00:00:06,580	S1:
Good evening. It's 515 on July 11th. We're in the Tom Baker room of the city County building. This is the board of city commissioners Meeting. First, though, we'll have our invocation and pledge of allegiance. If Chaplain Carr could lead us, please.

00:00:24,120	S2:
Thank you. Mayor. Commissioners. Let's pray. Heavenly father, first we want to just thank you for all that you do for us and all that you provided for us. Thank you for allowing Bismarck to be the community it is. Thank you for the men and women that serve in this community to make it a better place. Father, we pray your protection upon our first responders as well as we pray and ask that you'll just be with them and their families. Now, father, as we look to you for your wisdom during this meeting, God, may you bless all that happens in this meeting. As we look to you for our wisdom. Look to you for our direction. God be with us all now. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus. Amen. Amen. Please stand, if you may. If you can, 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. Thank you. Mayor. Commissioners.

00:01:28,970	S1:
We'll call our meeting to order if we can call. Roll.

00:01:32,610	S3:
Commissioner Marquardt here. Commissioner Zenker here. Commissioner Connelly here. Commissioner Cleary here. Mayor Schmitz.

00:01:42,170	S1:
Here. Next item is opportunity for public comment on anything on the consent agenda or on the regular agenda. That is not a public hearing. Anyone who wishes to speak, please come forward. State your name and your purpose.

00:02:01,610	S4:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and commissioners. My name is Marilyn Hawkinson. Purpose is to ask the city commission you folks to get the signage back up on Centennial Beach. In 1989, there was only one centennial project from the city of Bismarck, and I shepherded that through, and it's called Centennial Beach.

00:02:28,270	S1:
Former mayor, you are on the agenda as a topic. Can we just take the whole thing at that point in time in the regular agenda? Your presentation.

00:02:39,230	S4:
Please excuse.

00:02:40,710	S1:
Me. You're you're part of the regular agenda, your presentation. So can you just.

00:02:46,070	S4:
So I would wait.

00:02:47,630	S1:
And please.

00:02:48,470	S4:
Have someone else. Okay.

00:02:49,670	S1:
Because I think we have something. I'd like to speak to public comment on a couple other topics.

00:02:53,510	S4:
And just jumping the gun a little bit.

00:02:55,230	S1:
Yeah.

00:02:55,590	S4:
Thank you. I'll go back and practice some more. Okay.

00:02:58,190	S1:
That's fine.

00:03:01,270	S1:
All right. This is public comment period for consent agenda items or those items that are not public hearing.

00:03:12,450	S5:
Mayor and commissioners. My name is Burnett, and I'm here in support of the Brisbane Quest for 207,000 for the funding. I just want to say I work with many agencies through the community that rely on transit, and it is needed. We are here to help, but we we need the service and we needed to continue with that. And I'm here to represent the disability community that cannot speak for themselves. And I work with them through legislation. And they always say we need transit and transportation. So I would kindly ask you to please include us in the community to make it inclusive for the community that is Bismarck. We are the capital city, and I think since the last time I've been here, we have lost taxi service. So that has a major impact on the disability community. So I would appreciate you approving the request. They have done everything they can. We need help. We need the disability community to have the same rights as everybody else. Thank you very much.

00:04:38,550	Any questions? S1:
It doesn't look like it. Thank you.

00:04:42,710	S1:
Again. This is a public comment. Anyone who wishes to speak.

00:04:57,710	S6:
Good evening. Commissioners. Mayor, my name is Susan Dingell. I am a public transportation advocate and user, among other things. And I too am here to request that you support this request for additional for Gap funding for the non Ada paratransit part of the service. And paratransit in this community has always gone above and beyond. That's part of its historic presence. It's maybe part of an expectation, but it's also part of really being dedicated to making sure that people who have disabilities are more able to participate in civic functions and personal functions, able to get themselves to and from medical appointments to and from church. This is part of a living life. And as Trevor was saying, people need to be fully included as much as possible in the community, not shunted aside or shut off.

00:06:22,900	S6:
This has been a very carefully thought out plan. A number of different parties participated in it. I think you can see from the documentation you have in hand it was the Bismarck Transit MPO. It was the transportation consultant for the transportation development plan that was mandated by city commission. And it's an attempt to go forward and to retain our commitments. And as I said in my submission, please don't make participation in community life dependent on the ability to drive. Not all of us can or choose to, and that shouldn't be the deciding criterion. Thank you very much for your attention.

00:07:18,080	S1:
Any questions for Susan?

00:07:21,040	S6:
Thank you. I will sign in for Trevor and me. You bet.

00:07:23,880	S1:
Thank you very much.

00:07:39,560	S7:
How are you?

00:07:55,880	S8:
Good evening, Mr. Mayor and commissioners. I'm not going to read everything I just handed out, but I'll, uh. Wanted to make a few points and emphasize a couple of things that you just heard from a couple of people that went, excuse me before. Uh, first of all, I'm Josh Askew, state director for AARP in North Dakota. That happened right as I walked up here. Of course, uh, as part of AARP, as a as you as you all know. Uh, is a non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization representing those 50 and older. And we really work in our mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Transportation. Transportation is a huge issue for older adults. In fact, when we did our 2020 survey and when you look at the handout I provided to you, the chart on there, we did a we do we do research every three years on issues impacting older adults in the state of North Dakota. And so these are responses from individuals. Actually we survey those 45 and over when we do the survey. But individuals primarily 50 and older in the state of North Dakota about important independent living issues. As you can see, 79% of the respondents, when we asked the question of how important is it, very important or extremely important, 79% said very or extremely important, getting to the places you need to go independently. So clearly transportation and mobility options are top of mind for individuals as they age. And one of the ways to do that is public transportation. And I know Susan had mentioned the fact that not all individuals drive or can drive or do drive, and we know that older adults typically outlive their ability to drive by 7 to 10 years. So almost a decade, uh, give or take, for folks that won't be able to drive while they still need to access services, uh, medical appointments, uh, never mind socialization opportunities to engage and be a participant in the community. And so, um, What I think is additionally important to understand is.

00:10:03,330	S8:
Communities. And I want to applaud you. First of all, I've been here before, applauded you for the work you've done on the Network of Friendly Communities Plan, and Together 2045, I think we're starting to bend the curve back towards car centric communities to all inclusive transportation options. And I think this is another step, short term step in doing so. And in making that step to do it, I did include a note that, uh, our volunteer state president and one of your former colleagues, Nancy Guy, included in a note that I'm sure you all got because I know she sent I know who she sent it to to distribute to it to you. And I'm certain they made sure you got it, uh, as part of it. But I do want to read a quote from her email to you yesterday, just for those watching who might be interested in as to why AARP is weighing in on on this issue at a local level. And in her note to you yesterday, she said, imagine what your life would be like if you were totally dependent on others for transportation. Economic constraints restricted your ability to pay for taxis or rideshare trips, and you lived in a community where there were no taxis or only rideshare trips available. I attached that full email to you to it, and I think you can clearly see the importance of supporting transportation. And we continue to hear concerns about the ability to get around for folks who don't have vehicles from older adults. So why are we here? What are we asking you to do? We're asking you to support the funding request in item eight tonight. So thank you for your time and good to see you all.

00:11:39,270	S7:
Thank you.

00:11:39,670	S1:
Any questions.

00:11:42,190	S9:
Thank you Josh.

00:11:46,110	S1:
Again this is public comment period. Anyone who wishes to speak.

00:11:54,530	S6:
Hi, I'm Randy Siler. I'm in support on behalf of Biz Man Transit for approval of increased general funding. Transit has helped people get around. For those who can't take fixed route buses or need transit after the cat hours has helped people be independent. To be able to go to work and live on their own, including the outside. The Cat Hours transit also help financially. Like for those who just work a couple hours in the evening like me, just those few hours working the money would just go down the drain to take a cab home. So then it's like, why work? So transit has really helped with people so we can still be able to work. So I ask for supports for for those people so that we can get around just like everybody else. Thank you.

00:12:44,210	Any questions? S7:
Nope.

00:12:44,730	S1:
Can you sign in, please.

00:12:46,330	S7:
To the ticket so you can.

00:12:52,430	S1:
Anyone else who wishes to speak.

00:12:58,150	S1:
Second call for public comment.

00:13:02,870	S1:
Third and final call for public comment.

00:13:08,310	S1:
Hearing and seeing. No other public comment period is now closed. Um, next is our consent agenda. But before we make decision on that on item D one, there's a liquor license for pub 21 that is being pulled because there's a clarification that needs to occur on their application.

00:13:32,190	S1:
Just the one license under D one. There's several of them. So with that noted with, uh, withdrawal, what are the wishes of the commission?

00:13:47,550	S10:
Move to approve the consent agenda in the minutes. Second.

00:13:53,130	S1:
Any discussion? Hearing none. We'll call roll.

00:13:58,530	S3:
Commissioner Zenker.

00:14:00,330	S10:
Yes.

00:14:01,290	S3:
Commissioner Connolly.

00:14:02,370	S7:
Yes.

00:14:03,210	S3:
Commissioner Cleary. Yes. Commissioner Marquart.

00:14:07,610	S7:
Yes.

00:14:08,410	S3:
Mayor Schmitz.

00:14:09,330	S1:
Yes. Okay. Next. Our first item under the regular agenda is to receive a report and request from former Bismarck Mayor Marlin Hawkinson.

00:14:26,130	S4:
Sorry about jumping the gun there before I was. You're confused.

00:14:30,130	S1:
You're fine.

00:14:49,140	S4:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. As you probably have heard from my first trial here that came to you to request, the city of Bismarck only had one centennial project in 1989, which I helped shepherd through. And it was quite a battle to get Bismarck to be recognized in the centennial year. We decided to, as a state and city, to name the beach where we were putting the former Wilton depot down Centennial Beach. So it's officially designated as the only project, the only centennial project in the city of Bismarck for the 101 hundredth birthday of statehood. And the signage out there now doesn't reflect that. It's a really nice building called The Landing and the predominant build. The sign out there is the landing, but the name of the area is Centennial Beach and we feel it should be recognized as such. So the request would be to restore signage out there. That would be the predominant signage that would say Centennial Beach. I have a couple of things here. This was the plaque that was out there on a large boulder and the in reconstruction, the dozer removed the boulder, scratched the plaque up and and it had disappeared. We found it and they had it at Port Lincoln Foundation, I believe, and brought it back over. Our family had paid for the plaque, and the Bismarck Tribune did the layout, and we had a cast that at LNH manufacturing in Mandan, which was that in those days dollars, we paid $900 for the plaque alone. The signage that Jason is holding is some that we again, we paid for. But the city of Bismarck agreed then to go out and put them up. At that time we had the place named also the port of Bismarck for the landing of the Far West River. It was there at that time, and over the years those signs have come down. They're gone. But we feel it's somewhat like the erasure of history that's happening around the United States, things that are part of our history, which this is, and it seems to just fade into the background and disappear. So I'd really like to request you to put some signage back out there. That would be the predominant signage of what the area is called. And I was supposed to meet with them this morning at 830. I had inadvertently written down. 130 came out there. I couldn't find anybody. They couldn't find anybody at 830. So these city administration that Jason would have to work with engineering, I guess, and how to do this and if it's feasible on the sign that exists there or whatever. But I'd leave that up to wiser heads and engineering than me. So I don't I don't know if there's any action you'd like to take tonight other than to have engineering and Jason work on this to see the feasibility and to get it done.

00:18:22,080	S7:
Okay.

00:18:24,000	S1:
Anyone have questions?

00:18:32,680	S4:
No questions for that one.

00:18:34,640	S1:
Not at all. No, it doesn't look like it.

00:18:37,600	S4:
So I think you all agree then?

00:18:41,490	S1:
I don't know that that's been discussed yet.

00:18:43,850	S4:
Well, maybe you don't all agree, but it's the right thing to do. At a term, use the term a lot of people are using nowadays the right thing to do. The other thing, if I might, while I'm up here. Over the years, the past two mayors have said they would get it back in place. And back when we had the Bismarck flag made. We made one for the Bismarck Civic Center, and it hung down there for years when they renovated. They removed it because it was bigger than the American flag. And you can't have that in a public building. The American flag has to be the largest flag, and it never did get put back up.

00:19:24,530	S4:
But I have it in storage, and I'd like to see if there's a possibility of somehow getting it restored to the Civic Center. There's a snow called the Advanced Center. This is the photo when we painted the deal. Nordstrom, who has since passed away, laid it out on the floor of the Civic Center and free handed in just exactly. We have all the exact colors that the artist who designed the flag, which, by the way, was a contest that the Bismarck Tribune sponsored, and we painted that with exact colors. The flag is, I believe, 20 by 30, something like that. So I'm just wondering if you could kind of have a look at that too, in all your spare time. I know you have a lot of spare time, don't you? But we'd really appreciate that being back up there someday. Bismarck was recognized in every basketball tournament event held in the Civic Center by the TV cameras, zooming in on that play because it hung on the south wall and everybody knew it was Bismarck, North Dakota. Thank you. Thank you. Do you have any questions? You know how to catch me? Sure.

00:20:40,570	S1:
Thank you.

00:20:42,210	S4:
We were going to take a picture of this plaque and it couldn't get it to turn out. It was sitting at home trying to make it work and decided to bring the whole plaque.

00:20:51,250	S7:
Thanks again. Yep.

00:20:59,050	S1:
Commissioners, what would you.

00:21:08,970	What steps, if any, would you like to take? S1:
Commissioner Mark.

00:21:10,010	S11:
Mayor and commissioners. Gabe, if you can come up.

00:21:19,370	S12:
So with.

00:21:21,090	S11:
And Aaron is here as well. I see Sidney and the crowd. One of the things that, you know, there's a lot of stuff that's going on down in that particular area. What kind of a and do you have a thought or what was kind of the where would we put that? Um, you know, the plaque or, um, you know, the signage and what would that look like down in that area?

00:21:46,830	S13:
Um, mayor, commissioners, Commissioner Marquart, the the area directly underneath the I-94 grant Marsh bridge is still owned by the federal government. It's it's leased to the city of Bismarck so that we can then use it for recreational purposes. We have permission from the feds and the Dot to allow parking improvements there that are then being used currently by the landing and the riverboat, uh.

00:22:15,910	S13:
As well. So to that end, if it's within our property, it's our choices where to put things, but everything down there is either leased to us or it's property that we own. That's then, I guess, arranged with Parks and Rec for their ownership, so it's probably not something that could be unilaterally decided by just one board or one entity. It would likely take additional outreach. I should note also, the Dot is underway with a feasibility study for the replacement of Grant Marsh bridge. And so with that, that new bridge on a new alignment would likely be north or south of of the current bridge. So I would be hesitant to invest a whole lot of infrastructure or dollars into something that may just be in the way when it comes time. 510, 20 whatever that timeframe is. Years from now when the Dot elects to replace that bridge. So there's a couple of things out there that might make some of this in some ways challenging, but I guess everything's solvable with dollars and dynamite. It's just a question of who's dollars and who. Dynamite.

00:23:17,290	S11:
Um, you know, and that was one of the things things I was thinking about was that I had heard that they were doing a study on that. You know, and I don't know for sure if they plan or what the design would be if it'd be something like, um, uh, you know, replacing the, uh, Memorial Bridge and having, you know, things underneath there as far as, uh, different monuments or showing pictures of what the bridge had looked like in the past. Um, you know, if there's something like that I don't see, um, why that would, uh, we wouldn't be able to incorporate this somehow, um, with that particular design if it's if it's possible. But if there's so many moving parts that are going down there, I would hate for it to get wrecked or damaged, you know, because of it. We need to move, move stuff around, too. So just a thought.

00:24:07,580	S13:
Yeah. Mayor, commissioners. Commissioner mark court. If the concept is there a spot for a plaque somewhere that's probably not that big of a deal that just find a boulder and put the plaque back, if that's the extent of it. If it's. The request is to make Centennial Beach the predominant signing and have additional signage that guides the users to that location from all the directions that a user might need to get to that, that is a more involved request with additional costs and resources required to, I guess, entertain that.

00:24:32,280	S11:
Okay. Thank you Gabe.

00:24:40,680	S1:
Go ahead.

00:24:44,840	S4:
Thank you. Yeah. I wasn't sure if he was talking about Centennial Beach or not until just now. The Corps of Engineers granted us a section ten permit to put the depot down there and adjacent grounds for signage. It was brought to our attention by the Park district at that time that they could only be involved. The only entity that could be involved with recreational recreational facilities. So we renamed it not a government entity, not a recreational facility. So maybe that would clear it up a little bit. But I think the signage was there before and it was granted by the. What is it called? The highway department? The feds? The feds anyhow. Highway department to have signage there. Now, I don't know where that disappeared into our records downstairs here in the minutes of the meetings and things like that. But signage was approved there before and the entire site by a section ten. I believe it was by the Corps of Engineers. So if that straightens it out a little bit, I'm not sure. Okay.

00:25:58,740	S1:
Thank you.

00:26:04,580	S1:
Any thoughts commissioners.

00:26:23,800	S11:
Mayor and commissioners sole gave with the statement that you made, do we have to or should we also visit with, um, you know, Parks and Rec? But, um, Aaron, if you can come up, I got a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind.

00:26:39,840	S11:
Yeah.

00:26:43,280	S14:
Good evening. Mayor. Commissioners.

00:26:45,840	S11:
Mister Barth, would there be a spot we'd be able to put this back up kind of down in that area that would kind of incorporate with, you know, you got at least from. Yeah, us. So I mean, is there is there a spot or an idea that might be able to do something or.

00:27:01,040	S14:
Well, I absolutely think that just through conversations like Gabe was suggesting through different entities and such, we can certainly arrive at I mean, we're all about heritage, education and placemaking through history and heritage and that sort of stuff. And so I think through conversations, through the different entities and agencies and that sort of stuff. I think that's the, the. Starting point to figure out, you know, it's what should we do? Okay. Absolutely.

00:27:28,650	S11:
So yeah. Sounds good. I appreciate that. Thank you.

00:27:31,490	S14:
Yeah. Yeah.

00:27:31,890	S11:
You bet.

00:27:33,770	S14:
Any other questions at all? Okay. Thank you so much.

00:27:37,730	S1:
Yeah. That's what I was going to ask. Commissioner Zenker.

00:27:40,130	S10:
Mayor. Commissioners. Aaron, so would you volunteer to take the lead on that and just ramrod it and get it done.

00:27:45,930	S14:
Right this weekend? Right? Yeah.

00:27:48,130	S10:
No. Take as long as you need to make sure you dot all the eyes and cross the team.

00:27:52,490	S14:
Right? Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, that is that is the stuff we do. And it, it could even an easily figure into a part and parcel of the, you know, the informal river district that is we've identified from Pioneer Park to Sir Thomas Park. This is definitely another node. That would be hey, what happened here? Uh, you know, certainly a part of North Dakota Centennial 1989. I was at Grimshaw Elementary then, um, you know, but I do remember hearing about it in the newspaper. But of course, our mindset is a little different when we're, you know, in the fifth or fourth grade. Right? So, um, but absolutely, that stuff is important. It's important to, uh, narratives and words do matter. So. Absolutely.

00:28:34,070	S7:
Thank you. Yeah. Thanks.

00:28:40,150	S7:
All right.

00:28:41,950	S1:
But do we want to do we want to ask that of of them.

00:28:51,750	S11:
I don't think we can give a motion. We can probably consensus that that's what we would like to like to see. And I think that would be okay.

00:29:00,630	S1:
If that's consensus, then I'm fine with that.

00:29:02,950	S11:
Unless Commissioner Cleary's got a different thought.

00:29:05,830	S4:
She's just one more short comment. This plaque is destined to be back inside of the building. Up there. One of the things we're going to look at this morning when I mistake mistakenly got confused on the time was to find a location in the building because that's where it belongs. It's part of the history of that area. So that big plaque will go there.

00:29:35,530	S1:
So do we have consensus to at least see if that can be moved along in that direction? If there will, if.

00:29:42,970	S7:
It drives a ship.

00:29:44,410	S1:
Yeah, if he's willing. All right. Thank you everyone. Um, next item is consider request for resolution. Receiving bids in ordering preparation of engineering statement. Resolution award for the contract of Sewer Improvement District SC 583 part A.

00:30:08,010	S13:
Could I get the share link up please?

00:30:28,750	S13:
Okay. Mayor and Commissioner, sewer Improvement District SE 583 part.

00:30:34,110	S8:
A.

00:30:34,590	S13:
Is in daybreak second edition and consists of storm sewer inlets, manholes, embankments, and detention areas. We're bidding this in two parts, so we do part A now. We'll do part B later this summer and then conjoin both of them as part of one assessment district. We opened bids on July 10th. We had three bidders on this project, with the low bidder of earthwork services in the amount of $984,556.

00:31:05,110	S13:
So our recommendation is approved, a resolution, excuse me, approval resolution, receiving bids and ordering the preparation of the engineer statement and an approval of a resolution awarding contract to earthwork services in the amount of $984,556.

00:31:20,570	S13:
Do you have any questions?

00:31:22,730	S7:
Commissioner Zenker.

00:31:23,770	S10:
Mayor. Commissioners. Gabe. So, um, what's the completion time for this project? And the only reason I bring it up is because, um, inverts and precast stuff seems to take a little bit longer than usual.

00:31:44,050	So is this something that's got to be done yet this year? Water sewer has got to be installed or what do we have, sir? S13:
Mayor and commissioners, we we have multiple completion dates for these various parts that we'll have, and we have multiple substantial and interim completion dates, all being coordinated with the Fleet Farm property and understanding what their needs are to be up and running by August. Excuse me, April, May timeframe of 2024, as well as internally with fire, and understand what sort of access requirements they'll have on opening day And as long as all those parties are being. Needs are being met. We feel like we're we're meeting that. So in this one there's certain areas that they have to have performed yet this summer, but there's other areas within the same contract that they can have until the 2024 construction season to complete. So the final completion is 2024, but there's some interim dates yet this summer or yet this fall, I should.

00:32:30,620	S10:
Say that works for me. Move to approve is presented.

00:32:33,380	S1:
Second discussion.

00:32:38,580	S1:
Hearing none. We'll call roll.

00:32:41,380	S7:
Thanks.

00:32:43,740	S3:
Commissioner Cleary. Yes. Commissioner Marquart.

00:32:48,300	S11:
Yes.

00:32:49,180	S3:
Commissioner Zenker.

00:32:51,140	S10:
Yes.

00:32:52,100	S3:
Commissioner Connolly.

00:32:53,220	S7:
Yes.

00:32:53,860	S3:
Mayor. Smith.

00:32:54,660	S1:
Yes. Next item is presentation of the 2022 audit results and the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Dimitri, you get the show.

00:33:05,300	S11:
Thank you. Mayor.

00:33:06,420	S15:
Mayor. Commissioners, I guess I'm going to be up here for a while. Um.

00:33:14,640	S15:
We can cut off at any point. Commissioners. Um, so I'd just like to present our our annual 22 annual audit. Um, uh, we had hired we had a contract with Bailey to perform the audit. Um, they completed an audit in June, and we prepared the our our team prepared the financial statements we have received. They also audited not only our financial data, but they also audited the federal awards that we received. Um, the city of Bismarck had close to $40 million in federal awards in 2022, which were audited with. And. All of this has been audit with a clean opinion and unmodified opinion from our auditors. And, um, I just, you know, I just want to thank my team, thank our finance department, our fiscal services team for putting all this together and putting all the hard work. Generally, this takes about at least six months just to prepare for four months to prepare for this, for this kind of work, for preparing this financial statements. And so a lot of work goes into this. And so I just want to present the report and have you accept it and, uh, and just thank our team.

00:34:27,260	S1:
Anyone have questions?

00:34:32,860	S1:
Okay. No questions.

00:34:34,140	S11:
Then move to accept the 2022 audit results in the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

00:34:40,420	S7:
Second.

00:34:41,540	S1:
Any discussion? Hearing none. We'll call roll.

00:34:46,100	S3:
Commissioner Marquart.

00:34:47,220	S11:
Yes.

00:34:47,860	S3:
Commissioner. Zenker. Yes, Commissioner. Connelly. Yes, Commissioner. Cleary. Yes, mayor. Schmitz.

00:34:54,940	S1:
Yes.

00:34:59,180	S1:
Next, we have preliminary budget presentation and discussion. Dimitri and Commissioner Marquart.

00:35:06,360	S11:
Mayor and commissioners and commissioners, I think, all started out here. And then I'll have, uh, once I get, uh, situated a little bit here so I can flip pages. So our team budget committee had met, uh, for a week, and then a couple times after that to give you this 2024 preliminary budget, uh, budget background required by state statutes. North Dakota Code must follow the GAAP in Gatsby accounting standards. City must establish appropriation permission to spend for general fund. Special revenue funds. Debt service funds. Capital improvement projects five years. Uh. Other fund types are budgeted as financial plans, which is no appropriation required. Those are enterprise funds, internal service funds, and fiduciary funds. So there's a timeline as far as departments, uh, submit financial requests. That was April 30th, May 16th through June 16th. Commissioners Review Department request with the department director and finance director. Budget Committee reviews department requests with department directors June 19th through the 23rd. That brings us to the Budget Committee. Makes recommendations to the full city commission and direction from us as well. The next steps on that process will be the meeting of July 25th and then September 12th. Public hearing and City Commission approval um 2024 Budget Ordinance. One of the things that we had talked about during the budget process is the current market conditions and economy. Overall inflation rate in May 23rd was 4% decrease from the 8.6 and 2022 uh Federal Reserve. Interest rates went from 0.25% to 5.25% between March 22nd May 23rd. To combat inflation, increased costs including gas, utilities, insurance and costs across the board. Timing of vehicle and equipment delivery has been noticeable. Lag time of 6 to 18 months is a normal time frame for certain items. Some are a lot longer. As far as, um, some of those bigger pieces of equipment. Prices and cost of living has increased as a result of inflation. Interest rates from municipal bonds have increased to 4.5%. The budget reflects a reaction to these factors in certain areas. The 2024 Budget Committee objectives. Balanced budget no tax rate increases. Adjust for inflationary impact. Improve public safety, address roads and streets and snow removal services. Focus on employee retention. Analyze and resolve employee compression. Maintain infrastructure. Continue to maintain equipment replacement program and plan to the future to reduce the burden on taxpayers significant significant expenses and items. Governmental funds, which are tax based funds. Inflation adjustments to the budgets. Police tasers. Two new firefighters for 2026 fire station, new equipment operator positions, two to address road repairs and snow removal services and public works equipment to help with snow removal and road repairs. Equipment replacement program to continue street maintenance. Enterprise funds for fee based funds. Flat water rates in 2020 for water treatment. Plant expansion project. Cast iron water main replacement to continue landfill equipment. Equipment replacement traffic signals and street lights. Replacement airport taxiway C construction. Hay Creek lift station construction and wastewater treatment plant flow equalization project into the next slides, basically as our city fund types, you can kind of see those there. And for those of us that have been here a while, they haven't changed. There's any questions that we can go back to that the governmental funds. Same thing. That's kind of how the tier and the structure breaks out. So Demetri, if you want to talk a little bit about next, uh, the 2024 General Fund preliminary budget.

00:39:17,390	S7:
Absolutely.

00:39:18,590	S15:
Um.

00:39:19,910	S7:
Um.

00:39:21,110	S15:
Um, mayor Commissioner. So the way we budget the the general fund really is we start out with the expenditures. We then reduce the amount of revenues we get outside of, outside of property taxes, and then we determine how much money is necessary for us to, in terms of property taxes or reserves, in order to meet our goals and to meet our objectives of that particular year. Um, the other thing we we look at is we identify with those tax type funds as we look at personnel, any new additions to to personnel like FTEs. We look at ongoing costs, and those really are the costs that that will drive the budgets moving forward, um, into the future. And so those are looked at very carefully by Commissioner Marquardt and the Budget Committee. Uh, and then we after that, subsequently, we look at one time costs and capital projects that really are kind of one time in nature. And they may recur over a long period of time, but they. But that at that point in time, they are they're just a one year expense that we'll know will not necessarily uh, uh, can recur in the following year. So looking at looking at the general fund, um, really what we try to do is create a balanced budget and you can kind of see, uh, there's a little overlap of the blue, and the blue is the revenue. The red is the expense where the, the red line and the and the blue line kind of overlap each other. Um, the idea there is that that we have a balanced budget, and that's really what it's trying to show, the kind of like light orange line there is. Kind of our operating cost is our operating cost. What that really shows is kind of is what it shows us we're under, where our revenues are and what the difference between the the red line and the and the and the yellow line is. The yellow line consists of ongoing costs. And so they will continue from year from year to year moving forward. And that's what this is trying to show a projection into the future of trying to maintain that. And the difference between the two is kind of the is the room for um, one time cost and capital projects that may occur every year. Um, they may vary in dollars and varying amounts. And, but the idea is that it shows, um, consistency and balanced budgets moving forward.

00:41:46,060	S15:
This is the same every the same thing, but in dollars and estimated dollars for the 2024 budget. Um, we do. We do show a little bit of a spend of a 1.5 million spend in certain reserves that we will discuss, um, later in the slides, such as Arpa funds and and things like that.

00:42:08,880	S15:
Um, basically the highlights of the general fund revenues is that 50%, 53 uh, the property taxes consist make up the majority of the general fund. About 53% of the general fund revenues are property taxes. We did not have any property tax rate increases in 2024. Uh, they consist of about $34.1 million. Um, um, intergovernmental revenue really includes state aid that we receive from state of North Dakota. Um, that's mostly sales, mostly statewide sales tax based. Um, uh, it generally grows as inflation grows. Obviously, if the prices increase, it will go along with that. Um, any transfers we get? Um, the city does receive $9.8 million. Um, uh, in from from the sales tax fund for a property tax subsidy. Um, that's an annual amount that's been frozen, that's been approved by the by the voters. Um, and and it's at this point, it's it's exactly $9.8 million as determined in 2018 via ballot. Um, the remainder of the revenues in the general fund really consists of charges for services, um, and fees.

00:43:28,860	S15:
Those are more of a breakdown of kind of where the how the pie breaks out of general fund revenues, where you can kind of see the percentages and allocations.

00:43:41,300	S15:
Uh, general fund expenditures. Public safety makes up about made up about 58% of the general fund expenditures in, uh in 2024. About 39 million, approximately. Um, this is obviously greater than the $34.9 million in property tax revenue. So our public safety exceeds our our our services exceed the amount of property tax we collect. Um, roads and streets, forestry continue to be heavily subsidized. So general fund unfortunately has to subsidize certain parts of roads and streets. In the past we've had the highway tax that really kind of provided revenue, but that's been for the roads and streets, um, division and uh, but but this, this revenue has been flat for, for, for the last five years. And so it's continuing to be flat, whereas costs for roads and streets are continuing to grow, which forces other revenue sources to, uh, have to subsidize that operation. In this case, it will have to come from general fund. Um.

00:44:44,040	S15:
Operating expense projections have increased in certain areas due to inflation. We haven't really felt inflation much in the past until we got to about 2022, or we saw a lot of a lot of a lot of departments have certain budget line items be exceeded their, their, their budgets, not necessarily, um, in significant excess, but certain line items, uh, just general inflationary impact that everybody else is facing the world have kind of impacted the city's operations. And so we have to address that in the 2024 budget as departments kind of felt that they've, you know, routine things like, like, like gas and supplies and equipment have have generally gone up in price, um, between 8 and 8 and 30% depending on the item.

00:45:42,550	S7:
Whoops.

00:45:44,310	S15:
Uh, once again, this is kind of a breakdown where we kind of show what the breakout is of the city's general fund. Um, and on the left, you you see, the pie chart is expenditures by object, meaning, uh, salaries and wages, benefits. And you can kind of tell us that a significant amount of general fund is services. So majority of it is personnel. Um, and then the rest are kind of broken out into smaller chunks of showing what kind of expenses we incur on a regular basis and what the allocation is. On the right you see expenditures by function. It really shows what the city spends on. Clearly 58% of what we of what we do. And the general fund is, is public safety. That's police fire, Centcom. Um, and you can kind of see the other, uh, allocations accordingly spread accordingly.

00:46:35,470	S15:
Um, roads and streets is a separate fund that we maintain at the city. Um, um, it's, uh, it's mainly funded by, uh, by highway tax and any sort of subsidy from general fund or sales tax that's mainly used for, um, rotary road repair. Hole dirt patching, hole patching and uh, um, and then, uh, snow removal is obviously a big one. Uh, forestry and weeds is a big a big portion of this as well. Uh, again, that's mainly and those are mainly subsidized by, by general fund.

00:47:10,010	S15:
Um, as I mentioned before, you can kind of see the you see the line, the lines, the the the green, the, the green line is the, the revenue that, that the total revenue. And then you, you see the light red line is the expenses. Uh, the yellow bars are the reserves. And then you see the, the dark red line below is, is that highway tax that we receive from the state. In the past, that was the main source of revenue for that fund and was able to sustain roads and streets. But, um, clearly there's a big gap between the the Green Line and the dark red line. And really what that shows is that that difference is the subsidy that general fund or other revenue sources have to provide in order to sustain this fund. This is one of those situations where where, um, the flat revenue is really impacting the city's operations and having to, you know, find other revenue sources in order to sustain operations or increase operations based on the need.

00:48:15,830	S7:
Yeah.

00:48:17,150	S10:
Mayor, commissioners. Um, so, Dmitri, when I just look at what we have for budgeted for, uh, 2024 and what do we think our total expenditures are going to be and what we're getting from that state tax or whatever, we're about 4.5 million short is that.

00:48:34,870	S15:
It's.

00:48:35,070	S10:
Pretty close. Is it pretty close, Give or take.

00:48:38,130	S15:
Yeah I think we could. Upper threes.

00:48:40,570	S10:
Upper threes.

00:48:41,370	S7:
Is what.

00:48:41,610	S1:
I think. I think it was like three eight or.

00:48:43,490	S10:
Yeah three eight okay. All right. I'm it's obviously it's off a bar graph. So it's just kind of okay. Thank you sir.

00:48:48,850	S7:
Yep.

00:48:52,370	S15:
And we've experienced this in the past. It's just it's just continues to be a, a sort of an issue for the city of how to maintain this and how to continue to subsidize it without impacting other operations.

00:49:06,890	And, S15:
um, sales tax fund is a special revenue we call a special revenue fund, meaning it has a very restrictive source of revenue. What that means it's established by one of the people. Um, uh, it has specific purposes of what it can be used for. $9.8 million of it is, as I mentioned before, goes to the general fund to subsidize property tax. Um, uh, every year. And then the rest can be used for street maintenance projects that, uh, Gabe uses quite a bit. Um, and for, for street maintenance since the highway maintenance. Um, uh, we use some of it for snow gates and snow removal as much as we can to reduce the burden on on the general fund and reduce the burden on, on, um, as, as needed. Um, because that's allowed within the within the within the ballot. Um, and then other capital projects, if were to be made or must be approved by the citizen vote of 60% based on what the rules of the rules of the revenue are. Um, right now we're projecting a very conservative 2% growth. Um, I think Gabe had a similar kind of projection in the in his one of his presentations a few meetings ago. Um, we were expecting this to go to grow with inflation. Um, you'll kind of see the, the, the yellow bars are the reserves and the fund balance and it's, it's going to reduce as. As we spend the the half cent sales tax um and as projects uh go underway. Um, again this is kind of looking out, uh, a lot further into the future. Um, where um, the potential for we, you know, the half cent sales tax has a sunset. So this is kind of looking, uh, assuming that there is no sunset. So we can this is something that will be addressed in the future budgets, but, um. Um, yeah, kind of self-explanatory where, you know, the revenues exceed expenditures. And most times if not, then it's just the use of fund balance where it kind of grows back over time. A pretty healthy fund, I would say, at this point. Um, just a quick, quick note that the city commission does approve the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library, um, mill levy that is used for their operation. Um, they are financed by property taxes and established by state statute, and their library board determines the budget. The only thing the city Commission does is approve the actual tax rate.

00:51:45,540	S15:
Other significant special revenue funds to note is street lights and signals. It's a it's financed by a fee even though it's a but it is a special revenue fund. So that will need an appropriation, a lodging tax, uh, which is, which goes purely to buy 7525 split between Event Center and Convention Visitors Bureau respectively. So that really is doesn't. That fund doesn't really maintain any reserves. It's just the money comes in and is distributed to the appropriate parties. And then the liquor, lodging and restaurant tax, which is used to to is allowed to be used per state statute. Um, for for promotional capital projects mainly used for capital projects at the event center.

00:52:30,480	S15:
And last but not least is the Grants Fund. And really, it's that's just a zero balance fund where we if we are participating to receive some sort of grant, we we have a budgeted expenditure for it, whether we receive it or not is a is another question. And so we're just projecting into the future what that estimate would be.

00:52:51,200	S15:
Um street light. So I'm going to just quickly go over the streetlights and signals fund. Um, this year we you kind of see the red line as the expense and the blue line is the total revenues. Um, you can kind of see that we're, we're we're probably going to eat into a little bit of the reserve. Um, the idea is here is that we're going to, um, focus on the LED revamping project. Um, we can probably get it done. And we determined with while talking to Commissioner Cleary and, uh, Steve Salvi, the director, public works director, that, um, we can probably get that done in two years and get that off the books for the city. Um, it would expedite the process and and and probably save some money doing it sooner than later. Um, instead of dragging it out for four years, which was the original plan. So that was one of the reasons, you see kind of a little bump there. Um, in, in that, um, uh, we did have some ideas on planned traffic signal upgrades and continue to do that annually. Plan lightweight conductor and feed plan replacement. Um, as usual. And then, you know, with all the inflationary costs, the traffic signals costing more and really significant increases in this area. We do need to recommend a to $2 fee increase in 2024 to address to address that. Um, uh, what what our public works director has mentioned is that that the traffic signals themselves have become very expensive and continue to grow in cost, especially due to inflationary factors. And so we need to be able to, um, alleviate that cost Uh, somehow or or, um, to maintain consistent with our existing plan to replace those traffic signals and streetlights. And so that's the recommendation at this point.

00:54:43,790	S15:
Moving forward. This is another debt service. Funds are mainly there. They're really simple in terms in how they operate. Um, city commission approves the special assessments. They are we issue we the city spends the money, does the construction, then bonds the debt to reimburse itself. And then the special assessments collected from taxpayers are used to pay the debt service on on the debt. So on the work that's been done for the work, that's for the assessments that have been done. Um, it's really simple. We just have to we're required by state statute to budget for these funds. So I did want to make sure you guys were that the commission city commission and was. And was aware of of of this cost that we. We have to have appropriation for legally.

00:55:33,730	S15:
Um enterprise funds. Um, they're mainly they're fees and charges. They're very they're mostly self-sustaining. Um, that's kind of the purpose of an enterprise fund is to be self-sustaining and to operate like a business, in a sense, because they provide some sort of service in exchange for a fee.

00:55:52,770	S15:
Uh, this is just debate. The enterprise, the enterprise fund structure at the city and different, different kinds of funds that the city maintains at our enterprise in nature. Um, they're they're how we budget for them is a little bit differently. We look at operating costs, capital project costs, and then look at ongoing debt service, which I would argue is in some cases can be considered debt service, that debt service being an operating cost, depending on how long it is. Um, because it's an annual cost until the debt is paid off, and then you determine the fee based on these projections and over time and how they're financed. Um, the water fund, the 2024 water fund has been discussed quite a bit this year at the city Commission. So I'm going to keep this brief. Um, uh, funds have been analyzed as, you know, as part of the Stantec Rate Study recently, um, 20 2023 utility rates have been approved in April. Um, and we're going to if our projections show that we can keep the water rates the same at this point, uh, for 2024 and project the same, um, the same rates to give us adequate revenue, uh, to sustain operations and projects that we need to do in the future. Uh, state did award us $50 million, um, for 80,000,083 for the water treatment plan expansion project. Uh, it's basically a grant that covers 60% of the project cost, which is amazing for the city. Um, in addition to the water, one of the main projects that the water fund continues to do is the cast water, cast iron water main replacement. And so we tend to use different funding sources and state grants and things and SRF loans to to fund that operation. Uh, sewer fund is very identical. Um, because it was done as part of the rate the same Stantec rate study. However, the sewer fund rate will it is recommended to increase 2.25% per the rate model to continue to maintain infrastructure. Um, whether it's at the wastewater treatment plant or, or any, uh, whether through any sewer lines, um, and sewer infrastructure that we have to have, um, here, the creek lift station is a big project that needs to happen. Uh, $15.6 million flow equalization clarifier rehab project at 13.5. And the cast or that last one is an error on my part.

00:58:25,470	S15:
Stormwater fund the water. Those rates will stay the same in the in the future. Um, and so they don't anticipate the change because costs can be absorbed, uh, within the existing rates that are currently there.

00:58:42,710	S15:
Um, solid waste collection disposal funds. Those are mainly for collecting garbage and recycling. And then as well as the landfill cost to operate the landfill. Um, it's another fee based fund. Um, it's charged to residential, commercial, um, residential, commercial business to residents and commercial businesses. Um, we propose we have because of inflationary costs and things of similar nature, like we did with street lights. We are we did experience quite a bit of of increased costs in various areas. There are some regulations and requirements that need to be maintained for the solid waste of land, for solid disposal side of things, for landfill like closure and post closure requirements. New cells. Um. Um, equipment replacement and so on and so forth. And so, um, the city we are. The budget committee is recommending a to $2.10 per month increase, um, for collections disposal and recycling for resident residential and $6 per tonne tipping fee increase for commercial. Um, like I said, we have to maintain certain a lot of reserves in that fund for these kind of requirements, these regulations. Um, um, and so some of these, you can see that there's, there's, there's a significant amount of, of, of uh, reserves that basically cannot be spent. Um, we'll maintain a $26 million of being Bank of North Dakota alone that we're able to get a 2% interest rate a few years ago. Um, in order to do the public works expansion. And then, uh, we have a 24, 20, 24 capital purchase, uh, for the cold storage building.

01:00:34,820	S15:
These are kind of shows the trends of how the solid waste disposal fund is doing and where it's where it's going towards its cost and direction. And, um, uh, it will continue to grow in cost because of what it takes to do a sell closure or different, um, um, requirements. We need to maintain the landfill. Um, that equipment is very pricey and, uh, solid waste collections fund, um, similar for garbage trucks and and those things to maintain that. And the operation requires quite a bit of cost, at least. Um, with inflationary factors being a main driver this this past year.

01:01:16,320	S15:
But otherwise the funds are healthy in terms of how they operate their self-sustaining and maintain its own reserve. Just need a slight adjustment to its operations. Um, events in our fund, um, usually operates at a loss of two 5300 to $300,000 a year. Um, this year is actually 2022 is actually a better year for the event center. Um, but generally speaking, we've they've received a grant during Covid, about 3.4 million, which helped out quite a bit with some of the losses that the Event Center is experiencing. Um, the less the loss, the less the the, the grant is used. And so right now has been a stabilizing factor. That grant has been a stabilizing factor for the event center fund, for the event center, and, uh, subsidizing the losses and operation every year. However, in the future, that's something that the city Commission will have to review, and we'll have to look at and how to maintain once the grant runs out, whenever that'll be there in 24 or 25. Um, that's kind of our anticipation right now. Um, that at some that the city commission will have to look at how to, um, address that issue moving forward and how to close the gap between the, the losses and operation every year.

01:02:39,900	S15:
Um, the liquor, lodging and restaurant tax. Um, very healthy fund. It's basically a sales tax based fund. It's a 1% on liquor, lodging and restaurants. Um, um, it pays it does have a debt service that it maintains for on the behalf of the event center for a debt service annual payment of 1.7 million. Um, we did refund this, this, this debt in 2022 and actually received a very favorable interest rate, which saved the city about $250,000 annually on that debt service, however. However, that was right before the interest rates started climbing significantly. Um, due to the reserve increase, the Federal Reserve increasing those rates. Um, um, conservatively, we're assuming about 2% increase in tax. Um, but there's some projects that need to be performed at the, at the event center that, you know, we'll need, um, a timing based cash flow or other financing, depending on what the projects are.

01:03:46,750	S15:
Um, airport fund, um, is, is, uh, operating consistently? Uh, they get contract revenue from airlines and other similar fees. Um, lease revenue and things of that nature. Um, they mainly operate their mainly perform their, uh, their capital projects from federal, federal, and state grants. Very stable fund. Really no significant issues. They are they are projecting some sort of expansion maybe in the next five years, depending on needs. And that's something that the city commissions will have to address at that time. Or as we get closer to that as those needs appear.

01:04:27,010	S15:
And you can kind of tell in the graph if the projection shows the, the spike at towards towards 20, 27, 28, obviously for the assuming that there's an A, there's an airport expansion terminal expansion at that time.

01:04:45,650	S15:
Um, Commissioner Margaret, would you want to take on the request for recommendation.

01:04:50,410	S11:
Request and recommendations? Budget Committee reviewed each request with department directors and made recommendation based on the city's financial situation.

01:04:57,690	S15:
And I will have Leon Schmidt, our HR director, come up and present on the salary piece.

01:05:03,590	S11:
Thank you. Director.

01:05:05,830	S12:
I will ask.

01:05:07,030	S11:
Leanne to come up and give that to us. If she. If she doesn't mind.

01:05:21,390	S16:
Good evening, Mayor and commissioners. I'm Leanne Schmidt. I'm the HR director. I just hit the down arrow. Yes, sir. Go to the next one.

01:05:28,310	S7:
Yeah, I got you.

01:05:30,030	S11:
Thanks, Dimitri.

01:05:31,310	S7:
Sorry, Commissioner.

01:05:32,310	S16:
That's. That's okay. All right. So this year, I spent time working with Dmitri and some of the other staff to figure out what we wanted to do for staffing planning. Um, overall, we're recommending a 6%, um, salary increase request. Uh, with the idea, we're going to cover a variety of a couple of things in that area. We want to use up to 2% for compression or equity adjustments, and then we want to use the remainder to apply for merit and or market or inflationary adjustments. As a city, we need to work to maintain our compensation plan, and to do that, we really need to commit to doing at least a 2% merit on top of whatever market type inflationary adjustments. And what that will do for us, assuming, you know, employment it would employees should reach. Assuming good performance, the midpoint within 12.5 years of employment with the with the city. Um, we did do an exercise with a consultant with Gallagher Finance, and I worked with them to provide information, to have them take a look at our group and see what we suspected. We suspected there was some compression issues and how how do we define that? So we did that looking at the communities, other communities in the state, what's happening, other political subdivisions, cities, those kinds of things are looking at an average increase of 6%, with some even into the eight and eight and a half. Again, those are requested and not finalized, but. Um, that's where we're we're seeing that the city compensation plan, which was established in 2021, recommends an increase to our pay range or our structure of at least 75% of the employment cost index. And our goal would be to to maintain at least a portion of that. Um, for this next planning year.

01:07:25,070	S11:
Sounds good. Thank you. Liane. And we may have more questions for you later. So thank you. Uh, one of the new employee recommendations. So recommendations of 22 FTE positions were requested. Uh, after going through the budget committee and the discussions, uh, seven FTEs were recommended. Uh, public safety was one FTE school or police school resource officer, which is half reimbursed by the respective school. Uh, two FTEs for firefighters, one FTE health communication specialist, uh public works, uh snow removal to FTEs, heavy equipment operators and one FTE forestry technician. Now, some of those, um, you know, we take a look at that resource officer. Half is done by the respective school. I do believe the health communication specialist that is also a grant funded positions. So as what we've done in the past. Um, if there are grant funded, those positions are held until the grant runs out. If the grant does run out, then those positions go away. So that was one of the things that, um, I needed to make sure that we had had mentioned, um, you know, when we talked public works in snow removal, there was more FTEs that were were requested. Uh, one of the things for our discussion, um, you know, one of the FTEs, uh, the forestry technician, uh, that one would have the CDL license that would be required to help out with snow removal. So that's one of the things that we take a look at as well. Um, as far as from the, the public work side of it. Um, that, uh, they pull in a lot of, uh, employees from other divisions that can help with snow removal. So, um, we figured that was accurate. Uh, to have that FTE forestry technician to be able to help out in forestry, but then also, um, be able to help out with snow removal if needed. Summary of the ongoing cost increases, as we had discussed and what Dmitri had brought forward inflationary impacts on city on all city department budgets at 65 or 657,000. In general fund 244,000. Roads and street fund 2.06 million in all other or all departments. Public safety. Uh, tasers. That's 122,179 per year. Uh, fire station learning. That's an ongoing portion of 32,000 a year. Fire new records management system. That's an ongoing portion of about 25,000 court building rental costs increase. The county is 32544. So the one time capital project expenses. Uh, recommendation summary. This is the key cost. Um, zoning and subdivision ordinance, rewrite 187,500. Pavement data collection 143. Station alerting fire is 596,000 police vehicles for new officers 90,751. Fire station for cold storage building 145,000 fire station two, a generator replacement 128 and the City Hall Air Handling System upgrade 376,000.

01:10:36,680	S11:
You know, the one time and capital project expenses, uh, equipment replacement per fleet plan is 986,200. Uh new equipment for scrubber used in road and street. Um, to be used the roads and street reserves to pay for that new equipment. Trailer road, the street reserves for that as well new equipment. The loader at 315,000. New equipment. Motor grader 405,000. Forestry vehicle replacement per fleet plan 106,500. New equipment. Knuckle boom truck used the roads and street reserves for that 550,000 vehicle street lights and signals. Vehicle and equipment replacement. Part of the Fleet Plan 74,000. The LED program is 1,055,850.

01:11:36,220	Traffic Signal Replacement Program $463,000 S11:
for that, um, going on to airport fund, a new skid steer at 80 uh, police body cameras for the airport officers at 50,000. Construction of taxiway C North and Commercial Service Rehab 12,200,000. Construction of the general aviation airport apron. Phase five. Hangar five. Area 4 million. Radar antenna height extension 2 million. Replacement passenger boarding bridges 3 million. Um I Am Sultan. Waste collection and disposal funds. Vehicle and equipment replacement for the fleet plan at 290. New equipment and excavator at 240,000. Landfill main shop.

01:12:26,040	Replaced concrete floor at 132,000 S11:
roads and streets. It's a sales tax, asphalt street. Resurfacing and reconstruction. Annual of 2,660,000. South Washington Street reconstruction with the half cent sales tax at 16,970,000. Concrete pavement repair million. Rural road upgrades 800,000 I-94 interchange. Exit 161. reconstruction. The city's portion of that is 550,000 uh item liquor, lodging and restaurant tax fund, convention visitors Bureau building, roof replacement, 385,000 event center. Telescope seating at 4,585,600.

01:13:05,370	S11:
Events center Arena locker room which is HVAC as well, which was approved in the 2023 budget at 2,500,000.

01:13:16,690	S11:
Uh water, sewer and stormwater. Vehicle and equipment replacement for the fleet plan at 758,000. Water treatment plant expansion and improvements. Uh, we have 50 million in state grant. 33 million for that water cast iron main replacement project as Dimitri had brought up earlier at 3,000,005 um sewer hate Creek lift station. Uh, we've got an SRF loan. Low interest for that at 18 million 619. Sewer Hey Creek Interceptor 4,017,000. Wastewater treatment plant. Flow equalization. Clarifier. Rehab at 13,500,000.

01:13:58,110	S11:
And then, Dmitri, did you want to walk through the other funding sources? As far as, um, you know, what we've worked with, uh, with the state and some other things as well, with their help.

01:14:09,270	S15:
So thank you. Um, basically, we've had the American Rescue Plan Act money that we've received in 2021 and 2022. Um, and that was about 9.9 point $6 million at that award. Right now, we have $9.2 million remaining. Um, based on the Budget Committee review and recommendations of what that those funds can be used for. Um, we're dedicating all of it to public safety, and or we're recommending it to public safety. Um, for the fire station learning system in 2024, and then future fire truck replacements, as well as the fire or fire truck, one station, one replacement and fire Station six construction of the building and the Fire Station six fire truck. Purchase of a new fire truck. Now I will say with those fire trucks, it is important to note that it takes over two years to build these, as we've discussed with with timing of things and inflation. And, um, I believe the next, uh, we have to order it two years in advance in order for it to be ready at least two years in advance, in order for it to be ready during 2026. And so you may see future agenda items requesting fire trucks to be purchased two years early, even though in the purchase that actually going to happen in 2026 itself.

01:15:36,450	S11:
But that locks in the that locks in The Price and Mabel and to have our name on that. So when it does come. Come do so we can. There's some things that that we can do and we visit with the vendors as far as how to help that and be able to stretch that out a little bit.

01:15:53,110	S15:
Yeah. As you said, Commissioner, it saves money for the city in the long run. And um, but it does dedicate some future resources. In this case we have Arpa funds, which is kind of kind of convenient for our, our city and our taxpayers, um, to not have to request other funding sources. Um, um, the other thing that we've received, uh, this past year, in 2022 was the Municipal Infrastructure fund from Prairie Dog funding from a House bill, 1066. Um, it's available for water, wastewater treatment plants, water, sewer lines, lift station, pump stations, water sewer systems, stormwater infrastructure, road and bridge infrastructure, airport infrastructure and communications infrastructure. That's what the requirements state. Um, we did have a $12,750,000 balance, of which we're. We're at this point recommending highway construction, um, projects, and maybe some to be used for, uh, remainder of school for water and sewer activities. Um, and that's the budget committee's recommendation on these two other funding sources that we've received from, um, the federal government or the state government. Um, that can be mostly one to use for one time, uh, type of projects or expenditures.

01:17:15,960	S11:
Mayor and commissioners and, Dimitri, I do believe that's it. Unless there's another slide or a graph or anything like that that we need to bring up, which I don't believe. So.

01:17:23,760	S15:
So the one thing I that's not in these slides or these graphs is the two items that are going to be coming up tonight for discussion. That's the transit requests, which are 2023 and 2024 and 2025, I believe. And there will be also the site logic project for the energy Savings, which is coming up tonight for discussion as well, which is not reflected in our existing budget that I, that Commissioner Margaret and I just presented. So I just want you all to be aware of that.

01:17:54,700	S11:
So with that being said, mayor and commissioners, we put a lot of, uh, um, information stuff out in front of you. And like I had mentioned early on, um, you know, as of right now, the way that the budget is, it is a balanced budget. Um, and we'll take a look and, and hear from some of the others a little bit later. But is there any questions, um, thoughts or concerns that, that you have for either, um, Dimitri or or myself, um, and either with the process or, or just some of the, the information that was provided. So I guess we'll stand for any discussion and questions.

01:18:38,000	S1:
So I mean, this is probably this will come up probably later because it's not on the topic right now, but I believe that, um, we have to ultimately look at our policy on our reserves as well. But that's not been presented at this point in time. I would hope that that comes forward at our next meeting. Um, because I do believe we probably have some other projects we need to make sure we can also dedicate some of those reserves to. Uh, so we do not have potential future tax rate increases when those come to the to play. Um, and some of that might be water infrastructure related, depending on where we go with or what we end up spending the prairie dog money on. Um, as that goes forward. So I just laying that out there that I know that's not part of this right now, but I do believe there's some some reserves so we can mitigate future tax rate concerns as we have, um, you know, a police station that's going to have to be built at some point in time, that's going to take some money and a few other projects.

01:19:50,460	S11:
Mayor and commissioners and mayor, you're you're right. And that the reason why that it's not in, in this presentation is because that discussion needs to happen at the table for all of us as a whole. Um, my main focus was to make sure that I presented a balanced budget, as we currently see it, with the numbers that we that we have, and then whatever discussion comes from, um, future discussions along with that, as far as what that policy looks like. Um, and then, um, I said, we'll see what happens later tonight.

01:20:22,980	S7:
No, I just.

01:20:23,700	S1:
Just bring it up. I knew it wasn't here. And I think there's been a tremendous amount of work done on the on this preliminary budget as presented. And I'm grateful it's balanced and no tax rate increases. Um, and we're appear to be taking care of some needs that are critical.

01:20:39,960	S11:
Yes. Thank you very much.

01:20:43,280	S1:
That's all other comments from the commissioners.

01:20:50,120	S17:
I just wanted to hop in and speak, you know. Uh, not sure if you guys can see me. Um, but I appreciate all the work that went into this. I tried to attend as many of my portfolio's meetings as I could be at, since this was kind of my first full go around. Um, I know that Dimitri touched on a lot of the kind of roads and streets issues, and I think that that department probably also had the most kind of FTEs and requests within it. Um, but with the with the two FTEs that are on the like, recommended approval, just because there's been so much discussion about snow and the time it takes for us to clear our streets. Um, I just wanted to make sure that we all understand that with those two PhDs, that doesn't necessarily come with the full ability to create an additional section or really speed up the time. The I think when I look at it with Steve and Keith, the addition of two probably just helps with personnel. It's not going to be able to take seven sections into eight. As far as I can tell. And so I just wanted to make sure that we all understand with the snow removal and that how much time it takes with those like 20 inch snowfalls, if we experience that next year, the two two FTEs and the like singular additional equipment, I don't foresee that making things much quicker. Um, so I just don't want to say that out loud. I think it would take quite a bit more than that on the personnel side and on the equipment. Um, when we, uh, Steve kind of did some looks across other cities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and you know, what their snowfall looks like, what their equipment and operators look like, and how long it takes for them to clear snow. And so I just wanted to make sure that we all understand that, um, that that addition isn't going to make us much quicker on that front. Um, but at the same time, I can definitely understand, uh, you know, wanting to find that balance and making sure we have the ability for the, the salary increases, uh, so that we're, you know, taking care of our existing employees, too. So I can see both sides of that, by all means. So I just wanted to touch on that. I know Roads and streets is a little bit of a problem child. And until that highway tax is not flat like that anymore, we're going to keep seeing increases on the amount of money needed. So.

01:23:32,010	S11:
Thanks Commissioner Cleary and that you know everything that was brought before us. You know, we we, you know, took everything into consideration and and knowing, you know, the comments that you made. You're you're absolutely right. But then we also have to take a look at as far as what that, you know, ongoing cost. Plus, you know, the, the rest of the equipment as well. And we're hoping that the two or the three that we have, while it may not make up a full division, but it might help out with some of it and hopefully we don't get them on a snowfall that we had in the last couple of years as well. I mean, that's we just never know. So, I mean, you know, one of the things that we have to, as you had mentioned, um, Commissioner Cleary, is that we have to try and balance out what those wants and needs are and trying to make sure that, um, you know, we move forward, but yet, you know, trying not to get too far behind, but then also trying to make sure that we have a balanced budget. With that, you know, as you take a look at, you know, what that equipment costs for, um, those extra operators and stuff, it is just astronomical. And to still work with the, the fleet plan and, um, you know, we're making strides with that.

01:24:52,870	And and if I may, um, is, uh, Kurt O'Neill here? S11:
Kurt, can you come up just for a little bit and and discuss a little bit what the how the fleet plan is working. And I know I'm throwing a curveball at you because you had asked earlier if I was going to call you up or not. But it's best if we're spontaneous, since that's what I had to do for the budget.

01:25:09,510	S7:
Commissioner Marquardt.

01:25:10,910	S8:
Mayor. Commissioners, um.

01:25:13,710	S18:
Ask your question again, Steve.

01:25:15,630	S19:
So as far as the fleet.

01:25:16,670	S11:
Plan, it's been, you know, a few years since we've implemented it, basically. So where are we at? How are things looking? Or we saving money with with the fleet plan what we're doing and and how is it looking as far as the projection that that you see moving forward.

01:25:34,280	S18:
Well in 2020 is when we kind of got this initiated and got it rolling. We had a request in there at like $6.9 million, I think was our initial setup, um, in 2024, this this request is at 6.9 million or 6.8 or something like that. Um, that sounds like we're staying right on point with that numbers. But actually, when you consider an inflationary rate that you looked at 20, $20, today would be about 4 million for requests across the entire city. And yes, we're gaining ground with or gaining successes with it. We're getting our equipment updated. We're staying on top of things. We're getting to a position now with our fleet across the entire city where we can manage it and we can look at doing things. We've implemented some leasing options so that we can utilize the dollars best spent for that. Dimitri's done a great job of helping me find financing so we can make some of this stuff happen. The inflation costs that are coming at us and the build times on this equipment, it's all over the place. And granted, that's going to simmer down. My vendors are already telling me that the inflationary numbers are going to come down and stabilize us next year versus what we had in the last couple, three years, but that doesn't mean the costs are going to go back down. We're still going to pay that much more for the equipment moving forward. We need to stay on top of the stay ahead of it, because we have consumption rates on our garbage trucks, our loaders, our vehicles, they get moving. We've got everything scheduled out now and trying to get them get a plan put together for the next cycle. And it's easier to manage when you're not trying to put out a bunch of fires like we were starting in 2020.

01:27:22,120	S11:
Oh, one of the things that that you had brought forward as far as the Budget committee is where you might be able to get chassis, but you can't get boxes or you can get boxes and can't get chassis. Yeah. So I mean, there's there's a lot of different moving parts that, that you and your team have to try and figure out as far as the timing aspect of it. And when do we order, how do we order and if they're going to be available. You know well.

01:27:44,640	S18:
That's the struggle right now with it. The trucks I just finished building for the roads and streets I started building in March of 21. Now, before this all shook out, it would take me nine months to build that truck. Today it's taken two years. Heavy equipment is 18 months. Easily now. Specialized equipment that can go anywhere from 12 months to 24 months before we can get it in.

01:28:10,800	S11:
Now, we've also given you some tools to be able to help with. With that, as far as being able to bid stuff on on different state bids, you know, not just North Dakota, but other ones as well, to make sure that we're, um, utilizing or using the money the best that we can for a lot of these different pieces of equipment as well.

01:28:31,780	S18:
Yeah, I go out and research all my wherever the best deal is for equipment, either through, uh, state contracts with Minnesota. North Dakota State contract. Minnesota State contract. Minnesota. Minnesota. Dot. Um, then I also venture out into some national contracts. GSA Omnia uh source well, are some of the contracts that I work with.

01:28:54,500	S11:
So, yeah. So I mean, it's you have a large department that you're trying to manage, but then also making sure that we have the quality of equipment to be able to, um.

01:29:04,740	S18:
Finding the best deals out there for the best outcomes for the city.

01:29:08,060	S11:
Sounds great. Thank you very much, Curt, I appreciate it. Is there any other questions for Curt while I've called them up? All right. Thank you sir. Appreciate it very much.

01:29:21,720	S1:
Commissioners, do you have any direction for Commissioner Dmitri related to the preliminary budget or if not, we can accept it to move the move the accept the preliminary budget to be prepared for final budget.

01:29:38,600	S10:
Mayor, commissioners, since we just got most of this or all of it tonight, is there any chance we could just, um, hold on and not accept it until the next meeting? Because I'd like to dig into some of the details a little bit more, if that's possible.

01:29:53,360	S1:
Timewise, timeline wise. Is that I just. Are we okay? We don't have to. I'm not suggesting we accept the budget tonight. That's not right. I'm just.

01:30:02,000	S10:
Or you. Do you have a plan to bring some other to bring it back?

01:30:06,560	S11:
No. Yeah. We plan to bring back.

01:30:08,480	S10:
Some other.

01:30:08,840	S11:
Pieces back. Okay. On the. I'm over On July 25th. We'll bring back basically, you know, if you have anything in the meantime or anything that you want to bring up for discussion, we'll discuss that at the next meeting. Okay. All right. Dimitri, if there's anything that needs to change.

01:30:24,170	S7:
Right.

01:30:24,490	S10:
I just had the one slide that only showed the 11th and nothing until, um, or until July 25th, and then nothing between that. I just didn't know if it was going to be it or what were whatever changes we could.

01:30:37,050	S11:
So I know what we've, you know, had in the, in the past and it hasn't been the case the last couple of years, but we've had a special meeting before as well. So, I mean, you know, that may or may not, depending on how the discussion goes. Um, you know, moving forward, you know, from this meeting, uh, and then how the discussion is at the next one. But that's always a possibility as well. Like I said, it's it's not unheard of. We have had them in the past, but in the last few years or a couple of years, we have not.

01:31:05,490	S7:
So I'm comfortable with that.

01:31:07,010	S11:
Thank you sir.

01:31:09,210	S1:
Do I need them? Do we need a motion to. Or not? Or is it just consensus to be able to get a final discuss or discussion on the 25th?

01:31:17,550	S15:
We just need any recommendations. If mayor commissioners, with all due respect, if you have anything that we need to look at, the budget committee needs to get together and review. I would we would prefer some direction.

01:31:28,830	S1:
And as Commissioner Zenker mentioned, I think for some of us, we may need to have an ability to send you an email or contact you and say, here's some questions. Absolutely. Between now and the 25th.

01:31:42,270	S7:
Yep.

01:31:43,030	S11:
That's fine. We can work that into our schedule with the budget Committee. So.

01:31:47,350	S1:
Okay, then we.

01:31:48,790	S7:
Are.

01:31:48,950	S11:
We should be we should be.

01:31:50,230	S7:
Fine. Okay.

01:31:51,230	S1:
Direction is as is so far.

01:31:53,390	S7:
Yes.

01:31:54,550	S1:
Okay.

01:31:54,910	S10:
Thank you. Because obviously some of the last next two items are going to have an impact on that.

01:31:59,070	S7:
Exactly, exactly.

01:31:59,830	S10:
That's why I was a little hesitant to accept.

01:32:01,510	S1:
No. And I'm not you know, I was just, you know, make sure if there's direction we need to give.

01:32:05,670	S11:
Yeah. Because said depending on what the next two discussions are, is going to be a different discussion.

01:32:11,370	S7:
Of what happens here.

01:32:12,290	S11:
Policy and things move forward.

01:32:14,290	S10:
Fantastic.

01:32:15,130	S11:
You are correct, Commissioner.

01:32:16,370	S7:
All right.

01:32:17,050	S1:
Thank you everyone. Next item is consider approval of requests from the Bismarck Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization on behalf of Bismarck and Transit for approval of an increase in general fund funding. Go ahead.

01:32:32,890	S20:
Thank you. Good afternoon, Mayor and commissioners. As many of you know, Bismarck Trans and the MPO began working on updating the transit development plan last fall. One of the key objectives of that plan is to find system wide sustainability through funding. As that's been a significant pain point for many years in past studies. I'm pleased to hand tonight's presentation over to Bill Troy with SRF consulting. Bill has been involved in numerous studies for our community and transit dating back to 1987. This includes the long range transportation plans, transit management studies, growth Master plan, and several transit development plans. Bill. Go ahead.

01:33:09,270	S21:
Okay.

01:33:11,830	Can anybody hear me? S1:
Yes.

01:33:13,030	S21:
Okay. I will share my screen here if I if I can. Um.

01:33:26,230	S21:
Okay. Uh, can you see my presentation?

01:33:34,390	S7:
Not yet.

01:33:34,910	S1:
Not yet.

01:33:35,870	S21:
Okay.

01:33:36,630	S7:
There we go. No.

01:33:37,750	S22:
Nope. Okay.

01:33:39,510	S23:
Can you change that screen?

01:33:40,830	S11:
Hold on just a second here, sir.

01:33:43,350	S23:
We just got to get it. There you go.

01:33:53,230	S11:
Do we want.

01:33:53,830	S23:
To?

01:33:56,510	S11:
Do we want to put the.

01:33:59,270	S1:
Well, it looks like it's flipped.

01:34:01,870	S23:
Not on my screen. That's weird.

01:34:07,570	S7:
There we go.

01:34:11,610	S11:
There we go.

01:34:13,090	S21:
Okay. So as as Deidre said, my name is Bill Trow, and I'm a transportation planner with SRF consulting. And we are supporting the MPO and Vision Transit and updating the transit development plan. And also as, as Deidre said, is one of the critical items that we're tackling in this version of the transit development plan is the, I guess I'll call it, an ongoing gap between, um, the revenue generated through the various sources for transit in the region and the cost of providing transit within the region. Um, that probably starting even like 4 or 5 years ago. There has been this, this situation where costs have been exceeding revenue. Um, that through I mean, to a certain extent through, through Covid that that the issues that were acute back in 2019, early 2020 were somewhat achieved through a combination of CARES funding and Arpa funding. Many of those things that you guys have been talking about earlier this evening. Well, as I think we all understand that, that those funds across all departments are getting pretty close to being exhausted and they are getting very close to being exhausted in transit. And we see that the issue that was present prior to Covid, with the understanding that revenue and expenditures are not in balance, that that presently the transit agency is, is in what I would refer to as a negative or a deficit spending situation, that what I'm showing here in the in the chart in the upper right hand corner is the is a combination of the green bars of green and red bars of where the reserve fund or the the cash on hand, or the operating cash fund that businessmen transit needs to operate will be the kind of working its way over the course of the next several years. The gray line that I'm showing at about $4 million is the minimum that has been estimated that, um, is needed in cash on hand to do to operate over the course of the year. Um, that, that a lot of, of transit investments say that if there is the need to buy a vehicle, uh, through FTA, that those are purchases that are reimbursed purchases. Also, Bozeman Transit is responsible for making sure that the contractor is also being paid. Um, so what we want to be talking about today is one part of, I guess maybe I'll call it a multi-part option for coming up with ideas and plans to help reduce and eliminate that budget deficit, that what we want to be talking about today is what I would put into the category of immediate. And we are also having conversations about longer term gaps or longer term options that would like to be considered to close that funding gap that, you know, is at an option of raising property taxes, at an option of looking at implementing a sales tax that could be used for or transit operations. Those are conversations that are ongoing. Um, so what we're really seeing here is that by 2026 that the the reserve fund that, um, Bozeman Transit currently operates with will be exhausted. And so the idea here is, is to find some ideas as to how to reverse that trend and, and have the reserves be more stable into the future. So one of the the, the immediate conversation that we want to have, it revolves around what we are calling the non, um, Ada portions of the paratransit service that's out there. And what this chart is showing you in the green areas is what we're call here, the after hour service. But these are periods of the day, days of the week, um, and, and holidays over the course of the year. Where, where the paratransit service that is out there is does not exactly meet the definition of paratransit. The definition of paratransit is complimentary service for those folks that do not have the ability to ride fixed route transit. So really the services that are provided out there that are the door to door for folks with a disability or with the inability essentially to ride fixed route transit is not paratransit, but it is non Ada transportation service that's provided. And what this chart is showing you that is that from the early morning from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and from 7 p.m. to midnight on week on weekdays, while the while while the the paratransit services provided that those those hours fall outside the the definition of paratransit. Similarly, as there is no fixed route service on Sunday that that those trips fall into that non Ada transportation service. And similarly when we have our six holidays over the course of the year where service is provided that they also those days also fall into the categories. And what what the purpose of the conversation of is here today is, is to make a request for additional funding to help support the the costs associated with the service during these periods, so that presently Bozeman Transit receives a section 5310 grant. Section 5310 is a part of the US dot code, or funding through the Federal Transit Administration that they have what their refer. What we're referring to is a grant to cover the after hours service. So technically this is this is this grant is being used today to cover service. If I'll flick back to the other chart here, or the weekday service from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. on on weekdays and Saturdays. The grant does not cover all aspects of the costs of service that that they that this man transit needs to go in and extract from the entire from the from the total cost of operating service, the cost of the of the operating contract and cost of fuel. Those are the two elements that is covered. The grant does not cover the administrative costs that that I think we all understand are associated with any with any business of the administrative staff, of insurance, of building costs, of some of the maintenance costs. All of those elements are not allowable under this particular grant. Um, and but then the the costs of the operating contract and fuel comes to about 80% of the entire service cost. So that it was the administrative costs were estimated to be somewhere around 20% of the of the entire per hour operating costs and so that that presently the grant that that man transit receives covers 50% of that operating of the operating or the operator cost. And that's the contractor that provides their service and fuel less the fares that are collected. That right now that the estimate is that service costs about $240,000 a year. The grant that the grant covers about $120,000 of that over the course of of those periods that we're collecting about $16,100 in fares, um, I'm sorry, the, the and then the the grant is actually 100 and 120,450 with that additional $120,000, $120,068 is actually the the, um, covered portion or the portion that Bismarck Transit makes up. So, um, when we. We've gone in and we've, we've calculated what the entire. So the, the, the current grant covers, um, only those after hours services. So the ask that we are, we are looking for is, is also to cover the costs of service in the early mornings, the cost of service on Sundays and the cost of that same service on, um, on holidays. And what we're estimating is the cost of that service over the various days that we're showing up here has a total cost of about $428,200.

01:43:34,010	S21:
Um, over the course of the year that we, we collect about $37,338

01:43:41,290	S21:
in fares. So the net operating costs that we have over that period is about $390,900. The grant that is presently awarded to the city and this or to business and transit, and they have applied for the grant also for next year. And Deidre will correct me if I'm wrong, but there's at least preliminary approval that that that grant is likely to be awarded. Um, but anyway, for this year that there is a, a balance of about $270,000 in that non Ada period transit service that is provided that that is the ask that there is for this budget period. Um, understanding also that that there is a the grant is is likely to be awarded for next year. Um one of the things that I think, you know, listening to, to the budget conversation and the and and the conversations that have been going on associated with escalating cost that the contractor, um, or the contract, the operator contract that has just recently been renegotiated has also increased, and that has pushed the operating costs up between 23 and 24 by about 14%, um, which ultimately escalates the costs associated with that early morning, Sunday and holiday services. Um, to to to be about $450,000 over the course of the 2324 period.

01:45:47,700	The grant is anticipated to also be expanded and that, um, we also want to have a preliminary conversation at this point in time, understanding that you're not talking about the budget for next year, but we are looking for having a conversation about the the possibility of of funding the request for an additional $276,333 S21:
for next year.

01:46:07,420	Um, so with that, I think I'll just kind of come back to this, this slide here and, and reiterate that the request that is, is being made by Bismarck and transit is for about $270,000 S21:
to help close that gap. And again, that helps close an immediate gap. Um, but going forward, there is still a, a, you know, mismatch between revenue and, and expenditures that we are also looking for alternate ways of closing those. With that, I'll, I'll quit sharing my screen here. And and Deirdre, if you have any anything that you want to to add.

01:46:35,460	S20:
Thank you Bill. Um, we all understand how important the access to public transportation is within our communities. You've had several people talk about it tonight, and I think you've heard from a lot of others throughout the week. Many local improvement studies have also discussed the value of accessible transportation, including the Bismarck Burleigh Community Health Improvement Plan, which listed transportation as one of the top seven needs within our community. However, despite the undeniable need for public transportation, our system faces several challenging challenges, threatening its sustainability and functionality. Funding for public transit has been inadequate, resulting in the consideration of reduced service hours offered by our offer to our riders. Bismarck Transit has worked hard to close this gap through federal funding and private funding, but have been unsuccessful. As Bill mentioned, Bismarck Transit has been successful in receiving section 5310 funding, which helps cover a portion of the contracting, contracted operating and fuel expenses for our non Ada required door to door service. Although it does help offset the cost, more is needed to maintain the service.

01:47:45,770	The Bozeman Transit Board requests $270,450 from the general Fund for the 2022 to 2023 budget, and $276,333 S20:
for the 2023 to 2024 operating years to cover the non Ada required door to door service expenses. Staff will continue working with stakeholders, agencies and other communities reliant on paratransit and demand response services for additional donations. If approved, this will not fix the entirety of the funding issues, but rather slow the bleed from our cash reserves and allow transit more time to work towards sustainable funding through a sales tax request. Thank you for your consideration. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

01:48:12,650	S7:
Commissioners.

01:48:16,890	S1:
Commissioner Marquart.

01:48:18,290	S11:
So your first request is we'd have to have a budget amendment to authorize the 270,450 for 2022 2023.

01:48:29,010	Right? S7:
Correct.

01:48:36,030	S1:
So I have a question because I'm adding the numbers up. And so for now I have no, this is not a negative comment because I believe the services are needed. But I need to understand how we're getting to some numbers. So if I understand correct the cost of the contractor for the additional services, the additional hours for paratransit, and this is just this portion. So I actually think there's a bigger conversation that needs to be going on beyond this, but it's $240,000, and the total cost, we're told, is 430,000. So that's $180,000 for administrative costs.

01:49:23,510	How much of that is facility that you're incurring regardless? S20:
That's a great point. The $240,000 that was mentioned in that slide, that did not include the early morning service. It did not include the holiday service because we were not previously requesting that off a grant. Just with this upcoming 5310 grant, I did put in a request for it. We don't have the formal award whether or not we got that. So the 240 does not include the 120,000 587 that bill has outlined from the 530 to 7 a.m. service. If we had previously requested that the 240,000 and the local local match and federal portions would have been higher at that point. So we didn't know we had the ability to ask for funds for the morning service until just this year.

01:50:08,450	S1:
Okay, I'm still not sure I'm following the math, but that might answer part of it.

01:50:12,890	S7:
Yep.

01:50:13,690	S20:
And you're correct. You will still have our administrative costs. We'll still have the building costs, but wear and tear on the vehicles, some utilities a portion of that does need.

01:50:23,290	S1:
To be my my concern is we're trying if we're trying to grab from some cost that's already incurred and being paid for from general operations and trying to allocate it to this specific request. That's that's like playing with funny money because you're moving one egg to another egg, and I don't really like that. However, I think there's a bigger issue here for transit in general, because we're getting a piece of it here. And honestly, I think we need to know the whole piece, not just this paratransit. Like what's the whole budget I would like to see. And I mean, this was this was has been discussed at MPO, but honestly, this didn't even come before MPO last month. And our MPO meeting is next Tuesday. So I also feel like we're kind of the the chicken before the egg here a little bit, the cart before the horse on it, the flow of information. So I'm sorry, I'm asking some difficult questions, but I feel we need to know some answers. I'm supportive of trying to find funding for this service personally. But I think before we get into our 2024 budget, we need some more answers. This is a I think it's two pieces here 20, 22, 20 or 23 budget request. I still like to understand some more detail behind what's making up the $270,000. How much of it is administrative cost? That's a burden already borne elsewhere. I really want to know that.

01:51:55,570	S20:
20% is what we had figured, and 20% is probably a little bit high. It's probably closer to 16, 14 to 16.

01:52:01,970	S1:
But understand why I'm asking that because that's that's dollars that aren't directly associated to this service you're asking to have funded. Now, it may be it's still a need, but let's let's not play the shell game. Sure. Please.

01:52:17,970	S20:
No, I understand what you're saying. And also, I think we were kind of in a in a major rush to get all of this information together because we had our organizational restructure meeting where we had a lot of city staff present, and it was kind of, you have two days to get all this stuff together to get it on the agenda.

01:52:33,020	S7:
So and I.

01:52:33,700	S1:
Appreciate, I appreciate that. And if that meant if that means we have to take more time, that might be what the case be comes here. The other point I have is, is it looks like we're asking for all the money from the city of Bismarck here. And that's not fair either, because our partners across the river participate in this. And I would say that anything we do is going to be contingent upon getting something from them, or at least having that conversation.

01:53:02,100	S20:
Yeah. And we do plan to be involved in their budget discussions. I believe they start in August.

01:53:07,500	S1:
So but if we're asking for 23 budget amendment from the city of Bismarck to fund the whole thing, I'm not comfortable saying the city of Bismarck picks up the whole tab personally as one vote. So those are just some comments. Um. I'll let others speak now. I kind of dominate. I'm sorry.

01:53:47,760	S18:
Can you kind of explain some.

01:53:49,200	S7:
Of the.

01:53:49,440	S10:
Discussions that.

01:53:50,160	S18:
We've.

01:53:50,400	S7:
Had about.

01:53:51,240	S18:
There's a lot of stakeholders.

01:53:52,440	S10:
In our community that benefit from this, both users and non-users, and there's been a long history. It started April of 87, and there's been a long history, and there's been a development over time as far as, um, promises made, promises not kept. There's been an evident flow, and there's been a history to where it wasn't as functioning as well. There's been some good growth in the last three years to where some clean financials have come out to where it's all. It's all kind of coming to a. We can start building instead of making up for mistakes of the past.

01:54:43,300	Could you explain some of the intentions on how you're going to address some of those issues, and hopefully get more of the stakeholders in conversations so we can go forward with this? S20:
Yeah, absolutely. So one thing that Commissioner Connelly and I have been talking about is having the conversations with our group homes, our day providers, naval pride support systems, um, things of that nature. So they did use to and this was years ago, provide a certain component of a donation to help support the system. Um, that's been a thing of the past for a few decades. So we will be pursuing, um, hopefully a partnership with them in some manner, but there's no guarantee whether there will be any fiscal benefit to us, rather, um, maybe more community support, more understanding that the service is needed. I hope that Commissioner Connelly will be able to join me in some of those conversations with the stakeholders. But again, the bridges were burned a while ago. Um, and it's a little bit challenging to repair.

01:55:37,520	S7:
Okay.

01:55:40,680	S1:
Do you have any comments?

01:55:41,680	S7:
Yeah.

01:55:41,920	S10:
Commissioner, I, I kind of work in that area. I worked in the, um, disabled area for a little bit more than a decade early on for, uh. Um, during my, in the 90s. And then now I work in the long term care area. So some of the suggestions in talking to is also talking to the long term care facilities, because we do have an aging population, it is a significant part of, um, in our communities and things in transportation, as we get larger in that, um, people in small communities come here because they need for medical need for medical services. And as costs rise. Transit might be a viable option for them versus having to maintain a home, a place of residence, and what it would take to have your own vehicles and things. And these are some of the discussions that we can have going forward. And there's no promises, like Deidre said. But, um, it's a strong encouragement. Anybody that feels that they're a stakeholder, let's get to the table. Let's have the conversation so we can grow our, um, as we're vying for dollars that a lot of different departments are asking for, that we do it at the best value going forward. I, um, it's we want those stakeholders to be in conversation with us, and there's some urgency with it. We can't wait. Another, she said it's been decades. We can't wait another decade. We need those conversations happen hopefully before the end of the year, at least getting the process started.

01:57:29,270	S7:
Commissioners. Commissioner. Zenker. Mayor. Commissioners. Deidre. So the let's hit rewind.

01:57:36,230	S10:
A little bit.

01:57:36,990	S7:
You know, because.

01:57:38,270	S10:
Us at this table have.

01:57:39,670	S7:
Made.

01:57:40,190	S10:
The transit make some.

01:57:41,670	S2:
Changes.

01:57:42,110	S10:
To their routes because.

01:57:43,790	S7:
We, you.

01:57:44,350	S10:
Know, ask for them.

01:57:45,310	S7:
Or.

01:57:45,950	S10:
After we vote on it, it's just kind of got to be done. I'll use the University of Mary as one. They brought that kind of wanted to didn't want to do it. And we told them they, you know, kind of had to since anything happens with three votes at this table, I'm always told. So, um, I do want to ask one question, because the last time transit was on the agenda, you were we already were on the way out with the taxi service. So is there. And this is the questions I get a lot to from citizens as, hey, we see the the buses running around. You know, they're really not they're not full. They're not half full, you know, type thing. Um, can we use smaller pieces of equipment? In the past, we've been told that you got to use certain size equipment because it's regulated by the federal government.

01:58:44,330	Is that still true, or is there some leniency coming in the future? I mean, right, because sometimes you can just get it done with a 16 passenger van in lieu of a I think they're 32 foot buses or something, right? S20:
Yeah. We have 29 to 30.

01:58:45,570	S10:
29. Okay.

01:58:46,250	S20:
Yeah. Um, there's no regulations saying we have to use that side of a bus. However, they last longer, they're more built for the service. They're easier to come by. Um, as Curt mentioned, it takes about two years for us now to get a small 616 passenger bus built. It takes me about six months to get a fixed route bus built. Um, which is crazy, but, um, when you're looking at the long term, yes, there would be cost savings if we would, uh, make the fleet smaller or phase out the larger buses, but we wouldn't see that cost savings until about 2028 2029. Bill has the specific numbers on that because we did an analysis because it does come up a lot. We hear a lot of people saying those buses are empty. The buses are empty. I will say we provided 17,000 trips last month with fixed route and paratransit. Paratransit was at 7800. Fixed route was a little over 9000. So we're on our way up. So it's hard for me to say we want to build this fixed route system that's going to be really comprehensive, but we should buy smaller buses because it might help right now. Um, there is a cost savings long term, but there's not an immediate cost savings for us.

01:59:52,790	S10:
Then expand on that on the, um, on the taxi side of it. Have you looked into because I thought that was going to be one of your group's ideas was to maybe fulfill that need because there isn't one.

02:00:05,910	S20:
So, yeah, we had discussions about offering a premium service where we'd be able to charge a little bit more and open up to the general public from the 7 p.m. to midnight timeframe. And then we had no drivers. So rather than sacrifice those buses to try and start a new service, that was going to be problematic. We said, pump the brakes. Let's make sure that we're able to give the best service we can to the elderly and disabled. It's not off the table. It's just we're struggling with staffing as well and want to make sure that we're able to provide the service that we are offering currently before we jump into that.

02:00:36,410	S10:
And I guess one of the reasons to why I bring that up is sometimes every once in a while, I'll get a, I'll get a, um, concern from a citizen like, hey, there's no taxi service at the airport. There's those types of things. So obviously, um, kind of to, you know, fulfill both needs with one with one stone, so to speak. So, um, my idea on this is, um, mayor and commissioners, I. Commissioner, mayor, you're you're right. I mean, there's got to be an ask to to Mandan. Um, I fully think. And will support some type of funding for them. I think it's fair for us to wait until Deidre can come back and see what the city of Mandan does, or whatever happens through those. The MPO meeting next week, Tuesday.

02:01:22,540	S1:
Which you'll.

02:01:22,980	S7:
Be at.

02:01:23,300	S10:
Yeah.

02:01:23,500	S7:
Thanks, bud.

02:01:24,700	S10:
All right. Um, so, I mean, because that's what I think. I think we've we've put some pressure on transit to make sure that they fulfill the needs for citizens, and then we can't sit up here and give them the Heisman, like, you know, go someplace else.

02:01:38,500	S7:
So I'm.

02:01:39,180	S10:
We have to give them some type of financial assistance to get this.

02:01:42,740	S7:
Done.

02:01:43,060	S1:
And I agree with you, Commissioner. I'm in support. I think it's I want to see Mandan in the game with us.

02:01:48,220	S7:
Right.

02:01:49,540	S10:
And and it shouldn't. To be honest with you, um, for a couple of us sitting here, we've been here the longest. But, I mean, the last time Deidre was in here with her group, we were looking at a bigger deficit than 270,000. So at this time, I would think that it's. It's a little bit less expensive than I thought it was going to be. One that when I saw it on the agenda the first time. So we have to do something that's and I think that's the message we need to send.

02:02:17,440	S7:
Commissioner Mark.

02:02:18,080	S11:
Mayor and Commissioner Deidre, as far as you know, take a look at alternative or other funding or revenue sources.

02:02:31,520	What else have you looked at as far as to try and get more revenue into transit? S20:
So we obviously do our advertising on our buses. So that makes up a portion of our revenue. And then we also do, um, invest whatever money that we do have. We have it in CDs trying to get every incremental revenue and then the private grants. So we've applied for like North Dakota Foundation grant, we've applied for AARP grants, anything that's even small to do the medium sized projects. Unfortunately, from a federal level, we're kind of getting the grants that are available to us. Now. If we're looking at other private grants, they're more challenging and more competitive to get. But that's not to say that we're not still actively pursuing them. But there's nothing else from else from the FTA that we can apply for. Until 2019, we weren't even getting the 5310 funding for the after hours or the non Ada required service. So that was kind of icing on the cake. Like, hey, we got a win here. But it's pretty much it.

02:03:23,780	S11:
Okay. So as far as you know I know we're discussing the Ada option. But as far as you know, Commissioner Zenker had brought it up that route out to University of Areas.

02:03:37,540	So what does that look like? Is that, uh, being utilized or not being utilized? S20:
Yeah, it's getting some definite growth. We get about 300, I think pickups out at you, Mary, a month.

02:03:45,580	S11:
And then there's also a United Tribes college on the way as well. Right.

02:03:51,780	S20:
Less used. Less used but still used.

02:03:55,300	S7:
Okay.

02:03:56,100	S11:
Sounds good. Thank you. I would agree with, you know, Mayor. and Commissioner Zenker. I think there's some kind of funding that we need to take a look at, but I'm very hesitant until we visit with the other community partners and see what those are. As far as Mandan and whoever else and, uh, see what we can do going forward.

02:04:21,440	S7:
Commissioner Connelly and.

02:04:23,680	S18:
I. With me being new to the seat and things, I have reached out to the portfolio holder in Mandan and, um, planet. We're planning to meet here in the near future and work as a team in order to draw those stakeholders together. So this can be a more fruitful conversation. I just wanted to say that too.

02:04:46,800	S1:
So I think our, our direction or slash request is that also have the conversation with Mandan. And then once that's happened then we can figure out how we can approach this. But it might correct commissioners.

02:04:59,040	S11:
Commissioner Cleary I think might have.

02:05:00,540	S1:
Oh, yes. Go ahead, Commissioner Cleary.

02:05:03,780	S17:
Yeah, I would like to jump in and I would say I agree with Commissioner Zenker. Um, I think it's important that we have those conversations with the city of Mandan see what happens at these other meetings. But I think at the end of the day, and it sounds like we're all on the same page here, that the importance of this service in our community is there. Um, we hear from the citizens how necessary it is. Um, not only to the disabled community that we heard from tonight, but just in general for the growth and the city and the walkability and, uh, for people to be able to age in place. I think we see we're seeing more and more of that in our community as it grows for the older demographic, but also for the new to Bismarck demographic. Uh, and even with the homeless or transient like that transportation piece is something that gets discussed in all of those meetings as well. Um, and just making sure that our community is inclusive and welcoming to to everyone as we continue to grow, I think is so important. With that being said, I definitely agree that we need to hear what the other entities have to say as well, since we can't be the only people of, you know, playing that role. So.

02:06:23,430	S7:
Okay.

02:06:23,990	S1:
Thank you Commissioner. I don't know if that helps much, but I think what you hear is there's support from us, but we need to make sure we've got participation from our partner.

02:06:36,030	S20:
Yeah. And then that's expected. I honestly anticipated that from this conversation. But I do want to reiterate the reason why we're just picking the after hours service or the non Ada required service. Um, as it's a topic of conversation right now rather than the full budget, is because that would technically be the first service to go when we talk about service reductions, because that is not receiving. That is not the Ada required. Exactly. It's right in the name. So if we talk service reductions on the paratransit side of things, that's going to be the first thing, um, that would be recommended.

02:07:08,770	S1:
So I appreciate that. But I would like to see the full I want to see if there's other issues that maybe, as Commissioner Zenker previously mentioned, maybe there maybe it's a bigger issue, not a bigger issue, a bigger opportunity.

02:07:25,370	S20:
I'll be back then.

02:07:27,170	S1:
Thank you very much.

02:07:28,330	S7:
Thank you.

02:07:34,210	S1:
Next item is discussion on the funding for the next steps of implementation on the phase one study for energy facility equipment of city owned properties or facilities from sidewalk.

02:07:52,330	And Steve, are you presenting on this or making the request? S14:
Good evening, Mayor and commissioners.

02:07:56,390	S10:
Back about.

02:07:57,470	S15:
A.

02:07:57,550	S7:
Year ago, um, we.

02:07:59,950	S10:
Had.

02:08:01,230	S18:
Entered into a contract.

02:08:02,470	S7:
With.

02:08:02,830	S18:
Sight.

02:08:03,070	S14:
Logic to.

02:08:03,670	S7:
Do.

02:08:04,390	S10:
An assessment of all.

02:08:05,670	S14:
The city.

02:08:06,150	S7:
Owned facilities.

02:08:07,350	S14:
And what they did is they went and.

02:08:09,150	S7:
They took a look. They did walk through, and they made recommendations on all sorts.

02:08:13,830	S14:
Of improvements.

02:08:14,550	S7:
That.

02:08:15,230	S14:
We are going.

02:08:15,790	S7:
To need to plan for. Um, some are in the very near future, some are in, um, out several years. Um, and also as part of that, they, um, made recommendations on projects that would actually pay for themselves. So, um, if, uh, if you replace a light fixture, for instance, the energy savings exceeds the cost of putting replacing that fixture. So. Um, they we brought them back in February and they kind of did an overall presentation to you on the findings of their of that study. So at that time, you had given us the permission to advertise for the next phase, which would be the implementation phase, because we only had a contract with site logic for the initial phase. At that time, we advertised for a consultant to do this for us, and we had three consultants put in. Um, site logic ultimately came out on top again, as if they had a lot of knowledge. They've done this in the past for many other entities. So, um, we worked with them. Um, came back and made ask for permission to enter into a contract with Site Logic back in April. Um, the one of the things that we neglected to talk about, though, was how do we want to pay for those improvements? So we, um. Right now, we do not have a contract with sight logic. We're kind of in the negotiation phases, but they're bringing forth, um, improvements on the estimated around $2.3 million for various different facilities under the energy savings come guaranteed energy savings contract. So what that means is the improvements, the cost to make the improvement, um, will be less than the savings. So the savings is going to exceed the cost to make that improvement. So, um, right now what we're looking for is, um, kind of some direction as we move forward. So I've asked Gavin Benson with Site Logic to give you a kind of a 200 zero foot, um, brief overview. And then at that point, we're going to be I'm looking for a little bit of direction. Um, one, do we want to continue forward with, um, with the contract? And if so, if we do, then how do we want to fund that? Um, we can either fund it out of reserves or, um, we could bond to take out a loan, and there's, um, the loan would actually pay for itself over a 15 year period. And Gavin's got all the, um, uh, specifics on that. So at this point, I'd like to turn it over to Gavin. He could kind of walk us through. And then if you have any questions of me at the end, I can come back up.

02:11:23,640	S9:
Okay. Thank you.

02:11:25,920	S24:
Thanks, Steve. Good evening, Mayor and commissioners. My name is Gavin Benson. Steve mentioned. Um, so where we're at in the process is we can fund the project with cash on hand, which Demetri can probably speak to the impacts of that, or we can potentially finance it. Um, the statute was set up for public institutions like you specifically, so that you could finance it so that you could get some sort of debt relief, make sure that it's budget neutral. Um, and instead of using $2.2 million out of cash, out of pocket, you could potentially spread that over that 15 year period and provide yourself some relief. So I can answer questions. If you would like to throw those at me, I'll just hit pause for a second and questions.

02:12:11,500	S10:
Mayor, commissioners. So, Gavin, I'm the construction guy at the table, so.

02:12:16,220	S24:
Okay.

02:12:17,620	S10:
Um, so these projects, what are they? What are they mostly entail? Are they lighting with OC sensors or are they HVAC upgrades? I mean, when you when you see the just the cost, I'll just use the city county building at one for that 286,000. I mean, what what are we talking about that you're going to do. Yeah.

02:12:38,660	To save us $25,000 a year? S24:
Yep. So high level. I'd say the majority like 90% of it. Maybe more. Is lighting converting from older technologies to current lighting LED technologies. And then there's some miscellaneous sealing of buildings and some water efficiency improvements to things like sinks and urinals and toilets.

02:13:00,880	S10:
So what kind of water efficiency things are you talking about? Because it's kind of the I'm a mechanical guy.

02:13:07,000	S24:
So yeah, we we typically it's it's, uh, diaphragms in the urinals, aerators in the faucets. Um, and if there's flush meters on toilets, it's making sure that they're all the same flow because they vary. If you have a bank of ten so you want a variable.

02:13:23,240	S10:
So you want to change the diaphragms like say from one six gallon to 1.25 or 1.28 or whatever.

02:13:28,880	S24:
I don't think they go that low. They usually just reduce it a little bit.

02:13:33,160	S10:
Okay.

02:13:33,760	S24:
Nobody wants to double flush.

02:13:35,480	S10:
Yeah, exactly. Okay. All right. Um, so All that's in our packet, I guess. And maybe Steve, you could answer this question is, um, I don't see the list of the projects other than dollar amounts. So that kind of makes me just a, a tish nervous. I mean, it has it listed per building or whatever, but I would I would like to know a little bit more information as to what's in each one of those buildings. Yeah.

02:14:05,340	S24:
I can share my screen. I love technology, you're not going to be able to read it though, but I'll provide it afterwards.

02:14:14,900	S10:
Maybe mostly just maybe provide some examples and then yeah, we can have it.

02:14:19,620	S24:
So so city hall. Yep. So city hall lighting throughout. Um, there's one pump that has variable speed drive and there's some ceiling of the buildings. When you look at the library again, it's lighting, there's some ceiling of the building. And uh, there's some other miscellaneous smaller projects like, uh, ceiling of buildings and. employment efficiency. So overall, um, you're looking at lighting for the majority of it and I'd say lighting in every building and then plumbing in more office type buildings where there's multiple urinals or like the library where there's multiple stalls, um, and then building envelope, ceiling. So things like wall to roof transitions and door sweeps, things like that at some of the buildings as well.

02:15:11,630	S10:
Okay. Thank you.

02:15:16,710	S1:
Gavin, can you just so we understand what what's the if we were to go funded by a loan, is that us go out on our own to secure the financing or. Okay.

02:15:30,550	S24:
Oh, okay. I was just waiting for you to finish, so I'd work with Dimitri to talk with a couple lending institutions. There are some that have done a lot of this in North Dakota. Um, so you can solicit some some feedback from them on on rates and things like that so we can help with that process. Just to kind of connect, make the connections and provide the data that the lending institutions might need.

02:15:54,370	S1:
Not sure if that's our best choice. But.

02:16:03,130	S11:
Mayor and commissioners. Gavin. Commissioner Marquart. So with you, it's a guaranteed. You know, when we don't know for sure what electricity prices are going to go. Um, you know, how are you going to guarantee that that those savings. And then also, one of the other questions that we had was that some of our, uh, buildings we are currently in either a remodel or working on some of that. Um, so if we deviate from that list, is that what does that do to our savings table or that that you guys provide.

02:16:40,550	S24:
Yep. Okay. I'll do the remodel one first. So we're recording. Steve is helping coordinate with some of the different departments, like the Civic Center or the event center is going to be doing some remodeling. So we're going to find out where those areas are and then just take them out of the scope. So that should be fairly straightforward. Things break throughout time. So even between the time that we sign a contract the next week you might have some lights fail. So during that process then we can just give you a duct for those lights as they occur. So we can coordinate that pretty well.

02:17:13,590	S11:
One of the other things that we had discussed during the um, during the budget process was some of the water treatment plant, and some of the other ones were as far as replacing those lights above some of our reservoirs and stuff.

02:17:38,690	And how, um, how do you guys manage that, or is that something that we have to pay for and do or or what are we looking at there? S24:
I don't know the specifics, but I think I we had a conversation with our engineer who led the project around wastewater and some of those areas. So we've documented all the lights for every single building inside. So if we're doing a retrofit or replacement, then that's that's in the scope unless it's already led and then it's it's staying led.

02:18:04,170	Does that answer your question? S11:
Kind of. Thank you.

02:18:07,330	S24:
Yep. So we would reply we will take care of those lights. If they're not LEDs then they'll get converted to LEDs. Is the is the main point of the project. And then your first question, um, I want to answer it. I can't remember exactly what it was.

02:18:24,890	S11:
Um, is that the one where it's over the water basins and stuff like that for the water treatment or.

02:18:30,730	S24:
Nope. Uh, before that, uh, I'll remember. Somebody will remember. We'll come back to it. I should have written it down.

02:18:44,910	S11:
Yeah, I was. Commissioner Zenker said he thought it was to remodel as well. And that's because we're remodeling a few of those, uh, buildings.

02:18:55,510	And you had answered that? S24:
Yeah. Yep. So we're coordinating. We had a conversation. I think it was last week. Maybe a week, maybe before 4th of July, where they're going to let us know what buildings are being remodeled, and then we'll just scope those. We'll take those out of the scope.

02:19:13,790	S1:
Commissioners, other questions or thoughts? Proceed forward, not proceed forward.

02:19:32,480	S10:
I'll just use mayor commissioners. I'll just use this example. Maybe, um, because we just did a large relighting project a couple of years ago, might have been even during Covid or prior to Covid or whatever with, uh, I mean, we just couldn't get parts for those lights anymore, you know, so that that the arena is now all LEDs and LED lights. So, um, everything you buy now is LED lights. So eventually whatever happens, you're going to we're going to change. We're going to do this anyways. It's going to be either we're going to do it with this, or we're going to do portions of it in two years and three years or five years or whatever. Um, so, you know, mayor, during their budget conversation, we talked about getting, you know, taking our reserve down or whatever. Maybe this is just one of those things where we just add this up and do the whole thing and, and take some of that money out of that reserve. And then we can get the return on investment sooner because we're not financing it and we're just paying cash for it.

02:20:37,220	S1:
I mean, and I'm not.

02:20:38,020	S10:
I'm sure Dimitri just did a backflip.

02:20:39,780	S1:
And know.

02:20:40,380	S10:
Someone called Praxair for some oxygen, but.

02:20:42,580	S1:
Well, it was it was close. His eyes came back at me.

02:20:45,980	S10:
I'm sure he did. But I mean, when you when you look at it, instead of taking out each individual department and trying to piecemeal that thing together, um, they can, you know, full disclosure too. I've done some site logic projects, so I kind of get how their system works. Um, but they can put certain parts of certain buildings in one bid package and that type of bid package, and you get multiple bidders to do it, so you just don't turn the whole thing over. And maybe the other thing is too, if we do that and we do it next year in the in the budget cycle, um, there's going to be some hungry contractors out there and it's going to be a little bit aggressively too. So that's my thought.

02:21:30,240	S1:
Dmitri. You came up. You ought to answer the related to the reserves or however you wanted to. I mean, I'm not opposed to that, so.

02:21:38,320	S15:
Well, I'm mayor, commissioners Mayor Schmitz and Commissioner Zenker. It really depends what you how much you really want to spend out of reserve and what you want to spend it on and what percentage you want to keep the reserve at. If we were to go to that conversation, I think it's one of those. Chicken or the egg? Which one do you want to talk about first? If you feel like that this is a project that is critical enough to spend our city reserves on general fund, because this will hit every fund. This will hit. You know. Right.

02:22:09,920	S10:
All the enterprise funds, all this stuff.

02:22:11,560	S15:
Everybody. Right. And you can. The other thing is you can finance those. If you were to go through with this project, you can finance those in you can borrow for one, pay cash for the other. It's really up to you how you want to do it. We can work with whatever. Um, I think the key is for us to really make sure that it's really saving the city money. And where you guys want that threshold to be, especially at the general. The general fund is really your your your, your your one of your biggest challenges, if not the biggest challenge, along with, um, I would say the library. I don't know what you know, what their funding situation looks like. And then the local lodging and restaurant tax for the event center. Um, you know, that's the other one that can be kind of, um, limited depending on what kind of. Well, I.

02:22:58,020	S10:
Can tell you that since the event center is my portfolio, we would not right now with what we're doing, we would not spend $750,000 on lighting upgrade until we finished what we got on our table, so to speak. So.

02:23:11,420	S11:
Right. And that's one of the larger, um, buildings that would need to have this done. Right. Done. You know, you take a look at, you know, as, uh, Dimitri had mentioned as well as First Library. Yes, they have their own board. That would have to take a look at that and see if that would work into their financial situation as, as well. So all of a sudden we have, you know, roughly about $1 million taken out of there. So then what does that look like? As far as the projects moving forward and, you know, are we still going to get, you know, bang for a buck or do we do this when we remodel some of that stuff and it's spread out? Um, you know, we'll we will still changing to LED. We will still see those, um, savings that just be broken down a little bit different versus, um, you know, and some of the, you know, this, this cost estimate is that with I guess if Gavin still on, that'd be one of the things is that with all the the envelope for the buildings as far as resealing that stuff. Um, and then also, um, you know, with the plumbing fixtures.

02:24:29,890	Is that all, uh, in that cost estimate for what we see in front of us here? S24:
Yes, absolutely.

02:24:32,930	S11:
So if those costs go up, is there going to be a, um.

02:24:43,770	S11:
Right. I mean, so then we'll have to deal with that then, because this isn't a guaranteed price. If we if we sign the contract, this is what it's going to be. I mean, there, Dmitri.

02:24:59,210	S15:
Uh Commissioner. Marquardt one one last thing I should mention is that we do a part of the contract that we, we have with sight logic. Was that. And, Gavin, correct me if I'm wrong, is that, um, they did an assessment. You did an assessment for the entire building for. I think it was $120,000, but I'm not mistaken, this fee will be waived if we were to go through with the lighting project. Is that, am I correct correctly saying that.

02:25:24,190	S24:
I believe it was included in the project? I can double check, but I'm pretty sure it was.

02:25:34,510	S24:
And then the the question before about the cost going up. So if the contract is signed in the next couple of months, if we can get we can lock in that price and that's the price, then that's the guaranteed maximum price as well.

02:25:48,110	S11:
Okay. Thank you sir.

02:26:05,550	S10:
Commissioner Mayor. and Commissioner Commissioner. You're right. When I just look at this list, I can see event center, uh, headquarters, fire station one and public works. That off the top of my head would come off. Um, you know, wastewater treatment plant and the. And the water treatment plant, I don't know. We don't have a lot of construction right now, but we have some coming up which could which could change some, some things. But yeah, those are kind of the biggest um, two of those are the bigger ticket items with, with, uh, public works.

02:26:39,330	S11:
Right. And some of those projects, if we, if we do those, you know, well, we are going to do those construction projects, you know, some of that can be bid at that same time as well. So I mean, that's do we need to start putting in a bunch of lights if we're going to take them out and remodel and maybe move them around? I mean, we don't know for sure what those different configurations in the older part, I'm I would say that those configurations will somewhat stay, but I, I don't know that for sure as well. That's the only reason why I had questioned whether we still move forward with it, especially when we pull out those large projects immediately.

02:27:31,150	S17:
I guess just to jump in from the other perspective, because it sounds like if we remove those projects based off of, um, different remodels, as Gavin goes through the list with Steve and, you know, kind of picks those projects out if it's not worth doing them, if there's other construction going on and so on and so forth. But then when we have the list of things that we should be moving forward with, similar to like, like Fisher Zenker said, we're going to be replacing and switching to LED anyways, just like with the streetlights. Is it kind of going to be a cost saving? Even more? So the quicker that we move forward and do it, we see those savings earlier. The projects aren't going to get cheaper. I mean, they seem to never get cheaper. So I mean, the sooner that we move forward with at least the ones that we can move forward with. Once that list has gone through and the construction or renovation pieces are removed, I guess there's got to be some benefit with moving forward in a timely manner on the ones that we should be moving forward with. Because you'll see that cost savings sooner, we can lock in those prices, that sort of thing. I guess correct me if I'm wrong, but I guess there's got to be that. There's that side of it as well.

02:28:53,160	S11:
You're absolutely correct, Commissioner Cleary. You know, I think you take a look at, you know, the biggest one probably that would benefit the most from it would be City Hall itself. Um, you know, as far as the large one, you know, maybe some of the fire stations, but you, um, you know, take a look at, you know, police Headquarters. You know, depending on what we end up doing eventually with, uh, with that particular building or how that, you know, may move forward. Um, I think the, the library, if we if we do decide that we want to go forward or discuss that, I think the library board would need to have a conversation amongst themselves or that board, I should say, uh, and see if they need to participate in that. Um, you know, and we just need to make sure that, um, I guess, do we need to narrow down or have that conversation with those departments and say, okay, this is the departments that that we think or we feel that we should move forward. Let's take a look at that and see what that cost is going to be and then go from there.

02:30:00,620	S17:
Is that something we could do as like the next step, Gavin, where maybe you and Steve go back to that list and kind of tackle that breakdown and see where it puts us at.

02:30:11,920	S24:
Absolutely. Yep. Yeah, that's kind of in progress right now. So, uh, we'll continue that process ASAP and work to pull out any of the remodels re scope things.

02:30:22,960	S1:
Seems like we have a consensus. No. Whoa, whoa.

02:30:28,200	S23:
Sorry.

02:30:31,960	S23:
Mayor. Commissioner. So was this RFP.

02:30:34,120	S25:
Out with multiple vendors applying, and we're going to change the scope and price from what was sent out.

02:30:43,440	Is that what you're saying? S10:
I don't know how we would be changing the price because we never had a price to do it. They just did a devaluation of the buildings and they provided the budget number. We didn't provide the budget number.

02:30:53,000	S25:
But the did did each vendor provide a budget number? I mean, was this a percentage bid or was it a dollar?

02:31:01,840	S24:
Okay. So I can I can provide a little bit of clarity. So the RFQ. So request for qualifications.

02:31:08,300	S25:
Okay. That's what I wanted. To make sure that we're okay with the procurement before you go too far down. That.

02:31:14,380	S24:
Absolutely. Yep. Every project we've done in the last ten years has been done this way.

02:31:18,500	S23:
So thank you.

02:31:20,060	S24:
Mm.

02:31:22,660	S1:
Okay, so then consensus is okay to ask Steve and Gavin to break this list down and come back to us with a recommendation for the for the facilities that are most appropriate for us to move forward on. Is that I hear that right.

02:31:38,060	S11:
I would say so, yes. That was my understanding.

02:31:40,380	S10:
Yeah. And that would be to remove the facilities that are currently in construction projects and then fine tune facilities that will be in future construction projects because of the wastewater and water treatment.

02:31:53,660	S18:
Plants.

02:31:54,140	S10:
Or from my portfolio perspective, I guess.

02:31:56,780	S24:
So I want clarification. So I just I'm thinking of as an example, the Civic Center auditorium areas. I don't know if we're doing the whole building. And then if we scope the locker rooms or different portions of it, it might not be the whole building. It might just be the scoping the areas that are being remodeled.

02:32:13,400	S10:
That would be.

02:32:14,280	S24:
The Civic Center.

02:32:15,160	S10:
That's how I anticipated. Yeah. And you have the same thing with the for for station one two because you're not remodeling the whole thing. So. Yeah. Yeah.

02:32:23,680	S24:
Keep the portions that are staying. Yeah. Okay. Got it. I understand.

02:32:30,280	S9:
Okay.

02:32:32,160	S1:
See if they give you enough direction at this point in time.

02:32:37,720	S7:
Yeah. Basically, go back, take a look at all of the facilities again, revise the scope, and then come back once again and ask that question at that point and see you have a little bit better understanding of what the final scope is. And the final costs are.

02:32:52,320	S1:
And so we're not putting equipment in place that are going to be remodeled or, you know, so we're not almost like duplicating efforts, so to speak.

02:33:01,440	S9:
Yeah.

02:33:01,920	S7:
And like Gavin said, we're we're kind of working towards that right now. We just don't have the final answer for you.

02:33:07,930	S9:
Okay.

02:33:09,210	S10:
And then mayor, Commissioners Steve and Gavin, if we could provide just some detail as to portions not I mean, not expressed detailing, we're going to change this two inch valve or we're going to change these maybe just a percentage of, hey, this is electrical, this is mechanical. This is okay. This is building envelope type thing. Yep. Is that.

02:33:29,130	S24:
Fair? Yeah. By building? Absolutely.

02:33:31,170	S10:
Yep. Cool.

02:33:32,090	S24:
Thank you. Sir. No problem.

02:33:34,250	S9:
Okay.

02:33:34,690	S24:
I'll just give my engineers some homework.

02:33:37,370	S9:
Thank you.

02:33:38,730	S1:
All right. Thank you. Okay.

02:33:40,810	S17:
We're done. Appreciate all your time.

02:33:43,370	S1:
Sorry. Commissioner.

02:33:44,130	S24:
Absolutely.

02:33:46,730	S1:
Okay. I believe we're down to that.

02:33:51,130	S1:
Go ahead. Commissioner.

02:33:54,930	S17:
Sorry, mayor. I just was jumping in. I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for the time. Gavin and Steve and, um, that I agree with the consensus.

02:34:03,070	S1:
Okay. Thank you. Okay. We're down to other businesses. Go ahead.

02:34:07,790	S9:
Commissioner.

02:34:08,230	S11:
Mayor. Commissioners. Gabe, I got a question for you. I'll come up just real quick. Construction comes up all the time as far as road construction and this, that and the other. So one of the things that, um, I see a lot more now than what I've done in the past is a lot of paving projects are at night. Is that something that the state normally does? Is that some direction from the city as far as some of the the issues or discussions that, you know, we have with our citizens, that you know, why before it always seemed like it was during the day and push traffic away.

02:34:42,310	S19:
So is that.

02:34:43,030	S11:
Some of the things that they've, they've done different or some requests that we've kind of pushed forward?

02:34:48,230	S13:
Uh, mayor and commissioners, Commissioner Marquart, specifically for the Dot's projects that they have going on on Bismarck Expressway in South University Drive. They're requiring the milling and the paving operation to be conducted in the nighttime hours. There's still construction during the day. If they're replacing the the Ada ramps or doing other other work in the area. So there's still construction happening during the day. But really, the times at which we're bringing in milling machines and bringing in additional trucks to have to actually access that facility to construct or deconstruct the road or whatever phase that they might be in trying to do that under situations where there's less traffic. And in Bismarck, North Dakota, that's at night in Las Vegas. It might be the exact opposite of that, but here.

02:35:28,930	S11:
Actually it's at night as well, because it's so hot during the day.

02:35:32,290	S13:
Due to that. But so it's something that they implemented on two of their projects in our town this summer. And then one of the contractors that is doing some of our work was also doing the work for the Dot, and they requested that they were able to do this similar operation on Washington Street and our Divide Avenue Milan overlay as well. It is always a balance in areas where there's impacts to the traveling public that's using the roadway, but also impacts to those adjacent properties that might experience higher than typical levels of noise during that time. So we try to make sure we're not unduly influencing or impacting one stakeholder group to benefit another and try to find a balance as well as we can. It's not something that we probably will do all of the time, and we do reserve that for just special situations, whether it's high traffic locations like Expressway and University Drive, or if there's some special considerations for school traffic. We put those same sort of notes to have certain work done outside of certain time frames, where we know it's not as busy for the benefit of the contractor and for the public in general.

02:36:33,230	S11:
Do you know for sure if they're on schedule?

02:36:37,270	S13:
Mayor, commissioners. Commissioner Mark, I guess I couldn't tell you. Schedule updates in terms of on schedule are not on schedule. Most of the time when we give that contractor the date to say, you have to have this done by XYZ date and here's how many days you have to do it. It's up to them to determine their schedule if they're on or off. It really doesn't pertain to us until they get past that date, and if they're past that date, then we have liquidated damages that should that are used to help offset the cost if they don't hit their contractual obligations.

02:37:02,880	S11:
Sounds great. Thank you sir. I appreciate it.

02:37:06,280	S1:
Anyone else have any other business? The only thing I have is I do intend to visit with the local issues committee at the chamber. Relative to the petition that's being circulated on real estate taxes, to see if they will take a position to support. Um, not not to support the petition, but to at least say real estate taxes are necessary. So I will be doing that.

02:37:38,920	S1:
So if not, no other business. We stand adjourned.