Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 10.28.2024
In case you missed the October 28, 2024, Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.
Bonds Secured for Lashkowitz Riverfront Apartments
In September 2023, the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority demolished the Lashkowitz High Rise, a public housing facility at 101 2nd St. S. Planned in its place are the Lashkowitz Riverfront Apartments, a 110-unit, affordable multi-family apartment community.
Lument Securities has announced it has facilitated the closing of $21.5 million in tax-exempt and taxable bonds to fund the construction and long-term financing of the Lashkowitz Riverfront Apartments. The project will be developed by BlueLine Development and the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney shared this news at the beginning of Monday’s meeting during his Mayor’s Message to the community.
City Commission Adjusts Sanitary Sewer Service Participation Policy
The City of Fargo has had a Sanitary Sewer Service Participation Policy since 2003, and some modifications have been made over the last 20 years.
On Monday night, the City Commission unanimously approved a change to the policy so that preventative/proactive sewer service replacements are not eligible for City participation at locations scheduled for rehabilitation in the next four years. Emergencies with video evidence of failure will still be eligible for City participation in these areas.
The goal of the change is to save residents and The City of Fargo money. According to the Engineering Department: “The excavator completing the work prior to the rehabilitation project has to charge the resident for the cost of the street cut which The City participates in. The City would complete this work on the rehabilitation project in the near future and the cost of this new connection would be included in the capped assessment amount to the resident. If the resident chooses to fix their service from the house to the back of curb, our contractor on the rehabilitation project will connect to the newly installed sanitary sewer service installed by the homeowner's excavator.”
City Staff to Prepare Winter Warming Plan
The City of Fargo utilized American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds last year to initiate the Winter Warming Program. On average, about 37 unhoused individuals were served nightly by the program.
With the availability of unanticipated state grant funding, there are funds remaining that can be used this year.
“As we enter the winter season, it is extremely important that we continue to assist with providing an overnight environment that protects those that are unhoused from the winter elements,” Commissioner John Strand wrote in a letter to the City Commission.
At Commissioner Strand’s recommendation, the City Commission voted 3-2 to direct City staff to assemble a plan to use the remaining ARPA funds toward the Winter Warming Program and then to report back on the finalized plan.
Joint Fire Academy Hosts Graduation; Fire Station 8 Begins Serving Community
The Joint Fire Academy held a graduation for 13 new firefighters on Friday, October 25, in the City Commission Chambers of Fargo City Hall. Nine of the firefighters will serve the Fargo Fire Department; three will serve West Fargo; and one will serve Moorhead.
It was the 11th class of the Joint Fire Academy – a collaboration between the cities of Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.
Fargo’s newest firefighters will allow the department to staff Station 8, which held a grand opening on Wednesday, October 23, and began responding to calls for service on Monday, October 28. Station 8 at 6617 33rd St. S. will serve the growing neighborhoods of south Fargo.
Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack, the City Commission’s liaison to the Fire Department, shared this news during the Commissioner update portion of the meeting.
Commissioners to Consider Amending Ordinance on Littering by Contractors
In June, the City Commission asked the City Attorney’s Office to begin working to amend and update an article in Fargo Municipal Code that addresses littering by contractors.
Article 11-09 was enacted in 1962 and has not been updated since. Some of the article has outdated language and is not consistent with current law. For example, the penalty section states that violations of Article 11-09 may be punishable by up to a $100 fine and 90 days in jail. A jail sentence of 90 days exceeds the legal maximum for City offenses. To make the ordinance consistent with similar offenses, any violation would become an infraction under the amended ordinance.
On Monday night, City Commissioners voted unanimously to receive and file a draft of the amended ordinance and scheduled it for first reading at the next City Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 12.