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Fargo City Commission - March 7, 2022 Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 o'clock p.m., Monday, March 7, 2022.
The Commissioners present or absent were as shown following:
Present: Gehrig, Preston, Strand, Mahoney.
Absent: Piepkorn.
Mayor Mahoney presiding.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 225 led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Mahoney read a message with the following information: March 9th is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day; at the Library, the Seed Library has returned for Spring 2022 and features a variety of free vegetable, herb and flower seeds; writing and art entries for Northern Narratives Jr., will be accepted through April 30th; and the Catch a Leprechaun event for kids is March 17th; Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Brian Ward received the Robert O. Vernon Membrane Plant Operator of the Year Award; and videos were shown featuring the City’s snowplow drivers and a mural installation at the Police Department.

Order of Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Strand moved the Order of the Agenda be approved.

Second by Gehrig. All the Commissioners present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Minutes Approved:
Commissioner Preston moved that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board held on February 22, 2022 and the Special Meeting of the Board held on February 24, 2022 be approved as read.

Second by Gehrig. All the Commissioners present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Consent Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Preston moved the Consent Agenda be approved as follows:
1. 1st reading of an Ordinance Repealing Section 2-0106 of Article 2-01 of Chapter 2 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to Term Limits for City Commission Members.
2. 2nd reading and final adoption of an Ordinance Rezoning Certain Parcels of Land Lying in Ohmer’s Addition to the City of Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota; 1st reading, 2/22/22.
3. Findings, Conclusions and Order of the Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo regarding the License Violation of Northstar Hospitality, LLC d/b/a/ SouthTown PourHouse.
4. Settlement Agreement and Release with James J. and Joyce D. Lepine.
5. Denial of Application of Abatement or Refund of Taxes #4535 for SuperValu Wholesale Operations at 3501 12th Avenue North and retain the 2021 value.
6. Applications for Games of Chance:
a. St. Joseph’s School for a raffle on 3/19/22.
b. North Dakota State University Saddle and Sirloin for a raffle board on 4/13/22.
c. NDSU Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority for a raffle on 3/26/22.
7. Amendment No. 2 with Houston Engineering in the amount of $265,600.00 for Project No. FM-14-71.
8. Milestone No. 5 for a Time Extension to 3/18/22 (Change Order No. 10) for Project No. FM-16-A1.
9. Memorandum of Offer to Landowner for Easement (Temporary Construction Easement), Permanent Easement (Storm Sewer) and Permanent Easement (Levee and Retaining Wall for Flood Control) with Mary Bjerke (Project No. FM-19-C).
10. Bid award to Roadway Services, Inc. in the amount of $77,600.00 for Project No. PR-22-A1.
11. Bid advertisements for Project Nos. SR-22-B, UR-21-B and TP-21-B.
12. Fire Department Grant Acceptance from the ND Department of Emergency Services for Change of Scope for Remaining Funds.
13. State Water Commission Cost reimbursement for the FM Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project in the amount of $2,753,630.08.
14. Bid awards for the 2022 forestry-related contracted services as presented (RFPs 21023, 22004 and19008).
15. Notice of Grant Award Amendment with the ND Department of Health for the Ryan White Part B Program (CFDA #93.917).
16. Grant Award from AIDS United.
17. Bid award for geotechnical consulting, special inspecting and testing services to Braun Intertec in the amount of $4,500.00 for the Civic Center Parking Ramp vertical expansion.
18. Application for Appropriation from Civil Asset Forfeiture Fund in the amount of $22,612.00 to purchase a Police K-9 and provide handler training.
19. Addendum to Fugitive Task Force Memorandum of Understanding Re: Body-Worn Camera Use by Task Force Officers between US Marshal’s Service and Fargo Police Department and Addendum to Task Force Agreements Pertaining to Body-Worn Cameras with Drug Enforcement Administration and Fargo Police Department.
20. One year contract extension with Q3 Contracting Inc. for concrete utility cut repairs (RFP19018).
21. Exercising the option to piggyback on the Minnesota State Bids Contract to purchase one M20 Sweeper/Scrubber from Tennant Sales and Service Company (PBC186080).
22. Addendum to Purchase Agreement with James P. Sabo for property located at 2414 7th Avenue North.
23. Resolution Authorizing Sale of Property at 1123 9th Avenue South (Attachment “A”).
24. Task Order No. WA08 with Apex Engineering Group in the amount of $320,926.00 to complete final design and bidding for filtration improvements at Lime Softening Water Treatment Plant.
25. Change Order No. 2 for Contract No. 1 (General Construction) in the amount of $28,452.00 and a 77-day time extension for Project No. WA1863.
26. Sole Source Procurement with Tech Sales, Inc. to purchase instruments, parts and services in 2022 for the Water Utility (SSP22042).
27. Electrical Services Agreement with Sun Electric Inc.
28. Bills in the amount of $6,174,356.13.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Negative Final Balancing Change Order No. 6 for Improvement District No. BN-20-L1 Approved:
Commissioner Preston moved Negative Final Balancing Change Order No. 6 in the amount of -$235,270.67 for Improvement District No. BN-20-L1 be approved.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1: Protests Received and Declared Insufficient:
The Statutory Resolution of Necessity for the construction of Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo, North Dakota on February 2 and 9, 2022 and protests representing less than one percent of the legal protest area have been received and filed in the office of the City Auditor within the legal protest period.
Commissioner Preston moved the protests be received and filed and declared insufficient.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Bids Received for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1:
The bids for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota were opened at 11:45 o'clock a.m., March 2, 2022 and the bids were found to be as follows:

Pearson Bros., Inc. Hanover, MN
Bid: $976,841.28

Asphalt Preservation Company, Inc. Detroit Lakes, MN
Bid: $1,083,160.94

Asphalt Surface Technologies Corporation St. Cloud, MN
Bid: $1,164,057.64

Contract for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 Awarded to Pearson Bros., Inc. in the Amount of $976,841.28:
Commissioner Preston offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, The City Engineer has prepared and filed a detailed statement of the estimated costs of Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1; and
WHEREAS, The Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo has considered the bids received March 2, 2022 for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota; and
WHEREAS, The City Engineer's tabulation of the bids received for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 shows the bid of Pearson Bros., Inc. of Hanover, Minnesota, in the sum of $976,841.28 to be the lowest and best bid received.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of City Commissioners finds and declares the bid received from Pearson Bros., Inc. in the sum of $976,841.28 is the lowest and best bid received.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contract for Seal Coat Improvement District No. PR-22-E1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota, be and the same is hereby awarded to Pearson Bros., Inc. for the sum of $976,841.28, subject to the supervision, inspection and approval of the City Engineer, and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications filed in the office of the City Auditor.

Second by Gehrig. On the vote being taken on the question of the adoption of the Resolution Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The Resolution was adopted.

No Protests Received for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 (18th Street South from 42nd to 39th Street and 40th Street South from 19th to 17th Avenue):
The Statutory Resolution of Necessity for the construction of Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo, North Dakota on February 2 and 9, 2022 and no protests have been filed in the office of the City Auditor within the legal protest period.
Commissioner Preston moved that the Board declare that no protests have been filed to the construction of Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Bids Received for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1:
The bids for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District
No. PR-22-G1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota were opened at 11:45 o'clock a.m., March 2, 2022 and the bids were found to be as follows:

Northern Improvement Company Fargo, ND
Bid: $1,195,835.00

Border States Paving, Inc. Fargo, ND
Bid: $1,254,958.40

Central Specialties, Inc. Alexandria, MN
Bid: $1,451,930.00

FM Asphalt, LLC Moorhead, MN
Bid: $1,468,704.00

Contract for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 Awarded to Northern Improvement Company in the Amount of $1,195,835.00:
Commissioner Preston offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, The City Engineer has prepared and filed a detailed statement of the estimated costs of Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District
No. PR-22-G1; and
WHEREAS, The Board of City Commissioners of the City of Fargo has considered the bids received March 2, 2022 for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota; and
WHEREAS, The City Engineer's tabulation of the bids received for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 shows the bid of Northern Improvement Company of Fargo, North Dakota, in the sum of $1,195,835.00 to be the lowest and best bid received.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of City Commissioners finds and declares the bid received from Northern Improvement Company in the sum of $1,195,835.00 is the lowest and best bid received.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contract for Asphalt Paving Rehab/Reconstruction Improvement District No. PR-22-G1 in the City of Fargo, North Dakota, be and the same is hereby awarded to Northern Improvement Company for the sum of $1,195,835.00, subject to the supervision, inspection and approval of the City Engineer, and in accordance with the Plans and Specifications filed in the office of the City Auditor.

Resident Comments:
Christopher Coen spoke about the Police Advisory and Oversight Board and Vanessa Clark spoke about housing.

Hearing on a Renewal Plan and Developer Agreement for Tax Increment Financing District No. 2021-04 Continued to March 21, 2022:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour to review a Renewal Plan and Developer Agreement for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 2021-04 for development of property at 1418 1st Avenue North; however, Strategic Planning and Research Director Jim Gilmour asked that this Hearing be continued to March 21, 2022.
Commissioner Preston moved the Hearing be continued to 5:15 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2022.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Report on the Firearms Ruling:
Assistant City Attorney Ian McLean said on February 3, 2022 Cass County District Court issued an order upholding Fargo’s City Ordinances regulating home gun sales. During the last Legislative session, he said, the State amended a statute, which provides that no Home Rule City such as Fargo can enact an Ordinance relating to the sale of firearms that is more restrictive than State law. He said the key phrase is “more restrictive than State law” due to the fact that there is no State law on the issue. The City has two zoning Ordinances which prohibit the home occupation of selling firearms, he said, whether it is in a residential or agricultural district. The Court found in favor of the City, he stated, essentially finding if there is no State law, the City Ordinance cannot be more restrictive than a law that does not exist. The State argued if there is no State law, he said, any law is more restrictive. He said there were cases from other jurisdictions, including Oklahoma, which the Court said all went in favor of the city. Now there are three options going forward, he said: the State has the right to appeal and if it appeals, it goes to the Supreme Court of North Dakota where it will be decided de novo, or “anew,” and no deference is given to the District Court decision. He said the five Supreme Court justices have about another month to make that decision and to his knowledge, the State has not yet appealed. The second option, he said, is what the Legislature could do at the next Legislative session if the State does not appeal. He said the Legislature may find ways in which it can fix the holes the Court and the City of Fargo pointed out in their briefings. Option three would be nothing happens, he said, there is no appeal and the State Legislature does not take any action. For the time being, he said, this Ordinance is in effect until either the Supreme Court reverses the District Court decision or the Legislature tries to amend it.

Parcels of Land in Golden Valley Sixth Addition Rezoned (2800 67th Avenue South):
At a Hearing held on November 2, 2021 the Fargo Planning Commission recommended approval of a change in zoning from AG, Agricultural to SR-4, Single-Dwelling Residential.
The City Auditor's Office published a Notice of Hearing stating this is the time and date set for said Hearing at which time all interested persons could appear and would be heard.
Current Planning Coordinator Donald Kress said the plat and zoning change will create 26 lots zoned SR-4, Single-Dwelling Residential.
In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking what is the plan for crossing the drain to the west of the development, City Engineer Brenda Derrig said the City will eventually install a drain crossing at that site. She said the Selkirk development on the west side of the drain is not yet developed enough to make the connection; however, as soon as it is, there will be a drain crossing.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking about deferred specials on the property that was previously zoned agricultural, Ms. Derrig said going from agricultural to residential will trigger those specials.
Commissioner Preston offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, All legal requirements in connection with the above-described request for rezoning have been complied with; and
WHEREAS, There have been no written or verbal protests to the request for rezoning and no one is present to protest thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the findings of staff be accepted and the rezoning be approved on the basis that the proposal satisfactorily complies with the Comprehensive Plan, Standards of Section 20-0906.F (1-4) and all other applicable requirements of the LDC.
Second by Gehrig. On the vote being taken on the question of the adoption of the Resolution Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The Resolution was adopted.

First Reading of an Ordinance Rezoning a Certain Parcel of Land Lying in Golden Valley Sixth Addition to the City of Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota:
Commissioner Preston moved the requirement relating to receipt of the Ordinance by the Commission one week prior to first reading be waived and that the Ordinance Rezoning a Certain Parcel of Land Lying in Golden Valley Sixth Addition to the City of Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota be placed on first reading.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Gehrig, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Resolution Adopted Approving Golden Valley Sixth Addition:
Commissioner Preston offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF FARGO:
WHEREAS, A Plat has been filed in the office of the City Auditor entitled “Golden Valley Sixth Addition” containing 26 Lots, 2 Blocks and 8.26 acres of land more or less, located at 2800 67th Avenue South; and
WHEREAS, A Hearing was held November 2, 2021 by the Fargo Planning Commission, and notice of such Hearing had been published, as required by law, and said Plat had been approved by the Fargo Planning Commission and by the City Engineer; and
WHEREAS, The City Auditor's Office published a Notice of Hearing on said Plat in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo on February 23 and March 2, 2022 that a Hearing would be held in the Commission Chambers, City Hall, Fargo, North Dakota at 5:15 p.m., March 7, 2022 at which time said Plat would be considered and all interested persons would be heard.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the findings and recommendations of staff and the Planning Commission be accepted and the Plat entitled “Golden Valley Sixth Addition” be and the same is hereby in all things affirmed and approved on the basis that it complies with the Standards of Article 20-06, and all other applicable requirements of the Land Development Code, and that the Mayor of the City of Fargo and the appropriate City Officials are hereby directed to endorse their approval on the Plat and then direct Petitioner to file same for record in the Office of the Recorder of Cass County, North Dakota.

Hearing on Special Assessments for Sewer Repairs on Certain Properties in the City of Fargo:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the special assessments for sewer repairs on the list of properties on file in the City Auditor’s Office.
No appeals have been filed in writing against any item appearing on such special assessment list and no person is present at this Hearing to appeal of offer any objection thereto.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said these assessments are petitioned for by the property owner to have the sewer line repaired or replaced. He said it is a 15-year assessment, the interest rate is 5 percent and under certain circumstances, the City will pay part of the cost if the homeowner replaces the connection at the sewer main.

In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking of the properties on the list how many were emergencies where there was a winter break and how many were proactive, Mr. Sprague said it is about 50/50. He said many times work is already being done on the street and at that time, homeowners choose to replace the sewer lines due to the fact that when street work is being done, the City replaces the sewer to the curb. He said the list has grown substantially as have costs and Engineering is being more proactive when doing a full street reconstruction.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking when sewer lines break, does raw sewage go into the soil, Ms. Derrig said a lot of the old sewer pipes are clay tile, which crack; however, it is amazing the way the clay soils in this area work to protect the outer edge of the pipe. She said in most cases if there is a failure, the sewer collapses and sewage backs up into the home rather than spreading out into the soil.
Commissioner Gehrig asked to abstain from voting due to the fact that his address is on this year’s list of properties.
Commissioner Preston moved the sewer repair special assessment list be approved.

Second by Strand. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
Commissioner Gehrig abstained from voting.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Veterans Boulevard Corridor Extension Study Received and Filed:
Transportation Division Engineer Jeremy Gorden said the study by MetroCOG and KLJ was completed during the pandemic and the consultant team did a great job keeping the project on track and was able to complete it on time. He said the study highlights some of the needs north of 52nd Avenue South and lays out a good framework south of 52nd Avenue South that Fargo and Horace can rely on when future road projects become a reality. Some of the biggest takeaways from the study, he said, include: the existing and projected future traffic volumes will allow this street section to remain a 3-lane roadway; the roadway will cross County Drain 27 and continue south; staff will plan on making an avenue connection into the Deer Creek neighborhood from Veterans Boulevard at 59th Avenue South to increase the access into and out of that neighborhood; securing right-of-ways to make room for a roundabout at the intersection at 64th Avenue South; pedestrian underpasses every mile near the half mile sections; and making this street section pedestrian friendly by running parallel to the Drain 27 greenway and including a 10-foot path on the west side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side. He said final determination of the roadway cross section would be decided at a later date when the City gets closer to construction.

Dan Farnsworth, MetroCOG, and Scott Middaugh, KLJ, presented additional information about the study, including the fact that the study was guided by a 15-member committee with representation from Cass County, Fargo, Horace, West Fargo and others as this corridor will cross many jurisdictions. They said two phases of public involvement were conducted with virtual open houses, a survey, social media presence, press releases and direct mailings to property owners along the corridor. They also presented information on alternatives for each section of the corridor as well as estimated timelines.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking what is the land use projection along the corridor, Mr. Gorden said it will be primarily residential with some commercial at the section corners.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking if traffic calming was part of the study, mainly due to recent issues with speeding and drag racing, Mr. Gorden said the good thing about Veteran’s Boulevard is traffic volumes are projected to keep it a one-lane road in each direction with a center turn lane. He said it would not have to be expanded to a multi-lane roadway and it is expected this is going to be a sleepy section line, much like in the Osgood area. In the last few years, he said, the City has strived to get pedestrian grade separations under arterial roads, much like the Scheels Arena area on 32nd Avenue South.

Mayor Mahoney said on 25th Street from 40th to 52nd Avenue South, with the roundabouts, it does not seem to have the drag racing problem and the road to Davies High School has not been a big area of complaints; it is the east and west multi-lanes that cause problems.

Mr. Gorden said the roundabouts on 25th Street South were built in order to keep that section from becoming a racetrack.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking why the curved road for that section of Veterans Boulevard was not the recommendation, Mr. Gorden said this is just a study and none of the options are set. He said the City is not close to construction on any of this and will not be for at least four or five years. He said all of this would be back to the City Commission in the future with more definite design alternatives. This will be complicated, he said, due to the fact that it is a City limit boundary and funding becomes an issue depending on the road’s alignment.

Commissioner Strand moved the Veterans Boulevard Corridor Extension Study be received and filed.

Second by Gehrig. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Gehrig, Preston and Mahoney voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Commissioner Piepkorn.
The motion was declared carried.

Discussion on Clinical Studies that Show Masking Stops the Spread of COVID-19, Especially in Children at Schools:
Commissioner Gehrig said he requested presentations and other material regarding clinical studies that show masking stops the spread of COVID-19, especially in children at schools. He said his expectation was that the Commission would have those clinical studies in the agenda for the public record. Since there are no studies in the agenda and no memo explaining why, he would ask that anyone presenting to forward those studies to the Commission so they are part of the public record and the Commission knows they are studies and not simply articles.

Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) Director Desi Fleming and Dr. Tracie Newman, Health Officer for FCPH, spoke on the topic of masks stopping the spread of COVID-19, followed by PowerPoint presentations from Dr. Nagpal Avish, Infectious Disease Specialist at Sanford Health; Dr. Paul Carson, an infectious disease specialist and professor at NDSU; and Dr. Grant Syverson, a pediatrician at Sanford Health.

Commissioner Gehrig thanked all participants for their presentations. He said the information would add value to conversations going forward.

At 6:28 p.m., the Board took a five-minute recess.
After recess: All Commissioners present (Commissioner Piepkorn via conference call). Mayor Mahoney presiding.

Annual Review of F-M Ambulance Inc. d/b/a Sanford Ambulance-Fargo:
Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said this presentation is a change from what was done in the past. He said the City has an Ambulance Service Oversight Committee and last year decided Sanford Ambulance should appear before the City Commission and give an annual report to include trends they are seeing in the community. He said Sanford Ambulance has been a great partner alongside the Police and Fire Departments and Fargo Cass Public Health.

Tim Meyer, Senior Director of Sanford Ambulance, said Sanford Ambulance is an advanced life-support ambulance service licensed in North Dakota and Minnesota and serves multiple cities within Cass and Clay Counties. He said there are 17 ambulances and multiple support vehicles as well as an am-bus, which is capable of transporting 20 patients laying down. There are 133 team members, he stated, including 89 paramedics, 39 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and 18 dispatchers. Sanford Ambulance is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, he said, and was recently reaccredited and named in the top 1 percent of all ambulance services in the U.S. and for context, there are about 30,000 ambulance services in the country. Sanford Ambulance has also been awarded the Mission Lifeline Gold Plus designation by the American Heart Association, he said, and is one of 33 ambulance services in the country with that designation. In 2021, he said, Sanford Ambulance responded to more than 35,000 calls with each call being coded at the Red River Regional Dispatch Center, and the severity of the coding determines the response agencies and mode. Patients are transported to a hospital about 60 percent of the time, he stated, there is no patient contact at all about 25 percent of the time and about 15 percent of the time, a person is evaluated by the ambulance crew and for whatever reason are not transported to the hospital. He said 70 percent of patients are transported to Sanford, 26 percent to Essentia and 4 percent to the VA and that split has been consistent over the years. What hospital receives the patient is primarily determined by the patient, he said, and a small percentage of patients are transported to the closest facility due to an acute medical condition that would not tolerate a longer transport. The top five ambulance calls in Fargo, he said, are alcohol use, behavioral/psychiatric episodes, abdominal pain, generalized weakness and chest pain and one concerning point over this past year is a 95 percent increase in the number of patients in an opioid overdose. He said Sanford Ambulance met its response time goal of arriving on scene within 9 minutes 94.7 percent of the time.

In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking about opioid use and ambulance personnel exposed to opioids, Mr. Meyer said personnel are not handling the drug a patient overdosed on and they always wear personal protective equipment.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking with all the emergency rooms now on the south side of Fargo, does that impact service delivery time, Mr. Meyer said the transport time across town does take a bit more time; however, the initial stabilizing care a patient would get in the ER is the same thing in the ambulance. He said about 77 percent of the calls happen in Fargo and most of them are north of Main Avenue. He said there is a post based at Broadway Sanford Hospital, staging is staggered throughout the day based on volume and at peak periods, there are 12 trucks on the street along with five brick and mortar buildings throughout the community. Data on ambulance calls has been gathered for decades, he said, and a computer system predicts where calls are going to be with a heat map and the hottest spot is in north Fargo. Paramedics intubate people, do defibrillation and push life-saving medications all in the field, he said, and there is a small window to resuscitate somebody in cardiac arrest.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking if Sanford Ambulance follows outcome data in regards to those dropped off in an emergency room, Jason Eblen, Clinical Learning and Development Specialist, said that is hard thing to track. He said he uses a federally-mandated tracking system and the current version uses 640 data elements, which changes two times a year. He said one thing is for sure: if he had a heart attack, he would want to be in Fargo. He said the average time in Fargo from when the ambulance gets to the door until a patient’s vessels are opened in the Cath Lab is 47 minutes and that is unheard of in most of the U.S.

In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking what is the relationship between the City and the ambulance service, Mr. Meyer said there is a contract that outlines things such as reporting data to the City Commission; however, Sanford Ambulance is licensed by the State.

Mayor Mahoney said F-M Ambulance used to be representatives from all the hospitals when there were more hospitals in the area and it was a community entity in which members were elected to the board. He said when Sanford took over the ambulance service the attempt was to make sure distribution of patients was fair. The City does not license the ambulance service, he said; however, the contract provides services in the community.

In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking if the ambulance service assists the Police Department in utilizing Ketamine, Mr. Meyer said it does not.

Appointments to the Fargo Police Department Police Advisory and Oversight Board Approved:
Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said he is recommending Scott Paul, Dave Hogenson, Conrad Thomas, Tonya Greywind, Todd Spellerberg, Joanna Johnson and Lucrachia King be appointed to the Fargo Police Department Police Advisory and Oversight Board. He said 37 applications were received and reviewed by a selection committee and interviews were held with 13 of the applicants. All seven applicants successfully completed the required background investigation, he said, and all bring a variety of extensive experiences and knowledge that will be an asset to the City and the Police Department.
Commissioner Strand moved Scott Paul, Dave Hogenson, Conrad Thomas, Tonya Greywind, Todd Spellerberg, Joanna Johnson and Lucrachia King be appointed to the Fargo Police Department Police Advisory and Oversight Board for three- and four-year terms to be determined at the Board’s first meeting.

Second by Preston. On call of the roll Commissioners Strand, Preston, Gehrig and Mahoney voted aye.
Commissioner Piepkorn voted nay.
The motion was declared carried.

Appointments to the Native American Commission Approved:
The Board received a communication from Mayor Mahoney recommending that Amanda Strauss and Dale Sayers be appointed to the Native American Commission to replace Lenore King and Chalsey Snyder, who have resigned.
Commissioner Preston moved Amanda Strauss and Dale Sayers be appointed to the Native American Commission to fill the unexpired terms of Lenore King and Chalsey Snyder for terms ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023, respectively.

Second by Strand. On call of the roll Commissioners Preston, Strand, Gehrig, Piepkorn and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Applications for Property Tax Exemptions for Improvements Made to Buildings Approved:
a. Megan Zander, 334 15th Avenue South (5 years).
b. Julie Huebner, 2823 1st Street North (5 years).
Commissioner Gehrig moved the applications be approved.

Second by Preston. On call of the roll Commissioners Gehrig, Preston, Piepkorn, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

Board of Equalization to Meet at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022:
Commissioner Gehrig moved the Board of Equalization meet at 7:30 o’clock a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

Second by Preston. On call of the roll Commissioners Gehrig, Preston, Piepkorn, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

The meeting was adjourned to 5:00 o’clock p.m., Monday, March 21, 2022. The time at adjournment was 6:53 o’clock p.m.