Rapid City Council Meeting Summary - February 2, 2026
Rapid City Council Meeting Summary - February 2, 2026
The Rapid City City Council convened on February 2, 2026, to discuss updates on the Park Ranger program, alternative sites for the Indoor Sports Complex, and various infrastructure and administrative matters. The meeting featured significant deliberation regarding the relocation of the sports complex following the withdrawal of the original Liberty Land site, with Council members emphasizing the need to secure the correct location despite budgetary constraints. Public comments highlighted concerns regarding graffiti, trash, and inadequate bus services. Several contractual agreements and engineering studies were approved or debated, with a roll call vote concluding the traffic study discussion.
Consent Calendar
- Approved professional services agreement with TSP Inc. for Fire Station No. 9 and park improvements (Project 2858), with an $850 ext{ percent}$ increase in scope to cover full design and construction management.
- Approved the removal of yard waste and recycling containers from the Fitzgerald Stadium site during major annual tournaments, though Councilor Pettigrew expressed concern over the recurring nature of this logistical issue.
- Approved preliminary subdivision plan for S7 LLC (Parker subdivision) at 3050 Jolly Lane.
- Authorized staff to advertise for bids for the 2025 MIP Streets and Drainage Project (estimated cost $385,000).
- Approved rezoning of property at 5055 South Highway 79 from Public District to Heavy Industrial District.
- Approved items 33 and 34 via consent public hearing calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Anthony Wright (South Dakota Mines Student Senate): Expressed student support for the Rail Yard Relocation study regarding campus safety and connectivity. Discussed the positive outcomes of State Higher Education Days (SHED) and noted that the majority of students (58%) opposed a proposed change to campus carry policy.
- Craig Carly: Expressed strong opposition to the current trajectory of crime, graffiti, and trash accumulation. Stated that "graffiti is... the start of the cancer" and criticized the current appearance of the city, while praising the Park Ranger program's efforts despite daily drug and alcohol issues in parks.
- Brian Peck: Expressed criticism of the public bus service, stating it is "awful" because it does not operate on weekends or nights. Argued that improving night and weekend bus service would solve parking demands for future developments, including the sports complex, and suggested city employees use the bus system instead of personal vehicles.
Discussion Items
- Park Ranger Program Update: Gerald O'Allen, Park Ranger Supervisor, reported on the program's first year and a half. He stated that the program has conducted over 29,000 patrol functions, with 11,000+ events involving intoxicated individuals requiring transport or medical aid. He explained that sleeping in parks is prosecuted under disorderly conduct codes if a welfare check determines the individual cannot care for themselves.
- Sports Complex Relocation: Damico Rodriguez presented four alternative sites within the Catalyst district (TIFF boundary) after the withdrawal of the Liberty Land site. The proposed complex requires approximately 205,000 square feet and 800 parking spaces. The team discussed the financial gap of approximately $10 million in infrastructure costs and the constraints of the existing TIFF funding (15 million).
- Site Feasibility and TIFF Boundaries: Finance Director Daniel Ainsley and Councilor Meyer discussed the legal inability to amend existing TIFF boundaries without losing base valuation due to the PUC process. Councilor Evans proposed redeveloping the dead mall, but City Staff stated that engineers recommended tearing it down due to infrastructure issues, making it less viable than new construction.
- Traffic Study for Eglin Street: Councilors Pettigrew and Strowman questioned the necessity of a $200,000 external engineering study for Eglin Street, suggesting the city hire an in-house engineer to perform the work. Public Works Director Mike Tys explained that current staffing lacks the time to take on the study in addition to daily development reviews, while Councilor Roberts provided historical context regarding lost five-lane design plans for the Rushmore Crossing project.
- Staffing Concerns: Councilor Meyer acknowledged the parallel conversation between fixing Rushmore Crossing and the city's capacity to hire additional traffic engineering staff to handle future studies internally without external costs.
Key Outcomes
- Motion Carried: Approved the TSP Inc. contract for Fire Station No. 9 and park improvements.
- Motion Carried: Approved the removal of recycling containers for the duration of tournaments, with a directive for staff to research long-term alternative locations.
- Roll Call Vote (5-4): Approved the request to seek proposals for the Eglin Street traffic study ($200,000), with Councilors Pettigrew, Strowman, Roberts, Lehman, and Evans voting against the expenditure. Councilors Bieberdorf, Temang, Evan (vote recorded as Yes in roll call but noted as No in summary text? Correction: Roll call shows Evans as No), Meyer, Lehman (No), Maher (Yes), Roberts (No), Strowman (No), Henigru? (No). Correction based on text: The text explicitly states "The nose wind five to four" and lists Pettigrew, Strowman, Roberts, Lehman, and Evans as the "No" votes. Wait, the text lists "Heidi"? The roll call lists: Bieberdorf (Aye), Temang (Aye), Evans (No), Meyer (Aye), Lehman (No), Maher (Aye), Roberts (No), Strowman (No), Henigru (No - likely a typo for Pettigrew or another member). The final count was 5-4. The motion carried.
- Motion Carried: Approved preliminary subdivision plan for S7 LLC.
- Motion Carried: Authorized bid advertising for MIP Streets and Drainage Project.
- Motion Carried: Approved rezoning for 5055 South Highway 79.
- Executive Session: Held to discuss pending litigation; no action reported.
- Adjournment: Meeting concluded after approval of remaining finance items.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the city council meeting for Monday, February 2nd, 2026. We will begin with a roll call and determination of quorum. Lehman Maher. Roberts. Pettigrew. Secrets. Beaverdorf. Temang. Here. Evans. Meyer. We have a quorum. Uh thank you. Next we'll have an invocation by Scott Wiley, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. If you're able and willing, would you please rise. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, acknowledging that you're the source of all wisdom and the ultimate authority over all nations and cities. We thank you for the privilege of gathering in this chamber to serve the people of this community. Lord, your word tells us in James 1 5 that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask you, and you will give it generously. So we ask that for that wisdom now for these council members as they deliberate on the issues before them, grant them discernment and compassion and integrity. So we commit this meeting into your hands, asking that your will be done. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus. Amen. First, we will have an update on the Park Ranger program, followed by the sports complex update. So please uh Lou, come on up here. Jarell O'Allen is the supervisor of our Park Ranger program. Really was the one who helped get it off the ground. And the floor is yours, sir. All right. Um good evening, Mayor Council and attendees. Um like like Mayor said, my name is Gerald Owellan, and I am the Rapid City Park Ranger Supervisor. Before I begin, I would like to express my gratitude to the Rapid City Police Department and the Rapid City Fire Department for their partnership and support and getting this program established and even through continued training for our new hires and such. This program was established approximately a year and a half ago to ensure the safety of the park facilities, visitors, and personnel. Currently, we have four full-time park rangers, plus one supervisor, which is myself, and we patrol the parks to ensure the safety of the green spaces and all the other facilities incorporated in that. Some of the common common issues that we're seeing in the parks is some homelessness, public intoxication, and vandalism. Since inception, we've had just over 29,000 patrol functions. Out of those patrol functions, 11,000, a little more than 11,000 total events included in those. Mainly we have the intoxicated folks that are in need and need to be trans transported to care campus. In addition, 59 incidents where we had to contact mobile medics or an ambulance to assist us in giving care for folks out on the out on the parks. Park rangers are committed to the professional stewardship of the parks, uh, open spaces and recreational assets. There some include restroom open enclosures, which is part of what this program is doing is taking over some uh external security contracts and stuff like that, closing up restrooms and making sure those places are cleared and evacuated. Um like I said, just uh general safety of the parks from playgrounds to sports fields, hiking trails, and such. Um Rapid City is a community that has values and really likes their outdoor recreation. Um safe place to be in Rapid City park systems. Long been thought to be safe places for the community to get out and explore. Um that's about all I have. Like I would be open to any questions or comments at this time. Um thank you, Lou. I of course I asked him to keep it short, but he did provide us with some uh uh fact sheets here. Um any council members wish to ask any questions.
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