Who Sits Where: A Fluid Guide to Rapid City’s Boards, Committees, and Commissions
Editor’s Note: This directory is an active reference document. Roster verifications and statutory oversight roles are current as of September 2026. Specific regular meeting times, calendar cycles, and public assembly locations are being compiled from municipal records and will be incorporated in an upcoming update.
The Rundown
Rapid City has more than 30 boards, committees, and commissions — some elected officials sit on by virtue of their office, some are staffed by mayoral appointment, and several exist entirely outside the city’s own public “Boards, Committees and Commissions” directory page.
This guide compiles all of them in one place: what each body does, who currently sits on it, and where the same names recur across multiple boards.
Everything here comes from public records — city bylaws, meeting minutes, rcgov.org’s own committee pages, and the City Council’s own internal 2026-2027 committee assignment tracker.
City Council Standing Committees
The City Council divides its primary legislative and administrative review into two standing committees, each chaired by one alderman and comprising half the Council:
- Public Works Committee — Chair: Lindsey Seachris (Ward 2). Members: Josh Biberdorf, Laura Armstrong, Bill Evans, Callie Meyer
- Legal & Finance Committee — Chair: Greg Strommen (Ward 3). Members: Lance Lehmann, Kevin Maher, Stephen Tamang, John B. Roberts
Outside Board Assignments
Every two years, after new Council members are sworn in, Council leadership determines outside committee and liaison assignments for the full body. The current 2026-2027 assignments, per the city’s own internal tracking sheet, break down as follows:
By-position seats. Several outside boards are assigned automatically to whoever holds a specific Council office, regardless of who that person is:
- The Council President (currently Stephen Tamang) sits, by position, on: the Opportunity Capture Fund, the Black Hills Council of Local Governments, the City/County Joint Meeting, the E-911 Board, Emergency Management Users, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, the MPO’s Executive Policy Committee, and the board of Elevate Rapid City — the city’s public-private economic development nonprofit.
- The Council Vice President (currently Callie Meyer) holds the identical set of by-position seats, non-voting, including the Elevate Rapid City board.
- The Council President additionally sits on the Care Campus board.
In other words, whoever wins the Council presidency and vice-presidency inherits a standing seat on Elevate Rapid City’s own board — a structural link between city government and the nonprofit that administers several of the city’s active TIF-funded development projects, independent of who holds those offices at any given time.
Individually assigned liaison seats (2026-2027):
Laura Armstrong (Ward 5)
- Library Board (voting)
- Disability Awareness & Accessibility Committee
- Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program
- Community Relations Commission
- Senior Citizens Center–Minneluzahan
- Senior Citizens Center–Canyon Lake
- RC Performing Arts Board (voting)
Kevin Maher (Ward 3)
- Opportunity Capture Fund
- Visit Rapid City/Hotel BID Board
- Historic Preservation Commission
- The Monument Board
- Black Hills Military Advisory Committee
John B. Roberts (Ward 4)
- Building Code Board of Appeals
- Zoning Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission
- Central States Fair (voting)
Bill Evans (Ward 2)
- Parking Advisory Board
- Air Quality Board
- Business Improvement District–Downtown
- Humane Society
Lindsey Seachris (Ward 2)
- CIP Committee
- Sustainability Committee
- Journey Museum Board (voting)
Lance Lehmann (Ward 4)
- CIP Committee (Chair)
- Airport Board
- RC Arts Council
Josh Biberdorf (Ward 1)
- CIP Committee
- Life Safety Loan Committee
Greg Strommen (Ward 3)
- Healthcare Committee
- CIP Committee
Laura Armstrong currently holds the most outside assignments of any sitting Council member — nine in total, including three across the city’s senior-services and disability-advocacy bodies alone.
Fourteen of these boards don’t appear on rcgov.org’s public directory page at all — see “Other Bodies” below for what each one does.
The Full Directory
Economic Development & Tax Increment Financing
Opportunity Capture Fund (OCF) Oversight Board — Provides oversight of Rapid City’s economic development incentive fund. Membership is by position, not a fixed roster: the Council President, one designated Council seat (currently Kevin Maher), a Council seat tied to Elevate Rapid City liaison duties (currently Callie Meyer), the Mayor, an Elevate Rapid City board-member designee, and two mayoral business appointments. City Liaison: Finance Director Daniel Ainslie. Meets as needed. (Source: rcgov.org, OCF bylaws and process documents, meeting minutes 2023-2026)
Tax Increment Finance Project Review Committee (TIFPRC) — Formally closed by the passage of Ordinance No. 6654, effective March 28, 2025. The ordinance amended RCMC Chapter 3.26, striking the standalone committee from the city’s active roster and shifting initial TIF review to the Planning Commission and the Legal & Finance Committee. All historic agendas and committee minutes prior to March 2025 have been archived. Recent TIF actions (the Catalyst TIF Amendment, the Healing Way TIF) have subsequently moved directly through Legal & Finance. (Source: rcgov.org, Ordinance No. 6654)
Rapid City Impact Fund Endowment — Advisory Board — Oversees a $3.5M endowment ($3M from the City plus a $500,000 match from the John T. Vucurevich Foundation), held at the Black Hills Area Community Foundation to fund recreational and nonprofit facilities in perpetuity. No distributions are permitted before 2030 or until the fund reaches $6 million. The nine-member inaugural board (serving 2026-2031) includes Don Warne, Hani Shafai, Jim Scull, Kyle Wiese, Marnie Herrmann, Paulette Davidson, Daniel Ainslie, Briana Vande Pol, and Kristin Conzet. (Source: Operating Agreement, signed Nov.-Dec. 2025)
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee — Reviews the city’s five-year infrastructure budget annually. The Internal CIP Review Team (staff-level) consists of the CIP Manager, City Engineer, and Finance Director. The Council-level CIP Committee is chaired by Lance Lehmann, with Josh Biberdorf, Callie Meyer, Greg Strommen, and Lindsey Seachris as members.
Sports Complex, Hotel Tax & Tourism
Business Improvement District (BID) Board – Hotel No. 2 — Created by Council Resolution 2025-079 to fund “acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, and repair” of the city’s indoor sports complex through hotel occupancy tax revenue. Meets the second Tuesday monthly at City Hall. Voting members: Caleb Arceneaux, Casey Thompson (President), Logan Steffens (VP), Harry Christianson, Nick Bonkoski. Both this board’s Feb. 2, 2026, and July 14, 2026, agendas carried items explicitly titled around sports complex financing.
Business Improvement District (BID) Board – Downtown — A distinct board from BID No. 2, governed separately under RCMC 3.25.060. Meets quarterly at Main Street Square. Current members: Jerry Schmidt (Chair), Trevor Johnson, Nick Patton, Rick DenHerder, Todd Hollan. Council Liaison: Bill Evans.
Visit Rapid City (VRC) / Hotel BID Board — The original hotel-tax board, distinct from BID No. 2, administering tourism marketing funds. 2025 officers: Tim Johnson (VRC Chair), Scott Landguth (VRC Vice Chair), Katelyn Cook (Secretary/Treasurer), Logan Steffens (BID Chair), Stacie Hull (BID Vice Chair), Wade Lampert (BID Secretary/Treasurer). Council Liaison: Kevin Maher. Main Street Square was fully folded into VRC’s governance structure effective December 2024.
Land Use, Planning & Historic Preservation
Zoning Board of Adjustment / Planning Commission (ZBA/PC) — Nine members plus two alternates, Mayor-appointed and Council-confirmed to three-year terms, governed under RCMC 2.60. Doubles as the Zoning Board of Adjustment for variance appeals. Current voting members reconfirmed September 2026: Karen Bulman, Vince Vidal, Eirik Heikes; Gary Sabers, Alternate #2. Council Liaison: John B. Roberts.
Historic Preservation Commission — Seven members overseeing preservation of historically significant sites: Brittany Neiles, Dave Viall, Jenn Johnson, Emily Calhoun, Pat Roseland (Alt.), Jeremy Altman, Tyler Holz (Alt.). Council Liaison: Kevin Maher.
Historic Sign Review Committee — Five members reviewing sign permits in historic districts: Michael Steve, Jeremy Altman, Lee Geiger, plus two vacancies.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) — Created in 1977, covers 431 square miles including Rapid City, Box Elder, Summerset, Piedmont, Ellsworth Air Force Base, and unincorporated growth areas of Pennington and Meade counties. Current roster maintained separately at rapidcityareampo.org.
Public Safety, Utilities & Infrastructure
Building Board of Appeals — Ten members (five plus five alternates), one per licensed trade: Mike Wolff (Electrical), Jesse Lilleskov (Plumbing), Steve Malone (Engineer), Andrew Scull (Contractor), Brett Kaltvedt (Mechanical), plus alternates and vacancies. Council Liaison: John B. Roberts.
Rapid City Area Air Quality Board — Seven voting plus three ex officio members under RCMC 8.34.230: Cole Anderson, Sheila Hoyer, Jason Luze, Michael Magda, Scott Kenner, one vacancy, and a county-appointed Member at Large, Jacqueline Cross. Meets quarterly. Council Liaison: Bill Evans.
Trenching Board — Licenses contractors doing underground utility work: Daniel Earley, Theodore Schultz, Doug Wilson, Doug McIntosh, Kristofer James, plus the Public Works Director by position.
Parking Advisory Board — Seven members, at least four representing the downtown district: Mark Bachman, Cory Condon, Erin Krueger, Domico Rodriguez, Laura Jones, Garth Wadsworth, David Zehntner. Council Liaison: Bill Evans.
Airport Board — Five members governing the Rapid City Regional Airport: John Pierce, Dr. Robert Hall (Vice President), Bob Conway (Secretary), Ally Formanek, Caleb Arceneaux. Council Liaison: Lance Lehmann. Executive Director: Patrick Dame.
Community, Culture & Social Services
Library Board of Trustees — Five members plus a voting Council liaison and a county liaison: Beth Brekhus, Emily Tupa, Brittany Richman, Erica Haugtvedt, Timmi Bubac. County Liaison: Deb Hadcock. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong.
Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee (DAAC) — Originally established 1975; renamed DAAC in January 2022. The Mayor serves as ex officio chairperson. Minimum ten members, two-year staggered terms. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board — Governed under RCMC 2.89. Chairperson: Roger Heacock. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong.
Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Council (RSVP+) — A federally grant-funded program (Corporation for National and Community Service) engaging volunteers 55 and older. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong. Two confirmed members: Mary Jane Chiles and Rita Conklin.
Community Relations Commission — Nine members investigating discrimination complaints in housing, employment, public services, and public accommodations, established under Ordinance 5377: Stephanie Savoy, Walt Swan, Lloyd LaCroix, William Snyder, Becky Drury, Mary Drumm, Lila Mehlhaff, Tifanie Petro, one vacancy. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong.
Standing Committee on Sustainability — Twelve voting members plus two alternates promoting environmental and economic sustainability initiatives. Council Liaison: Lindsey Seachris.
Rapid City Youth City Council (RCYCC) — Established by Council Resolution in 2019. Five to 18 voting youth members ages 14-18, one-year terms. Council Liaison: Callie Meyer.
Vision Fund Citizen Committee — A nine-member committee (plus two alternates) reviewing proposals for the city’s Vision Fund, a portion of municipal sales tax dedicated to civic improvement projects. Current 2025-29 cycle members, confirmed by Council 7-1 in March 2025: Leslie Magnusson Hildyard, Greg Hansen, Holly Howie, Matthew Hasvold, Reese Niu, Lloyd LaCroix, Mary Drumm, Matt James, John Kaiser (Chair).
The Monument Board — Five members overseeing operations of The Monument civic center: Chris Johnson, Ivy Allard, Jason Lambert, Stuart Wevik, Patri Acevedo. Council Liaison: Kevin Maher.
Other Bodies (identified through internal Council records, not the public directory)
Central States Fair — A nonprofit, member-driven organization governed by a 14-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by fair membership at an annual meeting each March. Produces the Central States Fair and Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo and manages the fairgrounds through a partnership with Pennington County. Council Liaison: John B. Roberts. (Source: centralstatesfair.com)
Journey Museum Board — Governing body is the nonprofit Museum Alliance of Rapid City (MARC). The museum’s building and grounds are city-owned; the museum is funded through a combination of city funds, earned income, donations, and grants. Council Liaison: Lindsey Seachris. (Source: americanfolkloresociety.org)
RC Performing Arts Board — The nonprofit Performing Arts Center of Rapid City, Inc., which operates the Historic and Studio theaters inside Rapid City High School. The city contributed $3.25 million from the Vision Fund toward its construction. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong. (Source: rcgov.org)
RC Arts Council — A public-private partnership with the city that manages the civically owned Dahl Arts Center — six galleries, a 250+ capacity event center, five classrooms, and a permanent art collection. Council Liaison: Lance Lehmann. (Source: idealist.org)
Healthcare Committee — An internal city committee that reviews city employee health insurance rates and plan changes, routed through Legal & Finance. Council Liaison: Greg Strommen. (Source: rcgov.org)
Care Campus — A downtown sobering/safe-bed facility for people struggling with addiction and homelessness, run in coordination with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Council Liaison: Stephen Tamang.
Senior Citizens Center – Minneluzahan — A nonprofit senior center at 315 N. 4th St., in a city-owned building. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong. (Source: Rapid City Journal)
Senior Citizens Center – Canyon Lake — The Canyon Lake Activity Center, a nonprofit senior center serving Rapid City’s senior community. Council Liaison: Laura Armstrong.
Life Safety Loan Committee — Oversees the city’s Life Safety Loan Program (RCMC Chapter 3.28), which finances fire-suppression system installations for existing buildings at up to 80% of cost. Council Liaison: Josh Biberdorf. (Source: rcgov.org)
E-911 Board — Governs the Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center, the county’s 911 dispatch/PSAP, operating under a Joint Powers Agreement among the City, Pennington County, and the state DPS Division of State Radio Communications.
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) — Pennington County’s hazardous-materials planning committee under EPCRA/SARA Title III. Collects and maintains information on hazardous materials in the county, analyzes risks, and develops an emergency response plan. Meets quarterly.
Emergency Management Users Board — Manages the joint Rapid City/Pennington County Emergency Management office, formalized by a 1978 Joint Powers Agreement. Composed of seven members: the Pennington County Sheriff, Rapid City Police Chief, Rapid City Fire Chief, a Pennington County Commissioner, a Rapid City alderman, a Pennington County Fire Service Board member, and the SD National Guard’s Director of Military Support.
Black Hills Council of Local Governments — The region’s federally designated economic development/planning district, based in Rapid City.
Black Hills Military Advisory Committee — A coalition connecting Ellsworth Air Force Base with Black Hills community leaders, including the Honorary Commander program. Council Liaison: Kevin Maher.
City/County Joint Meeting — Periodic joint session between Council leadership and the Pennington County Commission, held by position (Council President/VP).
Humane Society — The Humane Society of the Black Hills, Inc. operates the city’s animal shelter and animal control services under an annual contract with the city. Council Liaison: Bill Evans.
Where the Same Names Keep Showing Up
Certain individuals — mostly city staff and a handful of Council members — sit on enough of these boards that they function as connective tissue across the city’s committee structure:
- Finance Director Daniel Ainslie holds staff-level seats or liaison roles on the Opportunity Capture Fund, BID No. 2, the Downtown BID, the Rapid City Youth City Council’s governing bylaws, the Impact Fund Endowment board, and the internal CIP review team.
- Laura Armstrong holds nine Council-assigned seats, more than any other sitting alderman.
- Kevin Maher holds five: OCF, VRC/Hotel BID, Historic Preservation Commission, The Monument Board, and the Black Hills Military Advisory Committee.
- Council President Stephen Tamang and Vice President Callie Meyer both hold identical by-position seats on roughly ten boards each, including Elevate Rapid City’s own board — a seat tied to the office, not the individual.
- Caleb Arceneaux sits on both the Airport Board and BID No. 2 (as Secretary); Ally Formanek sits on the Airport Board while also serving as Visit Rapid City’s CEO.
- Domico Rodriguez and Garth Wadsworth — the former the paid Executive Director of the Rapid City Sports Commission, the latter a commissioner with Elevate Rapid City — both currently sit on the Parking Advisory Board.
- Lloyd LaCroix and Mary Drumm both sit on the Community Relations Commission and the Vision Fund Citizen Committee simultaneously.
- Hani Shafai, through his firm Dream Design International, has served as agent on at least two separate TIF district applications (21TIF003 and 23TIF004) and separately sits on the Impact Fund Endowment board.
The TIF Districts
Tax Increment Financing districts redirect a portion of a development’s future property tax growth back into that development, rather than the general tax base.
Several districts recur across the city’s boards and funding structures:
21TIF003: Black Hills Industrial Center
- Created: May 2022
- Applicant/Agent: Black Hills Industrial Center, LLC / Dream Design International
- Notes: ~600 acres east of Highway 79, south of Elk Vale Road
22TIF001: Elk Vale Sewer Improvements (Youth Soccer Infrastructure)
- Created: Filed Aug. 2022
- Applicant/Agent: Youth Soccer Infrastructure, LLC
- Notes: Section 21, T2N R8E; services the City-owned Soccer Field lot leased to Black Hills Soccer Federation; $6.235 million request. Predates 2023, confirming the city’s soccer-fields TIF infrastructure was already in motion before the Catalyst-funded sports complex was announced.
84: East Anamosa Water Extension
- Created: Jan. 2021
- Applicant/Agent: None originally (Amended in 2023 with Dream Design International as agent)
- Notes: N/A
100: Libertyland/Destination District
- Created: Sept. 2025
- Applicant/Agent: N/A
- Notes: Referendum failed
101: Catalyst (Elevate RC/Northline Business Park)
- Created: Sept. 2025
- Applicant/Agent: N/A
- Notes: Partially funds the indoor sports complex
102: Healing Way
- Created: 2026
- Applicant/Agent: Buffalo North, LLC
- Notes: N/A