Simplified: The Charter Revision Commission – a group tasked with recommending changes to Sioux Falls' governing document – is set to start meeting regularly over the next few months. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters

  • The city charter was established as Sioux Falls' primary governing document in 1994 when the city adopted its current strong-mayor form of government.
  • Any changes to the charter have to be approved by voters, but before anything gets to the ballot, it has to go through one of three processes: referendum by voters, City Council ordinance or through the recommendation of the Charter Revision Commission (which also ultimately requires City Council approval).
  • The five-member Charter Revision Commission met this week to outline its meeting schedule for the next few months. Commissioner Carl Zylstra proposed taking a page out of the Lincoln County Commission's playbook and moving some meetings to the evening to be more accessible, but that was dismissed pretty quickly.
"I can't imagine an employer in this town wouldn't say yes to that," City Attorney Dave Pfeifle said in response to concerns about people needing to get off work to attend Charter Revision Commission meetings.

Tell me more

The commission plans to go over three articles of the charter in each of its upcoming meetings, all of which will take place at 4 p.m. on a Wednesday at Carnegie Town Hall.

Each of these meetings will present an opportunity for the public to comment and share any proposals they have about changes to the charter. City staff are also available to help folks prepare their proposals, Commission Chair Anne Hajek said.

How can I find the charter?

You can read the whole thing on the city website. Here it is.

What happens next?

  • The next meeting on Oct. 22 will cover Articles one through three. Those articles outline the powers of the city, the City Council and the role of the mayor.
  • The meeting on Nov. 19 will cover four through six, which go over departments, offices and agencies; financial procedures; and elections.
  • The meeting on Dec. 17 will cover seven through nine, which cover general provisions, charter amendments, and transition/separability provision.