Sustainability and Resiliency Meeting Minutes - June 10, 2025
The meeting of the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee was held in the City Commission Chambers at Fargo City Hall at 3:00 o'clock p.m., Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Present:
John Strand (chair), Fargo City Commissioner
Brenda Derrig, Assistant Fargo City Administrator
Bruce Grubb, Fargo City Administration
Bekki Majerus, Director of Facilities Management City of Fargo
Shawn Ouradnik, City of Fargo Inspections Director
Shawn Paschke, Xcel Energy Representative (Ex-officio) (via phone conference)
Chad Brousseau, Cass County Electric Cooperative Representative (Ex-officio)
Dave Bietz, Fargo Park District Representative (Ex-officio)
James Hand, Fargo School District Representative (Ex-officio)
Mike Williams, At-Large Member of the Public
Greta Gramig, At-Large Member of the Public
Absent:
Dr. Tim Mahoney, Fargo Mayor
Ben Dow, Fargo Public Works Director
Nicole Crutchfield, City of Fargo Planning Director
Julie Bommelman, City of Fargo Transit Director
Jennifer Sweatman, At-Large Member of the Public
Casey Steele, At-Large Member of the Public
Setiya Hamidi, Fargo Youth Initiative
Approval of the Agenda:
Ms. Derrig moved, second by Mr. Grubb that the agenda be approved as read. There was unanimous approval by all members present.
Approval of the Minutes from March 18, 2025 Meeting:
Ms. Majerus moved, second by Ms. Derrig that the Minutes from the March 18, 2025 meeting be approved as read. There was unanimous approval by all members present.
2025 Cleanup Week Report:
Solid Waste Utility Director Scott Olson said Cleanup Week took place during the weeks of May 5-9 and May 12-16 and was a collaborative effort involving Solid Waste, Public Works, three contracted private haulers and about 150 people. He said 1,443 tons of material was collected, plus 35 tons of tires and 131 tons of metal were recycled. He shared a graph that illustrated a decline in collected tonnage from approximately 2,000 tons in 2019 (pre-COVID and pre-Residential Transfer Station) to roughly 1,500 tons in 2025, largely attributed to the opening of the Residential Transfer Station in 2021. During Cleanup Week, he said, there are limits on the number of appliances and tires per household and unacceptable items include electronics, stains, paints and other hazardous materials. With the unacceptable items, he said, residents are encouraged to use the Household Hazardous Waste facility, which is open year-round. Minor amounts of building materials are accepted, he said; however, large demolition debris likely results in charges. He said brush is collected separately by the Forestry Department during Cleanup Week. Some reminders for residents include separating items for easier collection by different crews, placing items in disposable containers to maintain tidiness and the fact that excessive piles or unaccepted materials may result in charges. Solid Waste generally does not police early placement, he said, unless it becomes a complaint-based nuisance, for example, items left out for two weeks leading to neighbor complaints, scavenging or litter. In those cases, early collection with charges may occur. Separation is key, he said, and unseparated mixed piles make diversion difficult and often these are landfilled. He said the Residential Transfer Station opened in 2021, it is free for Fargo residents and it is open year-round. He said it provides a safe, indoor environment for dropping off household waste and recyclables. Some other challenges during Cleanup Week are increased truck traffic with 50 additional trucks per day entering the landfill on top of the regular 250 to 300 trucks from Fargo, West Fargo, Valley City and private commercial haulers. Some solutions included using an area in the west landfill to utilize existing airspace capacity where garbage has settled which allows for separation of Cleanup Week trucks from regular traffic. The environmental benefit is the utilized area in the west landfill has an active gas collection system, allowing for capture of gas from the newly added Cleanup Week waste, preventing its release into the atmosphere. Also, he said, the Residential Transfer Station on the west campus offers another accessible drop-off point.
In response to a question from Mike Williams, asking about the gas collection system for the new landfill site, specifically when it would be implemented, Mr. Olson said gas collection begins after a landfill section is formally closed to prevent air introduction, which degrades gas quality. He said the fourth of eight cells on the east campus is currently being built, with 17 to 18 years of life remaining. The first closure on the east side will begin next year, he stated, allowing for expansion of the gas system eastward.
Mr. Williams recalled the old landfill on the east side before redesign where newspapers from the 1950s were still legible due to poor decomposition, highlighting the improvement of the new design, and he asked if the new east campus design differs from the west campus, Mr. Olson said the west side was deregulated, a standard continued on the east. The key improvement on the east side is removing old liability and going 20 feet deeper, significantly increasing capacity. Operational differences include larger cells for less public impact, and increased landscaping for good neighbor relations, he said.
Mr. Grubb asked if recycling numbers for residences increased drastically after switching from source-separated curbside recycling to co-mingled collection, implying more material was diverted from the landfill, Mr. Olson confirmed an increase, noting current recycling is around 3,500 to 4,000 tons per year, higher than when source-separated. The single large bin makes it less burdensome for residents, leading to higher participation.
Mr. Williams asked if the amount of methane generated and revenue from its sale is published on the website, Mr. Olson confirmed there is a "renewable energies" section on the website showing daily pull rates and revenues.
Mr. Grubb recalled past efforts to display real-time methane generation data and revenues, noting its popularity.
Overview of Cass County Electric Cooperative Sustainability Initiatives:
Chad Brousseau, Vice President of Member and Energy Services at Cass County Electric Cooperative, detailed CCEC's Smart Grid and technology infrastructure, which includes:
• SCADA System: Provides real-time monitoring of substations and field devices, including current, voltage, loading, and fault reporting.
• FLISR: Automated outage restoration technology that communicates with SCADA to isolate faults and reroute power.
• Power Control Center: Operates 24/7 in Fargo, monitoring the grid.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): Enables two-way communication for outage reporting, voltage history, blink logging, and traditional metering.
• Outage Management System (OMS): Processes inputs from various technologies to help dispatchers efficiently direct line crews during outages.
• IVR: An automated phone system for members during high call volumes, providing outage information based on caller ID.
• Maintenance Inspections: Utilizes drones and thermal cameras for proactive inspection and outage prevention.
He also shared charts on member demographics, service territories and power generation and supply from Minoltas Power Cooperative, CCEC's generation and transmission provider. He said Minnkota's current power mix is coal 57%, wind 34%, hydro 7% and 2% from other sources, such as market purchases and smaller generators. All Minnkota generation resources are located within North Dakota, he said, and Minnkota recently announced the Flickertail Power Project, a 370-megawatt wind farm near New Rockford, owned by PRC Wind. Minnkota will purchase all energy produced at this wind farm, which is expected to be online by 2028, increasing renewable/carbon-free resources to approximately 50% of the mix. He said Project Tundra, a carbon capture and sequestration project for coal plants in central North Dakota, is being evaluated as an option for future power supply, with no firm decision made yet. CCEC offers a robust demand response/off-peak program, he stated, allowing voluntary control of certain loads during peak demand times for discounted electric rates. This program helps manage volatile power markets, optimize resource utilization and prevents the need for expensive market purchases or new peaking plants, he said. A graph was shown illustrating how demand response lowers system load during peak times, keeping it within available generation capacity and reducing reliance on expensive wholesale market purchases.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking about large data centers, Mr. Brousseau stated those drastically impact the grid and CCEC will not burden existing members. Data centers would need to invest in necessary infrastructure and generation, he said, and this is a national topic focused on responsible integration to maintain reliability and rates.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking about coal plants, Mr. Brousseau defended coal plants' necessity for reliable, dependable resources in the region's extreme weather. He highlighted a $425 million investment in emission controls, making them cleaner. Coal provides stability and resiliency with on-site fuel supply, he said, and Project Tundra remains an option for CO2 emissions. He used the analogy of not letting go of one monkey bar until firmly grasping the next, emphasizing a balanced approach to grid reliability.
In response to a question from Mr. Williams regarding battery storage, Mr. Brousseau said CCEC is experimenting with battery storage, specifically a Tesla Power Wall 3, which aims to learn about communication, discharge during peak events, emergency backup, power quality and economic benefits with time-of-day rates. He acknowledged the pros and cons of lithium-ion batteries, including short duration, environmental impact and life cycle. He said CCEC also provides incentives and rebates for its off-peak system, which are one-time rebates based on system size, in addition to discounted perpetual energy rates. Rebates are also available for water heaters 100 gallons or greater to ensure sufficient thermal storage for off-peak control, he said. A new time-of-day rate varies prices based on the time of day and EVs can be programmed to charge during off-peak times, he said. North Dakota crossed 5,000 EVs in 2024, he said, with MetroCOG projecting 11,000 to 18,000 EVs by 2035 and currently, CCEC has several EVs in its fleet. He also highlighted other CCEC community projects and programs, including the Infinity program, which is available for any member desiring renewable energy. Commercial accounts use it for corporate environmental goals. Members pay slightly more per kWh, and usage is allocated to Minnkota wind farm resources, providing an option for those unable to install solar directly. There is also the Prairie Sun Solar program, the first community solar project in the state located at Deer Creek/52nd Avenue. He said this is a partnership with the City of Fargo and the 102 kW solar array is owned and maintained by CCEC. Members can buy a panel and receive a monthly bill credit for its production.
City Facilities RFP for Maintenance Management Program:
Mr. Grubb provided background information on a new initiative to implement a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). He highlighted the potential benefits of a CMMS, including increased efficiency, extended lifespan of mechanical equipment and energy savings.
Director of Facilities Management Bekki Majerus said the City received a $177,000.000 Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant. She said that grant helped pay for a rooftop unit at Municipal Court, which involved replacing an older unit with a more energy-efficient model. She said she also wanted to do a window tinting project at City Hall to reduce solar gain and air conditioning costs; however, due to cost considerations and other changes, this project is unlikely to proceed as it offered the least return on investment among the sustainability projects. She said the grant will also help pay for a CMMS, a vital tool for facilities management, helping to manage all building assets (electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc.) and automate preventive maintenance scheduling. She said the City is working with FM360, a company specializing in CMMS selection and implementation, and their expertise is crucial given the large number of assets across City of Fargo buildings. FM360 assisted in developing a 25-page Re-quest for Proposal (RFP) for the CMMS, she stated, outlining detailed requirements such as mobile access for technicians and direct contractor contact. The RFP was re-leased about two weeks ago and approximately 20 companies have already download-ed it, she said, and initial selections are underway. With the RFP, she said, FM360's team tagged large assets in 25 City buildings with QR codes and these codes will allow technicians to scan and document work, access manuals and retrieve maintenance in-formation directly through the CMMS. Once a system is selected, she said, FM360 will upload existing asset information and customize the system to meet the City’s specific needs. The system will also set up preventive maintenance schedules based on manufacturer recommendations, she stated, which is crucial for extending equipment life and meeting industry standards. A significant benefit of the CMMS is its ability to forecast equipment replacement needs, she said, allowing for more stable and predictable capital budgeting by smoothing out large expenditures. She stated that a CMMS can save 25% to 40% on facility asset costs over their lifespan. It also enhances energy efficiency by identifying when equipment is no longer performing optimally and should be re-placed, she said. While CMMS technology has existed for about 20 years, it incorporates AI components, she said. The current system aims to move beyond paper and Excel spreadsheets, she said, significantly saving time for technicians and budget development by enabling long-term forecasting. She noted the rapid implementation time-line before year-end, which is due to FM360's comprehensive, end-to-end services. While there is a cost, she said, the grant makes it feasible and it avoids a much longer implementation if internal staff were to handle it. FM360 will provide ongoing training and support for at least two years.
Committee members expressed appreciation for learning about the CMMS initiative and Ms. Gramig specifically noted how much she learns from these discussions and shares the information within the community.
Commissioner Strand said the City is re-evaluating its boards and commissions, including the SRC committee, for efficiencies. The value of information sharing within the committee was acknowledged, though resource allocation for department heads was also a consideration.
Public Comment:
None
Next Meeting:
TBD
The time at adjournment was 4:22 o’clock p.m.