Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Spearfish City Council held a study session on March 11, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The session was called to order by Mayor John Senden and covered a review of upcoming agendas, discussions on restricted use site fees, a potential downtown road diet, and the city administrator position. The meeting adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
Public Works Director Adam McMahon presented the financial impact of eliminating branch fees, estimating a revenue loss of approximately $13,000. Finance Officer Michelle DeNeui advised against the change, noting the enterprise fund is self-sufficient and the loss would eventually be passed to all residents through solid waste rates. Councilmembers Rath and Klarenbeek supported retaining fees based on staff advice. Councilmember Myers expressed openness to free branches for residents. Doug Markworth advocated for eliminating the fee, calling it a minimal rounding error in the $58.5 million budget. Outcome: Councilmember Myers requested the item be added to the March 16 regular session agenda for a formal vote.
McMahon introduced a preliminary discussion on reducing the four-lane section to three lanes, citing a 47% crash reduction factor from the Safety Action Plan. Councilmembers raised concerns about peak hour capacity and parking access. Councilmember Scott and resident Doug Markworth opposed the change. Resident Jeremy Smith supported it from a pedestrian and bicyclist perspective. Outcome: The discussion was preliminary only; no action was scheduled for March 16. The topic is expected to return to a future study session with downtown business owners.
City Attorney David Knox outlined the three municipal government structures under South Dakota law: pure Aldermanic (used by Sioux Falls and Rapid City), City Manager (requires a public vote), and Aldermanic with a City Administrator (current structure). Knox recommended continuing with the current structure given the city's $58 million budget and over 250 employees. The Mayor and Knox indicated plans for a more robust hiring process, including public meet-and-greets. Doug Markworth urged strong public involvement in the decision. Outcome: The council will continue evaluating the process for hiring an interim or permanent City Administrator.
Harry, can you hear us? Yes, I can't run it. Sounds great. Well, I'll get started here in a couple minutes. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today's study session as we get ready for next week's uh council meeting. Uh we have an agenda before us. I don't have any changes to make. Is there a motion to approve, please? Move to approve. Second. Motion and a second. All in favor. Aye. Motion carries. We'll go ahead and move forward. Welcome. Welcome, Larry. Glad you're able to join us. We have uh item two, the review of the upcoming agendas. We've got three things coming up for Monday afternoon. Um Michelle's gonna go through. We have the Board of Equalization, our City Council agenda and our board of adjustment. So it's not gonna be in that. Is that going to be in that order? Um no, actually, it'll be a little bit different. It got put on here, Ron. So we're gonna start off at five o'clock with the local board of equalization. So you, as the council said as that board, we'll have one member of the school district board um joining to make up that local board. Right now, um, we do have the one appeal on the agenda so far. Um residents do have until 5 p.m. on Thursday, this Thursday, the 12th, to file an appeal with us. We have heard from the county, this appeal will come off. So may not have anything. And you've got to stay to work at work till five tomorrow, right? Uh yes. Yep, we will have the finance office open until five o'clock. Front doors will be unlocked. Everybody can access the building until five o'clock to file their appeal.