Rapid City City Council Meeting - August 18, 2026
Rapid City City Council Meeting - August 18, 2026
This meeting of the Rapid City City Council, originally recorded as occurring on August 17, 2026, covered a range of topics including beautification, water infrastructure, sidewalk requirements, reasonable accommodation for disabilities, alcohol-related litter, and a naming rights agreement with Sanford Health. Numerous public comments were heard, and several ordinances were passed.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 through 20 were approved unanimously, including routine approvals and financial items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Sandra Lashley (Beautification Committee) requested a $2,500 annual operating budget for beautification projects, emphasizing curb appeal and the need to revise zoning codes and landscape ordinances.
- William Wagner urged the city to prioritize repairing water infrastructure over corporate expansions, citing state law regarding NDAs and public participation protections.
- Jeff Jacobson proposed a city ordinance to place a traffic cone on the head of any presidential statue where the president is a convicted felon, and questioned whether his protest at the Trump statue would lead to arrest.
- James Biolota criticized the city for allowing agents to refuse service on public property and for charging for public restrooms at Main Street Square, threatening federal legal action.
- Brandon Ferguson (speaking on items 21 and 27) addressed the history of alcohol among tribal members and argued that banning single-serving bottles would not solve the litter problem; he suggested inmate cleanup crews.
- Angelo Schraldi raised concerns about ADA sidewalk accessibility issues at Milwaukee and Denver Street, and also commented on national economic issues.
- Adrian Epp linked affordable housing to car dependency, calling for expanded bus routes and bike infrastructure, and objected to Axon cameras at Star Village as a Fourth Amendment violation.
- Carl Hodson III spoke in support of Oxford Houses for recovery, citing high success rates.
- Tammy Hopp (Rapid City Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee/Black Hills Works) supported Ordinance 6726, noting it removes public hearing requirements for reasonable accommodation for disabilities, which protects privacy and reduces lawsuit risk.
- Kathy Minick expressed continued concerns about occupancy limits but appreciated the city’s work on the ordinance.
- Sam Larson (Powder River Construction/Admiral Beverage Corporation) argued for a sidewalk variance on Creek Drive, noting the lack of existing sidewalks and the area’s low pedestrian traffic.
Discussion Items
- Item 21 – Ordinance 6726 (Reasonable Accommodation): First reading of an ordinance creating a reasonable accommodation procedure for individuals with disabilities. Debate centered on lack of neighbor notification. City staff explained that requiring notification would be discriminatory compared to other similar uses (e.g., vacation homes, daycares). Councilor Maher voted against due to lack of notice; Councilor Temang abstained. The ordinance passed on first reading 8-1-1.
- Item 24 – Sidewalk Variance for Admiral Beverage Corp: Council debated whether to require a sidewalk at 2720 Creek Drive. Proponents of the variance (no sidewalk) cited lack of pedestrian traffic and no other sidewalks in the area. Opponents argued the company could afford the sidewalk and the city should start building connectivity. A motion to deny the variance failed 4-6, and a motion to approve passed 6-4.
- Item 25 – Sanford Health Naming Rights Agreement: Approved for the sports complex, a 20-year, $350,000/year agreement. Councilor Temang abstained. Kyle Weiss of Sanford Health spoke in support.
- Item 27 – Request to Research Alcohol Litter Ordinances: Councilor Temang’s request to direct the city attorney to explore restrictions on single-serving alcohol sales. After debate, the motion passed 7-3. Several councilors emphasized a data-driven approach and the need for stakeholder involvement, including retailers and those with lived experience.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Consent items 1-20 (unanimous).
- Approved: Ordinance 6726 (first reading) – Reasonable Accommodation Procedure (8-1-1).
- Approved: Supplemental Appropriation No. 3 (item 22, unanimous).
- Approved: Rezoning for Sweet Creek LLC (item 23, unanimous).
- Approved: Sidewalk variance for Admiral Beverage Corp (item 24, 6-4).
- Approved: Sanford Health Sports Complex Naming Recognition Agreement (item 25, unanimous with one abstention).
- Approved: Preliminary Subdivision Plan for Stever Heights (item 26, unanimous).
- Approved: Motion to direct city attorney to research alcohol litter ordinance (item 27, 7-3).
- Approved: All public hearing items 28-39, with most consent items passed unanimously and non-consent items approved (item 39 had one no vote from Evans).
- Approved: Bill lists (items 40-41) with one abstention on item 40.
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on Monday, August 17, 2026, but the user specifies the meeting date as August 18, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the City Council meeting for Monday, August seventeenth, twenty twenty-six. We will begin with a roll call and determination accord. Next we'll have an invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Followed by the pledge if you are able and willing, would you please rise on the United States of America and see the republic for which it stands under God in this room with liberty and justice for all thank you. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Next, we'll have general public comment. This is the time for members of the public to discuss or express concerns to the council on any issue not on the agenda. Action will not be taken at the meeting on any issue, not on the agenda, except by placement on the agenda by unanimous vote of the council members present. I do have a handful of general public comments here. We will begin with Sandra Lashley, followed by William Wagner. Hi. My name is Sandra Lashley. This talk is about curb appeal. I hope that I'm speaking to the choir. Imagine walking into a council meeting and seeing a bouquet of flowers on a table. Instantly, everyone feels different. We want Rapid City to feel different to residents and visitors. It's more than just about flowers, though. Curb appeal is what makes a business or a community welcoming, impressive, and even interesting. Who isn't awed by beautiful trees, clean, well-marked roadways, and well-maintained streetscapes and green spaces? Attractive landscaping, tidiness or artwork around buildings, by doorways and roads, create a curiosity, admiration, and a positive feeling about a business or a community. The outside should reflect the inside. Here's a quote by Alice Waters. Beauty is the language of care. The beautification committee is made up of volunteers and has existed for more than 25 years. We meet under the umbrella of the Parks Department and Community Development. We have functioned mostly as a talking group, giving input to those two departments. We would like to do more. Small projects. We would like to develop a logo, create literature to be given out at community events, give flowers away to children, and create a business front door award. Other projects enhance the streetscapes in the community. Dream projects enhance the entrances to Rapid City on the interstate. To even begin to beautify Rapid City, the revision of the zoning codes and the landscape ordinance are essential and should begin immediately. A landlord ordinance should also be added. Neat and tidy is the first step to beautifying. We also believe that every city project should always include a beautification discussion plan and a plan for maintenance. We are requesting a small operating budget of perhaps $2,500 annually for the small projects. Bigger projects could be funded from a percent in art or in this case a percent in beautification dollars. A percentage of building permits or a portion of the bed board and beverage tax. An annual budget would allow us to make real progress. If you agree with the concept of curb appeal, we would sincerely ask you to consider funding our committee to work with the parks department and community development to seriously help develop beautification projects. Thank you, ma'am. Beautification should be. Water is held for the people with domestic use protected by law. Rapid City's budget must prioritize repairing feline infrastructure before committing capacity to major corporate developments, status centers, or industrial operations. I'm also putting the city on notice regarding NDAs and public participation. South Dakota Codified Law 1-27-1.23 prohibits political subdivisions from making civil settlements confidential. A private NDA creates no public record exemption without explicit statutory authority.
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