Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
First things first, this issue is brought to you by SafeSplash Swim School.
- Make the most of spring break with SafeSplash SwimJams. SwimJams are a great way to accelerate your swimmer’s learning while fitting seamlessly into busy schedules. By taking part in four consecutive days of 30-minute lessons, swimmers build momentum, confidence, and skills rapidly.
- The next SwimJams session runs March 23–26 and is designed to support family spring break activities and complement your child’s regular lessons. Learn more and sign up for the east-side location here and the south-side location here.
Weather check: Idk, man, I think the groundhog was full of it
This week, it appears the drama over Sioux Falls' new pools is not yet over. Plus, e-readers, I've got some bad news for you about Hoopla (but also some good news about how the library is replacing it with other stuff). Plus, find a round-up of Valentine's Day events to suit every temperament.
And now, news:
CITY
Councilors look to set hard cap on rec center spending
Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday discussed setting a hard cap on how much the city can spend to construct a new indoor pool and recreation center in Frank Olson Park. A final vote on the ordinance was deferred to next week, but here's what we know so far.
Why it matters
- The City Council has spent years planning the future of Frank Olson pool, and when plans evolved to include an indoor recreation center with gym space, indoor play and fitness space, controlling the total cost of the project became a priority.
- That's part of why the council set specific guardrails in the ordinance authorizing bonds to fund the new project – capping borrowing at $47 million plus or minus 5% for the recreation center and $68 million total for both the center and a new outdoor pool at Kuehn Park.
- Those caps on the amount the city can borrow do not put specific limits on how much the city can spend in total on the projects.
- That's what councilors looked to solve for in an amendment proposed Tuesday night to a gifting agreement from Jennifer and Joe Kirby, who announced a $1 million gift to support the rec center in exchange for naming rights of the "Kirby Pool at the Frank Olson Recreation Center."
"I want to be very strong and say there is no more flexibility," Councilor Curt Soehl said after bringing an amendment to cap the total spending at no more than $49,350,000 (which is that $47 million plus 5%).
Tell me more
COMMUNITY
How the library is retooling its digital assets – and saying goodbye to Hoopla
Simplified: Siouxland Libraries will phase out use of the Hoopla app at the end of March as it moves away from the pay-per-use model of sharing digital assets like ebooks, audiobooks and movies. But fear not, e-readers – there are two new digital options already in place to help fill the gap.
Why it matters
- In recent years, the library system has seen an increase in costs as more folks opt for checking out digital books, movies, etc. over physical ones. For the first time this year, adult audiobooks beat out physical copies of children's picture books as the most checked-out items, according to Collection Development Librarian Beth Berg.
- That's particularly tricky with the app Hoopla, which charges the library every single time an asset is checked out regardless of whether it's ever read or listened to. At this time last year, Hoopla was costing the library as much as $18,000 per month and is only used by about 10% of library cardholders, Berg said.
"That's just not sustainable in any budget climate," Berg said.
- So, as Hoopla phases out, Siouxland Libraries is implementing new ways to share digital resources. In January, the system implemented Kanopy, an app offering unlimited views of movies, TV shows and more. Similarly, a new South Dakota reciprocal lending agreement gives Siouxland Libraries users access to ebooks from libraries statewide.
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Council approves 2050 plan. The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the city's "Shape Sioux Falls 2050" comprehensive plan. You can read all 146 pages of the plan here. And you can find a little more "simplified" context here on how the plan will take a more neighborhood-focused approach to planning.
- Ready for camp?* Registration for ZooCamp at the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium is officially open. Kids age 4 to 12 can sign up to attend a variety of camp topics from zookeepers to habitat design to learning about animals of myth and legend. Camps also include options for half-day and full-day experiences, and members get exclusive discounts. Learn more and register here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Valentine's edition
- For the Galentines. There are so many Galentine's events happening around town, I could've made a separate event guide with just gal pal fun. But, in the interest of simplifying things, here's a quick rundown. There's a comedy show Wednesday night, a party at Nordic Hall Saturday morning, a lashes and med spa moment Thursday night, wine and candle painting at the new Tashi's Yarn Bar in Dell Rapids on Saturday night, and bring the girls to Barre3 all weekend for free.
- For those who love pets more than people. Roxi & Co. is hosting "Paws and Poses," a Valentine's date with your pet. Take themed photos, enjoy a build-your-own treat bag station, and get a special Valentine's themed gift for every pet who attends. Details here.
- For the fancy date night. Harvester Kitchen is hosting the "Feast of the Valentine's" all weekend with elegant dishes, creative wine pairings, and a warm, welcoming ambiance. Check out the menu and get your reservations here. You can also get fancy at the new Oak & Olive event venue adjacent to Roots of Brazil. They're hosting a timeless Valentine celebration with live music and a four-course meal. Details here.
- For those who want to keep it more casual. It doesn't have to be fancy to be romantic. Sunny's Pizzeria is dimming the lights, playing the slow jams and setting the mood for a cozy, casual date night experience Saturday and Sunday evening. Details here.
- For those wanting something a little more risqué. Listen, we're all adults here. If you want some more mature themes for your Valentine's celebrations, you can swing by "Naughty Bingo" at Wiley's starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Details here.
- For the do-ers. Not every couple has a "sit still and eat" style of dating. For those who want to get a little crafty, there's a couples cake decorating class at The Social on Sunday afternoon, as well as a cookie decorating class Wednesday at Dawley Farm. For those who want to move around more, there's also a ballroom dancing class at The Premiere Playhouse on Thursday evening. There's also a bowling event at Union Social all day Thursday.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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Special thanks to Safe Splash Swim School!
Help your kids build confidence and critical water safety skills with SwimJams. Learn more and sign up for the east-side location here and the south-side location here.
