[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6571074,"mediaKeyId","3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e","parentId",3160726,"title","Committee recommends three TIF districts for council consideration: Homestead extension, Innovation Quarter, Robbinsdale","audioSeconds",2214,"startMs",3115000,"endMs",5329000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e&start=3115&end=5329","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571074/Rapid-City/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/Committee-recommends-three-TIF-districts-for-council-consideration-Homestead-extension-Innovation-Quarter-Robbinsdale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571074-de8ce223a4d84221f09bb70db4be44f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202886&Signature=m59VTpk450oz7z9WzAHMJZDK6ZZF8j-Vv6eFdfJrYC9tGPSDT9g87a~5sCCV9~4quBzxKZqn720hAtBGPFk2er6nZ2oFlF8aDJKkrHD4c1~h31Mcfqt3Q8-v~O83wIK7bJbVMH~JnlwekhmTvWzE-ekB0iXGKdgNUIyWtO8UtNw-lChRD5mISS7YITH5QXSrIbiRSEoCt4XQj7ptcON4Nk32d4jFVCpSWMwUClI1UEDjo-I~7oBUI3A0f0LWKzqHHDLF0JXXqjoDoh4f37qN-t8wFm0ip86p~-7jm6jLBMb8B4o~Kh16NrmXWXqdX62VxVJBKVuUVBSv3GQeBsfM5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","rapidcitygovernment account","date","2025-04-30T20:13:56.357Z","article","The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee on April 30 recommended that the full City Council consider three tax increment financing (TIF) actions: the Homestead Street extension overlay (TIF No. 93), the Innovation Quarter (TIF No. 94) and the Robbinsdale district (TIF No. 95). Committee members voted by motion to recommend approval of each district's creation and project plan to the full council.

Why it matters: The three proposals would allocate incremental property-tax revenues to fund municipal infrastructure and development incentives in separate parts of the city. Committee and staff outlined expected capital uses, projected tax increments and potential impacts on Rapid City Area School District taxpayers.

Homestead Extension Overlay (TIF No. 93): Finance staff said the overlay district would fund a new fire substation with police office space and a new city park. The TIF request included $7,000,000 in funding toward those elements and noted an amendment to the underlying TIF 83 that leaves about $2,500,000 available for the park. Staff estimated total project capital costs of about $10,500,000 and projected roughly $27,000,000 in increment over the life of the district. Finance presented an estimate of an additional levy effect on Rapid City Area School District taxpayers of roughly $0.37 per $100,000 of owner-occupied taxable value in the early years, rising under certain scenarios if valuations change.

Innovation Quarter (TIF No. 94): The committee reviewed a downtown proposal adjacent to the Block 5 area for a mixed-phase innovation corridor project. Phase 1 was described as a 13,000-square-foot, three-story building plus a second small building on the east side of the green space that will include an ice cream shop and public restrooms; the first-floor taproom was expected to create a handful of full- and part-time jobs and the second floor was described as office space. Staff said the TIF would be structured as a $1,400,000 grant and that the applicant would not use the grant to purchase the property (sales proceeds from another downtown property will be used for acquisition). Planning commission changes added the second building to the phase-1 layout. Staff said the project would be classified as an economic district and estimated the TIF would pay back within 14 years under conservative assumptions. Committee members also asked about commitments for incubator tenants; applicant representatives confirmed Property Meld and Wildfire Labs have committed to occupy office space in phase 1 and committee staff said a formal approach (for example, commitments of square footage or lease terms) could be documented for council review.

Robbinsdale (TIF No. 95): Staff described a much larger, geographically extensive district covering roughly 1,800 parcels to finance several capital-improvement projects and pavement rehabilitation within an older neighborhood. The TIF would fund the street portions of four CIP projects, five pavement rehab projects and up to $500,000 for improvements to a local fire station. The total capital cost was estimated at about $10,300,000 with financing and administration bringing the total project cost to roughly $28,000,000. Staff also proposed a separate, non-TIF commitment of $500,000 per year for three years from general-fund dollars for owner-occupied single-family rehabilitation programs administered by a third-party revitalization partner. The proposal would classify Robbinsdale as a local district, which carries an additional levy to make the Rapid City Area School District whole under state law. Staff estimated a modest per-household levy impact over time.

Legal and fiscal context: Finance and legal staff discussed the statutory and policy framework for TIFs, including that school districts must be made whole under state law and that the city maintains a 10% cap on total base valuations in active TIFs (approval of the three projects would increase the city's used TIF base but remain under the statutory cap). Committee members pressed for documentation of tenant commitments, alignment with Central Business District uses for downtown projects, and clarity about how the Robbinsdale program would be administered.

Votes and next steps: The committee approved recommendations to the full City Council on all three districts: a combined recommendation for Homestead (items 13 and 14), Innovation Quarter (items 15 and 16), and Robbinsdale (items 17 and 18). The matters will now move to the full council for final hearings and decisions.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to provide lease or commitment documentation, project detail sheets and any proposed agreements that would memorialize tenant or public-use commitments before the full council hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rapid City Legal & Finance Committee 04-30-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee recommended April 30 that the full City Council consider three tax increment financing actions covering a Homestead extension overlay (TIF No. 93), a downtown Innovation Quarter (TIF No. 94) and a Robbinsdale neighborhood district (TIF No. 95).","taxTitle","Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota","taxId",2748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571079,"City presents $207.3 million overhaul of water reclamation facility; systems online targeted for 2027",649,1012000,1661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e&start=1012&end=1661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e/thumbnail_1012000.jpg","/articles/6571079/Rapid-City/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/City-presents-2073-million-overhaul-of-water-reclamation-facility-systems-online-targeted-for-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571079-139c32825ccf408b419ab75f8c1b6939/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202886&Signature=khA8AclwhjphAcSHVQqmejUlVPC2rlJg9hyDwsKzjGdkd2zx89u7idsHx48Q3DQBVfQXaxFahtlbnCJt5YJ~IDddyVJP9fYP0uKRRJlHMxo2khvlIljOxrJ3ysdnIflSQMb8aBhTiREyyZOn85g9cN7rXakClGTxbVQkzUtcnlk5s1CdCDmHzpyyID13dpbyVfr1fov47jy0g6jd5Wds58uStrQbVOhqMxPidzRxmnEtmIBfxQ0WZkHpYe6L-WUdgq3PJbKhWnptNRZMEZ50Uw4ugYd1Yp20n~KG5X~PcyUIoCDOkNI4ZzGHeRFizrpSqF84kaLykz0Dd1UfZ07VXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee heard a progress report April 30 on the city's Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) improvements project, which staff described as the city's largest infrastructure undertaking to date.

Operations engineering manager Eduardo (Eddie) Lopez, the WRF project manager, told the committee the project carries a $207,300,000 budget composed of $136,500,000 in State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, a $52,800,000 ARPA grant and $18,000,000 from the city's enterprise sewer funds. \"This is the city's largest infrastructure project to date,\" Lopez said, and added that staff now report all monies secured for the program.

Timeline and milestones: Lopez said phase 2 is scheduled for completion in winter 2028, with a major systems commissioning milestone planned for 2027. Construction milestones noted in the presentation included placement of the first concrete for Aeration Basin 3 in November 2024; excavation of secondary clarifiers, the RAS/WAS building and related mat slabs in January'February 2025; and completion of the solids holding tank structure. The project team drilled 36-inch-diameter concrete piers down about 30 feet to reach competent shell material and reported 84 piers for the solids holding structure.

Cost and contingency: Lopez said the city has encumbered $204,100,000 of the budget and has completed roughly $40,800,000 in construction to date, with about $163,000,000 remaining. He reported $3,000,000 set aside for contingencies and said staff will present the first change order to council on May 19. As a summary of recent adjustments, Lopez said the net increase to the contract stands at about $106,006.91 to date, and he described credits and operational value-added requests negotiated with the contractor.

Construction and outreach: The contractor (PKG) has been active on site through winter work, Lopez said; HDR serves as construction administrator with Russ Hawcraft as the CA on site. Lopez said the team is preparing a project website, newsletters and digital displays for city spaces, and offered to arrange construction tours for committee members.

Committee questions: Alderman Bill Evans asked what would be demolished at the north plant and whether the concrete domes could be repurposed. Lopez said several northern tanks would be removed and backfilled, and that the domes were \"not being repurposed at this time\" and that contractor salvage was the likely disposition. Evans criticized what he called a lack of creative reuse for notable local structures.

Alderman Kevin Maher asked about the location of the discharge to the creek and the quality of water returned to the stream. Lopez said discharge occurs near the horseshoe bend and that treated water quality is regulated by state permit criteria that change with flow; in some periods the plant uses UV disinfection depending on flow. \"That's all flow dependent, and that's set by the state,\" he said.

The committee acknowledged the presentation by voice vote on a motion from Alderman Bill Evans, seconded by Pat Roseland.

Ending: Lopez said the team will continue to report to the committee with construction updates and that staff expect to bring a change-order request to council on May 19. Outreach products including newsletters and a project website are planned to keep the public informed.","Operations engineering manager Eduardo Lopez told the Legal and Finance Committee that Rapid City's Water Reclamation Facility project has a $207.3 million budget, construction milestones completed through early 2025, and a commissioning milestone targeted for 2027 with project completion in winter 2028.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571083,"Committee declines to terminate Stockgrowers purchase agreement, keeps downtown TIF on track",2350,376000,2726000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e&start=376&end=2726","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160726-fd4ab63af881a3e9324fb1d08a22951e/thumbnail_376000.jpg","/articles/6571083/Rapid-City/Pennington-County/South-Dakota/Committee-declines-to-terminate-Stockgrowers-purchase-agreement-keeps-downtown-TIF-on-track","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571083-591f6ecbfa525019f80b92f067310906/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202886&Signature=QC5HTtj0qC5xH0GzjrZ~8M2SRhG4RvTBuiSrizlnN2rtwQdfEtHqu1efNeFBe0pAVBAw7OUroQrJxDMEAnqbA69iqTT9JwtU7BtkiS7q0hmWrwA6qArXCYuziH7xZ01Ror12yH9fSikdybz1T32XCODEgpNd98jCyWfeCRAyz07oevVsvoxCRAJcxO-IiIazKrsISujjGIgM5CbbhmxiOoBv-Lkm0rgdBVP5Nyp6h-Yuda7CVZ2k83mpaf0CTKvKVgCxUVsfkyC829me4WEr2loYADSev84jp8dopBindBjrBwbr5hhwMU~GfW59zp783xaIJajpBE2kb4ZbQITDWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee voted April 30 to not terminate the real-estate purchase agreement with Elevate Rapid City and 11 Main LLC for the city-owned Stockgrowers lot at 416 St. Joseph Street, preserving the developer's opportunity to close and asking the full City Council to consider associated tax increment financing (TIF) requests.

The decision followed public comment from the development team and a staff presentation that said the purchase agreement had not closed by the contract date but did not automatically terminate. Joel Schweindien, the city attorney, told the committee that the contract gave the council discretion to terminate or to allow the sale to proceed. \"If you terminate it, obviously, that would be the end of the project,\" he said.

Why it matters: the project under the purchase agreement is tied to a proposed downtown innovation district that developers say will create office space, green space and housing intended to attract technology companies and retain graduates from the South Dakota School of Mines. Developers and incubator leaders said the TIF support is a key financing piece to keep buried parking and public green space in the plan.

Project representatives told the committee the closing is imminent and cited a short delay in the easement work as the reason for missing the original contractual date. Todd Gagne, speaking for the development team, said the project will proceed without a TIF but would likely remove the underground parking and change some green-space elements if public financing is not approved. \"If we do not get the TIF, the project still goes forward,\" Gagne said, while urging the committee to preserve the purchase agreement so the parties could close.

Ray Hespin, who traced the history of Property Meld's growth in Rapid City and its role in the downtown innovation effort, described the local ecosystem the project is intended to support. \"We believe, between Property Meld and Wildfire Labs that over the next 5 years we can create 150 technology jobs in this segment, in the downtown corridor,\" Hespin told the committee, and described rising interest from out-of-state applicants to the incubator.

Legal staff summarized options for council: terminate the contract and retain city title (keeping the lot for surface parking or resale), or allow the agreement to continue and coordinate the TIF decision and closing. Alderman Josh Bieberdorf moved that the committee not terminate the agreement; Alderman Kevin Maher seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The committee discussion also touched on transparency and contract terms. Some committee members said the council could have acted earlier but had waited to see how the TIF consideration progressed. The city attorney said the change in the developer's LLC and the delayed easement did not, by themselves, make the agreement void and could be addressed by amendment if council desired.

The committee's decision preserves the developer's requested May closing window and passes the TIF recommendations to the full council for final action. The council will consider the TIFs and the underlying agreement at upcoming meetings.

Ending: The committee's vote keeps the project under contract while routing financial incentives and final approvals to the full City Council. If the council approves the requested TIF later, staff said the parties expect to close within weeks.","The Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee voted April 30 to not terminate the purchase agreement for the city-owned Stockgrowers lot at 416 St. Joseph Street, preserving the developer's path to close and moving related tax increment financing decisions to the full council.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends three TIF districts for council consideration: Homestead extension, Innovation Quarter, Robbinsdale

City presents $207.3 million overhaul of water reclamation facility; systems online targeted for 2027

Committee declines to terminate Stockgrowers purchase agreement, keeps downtown TIF on track