Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fargo commission approves convention center RFP; developers have until Aug. 7 to submit proposals
Summary
The commission approved a request for proposals to solicit private partners for a convention center project that envisions an attached hotel and use of a lodging tax only after a project is approved. The RFP timetable includes Q&A through July 11 and proposal submissions due Aug. 7.
The Fargo City Commission on Monday approved a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit private‑sector proposals for a proposed convention center and attached hotel.
City staff member Charlie Johnson, speaking for the project committee, said the RFP will be available within days and outlined a timeline: a 30‑day question period through July 11, a committee meeting on July 18 to review questions, and a proposal due date of Aug. 7. "If you approve this, we assume the RFP will be available at least by Wednesday," Johnson said. "Developers would have until Aug. 7 to submit their proposals."
The project is structured as a public‑private partnership. The public element under consideration is use of an additional lodging tax to support the convention center; staff emphasized the lodging tax would not be applied until a project is approved. The RFP asks proposers to describe site control or acquisition status and to include a private hotel component attached to the convention facility. The committee offered suggested hotel size minimums: roughly 150 to 200 rooms.
Committee members said they visited existing convention centers, including sites in Rochester and St. Cloud, as part of the review. Commissioners praised the committee’s detailed work on scoring and weighting criteria. "We met every Friday for several weeks ... it has been that thorough," Commissioner Kolpak said.
The commission approved the RFP in a roll call vote. City staff said evaluation phases after Aug. 7 will be determined by proposal volume and scoring procedures and that additional approvals will be required if the commission proceeds with a selected project.
