1. City of West Fargo special assessment forums

2. Agenda
Background
Objective
Goals
Approval

3. Special Assessments
Financing method establised by North Dakota Century Code
Utilized to allocate costs of an infrastructure improvement project to property owners that benefit from the infrastructure
Commisioner Gjerdevig brought forward a motion to schedule community forums to engage West Fargo residents in a discussion on special assessments and it was approved by the commission
Proposed goals and objectives to lead city staff in planning events
Example projects include water lines and storage, sewer lines, storm sewer, road and sidewalk paving and flood protection

4. OBJECTIVE
Host community events to provide education on special assessments and an opportunity for West Fargo property owners to provide input.
Event to include:
An introduction/goal of the event
Pre-event survey
Brief overview of Fargo special assessment committee
Education on the City of West Fargo’s special assessment process
Portion will also include information on property taxes, enterprise funds, sales tax, state funds and other funding areas to provide participants with a full picture of the city’s funding framework
City staff and commissioners should be available to answer any questions
Time for small group discussion of special assessments
Carefully select facilitators who can make participants comfortable with providing feedback, guide the conversation and capture the input
Post-event survey

5. TARGET AUDIENCE Primary: City of West Fargo property owners Secondary:
Other City of West Fargo taxing agencies
State legislative representatives
Primary – Audience we would like to participate in events and provide input on special assessments
City of West Fargo property owners who contribute funding via property taxes, special assessments and enterprise funds
Secondary – Audience that would benefit from observing events; learning residents feedback and collaborating with City to address issue
City of West Fargo taxing agencies – school district, park district and Cass County – who also collect funds from property owners
State legislative representatives who help build the funding framework used by cities and help distribute funding through grants and other special projects

6. PARTICIPATION GOALS
By Dec. 31, 2018, hold five community forums with an average of at least 50 attendees at each to provide participants with special assessment information and opportunity to provide input
By Dec. 31, 2018, hold five community forums with an average of at least 50 attendees at each forum to provide residents of West Fargo with an opportunity to learn and provide input on special assessments
Communications – media relations, social media, website, paid social and digital ads

7. HOMEOWNER DISTRIBUTION
Westport Beach neighborhood
Meadow Ridge neighborhood
Eagle Run neighborhood
Elmwood Court neighborhood
13th Avenue E. corridor, between Ninth Street E. and Sheyenne Street
HOMEOWNER DISTRIBUTION
Identify five most populous sections of the City of West Fargo to identify a location for each forum
Identify dates that do not conflict with major community events

8. PARTICIPATION GOALS
By Dec. 31, 2018, 3,700 forum participants via digital tools, as measured by website traffic, social media engagement and video views
By Dec. 31, 2018, 3,700 forum participants via digital tools, as measured by website traffic, social media engagement and video views
Utilize digital tools to broadcast events, deliver education to broader audience, and elicit feedback from residents unable to attend the meetings

9. DIGITAL TOOLS
SURVEY
By Dec. 31, 2018, 3,700 forum participants via digital tools, as measured by website traffic, social media engagement and video views
Utilize digital tools to broadcast events, deliver education to broader audience, and elicit feedback from residents unable to attend the meetings
Website with educational content
Facebook Live
PEG Access Channel
Twitter Q&A
YouTube video
Incorporate surveys into each platform to capture success of education

10. EVENT IMPACT GOALS
By Dec. 31, 2018, a 30 percent increase in forum participant knowledge of special assessments, as measured by pre- and post-event surveys and online survey for digital participants
By Dec. 31, 2018, a 30 percent increase in forum participants’ feeling of providing valued input, as measured by pre- and post-event surveys

11. POST-EVENT GOAL
By March 2019, launch and achieve 3,700 views of special assessment website for further education and outreach, as measured by website traffic
By March 2019, announce at least one idea from the forums for further review and possible implementation by the City of West Fargo
Develop special assessment website that will continue to provide updates and information on special assessments, post feedback from forums and track any changes to special assessment progress

12. Approval requested
Objective
Host community events to provide education on special assessments and an opportunity for West Fargo property owners to provide input.
Goals
By Dec. 31, 2018, hold five community forums with an average of at least 50 attendees at each forum
By Dec. 31, 2018, 3,700 digital community forum participants
By Dec. 31, 2018, a 30 percent increase in forum participant knowledge of special assessments
By Dec. 31, 2018, a 30 percent increase in forum participant feeling of providing valued input
By March 2019, launch and achieve 3,700 views of special assessment website for further citizen engagement
By March 2019, announce at least one idea from the forums for further review and possible implementation by the City of West Fargo