Votes at a glance: West Fargo City Commission, Aug. 4, 2025

At its Aug. 4 meeting the West Fargo City Commission took a series of formal actions on the 2026 budget, ordinances, capital projects and engineering studies and held required public hearings related to federal funding.

Key actions included approval of the city’s 2026 preliminary budget, award of construction contracts for the Public Works Sanitation Expansion Phase 2, authorization of task orders for two engineering studies, first- and second-reading votes on flood- and legislative-related ordinances, and public hearings related to a community development block grant for a senior housing project.

Below are the actions, movers and short outcomes drawn from the meeting record.

- 2026 preliminary budget: Commissioner Olson moved to approve the 2026 preliminary budget; Commissioner Zundell seconded. The commission approved the balanced preliminary budget as presented. Staff said the budget is balanced with no deficit and no use of reserves; staff set a public hearing for Sept. 8, 2025 and said the final approval timeline remains on track for Sept. 22 or Oct. 6.

- First reading, updated flood management ordinance: Jerry Wallace, city engineer, presented the updated flood-plain management ordinance and basement exception design guidance developed with FEMA. Commissioner Zundell moved to approve the first reading; Commissioner Anderson seconded. The commission approved the first reading. Staff said the effort implements updated FEMA guidance and a new basement-floodproofing design guide.

- Second reading, legislative update ordinance (ordinance 12-61): Katie Schmidt, city attorney, said the ordinance incorporates statutory revisions from the recent legislative session and included additions related to speed limits and fleeing. Commissioner Zundell moved and Commissioner Anderson seconded; the commission approved the second reading of ordinance 12-61.

- Public Works Sanitation Expansion Phase 2 (Project 9061): Director of Public Works Matt Anvick reported competitive bids below preliminary estimates. The commission awarded the general contract to Valor Contracting and selected Peterson Sheet Metal for mechanical and Scott’s Electric for electrical work, pending DEQ approval for SRF loan funding. Commissioner Zundell moved to approve the bids and award the contracts; Commissioner Jorgensen seconded; motion carried.

- Wastewater serviceability and risk reduction study (Project 9021, Task Order 98-1): Dan Hansen summarized the purpose of a system-wide sanitary sewer model, noting SA-40 is a key lift station and that the city secured a North Dakota Department of Emergency Services grant to cover up to $278,055 toward the cost. The commission approved Task Order 98-1 with Moore Engineering.

- West Fargo core area flooding study (Task Order 99): Hansen described a storm-sewer model for the downtown/core area to guide multiple upcoming reconstruction projects and tie into larger diversion planning; the commission approved Task Order 99 with Moore Engineering. Staff noted a $262,500 grant from the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services toward the study.

- Public hearing: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Elson Shores senior housing: Aaron Nelson presented background on a roughly $1.6 million CDBG award to assist Beyond Shelter Inc. and the Housing Authority of Cass County with land acquisition for Elson Shores senior housing. The required environmental review concluded with a finding of no significant impact. The commission held the required public hearing and received one public comment in favor; no action was requested or taken at this meeting.

For items that passed without a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript, votes were taken by voice ("aye") and recorded as carried in the meeting minutes. Several items mention pending external approvals or funding contingencies, including DEQ approval for SRF loans (Public Works expansion) and grant reimbursements for the engineering studies.