You can look at the entire document here:Â code-numbers
By the numbers
The map is interesting. Look where most of the investigations/violations are? In the ‘older’ and ‘poorer’ neighborhoods in Sioux Falls. While the city is consistently promoting more annexation and new development, they continue to ignore the core and older neighborhoods. Sure, some of these properties are run down, but just look at the streets and curb and gutter in these neighborhoods. The city can harass the personal property owners all they want about cleaning up their properties, BUT what’s the point of fixing up a property that sits on a street that looks like it was hit by a mortar round? The properties in these neighborhoods are a reflection of the PUBLIC property in these neighborhoods. Don’t believe me? Just take a drive around the areas in these maps, and tell me the roads are not crumbling. If the city wants the residents of these neighborhoods to clean up there act, instead of sending out code enforcement goons, they should send out public works employees to work on the infrastructure.
This administration’s attitude towards zoning and code enforcement seems to be Reward the Rich, Punish the Poor.
Oh good grief. Look at your first paragraph. these two sentences are in it.
“Look where most of the investigations/violations are? In the ‘older’ and ‘poorer’ neighborhoods in Sioux Falls.”
“…. they continue to ignore the core and older neighborhoods.”
Think about this – at once – you are complaining about the older neighborhoods being ignore, and at the same time complaining that MOST of the code enforcement is done in the older neighborhoods.
Which one is it?
And from the public works site:
I have an unimproved street in front of my property. How do I get the street improved and am I responsible to pay for those improvements?
There are essentially two ways of accomplishing this. One option is to petition for the improvements. You must have at least 50% of the frontage ownership sign the petition in order for the petition to be considered valid. If the City Council approves the project, the project can proceed. A second option is do the street privately and agree to share the costs amongst the property owners. All owners must agree to the project and costs, including engineering and having plans approved by the city.
Typically, adjacent property owners are responsible for costs associated for constructing local and collector streets. Arterial streets are funded by platting fees and sales tax and are not assessed solely to adjacent property owners.
Some street projects replace the approaches. Are those costs charged to the property owner?
Many times, the nature of the street project requires that all the curb and gutter be totally removed. This makes matching the existing approach impractical. In these cases the cost for the new approach are paid for by the project. In some cases, the property owner uses an adjoining street project as an opportunity to coordinate the replacement of their approach. In this case, the property owner pays for the new approach and must contract for the work privately.
I am planning on replacing my driveway. Does the City replace the approach in the public right-of-way if I ask them to?
No. The approach is considered to be the responsibility of the property owner just as the sidewalk is the property owner’s responsibility. The gutter pan in front of the approach is considered to be a part of the approach. If the gutter pan needs replacement with the approach, it is the property owner’s responsibility to do so.
Amazing how many people freak & pay. City civil procedures are proven unconstitutional. Paying promotes lack of due process and disrespect for democracy. City leaders violate the oath of office but how can they respect citizens who will not stand up for their rights?
Ruf, once again you think so hard it goes straight over your head. There is a difference between the city using our taxdollars to improve infrastructure and the city using our taxdollars to harass private property owners. My point is if they want the residents in these neighborhoods to improve their properties shouldn’t the city be doing the same? Like I said above, take a drive, or better yet thru these neighborhoods, and you tell me how nice the streets are.
DL – I’m in these neighborhoods all the time. One of my three jobs is delivering construction materials and appliances, etc. I know exactly what the streets are like. In fact – I grew up in “Pettigrew Heights” and also lived there (on Duluth, between 10th and 1th) for 4 years while in college.
Here’s something for you to ponder – I also deliver the same sorts of stuff to all kinds of towns in the SF area – from Wakonda to Worthington to Brookings. I get a really good opportunity to compare the condition of SF infrastructure in general to other places around here. Guess what – most of those places would be HAPPY to have streets as good ad those in Central SF.
Oh BTW – when I was a kid I lived on the corner of 15th and Prairie. Just two years ago the whole of 15th between Summit and Granges was completely reconstructed. I do pay attention to what’s going on – over time. Your histrionics are just that.
Yes, the main arterials thru these areas are maintained, the side streets not so much, especially in the Whittier neighborhood.
Was doesn’t the North End McDonalds restaurant shovel the walk on 12th Street? Is it another City conspiracy?
For that matter -why doesn’t the city clean off the sidewalk over the SOUTH side of the W 12th viaduct (at Grange) and only cleans the North side??
Well this thread has gotten a bit absurd. Thanks for the enlightening comments to a sorry situation. There are some property, noise, snow removal, and other issues in a town of any size. It still is not a reason for an out of control code enforcement system.
Instead of working with property owners and citizens, the city has decided to punish all who walk into their path on behest of their neighbor.
The code enforcement system in Sioux Falls is designed to let a neighbor selectively punish another with no relief from it and plenty of encouragement to continue. The squeaky neighbor who is first in line gets all the help. Abusive, aggressive neighbors are encouraged to continue their efforts. Some neighbors proudly claim they call frequently, just for something to do in retirement giving the coders something to do. Makes their number look real pretty for interactive maps.
I would wager most reporting neighbors have serious code issues of their own and deflect through aggression.
Most of the code enforcement efforts highlighted in the neat interactive map (I wonder how much it cost?) are likely the result of a neighbor disagreement of some sort. The city coders love to get in the middle of the neighbor style disagreements. We have city coders who absolutely love being the punishers and not the fixer – mediators. Big man / woman syndrome gone a muck in city hall code enforcement encouraged by SubPrime Mike. Wonder what happened to MMM hiring psych help for their coders?