A Crackdown on Firecrackers in the city?

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Sam Clemens with the SFPD had a press conference the other day to announce that this year the SFPD will be handing out mostly violations for persons using fireworks within city limits (that are prohibited) instead of warnings.

He said calls in 2014 were around 300 and last year they were 500, he basically said it is getting a little out of control.

I was disappointed last year when the SFPD only handed out warnings. Not only is it noise pollution (do you really have to light firecrackers all night long?) it is a massive fire hazard.

I’m glad to see the SFPD will be treating people who are potential accidental arsonists the same as people who don’t mow their lawns. I should have been done years ago.

Now I need to dig out my earplugs.

Where is the Washington Pavilion’s 2015 Annual Report?

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https://www.washingtonpavilion.org/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=0BB4B093-74E3-4D33-8804-CA7D0CDB25C8

Seems they are taking a page from city hall, hiding financials as long as they can while getting millions from the CIP for facility upgrades on a building that is merely a teenager.

After the annual meeting held each June, the annual report is released. I have been told that the meeting was held, but as you can see, the annual report is NOT available online yet. or try;

 

 

Looks like Director Darrin Smith is off to good (non-transparent) start. He learned from the best.

This is what happens when you don’t play the city’s reindeer games

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TERRACE PARK IMPROVEMENTS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD AT THIS TIME

Improvements planned for this year at Terrace Park will not move forward in 2016. Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation will complete another planning process to ensure that any construction at the park will both improve accessibility and preserve the historical features of the park.

“We engaged the public at a very high level and for a number of years regarding this project, but we have not yet determined a solution that allows us to feel confident moving forward at this time,” says Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation. “Our next step will be to reengage the neighborhood and take another look at the master plan for the park. Any revisions to the master plan will be approved by the Board of Historic Preservation, the ADA Accessibility Review Board, and the Parks and Recreation Board.”

In 2014, Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation collaborated with the Terrace Park Neighborhood Association and the community on a master planning process to guide future development of the upper portion of Terrace Park. The goal of this project was to identify existing issues as well as potential opportunities within the park. Over a six-month process involving multiple public input sessions, a master plan was developed and was to serve as a road map for future construction of the park.

The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Recently, the Board of Historic Preservation determined the construction plans would have an adverse effect on the historic property.

Construction of the master plan improvements were to be completed in multiple phases, with the first phase to construct a monument sign, accessible pathways, and a centennial marker recognizing the 100-year history of the park to take place in 2016. Those improvements will not take place this year. The master plan will be revisited, and design work now will take place in 2018 and 2019, with construction in 2020 and 2021.

This year’s construction contract will be canceled, and materials already purchased for the project will be used for other projects. To date, about $39,415 of the planned $176,250 project has been expended, but much of the work will be applicable when the master plan improvements are completed. The construction of the proposed master plan improvements in 2020 and 2021 will cost about $2 million.

 

Terrace Park Improvements to Be Discussed at Wednesday News Conference

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What: News conference to provide an update regarding planned improvements at Terrace Park

When: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 11 a.m.

Where: City Hall Commission Room 224 West Ninth Street

Who: Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation

Why: Construction of master plan improvements at Terrace Park were to be completed in multiple phases, with the first phase to construct a monument sign, accessible pathways, and a centennial marker recognizing the 100-year history of the park to take place this year. Recently, the Board of Historic Preservation determined the construction plans would have an adverse effect on the historic property. Come to the news conference to learn more about the next steps for Terrace Park improvements.