City Council Approves $26.2 Million in Vision Fund Projects
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES $26.2 MILLION
IN VISION FUND PROJECTS
A total of 11 projects to receive funding;
More than 100 projects approved since 1995
RAPID CITY, SD—The Rapid City Council approved several projects for City Vision Funds during a nearly four-hour special session Monday night.
Before a packed Council Chambers audience, the City Council received public comment then discussed 16 projects recommended for funding by the City’s Vision Fund Citizens Committee and four projects recommended for funding by Mayor Steve Allender and City staff.
A total of 11 projects were approved for funding by the Council, with a total allocation of more than $26.2 million ($26,200,038) over the 2022-2024 funding period approved by the Council.
VISION FUND COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS approved by Council:
REQUESTING AGENCY PROPOSED PROJECT APPROVED AMOUNT
- He Sapa Otipi/Indian Boarding Lands Native American Community Center/Community Development Corporation $9 million
- Black Hills Area Community Foundation Rapid City Strategic Housing Trust Fund for Workforce Housing $5 million
- Elevate Rapid City 5-year Economic Development Plan $3 million
- Sioux Park Tennis Restoration Project Rebuilding of Sioux Park tennis courts $3 million
- Central States Fair Remodel Soule/Fine Arts Building/Livestock Barns/Asphalt Repairs $980,000
- Main Street Square Investment/repair of equipment/facilities/capital investment at MSS $70,000
- Rapid City Racers/GREAT Swim Teams Air dome enclosure of the 50-meter Roosevelt Pool $1.015 million
- Black Hills Mountain Bike Association Bicycle Park by Omaha/Cross/Canal and W. Rapid Streets $600,000
CITY VISION FUND PROPOSALS approved by Council:
- Knollwood Drainage Area Redevelopment $1,264,038
- Star of the West Irrigation/Concrete Replacement $1,250,000
- Opportunity Capture Fund $1,021,000
The nine-member Vision Fund Citizen Committee was appointed last summer and the City solicited proposals from the community for Vision Fund consideration. The committee began meeting in August, vetting more than two dozen community proposals for a three-year cycle of vision funding. The process included working sessions to review project proposals, public hearings where applicants were invited to present their projects and site tours of project locations, The proposals for Vision Fund resources were submitted for a variety of projects, many calling for new, expanded or upgraded facilities. In December, the Committee made funding recommendations to the City Council along with four recommendations from City departments.
The City’s Vision Fund traces its origin to 1972 when just weeks prior to the devastating June 1972 flood, voters approved dedicating a portion of City sales tax for construction of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. In the early 1990s, Rapid City voters approved continuing the tax to support community projects. Last night’s City Council action concludes the seventh funding cycle (1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2022) utilizing a process that included a citizens committee reviewing proposals and making recommendations along with Council discussion and approval. This year’s approved projects bring the overall total to 101 projects approved by the City Council for Vision Funds since 1995 with a total allocation of $212.7 million.
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