00:00:13,630	In on August 25th, we’re in the Tom Baker Room of the City County building. This will be the board of City Commissioners regular meeting. Before we start the meeting, if the chaplain would be willing to come forward. Chaplain Crowley, for invocation and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please.

00:00:32,270	Bow your heads, please. Father, we come before you today with gratitude for the gift of community and the responsibility entrusted to these commissioners. We ask for your wisdom. That is pure peace, loving and steady, guiding every decision and discussion made in this room.

00:00:59,000	Grant clarity of mind, unity of purpose, and a spirit of humility. Help each leader here to seek the good of our city above all else. Protecting the vulnerable. Strengthening families and stewarding resources with integrity. Remind us all to approach our responsibilities with the spirit of humility and dedication to justice. May the choices made here tonight foster safety, growth, and prosperity across our city.

00:01:24,630	Bless our citizens, our first responders, our educators, and every household represented in this community. Let your peace rest on our city and let your presence shape our work today. We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Please stand for the pledge.

00:01:52,900	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 sir. Thank you. All right. We will call the meeting. Can we call? Roll, please? To call the meeting to order. Commissioner Rish, here. Commissioner dull. Here. Commissioner Connolly here. Commissioner Holt here. Mayor Schmitz here.

00:02:20,130	Our first item is public comment. At this point in time, we have public comment for anything on the agenda. The consent agenda or the regular agenda? That’s not a public hearing or the prior meetings agenda.

00:02:41,130	Anyone who wish to speak, please come forward, identify yourself and the topic to which you are speaking and also sign in. A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment. Public comment period is now closed as I see no one coming forward. And here no one online. Commissioners, what are your wishes with regard to the consent agenda? Mr. chairman, yes.

00:03:06,000	Yes. I’d like to pull item E. One has to do with airport website, tool and item I1 has to do with the public notice. Call for public hearing on regulations for motorized scooters and motorcycles. Okay. E1 and I one. All right. Any others? I had a question on. K-2 if we’re at that point in the meeting.

00:03:32,730	You wish to pull that so we can have. I just have a question on it. If that if that requires pulling. It, I think it would required to pull it. Which one? K-2 selling fleet vehicles. Selling fleet vehicles K-2.

00:03:54,370	Anything else? If not, what are your wishes to the rest of the consent agenda? Excluding E1, i1, and k1, which we’ll address later? Mr. mayor, was it the way? Excuse me. Right. Okay. K-2. K-2, K-2, all. I’m sorry, I noted the wrong one. Thank you. Uh, approve? Approve as, uh. Yeah. Presented. I moved to approve the consent agenda. Pulling items E1, i1, and K-2. Thank you. Second.

00:04:27,730	Okay. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll on those items. Commissioner. Dull? Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Holt. Yes, Commissioner. Risch. Yes, mayor. Schmitz. Yes, Commissioner. Risch. Okay. Um, I pulled the E1. That has to do with adding a tool to our website. Uh, flight search engine at B $28,000.

00:04:53,900	The first year, $25,000 a year thereafter. Um, we need to look at this a little closer. It’s pretty expensive thing. I don’t know if it’s going to provide much benefit. And we’ve got an airport to bid, so I want to pull that and we’ll go back to the airport.

00:05:10,070	I’ll meet with the airport staff and we’ll talk about it some more. Commissioner, it’s in your portfolio. So if that’s your recommendation, I guess that’s I would support you. You need a motion. Um, we should if we pulled it. Julie, what do we need to do? Are we. He wants to send it back.

00:05:30,770	He wants to go back to the airport staff and discuss it further and vet it further. So do we need to have an action or. I. Yeah. I think the best. Course of action would just be to move it to a different commission. Uh, agenda. What? Move? Move this item to a different commission agenda.

00:05:53,670	Uh, it might be quite some times. I’m not going to pick a date. Oh. So you want to. So, Commissioner, I’ll. Move that. I’ll move that. Okay. Okay. What’s that? We can. Table it. You can move to. Table it. I’ll move to table item E1. Okay. Give me a second. Yes, second.

00:06:14,000	Okay. Any discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Hull. Yes. Commissioner. Rice. Yes, Commissioner. Dull. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes, Commissioner. Rice. You have I won as well that you had pulled, right? I pulled, I won just to bring some attention to it.

00:06:37,600	Uh, we’re working on an ordinance concerning e-bikes, scooters, e motorcycles. Um, we’ve been working with the police department, the legal department? Um, I want to give a shout out to Sergeant Blair and Officer Horn. They’ve been doing outreach in the community, um, trying to educate people on these e-bikes that are.

00:06:54,070	Some of them are going far too fast and not being, um, ridden in a responsible manner. And some of the children are just too young to be riding them. So we’ve been working on this ordinance, and Mandan is working on an ordinance as well.

00:07:09,430	So and we’re trying to make them both pretty consistent, because some of these e-bikes that go across the bridge, back and forth across the river, um, the reason I’m bringing it up, and of course, I’m going to move that we approve this for public hearing at the next meeting is just so we get more attention to it. A Mandan is working on theirs. I’ve got an email from Mandan.

00:07:23,730	There’s been an article in a Bismarck Tribune about it, and there seems to be some public information about it, and I haven’t seen that on our end. I’ll tell you what happened. Um, officer or Sergeant Blais and Officer Horne were down in Solheim School, and they were by the walking trail.

00:07:41,030	And all these people coming back and forth with these e-bikes, and they’re stopping them and inspecting the bikes and giving them a certificate about their bikes and whatnot. Here comes this. About 12, 13 year old guy wheeling right by the two officers, and. I go, whoa, an officer. Grabbed, you know, called him over, and they did an excellent job.

00:07:57,170	I want to give a shout out to those two officers, but I’ve been getting a lot of feedback, mostly about people concerned. They’re walking on walking trails and they’re getting almost run over on walking trails, uh, sidewalks, this, that and the other. And then I’ve got some feedback too, that this is a mode of transportation that a lot of people depend on.

00:08:13,100	Very inexpensive mode of transportation. So we gotta we have to get it right. And I want as much input as we possibly can. So whoever’s watching on TV or whatever it is, um, if you’ve got some suggestions, please go to the The Agenda, tonight’s meeting.

00:08:30,470	You can see the proposed draft ordinance and look it over and give us some feedback. And then, if possible, come to the meeting on September 8th. And, um, um, give us some more recommendations. We want to get it right. Of course, we can always amend it after the fact, but we want to get it as right as we can initially. With that, I’ll move. We approve. Item I, one.

00:08:48,800	Second for discussion on it. Okay. Um, I concur with what Commissioner Risch said. I have been taking a significant amount of calls on this as well. And neighbors talking to me. My front picture window, faces, hillside Park, the walkway going up 19th Street is significant.

00:09:08,270	We have those little motorcycles with the wider tires. There’s people riding up to those. And I mean, there’s no slowdown for them going into the park. I’ve seen them almost hit dogs and people and that I’ve made some calls through our I mean, by the time people police can respond, they’re long gone.

00:09:27,330	But we’ve also had a significant amount of regular vehicles, like people are giving themselves permission to drive on the parking paths and things to it’s. But the e-bikes. There’s I mean, you can see a lot when you live across the street from a park. And I’ve been taking on calls from business owners to. So I concur, everything he says. So Commissioner.

00:09:46,370	Hall, I did have one question. I don’t know if it’d be to you, Julie, or who, but, uh, section 121101 um, I was just I’m I’m not, you know, attorney. So maybe I’m misreading it, but the way I read it look like e-bikes aren’t included with motorized bikes.

00:10:05,100	And thus, you know, I believe it was talking about, you know, obeying traffic laws. So it was that covered in a different area where e-bikes need to obey traffic laws. So I’m glad you brought this up, Commissioner and mayor and commissioner. So the legislature specifically excluded electronic or electric bicycles from motorized bicycles.

00:10:31,500	Um, there are technical differences that I will let Sergeant Blyth explain if we need to. I’ve already warned him that he might be called up for this. Um, so bicycles are these e-bikes are included in the bicycle section and bicycles and operators are expected to obey the traffic rules.

00:10:53,270	Um, we’ve looked into having special rules, especially for minors, regarding speeds and equipment that they need to have. Um, but yes, that would be they would be expected to obey the traffic rules. Okay. All right. Thank you. Commissioner Connelly.

00:11:11,900	One additional thing I forgot to mention, because it came up during a park board meeting, but the park board district has some electric bikes that they have, like down at Saratoga, and that needs to be part of the discussion. We need to get it right, but we also need to be respectful for the things that they do provide the community in a good way.

00:11:31,170	Commissioner Risch, just one final comment of the West Fargo School District just banned all electric scooters and bikes from the grade schools in the middle schools, there’s action being taken all across the country. Children have died from accidents with these things. So we need to we need to tighten things up a bit. Okay? And I know Dickinson recently passed an ordinance similar in nature.

00:11:53,130	Um, I think if you look through people when you look online at the ordinance that’s drafted, it does call out electric bicycles that are pedal driven, but also have motorized mechanisms on them with age, different age ages and ratings in the in the new proposed ordinance. So we are trying to address it.

00:12:13,530	But, um, I’m glad you brought this conversation up because this is a topic that I think is going to get far more, um, we need far more comment on if we are going to get it right. So Commissioner Dull. Yeah. Just wanted to point out, mayor, that the there are three different classes of bikes that are addressed in this statute.

00:12:30,930	And it’s important to understand that what the different classes are and how they are classified. So please take a look at that. Because a class one and a class two are very different than a class three bike.

00:12:46,500	Um, very different use cases, very different regulations that we are putting in place here. So be mindful of that when you’re reading it. So with that, do we any other discussion or comments go ahead. Commissioner. I would just add potentially putting in place because we haven’t made any decision yet. Yep. Yep. That’s call for public hearing for next week. Next meeting. Excuse me. All right.

00:13:05,570	We have a motion and a second on the table to call the public hearing. I will call roll.. Commissioner hole. Yes, Commissioner. Rice. Yes, Commissioner. Dull? Yes, Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Mayor Schmitz. Yes. Uh. Commissioner Hall, K two. You have pulled that for discussion. Yes. Uh. Let’s see.

00:13:31,270	So I just had a question, um, because I was looking at some of the ages of the vehicles or not. Well, the ages, but also, um, you know, the mileage. None of them broke 100,000 miles, which I don’t know. My experience as an archaeologist. We always got second hand ourselves, which we never got anything under 100,000 miles.

00:13:47,230	So I was just wondering the reason where we’re getting rid of them at this stage. So can I, Commissioner, you want to address that? Well, I’m new to the portfolio of Mr.

00:14:05,670	Chairman, members of the commission, but we have a replacement policy in the city based on age, miles, hours, on the meters, things of that nature. Years ago, the city would wear things out and they were of no value. I’m stealing this thunder. No value. When it came time to sell them. Um, but now we have a more frequent way in which we sell them. We get some pretty darn good prices.

00:14:19,300	One of the things that I’m kind of, uh, asked questions about, though, um, I know the Public Works uses gov’t bid that what’s what’s the place you. Um, gov deals com god. Gov deals.com the airport takes them to Fargo.

00:14:41,170	I think uh the police generally takes sells them at the regular annual sale. So there are different ways in which we do that. And I’m, you know, at any given day you’d get the best price at one place or the other. So but maybe you can explain that. Mayor. Commissioners. Um, yes.

00:14:55,630	That is the the goal is to maximize the rate of return on the vehicles. Um, if you drive them into the ground, a lot of times you don’t get the, the return on your investment. Um, so you’re trying to maximize the, the time frame, keep them as long as you can and still get a good rate of return on when you’re selling them.

00:15:11,570	Um, a lot of the vehicles are over the ten year threshold. And sometimes once they hit that ten, ten year threshold, the, um, the availability of parts is limited. And so, um, once we get to that point, we try to move them down the road. If we could. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Chairman.

00:15:33,670	I can attest I was interested in one, actually, about a year and a half ago. So I said, oh, I’ll go on the gov dot deals right and bid on it. Wow. We’ve got like more than they could have got at a car lot for the thing. And and good for the city. I’m good for the city.

00:15:44,700	But I thought wow, maybe get a real deal on this sort of thing. But we got some good money for it. Okay. So we need to take action on this item to either approve it. Or move to approve. Second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Roll. Commissioner. Risch. Yes, Commissioner. Dull. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes, Commissioner.

00:16:06,130	Home. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Moving to the regular agenda item, a public hearing on ordinance 6675, annexation of block two, northern Sky, second edition, first report. Daniel. Good evening, mayor. Commissioners, this is an annexation request from Wilmette Development, LLC for block two, northern Sky, second edition. First reply.

00:16:35,570	Uh, location of the site in question is in the north side of Bismarck, uh, west of North Washington Street, north of Ash Coulee Drive. Uh, it is completely surrounded by city limits presently. Uh, so even the right of ways of northern Sky Drive and Wilkinson Place are currently annexed into the city.

00:16:52,500	Uh, the intent would be to annex this property, to extend municipal services and develop office and commercial uses on on this site. The it is within our priority area within our urban service area boundary and our growth phasing plan. Basically saying this is a high priority to annex in a short term.

00:17:13,400	There is a development agreement in place that would annex property by February 25th of 2030. Uh, if there were no action taken in advance. So this would be in ahead of that schedule. Uh, the Planning and Zoning Commission, uh, did hold a public hearing. I’m sorry. No, they didn’t hold a public hearing.

00:17:28,830	They, uh, considered this request, uh, at their last meeting on. Oh, June 24th. And they did vote to recommend approval to you. Uh, so, based on the findings in your staff report, uh, we do recommend approval of the annexation of all of block two, northern Sky, second edition, first report. Any questions of Daniel? Okay.

00:17:46,970	Thank you. This is a public hearing. I’ll open the public hearing. Anyone who wish to speak to this item, please come forward. Identify yourself and sign in. A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment. Public comment period is now closed. Commissioners, what are your wishes? Move to approve as presented. Second.

00:18:09,870	Is there any discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner. Dull. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Holt. Yes, Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Moving to item B, public hearing on ordinance 6679, a zoning map amendment. And, uh, for Paradise Valley, third edition and pulmonary subdivision. Plot. Daniel. Mayor, commissioners.

00:18:37,830	Uh ewr Bismarck Paradise Valley LLC is making this request for approval of a zoning map amendment. Uh, it’s currently RM 30 residential for that entire area. They would request to change to six commercial mixed use and residential multifamily. Uh, on splitting the site in two uh, and the also a preliminary subdivision plat. This would be titled Paradise Valley third edition.

00:18:59,570	Uh, this one is in South Bismarck along the south side of Burley Avenue between Rutland Drive and Boston Drive. As you can see in yellow on the map, on the screen, uh, the essential purpose of the subdivision is to create these two lots for differentiation of the zoning.

00:19:16,730	Uh, the south side would be the multifamily development. There are already townhouses that are constructed on that, on that lot. Uh, the north side would be for future developments. Uh, in the immediate future, uh, mixed use development, ground floor commercial sites with residential above and a community center and that as well.

00:19:35,300	Uh, the district would support their proposed development. Uh, so you may be wondering why you were seeing the preliminary plat. This is the first preliminary plat that has come before you in the new land development code. Uh, the preliminary plat goes to both the planning Commission and the city Commission.

00:19:51,700	And in the final plat, with all the technical details of a survey level of detail, uh, is administratively handled, as long as it matches what you’ve approved in the preliminary plat. So that’s a slightly different process from what you may be used to.

00:20:09,970	Uh, the findings that are contained in your staff report, uh, do support, uh, the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff, uh, to approve the zoning map amendment. And I’ll repeat it again from the 30 residential, uh, to the commercial, mixed use and residential multifamily zoning districts and the preliminary subdivision plat titled Paradise Valley Third Edition.

00:20:31,670	Any questions for Daniel? Do you think I would like you to point out the reason for the change in when the plot is coming forward was to help expedite development, correct? Yes. That’s right. This this moves the process forward at about a month faster than it would normally. And really the intent is to focus.

00:20:50,830	The preliminary plat really shows you the big picture where everything is going with the existing conditions. Uh, the final plat is showing you all the survey level details. And so if we can get the preliminary plat approved by you, it gives more assurance to the developer to get working on the higher level details. With the intent of trying to speed the process up and create a little efficiency. Correct.

00:21:06,570	Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Conley. Now we’ve had several projects go up where neighbors didn’t feel like they had proper notice on what those potential outcomes might be. Does this make it harder for them to be informed, or is there a process for them? So the notice requirements haven’t changed.

00:21:25,300	And so I didn’t mention that in our um, in this report. But we did have a put up a sign and the letters were sent out to the same 350ft distance. Uh, Bismarck Tribune published legal notices for this. This hearing that was held tonight and the previous one with the Planning Commission.

00:21:42,670	So that is still happening with the zoning changes. And so it’s just really the sequence we’re holding the public hearing with the preliminary plat, uh, and in the final plat, we can just work on the details. Okay.

00:22:02,130	Well, and thank you for that answer, but to also carry on with that is, is that in this area or this particular project? I mean, that’s a lot of developable land around it. So it’s not likely that something comes up. But in the more established areas, um, it’s something that people the little nuance they might feel like when a project goes in after the fact, they might feel they weren’t notified. And that’s when it gets uncomfortable. Here.

00:22:21,900	We’ve been there. Absolutely. Thank you. All right. Any other questions for Daniel? I’ll open the public hearing. Anyone wish to speak? Please come forward, identify yourself and sign in. A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment. Seeing no one and hearing no one online, I’ll close public comment. Period. Commissioners, what are your wishes.

00:22:50,670	To approve as presented? Second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Roll. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Holt. Yes. Commissioner. Rice. Yes, Commissioner. Dull. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Item C is to consider a request to continue again. The public hearing on ordinance 6678 related to alcoholic. The ordinances around alcoholic beverages, etc..

00:23:22,770	Um, so this is a request to continue so that we can get it properly noticed. I’ll move that we continue until the next meeting. Second three C oh. Okay. Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none we’ll call roll. Commissioner Holt. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes, Commissioner. Dodd. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Mayor. Smith.

00:23:46,200	Yes. Item D is a public hearing to approve a nonexclusive right of way occupation agreement with Metro Fiber Net, LLC. Gabe, you’ve got this. Okay. Evening, mayor and commissioners. You’ll after my my short introduction here.

00:24:10,800	We’ll have a representative for Metronet who will come up and speak to their service offerings that they plan on providing to this community. If this franchise or this right of way occupancy agreement is approved? Um, then I would recommend a public hearing after that is concluded, and then I’ll be available for any questions that you’d have prior to any decisions that are made. All right. All right.

00:24:34,270	Hello, mayor. Commissioners, my name is Jill Cordis. I am with Metronet fiber optics. Can you hear me? All right. Perfect. I wanted to share a little bit about Metronet and what we would be bringing to your community for fiber optics, for both internet and telephone services.

00:24:59,370	Metronet was built in 2005, or that’s when we started building fiber. So we’ve been around for a while. Am I to close? No. So we’ve been around for a while. Building. We’re in 19 different states, 300 communities across the footprint.

00:25:15,970	Uh, Minnesota is my home state, and we’ve built everywhere from Rochester into the metro markets. And we have a signed agreement in Moorhead, Minnesota. So moving up north, uh, and we always are looking for areas to expand and bring fiber optics to communities. Right. Again, it is broadband internet and telephone services for both residential businesses as well as our Gem program, which is government, education, medical and enterprise.

00:25:41,730	We will build a fiber to unique situations, including apartment buildings and different, uh, homes or private property. Okay. Uh, a little bit more about Metronet is we are owned by T-Mobile and KKR in a joint venture. So Metronet, we’re the builders, our end product that your residents will see is T fiber. That is the marketing marketed product.

00:26:12,570	We, uh, closed on that last July of 2025. And, uh, really excited about that, uh, offering for your residents. Why? It’s important for Metronet to be willing to make this investment in your community is one we are future proofing your community, right? We offer speeds today of, uh, 300 megabits over 300,

00:26:38,700	up to 100 gig. That is a crazy amount of bandwidth, right? And thank you for that. And at any moment we can adapt and change. I always like to tell people when I started in this business, my Cadillac speed was 25 megabits over 25. Granted, that was 2010, so it wasn’t even that long ago.

00:27:00,800	Now we’re talking about 100 gig, um, offerings. That’s mostly for our gem government, education enterprise customers at this point. But who knows? Once we’re in your ground, we’re here. And I also like to talk about competition because there is a lot of fiber companies out there.

00:27:24,100	And, uh, what competition brings is it encourages, you know, the fact that we take care of our network, the fact that when we build it, we build it with the future in mind. So we’re building it with redundancy built in. We’re taking care of your residents, which would be our customers. Customer service is a top priority.

00:27:41,830	Uh, and we’re always looking at ways we can develop faster speeds and increase, uh, you know, connectivity in your community. Why? Why? We have our services and residents in 300 communities is the fact that we care, right? We have 20 years of experience in communities, so we know how to communicate with the cities, with the counties, the municipalities.

00:28:07,870	Um, but more importantly, we know how to communicate to your residents right from the start. We have I’ll touch base on it. Our four point communication notification service. Um, because again, we want to connect with these residents and get off on the right foot.

00:28:27,630	So they have questions, they know who to contact and they, you know, look at us as a partner with them, um, as well as I like this last bullet point here. When we start this project, we are fully funded. So that means the money is dedicated to the city of Bismarck build. And we can go as fast.

00:28:44,700	Or the speed that is appropriate for the city, as well as your residents. Uh, in our time here, we’ve seen a lot of companies take on more than they can. And that’s where, uh, Metronet really takes time to understand, meet with the city ahead of time, look at the ordinance, do the design properly, um, as well as take

00:29:06,570	into consideration the the restoration and the build time. Uh, Bismarck is much like my hometown of Rochester, Minnesota, where it’s cold a lot of the year. And so with that, we have shorter build times, which means we’re going to be here longer seasons.

00:29:23,900	And so we make sure we take that into consideration when we’re making the the plan with the city as well. Bringing fiber to your community. It’s a long road, right. Uh, and we really strive to have that partnership. Metronet will, uh, power your homes and businesses for, for decades, as I mentioned.

00:29:47,030	But what that means is we bring a team with us when we start that project. We’re having our our local leadership. Uh, that will be the ones that will work with the city. Gabe and the the team at the city. Uh, we’ll make sure those introductions are there.

00:30:05,270	And, uh, then we’ll have our field operations team come in. Those are the guys and gals that will be doing the installations in the homes or businesses in your community. So we’ll make sure that the city knows who that leadership is and how to get Ahold of them at all costs.

00:30:22,900	And we’ll have sales folks here, uh, at some point, as well as, um, our special projects team. And that is the team that’s going to be here long term with, uh, the city. So once our initial build is done, those folks will move on.

00:30:43,100	But our special projects team will be here long term to build to those apartment buildings, those new, uh, home developments, those new businesses going up. So we are really looking at a long term investment here in Bismarck. Uh, communication. Like I said, we have a full step project process for communicating to your residents that I’ll go over, I think, on the next slide. But then we also have a process to communicate internally to your city.

00:31:01,830	Um, team. So we’ll meet monthly with them. We’ll go over, um, any issues we see, any issues we hear or um, you know, just really set that pace for communication. So the residents always know that they can reach out to us. Restoration is one that we are really diligent on.

00:31:23,770	We have a website set up for restoration, um, and residents have a 20 or we’re required to respond to the residents within 24 hours of that, uh, initial ticket being opened.

00:31:46,170	And if that if there is work that needs to be done for restoration, we have the expectation that that’s completed in seven days or appropriate communication is is made part of that. So, you know, if there’s cement or something like that, it might take a little longer. But we’ll make sure that that resident is communicated every step of the way. Uh, and then finally release.

00:32:03,230	We release to our, our sales teams for residents as we build. And what that does is just really helps with the excitement of, um, the construction that just took place in their neighborhood. We’re rewarding them, usually going in and having some type of, um, community event to celebrate that neighborhood that got released.

00:32:25,170	Um, and it also is a good time for feedback from those residents as well. Maybe they didn’t open a ticket, but we damaged something. And so this is a great way for them to be able to speak up and meet us. So we really value that time. The communication notices. Yeah. As I promised, we really focus on communication before a drill even goes into the ground.

00:32:44,900	Right? So 30 to 45 days before any construction, we are going to send them this letter. If they were to open this letter, they’re going to find some really good information, like frequently asked questions, a QR code, as well as a toll free number that will go to our Metronet associates.

00:33:03,570	Uh, but it basically there’s nothing sales about it. It is simply saying construction is coming and faster speeds will be. There. Uh, so this one is always that glitch if they open it. But again it says construction. Notice nothing about sales. Then we have 7 to 10 days.

00:33:22,330	A postcard will come out that says ultra. You know, fiber is on its way. That type of thing. Same QR code, same toll free phone number 3 to 5 days. This is when, uh, they know construction is happening, right? There’s flags. There’s paint on the ground. We’re going to put this out in the right of way.

00:33:39,030	It’s going to be, again, a construction notification. Same QR code, same toll free. This one is the one that generates the the buzz, right. We get the calls for this one. Hey what’s happening? That type of thing. Um, and it’s really a good connection point for us and your residents.

00:33:57,500	And then finally we have the the yard sign or the, the sign that will be at the entrance and exit of the neighborhood as well, probably like a realtor type size sign. Um, but that’s there permanently. This is that website, excuse me, that I had mentioned, where residents are able to where this QR code takes them.

00:34:18,600	They’re able to open a ticket there, and that ticket could be like, hey, what’s your intention on my property? Or once we get in construction process, hey, you know, you damaged my my petunias and I’d like to have someone come out and take a look. And or it could be, hey, I got a dog fence.

00:34:36,270	I don’t want you to hit it. How can I mark it? And though all of those tickets are the ones that I said will be responded to within the 24 hours, we will have a phone call in email or, um, in some cases, a knock on the door to address those issues. Uh, and it will have frequently asked questions.

00:34:52,600	It will have videos, all of that stuff to help walk them through that. But more importantly, it’s a central point for our communication with those residents that is monitored. And, um, we keep track of that.

00:35:10,100	Every month we will go over with Gabe and the team, how many tickets were opened and what those tickets were open for, uh, so we can make sure that if there is a, um, we’re seeing a pattern with, uh, you know, restoration issues with within a neighborhood or that type of thing, we can immediately change course and take action. This one is also a very important one. Metronet is easily identifiable.

00:35:33,100	Our crews are branded with no expectations, no exceptions. Right. So our associates will be driving that particular vehicle that you see. The T fiber built by Metronet and all of our contractors are required to have that same magnet on their vehicle.

00:35:57,200	Everyone will have the T fiber badge, the vest, and then the equipment such as drills will also have that T fiber built by Metronet logo on. So everything is identifiable. This is important in today’s world because there’s a lot of folks out there driving white trucks in our neighborhoods doing work, and we want them to know how to reach us. Um, and then we have field crews supervising in the area, uh, throughout the day.

00:36:18,500	So if, like I said, if a ticket comes in that we need to respond to, that’s when that knock on the door could easily happen. And that really brings you through that early construction phase. So thank you for your time. Commissioners. Questions. Commissioner Hall. I have a few questions.

00:36:39,470	I’ll go on my time in case anyone else does. Um, I guess, uh, once Bill, will there be you know, you talked about long term staff once built, will there be like a local office or local staff or, you know, such as maintenance you once? Yes, that is a really good question.

00:36:54,230	So for, uh warehouse we will have that for our field operations crew, the guys and gals that will be doing the installations as well as that special project team that is here long term to build.

00:37:13,430	Uh, we will need space for them as, um, throughout that as far as a sales office, uh, we won’t have a dedicated one there, but they would be able to share that t mobile space. All right. Go ahead, Commissioner rush. Mr. mayor, commissioners, um, I like the idea of more competition, but as we sit here, Gateway Fiber is pulling cable around the city right now. We have a, you know, of course we have mid Co. We’ve got, um, satellite.

00:37:31,930	We’ve got all kinds of services now. And my concern is I know in the agreement 22 page agreement, it says that if things don’t work out in the end, that the city can require you to remove all the above ground, things, will you actually be bonded in case you just take off or what’s the deal?

00:37:50,030	Yes. There’s strict requirements in that 22 page agreement for for just that. We we are bonded throughout the construction phase. What’s that? We are going to be bonded throughout the construction phase.

00:38:10,070	But I mean, after the fact, I mean, as far as taking up your equipment, if you one day left and we said the city would declare, yes, chemo will take up your equipment and T-Mobile is nowhere to be found. Oftentimes we require a bond that we can go to the bonding company, and they’ll pay for removing the the equipment. I’m not probably never going to happen, but that’s a common thing. I saw this 22 page agreement.

00:38:26,100	It looks maybe Gabe’s here. Is it the same as the one we got? Pretty much the same as the one we did with, um, gateway. Um, fiber. Mayor, commissioners. Commissioner Risch, by and large, the agreement is very similar to the one we had with Gateway Fiber. We sent it to their attorneys and they had some some minor edits.

00:38:46,970	But the spirit and the intent of the agreement would be identical. I’d say. Sure. Other questions, Commissioner Hull. Um, let’s see. So I’m also excited about competition because I remember when I first moved to Bismarck, I, you know, there was a website where it’s like, oh, you can search all the, you know, they’re there like, you know, 25 different,

00:39:07,630	you know, providers that you can search and, you know, put in your I just will tell you how many are there. And it’s like one every time. It was just one. So I was wondering about once you’re, you know, once you’re done about what percentage of businesses of residences are you, you know, connecting to.

00:39:22,070	So the business is, is part of uh, we will build so we will build the whole city businesses. There’s areas where, uh, you know, private property, that type of thing, apartments that, um, we will have to obtain UAA.

00:39:40,770	So our sales teams will have to go in and get those agreements in place. And once they get those agreements, we will build to them. So we will be able to build, um, throughout the, the city, even if they weren’t initially built to if that made sense. Yeah. Because mayor commissioners I guess the so the goal is to aim for 100% then. Correct. Okay. Perfect. All right. Thank you. Keep going.

00:40:00,700	You can continue okay. All right I think I got two more for you, if that’s all right. Um, mayor, commissioners, uh, I know we I received a email from a resident a few weeks ago about utility boxes. I looked at the presentation, we got emailed.

00:40:19,070	I guess it would be the next slide, but looks like all of your, you know, utility boxes, for lack of a better term, are going to be underground. They’re all flush mount. Yes, that is correct.

00:40:32,730	So we will have uh, that’s the one that will go in the, the, the residents will see and it is all flush mount that black circle. There does have the Metronet logo on and it is a locate puck. So if they do or should I say when they do put mulch or rack over top, we can still find that with no problem.

00:40:53,370	But what that why else that is important in other markets I’ve seen where they don’t have that, that uh name on and so they have no idea whose equipment that is or uh, what who that who’s the owner of that. So everything will have the Metronet logo on. Thanks. Um, mayor, commissioners, last question for you.

00:41:14,270	Um, I guess one, uh, how do you avoid sprinkler systems? So when, when you have a sprinkler system, you go out, you scan that QR code, you go to our Metronet website and you open a ticket and say, hey, I have a I have a sprinkler system. We will bring you white flags, we will bring you, we’ll teach you how to mark that.

00:41:27,630	Um, but at the end of the day, if if we do damage it, we will replace it, okay? Because yeah I know, yeah, I’m guessing a lot. At least half people. Those sprinkler systems have no idea where the lines are. Right. And that is that is. Yeah. And we just take care of it because it’s important. All right. Thank you. , Mr. Connelly.

00:41:45,170	Um, I noticed the licensing fees in the contract. Uh, the previous one, the other company that was mentioned, they talked about franchise fees. Um, it’s nowhere in the contract that I see in your wording.

00:42:03,900	Do you use a franchise fee at all? Because we have other areas within government where franchise and name is a thing. So I just wanted to.. So we are not a cable provider. We offer broadband internet and phone services. So we are telecommunications company um, and are not part of that particular franchise. Okay, I appreciate that. And then second to that, I know the email he’s referencing.

00:42:24,800	If it’s a residential house and their picture windows are big and things, I don’t like their boxes as being one of those things that they see. So even in the case of the black box, if there’s any way that you can keep them out of the view, um, of those big picture windows, that would help us a lot.

00:42:38,600	Yeah, we will put them with like utilities. So wherever they’re Pedestal Farm currently is, that’s where we will, we will put them. Um, but like I said, we we love them. Flush mount.

00:42:57,230	If residents do, you know, choose to cover them up with their landscaping, the rock or a big rock we’ve had on, we’ll still find it. That’s the importance of that. Locate puck.. Other questions. Go ahead. Commissioner. Uh, one last question, mayor. Commissioners. Actually, it’s for Julie. Uh, did you have a chance to review the agreement? I think I did, yes. Okay. Were there any any red flags? No. Okay. All right. Thank you.

00:43:19,130	So to to respond. So this is almost a duplicate. Sure. From the gateway fiber one. So my only concern is because we’ve had some concerns with Gateway Fiber who’s in here now. And by the way, it’d probably be any utility that comes through.

00:43:37,300	Is a communications extremely important. And be make sure we can live to whatever you say the size of the box is going to be, that it’s going to be that size, because I think we saw or at least I saw a picture of one that looked to be much larger than what I think the resident was expecting.

00:43:52,730	Um, and, you know, we really work with the residents. Uh, if they want the box moved and we’re nimble, we’ll work with them. Right. And, uh, uh, Commissioner Hull, one thing you had asked was 100% of the city overbuilt. Right. We’re going to also we’re being nimble. We’re going to we’re going to read the room. Right.

00:44:12,100	If we’re going through a neighborhood that maybe just had a fiber installation, um, this past summer, next spring might not be the best time to go into that neighborhood, right? They they really want to see their green grass. They really want to see that.

00:44:27,900	And so we’re going to, you know, look at our design and look at what, um, is important to that neighborhood and what is in the best interest of those residents as well as us. So, um, that’s where, you know, it might not be completely as, as laid out because we are going to change to make sure that the residents are taken care of. Thank you.

00:44:48,270	And to address, I think, your question, Commissioner, and this isn’t really a question to you, it’s more of the set as a franchise for you. It’s why we have a licensing fee, because this is how we receive the same tax. Effectively. Commissioner.

00:45:06,430	Mayor, I think if you look at one of the slides, the small boxes must be for the individual residents, but you do have bigger junction boxes as well. Yeah. No, I think we saw a picture of that. Those aren’t going to be those are going to be in the sidewalks. Those are won’t be impacting the residents.

00:45:23,030	The the hand holes would be the ones that would be impacting the residents. The smaller boxes. Yes. Those are going to be. Uh, on the boulevard. Yes. Okay. But. All right. Any other questions? Okay. I will call this is open the public hearing. At this point in time, anyone who wish to speak, please come forward. A second call for public comment.

00:45:53,530	A third and final call for public comment. Seeing no one. Hearing no one. I’m going to close the public comment. Period. Commissioners, what are your wishes with regard to this request? Move to approve. Second. Further discussion. Hearing none will go ahead. Sorry. Yeah. Maybe just to to address one item.

00:46:20,970	Um, I know Jill mentioned that the larger handholds would be in the public right of way. I will state that when we approve plans, whether it’s for an MDU facility, medical facility, Gateway Fiber or Metronet, if this passes, we look to preserve as much of that public right of way as we can for our own facilities.

00:46:37,230	We don’t want to have a large, uh, 48 inch by 24 inch junction box above our water main or above some of our electrical equipment. So we will as well as we can, try to push that infrastructure to places that it’s out of the way for what we need, the public right of way to function as well.

00:46:51,630	So unfortunately, that does move some of that infrastructure, um, to the utility easements, whether it’s in the front yard, the rear, or some of the side yard easement. So I just want to address that, that we do preserve that public right of way for our own facilities as well.

00:47:05,270	Um, so the concept of these really large boxes in the right of way, it might not if there needs to be a really large box, it might be some combination of right of way and some combination of of private utility. Excuse me, utility easements on on the private property. Similar to gateway fibers, similar to transformers and everything else that we see throughout our community. Sure. Can go. Commissioner Conley.

00:47:23,170	Do we have a mechanism or like even a sign off sheet of paper to where the provider talked to, say, the said residents, and there’s an agreement that they signed off on it? So we’re not a all of a sudden contacted. And it has nothing to do with us. But here there’s a harder conversation.

00:47:43,400	Mayor, commissioners, Commissioner Conley, we do not have that. I mean, on the face of the plat or dedicated to some other instrument, that utility company or that entity was granted a right to put their infrastructure on that property.

00:47:59,630	So really, we could have above ground transformers along the entire side yard, if that’s what the utility easement was encumbered. Uh, most utility companies don’t go through that exercise because they don’t need that much infrastructure. Um, we’re appreciative of these items being underground or flush mounted. There’s another scenario where this is all above grade, and you look down the street and you see pedestals, every other house potentially.

00:48:18,170	So we’re appreciative of the underground of flush mount concept, which lines well with with a fiber optic deployment. But we do not have a requirement or a we have a requirement. I would say that the landowner needs to agree to it.

00:48:36,430	They already agreed to it when the original developer granted a utility easement to bring services like this across their property for the service, or for the benefit of that, that property owner. Okay. Well, and retrospect or whatnot, I’m merely talking about the things that are aboveground that are visible. So. Commissioner. Reisz, I just want to make a point, Mr. mayor, commissioners. Gabe.

00:48:55,500	And just like the gateway fiber contract, this will provide a 2.5% gross, a fee of 2.5% of the gross to the city. Correct. Mayor. Commissioners. That is correct. Okay. I’m a little concerned. People are dropping their cable and and cable has, of course, is taxed to help fund Dakota media access.

00:49:12,600	And that keeps going down year after year. So maybe in the future we might have to direct some of that. Not your decision to continue on with the Dakota Community Access Funding. We’ll be able to address that.

00:49:30,570	I think in a future time, if we need we we may well need to, but we don’t know that for sure. When that time comes. Okay. All right. I think I had a motion and a second if I remember right. Do you have any other discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner rich? Yes, Commissioner. Dull? Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Holt. Yes, mayor. Schmitz.

00:49:50,400	Yes. Moving to item E to receive a report from the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC related to their economic development services. And what it means for us as a community to continue to grow. Good evening, Mayor and commissioners.

00:50:34,370	Thank you for allowing the chamber EDC to come and visit with you a little bit this evening. Uh, to talk about economic development. Uh, we’ve given plenty of reports over over the last several years. And so I know we have some new commissioners at the table.

00:50:53,000	So I wanted to not only give a report on what we’re doing and what we plan to do, but also a little bit of information about what in the world is economic development. I think sometimes people think, what is that? Is that a buzzword? What is that? Um, and so my hope is, is that we can, uh, enlighten you on what we have been doing and also, um, maybe educate along

00:51:11,100	along the way, and not just for you as mayor and commissioners, but also the general public as well. So I think it’s best to start out with, you know, what is the basic definition of economic development? Let’s get back to basics and really talk about what what is it? It’s the intentional efforts of a

00:51:33,700	community to create jobs, increase investment, strengthen local businesses, expand the tax base and improve the overall economic quality of life for residents. Plain and simple, right? It seems simple, but there are a lot of aspects that go along in there. If you want to summarize that in a really simple saying, a rising tide lifts all boats.

00:51:58,230	You’ve heard that saying before, um, so why is that economic development important? Why? Why should we care? Why should a city care? Why should we as a as a community care? Um, because anytime you’re engaged in economic development efforts, it creates and retains jobs, increases the tax base, not just property, but sales tax as well.

00:52:23,400	It helps to attract private investment. It competes, helps us, allows us to compete with other communities, not just within our own state, but within our region. We are competing. I will tell you, we are competing with other states to bring business, uh, to our community, and then it supports our long term community growth and diversification.

00:52:49,300	So our current economic development efforts and some of these things may be new. Some of these things you may have heard of in the past, but they are important.

00:53:07,430	So if you take a look at workforce development, that is critical, some might say, well, when are you going to get us more people to fill jobs? That’s not always, uh, something that we can do. Um, because people have to want to come to a community that has resources and quality of life and those things.

00:53:28,300	But it is important for us as we not only look for new employees to come to our community, but to develop the current workforce that we have by upskilling, by creating a stronger workforce, and by helping to, in essence, train people. Excuse me, we do that by helping out with the educator experience. We work with teachers and the Bismarck Mandan community to help them get their continuing education. Um, credits.

00:53:50,870	Uh, by exposing them to what is going on in the community. Our job Shadow week allows us to expose our students in both the high school level as well as the college level, uh, to what the opportunities are in the Bismarck Mandan community.

00:54:09,370	Our Workforce Development Committee is a focus group of people that live and work in that HR realm, um, who look at best practices and they share those we do. Now, we have lifted a series of webinars for our employers to access free of charge, uh, so that they can do better hiring. Uh, they can look at what our best practices and work workforce strategies, leadership. Bismarck. Mandan.

00:54:30,770	Truly, it’s a program that has been around for a very, very long time. Um, we see it as a workforce development, um, program and then empowering women in business is also a skills based program where we focus on bringing in business leaders, women in the business community that want to upskill

00:54:52,100	their own, uh, options, talent and new business attraction. There’s a lot that goes on with talent and business attraction. Uh, viewpoint, um, was a, uh, a highly produced, uh, series. It is. It’s it’s something that has been shown nationwide that came to Bismarck.

00:55:19,900	Uh, did some very high level, um, videos of us in Bismarck and Mandan to talk about what do we have to offer? Those videos have been shown across the country. Um, and we have received phone calls from people who have seen the viewpoint videos that have said, I want to know more about the community.

00:55:40,830	Um, we are also utilizing them in some of our marketing efforts to some of the smaller communities that we know would have an interest in people or businesses moving to our area. Internship network. That picture there, um, is of a group of young people, interns who made their way to Bismarck Mandan for the summer.

00:56:07,900	They were interning at Bobcat CC at the state of North Dakota, perhaps at maybe one of your, um, businesses that you frequent. Um, they were here all summer long, um, doing an internship. They were not all necessarily just from the state of North Dakota. There were Ndsu students Und students.

00:56:28,770	University of students, but there were more students from outside of the state of North Dakota that were here in the community for the summer. We do the internship network so that we can specifically latch on to them and show them that this is the community that they should consider moving to after graduation.

00:56:49,200	We take them out on the riverboat, uh, we take them to Laughing Sun to throw some axes and have some good food. Um, we take them to different areas within the community to show them that there are quality of life options. Um, and the things that young people really want to engage in when they’re selecting a community.

00:57:07,870	And then finally, the make your Mark website that is a website that is owned by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber, EDC. And it directly drives people to the resources that they can tap into if they’re looking to move their business, uh, from another location into Bismarck.

00:57:30,700	It has information out there about the industrial park. Um, we are currently working with some folks who have called and said I was on your make Your Mark website, and I’d just like to know if you have a section available in the industrial park, the Northern Plains Commerce Center.

00:57:49,370	Um, and so we connected with our, uh, city government here, uh, with the staff. And we went out and we were able to show them those that area, um, it’s not a data center. Don’t worry. I don’t want anybody to, um, panic about that. Um, but these are good, um, businesses that we want here. Um, and they are certainly great opportunities for us.

00:58:08,670	But the make your Mark website is an opportunity for these places that once they learn a little bit about us, they can go out on the website, they can track down information, they can contact us. Our phone rings every day, all day long.

00:58:25,930	And it’s not just, um, calls about what hotel should I stay in? And can I come there for the McQuaid tournament? Those are important. Um, but we also get a lot of calls on a day to day basis about what would it take to move my business? What would it take for me to move my family to the community of

00:58:41,630	Bismarck? And we want to be there to answer those, um, business retention and expansion. Ah, those are specific meetings that Noah and Alex go out and meet with existing business to have a sit down conversation with them to say, how are things going in your business? Um, what struggles are you having? Um, because if there are things

00:59:04,830	that we can help them with at the chamber, EDC, um, we will we will help put those together. But we have to have those conversations in order to know and understand. And then, of course, our support of the entrepreneurial ecosystem is really important for Bismarck. Um, business Pitch Challenge is coming up. It’s here.

00:59:25,900	Um, we will have our pitch challenge for the first time in the city of Bismarck, uh, in October. We are in the midst of, uh, reviewing several applications. Um, Commissioner Dahl is assisting us with, uh, reviewing those applications and scoring them. We’ll go through the applications.

00:59:47,300	The top applications will be invited to the Pitch Night challenge, uh, where they will be on stage at the Heritage Center. Um, and they’ll bring their friends and family, and we’ll have judges on stage and someone that evening will win. Um, a $15,000 prize to help lift and and move their business forward. Um, and then, of course, 1 million cups.

01:00:10,370	If you haven’t been to 1 million cups, I encourage you to take some time out of your Wednesday morning. It happens every Wednesday at 830. Um, at Dakota Stage, um, right on Main Street.

01:00:27,900	And it’s an opportunity to listen to all of the wonderful, great ideas with new businesses, existing businesses that want to expand, entrepreneurs who have a dream about what they might want to do. Um, they come to 1 million Cups to share their story with all the people that are there to listen. So when we talk about economic development, we also can’t get so wrapped up in what we have going on here.

01:00:48,170	Just in Bismarck. Sometimes it’s kind of nice to compare ourselves to what other people are doing, and I don’t really want to compare ourselves to Fargo and Minot and Grand Forks and Dickinson, because those are our neighbors and we’re not really working on, um, getting business to move from Fargo to

01:01:06,230	Bismarck or Grand Forks to Bismarck. That does happen. Um, but that’s not really who our target audience is. When we talk about competition for moving business and people to Bismarck, we’re talking about the communities that are listed here. This is just a small sampling of them.

01:01:25,570	Now, what does this mean? Uh, Rapid City has a slightly higher, um, population than we do, and they spend more money on economic development than we do. Sioux City, Iowa has a slightly higher population than us. They also spend more money on on economic development.

01:01:44,930	Um, but so you might think, well, they have more people. Brenda, that just makes sense. They have more people, so they spend more money. That’s not necessarily the case. Saint cloud, Minnesota less people, but they spend more money. Um, on economic development efforts. Eau Claire, Wisconsin less people. They spend more money than we do in Bismarck on economic development efforts. Appleton, Wisconsin. Same situation.

01:02:08,230	Bloomington, Illinois A little bit more population. Um, but they also are spending more. When you say spending more, that investment is coming from where. That investment is primarily coming from their city budgets. Thank you. In the appendix of the handout that you received from Alex, you will see the information.

01:02:28,100	We didn’t just make this up. We made phone calls. We also gave you the the information, um, so that you could go look at their city budget as well. So as we start to dig into that just a little bit more and, and talk about economic development, we look at the Vision Fund.

01:02:50,070	And before we look at the Vision Fund specifically, I just want to remind you that we also part of economic development are these letters of support in 2026. So far, we have brought 14 letters of support to the commission table from the Vision Fund. Those 14 letters of support come with absolutely $0 figure attached to them.

01:03:15,630	They are simply a letter that says we as the city of Bismarck, applaud you. The ABC business that you want to either expand in our community or you want to bring your business, whatever it is to our community, you are perhaps filling a gap that we don’t that we need, or it’s Something.

01:03:35,470	Completely new and different that that we’ve never had here before. Nonetheless, there is no dollar figure attached to it. We are simply cheering them on and saying, yes, we support you bringing your business to the community of. Um, we’ve had a little trouble with those letters of support in the past where we haven’t always approved them fully.

01:03:55,570	They ultimately get approved, but those should be things that, in my humble opinion, are approved with a five zero vote at the table because we should be champions for business, economic development is important. Economic development helps to drive all of the other things that we need.

01:04:20,170	Um, the if we’re going to start tackling homeless, um, situations and, um, expanding services for Bismarck and transit and all of those kinds of things, we need a strong and steady economy and strong and steady business in our community to help build that base so that we can take care of those other human services kinds of issues.

01:04:40,500	You have as your we are your hired economic developer. We receive funds from the city of Bismarck, and we thank you very much. We we are very grateful for that. Um, that comes what you get for that is four of us, um, for economic development, workforce team members.

01:05:00,100	I include myself in that because I can tell you, I spend the majority of my time in that area. We also have, uh, vice president for economic development. Um, we also have NOAA, who is working very closely with the Vision Fund, and Mel, who is our workforce development coordinator. So we have four dedicated resources, not just to Bismarck, but to Bismarck, Mandan and the and the surrounding community.

01:05:22,770	We are here to help do the work that it takes to keep Bismarck rising up. So what about this spreadsheet here? I’m not going to go through these numbers because I don’t think that’s what’s important.

01:05:41,830	What is important is that the city of Bismarck has made a conscious effort over time to say, we need to pull out funds from sales tax dollars and set it aside in what we call a vision fund. Now, a few years back, there wasn’t an awful lot of people. In fact, there were no people coming to the city of Bismarck asking to tap into Vision Fund dollars.

01:06:00,170	And the reason for that was because literally everybody could get a loan for about anything at 2 to 3% interest, mostly 2 to 2.5% interest. So as the economy started to change and interest rates started to sort of right size themselves, we also we then found that businesses who wanted to expand or come to our community said, we’re going to

01:06:22,670	have to start tapping into the Vision Fund. That’s where these funds come into play, and that’s where my team assists the Vision Fund, which is a committee of the city of Bismarck.

01:06:39,130	Um, people will call us and say, do I qualify? We start working with them to help them understand, are you a business that we even think qualifies? Some don’t. Um, some some don’t even make the cut to go to the Vision Fund. These dollars though, I think are it’s important for everyone to know and understand. The dollars are put in there. They go out to a project in the form of a repayable loan.

01:07:00,930	This is a loan that the city of Bismarck gives at a lower interest rate. That allows the business to build, um, have additional capital so that they can work further with their lending agency to get the proper funding that they need to lift their project.

01:07:22,930	Um, we don’t we don’t, uh, the Vision Fund doesn’t give these projects millions of dollars. That’s not what that’s there for. It’s simply some smaller dollar amounts at a lower interest rate to help them present additional funding to their lender. Yes. Mr. Mayor. Commissioner. Do I do I read this right? The only amount we loan is up to $107,692. That’s the general that is generally.

01:07:50,470	So you’ve got a multi-million dollar business proposition. The idea that we loan them at a lower interest rate, $108,000, that makes an impact. So that’s that’s leveraged because most these loans are all to support the flex pace buy down program through the Bank of North Dakota. So it’s a 1 to 4 ratio.

01:08:12,700	That’s not to say we couldn’t go more. We have not had the funds available to do that. I mean, my question is so we loan them $108,000. Eventually 20, 30 years later, they pay us back $108,000 plus 2% interest or something to that effect. They pay it back. Um, most of the loans are not for 30 years or like ten. Okay.

01:08:33,730	For the repayment. But I’m just I’m struggling because some of these businesses have $20 million plus projects. These are probably not supporting the $20 million plus projects that these are not supporting. The $20 million plus projects. These are more supporting the I’ll call it small business.

01:08:51,500	They are it’s the it’s the ecosystem of Bismarck, Mandan and Bismarck and Morton County, frankly, that supports that supports the rest of the businesses. Commissioner, do you still have a question? No, I it just. Seems like in the business world that’s a pretty modest sum. $107,000. It is at a lower interest rate. It’s not even a gift. Outright gift. It’s a loan. It’s a loan.

01:09:16,400	At a smaller interest rate. And we would love to give them to offer them more so that they have additional capital to go to their lender. However, this is the dollar amount that we have. In the. But it’s also leveraging. So it’s an interest buy down.

01:09:35,600	So it allows them to go to the bank and borrow three, four, $5 million. We have a banker sitting here who actually is the president of the board or the chairman. Of. Mister Else. Is with Riviera Banking. And could speak. To the chair of my. Board as well. But it’s it’s a leveraging mechanism. It is not a full funding of the project.

01:09:53,770	It’s a leveraging mechanism. I was thinking we have Bank of North Dakota staff in the office audience as well. I believe that could speak to this as well. Correct? Yes. Mayor and commissioners.

01:10:15,970	Um, can you give us any specific examples just to help Commissioner usher myself? You know, you know, visualize, I guess, of specific businesses that have gone this. Sure. Commissioner Hall, um, we’ve had some restaurants that have applied and received funding. We’ve had dental offices. We’ve had small businesses that have applied.

01:10:35,100	I think you sold it with that first part, because the biggest complaint I’ve heard here from everyone is we need more restaurants. So I think at the very least you get some public goodwill on that one. No, I will I will make this caveat.

01:10:57,300	Um, mayor and commissioners, we know that we’ve just gotten the Vision Fund process kind of to a better place because it was, um, it needed to have some process, um, kind of mapped out. We also know that if the funding is stated at, at the dollar amounts that are on the on the spreadsheet, we need to be really mindful of who we are handing out Vision Fund dollars to.

01:11:17,630	So we’ve recently sat down with a group of people to say, what are what’s the top tier? What are the top three things that we need in the city of Bismarck? And that’s what we’re going to go after. We’re actually going to go market to those types of companies to come here.

01:11:36,830	Um, if we can, or we’ll announce to the public, hey, these are the top three types of companies that we really want to. We want to grow, um, for the city of Bismarck. And we’re going to put our efforts. We’re going to give them priority over some of the others, because if we’ve got gaps to fill, um, we want to make sure that we’re filling those gaps.

01:11:52,470	And it’s not just in restaurants, it’s other places that we have needs as well. Thank you. So so. The the Vision Fund, in its prior life actually would provide funding in a much larger scale. Uh, we haven’t dedicated the dollars out of the sales tax source, which was providing those.

01:12:12,800	So if we go back 20 years, um, there were many buildings built within this community with those Vision Fund dollars for some businesses are there. I don’t even know if they’re all here anymore, but that’s why we’re not doing that, because they were we were probably trying to throw a line out, reel in a big fish that really wasn’t going

01:12:29,970	to stay. What we have now happening is a more true echo. Uh, the ecosystem for businesses built from the base, the bottom up, small businesses. And it can’t be just every business. We’ve had to be very diligent at.

01:12:48,000	The Vision Fund as to where we could say the Vision Fund could fund it or recommend that we use a letter of support to the North Dakota Opportunity Fund that would then be matched by the Bank of North Dakota flex space by down. There’s other programs through Bank of North Dakota as well.

01:13:04,900	If the city found it in its wisdom that it had the ability to put $5 million into the Vision Fund, I’m pretty sure we could probably go after some bigger scale projects. I’m not sure that’s the right answer. Yeah. I’m not I’m not sure that that’s right. For the moment right now either.

01:13:23,700	Um, I think if we can focus on some of those small businesses and fill the gaps of where we are missing, um, would be a nice add to our community. I have a couple of more slides, so if I could get them to put the next slide up. Did you have another question, Commissioner Hall? Sorry, mayor. Commissioners.

01:13:41,200	Brenda, out of curiosity, has have any businesses we’ve given funds to via the Vision Fund defaulted on the loan? I am not aware of any that have defaulted. Okay. Perfect. Thanks. That that is a distinct possibility that they could because these are probably some cases higher risk businesses at times. So Commissioner Connelly, Rhonda, I just want because we have questions and this is part of the whole process. I would. Like to. I’m fine.

01:14:00,400	I’ve got all night.. Noted. No, I’m kidding. Um, well, to answer, uh, one of it wasn’t necessarily a default, but when Harvey was going to purchase the one building, we were actually in a city commission meeting in that building got flooded.

01:14:22,000	So they just never finished the application because it wasn’t the right fit, and that was the right outcome of that. But it’s hopefully that’s the strangest we ever encounter in that process. But, um, when you’re talking about, um, gaps and things, I think, you know, I can buy into that because I’ve been very consistent.

01:14:41,730	So if you’re looking for that five zero endorsement, I think everybody’s pretty familiar with what I say. And I was actually, um, uh, more enthusiastic about that. Noah presenting at the last Vision Fund meeting.

01:14:59,830	I watched them all ahead of time, and that was right in line with what I had been saying, is, is that if it’s a nonprofit filling a need that we don’t have a lot of resources to meet, that’s I’m going to be more inclined to say yes along those lines, whether it’s Vision Fund or even the letters of endorsement for state funding.

01:15:21,570	Um, also, if it’s a like the basketball up next to cash wise, no other competitor out there. It’s not like all of the dentist office or all of the chiropractic along those lines. They’re not competing for employees. I’m more inclined to say yes when there’s more competition. Well, it’s going to be a little bit harder for me to get to that conclusion. That might get a five zero vote. Understood. Thank you.

01:15:41,500	Commissioner Connelly. Commissioner. Mr. mayor, um, commissioners. Brenda. Yeah. My I follow what, um, Commissioner Conley says. My concern is interfering with the marketplace. We’ve got ten dentists in town. We’ve approved two letters of port for two. I want to have my tooth worked on about three days after we did the one on North Washington Street.

01:16:04,300	Um, a letter of support to buy down their interest to the Pace Loan fund up. And and I mentioned it to my dentist, and my dentist said, what? You’re helping you’re you’re helping fund a dentist with public tax money. And I said, yeah, that’s the deal. It interferes with the market. I consider myself very pro-business.

01:16:22,030	And when I think of economic development, I think of creating a good business climate. I think of having good public schools, parks, an environment where people want to live and work and having rules and regulations that are reasonable, that that’s good economic development.

01:16:41,170	The idea of the government subsidizing one business that’s competing with ten others and not the other nine, is where my concerns come. Thank you. Commissioner. Risch. Um, I don’t know if that was a question or. It was a statement I want. My philosophy is I. think I’m very pro-business and I’m pro economic development.

01:17:01,700	I’m just not a fan of giving taxpayer money to one business that’s competing with nine others in the same marketplace. It creates a competitive advantage for one business. It interferes with the marketplace.

01:17:23,770	And I think, um, Commissioner Risch, um, I think that what we’re doing with the Vision Fund currently to outline what are the priority businesses, it will allow us to have a framework in place so that some of these other ones, like the dental offices, may not even make the cut at that point. Right now, we’re not. Okay. Well, but we are just actually working on that framework right now.

01:17:41,530	So I think as we start to clean up what we’re doing with the Vision Fund and who we’re pushing forward, I think we’ll we’ll address your, your concern. Good, good. Commissioner Connelly. One last thing that I would say about that, uh, Commissioner Risch, if you haven’t watched the last Vision Fund meeting. Well, I guess there was one just like, right this week.

01:17:59,770	It might be two times ago when you presented. Okay, so the last one, you might, uh, get some insight with that conversation if you want to watch it, if you haven’t already. And not that I want to beat a dead horse, but honestly, economic development is economic growth.

01:18:20,530	And and yes, sometimes there is a business that is competing with another business that might have an advantage because they thought through or made the application. Kudos to them. And we are losing out to other communities in our state.

01:18:40,930	If we do not support all businesses to think about using using this opportunity to buy down their interest rate, we are seeing millions of dollars depart the Bank of North Dakota for flex based buy down and pace funding, going to our true competitors in the state for that, and I hate losing out on that.

01:19:00,730	I want to be the one that has all that brand new real estate or business here, not in Fargo, not in Grand Forks, not in Jamestown, not in not in Minot. Those are our sister communities. Mr. Mayor. I get it, but I don’t want to lose out to them when we have the opportunity to to have those funds here. I’ve got another question for Brenda.

01:19:21,370	Every time we see one of these things, or oftentimes we see, oh, we’ve got ten jobs. If we get this financing, we we plan on creating 12 more. Does anybody ever follow up to see whether or not they actually created the 12 more? And if they didn’t, what happens then? Is there a clawback where we can get our money back?

01:19:38,370	No. Commissioner Rich, thank you. That is a really good question. Um, that is the purpose. One of the purposes of the business retention meetings that we are holding. Um, we haven’t been fully staffed. Um, and we’ve had a lot of things going on.

01:19:58,100	So when now that we’ve implemented the business, the BRC meetings, as we call them, that’s one of the questions that we’ll be asking is, so you have been the recipient of funds. This was the application.

01:20:17,700	Um, how are you doing in increasing now? We do not have any plan on it’s not written in the in the contracts that we would take money back, but we definitely will be having those conversations. Mr. mayor, one last thing, Brenda. I would just encourage whenever you bring one of these things before the commission, that whoever the applicant actually shows up, sometimes it’s just Noah making the presentation and the applicant doesn’t show up. And I appreciate Commissioner Conley.

01:20:41,330	I’m pulling this stuff off the consent agenda so we can talk about them. So thank you, Commissioner. Great. Thank you. Just in that regard, I’ve asked because we’ve pulled so many that they all come on the regular agenda. And since that time I believe they have so.

01:21:02,700	Mayor, commissioners, um, can I finish just a few more slides? I’m happy to. Like I said, I’ve got all night. I don’t know that you want to stay here all night, but I would like to tell you the rest of the story, um, with economic development, if we could have the slides back up.

01:21:18,170	All right, so I want to assure you, though, that the city of Bismarck is not alone in this, where nobody is expecting the city of Bismarck to pony up endless dollars to do all of these things by themselves. Um, excuse me. There is. We have community builders that are part of the chamber EDC, um, and they’re part of this as well.

01:21:43,970	And so our community builders invest in the growth, the competitiveness and the future success of our region. Um, this is truly a private public partnership. It’s about the city of Bismarck doing their investment, um, as well as our community builders. Um, we they’re looking at entrepreneurial growth, economic development, workforce development and community prosperity.

01:22:10,500	Because guess what? If those new businesses are coming to town and they’re succeeding, so are the existing businesses. And so to put a little bit of, um, number to that, um, if this is what it looks like for the chamber, EDC, uh, we have investment levels that reflect their impact.

01:22:30,300	Um, every level contributes to building a stronger community. We have 91 foundation builders in that category of $500 to 1499. Some of our smallest businesses who received maybe assistance or maybe a a letter of support at some point in time say, not only am I going to invest by paying my membership dues, but

01:22:51,630	I’m going to invest in new business and I want to be a foundation builder. Um, impact builders, you can see the different levels that go up there. Um, visionary builders, we have eight of them.

01:23:10,370	Um, and so those are eight organizations in the community in which we live who give annually. Um, they invest, um, $10,000 in addition to their membership dues in the name of economic development. So you’re not on your own. I just want you to know and understand this isn’t just Bismarck who’s trying to do economic development. We need the city of Bismarck to do all the things with the Vision Fund.

01:23:34,400	But our investors at the chamber, EDC, are helping us as well, and helping our community. And so our civic builders, you are one of them. Um, who gives a who invests? You are a civic builder. It is a public, private, um, collaboration. And we’re happy to continue to collaborate.

01:23:56,770	And so I Jason, I had to put your fireworks on there. Um, but thank you. On behalf of the chamber, EDC and the over 1200 members that we serve. And really, the community of Bismarck and Mandan. Um, thank you for helping us to move business forward and make Bismarck a better place. I would stand for any additional questions.

01:24:18,670	Any good, Commissioner. Mr. chairman. So this last slide, that’s, um, individual entities that contribute to the chamber for specifically for economic development. They. Are beyond their dues. Yes. Okay. Any other questions, Commissioner Connelly? Uh. Not incorporated on this slide. What’s the base membership for businesses that come.

01:24:41,070	It really? So the membership depends on what type it is. An individual membership is right around $75. Um, a small business, um, generally starts right around the 300 mark. We are quite low compared to other chambers, um, in the state. I don’t want anyone to think, though, that it’s all 300.

01:25:04,130	It’s based on the type of business and the number of employees and the the sector in which that business serves. Oh. And then there’s costs with the mixers and all of the other stuff. That. Sure, there’s sponsorships, um, that our members choose to participate in. Additionally. Yeah. Anything else? Brenda. Thank you.

01:25:27,000	Mayor. Commissioners, thank you so much for your time. I’m happy to come back any time to continue the conversation. All right. Item F is to receive an update and updated information related to the possible city Hall renovation project. Jason. Good evening, Mayor and commissioners.

01:25:51,600	Uh, just a brief introduction and a little bit of a reminder. About a month ago, the second meeting in July, you received a series of concepts looking at the possible renovations or modifications to this building. Once Burleigh County moves out of the first floor.

01:26:09,800	Uh, based on that meeting and the direction that was received from the table, uh, the architects with Endeavor North design, Cole Johnson to my right here, and Nate Hacker in the back. And, um, some of their team retooled the concepts and focused in on option B and option D, uh, option B is kind of a smaller scale.

01:26:29,630	Uh, remain kind of in the same footprint. And look at relocating this commission chambers to the first floor. Option D was a little bit more elaborate. That involved an expansion and some additions to the South part of the other messaging that we had heard at that meeting in July was a request for some potential funding options of how these

01:26:49,170	projects could be, um, could be paid for by the city. That information was included in your agenda packet cover memo, but we can certainly talk about that after you hear the revised update from Mr. Johnson. And if you have any questions, I’d be happy to try and answer them.

01:27:05,800	Nate and Cole are here. And then also we’ve got some finance staff. If we get into the gritty details that go along with funding. So with that, I will get out of the way and let Cole fill you guys in.

01:27:19,400	And it sounds like you’ve got lots of questions tonight, so I suspect we’ll have a good discussion on this topic as well. I should note we do not need a final decision this evening, but we are getting closer to that decision time frame where if we are going to act on something in 2027, we probably need to be doing something sooner rather than

01:27:36,700	later to stay on track with that schedule. Otherwise, we could be looking at delaying this project even further. And as we know, time adds cost to just about every project. So with that, I will get out of the way and wait for any questions there. I think so. All right. Good evening, commissioners, mayor and commissioners.

01:28:08,330	We’ll have a abbreviated presentation from last time, but wanted to hit on some of the key things that we looked at since we were here roughly a month ago. So focusing in on option B and option D, uh, some key bullet points of, of some of the reductions that we, we found here.

01:28:27,530	So validating project scope, digging into that with our engineering partners. Um, uh, found some savings there. We looked at our contingency because that was at 20% total. That was 15% general design or general contingency, and then 5% escalation. As we dug into the numbers, more, we felt comfortable reducing that down to 15% total contingency.

01:28:53,230	So that would be 10% general and 5% escalation. Um, next bullet point is phase consolidation. Uh, for the construction going from an assumption of 3 to 4 phases down to one, 1 to 2, that’s a 5% reduction. There.

01:29:17,630	Uh, since our last meeting or last time we presented, we got some additional information on hazardous material abatement that had occurred. And we’ve we, uh, found that the majority or everything that was known has been abated. So we reduced that contingency significantly, just enough to cover anything that might be uncovered. Um, any unforeseen materials there that would have to be abated.

01:29:39,030	And then the last bullet point is looking harder at our assumptions and allowances for soft costs and furniture and equipment, with the direction we received last time, um, and saw some significant savings, there, uh, planning to reuse everything that we could for furniture if it was in good shape and it had a place in the the, um, modified design.

01:30:00,470	So where we, we landed on that, uh, this is the numbers are very small familiar for you there. So you likely can’t read that. But the original estimates are up top. Option B, uh, was at 26 to 29.6 million. After those reductions, it got down to 23.5 to 25.

01:30:24,400	5 million, with a reduction of 2.5 to 3.5 million. There. Option D, we are at 35 or 30 4 to 38 million last time. That is down to 29.5 to 32.2 million, with a reduction of 4.5 to 5.75 million.

01:30:47,630	Uh, and then I want to hit on a few of the key differences between option B and option D. B is really the base of option D with these four primary add ons. So an enhanced south, uh, plaza and south accessible entrance there, those two kind of go together at 1.5 million total there.

01:31:09,170	There’s the addition of the south elevator and stair tower, which really cleans up some of the public and private circulation within the building. And then the the addition of the chamber and loading dock to the south at 4 million, uh, all those potential scope adds could be added on to be any number of those.

01:31:28,970	And, um, just want to hit on all of those are really focused on the more public side of this building and how the public engage with this, this facility. Real quick recap of of option B and option D. Option B is a renovation within the current footprint.

01:31:50,770	Um, make some key improvements, such as moving the chamber up to the first floor, but it’ll generally stay similar to this. Um, physically. Here’s a quick, quick look at that. Again, same same view that we looked at last. Um, last time we were here a month ago. Option D is where it extends into the south.

01:32:11,870	Uh, lot the lot south of this, uh, with the commission chamber entry and that stair and elevator tower and a look at that from the the south side here. Another view of that entry, the commissions chamber and then all the public facing parts of the city Hall moved to that south side. And a look at that commission’s chamber.

01:32:34,530	And again, that, that by moving it to the south side, we’d have a clean, secure line where this really could become a, asset for the city, and it could be something that could be used by more than just the the commissions that use this space.

01:32:50,270	This is the slide I’m going to end on and then take any questions you have. But this is the guiding principles matrix we reviewed last time. So option B and option D scored against all the these um guiding principles. And then a weighted average there. This is out of five points. And then we have the steering committee score.

01:33:09,470	And this was out of 100 points and was scored against the um, uh, the strategic plan, um, values the strategic values of the city here. So you can see those two scores side by side. And then the reduced, uh, estimates, current state estimates. Uh, I’m happy to take any questions that the commission may have.. Commissioners. Go ahead. Commissioner Hall.

01:33:35,630	Uh, mayor and commissioners, um, I guess you in in the changes you mentioned removing a bunch of the furniture budget. Um, I’m guessing unless stuff is getting fully replaced, wouldn’t the.

01:33:58,670	For any furniture that’s old and needs replacing be already covered under a budget item? So we don’t need to budget in this particular project? That’s a good question. The ongoing replacement of furniture. Um, and commissioners, I’m not sure possibly Jason would be better to answer that one. Just figure, not budget for it twice, especially if it can drop the nominal cost of the project.

01:34:19,570	And I will say that we we reduced it significantly and mainly focused on the spaces that didn’t have something comparable set up. Right now. Thank you. Mayor and commissioners, Commissioner Hull yeah, we would definitely be looking at utilizing as much furniture as we could. Uh, simple. I mean, just looking around this room, these chairs aren’t that old. There’s no reason to replace them.

01:34:40,930	But in many of the offices, there is fairly new modular furniture that was procured when the building was originally renovated in 2006 and then again in 2007 and 2008.

01:34:58,930	We did floors two, three and four, two, three and four respectively, and at that time a lot of the furniture was new and much of it is still very appropriate and could be utilized in other locations. The only times we might be compromised is if there were smaller offices and some of the modular office furniture that we have today wouldn’t fit.

01:35:15,000	But we have been really good about repurposing a lot of that in other departments and other buildings within the city. So none of it is going to waste. Yeah. I was just wondering if, yeah, if we had I know it’s getting nitty gritty.

01:35:30,630	It’s not big cost, but like if we, you know what what furniture budget was left, if there was, you know what what the reason was because like you mentioned like different spaces have different needs. First of all, we have now. Yeah. Correct.

01:35:47,670	It’s primarily focused on those that we, we went through and saw either a desk that was just probably ready for that replacement, which if it ends up coming out of a different budget, we can keep track of that and reduce it. Um, that’s just our kind of best guess allowance, just to have a placeholder for what we think that we’ll encounter during this project. Um, because we don’t want to be too optimistic at this point to and just assume that there’s going to be not going to be any furniture needs. Sure. Thank you. Commissioner Connelly.

01:36:08,830	Two new buildings went up in our community just a couple of years ago that were the full buildout of schools, and both of them were, um, 14.6 million. Elkridge and Silver Ranch.

01:36:29,970	So when I look at these numbers, and even with the reduction, 26 million, that’s the same that we just paid for, uh, roughly in the category of two brand new schools with a lot of space. It’s hard to find citizens that can relate to that, even with the inflationary pressures or tariffs in those things.

01:36:56,400	So, um, the needs based roof, HVAC, um, elevator, even if it’s external to the building, if they’re something along those lines, um, ground floor meeting room, I know where electronics here, where we’re burning. We’re running low on our transparency. We can’t get the microphone replacement electronics, but those are where their needs based. And granted, the first floor would have the same old footprint, but that cost is even with the reduction significantly high for my comfort level.

01:37:24,200	So whatever that adds to the conversations. Thank you. Call Mike. My question if we started B is the base, which is you kind of described that there are add ons that get us to D. And the biggest one is the is a complete new chambers structure. Mhm.

01:37:50,870	If we looked at the south side entrance and accessibility, there and what does that require for the plaza at that point in time. Or is the plaza still. I mean that’s a small number in comparison to the whole thing here to half $1 million. Still a big number to me. But compared to 26 million, it’s not very big. Mm.

01:38:12,300	But is that a, you know, where our, where our step offs or what. When would you add one thing. What triggers the next. Or are there any triggers. Yeah. Adding the four different options. Let’s put it. That way. I would I would say that yeah.

01:38:32,530	If you move into that south side, some type of plaza and it’s a half $1 million add because if in the other, in the other options, we looked at the periphery of this existing building and needing some accessibility upgrades and some other code required upgrades.

01:38:50,270	So we’re if we go into the south side, basically we’re shifting that investment to the south side and improving that lot more. Um, I think at that point, the South entry makes a lot of sense. So those two going together, um, after that, it could be, uh, just the it could just be the commissions chamber, it could be the stair and elevator addition. Um, each of those could go independently.

01:39:12,530	Uh, so I’m not sure, mayor, if that. Answers it, maybe did. So maybe I can ask in a different way to get a if if the thought process would be and I don’t know what this commission is going to want to do yet.

01:39:33,870	Um, uh, would be that option be was the, the starting point and we created the South accessibility entrance and we. Added the south tower elevator and stair tower because I believe from an accessibility standpoint, those are two critical components.

01:39:54,170	What I’m assuming that the plaza would have to happen at the same time or or any of those that are maybe a better ways. Which one are more? Which one is most important? If I look at this building from a usability moving forward, knowing we have to look at this for 50 years.

01:40:09,530	So I already kind of answering what I think the 50 year answer is, which is probably a number I’m going to swallow very hard on because I know what that answer probably is. Yeah. And I, um, mayor and commissioners, I’ll clarify the the elevator needs to be replaced either way. So in B or D it’s it’s being replaced. It’s just where it’s being replaced. So the the accessibility will be improved regardless.

01:40:29,100	Um between B and D for the building. It uh by having everything on that south side, everyone that’s coming in from the public would walk in the door, go to the elevator and stair right there up to whatever they need to be.

01:40:47,000	So there’s a a handicap accessibility, and there’s a ease of navigating this building and accessing the services that you need kind of accessibility. So so moving them creates it makes it easier if they stay where they’re located. It’s maybe more difficult to navigate, but we have not. We still have the same accessibility to all floors. Just kind of navigate a hallway to get to it.

01:41:06,970	If we have the south side entrance. Yeah, absolutely. So you’d be navigating into that existing stair and elevator, finding. Your way to the. Floor. That that helps. Me. Okay. Go ahead, Commissioner. Hall. Mayor and Commissioners Cole on option D I see there’s still there’s a public entry on the.

01:41:29,730	Was it the east and west sides of the building? But I thought the only public entry was going to be on the south side to make it, you know, nice pretty lobby. And then, you know, you, you know, make a night, you know, best use for all, you know, visitors and staff am I, I was just wondering about that, especially the, you know, the existing, uh, west side entrance.

01:41:46,230	Yeah. That that is a mayor and commissioners. That’s a a good catch. That’s a typo that that was in a previous, uh, staff entry only on the side. So that that’s a good catch. All right. Thank you. Um. One more. Sure. Uh, mayor, commissioners.

01:42:04,400	Uh, Cole, the other question I had was, um, I mentioned it last time. I don’t know if anyone else apart, but I was just wondering, was there any exploration of, you know, other energy efficiency investments we can make? Because this is a once in a generation opportunity and investment we’re going to do.

01:42:17,430	So I’m I’m personally like, if the price if the initial price tag goes a little high, it’s like investing ourselves. If it pays for it’s if the savings pay for the difference or themselves in 5 to 7 years. I’m good with that.

01:42:31,670	So once you’re if there’s, you know, an investigation of, you know, um, high, high reflectivity material for the roof for extra insulation or windows. What the you know, what the, you know, cost, you know, cost benefit analysis for that. Uh, mayor and commissioners, I, a couple of windows and insulation are assumed right now. There’s no insulation in the current walls.

01:42:58,370	Windows are they need to be replaced or should be, um, it’s a hard thing to say. Exactly. How much. What’s the ROI? I don’t want to oversell something. If it’s a tough thing to say. Exactly what? That that will be. Um, when you look into mechanical systems, we we have some assumptions on what those will be.

01:43:20,270	Um, often will, we’ll dig into other energy efficiency mechanical systems and we’ll look at geothermal. And it always it just doesn’t happen anymore because of the incentives that were around for a while. Aren’t there anymore. It’s a it’s a good premium for that extra energy efficiency.

01:43:40,630	Um, I we can get you an answer or try to get you as, as best of an answer we can with our mechanical engineers on, on current state versus replaced uh, replacement of HVAC systems and what that, uh, improved efficiency will be. And ROI on that. Um, but I don’t have that for you right now. Yeah.

01:44:02,370	I figure we are getting advanced improvements on the HVAC. I just wonder if there are any other, you know, efficiency improvements we could investigate. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner Connelly. And then I’ll come back to Commissioner Dull. Um, mayor, commissioners. Uh, we had for a while.

01:44:22,870	Um, a, uh, consultant or a vendor or talking to us about lights and efficiencies over time and a replacement. I remember, um, uh, Steve talking about that and the cost of the fixtures over time versus how long it would take to really see some of those benefits. I think we stopped it at 1.2, didn’t we? Yeah. And so it wasn’t going to the numbers weren’t looking so great. For.

01:44:45,330	And it wasn’t. Long ago. Yeah. It was like in the last two years. Could I just mention one thing on that? I think your light fixtures are actually having other issues too. Where where bulbs and replacement parts are becoming an issue too. So there. Will be some required replacements no matter what. But yeah. Commissioner Dull.

01:45:06,400	Um, as far as the funding goes, you know, there’s a lot of community benefit to the space. To the south side of the building. Is there opportunity to look at not city funds? I know it’s small in the grand scheme of things.

01:45:22,770	Um, but is there an opportunity to look maybe to our downtown community who would benefit from having this space as a funding source? I think that’s still open. We haven’t even got to that point. Gotcha. We’re just we’re talking about numbers here. And when we’re having these conversations, we’re talking about them. And in terms of all of the money coming from the city budget.

01:45:46,100	Right. And this is if we want to sell this as a community space, which I think it is an excellent use of the community space and something that we need. We need to look to the community. There could be some opportunities that we can talk about.

01:46:02,530	I think of naming rights maybe, or something to that effect, but that gets a little difficult on a public building, I think. I’m not talking to the point of naming rights, but. I mean, but that’s the concept of what you’re doing, right? So I don’t know.

01:46:22,370	I think we have to figure out if we can go forward and if there’s a way to secure some donations towards something in that plaza area or wherever, that becomes a secondary question. I’m a little reluctant to put a company. Uh. City hall. Anything. You’re not doing a letter of support for. That? To be clear, I wasn’t talking about that, commissioner. I was more so thinking, you know, brick by a brick.

01:46:44,200	Something that is a little more integrated into the design. That’s not flashy business, eh? Owning our city building. Yeah. It’s certainly something that we can get into once we if we get to that point, I. Think I’m just going to voice support for Commissioner Dole’s idea.

01:47:05,470	So I guess the question I have is, what’s the point of which we have to make a decision to move forward so that 2027 becomes a year of action, so to speak, even though we won’t be doing any work construction wise, but can start the process for bidding and so forth.

01:47:22,130	Yeah, I would say our original schedule had us starting in October, which that was basically a decision now or by now to set up contracting and start that work in October. There is some buffer in there. So I would say two weeks, four weeks, um, very doable. Uh, if beyond that it’s still doable too.

01:47:41,270	But we want to leave enough time during the design process to analyze value and make decisions and pivot as needed, as as more and more as decided. So I do want to hit on the value of not crunching that design process too much. But, uh, 2 to 4 weeks is very doable. If beyond that, it’s something we can absolutely work around to.

01:48:03,700	So my question to Commissioner Kiley. Well, one last thing that I talked with Jason about earlier today is did any part of the concept, because I like a lot of the churches that I go to, they’ve gone less of a raised front area, and they’ve gotten more of an angle to where they

01:48:24,000	angled the chairs to help that view scape, too. So, um, at a, you know, slow descending. So it’s not problematic for balance and things. But if those concepts can be investigated, I. Guess., mayor commissioners, that would absolutely be something that we would dig into and review.

01:48:45,970	Um, I would, I would say that a downside of that is just the flexibility of the space is reduced. So a space like this, you can clear out chairs and use it for some other event. If you if you wanted having those sloped floors, um, really limits the multifunction aspect of the space, but it does improve visibility. Okay.

01:49:05,100	So my question to you, commissioners is. is you wish to wait for two weeks, four weeks? That’s probably the timeline we wish to give guidance. Now. I mean, I’m up to whatever. Go ahead. Commissioner. Mr.

01:49:28,200	mayor, commissioners, I’m looking at the cover memo and it lists all these different places for money to pay for the building. I’m a little bit confused with it. And it says, um, uh, fund balance policy of 40% would need to be, oh, they approved in 2020 requires the unassigned fund balance threshold to be held at 40% of general fund expenditures.

01:49:52,070	If we, um, say, well, that’s a great plan on how to fund this, does that drop our reserves below the 40% threshold? That’s my question. Great question. I’m glad you brought that up because I meant to bring it up earlier. And it’s not a question for call. It’s it’s actually a question for our finance team. So who Ryan or Eric who’s who’s on the.

01:50:11,330	I probably already pushed this one on him. So to to evaluate. It he’s the money guy. Excellent question. Mayor. Commissioners uh that that.

01:50:29,630	Fund balance policy that we’re looking at and in the memo and how we, we talk about kind of finding where the money would come from, that 40% is it’s in there and it’s stated in the memo as 40% of general fund expenditures. But actually how it’s in our policy is 40% of general fund expenditures, including capital projects. And debt like.

01:50:47,130	So the debt funding that we have in there, so financing or the money in there. So there’s a couple of ways you could go about it, but it would need some restructuring if we were going to, to be able to tap into some of that funding, one would be just a reduction in the percentage. Um, if we change that percentage down to a smaller number underneath 40.

01:51:01,970	However, another way we could go about doing it is just kind of addressing the the 40% of what number discussion and not including the, the debt financing, the debt debt payments in there that would that would bring it down. And additionally, the, you know the one time expenditures.

01:51:19,770	So if we were to change that language to 40% of operating or ongoing operating expenditures, that would bring that number down currently by about $7 million. Um, just because of the top end of that number that we’re we’re measuring that 40% against is is including everything right now.

01:51:41,530	And depending on how we want to look at it, that’s, that’s the discussion that we would have to to kind of adjust that fund balance policy. Mr. mayor, so what about is there current reserve rough number. So that. I it’s excellent question and I, I have Eric here but I was I was anticipating that question.

01:52:00,370	So I think I can get you an answer without having to rely on him currently. Um, but we have our ending fund at the end of 25 is right, just shy of $32 million in the unassigned. That’s the unassigned balance of there was about $32 million.

01:52:21,600	Uh, if we were to take that 40% of the operating budget, the not the top line budget, but the number that I’m saying is just ongoing operating expenditures, that would be about 25, just shy of $25.5 million. That 40% of that ongoing operating number would be about $25.5 million. And so that would be that right there would give us the you know, I think we have 6.

01:52:40,570	2 in the in the memo, but that would be about $7 million that that would generate in available reserves. Well, does that include all expenditures, including the public utilities and things of that? No, no, those are separate. We’re talking general fund expenditures. Commissioner Connelly. Well, just a question, mayor.

01:53:07,470	Commissioners, when I was first appointed, before getting elected, we did set aside some ear money for the police station out of reserve. And that was prior to the 3/10. Sales tax. Has that been moved anywhere else, or is that. Still there? It’s still setting there, which would be part if you go through the memo.

01:53:26,330	It’s identified in the memo that’s part of the dollars that could be used towards a capital project or to be moved to unassigned, I guess, or uncommitted. That takes action of this table. To do that. Um, but yes, the five, the 5 million, because we didn’t know that we were going to have the funding for the police station when that was when that was established. I think it was in 2023. Yeah.

01:53:46,030	Mr. chairman, members of the commission. Yes. That that $5 million is included in that memo and it is included in our, our an assessment of of where the funds would come from. And that is also there was also $5 million for this building committed by you as the commission.

01:54:03,670	And included in there is an action that would you would have to recommit the money to since we found other funding or we had other funding for that $5 million, we’d have to recommit that committed fund balance to this building.

01:54:21,770	And then I will also add that when the 40% fund balance reserve policy was set, I was actually pushing for a lower number than because I believe three months of operating expenses is certainly an adequate number for our reserve to be maintained. I don’t want to drop right to that number because we know we have inflation.

01:54:40,000	You know, we have to be able to handle that. And we don’t know that property taxes coming forward, we’ll always maintain with inflation. So, Um. But I think our policy in my review of many, many financial statements throughout the nonprofit world and government world has a reserve requirement that is higher than is

01:55:01,270	necessary. And Ryan and I have had that conversation in the last two months since he’s been on board. And I think he agrees with me. Actually. Mr. Mayor, but it would come in handy with all the projects we have if we had higher reserves. I mean, certainly we’ve got the airport 130 million, 100 million.

01:55:20,230	With the but but those. Are all station. Those are but the police station has got a funding source. Sure it does. It does. And the airport will will not go forward with other funding sources. It’s not going to be fully funded from city dollars. So we’ve got 5.8.

01:55:33,230	And we and we do have those items that where we do have contribution coming from the city general fund already set aside. But there’s a long list. There’s a long list. Possible recreational facility that might be something I don’t know. There’s just a whole lot of things in the pipeline.. Not disagreeing. I’m just.

01:55:52,970	An it’s a city. The school district needs more money to upgrade their schools. That’s 117 million. That’s not our budget. It’s not. But it’s part of the our communities. Which is why. We. Cannot do this as a property tax levy. Okay. I would not stand for. That. Pretty soon. We’re talking about some real money here, Elliott.

01:56:14,370	All up. We are. We can just do nothing. Which I mean, that’s a possibility. But our HVAC system in this building is daily. It’s on Band-Aids and chicken wire. Mr. mayor, I’d like to proceed with number four. What is it? Um, issue four. No. What do we call it? Option four. Option four? We might as well.

01:56:36,230	Or d. We’re going in that direction anyway. Unless somebody’s got an objection to. It. Commissioner Connelly. I would like that. Bare bones for needs to just as a comparable. I mean, can you clarify for. Me.

01:57:07,400	HVAC, um, roof, elevator, whether it’s in the existing space or external, um, ground floor meeting room, whether it’s internal or external, and then the electronics, because we know what we’re on. And so so I think that is option B basically. Okay. And, and um, as much as I like that number much better, I do not see that as the best answer for the community for the next 50 to 60 years. Unfortunately.

01:57:33,370	Mayor, Commissioner Conley, I believe what you were asking for is actually option A that we previously took off the table, which was the minimal. But that wouldn’t move. That wouldn’t move the commission chambers to main floor. Gotcha. Understood. We eliminated that. Yeah. Great. So.

01:57:56,500	So, Commissioner Conley, are you asking to not vote on this tonight? And ask for additional information from the architect? I guess I’m confused. I don’t think we need to vote on it. We just need to give direction. Don’t we? I think. We probably. We aren’t accepting bids yet, so I don’t know.

01:58:17,230	We’re just probably giving direction to it so that they could start the process of, um, I it’s a good question. I don’t know that. I don’t know legally what our obligation is here. I, I don’t know that answer. Mayor, commissioners.

01:58:40,070	Um, I guess the purpose of a decision is to provide the design team direction on how to move forward. We’re getting to a point where they’ve done this work, and without clear direction on where to go forward, we’re really just kind of spinning our wheels here. So, um, if there is a decision tonight. Um, it. Would probably best if it was in the form of a motion. To be. Honest.

01:58:57,400	I was just going to say the same thing for for clarity, for the record, having a clear motion and a direction to move forward would be appreciated.

01:59:12,370	Um, I don’t know that we’ve got 100% consensus here, but if you need more time and more information, we certainly understand that we can do our best to come back with that and try and answer those questions to. I’m waiting for. I guess it’s up to the commission here. If there if someone wants to proceed with a motion. I think we kind of had one, but it wasn’t formal. I’ll move. We proceed with option D. I’ll second.

01:59:32,370	Okay. I will open it up for discussion. And that case, if we’re going to vote on option, I’ll have to step out due to conflict of interest with one of the contractors. Okay. Then I’m going to ask you to actually leave the table for this particular action. Please.

01:59:49,500	Okay. I’m going to open up for for discussion. If we have further go ahead. Commissioner Connelly. , I’ll vote there. You can talk about it. But at 23 to 26, my vote will be no million. So just on the front side of things. Go ahead. Commissioner. Can you clarify, please? Mr. Connelly. On the. Sorry.

02:00:39,100	Are you looking at the trying to find the table, Commissioner? No, my screensaver went dark, and it’s not coming back to me. Like on the option B, the Project. Total cost 26 million. Um. And then on um. Then the next lower one, unless I’m reading it wrong, 23 million for total costs.

02:01:51,700	So, so the the top of that slide was the original estimates. High low, high and low for option B was 26 to 29 million. The refined number now after the the architectural firm having done some work is 23 4 to 25 five. I’m rounding right versus uh option D was 34 to 38.

02:02:25,600	And the refined numbers now are 29.5 to 32 two. Okay. Well. still at 23 million my vote will be. No. So if the conversation goes forward, um, just letting you know I’m okay to say yes to the conversation, but that’s where I’m. At.

02:02:49,400	So I think if I understand the motion correctly, the motion is to ask staff and the consultants to move forward for planning for option D. Would exceed that number. Well, but so so that’s fine. I’m just trying to understand your comment is if it’s more than more than option B, it’s a you’re you’re just explaining why you’re voting. Okay. Understand any other discussion.

02:03:20,930	Um, I’m the only time I’m making is is is I like the dollars associated with option B because it just feels a little more within budget. Very appropriate dollars to spend.

02:03:47,070	However, if I look forward to, uh, 50 years from now, which is building will still be in use for um, option D is a much better plan because it will satisfy the growing community. And as we probably look at, uh, having a room that can hold more people, uh, for public hearings, it will be more appropriate. So I’m just going to make that comment. Um, that explains why I’m voting the way I’m voting. Um, so I’m going to call roll.

02:04:08,330	Commissioner dull. Yes. Commissioner Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Carries. All right. Thank you for the discussion. And call. And, Nathan, thank you for the information has been helpful. We know you. We made you do some work. Thank you.

02:04:43,170	Item G to consider requests from Burleigh County to terminate the 2004 Emergency Management Joint Powers Agreement. And a proposal to reduce the Burley County obligation for the annual lease cost for the Emergency Operations Center facility portion of that facility. So. We have a representative here, so, Miss Blair. I guess that’s me. I’m Julie Lawyer. I’m the Burley County state’s attorney.

02:05:04,470	I provided a letter along with the proposed agreement that the Burley County Commission had, um, had adopted for your consideration. Uh, basically, the way we’re looking at it is that with the Joint Powers Agreement being terminated, which it will be terminated January 1st, 2028, regardless

02:05:24,270	if we agree to it or not. Um, that is where the split in costs are, is in the Joint Powers Agreement and the agreement that we have now is the city covers 75% of the cost of emergency management function. The county covers 25% of the cost.

02:05:44,130	Reason for that, my understanding is, is because that’s how the population of Burley County is kind of split. 75% of the population resides in the city of Bismarck, and the remaining 25% lives outside of the city of Bismarck.

02:06:02,430	Um, so the reason that the Burley County Commission came up with that as a proposal is for the rent for the facility that we no longer occupy. Um, 25% of what we’re paying would be what the outside of the city of Bismarck taxpayers are paying for. And so that’s where they came up with that number. So I actually tend to disagree with the math, because you’re only paying 25% of the lease right now.

02:06:20,870	So that’s cutting it by another 75%, putting that much more burden effectively over the life of the lease, a $700,000 burden onto the city. Residents of Bismarck, which this should be shared because it’s not our choice that Burley County exit the lease.

02:06:44,870	It is Burley County’s choice, and under normal leasing circumstances, and this is a joint in several reliable uh, agreement. Um, you’re on the hook and there could be a nastiness, which I wish not to have. Agreed. So I, you know, $73,000 is the annual lease payment that Burley County is making that stays in place. Well. That’s pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement. But you also sign you also sign the lease, correct.

02:07:06,770	As did the city of Mandan. And the lease does also contain, um, Centcom, Central Dakota Communications, of which Burley County. Is not for that, not for that portion. The Centcom is funded all through Centcom. Go ahead, Commissioner.

02:07:26,530	Mayor Julie, what if Bismarck and Mandan both decided to exit the agreement and leave as well? Do you think the building owner would just go along with it? Oh, we built this for you. And it’s a you got a commitment to 2040 that that just be okay. You think you just stepped aside and say that was okay.

02:07:40,900	That’s not the lease. The lease is three lessees. That would be the city of Mandan, the County of Burley and the city of Bismarck. And so that doesn’t say anything about how costs are going to be split among the three lessees. The Joint Powers Agreement is what covers who’s paying, what costs for that lease.

02:07:57,470	But the fact is, Burley County did agree to this joint powers agreement through 2040. And now you came up with some sort of number $19,000 a year. Where did that come from? Again, I. Don’t it’s. It’s 25% of the 73%. I did the math. I know how it got. To it.

02:08:15,100	So Burley County entered a joint powers agreement in 2004 regarding emergency management functions. According to that 2004 Joint Powers Agreement, the location for the emergency management function was going to be at the airport, and when that changed and a lease agreement was signed for the Combined Communications Center and Emergency Management to go

02:08:36,500	to the new building. That Joint Powers agreement was never updated. So per the 2004 Joint Powers Agreement, our joint offices at the airport. Commissioner dull. But the city or the county of Burley County signed the new lease agreement, correct? Correct.

02:08:56,730	So they are aware that they were going to the new location and in fact, they were housed there up until recently when they chose to leave. That. Correct? Correct. Okay. Commissioner Hall. Mayor. Commissioners. What, uh, what point does the Burley County Emergency Management Department have? They already left that building to the Provident Building or are they moving later? No, they’ve already vacated the building.

02:09:21,030	At what point when did they vacate? I believe it was June. Of this year. Yes. Correct. All right. Thank you. End of May or first part. Of June. Correct. Something along those lines. Mr. mayor, I just want to talk about the furniture. Our joint furniture. You’ve run off with all our furniture. The county did.

02:09:39,630	So we had a meeting regarding the furniture and basically what was decided because the furniture was purchased either through the emergency management function, which is governed by the Joint Powers Agreement regarding who’s paying for what cost 75%, 25%. And then there were grants that were obtained as well.

02:09:58,600	And so what we had discussed was whoever was responsible for the grant, who’s ever got the property on their inventory to for grant purposes, then that would go with that entity. And then what was purchased with under the Power Joint Powers Agreement would be split 7025, just as it was paid.

02:10:16,000	There was a lot of equipment that was left at that facility that’s affixed to the walls and things like that. And so the there was a lot of property that. Was left. The was clear. There is clear legal lines to the the equipment that Burley County has with them.

02:10:36,000	Uh, that was secured through grant funding through the county, through the state or some line like that. The grant was applied for under the Burley, under Burley County to the state of North Dakota that paid for that equipment. Sure. But it was for this. It was. for entity. It was for it.

02:10:53,230	But I would tell you that on all grant funding works, it’s got to follow the grant or the grantee. And that’s where it went. I’m more concerned about the lease because that’s a big number. That’s $700,000. Back on the citizens of Bismarck.

02:11:09,670	And pretty sure that when that lease agreement was signed, all parties thought we were all going to be there together. The intent was always to be together. Um, and that, I mean, I know where my position is. I’ll let the rest of the commissioners decide. But we’ve received the request. At this point in time, I will acknowledge that. Do you want us to officially reject it? We certainly can.

02:11:27,770	I’ll move. We reject the request in its entirety. I’ll second. Do I have further discussion? I guess I have a question for either. Well, either the Julis of, uh, if if we do reject what what happens next? Then we’ll give written notice that we want to terminate the Joint Powers Agreement from 2004. Okay.

02:11:51,230	And that would end January 1st, 2028. Okay. All right. Thanks. Commissioner Connelly. Um. I work really hard to keep that communication between the county and the city, but I have to agree with the city’s position on this. One. Okay, I have any other discussion? I’ll call. Roll. Commissioner Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Home.

02:12:18,000	Yes, Commissioner. Rice. Yes, Commissioner. Dull? Yes, mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Um. Item h. Bid award. Steve. Good. Yeah. What is it? That. Sweet beet. Good evening. Mayor. Commissioners.

02:12:51,600	Uh, last week, Wednesday, we opened bids for our salt sand and beat heat for the 2026, 20, 27 and 2728 winter seasons. Uh, we received two bids for salt. We received two bids for sand and two bids for the beat heat. However, one vendor for the beat heat did not meet the specifications and so their bid was rejected. Uh, the low bidder for the salt was NSC minerals for unit price of $123.

02:13:17,830	73 per ton for the 2627 winter season, and $127.45 per ton for the 2728 winter season. The low bidder for the sand was knife River Corporation, for a unit price of $23.49 per ton for the 2627 winter season, and $24.29 per ton for the 2728 winter season.

02:13:45,000	Uh, the low bidder for the beet heat was K tech specialty Coatings for a unit price of $2.95 per gallon for the 2627 winter season, and $3.45 per gallon for the 2728 winter season. Uh, we are recommending that the Salt contract be awarded to NSC minerals. The sand contract to knife River Corporation and the heat contract to K Tech Specialty Coatings for their respective bids for the bid.

02:14:08,630	Prices for the 26, 27 and 2728 winter seasons. Um, I’d be happy to entertain. Any questions? Are there any questions? Go ahead. Commissioner. Mayor. Commissioners. Steve, I know I’ve been reading the news. You know about target.

02:14:26,800	Just got $1 billion in, you know, refunds for tariffs and Walmart got like 4 to 5 or 6 to $7 billion. Are these these, um, contractors are they if because you mentioned, you know, rightly so to plan for tariffs in here.

02:14:45,800	Um, are the would these people be getting refunds from tariffs if, you know, we get hit with the tariff initially, can we share the same. You know if they get the rebate off. I’d really like it if we could get that savings because we’re the one that paid the tariff essentially.

02:15:04,000	Um mayor, um Commissioner Hull, we could probably write that into the contract that, um, if we end up paying the tariffs, that the terror of the um, and they would get a refund on it, that that would get refunded back to the city. I greatly appreciate. They can do that. Thank you. Good idea. Okay. Anything else. So Commissioner go ahead. Commissioner, I. Just I moved to approve with the amendment, um, proposed by Commissioner Hull. Second.

02:15:26,970	Any discussion? Steve, do you have enough directions to how to write the contract based on that? Okay. Correct. Okay, thanks. Uh, we’ll call roll. Commissioner Hull. Yes. Yes, Commissioner. Rich. Yes, Commissioner. Dull. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes.

02:15:50,970	Or to other businesses? Anyone else? Anyone have other business this evening? I just want to give another shout out to the reuse of store at Public Works. Um, we’re rebuilding, repainting our, um, county or country church out in the country in, um, I was at the reuse of store several times. I got about ten gallons of paint. Uh, helped help greatly in painting the church.

02:16:10,730	And I just want to encourage citizens, if you’ve got paint that you’re not using and not going to use the so good paint, you bring it to the paint or, uh, herbicides, pesticides, automotive stuff, electronics, the reuse it store will accept it.

02:16:28,930	If you’re a Bismarck citizen and as a Bismarck citizen, you can go ahead and take whatever you want. It’s a wonderful service to our community. It keeps a lot of stuff, nasty stuff out of our landfill. We’ve got some good troops out there. Alicia, Travis and Gavin. So I’m one of their best customers. So. any kudos. Any other business this evening? Go ahead. Commissioner.

02:16:48,630	Um, the open house for the feasibility studies tomorrow night at, um. I believe it’s public. Public works? Yep. And I believe it’s 630 to 8. Is it? Yeah. So I would encourage anybody and everybody that has a position, whether you agree or not. Um, we want all input so.

02:17:10,670	We can. And that’s on the, the sports and community recreation facility discussion. Yep. And it’s on both of our websites as well. Thank you, Commissioner, for bringing that up. All right. No other business. We are