Watertown City Council to Consider Downtown Sidewalk Safety Rules, Airport Funding, Zoning Changes Tonight

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council meets tonight, August 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, which can be streamed live on the City of Watertown’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

The agenda features decisions spanning downtown pedestrian safety, substantial budget reallocations, airport expansions, major zoning modernization for higher education and healthcare, and new municipal governance frameworks.

City Council - Aug 03 2026 - Agenda - Pdf.pdf

Download PDF • 22.62MB

Spotlight Agenda Items: In-Depth Overview

1. Downtown Sidewalk Safety & Conveyance Regulations

Ordinance No. 26-30 (First Reading)

In response to growing safety concerns regarding congestion and conflicts between pedestrians and riders in the commercial core, the council will consider Ordinance No. 26-30. This ordinance comprehensively updates Chapter 7 of Title 19 (Traffic) of the Revised Ordinances.

·         Scope of “Personal Conveyances”: The regulation applies to bicycles, electric bicycles, rollerblades, in-line skates, roller skates, non-self-propelled scooters, self-propelled scooters, carts, skateboards, and toy vehicles.

·         Disability Device Exemption: The ordinance explicitly excludes wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or other assistive mobility devices used by individuals with disabilities or mobility impairments.

·         Downtown Sidewalk Ban: Riding or propelling any personal conveyance on sidewalks within the designated Business District is strictly prohibited. All conveyances must be walked while on sidewalks in the Business District.

·         Operating Standards & Careless Driving: Operators are prohibited from riding at unreasonable speeds or in a careless/reckless manner that endangers people or property. Riders must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all times.

·         Riding Abreast & Passenger Limits: Conveyances cannot be operated more than two abreast on public roadways or alleys (except when safely overtaking). Conveyances cannot carry more occupants than designed for; infants and young children must be transported in purpose-built seats or carriers.

·         Lighting Requirements: Operating on public roadways between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise (or whenever light is insufficient to discern a person at 200 feet) requires a front headlight visible from at least 300 feet and a rear reflector or red/yellow lamp visible from at least 200 feet.

·         Hitching Prohibited: Attaching oneself or a conveyance to a moving motor vehicle on any public roadway is illegal.

2. Supplemental Appropriations & Major Budget Transfers

Ordinance No. 26-23 (Second Reading & Public Hearing)

Ordinance No. 26-23 addresses supplemental budget needs across municipal funds for 2026 while authorizing significant line-item budget transfers for capital projects.

│                    2026 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION BREAKDOWN                │

│ General Fund (Legal & Consultant Fees - Rec)      │ $14,500                 │

│ Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund (Total)        │ $781,210                │

│   • Public Works Equipment & Vehicles             │   $270,000              │

│   • Street System Land Acquisition                │   $19,300               │

│   • Tennis & Pickleball Court Improvements        │   $21,360               │

│   • Industrial Park Building Improvements         │   $55,000               │

│   • Transfer Out to Airport                        │   $415,550              │

·         Supplemental Appropriations:

o    General Fund: Adds $14,500 from unassigned fund balance for attorney/consultant fees associated with recreational facility improvements.

o    Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund: Appropriates $781,210 out of unassigned fund balance. Key allocations include $270,000 for public works equipment, $21,360 for tennis/pickleball court repairs, $55,000 for industrial park building upgrades, $19,300 for street system land, and a $415,550 transfer to the Watertown Regional Airport.

·         Budget Line-Item Transfers:

o    General Fund: Reallocates $8,644 from Codington County Search & Rescue to Safety Supplies to fund specialized Dive Rescue Equipment.

o    Capital Improvement Fund: Shifts a total of $355,000—pooled from Park & Playground Improvements ($30,000), Fire Training Center ($75,000), and Misc. Drainage ($250,000)—to support construction costs for the Airport Equipment Relocation Project.

o    Solid Waste Fund: Reallocates $165,000 from Refuse Trucks (due to a curbtender truck purchase no longer being required) to cover construction of the Solid Waste Hoop Barn Project.

3. Long-Term Airport Hangar Ground Lease

Resolution No. 26-31 (Resolution of Intent)

The city is moving forward with plans to expand private aviation infrastructure at the Watertown Regional Airport. Resolution No. 26-31 sets a public hearing for August 17, 2026, to consider a 25-year ground lease with Dynoair LLC (renewable for one additional 10-year term).

·         Leased Area & Facilities: Covers 5,625 square feet of city-owned airport land designated as “Hangar PB (A/C)” to accommodate Dynoair LLC’s privately owned 75’x75’ hangar.

·         Financial Terms: Rent is established at $0.20 per square foot annually, resulting in an initial annual payment of $1,125.00. Rent will automatically escalate by 2% every January 1 throughout the initial 25-year term.

·         Fuel Operations & Fees: Dynoair LLC is permitted to self-fuel its aircraft but must pay a city fuel flow fee of $0.07 per gallon for all fuel brought onto airport grounds.

·         Paving & Apron Obligations: Within six months of hangar completion, the lessee must construct an asphalt apron connecting the hangar to the adjacent taxilane at their own expense and handle all snow removal on the apron approach.

·         Security & Insurance: Requires $1,000,000 single-limit liability insurance naming the City of Watertown as an additional insured, along with mandatory airport Access Gate Cards for all personnel.

4. Gifts, Donations, and Naming Rights Policy Framework

Resolution No. 26-32 (Adopting Policy GP-02)

Resolution No. 26-32 establishes Governance Policy GP-02, creating a standardized, transparent process for reviewing, accepting, managing, and recognizing voluntary gifts, donations, memorials, and naming rights requests.

·         Delegated Administrative Authority: Pursuant to SDCL § 9-1-5, the council delegates authority to the City Manager (or written designee) to evaluate, accept, and execute agreements for routine gifts and donations with a Fair Market Value of $100,000 or less.

·         Mandatory City Council Approval: Formal council approval remains strictly required for:

1.     Any donation or gift with a Fair Market Value exceeding $100,000.

2.     All requests involving Naming Rights (associating a private or corporate name with a city asset).

3.     Donations containing materially restrictive conditions or long-term municipal obligations.

4.     Significant Real Property (land/real estate) donations.

5.     Any gift referred by the City Manager due to public significance or policy implications.

·         Anti-Fragmentation Provision: Multiple contributions from the same donor for the same project, campaign, or transaction must be aggregated into a single valuation to prevent bypassing council threshold limits.

·         City Control & Rights: The policy clarifies that accepting a gift does not constitute an endorsement. The city retains full governance to alter, relocate, repair, or remove donated items or memorials as necessary for public operations.

Ordinances No. 26-25, 26-26, 26-27, and 26-28 (Second Readings & Public Hearings)

Tonight marks the final reading for a sweeping set of zoning text amendments designed to accommodate institutional expansion and higher-density student housing:

·         Campus District (Ord. No. 26-25): Establishes Chapter 21.33 (“CD Campus District”) to create unified zoning for major institutional campuses like Lake Area Technical College and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. Requires a core campus area of at least 10 contiguous acres (with affiliated non-adjacent parcels within 300 feet eligible if meeting 20,000 sq ft). Parking minimums are eliminated to allow institution-driven management.

·         Congregate Living District (Ord. No. 26-26): Establishes Chapter 21.21 (“R-3S Congregate Living Residential District”) to facilitate high-density off-campus dormitories. Residential density is regulated by total beds rather than dwelling units, requiring a minimum of 250 gross square feet per bedroom. Parking is set at 1 stall per bedroom plus 1 bicycle space per 10 bedrooms.

·         District Regulations & Definitions (Ord. No. 26-27 & 26-28): Integrates the CD and R-3S districts into the summary regulation tables and defines key terms, including Congregate Student Housing, Educational Institution, and Gross Floor Area.

Rezoning & Annexation Requests

·         Residential Annexation (Ordinance No. 26-29 - First Reading): Considers an annexation petition from Aric Martens for 13,558 square feet adjacent to 2700 13th Avenue NE to be zoned R-1 Single Family Residential. Annexation allows the property owner to build an accessory structure that was previously blocked under Codington County’s 35-acre agricultural lot minimum. The Planning Commission recommended approval 5-1.

·         Hotel Commercial Rezoning (Ordinance No. 26-24 - Second Reading): Rezones Lot 6 of the Jurrens-Shulte Industrial Addition (503 14th Avenue SE) from I-1 Light Industrial to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site has operated as a hotel/motel since at least 1986. Rezoning brings the property into full zoning compliance by right and supports planned hospitality expansion. Recommended unanimously (7-0) by the Planning Commission.

Infrastructure, Governance, & Administrative Items

Item Davlin’s	Proposal Summary	Impact / Key Notes
Resolution No. 26-29	Vacate 14-ft unimproved alley in Block 7 of Davlin's Addition (between 7th & 8th St SE).	Reclaims ~6,300 sq ft for adjacent business expansion; retains a 20-ft utility easement for Watertown Municipal Utilities.
Resolution No. 26-28	Adopting Standing Council Policies & Governance Policy GP-03.	Outlines warrant/claim processing rules; designates the Watertown Current as the official city newspaper effective Sept 1, 2026.
Governance Policy GP-04	Fixed Asset Capitalization and Insurance Policy Update.	Modernizes 2015 fixed-asset accounting rules; updates thresholds (e.g., $50k for buildings/infrastructure, $20k for machinery) to match GASB/state audit standards.

Appointments, Introductions, & License Approvals

·         City Health Officer: Vote under consent agenda to appoint Dr. William Devine as City Health Officer.

·         Volunteer Reserve Officer: Vote under the consent agenda to approve Ian Meriwether-Chalfant as a volunteer reserve police officer.

·         Police Department Introduction: Introduction of new Patrol Officer Tony Goebel, who joined the department on February 27, 2026, under the regular agenda.

·         Business & Event Permits: Approval under the consent agenda of a Gasfitting Contractor License for Stratos LLC / Taryn Wendling; Special Event Retail On-Sale License for Cloud 9 Golf Course Inc. for an August 22 wedding at the Extension Complex; and a Pyrotechnics Permit for Arrow Pyrotechnics to conduct a 5-minute fireworks display at Wurth Electronics on September 17.

Read more local & state news at www.northeastradiosd.com/news

Subscribe to the DAILY newsletter & download the LOCAL online RADIO app - https://zurl.co/FchgS