Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 10.18.21

In case you missed the October 18, 2021 Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.

Fargo City Commission Approves Performing Arts Center Consulting Agreement

In February 2020, the Performing Arts Task Force concluded its work and provided a final report to the City Commission. Following the receipt of the report, the City Commission engaged the Benefactor Group, a professional fundraising consulting firm, to study the feasibility of raising private funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of a future Fargo Performing Arts Center in conjunction with public funding.

In a 5-0 vote, the Fargo City Commission approved a Consulting Agreement with the Benefactor Group for fundraising services related to the Performing Arts Center. The FM Area Foundation will serve as the fiscal host for the fundraising campaign. Staff is further authorized to request JLG Architects prepare site/building renderings for use in the fundraising campaign.

City Commission Approves Creation of 2021 Election and City Governance Task Force

The Internal Recommendations Team submitted two options for consideration to select citizen appointees to the 2021 Election and City Governance Task Force.

In at 5-0 vote, the Fargo City Commission approved a newly created 2021 Election and City Governance Task Force. City staff is further authorized to develop a scope and fee proposal with Dr. Jeff Schatz, the City's Independent Task Force Facilitator. Dr. Schatz will screen, interview, and appoint applicants to the Task Force and ensure interested applicants align to the City Commission's goals and objectives for the 2021 Election and City Governance Task Force. The Internal Recommendations Team will not have a role in screening or selecting Task Force members.

COVID-19 Update

Fargo Cass Public Health's Director of Public Health, Desi Fleming, presented a COVID-19 update.

• State-wide COVID cases appear to be plateauing with just over 3,200 active cases.
• Cass County currently at 599 active cases.
• There were 38 COVID-related deaths across the state last week.
• There have been 234 COVID-related deaths in Cass County.
• Hospitalizations have increased by 27 individuals since the last report.
• 184 people are hospitalized state-wide.
• Space and staffing resources continue to be stretched to capacity.
• 0-11 year old group is the age category with the most active cases, followed by the 30-39 year old group.
• Breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths, although increasing with Delta, remain below 1% of total cases.
• FCPH along with others in the community are doing booster doses for those who had the Pfizer vaccine.
• Eligibility criteria for the Pfizer booster are adults who are 65+ years old, adults with underlying health conditions, and adults at risk for an occupational or institutional exposure, at least six months from the last dose in your initial Pfizer series
• FCPH should know more about Moderna and J&J booster vaccines after ACIP and CDC meet the end of this week, and they will meet on the pediatric vaccines for the 5-11 year old group the first week in November.
• Vaccination remains our best tool for the health of our community, physical and emotional

Vaccine availability can be found at VaccineFinder.org.

Quarterly Hate Crimes Report Update

The Fargo Police Department's Chief David Zibolski provided an update on the Quarterly Hate Crimes Report.

To date, there have been no incidents reported under the three hate crime ordinances in the third quarter of 2021. The Fargo Police Department has been reviewing all cases submitted with a bias designation indicated by the responding officer. Over the course of 2021, Fargo Police Officers have taken 17 reports where the initial responding officer indicated a possible bias by the offender. Of these 17 reports, three had facts that supported the original designation after the secondary review.

Hate crime information and reporting is available on the website at fargond.gov/hate-crimes.

Fargo City Commission Approves Purchase Agreement for Island Park Ramp

The Fargo City Commission approved a recommendation from the Finance Committee to approve the Purchase Agreement from Bell Bank for the sale of the Island Park Parking Ramp located at 500 Main Avenue.

Terms of the sale include:
• Free public parking allowed evenings and weekends for at least 100 parking spaces
• The proposed 501 Main Avenue development will have the option to lease up to 100 parking spaces.
• Bell bank will continue to rent parking to up to 25 of the people currently renting parking in the ramp.

The draft purchase price of $9,376,000 was approved for the sale of the ramp. A closing of the sale is planned prior to the end of October.