00:00:11,100	Good morning everybody. It’s 9:00 on Thursday, September 10th, 2026. This is the appointed time and place. The Tom Baker meeting Room for the Bismarck Parking Authority’s monthly meeting. Uh, Sue, do you want to call the roll? John. Here. Todd. Here. Jim. Here. The others are absent. Would be Jake and Trevor. Make a note of that.

00:00:34,570	Unless they show up or dial in. Um, first item on the agenda is the public comment. If there’s anyone that wishes to comment on anything that was on the prior agenda or on the current agenda, we’ll call you folks up a little bit later on the agenda, if that’s okay.

00:00:51,570	Uh, hearing and seeing no one will close the public comment period. And we’ll move on to consideration of the minutes from the last meeting. Any changes, corrections, comments? If not, is there a motion to approve the minutes? Is there a second? Sure. I’ll second. All in favor, say aye. All right.

00:01:11,970	That motion carries, and now we’ll move on to the regular agenda, beginning with the financial statements. Jeremy, we always ask you to walk us through and point out any abnormalities. Irregularities, exceptional sources of income or revenue or whatever. So. Mr. Chairman, authority, board members, uh, this is your, um, cash flow statement through the month of August.

00:01:35,430	And on the income side, under validations revenue, as I mentioned last month. Um, that’s normally where the Radisson, um, um, revenue, uh, gets coded as well. And with the new ownership group, we did get that squared away. Now we’ve got that, uh, finalized. So back, uh, back billing has already been been paid up. So that will reflect again on next month’s financials. Um, under supplies.

00:01:58,000	Um, or I’m sorry, under the expense categories. Uh, the supplies account. Um, that’s, um, that number is larger this month because we do an annual ordering of our validation tickets order, and that’s where we get a bulk discount. So we just order for the full year. So that was a one time, uh, expense in that category.

00:02:16,570	Uh, and then transfer to reserve. Uh, under other expenses, we did transfer 350,000 to the city, uh, reserve account. Uh, and then our reserve balance, um, is $3,782,781, $0.40. Questions of management. What was cash on hand? Cash on hand is 249,700, uh, for a grand total of $4,032,481.69. Okay.

00:02:53,370	Questions? Comments? We’re going to need the cash, so don’t spend it all. We have plans. Um, if there’s is there a second? No. I’ll second. Moved and seconded that the financials as presented to be approved. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. Call the roll, please. Sue. So. John? Yes. Todd. Yes. Jim. Jim.

00:03:20,070	Yes. That motion carries. Thank you. All right. We’re going to have to I’m going to have to get used to not asking Sue to call the roll. All right. Okay, Sarah, I’ll call on you next. Item for on the agenda is to review the monthly parking rates. And the Radisson Hotel daily rate.

00:03:39,100	Jeremy, you want to tee off? Yes. Mr. chairman, authority board members in your packet. I did include what our current parking rates are on the hourly and daily. Uh, the Smart Park smart coupons, um, rate, uh, daily and hourly. And then, of course, our monthly parkers. Um, and surface lot parkers on that, first page.

00:04:01,770	Um, and then, um, included in there as well as the, uh, down towards the latter part of the page, the Galleria ramp, Radisson rate for 150 spots, which has been the historical average. Uh, and and the rate that they’re paying at $260 per day.

00:04:20,970	Uh, and then also some info on regarding what the city rate, uh, the city fleet vehicles rate is in the sixth Street ramp. Um, for comparison, as that we do annually. Uh, just to kind of gauge where we’re at for our city, our rates compared to other, uh, municipalities in North Dakota.

00:04:38,700	Um, you’ll see on page two the parking rate comparison of Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and then just as another one off Sioux Falls. Um, since our neighbor to the south. And just to see what those rates are. Uh, as you can see, we’re on the lower end of monthly rate as most rates. Uh, between these municipalities ranged from 70 on up to 140.

00:05:02,630	Uh, hourly rates were were comparable. Uh, $1.50 on average. Um, Fargo and Grand Forks and Minot, they do the first two hours, uh, free. But then thereafter it kind of ramps up on additional hours. So it’s about $1.50 average in our rate right now is a $1.50, uh, per hour.

00:05:23,030	And then the cap rate again between 8 and $9 on the daily. So in our Bismarck, daily cap rate is $8. Um, the expenditure spaces per month. So page three is the breakout of the operating expenses. Just normal operating does not include capital expenditures. Capital expenditures is broken out, uh, by year.

00:05:47,970	Uh, further down on that page in our capital improvements average for the for over the last eight years, uh, has been $485,913 annually. Um, the regular operating expense on a per base basis is averaging about $37.12. Uh, combined with the capital projects expenses, we’re at $60.62 as our current eight year average and our, of course, our monthly rate right now is at $66.

00:06:25,400	Uh, forward looking to capital improvements. Um, of course, the board had approved for the assessment report for engineers, um, for the parkade and the Galleria ramp. So we don’t have engineer estimates for any of those recommendations yet for next year. Um, but for this year, of course, we have the cameras, upgrades, projects that that is ongoing currently.

00:06:46,830	And the third Street elevator ramp controls, those two projects combined. This year will be an expense of $294,278. Um, other future expenses would be traffic coding that’s been on the engineer’s recommendation report for the past couple of years. But just as an earmark, uh, each level is approximately $166,000 to do that. Traffic coding.

00:07:14,500	Um, and depending on over time, how many we would do if we were to do the whole parkade ramp, it would be 747,000. Uh, I did include a page, uh, just as, um, a synopsis that if this board does decide to increase the monthly rate, uh, depending on just kind of an example, you know, if the rate increase or a

00:07:36,600	dollar or $2, $3 and so on, what would that would be for additional annual income on the monthly, uh, rates. Uh, and then we did a breakout of just the Galleria ramp on the validation tickets.

00:07:58,470	Uh, as it pertains to the two, uh, users of Sanford and Radisson Hotel and what those how many validation tickets on a daily basis were used between July and August, and the average for July was 138 patrons. Uh, from the Radisson use. And in August, 120. So that is the synopsis of the items in your packet. And if there’s any questions, I’ll attempt to. Answer questions of Jeremy. I have a couple.

00:08:26,100	Todd, do you have anything at this point? Just looking at the operating expenses from 24 to 25. Right across the board. 5% pays. That’s correct. Yep. And that’s all right. That’s just flat operating expenses. Uh, the biggest parts of that, of course, would be the, um, the big parts of those expenses would be, you know, snow removal insurance.

00:08:56,470	Um, uh, taxes and then, uh, payroll expenses, of course. Jeremy, on the, uh, the capital projects that are underway, the cameras and the elevator controls totaling about 295,000. Do you know the balance and what’s what’s been paid to date, if anything? But no, we haven’t received any. Calls, any. Invoices yet. As far as progress. But it’s all.

00:09:24,300	Due, right? Okay. Okay. For just, um, clarification to Mr. Chairman and board, if I may. Um, regarding specific to the Radisson rates and the Galleria ramp. So we currently charge $260 a day to reserve 150 spots for the hotel use. Um, that that equates to roughly about $7,800 a month.

00:09:55,700	Uh, per monthly usage on on a 30 day, uh, month. So by equivalent of 150 spots, that’s currently at a current rate of $52, a spot at a bulk rate. 52 per space. Okay.

00:10:18,630	Um, well, let’s go ahead and address the Radisson issue, and then we can also continue the conversation on other CapEx items and and ongoing expenses. Uh, do you have a recommendation for us, Jeremy? Um. I think that, you. Know, and the folks on the Radisson are here will certainly invite them up to. Yeah, I. Just maybe want to do that first. Um.

00:10:39,030	Well, just from, like, management’s just analyzing the data. You know, we’re looking at, you know, in past, it was roughly about 150 average. Um, and that’s where that number had come from. Uh, it looks like the average has come down a bit, not drastically. But, you know, between the last two months, 120 and 138.

00:10:58,700	Um, you know, they currently are getting a bulk discount at $52 a spot. Um, so, you know, I think that if we were to pare that down to less spots, I don’t know if necessarily another, um, discount would be prudent. You know, as far as a reduction at the same rate.

00:11:20,000	Um, I guess that, you know, is kind of looking at if they were to go down to 125 spots, even at $60, a spot would still be, um, $7,500 a month or roughly 250 a day. So I have a couple of questions, and I’ll keep one of them. Obviously let them respond.

00:11:36,030	But have they made a specific request? Uh, I want them to respond. Yeah, I guess I’d prefer Tom to. Okay, before we do that. When was the last time there was a rate increase that we actually increased? Um, I had to look back on my record. If, you. Know, it’s actually January of 2016. So ten.

00:11:50,730	Years, ten years from. So that that rate has held steady for ten years for the Radisson. We did decrease it during Covid. Uh, and when we were working with the hotel, obviously because of the, um, reduction in, um, hotel stays. Uh, that so they did, uh, I think it was 100.

00:12:08,230	I think it went down to $150 a day, if I remember correctly. And that had still stayed through 20 from 2020 through 2022. And then it went back up to the 260 rate. Sounds about right. Jeremy, do any other cities do the same thing like.

00:12:31,330	Do any other cities? Um, give a discount to the hotels and so on. Like like we do. And if so, do we know what they’re charging them? Um, I, I have not researched that, so I’m uncertain. Okay. Would you folks like to approach and, uh, introduce yourselves? And I understand your new owners of the facility recently, so please, please come up and tell us who you are. And, uh.

00:12:51,330	Sure. Uh, my name is Tom. Uh, Tamara Boswell, but I will go with the Tom. Okay. Well, they call me Tom, too, right now. So I go. But, uh, thank you very much for Jeremy and all the other friends and Mr. Corey invited me here to meet with you all.

00:13:11,270	And I’m from the East Coast and coming to. And, uh, first time to. This is not a West Coast, actually. Right? You guys doesn’t call yourself a West Coast yet, but I have one hotel is at, uh, Wyoming as well. It’s a lovely place coming from the York, new Jersey.

00:13:29,770	That crowd and craziness. So I’m very pleased to be here and part of this town. And that’s why the ownership and us, we are making a lot of changes and beautifying the hotel. Make sure also we do help and, uh, town to bring more people here so we can have some tourism dollars and cents.

00:13:50,100	So I will, uh, you know, humbly ask you some type of again right now, I look at it, we have around 62% occupancy averaging right now is and we have it’s about 130, 135 rooms and minus we have, uh, railroads, we have airlines around third term.

00:14:11,070	So give and take around 120 is what Mister Jeremy is saying is, uh, to be correct numbers. So, uh, you know, I understand there are times a time we are going to need a 250 parking spot. I do, but in general, in average, if I talk again, uh, you know, we start almost right now. $2.8 million renovation.

00:14:35,430	So, uh, so I will ask you and the ownership to have at least some, you know, give us a until the end of 2027, some type of, you know, uh, small, but every penny counts is some reduction. You know, we will really appreciate for the you know, again, we are here for the longevity.

00:14:55,570	We are not coming here today and tomorrow leaving. So I will. Matter of fact, I’m planning to buy some, uh, small maybe ranch here. And, you know, I, I see that and, you know, it’s one of my love. I’m from the East coast, but I love my horses.

00:15:10,700	So and so. Uh, you know, I will ask again, is your, you know, uh, decision and respectfully. And we will honor and we will do whatever just. I want to tell, uh, parking authority especially that I have been, you know, very close in relation with Mr. Jeremy.

00:15:32,070	Uh, they are very delightful people because I do meet with a lot of township people and especially scores. And you can find as a friendly people and friendly approaches. And so I want to thank him front of you. And he has been doing a great partnership with us.

00:15:55,030	So it’s only my question and your help for us at least, you know, we go through renovation and spend some money for the, uh, hotel. Um, it’s not that much, but I understand it’s necessary. Every penny for you guys as well to. So we are ready to work. And I have nothing else beside that. Okay. Are you keeping just sort of. Excuse me for interrupting.

00:16:12,400	Are you keeping the Radisson flag? We are. Okay. I was curious about that. Questions of Tom and I have a couple, but, John, do you have anything? Todd.

00:16:29,700	Um, so you don’t have a specific request in terms of a reduction of number of spaces or of monthly rate? But what I’m hearing is you can, you know, you’d be happy if we knocked it down to say, 125 spaces instead of 150. That will be lovely. Um, in. Consideration right. Now, extrapolating that if we did that and kept the rate the same through his renovation period, the renovation period at $52, would translate to 6500 a month.

00:16:50,470	Oh, Yeah, simple math. Um, what is something like that sounds like to you folks? Or I’m open to suggestions. I would be in favor of that. Absolutely. No, I agree. Okay. Um, does that help? Yeah.

00:17:14,800	I mean, independent is in right now, as you know, it’s like you buy the exit, you know, $3 right? Is, you know, $8, $9. I mean, everything costs. I’m sure that you are familiar house pricing, this test and payroll. It’s quite a, you know, uh, struggle right now operating and keeping the doors open. So I do appreciate for any help from.

00:17:33,770	You, I think those of us that are in real estate and property management, you know, try to be good landlords and try to keep tenants. And the reticence been a very long term tenant. Um, and yes, Covid was definitely a tough time. Uh, some of us have spaces that haven’t had rent increases since 2020 on office spaces. And our costs go up.

00:17:49,900	Taxes, insurance, etc. I mean, it’s so we can relate. Um, if you’re comfortable with that, if somebody want to make a motion for 125 spaces, keep the rate the same through through next year through 2027, that’s the motion. Is that clear? Sarah or Sue or whoever? Yes yes. Yes yes. Sir. Just say present. Okay.

00:18:13,200	All right. It’s moved and seconded. No further discussion. Call the roll, please. Sarah. Okay. Thank you very much. Thanks, Tom, for good luck to you. Hope for the best. John. Yes, Todd. Yes, Jim. Yes. Motion carries. Are you doing good? Keep that up for 30 years and you get a. Cupcake. So, um, one item of curiosity.

00:18:41,500	Back to the rates. Uh, not not the the Galleria rate, the Radisson rate. But did, uh, did you do you have a feel, Jeremy? Or maybe by the next meeting, you can reach out again to some of the other, uh, ramps in the in the state and in the area.

00:18:55,430	Do we know what they’re spending on? Uh, their annual average maintenance cost per space? Just out of curiosity. Um. Or their capital improvement. Yeah. Mr. chairman, authority board members, I. Yeah, that’s another item that, uh, great questions. I have not researched that, but I can certainly reach out and.

00:19:15,800	And you know, we’re spending but we’re spending 60 bucks a space per month just on operating expense. Yeah. Well, yeah, operating. On capital. I’m sorry. That’s included in there. Okay. And that, who knows? I you know, I don’t know that we’re out of line. Maybe we’re low, maybe we were high.

00:19:31,170	I don’t it’s just curious curiosity. Okay. Um, any other questions or comments on item four on monthly rates? When do we typically review the rates? Yep. So, Mr. Chairman, board members October. I kind of combined this as like a, you know, a two fold thing here for agenda number four. Item number four.

00:19:53,630	So as far as reviewing the annual rates as well, if the board wanted to take action today or delayed till next month, that’s your prerogative as well. But this is. Typically any change would go into effect in January. Yeah at the discretion of the board. But typically January 1st.

00:20:08,030	Just so we typically review this in the fall so that um, the, our companies and patrons that utilize our ramps are able to budget. This is usually their budgeting time frame in the fall. And if we were to make an increase just so they would have a heads up. I think we should talk about it.

00:20:21,970	So, um, and the last increase was, what, two years ago? We typically go. To actually we did we did do an increase last year from $64 up to 66. So a $2 increase. Um, and then there, um, so that was the action from last year, 2025. It had been two years prior to that, before we went from 62 to 64.

00:20:44,900	Well, maybe it’s a conversation we should table until the whole board is here. Get everybody at the table. Um, I think, you know, our costs continue to go up. I think everybody’s costs continue to go up. On the other hand, we’re sitting on quite a bit of cash right now.

00:21:00,130	But as I said earlier, we’re going to need that. So. Okay. Uh, if there’s nothing further on item four, we’ll move on to item five. And that is Jake Axtman term expires the end of this year. Um, Isaac from the city, from the folks upstairs is here to explain to us how that works. As far as applications and the application process. Isaac.

00:21:20,670	Yes. Good morning, chair Christianson and authority members, as the agenda states, authority member Jake Jackson’s term expires at the end of this year, 2026. And so the application period is open year round.

00:21:41,570	Anyone could apply year round, I don’t know, off the top of my head if we have, as the city have advertised, that position recently, but certainly Jake or anyone else who is interested could apply. Right now there is a form online. Um, maybe not the easiest spot to find the form. So people can also email planning at Bismarck. MnDOT gov. That is the general line for our department and we’d be happy to award the the form location to people.

00:22:00,730	Um, we’ll, you know, keep that open as forms applications come in. We as city staff would review them. We would provide a recommendation to the mayor and the city commission. So ultimately they would be appointed by the city commission, but we would review them first and provide a recommendation to the board.

00:22:16,700	Um, do you have any questions for me at this time? Are you concerned about being overwhelmed with the applications? You know, we’ll take them as we get them. You know, we will make it work no matter what.

00:22:29,970	We should point out that we do have a new, uh, representative of the city commission at the stable. He’s not here today, but Commissioner Connolly replaced the mayor, uh, as the liaison person to this board. Right? Uh, yes. That is this would have been his first meeting, I think. Or was it here the last? No, because. Okay, so I thought so.

00:22:45,100	He wasn’t able to make it here today, but he would be the new liaison to the city commission. Any questions of Isaac on the process? The replacement. Thank you. Isaac, do you have anything else you want to enlighten us about or not? Really. Not at this time, chair.

00:22:58,930	Thank you. It’s good to see you. Thank you. Um, other business. John. Jeremy. Uh, Mister chairman of the board. Members, as I had announced from last month. Uh, it’s Sue’s last meeting today. She’s retiring at the end of the month.

00:23:18,100	And so, uh, in honor of Sue’s retirement, I did bring, um, cupcakes, uh, sitting on the other table over there by Corey. So please stick around after the meeting and have a have a treat. We’ll do that shortly. But I do have some other business. Um, do you have any other business done at this point? If not, I’m going to provide an update on the.

00:23:33,000	Thanks, Sue, for all the work that she’s done throughout the years. It’s absolutely. A lot of work behind the scenes, and nobody probably realizes how much it is. But I bet you, Jeremy and Sarah realize it now. So thank you, sir. You’re welcome. Yeah. Thank you. Sue is the least we can say.

00:23:52,300	So every month for the last several months, I’ve tried to provide, uh, what’s probably been a scant update on conversations that have been ongoing about a potential new ramp in the medical district.

00:24:23,770	Um, anyway, we’ve been providing, uh, monthly updates, such as they have been on the on the status of conversations between city administration, uh, myself and representatives of Sanford. Um, we’re at the stage now of those discussions, and that’s all they have been our discussions where we’re crafting an MOU memorandum of understanding, uh, with a lot of details that have not been determined, uh, but Sanford does have a parcel, uh, that they are willing to bring to

00:24:43,570	the table. Uh, we’re still being to be determined what the value of that parcel would be. They would obviously be a large user of such a ramp.

00:24:57,570	Uh, it would be located on seventh Street across from the entrance to Sanford, the corner of seventh and Thayer, which is just south of the University of North Dakota Center for Family Medicine building. It’s an entire half city block there. That would be pretty ideal for about a 500 car ramp, similar to the sixth Street ramp in size.

00:25:20,370	Um, the the status of the discussions today have kind of reached the point where, uh, Sanford has asked for a for an MOU, as I just referenced. And I guess what my ask today would be, there’s a lot of unanswered questions, but the MoU will be non-binding on all the parties as the details are fleshed out.

00:25:37,970	And then we would bring it back to the authority at some point, probably by the next meeting for everybody’s review. But I would I would request authority from this board to negotiate on behalf of the parking authority and enter into an MoU with Sanford. And again, the folks upstairs, city administration. So. I’d be willing to make that motion to grant chair Christensen to negotiate with Sanford. Going forward. And what.

00:26:06,770	And sign an MoU. I’ll second it. Okay. Any further discussion, any further discussion or questions? Anybody. And maybe just to confirm that it will be a non-binding, correct MOU. That’s correct. Yep. Okay. Any further discussion? You got the motion correct. Sue or Sarah. Yes. Okay. Call the roll please. Sarah. John? Yes. Todd. Yes, Jim.

00:26:34,600	Yes. That motion carries. Thank you. All right. There any further business before we adjourn for cupcakes? Anybody? Okay. Do you have an update for us on the street fair, or you almost forgot what you were doing back there? I know, it’s just so, you know, so nice, but, uh, street fair

00:26:51,130	is next week, so, uh, the the show runs the 18th and 19th, but we will close the streets the 17th, which is Thursday at 5 p.m., and they’ll start towing right away.

00:27:08,770	So, um, just so everybody knows, signs will go up Monday in the affected area so everyone will know, um, and then obviously it’s a pretty busy time for the ramps thing. Corey and Jeremy and everybody, um, it’s it’s a wild weekend usually, but, um, so we’re ready to go. Come have a corndog. Come have some cheese curds. Get your popcorn balls. Um, I don’t know.

00:27:25,470	Jim doesn’t eat a lot, so I don’t know what to find. You can’t buy a craft or something. It’ll be good. But, um, other than that, I just wanted to say thanks again. I know it’s a long weekend for your crew, and lots to do, but, um, it’s always a good weekend downtown, so. Thank you. Thanks, Keith.

00:27:41,430	All right, if there’s nothing further, and if there’s no objection, we will stand adjourned until the next meeting, which is scheduled for