And welcome to the West Fargo City Commission meeting for March 2nd.

Call the meeting to order.

Before I start, I want to net the when we do the roll call, you'll note that Commissioner Jorgensen is participating virtually this evening.

He's out of town on business.

With that, would you please join the commission in a pledge of allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll?

Commissioner Jorgensen.

Present.

Commissioner Sundell.

Here.

Commissioner Dartis.

Here.

Commissioner Olson.

Here.

Commissioner Anderson.

Here.

Let the record show all commissioners are participating.

First order of business to approve the order of the agenda and it has been distributed and in your packets.

Move to approve.

Commissioner Anderson moves to approve.

Is there a second, please?

Second.

Commissioner Olson seconds.

I have a motion and a second to approve the order of the agenda as presented.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Next order of businesses, the approval of the minutes of February 17, 2026.

Again, they have been distributed.

Move to approve.

Commissioner Olson moves to approve the minutes of February 17th.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Next order is the building permits.

Commissioners, they have been distributed in front of you.

Moving approved.

Commissioner Zundal moves to approve the building permits for March 2nd as distributed.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Anderson seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Next order of business is a consent agenda.

We have items A through L.

They have been distributed in your packets.

Moved approved.

Commissioner Anderson moves to approve the consent agenda.

Items A through L.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Olson seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

We now move into the regular agenda.

First order of business on the regular agenda is public comment.

Madam Secretary, is anybody signed up for public comment?

I do not have anyone.

Public comment is closed.

We move to item number two is public hearings.

And uh if it's requirement of the city to have a public hearing with regard to any of the uh items bring brought forward, we do it at this time.

We have no items on the agenda that require a public hearing.

So we move on to item number three.

Item number three is the second reading of the 2024 ICC code adoption and amendments.

We call on Mark Haush, Inspections Administrator.

Good evening, Mark, and welcome.

Commissioners.

Can you hit the mic?

Sorry, it's not turned on.

Maybe just hit the button on the mic.

The button on the mic.

Sorry.

Perfect.

Secondly any questions from Mr.

Housh.

Commissioner Zundell moves to approve the second reading.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Anderson seconds.

We have a motion and a second to approve the 2024 ICC code adoption and amendments.

Is there any discussion?

Commissioner Olson.

Any changes between the last meeting and this meeting to any of the ordinances?

Second.

Were there any changes made between the typo on the uh IRC for the uh ground snow load?

It was typed out at 64.

We changed it to 44.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Any questions for Mr.

Housh?

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion carried.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We move on to item number four.

Excavation code ordinance.

Right-of-way management policy adoption.

We're going to call on Jerry Wallace, the city engineer.

The purpose of this discussion this evening is a second reading to amend the excavation code ordinance and adopt a resolution approving the right-of-way management policy.

For the public's knowledge, there has been another additional submittal with regard to this.

Mr.

Wallace, you might want to explain that a little bit, but there's not a big change in it.

So Mr.

Wallace, please.

Good evening and welcome.

Yes, thank you, Commissioner President DARTAS and Commissioners.

Previously, we brought forward a draft resolution.

And some of the verbiage in that resolution said essentially that the city engineer has the discretion to change or amend the right-of-way management policy.

Since that meeting, we've changed that to state essentially that uh it's the city commission that has that authority and not the city engineer.

Um we did add some some verbiage on uh the city commission is also setting the fees associated with that.

Um, but that um essentially is what that resolution uh and those changes involved.

Um again, um I'm here tonight before you uh to discuss the excavation code update uh and right-of-way management uh policy uh approval via adopting via resolution.

Um I guess as far as new information goes, since the last time you've seen this item, um we did make a couple of um edits or clarifications to the uh right of way management policy.

As you can see in the cover sheet here, uh we added some clarification uh in the notification section in regard to what is considered an adjacent business or residence.

Um just you know, provide additional detail as to what uh the expectation is for who should be notified.

Um the other thing with that is uh we added some verbiage because um quite frankly, it's never been in writing anywhere that uh while people can uh you know uh with properties uh adjacent to specific areas of right of way, uh while while property owners can install things like uh irrigation systems, for example, um, they're essentially doing that at risk.

And you know, should the city or whoever by chance uh you know, especially the city, I guess, in conducting standard day-to-day operations like snow clearing or you know, things like that.

Um, should they accidentally you know cause something detrimental to happen uh you know to some of those facilities that those are installed at at the risk of the adjacent property?

Um so two things I just wanted to clarify with that.

Um but other than that, uh nothing else is really changed.

Uh again, I'm before you tonight uh with the second reading of the amended excavation code ordinance and uh looking for approval of the right-of-way management policy uh and adopting that via resolution.

Um essentially, with that, uh I'm available for any any questions you may have.

Questions from Mr.

Wallace.

We approve second reading.

Commissioner Olson moves to approve the second reading to amend the excavation code ordinance and adopt a resolution approving the right-of-way management policy.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commission Commissioner Zundell, second.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Item number five is an improvement district number 1356, Rookwood meter pit replacement.

Again, we call on this Jerry Wallace, our city engineer, and the purpose of this discussion is to accept a bid and award a contract.

Mr.

Wallace.

Yes, thank you, Commissioner President Dartis and Commissioners.

Um I'm sure everybody is well aware the uh the meter pit serving the Brookwood Mobile Home Park is in desperate need of replacement.

Uh you know, we prepared plans and went out to bids for this project.

Um dirt dynamics was the low bidder with 186,611.

Uh happen to be 10 percent under the uh final engineers construction estimate of about 208,000 and change.

Um again, we're uh requesting that uh the commission accept bids or accept the bid and ward the contract to dirt dynamics.

Um with that I'm available for any questions.

Questions for Mr.

Wallace on item number five, move to approve.

Commissioner Anderson moves to approve uh Brookwood meter pit replacement cost for a total of uh 186,611.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Opposed.

Motion carried.

We move on to item number six.

Item number six is project number 2300 to 2026.

Public works mill and overlay.

We call in Jerry Wallace, City Engineer.

Purpose of the discussion is to approve an engineer's report and direct the engineer to prepare plans and specifications.

Mr.

Wallace.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Commission President.

The purpose of this item tonight is to approve the engineers report and direct the engineer to prepare plans and specifications.

Essentially, with uh 2026 Public Works Mill and Overlay work.

We're looking at uh performing some mill and overlays on 9th Street West, uh 4th Street East and 36th Avenue East.

Uh we previously uh brought an exhibit forth showing those locations.

So I apologize if we didn't improve it include it again in the packet here.

Um but uh essentially those are the areas we're looking at.

And as far as the financial aspects of that, um, you know, we're looking at a total project cost of about 791,000.

Um most of that is to be uh essentially bid out materials uh with public works uh essentially performing the labor on the project.

Um I will say that uh you know these are critically needed mill and overlay areas.

Um but with all that being said, um again I'm I'm before you tonight to uh look for approval of the engineers report and direct the engineer uh to prepare plans and specifications.

Um and with that I'll I'll stand for any questions you may have.

Questions from Mr.

Wallace.

Will we approve?

Commissioner Olson moves to approve project number 2300, which is the 2026 Public Works Mill and Overlay project.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Anderson seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Thank you, Mr.

Wallace.

Item number seven, uh, I believe that you're a busy man this evening.

Iscribe reconstruction of Cheyenne Street to the Cheyenne River.

Again, we call in Mr.

Wallace, the city engineer.

Purpose of the discussion is to create an improvement district number 310 and direct an engineer to prepare an engineer's report.

Mr.

Wallace.

Uh yes, Mr.

Commission President and Commissioners.

Um basically just a recap here.

Um, the city's been successful in obtaining uh several grants uh to the tune of um 3.81 or 3.871 million and 1.44 million uh looking for uh essentially the reconstruction of uh the corridor.

Um with that um this project is kind of unique in that uh there was uh quite a few components of it, and uh uh each component on its own, I guess doesn't really stand out as overly dire other than uh most recently I'm sure everybody uh can remember it had been pointed out to staff that uh you know we had looked at creating uh connections to our multi-use path network in other areas of the city, and uh the commission um decided that there were other areas that maybe uh the money was uh better spent elsewhere.

Um we took a look at that and uh but you know uh took that as our marching orders, so to speak.

And uh so we're currently back looking at uh uh this component of Beaton Drive that uh uh we interpret it as as being uh pretty heavily requested from the public.

Um with that component, um there's there's a couple of things going on here.

The the road section is is just old and dated and you know coming uh to the end of its useful life.

Um and then to top it off, um there are some undeveloped properties in the vicinity that uh we would look to extend sewer and water service to as part of the project.

And then uh there is also a uh a lift station that is uh dated and you know, again coming to the end, I should say dated and undersized, and is is coming to the end of its useful life.

And uh, you know, we with the perfect storm of all those components, um this project actually rose to be uh uh pretty high on the priority list.

Um so with all that being said, um before you tonight look into uh create the improvement district and uh the direction to direct the end engineer to prepare an engineers report.

Um I I think it's worth noting too that uh we also recently received a uh uh petition for public improvements uh for the project.

Um so uh that at least tells city staff that there is uh some local support uh for the project.

Um essentially uh you know uh coming to the financial analysis of uh the proposed work, um it there's gonna be uh a heavy use of grants, which uh you know we're very happy uh to say we we're gonna be able to do with this project.

Um but there is also going to be a component that will be special assessed and then a component that will be paid for with uh capital improvement sales tax.

Um I've included a uh a map of the district in the proje in the in the uh in your packet here tonight, as well as the petition uh for improvements and the uh uh the title opinion for uh the petitioner uh providing evidence of ownership.

Uh with all that being said, um again here to look for uh and request the creation of the improvement district and uh move to directing uh the engineer to prepare an engineers report.

And with that, uh I'll I'll stand for any questions you may have.

Questions from Mr.

Wallace.

Mr.

Commissioner Olson.

On your map here, what you got up on the screen, which side of the uh Beaten Drive will the new multi-use walkway be put.

Uh we're looking at the north side.

On the north.

Commissioner.

So when you get over closer to Cheyenne Street, you've got a walkway that that parallels Cheyenne Street on the east side of it.

Well, where are you going to tie them two together?

Um we're actually looking at uh uh tying in south of the uh uh where Beaton Drive essentially ties into Cheyenne.

Um it's tough to say because we don't really have a good scale on here, but uh uh essentially kind of uh in the corner uh before the pedestrian box culvert goes underneath the uh uh the the off ramp there.

Uh we'd be looking at tying in over there pr pretty far away from the the beaten drive intersection.

It just seemed to make most sense to uh terminate it there.

Okay, so it's gonna be over the road or there'll be a tunnel there.

Uh no tunnel, it would probably go over the road.

Um a lot of the uh specific details of that will probably be flushed out as we uh as we move through to the uh uh feasibility study and and uh engineers report and all that.

Um the one thing I would say too with this project is uh um we'll be looking at moving forward with a resolution of necessity.

Um it's gonna be somewhat delayed because there's uh a little bit of uh preliminary engineering that work that needs to take place in order for us to properly uh you know get the proper information into the engineers report that we bring with that resolution.

Um behind the scenes will be we'll if if this is approved tonight, we'll we'll be looking to work on the uh the preliminary and the preliminary engineering needed uh to provide that engineers report.

I was just curious because if we're gonna have two walkways on either side of Beaten Drive at one point it would be a little bit redundant, you know.

So mean that have that close together.

Yep, great, great point.

Is it safe to assume that with this work that's going to be done that it would be an extension of the box culvert as a Cheyenne River passes I under I-94?

Uh that is correct, Mayor Dartis.

So there uh the construction process, it won't be like an open trench dig to replace all the box culverts and things like that.

No, we're looking at specifically just an extension to the north side.

Thank you.

I just wanted clarification for the public uh that the you know that neighborhood that uh and those businesses through the east that uh utilize it.

Could we go back to page one, please?

The uh the I advise it right there down a little bit, please.

Down uh up a little bit, please.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Wallace did indicate that we were recipients of some grants.

3.8 3,871,000 in North Dakota DOT flex funding as well as 1.41,440,000 in surface transportation block grant funding.

So this is a significant uh grants, but we have to uh the construction has to be done by 2028.

So Commissioners I bring that only to your attention because those grant dollars are tied to that 2028 deadline.

Any questions from Mr.

Wallace in addition?

Mr.

Jorgensen, did you have a point you'd like to make?

No, I did not.

Okay.

Mayor Dartis, uh please.

I I would uh probably clarify that I there I I should probably just double check, but I believe because these are considered 2027 grant dollars, there is potential that construction could could go into 2028, and as long as those dollars are spent then thank you for that.

Yes, sir.

Commissioners move to approve.

We have a motion to approve the created improvement district number 310 and direct the engineer to prepare an engineer's report on the beaten drive reconstruction from Cheyenne Street to the Cheyenne River.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell, seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Thank you, Mr.

Wallace.

Yes, sir.

We move on to item number eight, improvement district number sixty sixty-two is the twenty twenty-six sidewalk improvements.

Uh again, we call on Mr.

Wallace, our city engineer, to and the purpose of the discussion is to accept the bid and award a contract.

Uh yes, thank you again, uh, Commission President DARTAS and Commissioners.

Um this is our uh standard sidewalk improvement project that we bring uh every other year to fill in gaps uh in accordance with uh uh our ordinance uh in Title II.

Um essentially we've at this point we've prepared we've prepared plans, we've gone out for bids.

Um TIzac Concrete LLC uh was the apparent low bidder for one hundred and five thousand sixty-six dollars and sixty-three cents.

And at this point in time, um essentially we're looking uh for the uh requested action of accepting the bid and awarding the contract.

Um it's probably important to note that uh these projects uh per our standard um are 100 percent special assessed to the uh adjacent properties.

Um but with that I'll stand for any questions you may have.

Questions for Mr.

Wallace.

Again, we are on item number eight.

Commissioner Olson, just for the public knowledge, uh, when would the uh sidewalks be installed this this coming summer?

Uh that's correct, yes.

Great question.

The 2026 project.

Okay.

I'll move to approve.

Commissioner Anderson, the first has a question.

Um just looking at these bids here.

Seems like TIZEC is really low compared to the others.

We confirmed that they're good and we're not gonna have like any surprises with any additional like adjustments to a bid or anything.

Um high level of confidence.

Um they've they've done work.

Uh we've we've got a working relationship that goes back years with them.

Um nothing has stood out as an outlier.

Um I can never I would hate to stand up here and say we're never gonna have change orders or you know any sort of overruns, but uh high level of confidence that uh you know they're gonna be able to deliver the project uh you know for the bid that they supplied.

Okay.

Thank you.

Good question.

Thank you.

Great question.

Anyone else?

Anything on improvement district number sixty-sixty-two.

I'll now move to accept the bid forward contract.

We have a motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell seconds.

We have a motion and a second to accept the bid and ward the contract for improvement district number sixty-sixty-two, which is the 2026 sidewalk improvements throughout the city.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Item number nine.

Is project number sixty-sixty-three.

It's eighth Street West multi-use path.

Again, Mr.

Wallace from the city engineer is going to have this discussion.

Purpose is to approve a task order for construction services.

Mr.

Wallace.

Uh, yes, thank you, Mr.

Commission President.

Commissioners, um, here before you with this one.

Um essentially, we the design engineer who was uh SRF consulting.

Um we felt it, I guess, uh most in line uh to have them provide uh construction oversight and engineering uh during the construction and and finishing phases of the project.

Um I'm here tonight uh just uh to request that uh we approve the task order for them to be able to do that.

Um it's probably worth noting that um the original engineers' opinion of cost came in somewhere at about six hundred and seventy-two thousand dollars.

Uh we did receive uh grant funds and the amount of four hundred and twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-one dollars in change.

Um which would put us uh ultimately um responsible for about two hundred and fifty-nine thousand dollars of uh project cost.

Um the the bids did come in on this project a little lower than we anticipated, so I would expect that number to be lessened by the time um the project is uh completed.

But uh just wanted to bring that to your attention that that's that's about where we're at as far as project cost on this one.

Um and with that uh uh again I'm I'm looking for uh approval of the task order for construction services, and I'm available for any questions you may have.

Do we have a map?

You show us uh I apologize.

The map in this one.

We've already approved this.

We're just asking for a task order.

That's right.

But I was doing it for the public.

Me too.

I look forward to the I apologize.

Or by West Side Elementary.

Oh, it's over by West Elementary.

Yeah, over in that area, both of uh between 7th and Maine.

Okay.

That's what I three kind of thought.

And this is not uh none of this will be assessed to the neighborhoods.

This is going to be uh paid for the the remaining balance will be paid by capital improvement sales tax.

So there are no assessments to that neighborhood.

Okay.

Commissioners, your thoughts.

Did I have a motion?

I didn't think so.

You didn't ask for one yet.

Well I move.

Commissioner Zundell work for you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

We have a motion.

Is there a second?

Second.

A motion and a second to uh accept the bid and award a contract for improvement district number sixty sixty-two.

Oh, excuse me, for project number sixty-sixty-three.

The multi-use path to approve a task order in construction services.

Is there any discussion?

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

Opposed.

Motion carry it.

Commissioner Zundell, you got me flustered on that one.

Keep you on your toes.

Item number 10 is transit shelters.

Again, we call on Jerry Wallace, our city engineer.

The purpose of this discussion is to create a project number 6064 and direct engineering to prepare an engineer's report.

Mr.

Wallace.

Uh yes, thank you.

I swear this is the last one.

Um before you tonight, uh uh we're finally uh getting uh moving on uh installation of uh about five transit shelters that we're gonna be putting up uh between the public works and uh engineering team here.

Um essentially uh the action I'm looking for tonight would be to create the project and direct the engineer to prepare an engineer's report.

Um I know uh Mayor Dartis and the Commission have been looking for this and waiting for this for quite a long time.

We're very excited to be moving forward on it.

Um again, uh we're looking at installing uh five shelter location locations in town here.

Um the big thing that's gonna be uh uh needed here is concrete flat work uh to allow the installation.

Um we anticipate uh a total cost of about 40,000 dollars for this, uh and we're proposing again that this uh would be 100 percent paid for with capital improvement sales tax.

Um there is a map of the proposed locations uh in your packet here, and uh again I'm uh hopeful we uh create the project and direct the engineer to prepare an engineer's report, and with that uh I'll stand for any questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Wallace.

Questions for Mr.

Wallace?

Just one Commissioner Jorgensen.

When these locations were picked, or what identified them as to be these locations, was it the volume of riders?

Yes, Commissioner Jorgensen.

There was uh that that was the heaviest component of it is you know where's our ridership actually occurring.

Okay, thank you, Commissioner Zundell.

I know we review the transit plan frequently.

Do we anticipate any of these sites not continuing to be in our transit plan?

Like are any of these sites vulnerable to route adjustment?

Not that I'm aware of, but I could certainly follow up with MAP Bus and and the folks that are involved in the day-to-day.

If you are representative of MetroCog is sitting next to me, Mr.

Commissioner Organ.

Perfect.

Well, I'm not uh this would be the argo of the transit authority.

Which Dustin is now the uh I used to I used to could be on.

Yes, I were I was on there for seven years till they abolished it.

But I don't know if Dustin's got any insight on that or not.

Well, yeah, thank you, Commissioners.

Um there's always the possibility of the transit plan changing.

Of course, that's a process that involves the city commission.

So at this point there is no plan to make those modifications, but um if and when that discussion does come forward, of course, we would take into consideration that we now have these uh these locations with shelters.

So I don't know if that's uh the the expense of this, the 40,000 is for basically the concrete flat work.

Uh the the shelters themselves are coming from the transit authority.

Yeah, that's correct, Mayor Dartis.

No charge for those.

No charge for that.

Commissioner Olson.

Uh in the agenda pack uh uh packet, uh you say that we have 10 available and you're gonna put up five.

Why not put up all ten?

Um I would have to probably go back and and have a discussion with the public works engineering project team on it.

I I think um feasibility-wise for what uh the bandwidth they have this summer.

I think they were looking at trying to get the five in at the heaviest use stocks.

So were the ten uh the five extra, the five that we're getting, are are we gonna have to store them or is the city of Fargo or MAPUS storing those those five other shelters?

My understanding is that they they're staying with MAPUS for now.

But uh I could certainly uh just verify that too.

I was just curious that we're gonna have to house them.

Yeah.

Commissioners, I yeah, I'll add on to that.

I did have a conversation with uh their assistant administrator a couple months ago, and Fargo is graciously agreed to continue to store these for us until they are all installed.

So should something change, we would bring that information forward.

But right now they're agreeing to the store them until they're installed.

And then where is the one getting installed that looks like it's perhaps maybe at Cashwise?

Is it like off the beaten path or where is that specifically from the location?

It looks like it might be the stop on the backside of CashWise, but I I would probably want to verify that before uh um stating that as you know the God's honest truth or anything.

Um we will um I guess be going forward uh and providing more detail for the commission before we're constructing.

Um but I I think that is the location they're they're referencing.

I believe it is they're all cash based.

It's behind Cashways.

Okay.

Any additional questions from Mr.

Wallace?

I move we approve.

Commissioner Olson moves to approve to create a project number 6064 uh with regarding to the transit shelters, five locations within the city of West Fargo.

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell seconds.

We have a motion and a second to create project number 6064 and direct the engineer to prepare an engineer's report.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Wallace.

Item number 11 is guiding principles for the 2027 budget.

We call on Dustin Scott, City Administrator for the City of West Fargo.

Good evening, Ms.

Scott, and welcome.

Good evening.

Thank you, Commissioner President Douglas and Commissioners.

Well, I am excited to have the opportunity to kick off our budget process in a new direction this year and adopting guiding principles.

Uh the proposed guiding principles are intended to be uh clear direction for developing the 2027 budget.

They are intended to establish a shared framework for evaluating budget considerations and support a consistent and transparent approach to prioritization and overall decision making.

The guiding principles were developed through a collaborative process involving city commissioners and department heads.

An online survey was used to gather feedback and perspectives across a broad range of budget topics.

I'm proud to announce that we had all five commissioners participate in this survey as well as 17 department heads.

So a lot of good feedback coming forward to to help guide these uh these principles.

So these uh responses were reviewed and organized to identify common themes and areas of alignment, resulting in principles that reflect this shared input and provide a strategic direction for the budget process.

Again, I can't express how excited I am to start with this collaborative approach, get uh a wide range of feedback, and I really feel like this is gonna help uh really guide our budget process throughout, uh even through uh the the transition we'll have this summer with with the election.

So that said, the the commission can choose to adopt the five principles that are before you this evening.

You could adopt with some revisions or direct staff to go back and make some additional uh considerations.

So with that, I would stand for any questions.

Questions of Mr.

Scott?

No, I do.

Commissioner Olson.

So you've got these five principles listed on the on the screen there.

Is there are they ranked in that order or are they just random or how how did you arrive at those five?

So I'll start with they are not ranked in any particular order.

So yep, I I had that question come up earlier today too.

Um this is in no particular order, the they are all equally guiding principles.

So depending on what we are discussing or considering, these are the foundation principles that we will go to to help guide those those decisions that are going to be made.

Um and I'll say that along the way, we'll learn how we are applying these principles.

And what I would like to do is when we prepare our final budget documents to further um divulge into how these principles were effective in in creating the budget, developing some some more definition behind each of them.

But for now, they're intended to be more of a high-level uh principle, and we'll let the definition kind of unfold throughout the budget process.

How do we use them and all of that good stuff?

So how they were developed really uh the the online survey that we made, for one, has a tool that they it can summarize the common themes for us.

So uh took a look at the themes that were coming out of the the survey platform and then try to align that with some of the um questions that we've seen come through, uh some of the can comments that we received last year through last year's budget process, and tried to put it under an umbrella of a guiding principle.

So Commissioner Zundell.

One thing that I saw come through on the survey that I'm not sure I see in the guiding principles is I feel like there was a lot of specific attention paid to public safety within the survey.

So when I look at some of this, I mean I guess do you consider that a sustainable service or where does that fit into this?

Because public safety ranked number one, and then along with like water and sewer capacity.

So I guess in the survey we broke it out into kind of maybe perhaps some different services that we offer through the city, and it felt like public safety continued to rank highest in those areas.

So I guess I'm just curious how that translates into this.

Yes, thank you, Commissioner Zendal.

Um, you're right, it is in under the umbrella of sustainable services through responsible stewardship.

I had considered having public safety as a standout, but I felt that that was a bit specific into uh two departments that we have.

So I wanted to be a little more broad and encompassing citywide uh services.

So I'd say it is rolled up into the sustainable services.

Uh and again, as we go through the budget process, if we feel like the really the public safety aspect was the driving force behind some of the decisions we're making, then we can roll that into the definitions that we develop through the budget process, which will be memorialized then into the final budget documents.

And along the way, we're gonna learn some lessons and certainly gonna apply that into the future budget processes.

So again, looking forward to how this all unfolds and yet learning from it and further developing these things as we as we move in through the budget process.

Commissioner Zondal.

My other question, and I know you said we'll refine them just as we go, but um, from a context of like cultural values or that perspective, do we have a list of cultural values within our current, like when we look at so maintain workforce stability and cultural values?

Do we have a defined set of what that looks like to prioritize?

Yes.

Yes, we have a set of five core values that were adopted by the commission some years ago.

Uh and those have been reflected in prior budgets in the opening statement, if you will.

Okay.

And so those are the cultural values that I'm referring to.

Okay.

Thank you.

This is a living document, is what it is.

Uh there's going to be obviously there's going to be some uh electeds that come and go, and so there'll be uh influences by the new commissioners as they rotate through and and that type of thing.

So if this isn't cast in stone, it will always reflect what the uh the administration at that time feels the most pertinent.

Any additional questions on the guiding principles, Mr.

Scott?

All right, please continue.

That's all I've got for you.

So if there are no other questions, I would uh ask that the commission adopt the guiding for principles as presented.

Move to adopt.

Commissioner Olson moves to adopt the guiding principles for 2027 budget.

Is there a second?

Is there a second?

Second.

Commissioner Zundell seconds.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion carried.

Congratulations, Mr.

Scott.

Uh we move on to item number 12, the city administrators report.

Please continue.

Thank you, Commissioner President Dortis and Commissioners.

I want to start off by um I I think Jerry here is giving Dan a run for his money on on the record for most items presented.

Uh so I just want to give uh Jerry a shout out.

He's he's doing a great job.

He's he's going through these very clearly, and and I'm proud of him.

So as far as updates, I've got it just a couple.

So going back to the 2027 budget uh with the guiding principles now adopted.

We are going to roll out instructions to our department heads tomorrow.

I believe Nick will have that uh on send here before the evening ends, maybe.

Um excited to get rolling into it.

I know a lot of our departments are uh are already well in into uh analyzing what their needs are going to be.

Um but the formal process is officially going to start tomorrow.

Our uh our timeline has been developed and shared, and so we are uh excited to get going on that.

Our preliminary plan here is to have the budget in front of the commission, the second meeting in June.

That of course is the last meeting for for a few of you.

So uh we're we're eager to to have the opportunity at least with this commission to uh publicly weigh in on on the budget before your um your term is done.

So uh any questions on the on the budget process.

Any questions?

We're good.

Good.

And then the last thing I'll leave you with is uh our finance team.

I'm proud to say that they are well into the uh audit process for 2025.

So uh we're as we're working on looking into 27, we're also looking back in 25, and uh the audit process, as you know, is very intensive.

Uh so I'm I'm happy to hear that they are uh they've got a good jump start on it, and hopefully we can have a 2025 audit done before we are approving a final budget.

So that is it for updates.

With that, I would entertain any other questions.

Questions from Mr.

Scott?

Anyone?

No, okay, thank you.

Thank you.

All correspondence has been distributed and put into your mailboxes that the city has received.

So I'd encourage you to check that.

Uh Commissioners, do you have any non-agenda items that you'd like to bring forward at this time?

Department heads, anything that you'd like to bring forward.

I have one thing.

We have a member of the West Fargo School Board here this evening, and the West Fargo United Girls are the state champions for the state of North Dakota in hockey.

So please pass that on to all of those on the school board, Mrs.

Steadman.

That's uh that's a great accomplishment.

If this is the first year we had a united team, is that correct?

So that's quite a fate.

Uh quite a feat, I should say.

So congratulations to those young ladies that uh won the state championship.

Anyone else?

Commissioner Anderson.

Move to adjourn.

Commissioner Olson.

Second.

We send adjourned.

Thank you.