Joe did a great blog post today about the charter. While I disagree with some of his premises and anecdotes he is right about ONE thing;
City government would be improved if we established a better separation of powers while at the same time, strengthening the role of our legislature. Here are some changes I think are worth considering in the charter and/or the way city government operates.
- Take the next mayor off the city council to establish better separation of powers.
I think this would FORCE the council to do policy because they would be running their own meetings and agendas. This doesn’t mean the mayor could not still present policy but he would have to get at least ONE sponsor on the council and if it really is HIS policy and not something a department head cooked up, he needs to come to the council and present.
I think the charter has worked well also, but the biggest problem is the laziness of the councils since and the corruption at city hall. This of course spells incompetence.
Some rules and regs really do work, but you must apply them, this city has NOT when it comes to policy and our legislative branch.
The doctrine of separation of powers applies to a democracy or republic. We are a local oligarchy. The oligarchs, or developers, will never stand for this. Also, I see that Sioux Falls’s MSA now extends into Rock County, Minnesota. So, just how long before our local fearless leader will annex the Rock in true Ukrainian fashion?…. This also, too, explains our local Soviet housing program (Apartments, apartments, and more apartments….).
We don’t need Erica Beck that’s for certain. We need a City Manager form of government. Now.
We need more experienced local government leaders. Our nearby universities and schools also need more municipal government schooling programs to help develop more leaders that are trained, educated and experienced with managing cities. We also have terrible awareness campaigns, training and resources to encourage people to want to be board members or council members. City manager. Now, full stop.
More “help” from Joe Kirby to shape our city government?
No thank you.
Please just stay in California and enjoy all of those progressive elements of government as they exist in California (rather than bring them to Sioux Falls).
There is no reason to create a City Manager position. IF you read Kirbys plan, he wants to allow for outside influence, allowing non-state residents to apply for this job. That is a big fat no. The current form of government is fine the way it is. We do not need, nor want college educated, experienced persons running for Mayor or Council positions, we want normal, average, common residents of Sioux Falls period, to whom also have full time jobs. We pay the Mayor full time salary, cause we expect him, or her to operate the city administration full time, but city councilors are to be part time, lessor pay, average everyday citizens. IF you want a more representative government, then create a Odd Numbered Council that includes the Mayor, 2 At Large Reps, and 7 District Reps. This assures the mayor never has a tie breaking vote, and it gives to the common residents additional reps. I want to see more average citizens run for the district positions, which happens now, and the Landowners/developers get to choose their At Large Reps to balance out the equation. We should only have 1 At-Large Rep per every 3 District Reps.