Yankton commission adopts special-events handbook updates, approves $500 daily fee for downtown street closures

YANKTON, S.D. — The Yankton City Commission voted Oct. 27 to adopt updates to the city's Special Events Handbook and implement a $500 daily fee to close a downtown block for special events. The commission approved the package after staff summarized recommendations drawn from a summer task force and a follow-up survey of downtown property addresses.

The handbook updates, offered by city staff Todd and Luke Yeomans, apply to the Meridian District (defined in staff materials as Lynn Street to Burley and the Missouri River north to Fifth Street). They include a two-meeting review process for any event requesting a street closure, a 90- to 60-day application window, a ban on closing state highways, a prohibition on simultaneously closing intersecting streets (no "+"-style full intersections), elimination of A-frame posted notices as the primary notification method, and new delivery-and-pickup labor charges for city equipment.

Staff told commissioners they sent approximately 350 surveys to downtown property addresses and received 40 responses by the stated deadline plus additional hand-delivered replies. Of the 40 mailed responses, staff said 17 reported that street closures "severely negatively impact" their business; many of those same respondents nonetheless answered that they support district-wide special events in principle.

Other operational changes in the package include a $25 electric power surcharge for downtown events that use city outlets, a maximum of 28 city-owned movable picnic tables available for downtown events, revised police/fire minimums to be enforced if an event has a documented history of alcohol or safety problems, and a new requirement that event organizers obtain property-owner signatures for blocks they request to close for the commission's first, introductory meeting.

Staff and several commissioners cited examples from larger cities for context. "We plan for the worst-case scenario hoping it never happens," Luke Yeomans said, describing Sioux Falls' practice of earmarking overtime funds for special-event public safety and using third-party barricade vendors. He added that Yankton lacks a downtown association for consolidated notifications and recommended creating an opt-in mailing and email list through Thrive to improve advance notice to property owners, tenants and residents.

Public commenters and downtown stakeholders addressed the commission during the meeting. "I can support what's written in there," said Josh Blum, a downtown business owner, adding he favored the staff package as a way to preserve events while managing frequency. Luana Johnson, who leads the Marine Corps League Auxiliary and helps organize a car show that usually accompanies Rivfest, said her event depends on Third Street and urged the commission to preserve the current downtown footprint for that activity.

Commissioner Conkling moved to adopt the recommendations and to set a per-block daily fee of $500 for street closures in the Meridian District. The motion was seconded. The roll call showed six ayes, one nay (Commissioner Birch) and one abstention (Mayor Villanueva). The motion carried with the handbook changes and the fee to be implemented via a future fees resolution and ordinance update.

City staff and commissioners noted next steps: staff will prepare an ordinance amendment and a formal fees resolution for a future meeting, create the Thrive-based mailing/email lists for downtown notification, and revise special-event application forms. Staff also said the ordinance changes would be required before some procedural items take legal effect.

What the motion does and does not do: The action approved the staff recommendations and the fee-policy direction but does not by itself amend the city code. Staff said they will return with ordinance language and a fees resolution that reflect the commission's direction.

The commission's vote followed extensive discussion about balancing downtown tourism and retail impacts, public-safety planning, parking constraints and differences between half-block and full-block closures. Commissioners stressed that notification, collaboration with event organizers and equitable treatment of downtown businesses would guide implementation.

Following the handbook action, the commission approved unrelated new-business items: a resolution authorizing sale/disposal of Yankton Police Department surplus property and the purchase of a 2025 Mitsubishi FG25N7 forklift for the public works central garage at $38,067.25.