STURGIS – The Sturgis City Council will begin its meeting Monday with a work session concerning the Sturgis Adventure Park.

The council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of Sturgis City Hall, 1040 Harley-Davidson Way, with the work session as the first item on the agenda. The session will cover Adventure Park design, business model and cost updates.

Work sessions are a commonly used meeting technique that allows the council to prepare for upcoming meetings and/or to allow preliminary discussion on an upcoming council item, in this case the Sturgis Adventure Park.

A work session is intended as an opportunity for the council to receive background information, ask questions and allow for more informal discussion, so that the council can make a more informed decision at a future meeting. 

No formal decisions or actions will be taken on work session items. Public participation is not allowed during a work session; however, the public is encouraged to attend. An item is listed later on the agenda for public input. Public comment or questions specific to the Adventure Park work session is near the end of the meeting under “Other Matters That May Come Before the Council.”

City staff will also share a summary of tools available to the city to fill funding gaps for the Sturgis Adventure Park project should the council members consider that option. 

The developers of the Sturgis Adventure Park - Vanocker Development Inc. -- provided to the council what was requested of them, presenting three conceptual renderings that incorporated the city’s requested design elements. Unfortunately, the developers’ total estimated construction costs far exceeded the $5.4 million budget for each of the three designs. 

The costs were $10,049,839.46 for Concept A, $10,227,282.35 for Concept B and $9,964,984.60 for Concept C. The preferred design is Concept B. 

The Sturgis City Council had initially discussed deciding on one of the three park designs at its June city council meeting, but the council determined it needed more time to consider its options before moving forward. 

The park is being planned for property the city purchased last year on Vanocker Canyon Road, south of Interstate-90 Exit 32. Among the amenities the park could include are a three-acre lake, inflatable adventure courses, a splash pad, zero entry sand beach, miniature golf, waterslides, a playground, and picnic shelters.

The developers went back to the drawing board and are now presenting a phased in approach to the project. 

Also at the meeting Monday, the council will be asked to approve several personnel items and a letter in support to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority for the MetroPlains Development Partners, LLC proposed affordable housing project.

The council also will consider approving a resolution in support of the Sturgis Economic Development Corp. grant application for the housing study needs program through the SD Housing Development Authority.

The final item on the agenda is the 2024 City of Sturgis Budget Discussion. 

You can find the agenda packet here: City Council - Aug 21 2023 - Agenda - Pdf (civicweb.net)