Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Monday, February 3, 2025, at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Miranda Basye, Sarah Cole, Rich Merkouris, Jennifer Sigette, Curt Soehl, Ryan Spellerberg, Richard L. Thomason Council Members Absent: David Barranco Council Chair Curt Soehl called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Councilor Remarks Council Member Ryan Spellerberg thanked everyone who attended Barktoberfest. Council Member Jennifer Sigette spoke about attending the recent South Dakota Tourism Conference, in Pierre, with Councilor David Barranco. 3. Presentations A. Delbridge Working Group Recommendation by Don Kearney, Parks and Recreation Director; Becky Dewitz, Chief Executive Officer at Great Plains Zoo Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation, began the presentation of the Delbridge Working Group Recommendation (the presentation is attached to the agenda). Becky Dewitz, Chief Executive Officer at the Great Plains Zoo, also spoke during the presentation. Questions asked by the City Council, were answered by Dewitz and Dave Pfiefle, City Attorney. Comments were later made by Soehl and Council Member Miranda Bayse. 4. Public Comment There were public comments made regarding: childhood memories with the Delbridge Museum; the history of the collection; how no one in South Dakota stepped forward to obtain the collection; how the public was deceived by the zoo and Parks & Recreation, regarding the harmfulness of the collection; possible other locations for the collection; the need to slow down the process and to keep the collection in Sioux Falls. 5. Adjournment Council Chair Curt Soehl adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk