Rapid City adopted some of the state's earliest and tightest business restrictions last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now the mayor says it's time for a change.
The current COVID-19 ordinance forced bars and restaurants to close, except for takeout and deliveries. It also forced closures at other places where the public gathers, including casinos, bowling alleys, health clubs and theaters.
Mayor Steve Allender said he and the City Council adopted the ordinance because of early COVID-19 projections. He said those projections indicated 30 to 60 percent of the local population would get infected, and 20 percent of the infections would require hospitalization.
But now the data has changed, Allender said Wednesday during a press conference.
“The information we used to pass the March 27th ordinance is largely no longer valid.”
He said the hospitalization rate is one-fourth of the projection. There have been only 11 positive tests for COVID-19 in Pennington County. And that’s bought healthcare providers an extra month of preparation.
So, on Monday, Allender will ask the City Council to amend the ordinance. The amendment would take effect immediately if adopted.
“The next logical step is to balance the threat of this virus with the threat being created by a faltering economy,” he said.
Instead of tight restrictions on a narrow subset of businesses, he wants comparatively lighter restrictions on all businesses.
In other words, closed businesses could reopen. But there's a long list of proposed regulations. They include a 6-foot space between tables, chairs and barstools. Crowds in restaurants and bars would be limited to 10 people, or one customer for every 125 square feet. Grocery stores and some other businesses would have to limit customers to one for every 200 square feet. And Plexiglas dividers between cashiers and customers would be required where possible.
A fuller list of the regulations is available on the city’s website.
Allender acknowledged that even if the City Council amends the ordinance, some businesses might choose to remain closed. He said some restaurant owners have indicated it won’t pay for them to reopen if they can’t allow more than 10 people in their dining room.
- Seth Tupper is SDPB's business and economic development reporter.
