City Council Study Session

City of Spearfish City Council Study Session Minutes December 13, 2023, 4:15 p.m. The City Council Study Session was called to order by Mayor Senden at 4:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The following c o u n c i l members were present: Clark, Hodgs, Hourigan, Jacobs, Klarenbeek, and Rath. Absent: None. City staff present were: Public Safety Director Rotert, Finance Officer DeNeui, Public Works Director Broyles, City Planner Kapsa, Parks and Recreation Director Ehnes, Human Resource Director Mathis, Assistant Public Works Director McMahon, and Assistant City Planner Eckler. Rath moved, Hourigan seconded, and all voted to approve the agenda as presented. Items for Council Discussion: Uplifting Parents Program – James Kinyon, executive director of Catholic Social Services, presented information on the programs available through the organization. The Uplifting Parents program provides one-on-one mentoring, financial support and wraparound services to single parents pursuing a post-secondary degree. The organization is looking for additional students for the program. Additionally, Catholic Social Services provides counseling services to those in need throughout the Black Hills. Mr. Kinyon also thanked the businesses residents of Spearfish for the June flooding assistance as the organization was able to collect and distribute over $80,000 of assistance to those impacted. More information on the many programs by Catholic Social Services can be found on their website: www.cssrapidcity.com Housing Trust Fund – Chris Huber and Greg Litton from Black Hills Area Community Foundation presented information on the ability for Spearfish to create a local or regional housing trust fund. A housing trust fund is a pool of money used to incentivize development for below-market rate housing, the fund would provide low-interest loans for multi- or single-family new construction or rehabilitation of existing structures, and the fund is designed to be 5% or less of total project costs. A local advisory board would review applications and make recommendations to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation board for final approval. Having the funds held by the Black Hills Area Community Foundation allows for charitable gifts into the funds and the trust fund is a revolving loan fund that provides generations of impact. The steps needed to initiate the housing trust fund are to establish a local advisory board, approve the operating agreement with Black Hills Area Community Foundation, and develop a capitalization plan for the fund. More information on this opportunity will be coming forward at future council meetings. Engaging Communities in Conservation – April Gregory and Carlos Martinez from DC Booth Fish Hatchery provided a shortened version of the Engaging Communities in Conservation presentation they recently gave during a summit at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia. DC Booth was selected as a model example of community partnerships throughout the entire U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The selection and recognition was a great achievement for the fish hatchery since it was facing a federal closure status in 2013. City Council Agenda: Draft Agenda – The draft agenda for December 18, 2023, City Council Regular Session was previewed. The public comment period was opened at 5:17 p.m. and closed with no comments being received. No additional discussions were held and with a motion from Clark, and second from Hourigan, the meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.