Convention Center Committee Meeting - October 24, 2025

Present: Katlyn Balstad, Charley Johnson, Mallari Ackerman, Clare Hughes, Joe Raso, Kent Kolstad, Emma McIntyre, Taylor Snelling, Denise Kolpack, Tim Mahoney, Dave Piepkorn, Michelle Turnberg.

Absent: Shannon Full, John Strand.

Others Present: Assistant City Attorney Erik Johnson.

Brewhalla Project
The development team, comprised of Kevin Bartram, Rob Remark and Mark Bjornstad, presented answers to follow-up questions for their proposal.
Topic Discussion and Resolution
Mitigating Rail Noise and Vibration The team has hired acoustical engineer Eric Klein (Tenor Engineering).
Airborne Noise: The service core and building mass are strategically placed on the south side, adjacent to the rail tracks, to act as a noise block. Quieter spaces will be placed on the north side.
Vibration: Isolation of the structure and walls is planned to prevent sound from traveling through the building. The team will provide specific data from the acoustical engineer in Round Two. The hotel will use a robust pre-cast commercial structure to minimize sound issues.
Fire Access & Occupant Exits The hotel footprint was pulled back from the south property line to allow fire truck access (turnaround/backing), ensuring full coverage of the building for hose length requirements. This change also opened up the courtyard for use as a display space for convention goers (e.g., cars, RVs).
Connection to Brewhalla & Utility Lines A skyway connection to Brewhalla was deemed infeasible due to an easement required for two large 6-foot diagonal storm drains across the site. The hotel and Convention Center are now connected on the first floor, and the connection to Brewhalla will be via a landscaped outdoor walkway.
Parking and Loading Docks The plan includes dedicated, but flexible, parking lots for both the hotel and convention center to manage multi-entity events.
Loading: Access includes two entrances off 1st Avenue for smooth truck flow. The plan currently shows two truck docks and two drive-in overhead doors (one to the back area, one directly into the Exhibit Hall). The team is exploring a maximum of four docks by eliminating one of the drive-up accesses.
City Staff Feedback Rezoning from Limited Industrial to General Commercial with a PUD overlay is anticipated to be a straightforward 3 to 4-month process. The Traffic Engineer was pleased with the two-way access points for the parking lots. The storm water detention plan is the only cost item still being finalized—it may require expensive underground storage chambers if green space is insufficient.
Downtown Shuttles Shuttle plans will be customized by event. Large community events will utilize partnerships with Metro Transit or Downtown Community Partnership, and the site is designed to accommodate bus and Uber pickups. The team is committed to working with Visit Fargo Moorhead to align on the overall guest experience.
Hotel Details The hotel is planned as a six-story building. It will include a first-floor restaurant and bar designed to stand on its own as a community amenity, not solely dependent on hotel or convention guests. The specific hotel flag is still being finalized.

Downtown Project
The development team, led by Mike Allmendinger, presented its updated plan, which pivots from the city quad parking lot to a proposal centered on reimagining the existing Civic Center.
Topic Discussion and Resolution
Project Pivot and Rationale The team is now proposing to renovate and utilize the existing Civic Center structure. This pivot was based on Committee feedback regarding the previous 1st Avenue loading dock plan, the sewer pipe through the original site and Library parking concerns.
Sustainability: The approach is fiscally responsible, avoids demolition costs, utilizes existing City-owned infrastructure and is more sustainable. The project's budget includes a new mechanical system for the facility.
Hotel Rooms and Density Existing Attached Rooms: 275 rooms are currently attached by skyway (150 in the Radisson and 125 in the Jasper).
Proposed Addition: The plan anticipates the potential to add a 75-room Moxy Hotel as the private component of the public-private partnership. The team confirmed they have the ability to do more rooms if needed, potentially by expanding the Radisson ramp.
Parking Solutions The project is connected to the Radisson parking ramp. The team is flexible on total spots and will finalize solutions in the next round. Potential options include using technology for existing downtown ramps and expanding the Radisson parking ramp by adding floors.
Financing and Tax Incentives (TIF) The team is not proposing a new TIF district and will not utilize the existing Riverfront TIF. This is a benefit to the city, as new surrounding projects would fall on the city's full tax roll.
Sales and Marketing Strategy Management will be handled by a national firm (experienced with ~70 convention centers) to provide corporate-level sales and marketing support.
DMO/Hotel Partnership: The strategy is a "collaborative model" with Visit Fargo Moorhead, the Convention Center and the hotel community to target groups together, making the booking and sales process easier for meeting planners.
The Committee will hear from the two remaining finalists next week and intend to finalize the RFP to be on the City Commission agenda for November 10th.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:58 p.m.