Vision Fund Update (April 28): Committee Concludes Week of Project Presentations

VISION FUND COMMITTEE CONCLUDES WEEK OF PROJECT HEARINGS

The Vision Fund Citizens Committee heard 29 presentations from various organizations as part of week-long sessions at City Hall.  The Committee will now continue its review process, including site visits. The Committee plans to provide recommendations to the City Council in late May or early June with the Council making final decisions on which projects will receive $12 million in Vision Fund resources for the 2025-2029 cycle.

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VISION FUND COMMITTEE SCHEDULES PUBLIC PROJECT HEARINGS APRIL 22-25

All 29 project proposals scheduled for review during four days of hearings

RAPID CITY (April 9)--The Vision Fund Citizen Committee is hosting four days of public hearings for 2025 Vision Fund applicants to present their projects to the committee.

            All 29 project presentations are scheduled for presentation during the week of April 22-25.  The meetings are scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 22-24 and from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 25.  The sessions will be held in Council Chambers of City Hall, 300 Sixth Street. The public is invited to attend.

            The hearings are divided into 20-minute segments and will include the applicant's presentation and a question period from Committee members.  The sessions are open to the public.

            Collectively, the  29 applying entities are requesting more than $74.2 million in Vision Fund allocations.  The total project cost for all 29 submissions is nearly $120 million ($119.8 million). Last year, the Rapid City Council approved $12 million in Vision Fund resources for public projects for the 2025-29 funding cycle. 

           The Vision Fund Citizen Committee is comprised of nine members and two alternates and is currently reviewing public project proposals submitted by individuals, community organizations and City departments. The Committee hopes to present their recommendations for which projects will receive Vision Fund resources by late May or early June. The City Council will make final determinations on which projects will be funded for the five-year cycle.

            For more information about the Vision Fund Citizen Committee, visit: https://www.rcgov.org/public-meetings/city-committees/vision-fund-501.html . For more information about the project hearings, contact the Mayor’s Office at 394-4110.

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VISION FUND PROPOSALS INCLUDE NUMEROUS CITY, COMMUNITY PROJECTS

RAPID CITY, SD (March 29)--Earlier this month, the City of Rapid City received 32 applications for Vision Fund resources from organizations and City departments for a variety of public projects, many calling for new, expanded or upgraded facilities. Three of the projects were determined ineligible for consideration with the recently-approved Vision Fund Citizen Committee beginning review of the remaining 29 project submissions.

            Collectively, the 29 applying entities are requesting more than $74.2 million in Vision Fund allocations. The total project cost for all 29 submissions is nearly $120 million ($119.8 million). Last year, the Rapid City Council approved $12 million in Vision Fund resources for public projects for the 2025-29 funding cycle. 

Below is a list of the submitting organizations, in alphabetical order, along with the specific Vision Fund request and brief project description. Total cost of the project is listed in parenthesis.

• Black Hills Rapids Soccer Club, request for $3.5 million for synthetic turf, lighting and controls equipment ($4 million)
• Black Hills Works Foundation, request for $3,491,779 project for Legacy Trail project ($4,696,609)
• Bocce Ball, request for $1,540,000 for Phase 2 Omaha Street project with eight additional courts ($2.04 million)
• Canyon Lake Little League, request for $2.5 million for upgrade to complex infrastructure and ADA compliance ($2.5 million)
• City of Rapid City, request for $1,577,546 city-wide video management system ($1,577,546)
• Harney Little League, request for $907,000 for bathroom and concessions ($907,000)
• Ignite Soccer Club, request for $70,000 for Cambell Field upgrades ($70,000)
• Journey Museum, request for $400,000 for facility expansion and endowment ($400,000)
• McKeague Field/Rapid City High School baseball, request for $500,000 for park renovations ($1.2 million)
• Parks & Rec/Canyon Lake, request for $7,057,000 to reconstruct aging pond walls ($7,057,000)
• Parks & Rec/Meadowbrook, request for $3,090,950 for Meadowbrook golf course irrigation project ($3,490,950)
• Parks & Rec/Parkview, request for $1,530,950 for the Parkview Complex Parking Lot ($1,530,950)
• Parks & Rec/Playground upgrades, request for $2,405,000 for various city playground upgrades ($2,405,000)
• Parks & Rec/Red Pesek Field, request for $534,754 for Red Pesek Field improvements ($834,754)
• Parks & Rec/Restrooms, request for $1,242,850 for city parks restroom improvements ($1,242,850)
• Parks & Rec/Star of the West, request for $1,811,729 for Star of the West Complex parking improvements ($1,811,729)
• Parks & Rec/Streetscape, request for $1,143,000 for Streetscape Beautification project ($1,143,000)
• Parks & Rec/Vickie Powers Park, request for $2,041,455 for upgrades to Vickie Powers Park ($2,041,455)
• Post 320, request for $5 million for facility improvements ($5 million)
• Public Works/Streets and Maintenance, request for $8 million for redevelopment of Streets and Maintenance Campus ($8 million)
• Rapid City Fire Dept/Maintenance, request for $3 million for maintenance facility ($3 million)
• Rapid City Fire & Police Depts/request for $3 million for Cold Storage Facility ($3 million)
• Rapid City Fire Dept/request for $750,000 for Stations 4 & 6 renovations ($750,000)
• Rapid City Fire Dept/request for $3 million for training site ($3 million)
• Rapid City Skatepark Association, request $2,140,000 for Push Forward project ($2,140,000)
• Rapid City Sports Commission, request for $10 million for indoor sports facility ($52,052,230)
• Rapid Creek Recreation Corridor, request for $172,420 for two site in-stream recreational park ($172,420)
• Rushmore Swim Team, request for $2,596,770 to enclose Roosevelt Swim Center’s 50-meter outdoor pool ($2,596,770)
• Storybook Island, request for $1,202,877 for multipurpose building ($1,202,877)

             The Vision Fund Citizen Committee is reviewing the proposals and will make recommendations to the City Council. The Committee will host a series of sessions featuring project presentations in April.  The goal is for the Committee to present their recommendations for which projects will receive Vision Fund resources to the Council by late May or early June. The Council will make final determinations on which projects will be funded for the five-year cycle.

             The Vision Fund Citizen Committee consists of nine members and two alternates, including Leslie Magnusson Hildyard, Greg Hansen, Holly Howie, Matthew Hasvold, Reese Niu, Lloyd LaCroix, Mary Drumm, Matt James and John Kaiser. Kyle Caudle and Mary Gilbertson-Lee serve as alternates. Kaiser serves as the committee’s chairman.

            The last cycle of Vision Fund community projects was approved in January 2022 by the City Council.

            For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at 394-4110.

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CITY RECEIVES VISION FUND PUBLIC PROJECT PROPOSALS

Citizens Committee Will Review, Make Recommendations to Council

RAPID CITY, SD (March 10)--The City of Rapid City received 32 applications for Vision Fund resources from organizations and City departments for a variety of public projects, many calling for new, expanded or upgraded facilities.

             Three of the project submissions were determined ineligible as they did not involve City assets. The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will review the remaining 29 proposals and make recommendations to the City Council.  Collectively, the 29 entities are requesting more than $74.2 million in Vision Fund allocations.  The total project cost for the 29 submissions is nearly $120 million ($119.8 million). Last year, the Rapid City Council approved $12 million in Vision Fund resources for public projects for the 2025-29 funding cycle.

              Earlier this month, the Council approved selections for the Vision Fund Citizen Committee. The goal is for the Committee to present their recommendations for which projects will receive Vision Fund resources by late May or early June. The City Council will make final determinations on which projects will be funded for the five-year cycle.

              This is the eighth Vision Funding cycle. The other seven funding cycles - 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2022 – also utilized a process that included a citizens committee reviewing proposals and making recommendations along with Council discussion and approval. A total of 104 projects have been approved by the City Council for Vision Funds since 1995 with a total combined allocation of more than $212.7 million.

            "There was a phenomenal response from the community as well as internally from City departments," said Mayor Jason Salamun.  "There are requests for projects ranging from $70,000 to $10 million.  The Vision Fund Committee will have its work cut out for them but whatever recommendations they make, and whatever projects are approved for funding by the City Council, the community and its citizens will reap the benefits for many years to come.”

The Committee's work timeline is as follows:

*March-May: Citizen Vision Fund Committee working sessions

*Late May/June: Committee makes recommendations to City Council

*June: City Council reviews, discusses and makes funding decisions on Vision Fund projects for the 2025-29 cycle.

            Examples of Vision Fund projects approved by the City Council in the past include Canyon Lake Dam Reconstruction, Skyline Wilderness Park, Rapid City BMX Park upgrades, Rushmore Little League field lighting, Roosevelt Park Swim Center’s 50-meter outdoor pool, Harney Little League renovations, South Middle School and West Middle School Community Gym facilities and Horace Mann Pool,

            "The Citizen Committee is ready to roll up its collective sleeves and get to work,” said John Kaiser, Citizens Committee chairman .  “We have a lot of project applications to review and consider, and a short window to make recommendations. We have a great committee that’s ready to get to work.”

             The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consist of nine members and two alternates. Mayor Salamun’s committee selections include Leslie Magnusson Hildyard, Greg Hansen, Holly Howie, Matthew Hasvold, Reese Niu, Lloyd LaCroix, Mary Drumm, Matt James and John Kaiser. Kyle Caudle and Mary Gilbertson-Lee were selected as alternates. Kaiser will serve as the committee’s chairman.

            The last cycle of Vision Fund community projects was approved in January 2022 by the City Council.

            For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office at 394-4110.

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES VISION FUND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

RAPID CITY, SD (February 24)--The Rapid City Council approved nine members and two alternatves for the City's Vision Fund Citizen Committee.  The approval came at Monday night's City Council meeting (March 3).

            The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consist of nine members and two alternates. Mayor Salamun’s committee selections include Leslie Magnusson Hildyard, Greg Hansen, Holly Howie, Matthew Hasvold, Reese Niu, Lloyd LaCroix, Mary Drumm, Matt James and John Kaiser.  Kyle Caudle and Mary Gilbertson-Lee were selected as alternates. Kaiser will serve as the committee’s chairman.

            Approximately 60 citizens submitted applications for consideration.  The proposed committee selections include representation from each of the City’s five wards.

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MAYOR SUBMITS VISION FUND COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL

Public Proposal Submissions Deadline March 7

RAPID CITY, SD—Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun has selected prospective members for the City’s Vision Fund Citizen Committee for the 2025-2029 funding cycle.  The selection group has been submitted for consideration to the City’s Legal and Finance Committee at this Wednesday’s meeting, then to the full City Council for confirmation next Monday night.

            The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consist of nine members and two alternates. Mayor Salamun’s committee selections include Leslie Magnusson Hildyard, Greg Hansen, Holly Howie, Matthew Hasvold, Reese Niu, Lloyd LaCroix, Mary Drumm, Matt James and John Kaiser.  Kyle Caudle and Mary Gilbertson-Lee were selected as alternates. Kaiser will serve as the committee’s chairman.

            Approximately 60 citizens submitted applications for consideration.  The proposed committee selections include representation from each of the City’s five wards.

            The purpose of the Vision Fund Citizen Committee is to accept and take requests for city government Vision Account projects with approximately $12 million in available funds for the five year period 2025-2029.  The committee will provide thorough review of the applications and make recommendations to the City Council in support of projects in accordance with the Council-approved Vision Fund plan for the upcoming five-year cycle.

            “I was very impressed with the amount of citizen interest to serve on the committee,” said Mayor Salamun.  “There was interest from all five wards of the city and all the applicants came forward with impressive credentials and all with a sincere interest in serving their community.  It was a quite a challenge to review the applications and whittle the list down.

          “I am extremely confident the committee, if approved by Council, will provide thorough review of the public project applications and provide great direction and recommendations to the Council for funding consideration.”

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CITY CONTINUES PUSH FOR VISION FUND PUBLIC PROJECT PROPOSALS

RAPID CITY, SD— The City of Rapid City continues to encourage citizens to submit proposals for consideration for Vision Fund city projects for the upcoming 2025-2029 funding period.

Deadline for submission for potential Vision Fund public projects is Friday, March 7.  The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consider city government projects with approximately $12 million in available funds for the five-year period 2025-2029.  Committee emphasis will focus on community projects, economic development and civic improvements. Project applications can be found at the following link   https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html , on the Finance Department and Vision Fund Citizen Committee pages on the City’s website or obtained in hard copy from the Mayor’s Office.

Please direct questions regarding Vision Fund project application submittals to the Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FORMATION OF VISION FUND CITIZENS COMMITTEE AND SOLICITS FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS APPS

City opens 30-day window for committee applications and 60-day window for city project proposals

RAPID CITY, SD (January 8, 2025): At Monday night’s meeting, the Rapid City Council approved two Vision Fund resolutions, one establishing a nine-member citizen committee and another increasing the amount of money being allocated to public projects from the Vision Fund in the upcoming 2025-2029 funding period.

“With the Council’s approval of resolutions Monday night, we are ready to move forward with the Vision Fund process,” said Mayor Jason Salamun.  “I have appreciated the input and feedback we have received over the past year from the public and the hard work put in by the Council to get us to this point.

            “I’m encouraging citizens to consider applying to serve on the Citizen Committee, which will have a very important role in determining public projects to be funded from the Vision Fund.  I’m also encouraging citizens and groups to submit proposals for public projects to be considered by the Citizen Committee.”

CITIZEN COMMITTEE

            With the Council’s approval, the City is seeking applicants to develop a nine-person Vision Fund Citizen Committee.  Interested citizens are encouraged to apply by submitting the committee application found https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html . The links are also available on the Finance Department page and the Vision Fund Citizen Committee page on the City’s website.  Application deadline is Friday, February 7. 

            The Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consist of a chair person and eight additional committee members.  Committee members must be legal residents of Rapid City and willing to serve until the end of 2025.

            The purpose of the Vision Fund Citizen Committee is to accept and take requests for city government Vision Account projects.  The committee will provide thorough review of the applications and make recommendations to the City Council in support of projects in accordance with the Council-approved Vision Fund plan for the upcoming five-year cycle.

PUBLIC PROJECT APPLICATIONS

            The City is also seeking applicants for potential Vision Fund public projects.  Vision Fund public projects will be considered for the five-year period 2025-2029 in the areas of community projects, economic development and civic improvements.  Project applications can be found on the Vision Fund Citizen Committee page on the City’s website or obtained in hard copy through the mayor’s office.  Deadline for submission of public project applications is Friday, March 7.

            With Council’s approval Monday night, the Vision Fund Citizen Committee will consider city government projects with approximately $12 million in Vision Funds.

            Project applications can be found at the following link   https://www.rcgov.org/departments/finance.html , on the Finance Department and Vision Fund Citizen Committee pages on the City’s website or obtained in hard copy from the Mayor’s Office.

            The origin of the Vision Fund dates back to 1972 when voters approved an additional half-penny sales tax increase with the revenue to be spent on the building of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.  In the mid-1990’s, voters approved continuation of the half-cent tax to build a fund to support community projects.  Today, Rapid City assesses two cents in municipal sales tax on every dollar spent with one cent devoted to the City’s general fund and the second penny divided between the City’s Capital Improvement Fund (58 percent) and to the Vision Fund (42 percent).

           A portion of the Vision Fund resources are used towards the debt on The Monument’s Summit Arena with other funds to be utilized for civic improvements, economic development and community projects.

           Please direct questions regarding the Vision Fund Citizen Committee or the project application submittals to the Mayor’s Office at 605-394-4110.