City leaders approve committee to start proposal process on Fargo convention center
Concerns were raised about the FARGODOME. Commissioners expect the board to submit to be a private partner.
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - Fargo City Commission approved a committee that will create and manage the request for proposal process on a new convention center during Monday night’s meeting.
Voters approved a city lodging tax to fund the new convention center in November. It needed a simple majority to pass and did so narrowly, with 52% of the vote. This after voters turned down the convention center and $140 million FARGODOME renovation project during a special election in Dec. 2023.
In a 3-2 vote, city commissioners decided they would be a part of the committee. Mayor Tim Mahoney and Commissioner Denise Kolpack voted against the motion.
“We’ve obviously had an issue where things are going on now in private that have to do with public trust and public dollars,” Commissioner Dave Piepkorn said.
Piepkorn said this will ensure transparency for the public.
The committee is expected to meet weekly. They also plan to head to St. Cloud and Rochester to look at other examples of convention centers. Some ideas were floated about making the facility into something more.
“I would love to see us include in this process a discussion of a convention center that would be a little more than a convention center,” Commissioner John Strand said. “I would like us to explore whether it’s conceivable, possible and doable to include a performing arts center in this overall concept. If I’m not at the table, I can’t advocate for that.”
Other city leaders argued that’s not what voters approved. Plus, the convention center is expected to cost between $40-$50 million. The goal is to submit a request for proposal (RFP) for city commission approval by the end of April.
It will then go out to parties who are interested in partnering with the city to build a convention center and other amenities. Concerns were raised about the FARGODOME. Commissioners expect the board to submit to be a private partner.
“The FARGODOME is an entity of the City of Fargo. It involves all of us,” Piepkorn said. “I think we need to have some clarification. If that happens, that they are one of the interested parties, how do we act as a commission so we are impartial?”
The committee hopes to bring ideas and partners to the City Commission by the fall.
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