Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - October 14, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Fargo City Commission Regular Meeting - October 14, 2024\n\nThe Fargo City Commission convened on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in Commission Chambers. All five commissioners were present: Denise Kolpack, Dave Piepkorn, John Strand, Michelle Turnberg, and Mayor Timothy Mahoney. Mayor Mahoney opened with announcements including a decline in apartment vacancy rate to 6.38% in June (down from 6.82% in March), recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, and a video highlighting city staff efforts for the UND vs. NDSU game day. The meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m.\n\n### Consent Calendar\n- Approved the consent agenda (37 items) unanimously. Key items included:\n - Second reading and final adoption of ordinances rezoning parcels in The Pines at the District Second Addition and The Pines at the District Addition.\n - Fifteen applications for games of chance (raffles, bingo) for various organizations.\n - Gaming site authorization for Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead at Crooked Pint Ale House.\n - Renewal of alcoholic beverage and live entertainment licenses through September 30, 2025.\n - 2025 City Commission meeting dates.\n - Contract amendment with Houston Engineering ($29,350.50) and bid awards for multiple projects (e.g., Master Construction Co. Inc. - $136,999; Dakota Underground Co. Inc. - $9,841,796.56).\n - Reimbursements, change orders, creation of Improvement District BR-25-B.\n - FAHR staff meeting items: $4,000 donation from Fargo Police Foundation, interlocal agreement for $66,729 JAG grant, $51,041 budget adjustments, lease amendment with Prairie Public Broadcasting, pause of AMI base meter charge increase.\n - Resolution authorizing up to $57 million in refunding improvement bonds.\n - Grant awards ($51,616 EMPG; Women, Infant and Children grant).\n - Contracts with New Roots Midwest, The Medicine Shoppe, and NDPERS benefit renewals.\n - Direction to draft revisions to Municipal Code sections 12-0105 and 12-0117.\n - License agreement with Park District for biking trail.\n - Second amendment with Sentry Security, amendments with Stantec Consulting ($145,594.50 and $57,000), addendum to lease for County Road No. 20 Lift Station.\n - Change Order No. 6 with PKG Contracting ($998,002), task orders with AE2S ($619,350 and $199,300).\n - Resolution for Clean Water/Safe Drinking Water loan application (Water Supply and Treatment Improvements).\n - Bills totaling $20,191,872.69.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- Olivia Fischer (Fargo resident) expressed deep concern over the Commission's lack of action regarding Palestine, stating that inaction contributes to racism locally and globally. She cited a recent incident of racist comments in City Hall parking lot and criticized the Commission for not doing more beyond an earlier proclamation. She demanded meaningful action.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Construction Update – City Engineer Tom Knakmuhs reported no safety incidents on city projects. Completed projects included 32nd Avenue widening, NP Avenue improvements, First Street, 7th and 9th streets, new development projects (45th Street North, Veterans Industrial Park), asphalt mill/overlay projects, alley paving, and University Drive South Flood Wall. Ongoing projects: Woodcrest Drive North (phase 2 and 3), citywide signal maintenance, pavement marking replacement, drainage repairs (Briarwood area), new developments (Selkirk Second Edition, Dakota Commerce Center North), flood risk management (Lift Station 27, work near Trollwood and Lift Stations 11/57). Photo examples provided.\n\n- Fargo Transportation Plan Final Report – Transportation Division Engineer Jeremy Gordon presented the over-100-page plan, which builds on prior studies (Go2030, MetroCog plan, bike/ pedestrian plans, etc.). Goals: safety, complete streets, multimodal connectivity, grid network, innovation, right-sizing infrastructure. Peer city comparison (Bismarck, Rochester, Des Moines, Fort Collins) showed Fargo in the middle for fatality rates, high for walk score, and 73% of commuters drive alone. The plan introduces new street classification (residential local, industrial commercial, etc.) and driveway access/spacing guidelines. Commissioners discussed speed reduction (especially on principal arterials) and crash analysis; Commissioner Strand noted high-crash locations like 45th Street/32nd Avenue. The plan includes vision zero commitment (joining ND DOT program in 2025) and innovative designs (R-cuts, roundabouts, diverging diamond interchanges). Motion to approve the plan and driveway access/spacing guidelines passed unanimously.\n\n- Public Hearing – Special Assessment List (Continued from 9/30/24) – The hearing covered 22 improvement districts. Staff explained the reason for continuation: a North Dakota Supreme Court ruling (Sept 17, 2024) required the Special Assessment Commission to determine benefit in dollars independent of cost. The Commission met Oct 3 and Oct 8, estimated present/ future benefits, and staff verified benefits exceeded costs for all parcels. No public speakers. The motion to approve the assessment list passed unanimously. Commissioner Kolpack clarified that the city often subsidizes assessments (e.g., 50% for mill and overlay, 85% city-funded for local reconstruction).\n\n- Lead Service Line Replacement Loan Resolution – Brenda Derrig and Troy Hall presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Fargo has under 2,300 known lead service lines (mostly on private side). Proposed loan: $35 million with 66% loan forgiveness ($23 million grant) and 0.5% interest. The resolution authorizes applying for the loan without obligation to borrow. Presentation included 30+ years of tap water lead testing (best results in last four years due to new membrane plant), sampling protocols, corrosion control measures, and financial modeling. Community benefits include reduced lead exposure, improved home values, construction jobs, and water system improvement. Motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously. Commissioner Kolpack commended staff for proactive data collection.\n\n- Camping Ordinance and Resolution Implementation Update – Assistant City Administrator Brenda Derrig and Fargo Cass Public Health Director Jenn Faul reported on five weeks of implementation (since Sept 9, 2024). Key stats: mobile outreach team averages 265 transports/month downtown; HART team diverts 81 dispatch calls/month; 1,090 engagements/month; 142 businesses visited since May; Gladys Ray Shelter served 103 unique individuals in September; Engagement Center served 495 unique individuals (80/day average), with 19,602 total encounters year-to-date. Camp outreach has moved from downtown northward; no arrests or fines to date; 164 staff hours spent on camp cleanups. The city uses Fargo One app for reporting. Housing First initiative focuses on connecting individuals to services, using $4,000 donation and carryover funds, working with partners (Churches United, Housing Authority, YWCA, F5 Project, etc.) to master lease apartments. Commissioner Strand asked about winter warming plans (funds available, exploring locations) and amenities like porta-potties (not yet, but garbage cans provided). He also raised concerns about Churches United’s financial difficulties (20-30% staff layoffs). The city is coordinating with others to continue services.\n\n- Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates – Commissioners reported on boards/committees. Commissioner Kolpack announced Impact Fargo 2024 (Oct 29, all-day youth event at City Hall) and Fargo Youth Initiative applications open through Nov 15. Commissioner Strand suggested more systematic youth engagement on boards. Mayor Mahoney recognized efforts.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Unanimous approval (5-0) of the consent agenda (37 items).\n- Unanimous approval (5-0) of the Fargo Transportation Plan final report and driveway access/spacing guidelines.\n- Unanimous approval (5-0) of the special assessment list for 22 improvement districts.\n- Unanimous approval (5-0) of the resolution to apply for a $35 million loan (66% forgiveness) for lead service line replacement.\n- No formal vote on the camping update; it was received as information. No arrests or fines reported in first five weeks.\n- Resident comment made no call for action, but public record of concern.
Meeting Transcript
Planning. The apartment vacancy in Far Fargo has declined slightly over the last year, decreasing to six point three eight in June, down from six point eight two in March and six point nine seven in December of twenty-three. An estimated five hundred and twenty new apartments have been opened in two thousand and twenty-four. So the decline in vacancy rate indicates the new units have been absorbed into the market. The new apartment openings have averaged 700 a year over the last five years with 924 openings in 2023. There are about 1,149 apartment units under construction, and the construction of new apartments has slowed with 929 units permitted in 2023, but only 346 permitted in the first nine months of 2024. Today, October 14th is indigenous People's Day. In 2015, the City Fargo passed a resolution recognizing the second Monday in October as indigenous People's Day. It's a day that's to enhance understanding and promote harmony through the recognition of indigenous people's culture and contributions. It was a nice time in which people got together, shared stories, food, and uh the drums were there as well. We hope all will take a chance to engage, learn, and reflect today and moving forward to foster a deeper understanding of indigenous histories, cultures, and contributions to our communities. Fargo City Hall's light showing honoring the those impacted by metastatic breast cancer was shown throughout the segment honoring those brave women and their families. What an honor for us and a testimony to the investment our city hall technology allows those special souls to be happening in our building. What a great way to talk about breast cancer, too. On October 5th, perhaps Pipcorn will remember this. The University of North Dakota fighting hawks traveled to the city of Farmore to take on the mighty bison. Not surprising, the bison emerged victorious in a strong fashion. Tonight we want to show you a video that shows all the work that occurs behind the seeds by city staff members to make game day Fargo possible. Is there a motion to prove the order of agenda? So moved. Second. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. So motion to approve the minutes of the September 30th, 2024 regular meeting. So moved. Sir Second. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. And is there a motion to approve the consent agenda items one through thirty-seven? So move. Moved and second and roll call vote, please. Pepcorn. Call back. Hi. Strand. Yes. Turnberg. Hi. Mahoney. Hi. Tom Knockless will show us construction update, please. Well, good evening. Here to provide the monthly update of the engineering department's construction projects. Starting with safety incidents. There have not been any any reported injuries related, injuries, or accidents related to any of our projects that we've been made aware of. Always can find more information. We are regularly updating Fargo Streets.com and then also some of the social media sites like Facebook and X.
openpublica.com