Commissioner· 2024-07-01–2028-06-01; month-level start: July 2024, elected June 11, 2024 (first official meeting July 8, 2024 per inforum.com); the Fargo City Commission page says commissioners are elected for four-year terms, and Commissioner Turnberg's fargond.gov page gives a June election and expiry; month-level end: June 2028
Michelle Turnberg
Fargo
About
Michelle Turnberg's platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility with a primary focus on closely monitoring and managing city spending. She has also engaged in local governance issues, notably opposing the implementation of a ward-based voting system for Fargo.
Campaign promises (1)
- taxesMichelle Turnberg called for a greater focus on city spending.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 16
- Total speaking time
- 45:24
- Avg per meeting
- 2:50
- Segments
- 578
Want every word Turnberg has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Turnberg said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (18)(Development)
Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Incentive Policy with inclusionary housing
The policy would shape how much property tax revenue the city forgoes for redevelopment incentives.
Covey Ranch Third Addition growth and special assessments
Roads and utilities for the district will be paid for by special assessments on the new properties; costs aren't estimated yet.
COVE Living PILOT at 300 45th Street South
City share: about $166,000/year in forgone taxes ($1.6M over 10 years), against an $8 million total exemption if the county and schools participate.
Renter and landlord relations
Special Assessments for Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities
Affected property owners will be special-assessed for the paving and utility work.
Renters and landlords forum
Renaissance Zone incentives for downtown rehabilitation
About $1 million a year paid by downtown property owners through a special assessment.
Low-income housing at 1711 25th Avenue South
Exempts the project from full property taxes; school board and county agreed to share the cost.
Lost Creek First Addition growth and infrastructure costs
An estimated $5.5 million to $20 million in infrastructure investment the city would bond, likely through special assessments unless the new commission changes policy.
Lost Creek First Addition growth and infrastructure debate
Phase one alone adds an estimated $250 million in taxable value; infrastructure and special assessment funding remain unresolved.
Broadway Square expression restrictions
Potential legal exposure for the city if police were used to remove protected speech; no figure given.
HUD housing programs annual report
Roughly $1.4 million in federal funding annually for housing and community development.
Lost Creek subdivision and edge-development costs
$5.5 million to $20 million in new infrastructure, traditionally funded by special assessments — on top of city debt already at $1.37–$1.5 billion.
Federal housing funding (CDBG/HOME) strategy overhaul
About $1.4 million in combined federal CDBG/HOME funds, including $550,000 for alley paving.
236-acre annexation
Adds land to the city's tax base and future service obligations.
Harwood Township annexation restart
Renaissance Zone tax incentive for Central at the Horizon
The property tax exemption reduces city tax revenue on this parcel for the exemption period.
2026 Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
Decisions during term (8)
Recorded while Turnberg was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Adopt Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Incentive Policy (as forwarded by EDIC)
Adopt Mayor Boschee's amendments to the Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Policy
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program 2026 allocations.
Item 37 — Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Incentive Policy
Item 38 — Housing and Redevelopment Authority Reappointment
Right of Way Use Agreement with MBA Investments, LLC and MBA Development Company located at 214 6th Avenue North.
New PILOT policy for commercial redevelopment
Task Order No. 24 with Apex Engineering Group in the amount of $68,400.00 for the development of local limits as required by the USEPA Pretreatment Regulations and the NDPDES Permit.
Voting record (2)(Development)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Item 37 — Commercial Redevelopment PILOT Incentive Policy
Said the public is sick of tax incentives and asked for precise parameters.