Rapid City Council Meeting – October 20, 2026

The Rapid City Council met for a regular meeting on Monday, October 19, 2026 (transcript timestamp: October 20, 2026, 00:26 UTC). The meeting opened with an invocation by Dale Barcher, the Pledge of Allegiance, and adoption of the agenda. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based solely on the transcript.

Recognition

• The council recognized the Rapid City Stevens girls tennis team for winning the 2026 Class AA Girls Tennis State Championship. It was the team's third consecutive state title, fifth in six years, and ninth overall. Stevens finished first, second, or third in all nine flights (six singles and three doubles). Ella (surname not stated) won singles flight one and teamed with Bella Nelson to win doubles flight one. Coach Jason Olson coached Ella's mother to the same doubles title 20 years earlier; Olson's many coaching honors were noted, along with his role in supporting the Sioux Park tennis complex, which the United States Tennis Association recognized as one of the top new facilities in America. The team has won the state tournament every year since the facility was completed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Isabel Schmidt, chair of the Rapid City Youth City Council, thanked the council for approving an expenditure request to attend a Washington, D.C. conference and encouraged council connection meetings; she recognized Councilmember Lehman.
• Renee McFarland Hagelin (listed as Renee Hagland), a Rapid City resident and voter, requested a pause of active construction at the West Park apartments on 11th and South Street during polling hours (7 a.m.–7 p.m.) on Election Day, November 3. She argued that written permit conditions do not guarantee accessible routes and that construction barriers can suppress voting; she asked council members to walk the ADA-compliant route after dark if a pause is not possible.
• Tom Cadus, former state senator for District 32, Ward 5, urged the council to make the polling site as open as possible on Election Day, describing blocked streets and danger to elderly and disabled voters. He also raised a streets complaint about 821 Upper Pines and asked the city to address it.
• William Wagner challenged the perimeter fence at Memorial Park and the locked public restrooms, citing more than 800 logged health and safety incidents. He argued the city has documented that most unhoused park users have dual diagnoses (severe mental illness and chemical dependency), that the fence constitutes disability-based exclusion under the ADA and South Dakota law, and that locking the restrooms violates SDCL 9-32-5. He demanded the fence be dismantled.
• Xander Hunter opposed the data center project, saying the public never voted on it, that water-use comparisons are misleading, and that opposition is bipartisan and overwhelming; he asked the council to put the matter to a vote.
• James Bayalata (also rendered Bailato), a media owner, alleged corruption by councilmembers and city entities, including false testimony about free drinking wristbands at the Beerboards Festival, police perjury, and retaliation against the press; he called for action against those involved.
• Lexi Meyer, a Rapid City native now living in Box Elder, opposed the data centers, describing the prior proposal meeting as a PR move and criticizing water use during drought, noise concerns, and what she called disrespectful double talk; she urged council members to listen to citizens.
• There were no speaker request forms for items 2–20 or items 21–30, so public comment closed without testimony on those items.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2 through 20 were approved in one motion, with Item 13 pulled for separate consideration. Motion by Bieberdorf, second by Tamang.
• Item 13, Resolution 2026-068 (nuisance abatement assessments), was approved after Finance Director Daniel Ainsley noted that payment had been received for one property (830 Wilsie, tax ID 26851), which was removed from the council's action. Motion by Bieberdorf, second by Strowman.

Discussion Items

• Item 21: First reading of Ordinance 6754 (supplemental appropriation #5, $6,131,686.58) was approved.
• Item 22: Second reading of Ordinance 6750 (supplemental appropriation, $7,202,497.23) was approved.
• Item 23: First reading of Ordinance 6735 (rezoning from Flood Hazard District to Light Industrial District, Boom Shakalaka/Indigo Design property near Campbell Street) was approved.
• Item 24: First reading of Ordinance 6751 (rezoning from Low Density Residential District 1 to Mobile Home Residential District, 859 Valley Drive, Logan and Megan Beckett) was approved.
• Item 25: First reading of Ordinance 6752 (rezoning from Flood Hazard District to General Commercial District, same Boom Shakalaka/Indigo Design area) was approved.
• Item 26: The council considered the contested tree-trimming abatement at 220 East Watertown Street. Finance Director Ainsley noted a $100 late fee made the total balance $990, not $890. Community Development Director Vicky Fisher said staff reduced the bill by $290 to $600 based on the work performed and to avoid setting a precedent, though the city would absorb the difference. Councilmember Roberts said the reduction set a bad precedent and voted no; Councilmember Secrets also questioned the precedent and voted no; Councilmember Strowman supported the committee's decision. The motion to uphold the abatement at $600 passed with Roberts and Secrets voting no.
• Item 27: Preliminary subdivision plan for Pioneer No. 3 Subdivision (3035 Pioneer Drive) was approved with stipulations.
• Item 28: The petition of annexation for the same property was approved to waive the annexation requirement and deny the petition.
• Item 29: The attached 2027 alcohol beverage licenses were approved without recommendation.
• Item 30: The council approved an appropriation from City Council contingency funds to match community chili cook-off fundraiser proceeds. The agenda item text referenced up to $5,000, while the recommendation stated up to $10,000; the motion approved the recommendation.
• Public hearing Item 31 was continued to the next council meeting for further data collection by city staff. Motion by Tamang, second by Roberts.
• Item 32: A special event on-sale malt beverage license for Elevate Rapid City (18 East Main Street, event October 28, 2026) was approved.
• Item 33: Second reading of Ordinance 6749 (rezoning from Medium Density Residential District to Public District for parks property at the eastern terminus of Nollwood Drive) was approved.

Executive Session

• The council moved into executive session under SDCL 1-25-2.3 (consultation with legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation/contractual matters) and SDCL 1-25-2.4 (preparation for contract negotiations with employees or their representatives). Motion by Roberts, second by Meyer. The council later voted to come out of executive session via motion by Armstrong, second by Tomang; no report was provided in the transcript.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda was adopted.
• The consent calendar (items 2–20) was approved, with Item 13 amended to remove a paid property.
• All non-consent items 21–30 were approved; Item 26 (tree-trimming abatement) passed with two no votes (Roberts, Secrets).
• Public hearing items: Item 31 was continued; Items 32 and 33 were approved.
• The bill list was approved; Finance Director Ainsley reported a remaining total of $12,431,966.42, and Councilmember Meyer abstained on an initial motion. The meeting then adjourned.