He was told it was his responsibility to prove his innocence; which he did five years and $40,000 later in the South Dakota Supreme Court. But in his opinion, it should have never gotten that far.
“The city does not allow appeals in court,” he added, “They make all these rules and they can’t enforce them; they can’t take you to court.”
Barbara and Pierce McDowell and Joseph and Sarah Sapienza entered litigation after the McDowells claim the Sapienza’s home is built far too close to theirs. However, Daily says the frustration should be directed at the city who gave the green light on construction.
“The city by charter is supposed to protect citizens, and they don’t.”
Fiddle-Faddle and the Mayor use the city charter to punish citizens while covering their asses. It is a perfect example of what a charter should NOT look like.
Bad Bad Neighbor or is it Bad Bad Mayor? At what point do the people of Sioux Falls decide they have had enough of the propaganda? Sure, we want a nice, clean village to live in but when will the Minister of Propaganda learn we can accomplish so much more without encouraging neighbor on neighbor violence and property destruction?
The shaming of a property owner on South Main Street shammed the city of Sioux Falls on June 22, 2016. We’re sure most have seen the disgusting display of disgrace toward our fellow citizens shown in the local media perpetrated by the chief marketing officer. He should listen to and take heart the words of his new code enforcement manager Matt Tobias.
This video could have been shot in city hall but instead Mike and Heather produce it in front of the offending property but make it look like the attractive neighboring house is the problem. We did an interview with Theresa Stehly minutes before our view was changed by Heather because of “privacy concerns.” Bulls**t. If privacy was a concern, we would not have had the presser where it was held.
Within minutes of the first presser broadcasts in the local press, vandalism began around the community by our neighbors following the mayor’s lead. Mayor Huether should be ashamed but he does not know shame and this proves it.
When will the code enforcement system of the city of Sioux Falls become constitutional? The way this mayor operates things, never so we’d better get ready for more neighbor on neighbor violence. Thanks Mike.
As you know, pressure from Stehly before she was an elected official got the ball rolling on a new boulevard ordinance;
Public Works Director Mark Cotter says while residents are encouraged to be creative, new rules will help maintain the public right-of-way from the sidewalk to the streets.
“That’s why it’s so important that we maintain this space to make sure it’s safe but also so we can frequently install, update and replace these utilities,” Cotter said.
I also like the fact that there will be a 2 year transitional period to have homeowners get used to the ordinance. I can’t wait to start my rhubard garden in the boulevard 🙂
*The press conference was held in front of former senate candidate Rick Weiland’s home on about 20th and Phillips. They have an amazing front yard.
The new code enforcement director Matt Tobias just released the 2015 annual report (DOC: CODE-ENFORCEMENT-2015 )
It is an interesting read I won’t get into to much. But the way fines are collected, is an interesting read, also the amount of properties that are ceased and demolished.
DaCola plans a post soon about ‘what happens’ to the seized property. Stay tuned.
A foot soldier pointed out to me that he has noticed several political yard signs without a ‘paid for’ on the bottom of them (Paulson & Srstka did not), and he was unsure of others. I know that Stehly, Noble and Neitzert do have the disclaimer on them. But it begs the question if ‘paid for’ is no longer needed on yard signs, there is no city ordinance on the topic, but there is state law, which is about as clear as mud;
12-27-15. Printed political communications to contain certain language–Exceptions–Violation as misdemeanor. Any printed material or communication made, purchased, paid for, or authorized by a candidate, political committee, or political party which expressly advocates for or against a candidate, public office holder, ballot question, or political party shall prominently display or clearly speak the statement: “Paid for by (Name of candidate, political committee, or political party).” This section does not apply to buttons, balloons, pins, pens, matchbooks, clothing, or similar small items upon which the inclusion of the statement would be impracticable. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Signs are not mentioned in the law, so one wonders if they are NOT exempt. Any lawyers in the house want to chime in?
While I find most of it agreeable (or as I have told advocates, it won’t change what it is in my boulevard). (Item #46, DOC; PS_O) The section regarding mailboxes, especially ones that are more permanent (like brickwork) may be a little concerned. As I understand it as I read it below (I think) if a utility company, or the city destroys your structure, you are responsible for the loss, and it also looks like you won’t be able to replace it like it was.
I totally understand in an emergency situation, but if it is scheduled work, there is no reason these cannot be preserved.
Some times you have to make sacrifices if you want to live in a certain part of town, or should you? I live in the landing flight pass of the airport, 2 blocks from where hospital helicopter takes off from, 4 railroad tracks, several bars and casinos and a busy arterial street. But I like my location and my mortgage payment, so I drown out the noise.
A Sioux Falls man says his business neighbor is in clear violation of city zoning rules.
Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. is a salvage yard, Bernie Schmidt says, an industrial-grade business that doesn’t belong next to a residential neighborhood.
The city says the 11-acre business is a “vehicle storage and auction facility,” fully compliant with rules for a light industrial zone and capable of harmonious coexistence with residential neighbors.
The distinction is important: Salvage yards aren’t permitted in light industrial zones. Wholesaling and manufacturing facilities are.
Kind of sounds like they are splitting hairs. Inoperable vehicles sitting in a ‘yard’ kind of makes it a ‘salvage’ yard. Either way, I wouldn’t want to live door to neither.
But the interesting part of the story is how the county and city look at things differently;
City officials say Tiede’s ruling isn’t binding for the city, which uses different zoning language than the county.
This happens quite often, and the city often bucks the county to get their way. I wish the neighbors luck.
I think the proposals look great, so far, the city is still looking for more input;
The City of Sioux Falls is proposing changes to the current right-of-way ordinance. The current ordinance limits landscaping to only turf grass and trees in the parking strip. A new ordinance would allow for additional flexibility in plantings while preserving the functionality of the public right-of-way.
The new proposed ordinance allows turf or native grasses; approved street trees; annual, biennial, or perennial plants; cultivated flowers; wildflowers; and fruits and vegetables. To maintain the safety of the right-of-way, some restrictions would apply. Those include:
Plants must be maintained at a height of no more than 36″ from the top of the curb.
Neither plants with thorns, spines, or other sharp rigid parts nor evergreen or deciduous shrubs would be allowed.
Plant material may not overhang or encroach onto the sidewalk.
Wood mulch may be used only on a limited basis around plantings as a water-conservation measure.
Turf grass must be maintained at a height of no more than 8″.
The proposed ordinance also would allow some surface area in the parking strip to include landscape pavers, edging, rock mulch, or concrete splash guards. The ordinance would be phased in to allow adequate time for property owners to make changes before enforcement of city codes would take place.
To provide input into the proposed ordinance, please contact:
Matt Tobias, Code Enforcement Manager
605-367-1896 mtobias@siouxfalls.org
The citizens of Sioux Falls need your help. As we have discovered in our efforts, the more we work to expose the inner workings of Sioux Falls city government, the more the administration works to shut us out. Our efforts in opening up the government to citizens is transparency of process. The administration is working to shut you and I out of all discussions.
I am sending this email to many of the people and groups I have been involved with during the recent petition drives and elections. None of our efforts would have been possible if the administration’s efforts to stifle debate would have been in place.
The City Council has scheduled two items for Tuesday we must have people ready to stop. The administration has two proposals.
The first item is dealing with a possible illegal car rental tax to fund a private entity’s construction project. This may not seem like something you and your organizations should care about but it is. It needs a full discussion since it is being dropped on the spring election ballot without having to go to the public for petition signatures. If you had a problem with the way the cellphone ban was short circuited at the Council, why should this questionably legal tax be fast tracked?
In the second item, the administration is planning to change the posting of meeting agendas to 24 hours prior to the Tuesday meetings . Our current ordinance requires posting by close of business on Friday. The problem with this change is close of business on Monday gives the ability to slip items onto the meeting without the public being able to know what is planned. How would you have been able read the posted at close of business agendas, research the items and then gather your troops to battle the proposal you worked so hard to win. It would be eliminated.
Consider the administration’s ability to drop a resolution onto the agenda leaving none of us the time to stop it. We would have no opportunity to inform the Council members of our concerns. Some of the Council gets confidential information with behind the scene emails and briefings. These items don’t get a full discussion now and with this proposal there will be less. The Powder House Road name change was dropped on us because of an internal city naming group made the resolution to change it. With the new proposed ordinance change, how many more things like this will occur? Resolutions are often dropped onto the agenda without any prior discussion letting us know the vote will occur.
In the past year our efforts to open up government to citizens has started to take hold and it is bothering the officials at 9th & Main. Our attention to process, agenda details and the willingness to bring them into the public discussion are at root to my arrest with prosecution for being a public nuisance. I was found not guilty because at least the court saw through these actions. If the council allows the city clerk to move forward with the change to the posting of agendas from our current short timeline to an even shorter one, we all lose.
Please contact me, bruce@citizens4integrity.org. We all need to help stop the abuse of our rights to be involved in Sioux Falls city government. There are ways to stop the erosion of access to our government but it takes you being involved. We are working to make the process easier to participate. Please don’t sit back and think someone else will save our rights. It is up to each of us.
