2026-05-12 - City Council Informational Meeting

Summary

Built from the official approved minutes (called to order 4:00 PM, adjourned 5:16 PM). No agenda or video on file.

Present: Basye, Brown, Merkouris, Sigette, Soehl, Spellerberg and Thomason. Absent: Barranco. Council Chair Merkouris called the meeting to order.
Committee reports: Vice Chair Sigette reported on the May 6, 2026 Audit Committee meeting (members Barranco as chair, Basye, Merkouris and Sigette). The Siouxland Heritage Museum Board (May 7; Council members Sigette and Soehl) gave no report.
Councilor remarks: Basye thanked Sigette for her work on the Audit Committee in Barranco's absence.
Presentation: final presentation of the Arts and Cultural Plan (see below). Council questions were answered by the consultant.
Public input: none.
Executive session entered at 4:49 PM on a motion by Sigette, seconded by Basye, for consultation with legal counsel on proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters (SDCL 1-25-2(3)) and for discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of a public officer or employee (SDCL 1-25-2(1)). Roll call 7-0 (Basye, Brown, Merkouris, Sigette, Soehl, Spellerberg, Thomason). No action is recorded.
Adjourned 5:16 PM. Minutes signed by City Clerk Jermery J. Washington.

Item 4A, Arts and Cultural Plan final presentation (about 20 minutes plus discussion). Maren Engel, Arts Coordinator, introduced the presenters. Jennifer Smith Hoesing, Arts Commission Chair, thanked the Mayor, Council, City staff and community members and recognized Arts Commission members and arts and culture community members in attendance, then gave brief background on the plan.
Alex Keen, Managing Principal of Keen Independent Research LLC, presented the plan (slides attached to the agenda). The minutes do not summarize the contents or the questions asked.
The Council adopted the plan one week later by Resolution 59-26 at the 2026-05-19 - City Council meeting.