Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting – January 8, 2024
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Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting – January 8, 2024
The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. Mayor Mahoney presided, with Commissioners Kolpack, Piepkorn, Preston, Strand, and Mahoney present. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda, public hearings on plats and zoning, a presentation on the police department's master facility plan, decisions on a police memorial event and the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and adoption of housing and downtown studies.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (items 1–15):
- Letter of Support for Center for Plastic Surgery project to ND Opportunity Fund.
- Tax abatements for 2822 8th Street North (values reduced to $305,000 for 2022 and $310,000 for 2023).
- Gaming site authorization for Fraser LTD at Cairo Restaurant.
- Games of chance applications (El Zagal Temple, Fargo North Boosters, NDSU Asian Student Organization, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center).
- Second reading and adoption of ordinances repealing Sections 10-0307 and 10-0311 (relating to persons using streets not to be molested and panhandling).
- Amendments to dangerous building orders for 1710 1st Avenue South and 1208 University Drive South.
- Second amendment to agreement with Valley Veterinary Hospital, P.C.
- Amended Engineer’s Report for Improvement District No. TN-23-A.
- Grant awards from ND Department of Health and Human Services for HIV/HCV counseling and TB infection identification.
- Bid award to Fargo Moorhead Towing for junked vehicle removal (2024).
- Bid award to Gast Construction Company, Inc. ($1,159,700) for Public Works South Side Fuel Station.
- Bills in the amount of $15,852,570.59.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Deni Paramarta spoke in favor of retaining special assessments as a fair funding method for infrastructure, arguing that alternatives (sales tax, property tax) do not correlate with usage. He stated special assessments are “fair and objective” and provide a feedback mechanism between the city and residents.
- Wess Philome expressed concern about police transparency regarding “stingray” cell-site simulators. He submitted a public records request that was declined, and asked commissioners to confirm whether the Fargo Police Department possesses such devices. He cited the device’s ability to collect location data and communications, and called for a policy and transparency.
Discussion Items
- Police Department Master Facility Plan – Chief Saboski, Rob Remark (GLG), and Brian Berry Hill (Rosch/Sherpard) presented. The study found the current headquarters (68,000 sq. ft.) does not meet risk category IV (IBC requirements), has unsecured parking, poor response times due to north-south city length, and inadequate evidence storage. Staffing goals (1.6 sworn per thousand) would require 242 total personnel vs. current 222, needing ~116,000 sq. ft. Two options were presented: Option A (new headquarters + substations) and Option B (reuse existing headquarters + substations). Commissioner Kolpack proposed an amendment to also study Option C (mitigate existing headquarters issues and improve substations). The motion to receive, file, and adopt the plan with that amendment passed 4-1 (Piepkorn nay).
- 2024 Law Enforcement Memorial Event – Chief Saboski requested approval to commit up to $250,000 in city funds (if pledges fall short) to send officers to National Police Week (May 12–16, 2024) in Washington, D.C., honoring Officer Jake Walen. Robin Nelson (Badges of Unity) noted donations of $25,000 from Corwin and a matching pledge up to $100,000 from Gate City Bank, with additional fundraising through Giving Hearts Day. Commissioners approved unanimously.
- 2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Infrastructure Funding Policy Revisions – Tom Knokbus presented two options. Option 1: Approve 2024 CIP with a 20% increase in special assessment caps (targeting 80/20 cost share), resulting in a balanced CIP. Option 2: No cap increase, leaving a $2.5 million shortfall addressed by deleting the NP Avenue project from 2024 (delayed to 2025). Protests on affected projects were 0.6% (11 of 1,877 parcels). After debate, Commissioner Preston moved Option 2, seconded. The motion passed 4-1 (Strand nay). Commissioner Strand expressed concern that property owners were notified of a potential increase before commission approval.
- Fargo-Moorhead Regional Housing Needs Analysis and Strategies – Nicole Cretchfield presented. The study identifies a need for about 16,000 additional households metro-wide over 10 years, with 8,000 in Fargo. The analysis noted the city is on pace for unit numbers but must address housing type. Next steps include a MetroCOG regional housing commission. Approved unanimously.
- Downtown InFocus Take Action Report – Cretchfield summarized the 20-priority update of the 2016 plan, noting 60% of original items are in progress. Over 500 stakeholder interactions informed the refresh. The report will be coordinated by Assistant Administrator Brenda Derrick. Approved 4-1 (Piepkorn nay).
- Property Tax Exemptions for Improvements – Six applications (five-year exemptions) for properties at 1538 11th Street North, 6409 14th Street South, 2013 26th Avenue South, 3325 43rd Avenue South, 809 Kennedy Court North, and 813 Kennedy Court North. Approved unanimously.
Public Hearings
- John Deere Electronic Solutions tax exemption – Continued to January 22, 2024 (5:15 PM). Approved unanimously.
- Plat of TYKE Addition (201 27th Street North / 2600 3rd Avenue North) – Approved as recommended by Planning Commission. Unanimous.
- Plat of CC’s First Addition (5080 38th Street South) – Approved as recommended. Unanimous.
- Gamma Fargo Addition & Pracs Second Addition (Amber Valley Parkway area) – Approved rezoning from LC to GC with PUD and first readings of ordinances. Unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda, minutes, and order of agenda approved unanimously.
- Police facility master plan adopted with amendment to study Option C (4-1).
- 2024 Law Enforcement Memorial participation authorized with up to $250,000 city commitment (unanimous).
- 2024 CIP approved with Option 2 (no cap increase, NP Avenue delayed) (4-1).
- Regional Housing Needs Analysis and Strategies approved (unanimous).
- Downtown InFocus Take Action Report approved (4-1).
- All property tax exemptions approved (unanimous).
- Liaison reports given by commissioners; meeting adjourned at 6:41 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting to order. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. I invite you to join us. One nation under God. Here. Preston. Here. Strand. Here. Mahoney? Here. Hell Faro Cows Public Health recognized January as a cervical cancer awareness month. All women who are at risk for cervical cancer, though it occurs most often in women over age thirty. Screening tests and HPV vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer. When found early, cervical cancer is highly treatable and associated with long-term survival and a good quality of life. Services available through job seeking assistance, veteran services, information on training programs, resume building, and limited unemployment insurance assistance, as well as migrant and seasonal farm worker services. Planning. Planning has been busy. Fargo issued building permits in 2023 worth more than $784 million. There were nine twenty nine hundred and twenty-nine multifamily housing units, two hundred and twenty-two single-family housing units, and sixty-three roll houses slash twin homes. Large projects include the NDSU Pell Tierra Complex, the Forgo Sports Complex, Bell Bag Tower, and Epic Unite, and Block mixed use buildings. Water treatment plant. The pump capacity improvements were about 60% funded by the State Water Commission grant. In 1997, the pre-treatment rehabilitation ultraviolet system improvements project updated 25-year-old equipment with pre-treatment process and ultraviolet system installation, adding more disinfectant capabilities in the old water plant. A state revolving loan fund at one and a half percent interest funded this project. And the 1997 Ozone System Improvements Phase 2 project installed a vacuum swing absorption system to produce on-site 93% oxygen and reduced reduce the reliance on liquid oxygen to be trucked in from the cities. The new system will improve the plant operations cost efficiency. The project installed a third smaller ozone generator for winter operation. Again, an SRF loan at one and a half percent interest funded this project. Good sustainability, John. Don't you think that owes on stock? Finally, the police and fire departments hosted an award ceremony here in the commission chambers a few weeks ago to honor the heroic actions taken by first responders as a result of a critical incident on July 14th, 2023. We want to continue to support and honor those officers and firefighters to ensure no one ever forgets their life-saving actions on that day, which impacted our entire community. We have a short video to watch that recaps the event. Today we gather to honor and recognize the extraordinary bravery displayed by our dedicated police officers and firefighters during the incident that significantly impacted our community. In so many ways, this is such an important day for our city, our community, and our first responders. We gather here today in a somewhat melancholy state to remember certainly the most horrific day in our police department history, nearly 150 years. Likely one of the most horrific events in our city's nearly 150 year history. It's necessary for all of us as we transition forward with heavy but grateful hearts. Today we gather not only to recognize the bravery, but also to pay tribute to six extraordinary individuals whose courage and selflessness shone brightly amidst the darkest days of July 14, 2023 in Fargo, North Dakota. A tragic incident unfolded that tested the mettle of our emergency responders. Their rapid response exemplified a seamless coordination and solidarity that defines the emergency response community. Nice job by communications, thank you. Sir motion to approve the order of the agenda. So move. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye.
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