Votes at a glance: Grand Forks City Council actions March 17, 2025 — major funding, ordinances and contracts

The Grand Forks City Council on March 17 took action on a large consent bundle and several pulled items. Key outcomes below summarize formal votes and final tallies where stated at the meeting.

Major approvals and outcomes

- CAPER (2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and CDBG report): Approved unanimously. (Action: 3.1)

- Ordinances / land-use actions: The council held public hearings and approved several ordinances on second reading, including final approval of the Corinth Eleventh Edition plat (1910 North 50 Second Street), an annexation ordinance for Krentel M 73 subdivision (1910 North 50 Second Street), and rezoning of Lot A, Block 51 Alexander Ives Addition (1027 North Fifth Street) from B3 to R4. (Actions: 3.2–3.4)

- Project determinations and protests: Council found no protests on project 8862 and 8838 street/paving projects and approved moving those assessments forwards. (Action: 3.5)

- Stormwater / Highway 81 loan resolution (Project storm phases 2–5): Council adopted a resolution authorizing a State Revolving Fund loan to cover phases 2–5 of storm projects in the Highway 81 area — combining a new SRF loan of $4,352,000 with the previously approved phase 1 loan of $3,166,000 (totaling ~$7,518,000). The loan will be repaid via special assessments; Council member Osowski recorded a dissenting vote. (Action: 5.1)

- Towing-fee code amendment (21-0907): Council considered updating maximum towing/impound fees but tabled the item for two months at staff and councilmembers’ request, including direction to solicit more data from towing companies and property owners. (Action: 5.6)

- Bid awards and public-works contracts: The council approved multiple construction bid awards, including sanitary sewer Phase 3 (Project 8921) to Molstead Excavating (bid opening produced one responsive bidder above engineer’s estimate), Project 8926 (7th Ave North storm sewer) award (contractor had recent Fargo experience), and annual sidewalks/ADA curb ramps contract to Tony Anderson Construction (approximately $564,260). Council President Sandy dissented on some awards where noted. (Actions: 5.7; 5.8; 5.17)

- Public transportation: Council approved a public transit fare increase and a supplemental purchase policy aligning FTA micro- and small-purchase thresholds with federal rules. (Actions: 5.21; 5.22)

- Airport: Council approved advancing work on the Grand Forks International Airport air-service expansion and signed an agreement with the consultant group to advance the business case for new routes; staff said a $1,000,000 small-service federal grant is expected and the city committed up to $300,000 in local match toward planning. (Action: 5.27)

- Ultra Sports Complex financing authorization: Council authorized solicitation of the first GMP bid package and interim financing offers (see separate article). (Action: 5.28)

Votes that were handled en bloc

Several routine consent items and smaller contracts were approved by motion at the start of the meeting as a group (items listed in the staff packet). The chair read the items that were pulled for discussion; items not pulled were approved by the consent motion.

What the public should know

Most items will require follow-up administrative steps (contract execution, grant agreements, right-of-way acquisition) and additional council approvals for final contract awards and financing. Notable dissent: Councilmember Osowski voted against the storm project SRF loan resolution; President Sandy sometimes asked that certain technical bids be rebid where he felt procedural or price concerns applied.