Though Ms. Stehly suggested this meeting should be recorded for Channel 16, it looks like it will not be. I guess Councilors Dean Karsky and Tex Golfing don’t want the continual foot in the mouth episodes to be on record. Go roast a goat! Heck, Rolfing wonders if planting flowers is even legal!

But the urban agriculture task force is discussing this kind of planting and other types like the city’s community garden, because as council member Rex Rolfing says there are currently no city laws about gardening.  He says, “there is nothing to say it is legal, therefore it is probably illegal.”

Huh!?

By l3wis

15 thoughts on “Urban Ag Task force meets Friday – but will not be recorded”
  1. Wow!! That guy has gotta go. I can’t wait to get back in town and show that to a few key friends. Sorry I couldn’t get to the phone when he was on KSOO the other night.
    It’s amazing the filth we have voted in on the city council in the last couple years.

  2. AK – nah – thyat’s pretty much the way the law works. Laws are almost ALWAYS written in what is called the “permissive” or “prescriptive” form. That is, describing what MAY, or SHALL BE done – as opposed to what MAY NOT or SHALL NOT be done (the prohibitive) for any given scenario. The reason is – it’s makes it easier to understand

    Easy example – the speed limit IS 35 – is a permissive statement. Vs. a prohibitive way of sying it – as in: The speed limit is not 1. The speed limit is not 2. The speed limit is not 3. The speed limit is not 4. The speed limit is not 5. The speed limit is not 6…….etc. etc. etc. Leaving out ONLY the number 35. Think of what the signs along the side of a street woulld look like if they were displayed in the prohibitive form!!!!!

    The only way permissively worded law can work is if the ASSUMPTION that what is not “permitted” is not allowed – applies.

    Even the constitution of the US is written almost exclusively in the permissive. There are (as I recall) only two clauses in the entire thing that are prohibitive in nature. One of them has to do with prohibiting the government from establishing an official religion, and/or speaking one’s mind.

    All of the rest of it is in the prescriptive or permissive form. Telling the government what is MUST or should do.

  3. Not to worry DL – I had to learn this too. Just happened to learn it before you did. Now passing along knowledge. What we all need to do vs. just get angry and spew venom against the “other side”. Will make the world a better place. Learn -> teach.

  4. So sad to see Sioux Falls going backwards. Fortune magazine has a great article on how urban ag has “saved Detroit”. One person has donated 30 million dollars to urban ag in Detroit. Atlantic records has made urban ag their only charity….also sponcered by Prince and Snoop Dogg. It seems those who want Sioux Falls to be a “gated community” and have all front yards exactly the same…should be made to actually live in Sioux Falls during the winter months.

  5. It’s too bad there’s no audio for the public available. Rex made a funny along the lines of “rabbits fall under poultry….*moment of doubt*…aren’t rabbits poultry?”. laughter ensued. papers were shuffled and the next subject was brought up abruptly.

  6. Sara, the rabbits/poultry debate is interesting;

    http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/rabbits-are-poultry-well-then-poultry-needs-to-be-covered-under-the-1958-humane-slaughters-act/

    When I was in 4-H, the rabbits were always put in the poultry barn. Rabbits are edible, and butchered the same way as chickens (on the farm). We ate them on the farm and raised them for eating. They are a very dry white meat comparable to chicken breast, but not as much flavor, and very small bones.

    Not sure what I think of the debate, but I will certainly agree, a rabbit is not a bird.

  7. Yeah, I had to google it after he said it, it almost seemed like a ridiculous enough of a statement to maybe hold some truth. some. sort of. if we were discussing the humane slaughter act. But, yeah, animal classification being what it is and all…Rex, rabbits are not poultry.

  8. Parks Department recently presented its updated Wildlife Management Plan to the City Council. Might be a good idea for Rolfing and Karsky to keep a copy close-by during these meetings and deliberation.

    I’d love it if the city put an effort into controlling the rabbit population throughout the city. It’s really gotten out of hand the last couple years.

  9. Need more hawks and owls to control the rabbits. Those raptors need clearance under tree branches to hunt. And too much shrubbery is tough on ’em too.

  10. “I’d love it if the city put an effort into controlling the rabbit population throughout the city. It’s really gotten out of hand the last couple years.”

    Yeah, them Motherfuckers ate half of my small spruce in my front yard. My neighbor got hit much worse, they ate all of his shrubs along his garage, he just pulled them out and said the heck with it. My boss sits on his back patio and uses them for target practice with highpower BB gun.

  11. rufu is partially correct. Yes, the laws are permissive but they lack jurisdiction outside of commerce. One must file UCC papers to be a true sovereign or to have control of their strawman which must have permission to do things. But most people are not aware of this but we still ask for permission although government is supposed to answer to us.
    This also demonstrates we really don’t own our property.
    See “The Walls in Our Minds” by Red Beckman (founder of FIJA) Fully Informed Juror Assn.

  12. AK – could not agree more. I have often told people if I ever catch a city employee on my property lurking around I will tell them they are trespassing and threaten them with police and charges. When the city starts paying my mortgage and property taxes they can tell me what kind of goats and flowers I can have until then, they can fuck off.

  13. I found this gem;

    http://www.siouxfalls.org/CityLink16/Programs/Regular_Programs/inside_town_hall/ith_12_2011.aspx

    According to Tex Golfing and Shawna Goldhammer, they want your NEIGHBORS to decide whether or not you can have chickens. Here’s the deal, love my neighbors, but once they start paying my property taxes and mortgage they can go to hell with what I want to do in my yard. Tex also goes on to say that the recession hasn’t really hit SF. BAHAHAHAHAHA! I guess all of the people standing in line at food banks just got tired of paying for food because it is more convenient and less shameful standing in line for free food in church parking lots.

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