O
Fargo
← All officials
DP

Commissioner· Commissioner, present at the June 22, 2026 meeting per Fargo City Commission minutes; the two open seats were filled by Gullickson and Peterson, sworn in on July 6, 2026 per the minutes of that date (the seat each succeeded is inferred from the roll calls)

Dave Piepkorn

Fargo

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Jul 6, 2026.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
10
Total speaking time
28:07
Avg per meeting
2:49
Segments
479

Want every word Piepkorn has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Piepkorn said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

high↑Jan 2026[24]

Historic Preservation and Arts & Culture Commission gaps

Minimal direct cost — the $90,000 tri-cities arts grant line item continues separately, and meetings-as-needed cost little in staff time.

high↑Mar 2026[23]

Dangerous building demolition at 111-113 32nd Avenue North

The city will spend on demolition under the approved Master Construction agreement and can assess costs against the property.

high↓Apr 2026[19]

1544 3rd Avenue South dangerous-building standoff

Demolition costs will likely be assessed against the property or borne by the city initially.

high↑Jan 2026[17]

64th Avenue South traffic calming and future I-29 interchange

Estimated $25-30 million, with roughly $20 million in federal funds; a 76th Avenue alternative would cost an estimated $70-100 million with no funding in place.

high↑Mar 2026[16]

Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Incentive Policy with inclusionary housing

The policy would shape how much property tax revenue the city forgoes for redevelopment incentives.

high↓Mar 2026[8]

2026 construction season and sales tax dependence

Over $14 million in construction spending, much of it funded through improvement district assessments and city infrastructure budgets.

high↓Mar 2026[8]

Special Assessments for Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities

Affected property owners will be special-assessed for the paving and utility work.

medium↓Feb 2026[6]

Alcohol service throughout Hector International Airport gate area

The license would bring a $115,000 initial fee and $1,700 a year, but police worry about needing extra resources at the airport.

medium↓Apr 2026[5]

Conclusion of the Human Rights Commission

Minimal direct cost;主要是 removes a volunteer advisory body.

high↓Mar 2026[5]

Winter warming shelter funding at the Resource and Recovery Center

About $144,000 in donated funds — no general fund money, though Turnberg warned the rental building otherwise burdens the general fund.

high↓Jul 2026[4]

Security fence at Fargo Police Department headquarters

About a quarter million dollars in leftover bond money goes to the fence instead of other uses.

high↓Mar 2026[4]

Fargo Police Chief appointment

The police chief's salary and the cost of any expedited search process will come from the city's general budget.

high↓Apr 2026[3]

Convention Center location decision

No dollar figure yet — costs will come out of the due diligence review with the two finalists.

low↓Jan 2026[3]

Property tax exemptions for building improvements

Modest, temporary reduction in taxable value for nine properties over five years.

low↓Apr 2026[3]

Executive session on Ingstad litigation and Fercho annexation

The city cited potential fiscal effects on its bargaining or litigation position; no figures were disclosed.

high↓Mar 2026[3]

Extension of the 1% infrastructure sales tax to 2048

Extends a sales tax that funds street, sewer and other public infrastructure projects.

high↓Feb 2026[3]

Renaissance Zone incentives for downtown rehabilitation

About $1 million a year paid by downtown property owners through a special assessment.

high↓Mar 2026[3]

Appointment of new Fargo Police Chief

The new chief's salary wasn't discussed, but the position replaces the retiring chief in an already-budgeted role.

medium↓Jul 2026[2]

Boiler replacement at Fargo Cass Public Health

Contract cost funded through bond cost savings closing out in October.

high↓Jun 2026[2]

Federal housing funding (CDBG/HOME) strategy overhaul

About $1.4 million in combined federal CDBG/HOME funds, including $550,000 for alley paving.

Decisions during term (459)

Recorded while Piepkorn was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Approve Order of Agenda and June 22 Minutes

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Consent Agenda Items 1-15 and 18-29

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Plat of The Cul-de-Sac of Cottagewood First Addition

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Receive and file ordinance extending infrastructure sales tax to 2048

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Bid award and contract for boiler replacement at Fargo Cass Public Health (RFP26194)

tabled4-1Jul 6, 2026

Bid award and contract for fence installation at Fargo Police Department east lot (PBC26237)

tabled3-2Jul 6, 2026

Commission liaison assignments continued; brown-bag discussion directed

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Appointment of Commissioner John Strand as Deputy Mayor

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Appointments to Board of Adjustment and Library Board

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Approve Order of Agenda.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Minutes (Regular Meeting, June 22, 2026).

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Applications for Property Tax Exemptions for Improvements Made to Buildings.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

2nd reading, waive reading and final adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 1-0305A of Article 1-03 of Chapter 1 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Classification of Ordinance Violations; 1st reading, 6/22/26.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

2nd reading, waive reading and final adoption of an Ordinance Rezoning Certain Parcels of Land Lying in Lost Creek First Addition to the City of Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota; 1st reading, 6/22/26.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Transition Services and Mutual Release Agreement with Interstate Parking Company of North Dakota, LLC: Great Plains NP Holdings, LLC: Great Plains Mercantile Holdings, LLC: and DFI Roberts, LLC.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Withdrawal and Termination of Annexation Proceeding.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Order of the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo of 111-113 32nd Avenue North, Fargo, North Dakota 58102.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Accept the results of the Cass County Canvassing Board for June 9, 2026 Primary election and declare candidates elected.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Applications for Games of Chance.

approved5-0Jul 6, 2026

Negative Final Balancing Change Order No. 3 in the amount of -$15,737.45 for Improvement District No. BR-25-G1.

Voting record (147)

117 yes30 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesJun 24, 2026

Liquor license transfer

Voted yesJun 24, 2026

Dangerous building designation — 111-113 32nd Avenue North

Voted noJun 24, 2026

Lost Creek First Addition rezoning and plat, approval with conditions

Concerned about snow removal, emergency response, and building permanent infrastructure rather than temporary asphalt on the fringe.

Voted yesJun 24, 2026

Convention center — downtown Civic Center selected as first-ranked proposal

Voted yesJun 24, 2026

Convention center — authorization to pursue TIF financing

Voted noJun 24, 2026

Spirit of Fargo funds for the Resource and Recovery Center

Preferred tabling until the Impact Foundation board had considered the request and the new commission was seated.

Voted noJun 24, 2026

Conclusion of the Human Rights Commission

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the appointments

Voted noJun 22, 2026

approve the request

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the application

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the application

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the proposal of EAPC Kilbourne Group/Downtown Civic Center as the first-ranked proposal for the Convention Center Project and the City is to immediately begin negotiations with the first-ranke

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the continuation

Voted noJun 22, 2026

approve the rezoning and plat with conditions

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the continuation

Voted noJun 22, 2026

approve first reading

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the application

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

direct the City Attorney’s Office to prepare and serve the owner with the appropriate Findings of Fact and Order and the Inspections Department be authorized to solicit proposals for the removal of th

Voted noJun 22, 2026

concluded the Human Rights Commission and the City Attorney be directed to amend any associated Ordinances and Resolutions for the Human Rights Commission, the Arts and Culture Commission and the Nati

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

approve the applications

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

Executive Session motion

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

Consent Agenda items 1-34

Voted noJun 22, 2026

Lost Creek First Addition — rezoning and plat with conditions

Cited snow removal and public safety risk on an isolated open-field site

Voted yesJun 22, 2026

Convention Center — select first-ranked proposal (EAPC Kilbourne Group/Downtown Civic Center)

Voted noJun 22, 2026

Spirit of Fargo Funds for Resource and Recovery Center

Called it fiscally smart and a fitting use of funds originally set aside for disaster relief

Voted noJun 22, 2026

Conclusion of the Human Rights Commission

Believed activists could form a local state-association chapter and continue the work

Voted yesJun 8, 2026

approve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)/HOME Investment Partnerships Program; 2026 HUD Action Plan, Budget and Amendments to the 2025 Action Plan and Citizen Participation Plan

Voted noJun 8, 2026

approve the MOU

Voted yesJun 8, 2026

CDBG/HOME 2026 HUD Action Plan and Budget

Voted noJun 8, 2026

Ratification of MOU First Amendment with Presentation Partners in Housing

He questioned why the city provides the nonprofit space at no cost while other nonprofits also pay no lease.

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

continue the Hearing to 5:05 p.m. on 6/22/26

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

continue the due diligence process and have Baker Tilly report back by 6/22/2026

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve the recommendation

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve the plat

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

continue the Hearing to 5:05 p.m. on 6/22/2026

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

continue the Hearing to 5:05 p.m. on 6/22/2026

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve the application

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve the application

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

approve the recommendation

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

PILOT tax exemption for Fargo HRA low-income housing at 1711 25th Avenue South

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Property tax exemption for Najaxa Software LLC at 201 5th Street North

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Plat of Lake Agassiz Addition (417 and 501 Main Avenue)

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Lost Creek First Addition — zoning change, rezoning ordinance, and plat

Supported option three to allow time on flood certification, the land development code, and special assessment reforms.

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Convention center — continue due diligence with Baker Tilly

Voted noMay 26, 2026

Strand amendment to limit convention center evaluation to downtown proposal

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Newman Outdoor Field future operations — authorize staff conversations

Voted yesMay 26, 2026

Science Museum discussions on the Mid America Steel site

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

Appointment of Chief Designee Stefanowitz as Chief of Police

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

Appointments to the Board of Appeals

Voted yesMay 12, 2026

Application for property tax exemption for improvements made to buildings