Every couple of years, this happens when councilors are walking out the door, they present a ton of items that they know could never pass while they were serving the last 8 years, and there are some humdingers.
But before we get to the stupidity, I will say that this administration and council really missed a gigantic opportunity to put the aquatic bonds on the ballot in the last election. Even some councilors are asking why they didn’t do it.
Because we have NO leadership or leadership skills. Any dolt in local government could have told you the best way to get peeps to the polls and build public trust is to have a bond election. But instead the mayor cries in his car on social media ‘nobody likes me.’
Maybe it is true?
Informational Meeting • 4PM • Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Update on Aquatics ‘MESS’
Regular City Council Meeting • 6 PM
Item #69, 2nd Reading, Ordinance, The purpose of this rezone is for the potential future expansion of the existing office building to the north and match the zoning to what it was before Shape Places.
(The applicant lied to the council with his first rezone, and the council should deny his rezone based on that lie. I have a feeling they have enough votes to pass it, because I am sure the applicant threatened litigation, and ironically, he would win due to constitutional property rights. The lying part? That’s ok. This council wouldn’t vote for anything unless they could cover up the lies.)
Item #70, 2nd Reading, Ordinance, The proposed ordinance repeals the existing prohibition against candy and balloon distribution at parades.
(2nd Reading, while I could care less if kids are getting pelted with candy, my concern is the MJ gummies and other substances. Is it really a good idea to give candy to kids from strangers? I would think a kid doctor would know better?)
Item #73, 1st Reading, Ordinance, Appropriates a $9.05M transfer from the General Fund to the Sales/Use Tax Fund, and then again also appropriates $9.05M from the Sales/Use Tax Fund to acquire an existing aquatics and recreation facility located in western Sioux Falls. It is intended that proceeds from a future bond issuance will provide reimbursement for the acquisition.
(We don’t need to buy an existing facility only to CHARGE a fee anyway. What is the F’ing point?! You take membership fees from the private sector and move to the public sector. What problem are you solving? NONE! If the city really needed this, I would applaud Sanford, BUT WE DON’T! Just another transfer of tax dollars to Sanford, once again, solving no problem. If peeps are already using the facility privately, how is me owning it better?).
Item #74, 1st Reading, Ordinance, This ordinance authorizes the City to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources on the issuance of bonds and execute a loan agreement (Exhibit B) for Basin 15 Phase 2A/2B Sanitary Sewer Installation. This project will be using State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loans. The Basin 15 Sanitary Sewer Installation project area is on the west side of the city, near West 12th Street and Ellis Road.
(Funny, no mention of $23 million dollar bonds in recent weeks, must be too busy doing jumping jacks and hiding dead monkeys.)
Item #75, 1st Reading, Ordinance, The proposed ordinance would require the city administration to provide the city council by June 1 of each year a list of all the subsidy agreements with outside organizations that will be included in the Mayor’s recommended budget. The list must include details such as a brief description of the program, financial results, the programs impact and objectives, and other pertinent information.
(This has to do with the extremely high reserves we have. Over $80 million and 37%-city ordinance says they should have no more then 25% in reserves).
Item #76, 1st Reading, Ordinance. The $50,000 supplemental appropriation to fund a discounted admissions day at the Great Plains Zoo.
(No. No. No. The zoo already receives millions in subsidies from the taxpayers for maintenance, operations, etc., every year. Is the zoo really going to be in dire straits if they give ONE free admission, ONE day a year? Seriously? Oh, and it ain’t even free. It is for a ‘discounted’ admission fee. So not only are we giving them an extra $50k they don’t need, the taxpayers funding this can’t even use the grant, because they still have to pay to walk thru the doors. How about this, make it free, make the zoo pay for it, and have them staff the vendor booths so they can make loads of money on concessions, etc. I sometimes think the brain trust in this town could fit in a shoebox.)
Item #77, 1st Reading, This proposed ordinance would allow a private applicant requesting a rezone, license or permit an opportunity to provide a rebuttal following public input.
(This would give 2x time to applicants and proponents over opponents. The Planning Commission handles this well right now, they call up the applicant if there is a rebuttal or further comments, it works well within the framing of Robert’s Rules. Proponents and Opponents deserve equal public input time, if the applicant needs to clarify something, the board presiding, and specifically the chair, can call them forward. This is part of the new council’s ‘Pro-Business’ agenda. I have been hearing this being whispered that the new council will strictly be ‘Pro-Business’. So how is this different then what we have had since the charter changed? Watching these toddlers run the city is funny, but it is also hurts a bit.)
Item #78, 1st Reading, Ordinance, The proposed supplemental appropriations ordinance is intended to fund an early childhood scholarship grant at Southeast Technical College and a professional services agreement with Woods Fuller to conduct childcare research. Both agreements will be brought forward on May 14, 2024.
(Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Who would want to learn a career that earns you $12-14 an hour? Maybe SE Tech could have a program on how to mop floors, run food, wash dishes, etc., all jobs that pay better and you don’t have to change a diaper or wipe a snotty nose. As if the reason people are not getting into childcare because they just don’t understand it? Oh, they understand it, and it pays SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T)
Item #81, 1st Reading, ordinance, Under this proposed ordinance, an at-large and district city council candidate must receive the highest number of votes and receive at least 34 percent of the vote. Current ordinance requires a majority of the votes for an at-large and district city council member to be elected as council member.
(This should have never been passed by that idiot Rex Rolfing. One of the most vile councilors ever. I could write a book about what this did clem did, and the vindictiveness of him. I hope when this passes Tuesday, which I hope it will, that at least one of them have the courage to say how stupid the idea was and how stupid the councilor that proposed this was. Rotten is as Rotten does.)
Items #85-86, resolutions, Adoption of the proposed master plan for Kuehn Park AND Frank Olson Park.
(Well looky there, the piss poor poops couldn’t get his council on board with his stupid bond plans, but golly gee, approve our ‘concept’. Paul was the kind of kid that made his mom do his valentine box for school and when he got tons of compliments he took credit.)
Item #89, Resolution, Approval of this motion would appoint Thea Rave as the City Council’s Executive Support Coordinator.
(Not sure if you know Tim Rave, Thea’s father, but he is a real gem, making sure after getting his golden parachute his kids are inline to get political suitable jobs. I am wondering if any of the councilors will have the guts to ask what her qualifications are and if a councilor that supports her hire says, ‘Because, it’s who yah know, now what’s you know.’ There will be ZERO discussion before they vote for this, they know it is a political appointee and they will NOT want to draw attention to it. I hope she puts on her big kid pants, because I would love to be a fly on the wall when she receives her first Sierra phone call. LOL.)
How is ANYONE surprised that the parks and recreation department, its leadership and the mayor’s office do not understand how to appropriately understand or manage user fees (or really anything else) when it comes to that department?
TIL The pediatric medical doctor on the City Council sponsored legislation which puts children in greater risk of injury.
The Chair of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade confessed that the ban had been ignored, even by City politicians.
Why weren’t they ticketed and fined?
I have no idea if former Councilor Theresa Stehly distributed candy at parades (prolly not, she strikes me as a “rule follower” … and I intend that in the kindest and most complimentary of ways). But I have no doubt that she would have been arrested and forced to post bond for this infraction. Same with any of the other Councilors not held in favor by the chamber cronies running this town.
Fear not, very soon, even without this enabling repeal of ordinance, the entire composition of City government, the Mayor and all eight councilors, will be in the favor of the chamber cronies. Not only distributing candy at parades, but also at City Council meetings (or behind the cloaked sececy of closed doors in City Hall).
In before “Woodstock” with this –
Tossing candy at a parade is the metaphorical definition of the job of the Mayor and City Councilors – to toss candy (the proceeds from tax revenue collection) to developers and the chamber cronies.
“I think we should ‘toss’ some of our local political leaders out of office, that’s what I think”…. 🙂