The Legal & Finance Committee on Nov. 26 moved the draft Downtown Rapid City landscape master plan to City Council without recommendation and approved allocating $53,555 in remaining council contingency funds to downtown beautification projects.

Consultant Chris Worley of Wiss Associates gave a condensed overview of the master plan, which covers downtown from East Boulevard to West Boulevard and Omaha Street to Kansas City Street. Worley said the planning estimate for full implementation is about $5.8 million across 22 intersections — roughly $250,000 per intersection — with irrigation and low‑maintenance, drought‑tolerant plantings. "It is about $5,800,000 for 22 intersections... that's about $250,000 a piece," Worley said.

Councilwoman Kelly Meyer told the committee approving the plan acknowledges work already paid for and asked staff to identify funding options should the city pursue individual projects or phased pieces. Meyer proposed allocating the remaining $53,555 contingency toward two near‑term items: roughly $16,000 for string lighting between Main Street Square and the parking garage to improve safety and aesthetics, and approximately $36,000 for a mural program. The Dahl Arts Center (Arts Council) offered to manage the mural RFP and selection process and proposed an 8% administrative fee to run the program.

Travis Stuis, executive director of the Arts Council, said the organization would facilitate artist selection, communications with property owners and project administration. The committee approved sending the plan to council and the contingency allocation by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will identify funding opportunities for larger projects and bring specific project proposals and funding requests back to the council for approval. The Arts Council will proceed with the mural RFP process if council approves the allocation.