(FF: 51:00) The LCC discussed removing an evening meeting that they recently started. The ‘excuse’ two of the commissioners made (Schmidt and Otten – they had a change of heart at the end of the discussion) was that the winter weather could make it dangerous to attend the evening meetings. Commissioner Joel Arends tore into them about it, also during public input a legislator also chewed butt about the stupid excuse. First off, the meetings are for the PUBLIC not so you can be comfortable attending. Secondly, if you feel the weather makes it unsafe to attend the meeting it should either be postponed to the next day OR you can attend by telephone. Also, the public doesn’t have to be in the chambers. They can watch it LIVE instead of on replay (morning meetings) and they would not have to leave their homes but get to watch in real time on YouTube. I am just astonished by how much our local government bodies fight openness and transparency and then wonder why the public is so misinformed they don’t bother voting in local elections. The commission voted to keep the evening meetings, but it should not have even been up for debate UNLESS they were considering on making ALL meetings at the evening. More closed government Bullsh!t!
*The end of the discussion is the best where Arends calls out the chair and the other commissioners for promoting closed government.
“Why not day during the winter months and night during the summer months? AND, just for fun, the October one could be held at midnight on the 31st” …. “Or, how about a traveling commission where they could pitch a tent on 69th Street in front of Limitless Male and the new Hooters and then hold court there” ….. 🙂 …… ( …. “Frankly, I’ve never hear anyone say that they spent last night in Canton”…. 🙁 )
Evening works best for most. Wasn’t worth mention. Insofar as transparency, focus on Sioux Falls City Council violations. Home Rule Charter effectively excludes the public from notice and representation. Doesn’t matter the time or the weather.
In case you were wondering. This is what Trump voters do in their spare time:
FF: 03:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEneMLGU9ww
Since it was an initiative brought by Commissioner Otten to have at least periodic commission meetings during evening hours, very surprising that she led discussion to discontinue this practice.
I wonder if someone didn’t try to plant doubt in her mind in order that she second-guessed her original initiative? I have my suspicions about “who” may have done that.
The steady line of constituents to the public comment pulpit were unanimous in their opinion (and sure counted to more than the numbers represented in the early part of the discussion (“only about 2 or 3 people” who were taking advantage of attending evening meetings).
A Win for transparency in government.
Is it just me, or was there a whole lot of commissioner discussion on this issue, all while lacking a motion on the floor to even consider action?
Landeen needs to bone up on Roberts Rules of Order.