City details plans for $50M+ in added projects, programs thanks to extra funds

A spending package including everything from housing funds and youth programs to the River Greenway and a skateboard park will be up for City Council approval in the coming weeks.

It’s the result of months of work both from the city administration and the council in anticipation of excess funds that would be available because of pandemic-related federal dollars and greater-than-anticipated revenue that came into the city.

The total exceeds $50 million, and the projects identified will be spread out over this year, next year and beyond.

“This is a collaborative package,” said Erica Beck, the city’s chief of staff. “This isn’t just the mayor’s package. It’s the mayor and the City Council’s ‘Sioux Falls for All’ one-time investment in the community.”

The council held numerous work sessions and informational meetings to get a sense of the needs in the community beyond what city government typically would be able to fund.

In addition, some of the federal funds come with certain requirements that designate how and where they can be used.

“I think the expectation was we would build a broad-based plan that checked a lot of boxes,” said Shawn Pritchett, the city’s finance director.

Here’s a look at where the funds are proposed to go.

Foundational growth

Big Sioux River low-head dam reconstruction is designated for funding, which is a project that will address the current low-head dam, which is deteriorated and in jeopardy of failure. In addition to supporting a river level necessary for recreation, the improvements bring another bonus: The area won’t collect trash in such a way that the city can remove it only once a year. So the days of seeing trash in the river at upper Falls Park will be going away. Total: $5 million in 2022.

The Washington Pavilion’s cornice and roof need to be replaced for safety and preservation of the city-owned building and had been budgeted into the entertainment tax before it took a hit during the pandemic. This will restore funding. Total: $6 million in 2021.

The Arc of Dreams is driving the need for more pedestrian connectivity downtown, so the city is proposing to further develop the cul-de-sac at Seventh Street. Cost: $1.25 million in 2021.

The package also includes additional funds in anticipation of increased costs to expand the city’s water reclamation system. Total: $6.8 million in 2021.

Quality-of-life projects

The next phase of River Greenway construction is included in this funding package, after the city originally planned to borrow the money for it. It will develop the Greenway alongside the former Sioux Steel property in a similar fashion to what has been done from Sixth to 10th streets. Total: $7 million plus an anticipated $2.5 million grant in 2021.

A longtime effort to build a skateboard park will get a boost from this funding package, which proposes to contribute in 2023 to leverage other fundraising to build the park at Nelson Park. Total: $800,000 in 2023.

The 2023 capital program is proposed to see a new addition at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum: a renovated East Sioux Falls history plaza with railcars and a replica of the East Sioux Falls depot. Cost: $300,000 in 2023.

The city also is proposing to contribute to the expansion of Tomar Park, where an effort is underway to add tennis courts. The plan is that fundraising would cover the tennis portion while the city would construct and expand a parking lot, reconstruct volleyball and basketball courts and buy equipment for the tennis courts. Total: $512,500 in 2021.

The plan includes funding for the Dakota Aquarium & Butterfly House, which is raising funds for a major expansion of the popular aquarium and add education areas. Total: $800,000 in 2021.

Accessible housing

The proposal includes three housing-related initiatives, including developing affordable housing in qualified Census tracts and for disproportionately impacted populations, as well as enhancing outdoor activities for those populations. The funds are designated to acquire land that supports expansion of affordable housing and outdoor recreation in those neighborhoods. Total: $3 million in 2022.

A separate investment into the city’s housing fund will provide a more flexible fund supporting what the city calls “broad-based, innovative strategies for accessible housing development in Sioux Falls.” Total: $2.5 million in 2021.

And a new program, focused on homeownership by public safety personnel, will be developed to incentivize qualifying personnel to purchase homes in core redevelopment neighborhoods. Those will not necessarily have to be city employees but could include county and Metro Communications. The program itself and its rules have not been established yet. Total: $500,000 in 2021.

Youth programs

Three initiatives focus on kids, including one through the Police Department that will focus on youth and community violence intervention. That will include programming and help for victims of crimes through trauma recovery and housing services. Total: $800,000 over three years.

The city also is proposing to make a contribution for operations of the YMCA Youth Center and its youth outreach efforts. The goal is to support kids disproportionately affected by the pandemic with education, access to health and wellness programming, and social programming designed to promote violence intervention. Total: $500,000 over three years.

And finally, the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum’s youth programming and outreach will receive a contribution to provide greater access to education and outdoor activities to kids from underserved populations. Total: $150,000 over three years.

Workforce diversification

The city is proposing to set aside $4 million to address diversifying industry sectors and available jobs at various skill levels.

“It could be cybersecurity, it could be a health care project, but it’s funding the city will use for some type of workforce diversification initiative,” Pritchett said.

Enhancing government response and resilience

The balance of the plan includes $11.2 million directed toward an initiative to fund community health workers to help underserved populations navigate the health system, as well as assistance to improve access to behavioral health care.

Other projects including replacing a chiller at the Law Enforcement Center and renovating the highways and streets building.

And it will allow for some cushion if construction of the public safety training facility needs additional money, plus establish a reserve fund within the second-penny sales tax fund.

The package of funding is separate from the city’s 2022 budget, which the City Council also is considering.

This package also is separate from one earlier this year using pandemic-related funding and excess reserve funds, which will go toward road improvements and park projects.

Forgotten no more: Park improvements are coming to west-side neighborhood