with them and not necessarily have it be a line item in it, but that we can we can continue to have have those conversations. For the advisory board. Um, okay. It’s all okay. Um. at least. Do we want to ask Renee on that? Executive director liquor.

01:08:30,900	I know, she just walked out the room. Oh. The room. So we we want to involve Renee in those conversations as well. Right now, because of Capra. Uh, president Jeske commissioners. Um, the question of.. Appointing some of the youth advisory board.

01:08:50,600	Now, is that kind of the question? Yeah. We look for a liaison to or someone to kind of do a little bit more. Research., continue the conversation. Continue the conversations. I would agree with that. Okay. All right. So, um, did you two arm wrestle or we’re going to okay, okay. Oh, it was okay. It was close. So it was it was. So.

01:09:09,270	Um, just get a little more excited. About it. Yeah. Gilbertson, please. You’re Mandan with it. Okay. So we will appoint Gilbertson to the youth advisory committee. Um, facilities and programs. I mean, um, Commissioner Herzog, do you want to tackle the Aquatics and Wellness center advisory? Yep. Okay. Works for me. So we’ll. Put that for. Commissioner Herzog.

01:09:37,600	Spend more time with Ryan than he is excited. He is. He’s smiling from ear to ears. Nodding. Yes. Okay. Um, we have administration, so, Bismarck, Recreational Council, and then the Renaissance Zone authority. So that would come to me. And then we have the Sleepy Hollow liaison, the Missouri Valley complex, and the forestry advisory.

01:10:01,100	And my recommendation, if you take the Missouri Valley Complex, you would potentially take the Sleepy Hollow as well. If we could package those two together. Okay. Oh, absolutely. Okay. So that’s Commissioner Redmann and then Russ, you get the forestry Advisory. Board. Excellent. Okay. Perfect. So thank you so much.

01:10:21,330	That was wonderful conversation. I’m sure everyone out in the, uh, chairs appreciated it too. So thank you so much for having very thoughtful and considerate, um, conversation regarding that. So, uh, we’re going to go on to the public meeting agenda, um, policy. So we are looking to make some changes there.

01:10:41,830	Executive director, would you like to lead us or would that be something we want Julie to talk to us about? President Jeske commissioners. Um, I think after doing the research with looking at how the Bismarck public school systems and the city of Bismarck handles their public input, um, you know, I

01:11:04,100	appreciate our staff getting that information. And we just thought the best way to present this would be to to split them up into two individual kind of, uh, recommendations. One would be for the public to get on our board agenda. And you can see is that that outlined here.

01:11:22,230	And then the second one would be the public comment section, um, where instead of having that at the end of a commission meeting, we’d have that at the very beginning. And I think our staff did an excellent job of kind of taking the best of, of everybody’s policies and, and creating our own.

01:11:38,830	So, um, unless you have any other questions, I think the way we have it outlined would be our recommendation to approve. Do we want to make a motion and have a second and then go into into discussion. So looking for a motion for should we break them up separately? Julie okay. So we’ll take uh, looking for a motion on the public meeting.

01:11:59,130	Agenda item request policy. I’d move to approve. As present second. Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Herzog. We have a second by Commissioner Hanson. Any discussion at this time? There being no discussion, I’ll ask Julie to please call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann. I Hanson. I Gilbertson I president Jeske.

01:12:23,600	I motion carries. Now let’s go on to the public comment policy. I would look for a motion and what has been presented. So move. We have a motion by Commissioner Gilbertson second second by Commissioner Herzog. Any dialogue at this time or discussion there being none. Julie, please call roll. Commissioner. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann I Hanson.

01:12:50,370	I Gilbertson I president Jeske. I um, thank you very much. That motion carries as well. Commissioner Redmann comment. I just wanted to note that we had policies.

01:13:05,330	I appreciate that the depth of these, however, but I just want to make sure people knew that they could always put something in the agenda and always speak at a, at a meeting. Um, but I just appreciate the depth of these and the further explanation. So great job. Thank you for that, Commissioner Redmann. Okay, we’ll move on to item number 11, which is the consent agenda.

01:13:20,770	So we have a variety of items on the consent agenda, and they can be approved with one motion. Or an item can be removed for additional discussion and separate action. So we’ve got the consideration of the July 16th and July 20th Park board meeting minutes.

01:13:38,430	Um, we have a request for authorization to call for bids for candy food vending machine bids and beverage provider proposals. We have a request for board authorization to apply for the 2029 Transportation Alternative Grant, a request to select consultants for the Border Ridge. Boulder Ridge. Sorry, a neighborhood park, and we would need either a one motion or if you want to, um, for the agenda or if. You want to.

01:14:00,130	Move to approve the consent agenda. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Redmann. We have a second by Commissioner Gilbertson. Any discussion there being none. Julie, please call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann. I. Hanson. I Gilbertson I, president Jeske. I I’m looking for a motion for the approval of. The bills, please. Second.

01:14:22,130	We have a motion by Commissioner Gilbertson. A second by Redmann. If there’s no discussion. Julie. Call roll. Commissioner Herzog. Yes. Redmann. I, Hanson. I, Gilbertson. I, president. Jeske. I.

01:14:45,700	Um, our next regular board meeting is September 17th, 2026 at 5:15 here in the Tom the fabulous Tom Baker meeting room. And we will be doing the proposed 2027 budget public