Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 04.29.2024

In case you missed the April 29, 2024, Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.

Water Reclamation Facility to Receive Permanent Flood Protection

The City of Fargo’s Regional Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) currently does not have permanent flood protection to protect the facility against Red River floods. During previous flood events, the WRF has relied on temporary earth levees through the center of the facility and along the south access road, which have hampered daily operations for extended periods.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, makes federal funds available to local governments to take measures to reduce risks to vital infrastructure such as the WRF, which treats the wastewater of Fargo and surrounding cities.

A permanent levee, which will provide 500-year flood protection to the WRF and tie into The City of Fargo’s primary line of flood protection, is estimated to cost $4.4 million, including construction and engineering. The federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program will provide 75% of the funding, and the remaining 25% will be covered by local funds, including money from the WRF sales tax fund.

On Monday, the City Commission unanimously approved a motion to accept a $3.7 million bid from the Park Construction Company. This bid amount is for the construction portion of the project and does not include the engineering portion.

City Commission Adopts New Public Comment Process

The City Commission voted 5-0 to update its own governance policies on Monday night. The new policies, which take effect immediately, address the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and City Commissioners as well as other aspects of the Commission, including how residents can provide public comments during meetings.

The following guidelines now apply for residents wanting to comment on items listed on the meeting agenda:

• City of Fargo residents or business owners who wish to address the City Commission may do so for topics on the agenda during that section of the agenda following the staff presentation.
• Sign-up can be completed online or by contacting the City Commission Office by noon on the day of a regularly scheduled meeting.
• At the beginning of an agenda item, the Mayor will state the number of speakers and the time to be allotted for resident comment. No more than 12 individuals will be allowed to sign up for an agenda item.

At the end of the City Commission meeting, there will be a resident comment period for items not on that evening's meeting agenda. Rules for this comment period will be the same as the rules for residents’ comments on agenda Items.

Legally noticed public hearing comments during City Commission meetings will occur when legally required. The time limitation applicable to other comment opportunities will not apply, but speakers are encouraged to keep their comments to under three minutes, when possible.

The updated governance policies are the result of a series of collaborative meetings that started in 2022. The final version of the new governance policies can be found here.

City Commissioners Receive Update on NP Avenue Project

The Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre and Kilbourne Group are moving ahead with a redevelopment project that will feature housing, parking, retail and theater space in the 600 block of NP Avenue, next to North Dakota State University Renaissance Hall. During Monday’s meeting, Fargo City Commissioners received the following update on the project:

• The NP Avenue surface parking lot will close on Tuesday, April 30. Individuals renting parking spaces have been notified.
• A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, at 4 p.m.
• The City of Fargo Parking Garage that will be part of the project is scheduled for completion in July 2025.
• The shell of the new Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre is scheduled for completion Aug. 1, 2025.
• The Avery Apartments are scheduled for completion Aug. 1, 2026.
• The Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre expects to open in the fall of 2026.
• Global Development plans to begin renovation of the former Herbst building (east of the NP Avenue surface parking lot) in the spring of 2025. Main-floor commercial space and a hotel on the upper floors are planned.

City Commissioners Reappoint Library Board Members

The terms of Fargo Library Board members Jenna Reno and John Rodenbiker will expire on June 30, 2024.

With both members willing to continue their service on the Library Board, City Commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint each of them to three-year terms ending June 30, 2027.

Residents are encouraged to research and apply for appointment to any of The City of Fargo’s boards, commissions and committees for consideration in the event of future vacancies.

For more information on the responsibilities of each board, commission and committee, please visit FargoND.gov/GettingInvolved.

Water Treatment Plant Updating Equipment for Softening Drinking Water

The City of Fargo’s Regional Water Treatment Plant is updating its main basin for softening drinking water for the region.

The rehab of the plant’s primary apparatus for softening water is 100% complete. Rehab of two other similar apparatus is expected to be finished this year.

Updates include new coating and new stainless-steel parts to resist corrosion. The project is funded by a low-interest loan from the State Revolving Fund.

City Commissioner Denise Kolpack, the Commission’s liaison to the Water Utility, shared this news at Monday’s meeting during her update to the Commission.