City Commission

MEETING MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DEVILS LAKE, ND August 4, 2025 The regular meeting of the Devils Lake City Commission was held on August 4, 2025 with the following members present: President Moe and Commissioners Hach, Pierce, Knowski, and Uhlenkamp. MEETING ITEMS 1) Call to Order 2) Approval of Minutes – July 21, 2025 Commissioner Knowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2025 City Commission meeting. Commission Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 3) Approval of Minutes – July 24, 2025 Special Meeting Commissioner Uhlenkamp made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2025 Special Meeting. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 4) Approval of Minutes – July 28, 2025 Special Meeting Commissioner Knowski made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 28, 2025 Special Meeting. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS PUBLIC HEARINGS – 5:30 PM BID OPENINGS – 5:30 PM VISITORS OR DELEGATIONS COMMISSION PORTFOLIOS Commissioner Pierce – The Fire Chief communicated that they had one employee attending fire training in Mandan. They also opened up a firefighter position. Commissioner Uhlenkamp – The City Engineer said that the Street Department that there is not an update for the street department. They have not started any work on the cemetery road yet. Commissioner Hach – The Airport Manager communicated that they had a new record of boardings. The City Engineer said that there is not an update for the Sanitation Department. There are items that will be discussed for the Engineering Department. The City Assessor said that the application for the Renaissance Zone has been approved for another 10 years. Commissioner Knowski – The City Engineer communicated that Commissioner Knowski recently did a tour of the water treatment plant. Commissioner Knowski mentioned that it is more complicated than he thought. President Moe – The Police Chief communicated that they met with Superintendent Clooten to review and discuss the cost share for the SRO program. They are looking at a 75% share, as the officers are in the school for nine (9) months out of the year. This year it will be $95,000 and next year it will be around $100,000. The City Attorney communicated that there are three (3) new ordinances on the agenda. In addition to these, there are three (3) blighted structure public hearings scheduled for September 4th, subject to successful service on the property owners. This time they are utilizing Sheriff Deputies to serve. President Moe communicated that he would like to see a new business permit program become a good thing within the City of Devils Lake. He mentioned that the city should know what types of businesses are coming to town. It was mentioned that this would have basic rules that would need to be followed. OLD BUSINESS 1) Picnic Benches at 4th & 4th Commissioner Pierce mentioned that after the last commission meeting, he had a discussion with the Police Chief about the picnic tables and how they have become a collection point for individuals downtown. It was mentioned that the homeless shelter is only open at night, so the individuals have nowhere to go during the day. He also talked to the City Engineer about having a petition go around for the people to decide if they want the picnic tables to go or not. Commissioner Uhlenkamp communicated that we need to start somewhere. Commissioner Hach mentioned that the picnic tables are not going to solve the problem and that there are more issues downtown. Commissioner Pierce looked into seeing if anything can be done with the section 8 housing downtown and there is nothing that we can do. The police traffic downtown has helped and business owners are seeing a difference. Commissioner Knowski mentioned that we did not have this type of issue prior to doing downtown beautification. Removing the picnic tables for a temporary basis would be a good start to see if it does anything. President Moe mentioned that he drove downtown after the last meeting, and he did see five (5) individuals on the benches downtown. It was mentioned that it may have had a bad look, but they were not doing anything wrong. Commissioner Pierce made a motion to remove the picnic tables on 4th & 4th and that the street department holds onto them for future use, if needed. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion. The motion was approved on a 4-1 roll call vote, with President Moe dissecting. 2) Benches at Bridgestone Park Commissioner Pierce mentioned that this was brought up just as an information piece. He mentioned that he was talking to Chief Toso about removing a combination of benches and picnic tables, but after talking to a business owner about the increased foot patrol this is not an issue at the moment. It was mentioned that daycare kids go to this park, and they have someone do a walk through first to make sure there is nothing that could harm the children. The City Engineer communicated that he could talk to the park district about maintaining the park. Commissioner Pierce mentioned that he will talk to the park district about doing events there throughout the summer. It was mentioned that the benches and tables attracted the wrong crowds, which was not the intention. 3) Curfew Ordinance Proposal Commissioner Pierce mentioned that he talked to Chief Toso and Commissioner Hach about the city’s curfew ordinance. It was communicated that there is one and that in the past it used to be enforced. Commissioner Pierce reviewed the current ordinance, and he revised it to be straight to the point. Commissioner Pierce asked if we could set a fine for a juvenile breaking the ordinance. Chief Toso mentioned that the fining is done to the parent or guardian. Commissioner Knowski communicated that changing it to under the age of 18 makes it more difficult. Commissioner Pierce mentioned that this is based off Fargo’s ordinance. The City Attorney mentioned that he can look into this ordinance. He mentioned that there is value in keeping the penalty clause that is currently in municipal code. CONSENT AGENDA NEW BUSINESS 1) Approval of FY 2026 Preliminary Budget and Setting of Public Hearing Date for October 06, 2025 Commissioner Knowski made a motion to approve the FY 2026 preliminary budget and setting of public hearing date for October 06, 2025. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. 2) Appointment and Reappointment to the Special Assessment Commission Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve the appointment of Luke Wavra and reappointment Nancy Lundon to the special assessment commission. Commissioner Knowski seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously. 3) Stromquist Project Payment and Overall Cost Share Commissioner Knowski made a motion to approve the stromquist project payment and overall cost share. Commissioner Pierce seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on roll call vote. 4) 1st Reading of Ordinance 1019 – Chapter 973 Tobacco, Electronic Smoking Devices, Alternative Nicotine Products A first reading of Ordinance 1019 was held. 5) 1st Reading of Ordinance 1020 – Chapter 974 – Vaping A first reading of Ordinance 1020 was held. 6) 1st Reading of Ordinance 1021 – Section 10.16.441 Use of Safety Belts Required in Certain Motor Vehicles A first reading of Ordinance 1021 was held. 7) Pay Estimate 2 – Project 250102 Commissioner Pierce made a motion to approve pay estimate 2 – project 250102. Commissioner Uhlenkamp seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. CITIZEN COMMENT Lisa Pagel addressed the commission regarding the budget. She mentioned that she heard that we have added in a holiday and that we should stick with what is in the policy. She also commented on the COLA increase and asked why it is expected and an automatic increase rather than based off reviews. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1) Quarter 2 Investment Portfolio LIST OF BILLS Commissioner Uhlenkamp made a motion to approve the list of bills as submitted. Commissioner Hach seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. __________________________________ __________________________________ SPENCER HALVORSON JIM MOE CITY ADMINISTRATOR/AUDITOR PRESIDENT OF CITY COMMISSION