Remarks by John Strand
76 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
“How do you feel about the budget where we're at now and the processes going forward?”
“Thank you. I just would be remiss not to share that we have, with all everybody's been through downtown the last few years, there's folks that would be concerned that we don't lag on this and that we act quickly and we don't create new elements of gatherings of people downtown that they're not right now prepared for. And this will shift our populations and where they're at and who they are. And I'm not trying to talk about those people. I'm just saying it's a new dynamic to downtown with the courthouse population, which is 70, 80 people a day sometimes, and with the bus service folks. We have…”
“Okay, two things to report. The transit director vacancy right now after Julie Baumann retired We're well into the interviewing process and have gone through the initial phases. I want to say there were like 21 applicants from across the country, but we're down to two at this point, so we have two finalists that will be vetted further, and our HR department and others will keep us informed on that, but that's unfolding. Secondly, from the public health arena in the public health arena you may all know or not that the governor kelly armstrong has initiated announced a ban on kratom it's a…”
“Thank you. Nicole, I'm just curious. With this tenant-based rental assistance, not long ago you mentioned to us that there's 30 evictions per month in our community. Will this address that, or how do those dots connect?”
“So evictions will be part of that radar? Yes. On their radar?”
“As long as I'm at it. There's one data point about our community that might fit here in this conversation, and that is, as I understand it, and this is older information, but it's still relevant today, 75% or three-fourths of our kids coming out of foster care are homeless the day they turn 18. So I would make sure we also have that group on this list of those needs that we're addressing in the community. And they probably already are on your radar. Thank you. All right.”
“Thank you, Mayor. Nicole, could you pull this slide up where you gave us a visual of what the tax revenues might be going forward, right there on the bottom? As I read this, the property value after the improvement will go from $160,000 to $240,000 annually. Is that a correct interpretation?”
“So this is where my math gets muddled. I've never not voted for a renaissance project. It's one of the incentive programs I unequivocally support. Part of it is the short duration of it, not forever, up to 25 years. As I'm reading this number, this information, we're going to get $80,000 after the project, $80,000 a year increased revenue, property taxes. So that'll take us 10 years to recoup the 800 and some thousand dollar incentive offered to do the project. But the renaissance program is five years. So we have five years, then we have another five years. I guess where my head's at is I…”
“A question. Tell me, remind me, who's on the Renaissance Zone Authority, and how do they go about vetting these projects? Because that's where the real sausage is made. We're just approving their recommendation or not, but how does that unfold, and who are they?”
“Commissioner Peterson. I'm good, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thanks. Mayor, do we have a motion on the table? We do not. I move approval to get formalized this. There's a motion.”
“Here's where I land. The project meets all state and local requirements for approval and is consistent with goals and objectives as established in the Fargo Renaissance Zone Development Plan. How can we not approve what we've asked people to do? As long as we're asking them and giving them the opportunity to do this, and we create the window to do this, and then at the very last 11th hour we, for some and maybe not everybody, we upset the apple cart. I just, I just think policy is where we need to be. And, and, and I'm, the policy at this point in my mind is clear this is allowable. It's been…”
“Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Commissioner Turnberg. They've been discussing this for a long time and part of the whole process of the airport expansion in every regard is to make it a user-friendly experience and that's what they're trying to do, but That said, I'm in favor of giving this a green light for the moment if it works. You know, I remember when we downtown were talking about people being able to carry drinks during like street fair, downtown events, the calls and the street fairs. And what we did at the, especially when COVID was going on, we gave them, let's give them a pilot…”
“Mayor, I have a question, if I might. Yes. Who would pay for this sidewalk? If the waiver is denied, is this on the property owners, or would the city order it and then assess the neighborhood, or how would that work?”
“I MAKE THE RECOMMENDED MOTION FOR DENIAL.”
“My motion is to deny the request for the waiver, which means that everything as recommended by the city is where the sidewalk would end up being installed per our policies.”
“But for the grace of God, there go I. You know, one of these days, a few weeks ago, I got injured, and I could be in a wheelchair today. And what happens when that happens? That you're the one that's trying to ambulate and get through a part of town, and you don't have access and availability, and you're out mixed with the traffic. You may be one in how many thousands of people that that's your mode of transportation. You're in a wheelchair. But we have to remember those folks that are vulnerable and those folks that don't have the wherewithal and the blessings. I'm really concerned about…”
“My question is this, is what do we do the next time somebody wants a waiver? And at what point do we decide that our policies are not solid and that they're that flexible that on the whim of electeds we may change tomorrow or the next day? I'm just wondering. I like to be driven by policy and have policy drive our actions. And we're deviating from our policy. I think we're recommending deviating from our existing policy that says there shall be, for these reasons, sidewalks.”
“Thank you. I remember another instance in South Fargo where a yard was full of vehicles, but I had the impression it had to be complaint driven or that our sense was we were complaint driven. Was this a complaint that created this action?”
“They specifically complained about the vehicle?”
“I would like to ask the owner's representative how much time would be needed to accomplish this effect or not.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Mayor? I move we give them three months. And either it's addressed and satisfied by then, or we, at that point in time, direct our staff to remove the RV and they've had adequate notice.”
“I would say in 90 days, if it's still there, you tow it.”
“Thank you, Mayor. Chief, I'm just wondering, your predecessor was informing us that we would be needing a new police headquarters at some point in time. And I interpret that that means we'd have to move from this current location. Is that still the discussion and or with this opening up a 24th there and this expansion of our footprint, does this give us more flexibility in our current location to address future facility needs there? Or is that still inevitable that we'll be moving our headquarters?”
“Mayor, I advance the recommended motion.”