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West Fargo City Commission Meeting
Monday, Jan. 25, 2021
5:00 P.M.
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Approve Order of Agenda
Regular Agenda
1. Hold the Second Reading of $25 Gift Card Program Ordinance and Materials
– Melissa Richard, Communications Director
2. Non-Agenda Items
3. Adjourn
Due to the yellow, moderate risk level of Cass County, the Commission Chambers has limited
capacity for attendees. Therefore, some meetings may still be held virtually. To check the
status of how a meeting will be held, please visit the City of West Fargo’s calendar at https://
www.westfargond.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=14.
The status is subject to change, so attendees are encouraged to check the calendar on the
meeting date to verify attendance options.

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To: West Fargo City Commission
From: Melissa Richard, Communications Director; John Shockley,
City Attorney
Date: Monday, Jan. 25, 2021
Subject: Second reading of $25 gift card program ordinance
and materials
Action: Approve first reading of ordinance and materials
Commission President Summary and Recommendation:
Bernie Dardis
During the Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, West Fargo City Commission
Primary Portfolio:
meeting, Commissioner Gjerdevig introduced a COVID-19 relief
Administration/Finance
program idea that would deliver $25 gift cards to every household
Secondary Portfolio:
Street, Water and Sewer in West Fargo to spend at West Fargo businesses. The Commission
directed staff to investigate the potential of this program and report
Commission
back at the Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, meeting.
Vice President
Brad Olson
Primary Portfolio: Staff provided the West Fargo City Commission with a program
Street, Water and Sewer
outline and a recommendation to pass a specific ordinance that
Secondary Portfolio: would allow the City to distribute these funds. The ordinance
Sanitation
process requires a first and second reading and staff recommended
Commissioner using a vendor to help develop and manage the program. The
Eric Gjerdevig
West Fargo City Commission approved both the ordinance process
Primary Portfolio:
and vendor, along with providing direction that the gift card
Planning, Zoning and
Engineering amount should be $25 and cannot pay for any municipal service.
Secondary Portfolio:
Administration/Finance Today, staff is presenting the first reading of the ordinance and
marketing materials, including the design of the card, letter
Commissioner
Mark Simmons introducing the card to households and signage for businesses for
Primary Portfolio: Commission approval. Staff recommends approving the first reading
Police and Fire
and materials to continue the program.
Secondary Portfolio:
Planning, Zoning and
Policy Analysis:
Engineering
This program was introduced by Commissioner Gjerdevig to provide
Commissioner relief to the City of West Fargo in a way that benefits both residents
Mandy George
and businesses. It also aligns with the West Fargo 2.0 guiding
Primary Portfolio:
principles of vibrant, fiscally responsible, engaged, bold and
Sanitation
proactive.
Secondary Portfolio:
Police and Fire
Financial Analysis:
City Administrator
The estimated cost for this program is $486,950. The program will use
Tina Fisk
COVID-19 CARES Act funding.
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Process/Timeline:
The ordinance that provides the City of West Fargo the ability to
provide the gift cards requires a first and second reading. The
Communications Department is also providing materials to the
Commission during these approvals to provide the fastest program
implementation possible.
Process Action
Commission Dec. 21, 2020: West Fargo City Commission
direction directed staff to research a $25 gift card
program to benefit residents and
businesses
Commission Jan. 4, 2021: West Fargo City Commission
approval approved developing an ordinance to
allow program, $25 gift card amount, and
not accepting card for City utilities
First Reading Jan. 18, 2021: First reading approved
Second Reading Jan. 25, 2021: Submitting for final approval
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ORDINANCE NO. 2021-__
AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE AND ENACT ORDINANCE NO. 2021-__ OF THE REVISED
ORDINANCES OF 1990 OF THE CITY OF WEST FARGO RELATING TO A COVID-19
RELIEF ENTERPRISE FUND
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF WEST
FARGO AS FOLLOWS:
COVID-19 RELIEF ENTERPRISE FUND
SECTION 1: PREAMBLE, PURPOSE, AND INTENT:
A. On March 16, 2020, the President of the Board of Commissioners of the City of
West Fargo, North Dakota (the “City”) declared a state of emergency as a result of the Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”).
B. Article III, Section 2 of the Home Rule Charter provides that the City shall have all
powers granted to municipal corporations by the Constitution and laws of the State of North
Dakota which includes the power to control its finances and fiscal affairs.
C. Article III, Section 10 of the Home Rule Charter further provides that the City shall
have the power to engage in any utility, business, or enterprise permitted by the constitution or not
prohibited by statute.
D. Furthermore, Article III, Section 7 of the Home Rule Charter provides that the City
shall have the power to adopt, amend, and repeal ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to carry
out its governmental and proprietary powers and to provide for the public health, safety, morals,
and welfare.
E. This Ordinance temporarily establishes an enterprise relief fund for the purpose of
paying costs associated with a COVID-19 relief program within the City. This Ordinance
establishes guidelines for the implementation of a temporary COVID-19 relief program
administered by City staff to provide relief to households and businesses within the City.
SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS:
CITY: The City of West Fargo, North Dakota.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR: The City Administrator of the City of West Fargo, North Dakota.
CITY COMMISSION: The City Commission of the City of West Fargo, North Dakota.
1
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CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (“COVID-19”): An infectious disease caused by a novel
coronavirus.
HOME RULE CHARTER: The Home Rule Charter of the City of West Fargo, North Dakota.
ORDINANCE: This Ordinance No. 2021-__.
SECTION 3: COVID-19 RELIEF ENTERPRISE FUND:
1. The City shall establish a temporary enterprise fund for the purpose of paying costs
associated with the implementation of a temporary COVID-19 relief program within the City.
2. City staff shall be authorized to establish and implement a temporary COVID-19
relief program for the purpose of providing relief to households and businesses within the City.
3. City staff shall be authorized to establish and implement a temporary COVID-19
relief program that meets the following general parameters:
a. Numbers Served.
i. 16,264 households (based on USPS data and nationally recognized
compilers for lists).
ii. 1,507 businesses may opt-in to the program (based on Dun & Bradstreet, a
unique identifier for a business created by the credit bureau).
b. Budget.
i. Item Cost % Total Budget
Vendor Services $29,250.00 6%
Mailing and Distribution $22,700.00 5%
Gift Card $425,000.00 87%
Marketing $10,000.00 2%
Total $486,950.00 100%
c. Item Descriptions.
i. Vendor Services:
1. Printing and loading gift cards
2. Setting up business market locations for receiving reimbursement
3. Returning unused funds to the City
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ii. Mailing and Distribution:
1. Printing custom letters and envelopes
2. Packaging letters with gift cards
3. Residential and business mailing lists
4. Postage
iii. Gift Card:
1. Funds for gift cards
iv. Marketing:
1. Signage for participating businesses
2. Gift card giveaway
3. Digital advertising
4. Print advertising
d. Timeline.
i. Jan. 26, 2021-
March 1, 2021: City staff develops material designs, enrolls
participating businesses and vendor prepares and
distributes household materials and implements
business enrollment and reporting system
ii. March 1, 2021: Latest day COVID-19 relief program begins
iii. March 5, 2021: Weekly reimbursement reports processed each
Friday; funds deposited by the following
Wednesday.
iv. March 28, 2021: Program ends with possibility to extend if less
than ninety percent (90%) of funds are used.
SECTION 4: AUTHORIZATION AND SUNSET
1. The City Administrator shall be authorized to make any changes to the temporary
COVID-19 relief program that are reasonable, necessary, and prudent to accomplish the intent and
purpose of this Ordinance.
2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon the second reading. This
Ordinance is intended to be temporary and therefore, shall not be published within the Revised
Ordinances of 1990 of the City of West Fargo. This Ordinance shall continue in full force and
effect and terminate on December 31, 2021.
Dated this ___ day of _______________, 2021
APPROVED BY:
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Bernie Dardis, President of the Board of City
Commissioners
ATTEST:
Tina Fisk, City Administrator
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It is with great pleasure that we present you with a $25 Love Your Local gift card that is
good at any participating West Fargo business. The City of West Fargo is sending this
card to every household to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The only
requirement is to spend the money in West Fargo to assist our businesses.
When making your next purchase at a participating Love Your Local business, simply
present this gift card. You are not required to spend it all at once. Some participating
businesses may also have options for using the gift card online.
Any resident of West Fargo can also enter into a drawing for a $1,000 gift card during
the program by submitting a photo and description of your favorite local business at
westfargond.gov/LoveYourLocal or posting it to Facebook and tagging
@CityofWestFargo and using the hashtag #LoveYourLocalWF. Every valid entry will be
entered into a drawing each week in March for a $1,000 gift card. The submitted
photos will also appear on the City of West Fargo’s social media.
How do you know which businesses are participating?
Visit www.westfargond.gov/LoveYourLocal for information about participating
businesses. You can also look for the Love Your Local icon at West Fargo businesses.
When should you use this?
We are offering this program for a limited time to help put dollars back into our local
businesses as soon as possible. These gift cards are good from the time you receive it
through March, 28, 2021. If the program is extended, it will be announced on the City of
West Fargo’s website, social media and shared with local media.
Where is this money coming from?
The City of West Fargo will use COVID-19 CARES
Act relief funds for this program.
800 Fourth Ave. E., Suite 1 West Fargo, ND 58078 | (701) 433-5300 | westfargond.gov
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City of West Fargo Information Resources
Go to westfargond.gov/Alerts to sign up for news, agendas and alerts
regarding the City of West Fargo, West Fargo Police Department, West Fargo
Fire Department and the West Fargo Public Library.
Join Nextdoor, an online neighborhood hub for trusted connections and the
exchange of helpful information, goods and services.
Follow @CityofWestFargo, @WestFargoPolice, @WestFargoFire and
@WestFargoLibrary on your favorite social media channels.
COVID-19 Prevention Strategies
The following are the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
recommendations for protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.
Wash your hands often Avoid close contact Cover your mouth and nose
with a mask when around others
Cover coughs and sneezes Clean and disinfect Monitor your health daily
COVID-19 Information Resources
The following are the best sources for information about COVID-19 vaccines, treatment
and other information.
Health care provider State and local public CDC
health
800 Fourth Ave. E., Suite 1 West Fargo, ND 58078 | (701) 433-5300 | westfargond.gov
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Items included:
• Household outreach letter
• Gift card design
• Window clings for participating businesses
• Point of purchase table tents for participating
businesses
• Social media graphic designs
Items planned, but not yet developed
• Digital, print and radio advertising
• Radio event
• Business outreach and information resources
• Promotional kit for businesses to customize and
download
• Website – www.westfargond.gov/LoveYourLocal
• Gift card giveaway materials
Front of gift card design (3.375” x 2.125”) Back of gift card design (3.375” x 2.125”)
Expiration date is not included in case the program is extended past March 28, 2021.
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Window cling to be provided to all participating businesses. Design is simplified to minimize
distracting from or competing with the businesses branding. Expiration date is not included in
case the program is extended past March 28, 201. (8.5”x 5.5”)
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Point of purchase table tent signage for businesses. Expiration date is included because the
materials can be easily reproduced and switched if the deadline is extended. (8.5” x 3.5,” hard-
backed with easel)
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Social media materials design. Expiration date is included because the materials can be easily
reproduced and switched if the deadline is extended.
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