November 2023

Looks like we are gonna get a Rec Center in Sioux Falls

I actually support a rec center and think that the Midco Aquatic Center was a colossal mistake. Wrong location, too small of a facility.

The city is pushing towards another indoor pool, but many want it in coordination with a Rec Center.

The top three requests: an indoor recreation center, pickleball courts and potentially a fitness park similar to what the city recently installed at Rotary Park.

This wasn’t the first time an idea like this was floated. During the debate about the location of the Denty, many suggested we build the EC downtown with an attached convention center and convert the Arena and current CC into a rec center. Before that was Drake Springs.

They didn’t get far.

But the real question here is the cost;

“Obviously, we didn’t have any dollar signs associated with anything — this was us trying to gather feedback from the public on what they’d like to see. So we need to weigh all the answers we received with — from our professional opinion — what is best for the park and best for the community and also weigh that with budget and working with the city on if it’s something to phase over time or what’s the initial investment.”

The city is very well aware of what it may cost, and like a $10 million dollar, $20 million dollar bridge, the funding is hidden.

A city official told me recently that the budget for the quality of life projects for 2024 was originally $30 million. They said that number has doubled and could get even higher depending on the proposal picked.

It’s the oldest trick in the book. Sell the consumer on the Cadillac when they only have a budget for Scion.

The city has estimates for what this ‘BOND’ will be ($30 million budgeted and $30 million in bonds = $60 million) but like the bridge debacle they are hiding it from the public.

If you look at interest and other costs you could easily be at $80 million dollars!

Just look at this item in the consent agenda on Tuesday (Item #7);

Why would you hire bond council before you know how much you are bonding? Unlike dead animals, expensive bridges and the lipstick on a bunker ramp, just for once can you be upfront with the public?

Just once!

Maybe they should use the Lincoln Park space for a Rec Center? You would have plenty of room for a facility and some parking and green space to boot. The parking lot could be reduced since there is oodles of on street parking around the park.

Listen to the Lincoln Park group speak at the School Board meeting tonight (FF: 22:00)

Maybe I am wrong about trickle down housing?

I recently told the city council that we have a housing crisis on all income levels in Sioux Falls. It doesn’t matter if you have the resources to get good permanent housing in town, the availability is lacking even on the high end.

WAPO wrote a great illustrated story about Missing Middle Housing, the argument is simple;

Still, many economists contend that building a bunch of new homes for middle- and upper-income families – in Arlington or elsewhere – can reduce competition for older homes and keep them more affordable.

I am having a better understanding of ‘trickle down housing’. It seems the sweet spot is building good, affordable workforce and middle income housing freeing up less expensive housing and creating more units and density.

Of course, the City of Sioux Falls Planning office thinks that building homes and condos for the super rich will trickle down to all income levels, but it seems the approach that works the best is building middle income housing first.

The city recently passed new mixed use zoning rules, and it is a good step, but it is going to be a bear to fight all the residential neighborhoods around these projects.

City of Sioux Falls Senior Planner leaving

Long time public transportation coordinator and Senior Planner let colleagues know in an email he will be leaving;

After 23 ½ years with the City of Sioux Falls, I have decided to take a new job.  One of my best experiences at the City of Sioux Falls has been working with the Bicycle Committee and implementation of the Bicycle Plan.  The Bicycle Committee  has been instrumental in helping me over that time.  Please stay engaged with the Bicycle Committee (and now Active Transportation Board too) helping Sioux Falls become a more bicycle-friendly city.  My last day at the City is December 1, but I will continue to be here in Sioux Falls.  Thanks!

Sam Trebilcock, AICP, Senior Planner // City of Sioux Falls

To tell you the truth, I can’t blame him. With a new vendor moving in for public transportation and the Active Transportation board still working on solutions, retirement probably looked pretty inviting.

While I have disagreed with Sam on a whole host of things, he has been fair and straightforward.

Maybe things are not always what they seem?

Throughout the conversation about the censored mural design of the Bunker Ramp many journalists and fellow arts advocates have asked to see the censored design to better understand it.

The artists have not acquiesced. Their argument has been they may use the imagery in a future project so they prefer not to show peeps.

I have argued it would go a long way in fighting censorship by the mayor’s office if the public is shown the image and make a judgement for themselves.

Many artists and free speech advocates throughout the city have suggested on social media they sell t-shirts of the rejected art and donate some of the proceeds to a local visual arts charity or better yet use the money to put the mural on private property in public view.

Not long ago this community came together to turn a similar negative situation into a positive. A few years back a state employee decided to design the infamous Rainbow Buffalo. After posting it to FB the employee’s job was threatened and was asked to take the image off of FB. What happened next was remarkable. The person shared their story and soon the image was emblazened on everything from stickers to stocking caps.

But the reason I bring this up AGAIN is the intriguing conversation I had with a fellow artist about this recently. The artist in question is a practicing professional artist who follows state and local politics like a hawk, so I decided to ask him his opinion on the censored piece, this is what I can remember from the conversation;

ME: HAVE YOU SEEN THE IMAGE OF THE CENSORED PIECE?

ARTIST: NO. HAVE YOU?

ME: NO. BUT WAS IT EXPLAINED TO YOU?

ARTIST: YES.

ME: I DON’T UNDERSTAND ALL THE HOOPLA ABOUT A SHIRTLESS NATIVE MAN?

ARTIST: MAYBE IT WASN’T A MAN?

ME: SO YOU THINK IT WAS A TOPLESS WOMAN?

ARTIST: NO (THEY GIVE ME A SIDEWAYS GLANCE)

You’ve got your mother in a whirl
She’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair’s alright
Hey babe, let’s go out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they’re playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I’m wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on

Rebel rebel, you’ve torn your dress
Rebel rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!

REBEL REBEL, DAVID BOWIE

We came to the conclusion that image was more then likely a depiction of what natives call ‘Two-Spirit’;

“Two-Spirit” is a term used within some Indigenous communities, encompassing cultural, spiritual, sexual and gender identity. The term reflects complex Indigenous understandings of gender roles, spirituality, and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures.

So are we getting the whole story here? I wouldn’t know since I haven’t seen Jack, uh I mean Jackie.