West Fargo commissioners approve floodplain ordinance, award library carpet, create neighborhood improvement districts and appoint LAWA alternate

The West Fargo City Commission adopted the second reading of an updated floodplain management ordinance, awarded a contract to replace worn carpet at the West Fargo Library, and created three separate improvement districts to fund neighborhood mill-and-overlay street projects. The commission also appointed Deputy Mayor Brad Olsen as the city's designated alternate to the Lake Agassiz Water Authority.

City Engineer Jerry Wallace said the floodplain ordinance update is intended to keep the city current with federal standards. "This is just trying to keep us current with the National Flood Insurance Program and the new flood insurance rate maps," Wallace said, and recommended adoption of the updated floodplain management ordinance. Commissioner Brad Olsen moved to approve the second reading; Commissioner Zundell seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

During public comment, resident Steve Marquardt urged clarity on how the city will complete street improvement projects and whether work will be put to public bid. Marquardt said city residents suspect the city is not saving money using its own crews and quoted Public Works Director Anvig as telling a resident, "I wouldn't trust any contractor in Cass County to bury my dog," asking whether that comment explained why some projects have not been bid.

Dan Hansen, senior director of community and development, said the mill-and-overlay projects the commission approved creating as improvement districts are planned to be designed, publicly bid and constructed by private contractors rather than by West Fargo public works crews. The commission created Improvement District No. 2296 (Shadowwood neighborhood) and directed the city engineer to prepare an engineer's report, and then created Improvement District No. 2297 (South Pond neighborhood) and directed an engineer's report for that district. Both motions were moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Hansen said the neighborhoods proposed for these districts had been part of a larger 2023 project that was dissolved after protests; the Shadowwood neighborhood previously had only one written protest among roughly 150 homes. Hansen noted the city's 2024 capital improvement plan reduced assessment percentages for mill-and-overlay projects (previously assessed at 100%, later proposed at 80%, and in the 2024 CIP suggesting roughly a 50/50 city/resident cost share for these maintenance-type projects).

The commission also created Improvement District No. 2265 for Ninth Street Northeast from Main Avenue to Twelfth Avenue Northeast, directing an engineer's report for a larger reconstruction and noting several funding sources. Hansen said the overall estimated cost for the larger Ninth Street corridor project is $26,244,000, with $18,000,400 in grant funding and an estimated $3,900,000 share from the city of Fargo; after subtracting grants and Fargo's share, Hansen said the remaining local project cost was preliminarily about $7,800,000. Per the 2024 CIP policy for regional roadways, Hansen said the city preliminarily plans to assess 70% of those local costs, with the city assuming 30%.

Library Director Jenna Kaley asked the commission to award a reduced-scope carpet replacement contract to the lowest bidder, Allstate's Flooring, for $42,775 to replace the most worn carpet on the main floor and stairs. Kaley said the original scope in the capital improvement plan had been larger, but the top floor was less worn and replacing it now would require structural work under a balcony used for children's programming and would be a major service disruption; she noted the library leases the building. Commissioners approved awarding the contract and indicated the additional moving costs (Kaley said mover quotes were about $6,000) would be paid from the capital improvement fund.

On appointments, the commission appointed Deputy Mayor Brad Olsen as the city's designated alternate to the Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA) board. The LAWA governs parts of the Red River water supply project; the commission noted West Fargo is one of several municipal users involved with the project and that the LAWA bylaws require the city to have a designated alternate to ensure it always has a vote.

Other routine business included approval of building permits (recorded as a 3-0 vote with Commissioner Jorgensen recused on that item) and approval of the consent agenda. The commission adjourned following the completed agenda.