FARGO, N.D. — The Fargo Native American Commission on Sept. 4 discussed a city-led review of volunteer boards and commissions, potential changes to the commission’s structure and a preliminary 2026 budget allocation for Indigenous programming. Nicole (City planning staff liaison) told commissioners the city is re-evaluating its role as convener and funder amid tighter staff resources and increasing HUD grant administration demands.

"There's some pulling back of that, not because we don't wanna be in the story or in the discussion or in leadership role, but it's just really lack of resources," Nicole said, describing staff capacity and governance pressures.

The commission was told the preliminary 2026 budget retains a $30,000 allocation for the Indigenous Association; Nicole said she had not received word that allocation would be removed. She described a timetable in which the city’s work plan will be defined in the coming months and a fuller review of resolutions and ordinances governing citizen boards will follow.

Commission members asked for more time and a focused meeting to work through options. "I would like to ask that we sit down and talk about, you know, the the smaller details, the the inner workings that we could help to maybe find some alternate solutions," Suzanne Censke said, asking that commissioners explore alternatives and cost-saving ideas before any final decisions.

Commissioner Daniel Fry supported a joint working session. "Having a working session, is important to for us to, as commission members, but also for the city, to develop what the action plan looks like," Fry said, urging a tangible plan that maintains community voice.

Emily Sargent and other commissioners emphasized the need to convene as a full commission before significant changes are made. Commissioners asked staff to circulate options and schedule a follow-up work session; Nicole said she would follow up with a doodle poll and that some discussions could take place without staff present if commissioners preferred.

The discussion covered four broad roles the commission has played — advocacy, democracy, community building and policy development — and asked commissioners to consider which roles the city should continue to formally support and which might be led by community organizations.

Next formal NAC meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6; staff and commissioners agreed to schedule a separate work session to develop a proposal for the commission’s future structure and to share that proposal with the City Commission as part of the budget and ordinance review cycle.