Fargo City Commission - March 4, 2024

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 4:00 o'clock p.m., Monday, March 4, 2024.
The Commissioners present or absent were as shown following:
Present: Kolpack, Piepkorn, Preston, Strand, Mahoney.
Absent: None.
Mayor Mahoney presiding.

Mayor Mahoney announced the Board of City Commissioners will retire into Executive Session in the Red River Room for the purpose of attorney consultation regarding Case Number 09-2023-CV-02540 titled “City of Fargo v. State of North Dakota” and that discussing the risks, strengths or weaknesses of an action of the public entity in an open meeting will have a negative fiscal effect on the bargaining and/or litigation position of the City of Fargo. An Executive Session in accordance with North Dakota Century Code Section 44-04-19.2 for said matters is authorized pursuant to North Dakota Century Code §44-04-19.1 subsection 2.
Commissioner Kolpack moved the Commissioners meet in Executive Session in the Red River Room as authorized by NDCC, Section 44-04-19.1 subsection 2 to discuss said matter.

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

At 4:03 o’clock p.m. the Board moved to the Red River Room to discuss said matter in Executive Session.
Members present were: Kolpack, Piepkorn, Preston, Strand, Mahoney.

The Executive Session closed at 4:50 p.m. and the meeting reconvened in public session at 5:00 o’clock p.m.
All Commissioners present. Mayor Mahoney presiding.

The Mayor said he and Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson worked on a Proclamation regarding Gaza to echo what they both have been hearing at recent Commission and Council meetings. He said the Proclamation states Fargo and Moorhead advocate for a negotiated settlement, the release of hostages and the building of a foundation for enduring peace. He asked members of the audience to read it and take note that both communities stand behind it.

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

Second by Piepkorn. All the Commissioners 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 20, 2024 be approved as read.

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

Consent Agenda Approved:
Commissioner Strand moved the Consent Agenda be approved as follows:

1. Letter of Support for the Synclaire Events Center project to the ND Opportunity Fund.
2. Letter of Support for the Anvil Design and Manufacturing project to the ND Opportunity Fund.
3. 2nd reading and final adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 31-0102 of Article 31-01 of Chapter 31 of the Fargo Municipal Code Relating to the International Property Maintenance Code.
4. 2nd reading and final adoption of an Ordinance Rezoning a Certain Parcel of Land Lying in Rheault Second Addition to the City of Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota.
5. Site Authorizations for Games of Chance:
a. Arc Upper Valley at CJ’s Tavern.
b. Boys and Girls Club of the Red River Valley at Fargo Billiards/Gastropub.
c. Horse Race North Dakota at The Old Broadway.

6. Applications for Games of Chance:
a. BPOE Elks Lodge #260 for a calendar raffle every Friday 3/8/24-12/27/24.
b. St. Joseph’s School for a raffle on 4/20/24.
c. Nordic Culture Clubs for a raffle on 4/6/24.
d. Jeremiah Program FM for a raffle on 5/3/24.
e. FMWF Chamber of Commerce for a raffle on 7/24/24.
f. Love your Buns for a raffle on 3/16/24.
g. Kappa Delta Sorority for a raffle on 3/28/24.
h. Lend A Hand Up for a raffle on 3/16/24.
i. Benefit for Krista Stroh on 3/17/24; Public Spirited Resolution.
j. Sons of Norway for a raffle on 5/17/24.

7. 2023 CIP Revisions.
8. Drain Reconstruction and Exchange Agreement (Cass County Drain No. 10), Limited Warranty Deeds and Access Easements with Southeast Cass Water Resource District and Sysco North Dakota, Inc. d/b/a Sysco Food Services of North Dakota, Inc.
9. Consent to Construction Agreement with Paul and Kathryn Lindquist for property located at 1443 75th Avenue South.
10. Consent to Construction Agreement with Franklin T. and Wendy S. Fisher for property located at 1455 75th Avenue South.
11. Bid awards for Project No. NR-24-B1:
a. General construction contract to Key Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $4,902,904.00.
b. Electrical construction contract to Sun Electric, Inc. in the amount of $166,000.00.

12. Bid award to Industrial Builders, Inc. in the amount of $2,549,697.75 for Project
No. FM-24-A1.
13. Bid award to Key Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $8,672,957.00 for Project No. NR-24-A1.
14. Bid award to Asphalt Surface Tech Corp in the amount of $90,810.00 for Project No. PR-24-C1.
15. Bid advertisement for Project No. SR-24-B.
16. Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $46,950.74 and time extension to the substantial and final completion dates to 6/3/23 and 5/31/24 for Improvement District No. BN-22-L1.
17. Consulting Engineering Services with Moore Engineering, Inc. for Improvement District No. BR-26-G0.
18. Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Easements and Restoration of Parking Surface, Easement (Temporary Construction Easement), Permanent Easements (Storm Sewer Lift Station and Utility), Permanent Easement (Water Main) and Permanent Easement (Storm Sewer and Utility) with the Park District of the City of Fargo (Improvement District No. NR-24-B1).
19. Bid award to Asphalt Preservation Company, Inc. in the amount of $1,617,606.87 for Improvement District No. PR-24-E1.
20. Create Improvement District No. BN-23-F (New Paving and Utility Construction).
21. Property Damage Release with Abrahamson Services LLC dba Valley Green & Associates and SECURA Insurance Company.
22. Receive and file General Fund – Budget to Actual through 1/31/24.
23. Task Order No. 1 with KLJ Engineering Inc. in an amount not to exceed $248,100.00 for Fire Station No. 5 (RFP24010).
24. Addendum to Provision of Nursing Services for the Northern Cass Public School District.
25. Letter of Agreement with AE2S Communications to provide communications and marketing assistance to Fargo Cass Public Health.
26. Notice of Grant Award with the ND Department of Health and Human Services for Title X Family Planning Program (CFDA #93.217).
27. Piggyback purchase through the State of North Dakota NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Inc. for the purchase of a dHCI server and storage solution for the RRRDC (PBC24133).
28. Third Amendment to Lease Agreement with Boas Northport Fargo LLC.
29. Resolution approving Plat of Trollwood Land Three (Attachment “A”).
30. Agreement between City of Fargo and Range Renovation Consulting, Inc.
31. Bid award to Q3 Contracting for Concrete Utility Cut Repairs (RFP24114).
32. Bid award to Core and Main for the purchase of Water Main Materials, Miscellaneous Water Distribution Materials, Fire Hydrants/Parts and Miscellaneous Street Materials (RFP24116).
33. Bills in the amount of $7,578,093.56.

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

Resident Comments:
Habiba Elbassiouny, Kyle Feldhake, Lucky Beddel, Allison Slavik, KJ Atkinson, Fatima Mohammed and Malik Muhammad Anwar spoke about Gaza; Wess Philome spoke about the Police Department.

Renaissance Zone Project for Block 8, LLC Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour to receive comments on a Renaissance Zone Project for Block 8, LLC for a project located at 814 Main Avenue.
No written protest or objection to the project has been received or filed in the City Auditor's Office.
The Board determined that no person is present to protest or offer objection to the project.
Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield said the Renaissance Zone Project application presented by Block 8, LLC meets all of the minimum criteria set forth in the Renaissance Zone Plan and it is consistent with the established goals and objectives. She said the intent of the project is to rehabilitate the existing building by renovating the interior into a retail space and updating the exterior façade. She said the applicant originally requested an 8-year tax benefit, which is allowed with the new legislation. The Renaissance Zone Authority did approve the 8-year benefit, she said; however, Cass County did not approve it and due to the County not participating, the City can only offer a 5-year benefit. She said taxes in 2023 are $17,744.00 and with the proposed improvements, taxes will be $27,177.00.
In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking about the price per square foot, Ms. Crutchfield said it is about $125.00 and the minimum amount set by the State is $105.00 per square foot. She said the City amounts are $50.00 a square foot and when the plan is updated this summer, those amounts will be part of the discussion as will the 8-year benefit.
In response to a question from Mayor Mahoney asking if the Commission could approve the 8-year benefit, Ms. Crutchfield said the State would not recognize it due to the fact that the County and School District also have to agree.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking how the City and County can get on the same page, Ms. Crutchfield said at the County’s meeting last month, the County decision was unanimous to not discuss this specific application.
Commissioner Preston said there was discussion at the Renaissance Zone Authority recently about possibly expanding the program and identifying what would qualify for an 8-year, 5-year or 3-year benefit.
Commissioner Preston moved the Renaissance Zone application filed by Block 8, LLC for a project located at 814 Main Avenue be approved and the income tax and property tax exemptions be granted as recommended by the Renaissance Zone Authority.

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

Special Assessments for 2023 Sewer Repair Assessment Fees Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on special assessments for 2023 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 or offer any objection thereto.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said the sewer repair program helps homeowners if they have an emergency sewer failure. He said if a sewer repair goes all the way to the main, the City will pay half of the first $4,000.00 then 25 percent of the amount over $4,000.00. He said the purpose is to cover the costs of digging in the street and the balance can be put on a homeowner’s assessment. He said it is a 15-year assessment and the interest rate is 5 percent. In 2023, he said, there were 181 sewer repairs done at a cost of about $2.5 million and the average cost was $15,000.00 to $18,000.00.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the special assessments for 2023 sewer repair assessment fees be approved as submitted.

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

Special Assessments for Abatement of Nuisances on Certain Properties in the City of Fargo Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on special assessments for abatement of nuisances 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 or offer any objection thereto.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said the City typically prepares a list of these assessments in the summer and it was discussed how could the City better match the expenses with the nuisance costs and the timing. He said these fees are for Dutch Elm tree removal, mowing and code enforcement, all from the summer of 2023. The other part of the nuisance abatements are snow removal and dog waste removal, he stated, and those fees will be submitted for approval this summer. He said property often changes hands and in order to get closer to the time when the fees are incurred, he wanted to move these fees up and split the timing of the fees. For this round, he said, there are seven code enforcements, 52 mowings and 13 Dutch elm removals.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking about code enforcement fees and in particular, what was the $5,600.00 fee on the list, Mr. Sprague said the $5,600.00 fee was for removal of a detached garage structure and most of the other code enforcements fees are for boarding up vacant buildings due to squatting.
Commissioner Kolpack moved the special assessments for abatement of nuisances be approved as submitted.
Second by Preston. On call of the roll Commissioners Kolpack, Preston, Piepkorn, Strand and Mahoney voted aye.
No Commissioner being absent and none voting nay, the motion was declared carried.

At 5:31 o’clock p.m. the Board took a five-minute recess.
After recess: All Commissioners present. Mayor Mahoney presiding.

Application to Transfer the Alcoholic Beverage License from Fargo Lodging Associates, LLC d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn to FGI Hospitality LLC d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn Fargo Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on an application to transfer the Class "ABH" Alcoholic Beverage License from Fargo Lodging Associates, LLC d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn to FGI Hospitality LLC d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn Fargo at 4351 17th Avenue South, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said the “ABH” license is a full service hotel liquor license and this transfer is due to an ownership change.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.

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

Application Filed by Benedicts FAR LLC d/b/a Benedict’s Fargo for an Alcoholic Beverage License Approved:
A Hearing had been set for this day and hour on the application filed by Benedicts FAR LLC d/b/a Benedict’s Fargo for a Class "FA" Alcoholic Beverage License at 3165 33rd Street South, notice of which had been duly published in the official newspaper for the City of Fargo.
No written protest or objection to the granting of the application has been received or filed in the office of the City Auditor, and said application has been approved by the Police Department as to the character of the applicant.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection to the granting of the application.
City Auditor Steve Sprague said this is a breakfast and brunch facility and is the company’s first location outside of the Minneapolis area. He said this the “FA” full service liquor license allows for a bar, requires 50 percent food sales and the cost of the license is $100,000.00.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved the application be approved.

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

Applications Filed by Lashkowitz 4 and Lashkowitz 9 for Payment in Lieu of Tax Exemptions (PILOTs) Approved:
Hearings had been set for this day and hour on applications filed by Lashkowitz 4 and Lashkowitz 9 for 17-year, 100% payment in lieu of property tax exemptions (PILOTs) for a low-income housing project at 101 2nd Street South.
No written protests have been filed for the attention of the Board.
The Board determined that no person is present at this Hearing to protest or offer objection thereto.
Director of Strategic Planning and Research Jim Gilmour said PILOT applications were made by the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority on behalf of Lashkowitz 4 and Lashkowitz 9 for a new, low-income housing building at 101 2nd Street South that will be split into two projects: Lashkowitz 4 will have 83 units; and Lashkowitz 9 will have 27 units. He said the Economic Development Incentives Committee (EDIC) met to consider the project and no potential competitors appeared at the meeting. The applicant will pay the full land taxes annually of approximately $9,400.00 for each project, he said. The recommendation of the EDIC is to approve the 17-year PILOTS, he stated, where the building value will be 100% exempt.
Chief Executive Officer of the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority Chris Brungardt said there will be a total of 110 units in the new building and the financing and putting all the different funding sources together was complicated; however, many groups came together to make this work. He said the project is 100% vouchered meaning everyone who lives there will receive a Section 8 voucher, which limits income to 50% Area Median Income or less. There is a 15-year compliance period, he said, which means Blue Line, the development partner on the project, will exit out at that time and Fargo Housing will become the owner of the property. He said it will be a five-story building with covered parking.
In response to a question from Commissioner Preston asking for information about Blue Line, Mr. Brungardt said Blue Line is based in Montana and does a lot of affordable housing projects in the central states. He said Blue Line was also the development partner on Elliot Place project and they responded to and won the RFP for Lashkowitz. He said Blue Line has been essential in syndicating the tax credits and securing lower interest loans for this project. It will be about a $10 million mortgage when complete, he said; therefore, shopping around and getting good rates was important. Blue Line is a for-profit corporation, he said; however, they are very good partners.
In response to a question from Commissioner Strand asking for some background information about Fargo Housing, Mr. Brungardt said there are several different departments within Fargo Housing, including about 300 public housing properties such as Pioneer Manor and other scattered sites including about 200 individual homes and duplexes. He said there is the Section 8 program where Fargo Housing manages about 1,900 vouchers, which can be used at any market rate rental. There are also some affordable properties, he stated, including New Horizons, which is 100% ADA accessible, Elliot Place, which has 84 units and the Burrell and Colonial buildings, which are about 42 units. He said Fargo Housing is a pseudo government agency, the Board is appointed by the City Commission, board members are all residents of Fargo, there are four regular Commissioners and one resident Commissioner so the Board has a resident’s view on issues.
Commissioner Piepkorn said there were a lot of things contemplated for the site of the old high rise as well as different types of housing, and the City is thankful to to have this type of housing in such a great location. He said he is sure the new building will offer many improvements over the old high rise.
Mr. Brungardt said the new building will serve similar clientele. He said the old high rise was an old model of how things were done in public housing with the warehousing of people in tiny one-bedroom units with cinder block walls that felt like a prison cell. He said there were about 250 people living in the high rise, which was too many people in one spot and poverty was a problem. With the new building, he said, there will be 110 very nice 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, there will be cameras everywhere and there will be onsite resident support services.
Commissioner Kolpack said this took some very creative solutions for financing and she appreciates the collaboration. She said this is also a great example of the kind of collaboration that was asked for by James Mathy, who was here recently from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a community conversation about homelessness.
Commissioner Piepkorn moved that the applications filed by Lashkowitz 4 and Lashkowitz 9 for 17-year payment in lieu of tax exemptions in the amount of $0.00 pursuant to Chapter 40-57.1, NDCC be approved.

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

Presentation by Gate City Bank Regarding the 2024 Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) Program:
Brandie Haugen, Assistant Vice President and Retail Manager at Gate City Bank said Gate City has again partnered with the City on the NRI Program, contributing $2 million to improve neighborhood quality and to encourage investment in the City’s existing neighborhoods. She said the program provides homeowners with low-interest loans to address qualifying property repairs and improvement projects. The deadline to apply for the NRI program is October 31, 2024, she stated, and loan terms can be 10 or 15 years with an annual percentage rate as low as 5.16 percent. She said other details of the program include: homes must be 40 years or older; residences must be occupied by the owners; the assessed value must be less than $275,000.00; and participating homes must be within the NRI boundary.
Mayor Mahoney said Gate City Bank has been doing this for 19 years and the City appreciates the commitment the bank has made to the community.

Presentation of the Proposed Board of City Commissioners Governance Policies:
The Board received a communication from City Administrator Michael Redlinger requesting input on the proposed Governance Policies for the Board of City Commissioners. He said input will be included in the final governance policies to be considered at the March 18, 2024 City Commission meeting for approval. He said additional direction is also requested on the final intent of Policy No. 5 – Process for Public Comment.
Mayor Mahoney said Administration and the Commissioners began working with Schatz & Associates in 2022 on the governance model and what the City would like to do going forward. He said there had not been any changes to the governance policy in Fargo for many years. Dr. Jeff Schatz gave the Commissioners a draft copy of the policy, he stated, and asked the Commissioners for any suggested changes. He said this is the first look at proposed changes and now it can be decided if the Commission wants to vote on the new policy at the next meeting.
City Administrator Michael Redlinger said Dr. Schatz helped focus on core policies such as organizational structure, culture, the process for public comment, code of ethics and other issues and tonight, specifically, there were some suggested changes to Policy Five, which relates to the public comment procedure. He said he received some feedback asking for the Commissioners direction on the public comment procedure, which will continue to be heard at every business meeting of the City Commission, with the first portion of public comments reserved for agenda-related items and the last portion of the meeting reserved for a non-agenda items. He said a piece of feedback he received was to consider a quarterly public forum meeting that could move around the community to spaces such as the Fargodome or Fargo Cass Public Health where there could be conversations with members of the public. He said another suggestion was there be a more defined role for the Mayor to limit repetitive or redundant communication, clapping, signage, decorum and other matters.
Commissioner Preston said these are policies for the governance of this Commission and any suggested changes need to come from the Commission and recommended actions need to come from the Commission, not from staff. She said she did not see the email asking for input; however, what is missing in the policy is a clear identification of the Commission's relationship to the City Administrator position. She said the Commission is the hiring body and it would be helpful to have that clarified as well as the performance review process for the City Administrator. She said she also has questions about the executive limitations on the financial policies. There were four limitation statements that are no longer in this draft, she said. Another area is agenda items referred from boards and commissions and what happens to them, she said. These are advisory boards, she said, and they do not feel like they are providing a valued service and part of it is they are taking actions and those actions are going nowhere. She said she would like to see adding to the Commission agenda items referred from commissions and boards at least for discussion.
Mayor Mahoney said the policy clearly outlines financial planning, financial administration and the rules and regulations around that and he asks that the Commissioners be clear with what they are looking for. He said a lot of time was spent going through many of those items so be clear on what you think is missing.
Commissioner Strand said he was surprised to see a flip-flop on the approach to public comment. He said this was worked on with Dr. Schatz and he thought the Commissioners all landed in the same place that there would be public comment at the beginning of the meetings relative to agenda items and to allow public comment on other topics at the end of the meetings. He said now someone has flip-flopped and he does not know who it is and on whose authority; however, this is a Commission decision. He said he is not in favor of any erosion of public comment. He is okay with putting general comments not related to the agenda at the end of the business meeting; however, to eliminate them or to push them off into quarterly meetings is squelching the voice of the public. He said he wants to know who proposed this, which completely upends what was decided. He said the Commissioners need to go back to the group meeting and work it through again. He advises the public speak up now while there are still public comments, he said, and he appreciates seeing signs and hearing from citizens and people. He said to strip that away from citizens, to say they cannot show up and have their speech in this space is not right and he will fight for their speech. The Commission is very selective in who is allowed to clap and who is not, he said.
Mayor Mahoney said Commissioners were asked to put some suggestions forward and that is what happened, these are suggestions. He said oftentimes the Commissioners do not get answers to questions that are asked. In an open forum or town hall-type meeting, people can get answers, he stated. What is wrong now is people get to say their complaints; however, they get no answers, he said. In some ways, this is an effort to get better communication, he stated. Every one of the Commissioners has an email address and a phone number where they are easily contacted, he said, and many of these people have contacted the Commissioners and there is open dialogue; however, when somebody wants to try something different, there needs to at least be a discussion about it and not go for grandstanding.
Commission Kolpack said the Commissioners and Administration have been working on this for more than a year and this is not reactionary. She said she supports the idea of going back and having another conversation about some of these new ideas with Dr. Schatz and working this out as a Commission. Citizens have 24/7 access to Commissioners now, she stated, and she has taken every citizen request to meet and she listens to them. This is the most accessible Commission in the region and all the Commissioners are responsive, she stated. City Commission meetings are for the business of the City and the citizens of the City, she said; that is its purpose with decorum, transparency and clear standards. She said she likes the idea of thinking differently about how to take general public comments, so why not explore the idea. What is not working now is the Commissioners do not know what is coming, she said, and if there is misrepresentation of a fact, staff are not prepared to answer it or address it and with the current public comment rules, Commissioners cannot respond. She said this is not working and having a different approach where there can be an actual conversation and have feedback, staff is there to answer questions and the information is heard, not only is it going to be more constructive for the public, it is another opportunity for transparency. She said trends and current issues can be tracked and work can happen on problems more quickly with a dialogue that includes a conversation, which is not happening now. She said she has had feedback from citizens that the current process is intimidating for them to come forward with City issues due to the fact that they feel like it is an awkward position because the Commissioners sit there and listen but cannot respond and it is very uncomfortable. She said she also likes the idea that these meetings could move around the City, plenty of public notice would be given and a list of questions and answers could be created that could be on the City’s website and citizens could see the answers and the issues can be tracked. Let us have more conversation with another working session due to the fact that the Commission needs to get these policies passed, she said. Part of this work also over time will include standardizing public comments at all public boards and commission meetings, she said, so citizens know what to expect, so it is not two minutes here, two and a half minutes there, five minutes somewhere else. She said she hopes the Commissioners can continue this work with the goal of continued transparency but also introducing some decorum so everyone feels like their needs have been satisfied.
Commissioner Preston said public comment is limited to 20 minutes, it is two and half minutes per person and after that time, they get beeped out and the microphone is turned off and people can get in touch with us as individuals. The trouble starts when a Commissioner who has a particular department in their portfolio stops any kind of further conversation or action, she said, and the only route an individual has is to make it public and that is where there is value in the public comment period. She said she agrees there needs to be structure, the business meetings need to happen; however, she does not see it is a problem now. Setting aside 20 minutes at the beginning of the meeting is not that much time, she said, and it provides an opportunity for additional public conversation. She said whether Commissioners can engage in it that particular evening or not, she can have further conversations with whomever has been at the podium and it allows for all of the Commissioners to know about conversations that are happening with one Commissioner where that might not go any further because a Commissioner does not want it to go any further.
Commissioner Strand moved to reconvene the Commission working group with Dr. Schatz to revisit the public comment topic and any other topics left in the balance and bring back a finalized document to share with the public.

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

Liaison Commissioner Assignment Updates:
The Commissioners gave reports on the Boards and Committees on which they serve.

Commissioner Preston moved that the Board adjourn to 5:00 o’clock p.m., Monday, March 18, 2024.

Second by Kolpack. All the Commissioners voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
The time at adjournment was 6:15 o’clock p.m.