Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council is looking at ways to make it easier for residents to give their input on various city decisions earlier in the process. The hope is to lessen frustrations in the local government process, invite folks' input on issues that matter to them, and to provide consistency across the city's various citizen-led boards and commissions.
Why it matters
- Participating in local government – whether it's communication with councilors, serving on boards, voting in local elections, etc. – is essential if we all want to live in a society where elected leaders represent the people who put them into power.
- That said, weighing in on local decisions at the very last second is often ineffective because by that point, whatever the issue at hand, it's been through months of discussion, background work, planning, passed by various committees, and is – forgive the sports metaphor – basically at the one-yard line.
- You don't have to look farther than last week to see a recent example. Councilors heard nearly four hours of public input against a proposed hyperscale data center, but the ordinances to rezone the property and approve preliminary plans passed unanimously.
- Most of the big decisions councilors make have to go through a city board first. The data center, for example, was first discussed in the city's planning commission back in the July 2024. That means by paying attention to the city boards on topics that most interest you, you can be in-the-know on what's happening long before it gets to a final council vote.
"Most people don't realize that most things that we're working on have been baking for at least six to eight months if not two to four years and sometimes even longer than that," Councilor Rich Merkouris said Tuesday. "I think most of the time we want to encourage people that it's so important to get involved early."
Ok, but there's like three dozen boards. I'm supposed to follow all of them?
If you want to, sure.
But, more likely, you'll find a board or two that aligns with topics you're interested in or passionate about.
Shameless plug: Sioux Falls Simplified has a quiz to help you find boards and committees that fit your vibe.
Councilors Rich Merkouris and Miranda Basye on Tuesday outlined plans to make these boards more consistent and accessible to the general public. Their goals include:
- Creating consistent public input opportunities across boards and committee meetings as a way to make sure expectations are clear for when folks can weigh in,
- Finding ways to improve how various entities give notice when a meeting is going to happen,
- Creating consistency in meeting locations,
- And looking at ways to improve meeting agendas so people understand what decisions are being made when they show up.
Makayla Voris
What if I just want to know what the City Council is up to?
Another way to stay up-to-date is by paying attention to the City Council informational meetings that take place at 4 p.m. Tuesdays ahead of regular council meetings.
- These meetings usually preview topics that'll be up for a vote in the weeks and months before those votes happen.
You can also check the council meeting agendas here, which are posted Friday afternoons around 3 p.m. before Tuesday meetings.
Shameless plug: I also send out a weekly round-up of upcoming meetings, including looking at the topics up for discussion at both informational and regular council meetings (and county/school meetings, too). It's the only "just for paying members" content I have – the agendas are all public, but if you want a cutie little curated list of what's happening without visiting 15 different government websites, you gotta pony up.
What happens next?
Merkouris and Basye are looking for feedback on how the city and the council can be more accessible, as well as how various boards can be more consistent with things like public input processes and meeting locations.
You can find their contact info here.
Next, they'll bring their recommendations to the council informational meeting on Jan. 27.
