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2026-09-08 - City Council Informational Meeting

Summary

Built from the official approved minutes (4:00 to 4:46 PM). No agenda or video on file. The presentation slides were attached to the agenda and are not in the minutes text.

  • Present: Jennifer Sigette, Richard L. Thomason, Miranda Basye, Rich Merkouris, Zak Okuwe, James Oppenheimer, Sara Pankonin. Absent: Ryan Spellerberg.
  • Chair Merkouris called the meeting to order and welcomed Thomason back from his honeymoon.
  • Committee report: Siouxland Heritage Museum Board (September 3; Council members Okuwe and Pankonin) had no report because the members could not attend.
  • No Councilor remarks and no public input.
  • Two presentations: the Urban Forest Update and The Link update.
  • Adjourned 4:46 PM.

Sioux Falls Urban Forest Update

  • About 10 minutes plus discussion. Josh Johnson (Parks Operations Manager) presented, with Bryan Peterson (Urban Forestry Specialist) and Matt Hart (Park Forestry Supervisor) listed. Johnson and Peterson answered Council questions.
  • About 15 minutes plus discussion. The agenda listed Jason Lemke, The Link Project Director, but the minutes say Thomas Otten, vice president of Avera McKennan Hospital, gave the update. Natasha Sundet and Otten answered Council questions. A related funding amendment came to the Council a week later: Link Triage Center Agreement Amendment.

Sources