Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - June 24, 2024
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Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - June 24, 2024
The Fargo City Commission met on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, numerous public hearings, a flood project update, adoption of a transit reorganization study, a presentation on homeless camps, and recognition of outgoing Commissioner Arlette Preston. Mayor Mahoney presided, with Commissioners Kolpack, Piepkorn, Preston, and Strand present.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda with additions: Alcoholic Beverage and Live Entertainment license renewals through June 30, 2025, and a Gaming Site Authorization for the ND Horse Park Foundation.
- Approved minutes of June 10, 2024.
- Approved all 28 consent items and 2 added items unanimously (roll call vote 5-0). Items included: resolution establishing the Commission as Finance Committee, game of chance applications, site authorizations, easements, bid advertisements, change orders, contracts, developer agreements, grant awards, purchase agreements, ordinance amendments, and bills totaling $8,475,557.20.
Regular Agenda
- Appointments (Item 30): After a split vote (3-2), approved reappointments to the Special Assessment Commission (Dylan Dunn) and Planning Commission (with Commissioners Piepkorn and Strand voting against the Planning Commission appointment due to term-limit concerns for outgoing members John Gunkelman, Rocky Schneider, and Dawn Morgan).
- Airport Annual Report & Mill Levy Request (Item 31): Executive Director Shawn Dobberstein reported record boardings of over 516,000 passengers in 2023, surpassing the million-passenger milestone. Two major projects are underway: a terminal expansion (four gates, 80,000 sq ft, ~$155.9M total related projects) and a parking garage (~$45M). The Airport Authority requested continuation of the 2-mill levy to leverage federal funds. Commissioner Piepkorn voiced support for the levy now but stated it should eventually taper to zero once parking garage revenue flows. The report was received.
Public Hearings
- Items 32-34: Continued to July 8, 2024 (TIF District No. 2024-01 renewal) and July 22, 2024 (two alcohol beverage license applications – The Nail Company and Martini Blu at the Grotto). All continuations approved 5-0.
- Dangerous Building – 909 4th Street North (Item 35): City inspectors detailed 68 police calls, drug paraphernalia, unpermitted electrical, and structural issues. The foreclosing bank requested 60-day extension. Motion passed 5-0 to direct the City Attorney to prepare findings of fact and order removal by August 23, 2024, unless an extension is requested.
- Dangerous Building – 1449 4th Avenue South (Item 36): Building deemed repairable; water/power off since 2023, unpermitted electrical, junk. Motion passed 5-0 to order repairs with permits by September 23, 2024, and completion by December 20, 2024.
- Selkirk Place Second Addition (Item 37): Rezoning from AG/GC to MR-3, SR-4, SR-5 with a Conditional Overlay, and plat of 48 lots. Approved 5-0; first reading of ordinance passed 5-0.
- Rocking Horse Farms Seventh Addition (Item 38): Rezoning from AG to LC with Conditional Overlay and plat of two lots. Approved 5-0; first reading passed 5-0.
- Chas A. Roberts Addition (Item 39): Repeal of Conditional Overlay on Neighborhood Commercial zone. Approved 5-0; first reading passed 5-0.
- Variance Appeal (Item 40): Appeal of Board of Adjustment denial for a pergola/gazebo at 97 23rd Avenue North. Applicant Julie Saytoff cited extreme heat (deck temps over 120°F) and the need to accommodate her terminally ill daughter. Commission overturned the denial, approving the variance 4-0 (Commissioner Kolpack absent during vote? Actually roll call shows all present voting aye – Kolpack, Piepkorn, Preston, Strand, Mahoney all aye. Note: transcript shows Kolpack returned, and roll call was 5-0). Motion required supermajority (4 votes) and passed. Condition: structure must be a 6x12 gazebo.
- Flood Project Update – Resolution of Necessity (Item 41): Staff reported 27.5 miles of levees built, 259 properties acquired. Resolution to acquire two properties (1502 and 1514 South River Road) via eminent domain for the Belmont flood risk project was adopted 5-0.
- Transit Reorganization Study (Item 42): Consultant Wade Klein presented a plan to designate Fargo as the single recipient of federal transit funds, establish a new MAP board, and implement cost-sharing. A funding gap of ~$600,000 due to TMA designation was noted. Commissioner Strand urged immediate meetings with congressional delegation. Motion to adopt the study and approve next steps passed 5-0.
- FAHR Staff Items (Item 43): Approved 5-0: receive and file YTD May 2024 budget (revenues below budget, expenditures farther below, net $755,000 above budget); increase grant to Southeast Human Service Center from $16,635 to $18,463; authorize EECGB grant application for sustainability.
- Homeless Camps Presentation (Item 44): Brenda Derrick and Chandler presented a plan including a draft ordinance not allowing camping on public land except by resolution, a resolution with camping parameters, and a “Fargo Streets to Housed” pilot project to move 10 individuals into permanent housing (estimated to reduce unsheltered river camps by 50%). Commissioner Piepkorn expressed concerns about discrimination, sanitation, and flooding. Commissioner Strand urged scaling up to 20. Commissioner Kolpack supported pursuing all three. Motion to direct staff to draft the ordinance, resolution, and pilot project passed 4-1 (Commissioner Piepkorn dissenting).
Key Outcomes
- Approved all consent items (including bills of $8.48M) and added license renewals.
- Appointed new Special Assessment Commissioner (Dylan Dunn) and reappointed Planning Commission members (split 3-2).
- Continued three public hearings to July 8 or July 22, 2024.
- Declared two buildings dangerous: one ordered removed by Aug 23, 2024; one ordered repaired by Dec 20, 2024.
- Approved three rezoning/plat applications (Selkirk Place, Rocking Horse Farms, Chas A. Roberts) with first readings.
- Approved variance for overhead structure at 97 23rd Ave N (4-0? Actually 5-0) for ADA accommodation.
- Adopted Resolution of Necessity to acquire two properties for flood protection via eminent domain if needed.
- Adopted Transit Reorganization Study and directed next steps for implementation.
- Directed staff to draft an ordinance and policy on homeless camping and a pilot housing project.
- Recognized outgoing Commissioner Arlette Preston for 16 years of public service.
Resident Comments
- Prairie Johnson urged the Commission to adopt a ceasefire resolution regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, citing over 47,000 casualties and calling for a written response.
- Andrew Nelson addressed the Commission to support a ceasefire resolution from the Fargo Human Rights Commission, noting the UN finding of intentional attacks on civilians. He compared the lack of action on Gaza to the unanimous vote on Ukraine sanctions.
Meeting Transcript
Call the meeting to order. I have two assistant mayors tonight. Alex and Nathan, so it's gonna help me out a little bit. So we're gonna begin with a Pledge of Allegiance. I invite you to join us. Roll call, please. Call Pack here. Pepcorn. Preston. Here. Strand. Here. Mahoney. Here. Health. Last week, Fargo Cass Health and City of Fargo co-hosted a documentary Beyond the Bridge, a solution to homelessness. About 150 community members attended the event and also featured a panel discussion and a question and answer. This was a follow-up to the series of conversations that took place in February, facilitating James Matthew, Milwaukee County Housing Administrator and author of Mocky's plan to end chronic homelessness. Tonight is the final city commission meeting for Desi Fleming, Director of Fargo Cast Public Health. The entire team of the Fargo Cast Public Health wishes to thank Desi for more than 30 years of dedicated service to her community, her leadership during the pandemic, and the fun and laughter she brought to the office. Also, we're glad she has some dogs to walk. We also wish her the very best with her retirement, and she now has a new replacement. So welcome aboard, Jennifer, and nice to see Desi going off to fun stuff, right? Last week, the City of Fargo issued building permits for the airport parking garage and terminal expansion. The permit for the parking garage is 37 million, 37.8, and the terminal expansion was 94 million. An official groundbreaking is scheduled July 1st. Library. Residents are encouraged to volunteer this summer for the Carlson Library Learning Garden Plots. Sessions are weekly at 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings, weather permitting. Fargo Public Library staff have a booth at the Fargo Police Community Picnic happening in Broadway Square on June 26th to promote summer reading and challenge, along with resources, services, and upcoming events. Planning. The apartment vacancy rate in Fargo is 6.93% as of March 1st, which is down to third from the percent from 7.32% in December of 23. This is still 2.7 higher than a year ago when it dipped to 4.2. Currently, there are 852 apartment units under construction. Apartment permits in 2024 are less than previous years. There have been two apartment buildings permitted in 2024, a hundred and ten unit Laskwist building for the Fargo Housing Authority, and 168 Avery Avery by Kilborne Group, which is adjacent to the new park in Rapid M Pika Avenue. In 2023, 933 apartments were permitted, and 2022, 945 apartments were permitted. I want to take this opportunity, I think John Gunkelman's in the audience as well. Take an opportunity to recognize outgoing members of the planning commission. John Gunkelman, Rocky Schneider, and Don Morgan have all provided leadership in the development of neighborhoods and overall community. All three are active community members of our core neighborhoods and represent important topics critical to the work in the planning commission and the city of Fargo. John Gunkman has served since 2011. Rocky Schneider since 2013, and Don since 2017. We are thankful as there's so many citizens that are interested in being part of their community, and we are eternally thankful for the legacy of John Rocky Don with leave within the city. The City of Fargo recently had an essay contest for third and fifth graders in the Fargo public schools. We asked kids to answer the question what would you do if you're a mayor for a day? With us tonight are the winners of each grade. We have Nathan Ajadam, who just finished fifth grade at Kennedy Elementary, and Alex Dow, who just completed third grade at Longfellow Elementary. Both students wrote outstanding essays that were judged based on their originality, content, grammar, and structure.
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