(FARGO, ND) – All five Fargo City Commissioners will take part in the process of creating and managing the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the selection of a future Convention Center project in the City of Fargo.
Charley Johnson, President of Visit Fargo-Moorhead, brought forward a list of ten individuals that would take part in the process, including one Fargo City Commissioner.
Johnson said his group would be assisted by Assistant City Attorney Erik Johnson, City Administrator Michael Redlinger and other city support staff as needed.
The group’s goal would be to submit the RFP to the City Commission for approval by the end of April, Johnson said. He indicated optimism that the date would be reachable.
“Once it’s approved, then it would be distributed to interested parties,” he said. “Parties who are interested in entering a partnership with the City to build a convention center and other amenities.”
Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn requested that all five of Fargo’s city commissioners be involved in the process.
“What that will do is that will ensure that these are all publicly noticed,” he said. “And that everything is taking place in public.”
Piepkorn is referencing a situation in which he was not involved in a meeting regarding the homeless issue. He said the commission needs to have integrity and transparency.
“By including us all, that will ensure that,” he said.
The Commission voted, after several minutes of discussion, 3-2 to place all five commissioners on the committee. Commissioner Denise Kolpack and Mayor Tim Mahoney voted against the motion.
