Brian Billingsley

The regular city council meeting included administrative items such as a roll call and the pledge of allegiance. The Mayor reported on recent activities, including meetings with the Chamber board, city officials, Task Force 21, the opening of the airport military welcome center, meetings regarding energy projects, and visits with elementary school students. The City Manager's report was submitted in writing. The new executive director of the Western Dakota Energy Association, Allison Ritter, presented an overview of the association's mission, focusing heavily on advocating for the protection of the gross production tax and supporting the oil, gas, and coal industries which form the economic base for many communities. The council addressed an engineering text amendment (Case Number 2026-05) following a public hearing, approving the planning commission's recommendation. Consent items (excluding 6.5) were passed. In action items, Alderman Fuller proposed an amendment to the 2026 sidewalk assessment policy to extend the timeline for property owners to complete necessary sidewalk repairs without incurring project administration fees or assessments, noting that current timelines often lead to double charges. Discussion ensued regarding the legal standing of the current policy timeline.

The special meeting convened to discuss item 3.1, involving an executive session to determine negotiating parameters for the potential purchase of land for a regional detention pond. Alderman Hayes recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Following the executive session, the council returned to open session where a motion was presented to approve the right of entry and disposal agreement, approve the purchase agreement, approve a budget amendment on first reading, and authorize the mayor and staff to sign the agreements. The motion ultimately failed upon a roll call vote. The meeting concluded shortly thereafter with adjournment.

The meeting included discussions and potential recommendations to the City Council on several land use applications. Key agenda items involved reviewing a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a commercial self-storage facility seeking approval for galvanized chain link fencing, and a second CUP request for an accessory structure on a residential lot with no primary dwelling. The commission also addressed a Zoning Map Amendment request to rezone a property from R1 Single-Family Residential to RM Medium Density Residential to align with the Comprehensive Plan and allow for a reduction in rental units. Furthermore, a variance request concerning buffer yard and landscaping requirements for a Popeyes Restaurant, which was built deviating from the approved site plan, was reviewed with a staff recommendation for denial.

The meeting commenced with a roll call, confirming a quorum, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A new planning commissioner, Roger Reich, was introduced. The minutes from the January 13, 2026 meeting were approved. Key agenda items included a public hearing on a variance request by Derek Depa for a single-family home construction on a small lot in the North Minoted Edition, which required minor setback relief of five feet in the front and rear due to the lot's small size and the goal of increasing middle housing density. The commission subsequently approved this variance. A second public hearing addressed a zoning text amendment required to update the statutory authority reference within the flood plain ordinance to align with Senate Bill 2027, which was also approved. A discussion followed regarding the implementation and mapping of the recently approved Airport Protection Overlay and Gateway Corridor Overlay districts, noting that staff will schedule a working group session for detailed mapping and recommendations. Finally, the establishment of a time for personal appearances was noted.

The special city council meeting included discussion and action on several agenda items. The council concurred on the purchase price of $1,250,000 for a flood buyout at 420 15th Street Southeast, requiring fast-tracking for a September 16th closing. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the 2026 budget preparation and guidance, involving a detailed review of various levy scenarios including the 2025 levy plus 3% growth, the preliminary budget, and changes proposed in the president's message, with associated required reductions discussed in millions of dollars. Alderman Fuller made a motion to cut the Vehicle Equipment Replacement Fund (VERF) budget, which passed, prompting a follow-up request for staff to detail necessary additions back into the budget before the next meeting date to cover essential equipment replacement needs.