Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday got its first look at draft ordinances that aim to help make it easier for the public to connect with the city's dozens of public boards and commissions. Here's what we know so far.
Why it matters
- Back in December, councilors began reviewing all of the 30-plus city boards (covering everything from public transit to parks to accessible housing). The big takeaway at the time was noting how varied the processes were between different groups. There wasn't much consistency in how agendas were posted, where meetings were held or how public input was handled.
- Councilor Rich Merkouris said he's heard from constituents who showed up to a public meeting only to be met with a locked door. He and Councilor Miranda Basye spent the last several weeks looking at ways to improve access and make board and commission meetings a little more consistent.
- The end goal, councilors said, is civic engagement. Many (if not most) of the decisions that ultimately land in front of the City Council have gone through one of these boards and commissions. The idea is that if folks know how to share their perspective earlier in the process, they'll have a better shot at actually having their voices heard.
- And, as Merkouris notes, the timing is right before a change in administration with a mayoral and council election coming in June.
"Now is a natural time to establish some new policies or patterns that we want to put in place," he said.
Tell me more about the changes
The proposed changes cover four focus areas: public input, improving meeting notification, meeting location and previewing the council agenda.
- You'll see a breakdown of specific proposals under each section below, and if you want to read the draft ordinances, you can do so here.
Megan Raposa
Public input
The ideas here include creating consistent rules for committees.
- A draft ordinance would require all city committees to take public input either at the start of the meeting, or, if public input is allowed on individual agenda items, there must also be general public input at the end of the meeting.
- Another option would be mandating each committee adopt its own policy related to public input.
- The city is also looking at including public input on the agendas for all informational meetings, work sessions, budget hearings and task force meetings.
- Councilors will also consider offering training to committee chairs on public input processes.
Improving meeting notification
The first step here is looking at consistency in where meeting agendas are posted.
- One proposed ordinance would require the city to create a centralized web page to post all agendas and meeting notices for any city agency, authority, board, commission, committee or district.
- Councilors also saw a draft resolution to ask the city for this centralized page and requiring notice within either 24 or 48 hours.
Meeting location
Councilors also talked about consistency and accessibility when it comes to meeting location.
- One draft ordinance would require the parks board to hold meetings at Carnegie Town Hall or City Hall, and that recordings of the meetings will be shared within 24 hours.
- Another proposal includes allocating $150,000 to outfit a centralized meeting room (with recording capabilities) where boards and commissions can meet.
Council agenda previews
One of the ideas here is to make it easier for people to get a sense of what councilors are working on by creating a webpage for "emerging topics" outside of all of the posted agendas.
Another idea is to publish meeting agendas in multiple places, including shares on social media.
Councilors also discussed adjusting their "Inside Town Hall" TV and YouTube program and consider reimagining that to talk more about emerging topics the city is working on.
What happens next?
Basye and Merkouris are asking their fellow councilors and the public to take the next month to offer feedback on these proposals before they bring them up for a vote starting in early March.
P.S. If you want to get more involved in city boards and commissions in the meantime, this little quiz is designed to help you find civic engagement that aligns with your interests and values.
