Still puzzled how 4-walls in a rectangular shape can cost $25 million, the EXACT same price tag as the Indoor Aquatic Center. I have seen other similar office buildings in Sioux Falls like this for private commercial contractors run between $9-$12 Million. When taxpayers are footing the bill, shouldn’t we be MORE fiscally prudent? I still think we didn’t need the facility. It’s much cheaper to lease space, use more technology and set up work from home programs. Another unnecessary mortgage our Former Mayor Bucktooth & Bowlcut created.
Cameraman Bruce has attended many meetings of multiple Sioux Falls boards and commissions I have noticed these issues. At this point he’s not singling the Board of Historic Preservation because things are noticed in most of the meetings making you scratch your head and wonder why.
Cameraman Bruce had been asked when the Board of Historic Preservation was and where because there was no required notice of future meetings on the website (potential SDCL 1-25?). A trip was made at 2:00pm on the 13th to City Hall to check if the west entrance door was the posted with notice. No time or date stamp to notes when the meeting was displayed for the public. These notices should have a posting time stamp and a remove date (there were some really old notices still hanging on the doors).
Here were some of the things noticed in this meeting:
1. The meeting was being held in a room with a closed door, not a problem if the meeting is identified.
2. There was no notice of meeting on the door welcoming public in the room.
3. There was no website posting to conform to state open meetings law SDCL 1-25-1.1.
4. The meeting started before the 4:00pm posted meeting time, when the camera was turned on, the first hearing was well underway. The cellphone is used to timestamp the meeting start. To sync multiple cameras in confusing situations, this allows the 4 – 5 camera setups to make sense to the viewers. It just helps to know what times we have to work from. Just for Open Meetings information, this could be a SDCL 1-25 issue.
5. There was no overhead projection to show the images on a common viewing platform so the audience could see what was happening.
6. There was no ability for the members to see the images being discussed causing great confusion, watch the members struggle to understand the issues being discussed.
7. There were no handouts for the audience, another potential SDCL issue.
BTW, this was the last meeting with Tom Keller as the Chairman. He did a good job with the potentially contentious meeting the month before.
In light of the Big Yellow House issues, thinking about this and past meetings attended, how many other potential bad decisions are made because the members and audience were left confused.
Many have been asking why the new derelict looking Copper Lounge building looks so out of place downtown. Look at the brick and see how many different shades are visible. This building’s city owned facade shown in all the drawings and discussions was to be similar to the building destroyed through stupidity. We’re told the builders showed a small sample of the brick to the Board and it was accepted. Having experienced this meeting and others, one or two brick samples doesn’t begin to cover it. The process should be started to have the facade easement returned to the program. This is another situation where the process seems to be lost.
This is not to pick on anyone, especially Diane. This is just a friendly reminder to all the staff running all city meetings:
1. post the meetings timely where they are to be posted
2. post the yearly calendar of meeting dates so the public can plan
3. wait until the legally posted time to start the meeting
4. have the exhibits available for all to view
5. use microphones and sound systems so the audience can hear
6. have AV equipment available to use so all people in the room can understand what issue
How many more Big Yellow Houses are in the waiting? We’ve just finished up with an abusive, secretive mayor who controlled and hid much plus on the 13th the move to the Romantix Annex office building was started. Let’s try to start with an open attitude.
Janet Brekke set a new standard for Sioux Falls City Council thought provoking discussion on June 19, 2018. During the discussion of the fake Public Input control ordinance Brekke had to remind the proponents and everyone else what goes into proper process. We must remember, there is nothing lost if everything is in the open following proper process.
The Selberg / Kiley fake Public Input ordinance controversy never had to happen. It was a brain dead proposal to shut off voices they did not want to hear, interfering in proposals they appeared to want hidden from us, the owners and customers of our city government.
To help everyone understand, the city of Sioux Falls is technically a public corporation run through by-laws (A.K.A. Home Rule Charter). The Home Rule Charter gives the administrators certain responsibilities and are answerable to us, the stockholders. We citizens are the stockholders of the corporation, not the special interests who pay money to have more influence or pay platting fees.
The last few years we have been teaching the public how and when they should redress their issues and concerns. This fake issue was shot down by the people, those who showed up and those who couldn’t. It appeared for the time being, the elected board of directors heard the message.
On July 3rd we will need everyone to show up again to make sure the message was received and the Council does the right thing by getting rid of the fake problem. There is other work to be done.
Not that I really care. Like most conservative editorial cartoonists, he really isn’t that funny. Just how many cartoons can you do about Stace Nelson anyway? I don’t know what their obsession with him is anyway? I have felt Stace has been irrelevant for a very long time.
So ‘HW’ who are you? Or are you afraid Stace is going to bop you over the head?
Most would think that the big news of the night was the compromise passing. Than there was the very compassionate ASS chewing by councilor Brekke about Ethics (Bruce, we need to cut that into it’s own video).
But I have to hand it to Councilor Stehly for the the motion and Councilor Starr for seconding the procedural trick of moving item #105 after item #106. See, the 5 councilors that were trying to hoodwink or threaten the other 3 were trying to defer the ordinance that would put public input to the end, but by putting that after the compromise they had no choice but to kill it. They fell for it, hook, line and sinker.
I will say this about public input, those who show up and express their opinions publicly get the first seat at the table. Mysterious Tuthill ghosts who send supposed emails or have supposed conversations at the ‘grocery store’ are at the back of the line. Things ‘happen’ for those who show up.
As for the argument about ‘rich developers’ investing in our community, all I have ever seen is low wage jobs, FREE infrastructure and tax breaks. When they want to truly ‘invest’ in our community, they also get to come to the front of the line.
WALMART at 85th ALL OVER AGAIN
As councilor Neitzert pointed out tonight, we have another planning situation where we are allowing a questionable use of land. I hope by second reading this will get truly vetted.
MIDCO POOL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING ISSUES
As we pointed out during the indoor pool debate, the VA was expanding and parking would be an issue. It came full frontal tonight when the VA canceled their lease with LifeScape and they were looking to expand parking in an already crowded neighborhood. Props to Councilor Soehl for being the ONLY councilor to vote against this. But as we warned, build the Midco Aquatic Center in this location and the parking problems will begin. They should have built the pool at the Sanford Sports Complex where there is room for parking and expansion. But what do I know, I’m just a blogger who talks to much at public input.
l3wis