Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Janet Brekke (Via telecom), Alex Jensen, Rick Kiley, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl (Via telecom), Pat Starr Council Members Absent: Christine M. Erickson Council Chair Greg Neitzert called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG): Wednesday, March 24, 2021 (Council Members Brekke and Starr) Council Member Pat Starr reported that the meeting consisted of a review of 2020 year-end activities, election of the new Chair, Kevin Smith, and selection of Senator Jack Kolbeck as the legislative representative to SECOG. This past year, SECOG assisted numerous communities in finding uses for CARES Act funds and assisted greatly in the placement of affordable housing. B. Audit Committee: Monday, March 29, 2021 (Council Members: Kiley (Chair), Jensen, Neitzert, Soehl) The Audit Committee met last Monday to receive the annual external audit report from Eide Bailly. Overall, the report was favorable in that it resulted in an unmodified opinion with some restatements and one finding due to the restatements. The restatements removed privately maintained infrastructure assets (Slightly over $2M under Governmental Activities (Storm Drainage) and approximately $17.M from the Water Fund/Business-Type Activities). The Federal Audit resulted in an unmodified opinion with no material weakness or significant deficiency internal control findings and no material weakness or significant deficiency compliance findings. The management letter included four passed adjustments. The committee also received the external audit for the Public Parking Enterprise Risk Assessment. The report was not discussed in detail as the Council will hear the report at the April 20th, Informational meeting, but it was a thorough report that showed favorable projections under three separate scenarios. C. Tuthill House Resource Group: Monday, March 29, 2021 (Council Member Brekke)  Brekke noted that the meeting included a lengthy discussion about findings from the structural engineer analysis of the house. The structure is in better condition than anticipated and will support improvements to the second floor. She also spoke about fundraising efforts and the Parks Department's review of funding for plantings. 3. Councilor Remarks 4. Presentations A. Veterans Community Project Presentation by Veterans Community Project Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Jeff Eckhoff, Director of Planning and Development Services, provided an overview of the project. The Veterans Community Project (VCP) in Sioux Falls found its roots with the Onward Leadership program in 2019. "Team Tiny Home" conducted a feasibility study to determine if a Tiny Home village for veterans would work in Sioux Falls. The group evaluated the need, a suitable location, sustainability, and the City government's role. The group had the opportunity to hear the VCP co-founder at the 2019 Housing Summit where he discussed feasibility in Sioux Falls as well, along with lessons learned from Kansas City and ideas for a partnership with the City. Since the Housing Summit, there have been continued remote discussions and in- person visits. The proposed location is north of the old Axtell Park School on a 1.84 acre parcel of land. A neighborhood meeting was held on March 9th with two neighbors in attendance. Future steps include rezoning. Ben Hedershot and Vincent Morales, both from the Veterans Community Project, provided an overview of the program itself. It addresses homelessness among honorably discharged veterans by providing innovative, transitional housing and case management through trusted and active partnerships with local social services providers. The program also finds meaningful ways for the community to connect with veterans and for veterans to connect with the community. Homes are typically built by the community where volunteers are solicited through grassroots efforts and the homes themselves are fully functional, built on-site, and rely on trauma-informed design. As a result of the program, veterans gain better health and well-being; income stability; fiscal understanding; education and training; and, a wide network of support. VCP expects to have eight expansion cities engaged by 2022. The proposed village will have 22 homes (approx. 240 sq. ft. each), eight family homes (320 sq. ft.) and one VCP Community Center. Hedershot and Morales concluded by showing a conceptual rendering of the project. Discussion followed about: lessons learned from VCP, Kansas City; the amount of involvement veterans have in the consruction of the homes; availabilty of other services such as wifi, cable, etc...; how the communities are designed; parking requirements; potential partnerships with other homeless support groups; VA eligibility; operational funding; and, the typical length of occupancy. 5. Public Comment There was none. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Greg Neitzert adjourned the meeting at 4:56 p.m. Thomas M. Greco, City Clerk