The Spearfish City Council held a study session on October 15, 2025, beginning at 4:20 p.m. (after a delay for proper posting) in the Council Chambers. Mayor Senden presided, with Councilors Hafner, Klarenbeek, Myers, and Rath present; Hourigan and Jacobs were absent per the minutes (though the executive session motion listed Jacobs as a seconder). City staff including Administrator Falcon, Attorney Knox, Finance Officer DeNeui, HR Director Mathis, Public Works Director McMahon, and Parks Director Ehnes attended. The session covered approval of the agenda, review of the upcoming regular council agenda, discussion of two ordinances (Personnel Policies and Snow Removal), public comment, departmental updates, and an executive session. Consent Calendar - Agenda Approval: A motion by Myers, seconded by Rath, carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented. - Review of October 20, 2025 City Council Agenda: Staff reviewed items including consent agenda items, first reading of Ordinance 1405, a public hearing for a temporary lease with Northern Hills Amateur Hockey, a change order for the chip seal project, a change order for the airport taxi lane project, and a preliminary plan for Legacy Ranch Estates. Public Comments & Testimony Public comment was taken in three segments: On Ordinance 1409 (Snow Removal): - Rose Jarvis (petition carrier from 2010): Expressed concern that the proposed revisions weaken the original voter-approved measure. Argued that the city should use proven techniques (as in other communities) to avoid blocking driveways, rather than an on-call system. Stated that many seniors are physically unable to clear heavy snow and that the city should reallocate budget to snow removal. - Micah Peters (239 Lane): Opposed the ordinance change, stating it was not citizen-initiated. Said residents want driveways cleared, not a case-by-case system. Criticized the lack of a detailed snow removal master plan and urged the city to follow the existing ordinance and invest in solutions. - Don Snorteland (927 Sunset Drive): Reported that snow removal was good for a few years after the 2010 measure but then declined. Expressed frustration with windrows blocking driveways and said the city does not respond promptly. - Janice Huffman (wife of the original petition writer): Noted that many residents remain dissatisfied. Recalled that after the measure passed, removal was effective for a couple of years but then deteriorated. Disputed the city’s use of “snow emergency” for six-inch events and said the call-in system was unworkable due to high volume. Called for more funding if needed. - Bill Moths (1204 West Jackson Boulevard): Praised the city’s overall snow removal but objected to windrows blocking driveways. Suggested reducing salt usage to save money for clearing windrows, noting salt damaged his driveway. - Additional comments from Micah Peters (second appearance) proposed using snow gates up to six inches and then declaring emergencies, and developing a street-by-street snow plan. On Ordinance 1405 (Personnel Policies): No public comments were offered. On Other Issues: - Brad Limbo (developer of Legacy Ranch Estates): Asked the council to review recordings of the September 16 and October 7 Planning Commission meetings before the regular session. Noted he had a revised variance to present and expressed concern that prior submissions were not forwarded to boards. Discussion Items - Ordinance No. 1405 – Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual: Mayor Senden reminded that the item had been tabled due to the volume of changes. HR Director Mathis noted the removal of the section on communication with council. City Attorney Knox stated that the chain-of-command issue had been the main roadblock; other changes, including those related to handguns required by state law (effective July 2025), were acceptable. He strongly recommended passing the remaining revisions to achieve state compliance. Council members indicated general agreement and planned further discussion at the October 20 regular meeting. - Ordinance No. 1409 – Snow Removal (Chapter 153, Section 011): Attorney Knox explained that the 2010 citizen-initiated measure placed obligations on the city. Proposed revisions aimed to align with efficient and cost-effective practices, primarily modifying subsection D (downtown snow placement), clarifying subsection E (property owner responsibility for sidewalks/crosswalks), and adding subsection F (windrow removal upon citizen request). Public Works Director McMahon added that the operational goal was to work within the current budget; fully complying with the measure would require major budget increases. Councilor Myers asked about cost estimates for alternative methods: - Snow gates: $400,000 to equip existing fleet, plus three motor graders with gates (over $1.5 million in equipment) and additional personnel. Gates are most effective for snow under four inches and shift the problem to mailboxes. - Plowing to center and hauling away: Took three weeks citywide in 2023; would require significant contractor costs (estimated $1 million more per year historically) and longer response times. - Councilor Klarenbeek noted that shifting budget would affect other departments. A discussion followed about safety (operator fatigue) and past challenges. - Legacy Ranch Subdivision: During agenda review, staff noted that the preliminary plan has a staff recommendation of denial due to noncompliance with ordinances on adjoining property and interconnectivity. Attorney Knox and Mayor Senden encouraged council to listen to recordings of the September 16 and October 7 Planning Commission meetings to understand both sides. Departmental Discussion - Skatepark Update (Parks Director Ehnes): During a final walkthrough in late August, cracking and spalling (concrete surface separation) were discovered. Grand opening was canceled. CEO of American Ramp Company (ARC) inspected and attributed the issues to inadequate expansion joints. ARC is sending a crew next week to repair all cracks and will provide a three-year warranty (up from one-year). An amendment to the construction contract will be brought forward. Closeout expected mid-November. - Main Street and Colorado Avenue Chip Seal Project (Public Works Director McMahon): The project is expected to be completed by the end of the week (weather permitting). - Personnel: Two additional staff positions were noted for next year, which may help snow removal. Key Outcomes - Agenda approved unanimously. - Ordinance 1405 and Ordinance 1409 will be on the October 20, 2025 regular City Council agenda for further discussion and possible action. - Skatepark repairs will commence next week; a three-year warranty will be added via contract amendment. Closeout is targeted for mid-November. - Executive Session: A motion by Rath, seconded by Jacobs (noted as absent in minutes – a discrepancy), carried unanimously to enter executive session pursuant to SDCL § 1-25-1(3) for consultation with legal counsel on litigation or contractual matters. The session began at 5:22 p.m. and ended at 6:17 p.m. No additional discussions followed. - Adjournment: Motion by Klarenbeek, seconded by Rath, carried to adjourn at 6:17 p.m.