Burleigh County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Bismarck Commission authorizes parking ramp design RFP, confirms 2026 assessment districts

The Bismarck Board of City Commissioners on Oct. 13 authorized the Parking Authority to issue a request for proposals for design services for a potential new downtown parking ramp — the only item in the meeting's list of actions that did not pass unanimously. The vote was 4-1.

City Commission: assessments, road plan, grant applications

Commissioners voted 5-0 to confirm the 2026 special assessment districts and, in a separate 5-0 vote, the 2026 Health & Safety Assessments. They approved the Fringe Area Road Master Plan Update 5-0, and approved two applications for state funding by the same margin: one for NDDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program funds and one for NDDOT Transportation Alternatives program funds. The board also approved reimbursement of the city portion of tax fees to Millie Kaufman, 5-0, and approved the consent agenda 5-0.

The meeting summary also lists reports received on school bond referendums, fire station planning and draft camping ordinances. No action on those items is recorded in the summary provided.

Dollar amounts for the assessments, the reimbursement and the grant applications were not included in the material reviewed here.

Combined city-county committee: abatements, EOC lease

The Bismarck-Burleigh Combined Commissions Committee met Oct. 6 at 5:00 PM in the Tom Baker Meeting Room. Its agenda listed abatement applications and an Emergency Operations Center lease, along with approval of prior minutes and a public comment period. The agenda gave no properties, lease terms or dollar amounts, and minutes have not been published, so no outcomes are reported here. The committee's next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Downtown design review: Event Center signage

The Burleigh County Renaissance Zone Authority met Oct. 8 at 4:00 PM in the Tom Baker Meeting Room in Bismarck. The agenda included a downtown design review for Event Center signage at 315 South 5th Street, file DDR2026-003, plus approval of prior minutes and public comment. Written comments were due by 8:00 am the day of the meeting to [email protected], and residents could request to speak by video or audio link. Minutes have not been published, so no outcome is reported. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 at 4 p.m.

Parking Authority: contract extensions, rates

The Bismarck Parking Authority met Oct. 8 to review financial statements and monthly parking rates and to consider extending two contracts: a management agreement with Rocky Gordon Co. LLC (Silver Leaf Management) for 1/1/2027-12/31/2027, and a security patrol contract with Spartan Solutions Group LLC for 3/1/2027-2/29/2028. The agenda also listed approval of the Sept. 10, 2026 minutes and noted that board member Jake Axtman's current term expires 12/31/26. No dollar amounts or rate figures appeared on the agenda, and minutes have not been published.

Forum attendance

The Human Relations Committee and the Board of City Commissioners each issued a potential quorum notice for a Community Conversations forum at Dream Center Bismarck on Oct. 15. No action was expected to be taken at the event.

Coming up

• **Oct. 19 — MPO Technical Committee:** consider recommending approval of the Final 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program and the Final 2026 Fringe Area Roads Master Plan, plus 2027 PM1 Highway Safety Improvement Program targets and 2026-2030 PM2 & PM3 targets.
• **Oct. 19 — Library Board of Directors:** approval of the 2027 salary schedule and personnel budget, invoices and financial reports.
• **Oct. 19 — Bismarck Event Center Authority Board:** Belle Mehus rental rates, Event Center exterior signage and the 2027 meeting schedule.
• **Oct. 20 — MPO Policy Board:** votes on the Final 2027-2030 TIP and Final 2026 Fringe Area Roads Master Plan, and adoption of the safety targets.
• **Oct. 20 — Forestry Advisory Board:** Emerald Ash Borer response, 2026 Dutch Elm Disease report, grants and contracts, and the Partners In Planting program.
• **Oct. 21 — Human Relations Committee:** debrief of the Community Conversations Forum on Mental Health and the 2026 Humanitarian Award.
• **Oct. 21 — Historic Preservation Commission:** Historic Preservation Plan (2025 HPF Grant), Downtown Historic Context (2026 HPF Grant) and 2027 grant project ideas.
• **Oct. 22 — Vision Fund Committee:** meeting canceled due to a lack of applications.

No decisions yet in published records; Bismarck commission to weigh $405,839.00 CDBG award, 2026 assessments and Silver Ranch annexation

No decisions are documented in the meeting records provided for this week's roundup. The three most recent meetings — the Bismarck-Burleigh Combined Commissions Committee, the Burleigh County Renaissance Zone Authority and the Bismarck Parking Authority — are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. No votes, tallies or outcomes from those meetings appear in the supplied record.

The only dollar amount in that record is $405,839.00 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds that the Bismarck City Commission is scheduled to consider accepting from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at its Oct. 13 meeting. That item, like the others below, is an agenda item — not a completed action.

Recent meetings: agendas, no minutes yet

Bismarck-Burleigh Combined Commissions Committee, Oct. 6, 5:00 PM, Tom Baker Meeting Room. The agenda listed approval of prior minutes, abatement applications, an Emergency Operations Center lease, and a public comment period. The agenda gives no details on the abatements or the lease terms, so no properties, dollar amounts or lease terms are stated here. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Burleigh County Renaissance Zone Authority, Oct. 8, 4:00 PM, Tom Baker Meeting Room. The agenda included a downtown design review for Event Center signage at 315 South 5th Street, file DDR2026-003, along with approval of prior minutes and public comment. Written comments were due by 8:00 am the day of the meeting to [email protected], and residents could request to speak by video or audio link. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 at 4 p.m.

Bismarck Parking Authority, Oct. 8. The agenda called for reviewing financial statements and monthly parking rates, and for considering two contract extensions: a management agreement with Rocky Gordon Co. LLC (Silver Leaf Management) for 1/1/2027-12/31/2027, and a security patrol contract with Spartan Solutions Group LLC for 3/1/2027-2/29/2028. The body was also to consider approving the Sept. 10, 2026 minutes and to address the expiring board term of Jake Axtman, which ends 12/31/26. The agenda lists no dollar amounts or rate figures.

Bismarck City Commission, Oct. 13

The Board of City Commissioners is scheduled to hold public hearings on the 2026 special assessment districts and Health & Safety Assessments. Other agenda items include:

• Acceptance of $405,839.00 in CDBG funds from HUD
• Proposed annexation of Silver Ranch Fifth Addition (Ordinance 6690)
• Sole source purchase of a Peraton Andros SR1 Robot and Skydio R10 Drone for Police
• Approval of the preliminary engineer's report for Street Improvement District SI 606
• Various infrastructure projects, police equipment purchases and funding requests

Transportation planning, Oct. 19-20

The Metropolitan Planning Organization's Technical Committee meets Oct. 19 to consider recommending approval of the Final 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program, the Final 2026 Fringe Area Roads Master Plan, 2027 PM1 Highway Safety Improvement Program targets, and 2026-2030 PM2 & PM3 targets. It will also receive progress reports on the Transit Development Plan, the Passenger Rail Station Siting Study and the Curb Management Study.

The MPO Policy Board meets Oct. 20 to consider approving the same Transportation Improvement Program and Fringe Area Roads Master Plan and adopting the safety targets.

Library and forestry boards

The Burleigh County Library Board of Directors meets Oct. 19 to consider approving the 2027 Salary Schedule and Personnel Budget, approving invoices and accepting financial reports. The Burleigh County Forestry Advisory Board meets Oct. 20 to review Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease responses and receive 2026 updates on grants, contracts, and the Tree Planting and Partners In Planting program.

Coming up

• **Oct. 13:** Board of City Commissioners — 2026 assessment hearings, CDBG funds, annexation ordinance, police equipment.
• **Oct. 15:** Human Relations Committee and Board of City Commissioners quorum notices for a Community Conversations forum at Dream Center Bismarck. No action is expected at the forum.
• **Oct. 19:** MPO Technical Committee; Library Board of Directors.
• **Oct. 20:** MPO Policy Board; Forestry Advisory Board.

All items above are drawn from agendas. Outcomes will be reported when minutes are published.