The Moorhead City Council met on February 8, 2016 to discuss issues ranging from city engineering projects to neighborhood development to possible changes to the way tobacco is licensed and sold.The council voted to adopt the 2016-2020 Pavement Management & Transportation Capital Improvement Plan. The plan includes engineering projects including traffic signal painting, intersection improvements and quiet zones.

The majority of the meeting was dedicated to two issues, the first being how to proceed with a request for proposals for the development of city-owned property in the Johnson Farms subdivision. Fargo-based Eagle Ridge Development submitted a proposal for the property and City Manager Michael Redlinger and City Engineer Bob Zimmerman expressed concern that the current infrastructure, namely the existing 10-inch sewer pipe, could not support the growth proposed in the current Eagle Ridge Development plan.

Acting upon a suggestion by City Attorney John Shockley, Nancy Otto (Ward 1) requested to table the issue until existing covenants on the property could be reviewed. Mari Dailey (also Ward 1) seconded the motion and the issue was tabled. A formal request for proposals will not be authorized until the covenants can be reviewed.

The council then moved to consider Ordinance 2016-05: An Ordinance to Amend and Reenact Section 5-5A-1, 2-5A-3.1, 2-5A-7 and 3-11-3 of the Moorhead Municipal Code Relating to Tobacco Sales, Licensing and Usage Setback. Jen Hoben, owner of Masterpiece Vapors in Perham and Detroit Lakes spoke against the changing of the code, stating that it would unfairly influence businesses like hers that supply nicotine vaporizers and ELiquids. Further action was tabled in order to allow proponents of the change a chance to address the council.