OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

West Fargo City Commission Meeting - December 1, 2025

City Commission Meetings — Monday, December 1, 2025
BodyWest Fargo, North Dakota
SessionCity Commission Meetings
DateMonday, December 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:40

All right, let's try that.

0:42

Let's try that again.

0:43

Um Commissioner Anderson.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Commissioner Olsen.

0:46

Here.

0:46

Commissioner Tardas.

0:47

Here.

0:48

Commissioner Zondell.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Jorgensen.

0:51

That's a record show that Commissioner Jorgensen is not with us this evening.

0:59

Next order of business is to approve the order of the agenda.

1:04

I've been notified that item number three on the regular agenda, which was the abatement hearings, that uh the petitioner has withdrawn those for the evening.

1:15

So item number three.

1:18

We will not be discussing due to the again.

1:21

The petitioner withdrew.

1:24

And then item number six, project number 2284, uh regarding the intersections has been withdrawn by Jerry Wallace, our city engineer.

1:35

Uh waiting on additional information.

1:38

So with that said, item number three and number six are being pulled from the agenda.

1:45

And our order uh commissioners, next order of businesses to approve the agenda.

1:50

I move to approve the agenda with those changes.

1:53

Thank you, Commissioner Zundell.

1:54

Is there a second?

1:55

Second.

1:55

Commissioner Anderson seconds.

1:57

We have a motion and a second to approve the order of agenda, with the uh exceptions of item number three being removed by the petitioner and item number six being removed by city engineer Jerry Wallace.

2:09

Is there any discussion?

2:12

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

2:15

Aye.

2:16

Opposed.

2:18

Motion carried.

2:19

Item E is the approval of the minutes of November 17th.

2:23

They have been distributed and are in your packets.

2:25

Move to approve.

2:26

Commissioner Olson moves to approve.

2:27

Is there a second?

2:29

Second.

2:29

Commissioner Anderson seconds.

2:30

We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of November 17th as presented.

2:36

Is there any discussion?

2:39

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

2:42

Aye.

2:43

Opposed.

2:45

Motion carried.

2:46

Item F is building permits.

2:48

Again, Commissioners, it has been distributed and in your packets.

2:51

Move for approval.

2:52

Commissioner Anderson moves to approve.

2:53

Is there a second?

2:54

Second.

2:54

Commissioner Olson seconds.

2:56

We have a motion and a second to approve to approve the building permits report as presented.

3:01

Is there any discussion?

3:06

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

3:09

Aye.

3:10

Opposed.

3:11

Motion carried.

3:12

Next order of business is because is the consent agenda.

3:15

Commissioner Zundell.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████27%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Personnel Matters███████████11%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%
Public Transit██████6%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

West Fargo City Commission Meeting - December 1, 2025

The West Fargo City Commission met on December 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM (presumed start) to discuss and act on several agenda items, including a presentation on the FM Metro COG Railroad Needs Study, approval of an improvement district for meter pit replacement, a bid award for a multi-use path, and revisions to the military leave policy. Commissioner Jorgensen was absent. Two items were withdrawn before the meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda Approval: The agenda was approved with item #3 (abatement hearings) withdrawn by the petitioner and item #6 (project 2284, intersections) withdrawn by City Engineer Jerry Wallace. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Minutes of November 17, 2025: Approved as presented.
  • Building Permits Report: Approved as presented.
  • Consent Agenda (Items A through H): Approved. Commissioner Zundell recused herself on item C of the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up for comment.

Discussion Items

  • FM Metro COG Railroad Needs Study Presentation: Dan Hanson, Ben Griffith (Metro COG), and Dan Bergerson (HDR consultant) presented a study of 15 rail crossings in the metro area, including four in West Fargo. The study assessed existing conditions and recommended improvements. Preferred alternatives were identified for 26th Street NW (six-lane overpass to match West 94 area study), 15th Street NW (new structure over railroad), 9th Street NW (overpass preferred but underpass also scored similarly), and Center Street (overpass due to vehicle strikes). The 26th Street NW alternative received the highest score across all metro locations. This was an informational item; no action taken.
  • Improvement District No. 1356 – Brookwood Meter Pit Replacement: City Engineer Jerry Wallace presented the engineer's report for a 50-year-old meter pit serving the east side of Brookwood Mobile Home Park. The pit is beyond its design service life and in poor condition. The staff recommended approving the engineer's report and directing preparation of plans and specifications. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Project No. 663 – A Street West Multi-Use Path: Jerry Wallace reported that the project received a low bid of $509,985.30 from Northern Improvement Company, which was 24.1% below the engineer's estimate. Funding sources included $412,731.10 in grants and the remainder from the capital improvement sales tax fund, with no special assessments. The commission approved concurring with NDDOT's recommendation and awarding the contract. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Revised Military Leave Policy: City Administrator Dustin Scott presented revisions to the military leave policy, aligning it with state and federal law (North Dakota Century Code and USERRA). The policy had been approved on October 20 but needed updates after implementation. The revisions clarify leave requirements, notice, return-to-work language, and include reference tables for hour calculations. Motion carried unanimously.
  • City Administrator's Report: Dustin Scott reminded commissioners of upcoming neighborhood meetings for First Avenue and Meadow Ridge reconstruction projects. He noted that the 2026 commission meeting schedule would be brought forward for approval on December 15, with four months having three-week gaps. Annual employee evaluations using NeoGov are underway, and his own annual review is scheduled. Commissioner Zondell thanked public works for handling the first winter storm (5,000 miles on plows) and first responders for working over the holidays.
  • Correspondence and Events: The mayor announced a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at MIAPOW on Thursday at 6:00 PM.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda and Consent Items: Approved with amendments (removal of items 3 and 6).
  • Improvement District No. 1356: Motion to approve engineer's report and direct preparation of plans and specifications passed unanimously.
  • Project No. 663: Contract awarded to Northern Improvement Company for $509,985.30, using grant and capital improvement sales tax funds. Motion passed unanimously.
  • Revised Military Leave Policy: Approved unanimously.
  • Meeting Adjourned: Motion by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Commissioner Zondell; meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

All right, let's try that. Let's try that again. Um Commissioner Anderson. Here. Commissioner Olsen. Here. Commissioner Tardas. Here. Commissioner Zondell. Here. Commissioner Jorgensen. That's a record show that Commissioner Jorgensen is not with us this evening. Next order of business is to approve the order of the agenda. I've been notified that item number three on the regular agenda, which was the abatement hearings, that uh the petitioner has withdrawn those for the evening. So item number three. We will not be discussing due to the again. The petitioner withdrew. And then item number six, project number 2284, uh regarding the intersections has been withdrawn by Jerry Wallace, our city engineer. Uh waiting on additional information. So with that said, item number three and number six are being pulled from the agenda. And our order uh commissioners, next order of businesses to approve the agenda. I move to approve the agenda with those changes. Thank you, Commissioner Zundell. Is there a second? Second. Commissioner Anderson seconds. We have a motion and a second to approve the order of agenda, with the uh exceptions of item number three being removed by the petitioner and item number six being removed by city engineer Jerry Wallace. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carried. Item E is the approval of the minutes of November 17th. They have been distributed and are in your packets. Move to approve. Commissioner Olson moves to approve. Is there a second? Second. Commissioner Anderson seconds. We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes of November 17th as presented. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carried. Item F is building permits. Again, Commissioners, it has been distributed and in your packets. Move for approval. Commissioner Anderson moves to approve. Is there a second?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com