(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: At one point in 2021, Mayor Paul TenHaken announced plans for Sioux Falls to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Ultimately the city's sustainability plan was pared down in response to pushback from stakeholders. Sioux Falls Simplified asked all City Council candidates about their plans to balance the city's limited natural resources with continued growth and development in the city.
Here's what we asked:
What would be your approach to protecting natural resources? And how does that factor in to any future decisions about development or zoning?
Here's how candidates responded (in alphabetical order):
Zach DeBoer
DeBoer said it's unfortunate that the city ultimately ignored the work of the community task force that put the initial sustainability plan draft together in favor of paring it down.
"I think its important to listen to experts in these fields instead of ignoring those things," DeBoer said. "I think there were probably a lot of suggestions in that community-created sustainability plan – or at least the original draft that they submitted – that we should be doing."
- He also noted several tangible steps to make the city more sustainable, from more native grasses to replanting trees lost to the Emerald ash borer to looking at engineering design standards.
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Tommy Kunz
Kunz said he'd like to see the city do more city-organized clean-up events along the river greenway – citing the example of the Earth Day clean-up events.
"The city definitely needs to step up to do more buffer grasses and things like helping clean up the city a bit more," Kunz said.
Matthew McKinley
McKinley did not respond to multiple calls and emails requesting an interview.
Zak Okuwe
"I'm gonna prioritize communication first and foremost, and get community input," Okuwe said. "I mean, how do you see your community? Do we have enough green space? What are your thoughts on the river? And when I get that feedback, I'm going to formulate my conclusion based on that."
Bob Trzynka
Trzynka said it's important for the city to be a good steward of natural resources.
"Everything is a finite resource, and so we need to work with the relevant stakeholders to figure out: how we keep water coming to Sioux Falls? how are we going to power Sioux Falls?" Trzynka said.
He also noted the importance of projects like expanding Lewis & Clark water access and working with the state Public Utilities Commission to emphasize clean energy usage like renewable wind power.
See all Simplified election coverage here:
