Council votes at a glance: zoning amendments, joint ordinance readings, assessments and contracts

The Dell Rapids City Council recorded several formal actions during the meeting. Items below summarize motions, votes and next steps as announced on the record.

Key council actions

• Ordinance 9-41 — Amendment to city zoning ordinance to allow small retail butcher shops (first reading): Approved by voice vote. (See separate article for ordinance details.)

• Ordinance 9-42 — Rezoning (Lot 12, Block 19) from I-2 to B-2 (first reading): Approved by voice vote. Applicant: Brian Nelson; planning commission recommended approval unanimously.

• Ordinance 9-43 — Joint zoning ordinance: Add short-term rentals as a conditional use in the joint zoning area (first reading): Moved by Chuck; seconded by Bob; approved by voice vote. The proposed rules set a maximum occupancy of three people per bedroom, require state registration (which may trigger inspections), require minimum off-street parking of one space per guest bedroom, and require contact information be held at the county planning department. Short-term rental is defined as daily or weekly rentals totaling more than 14 days in a calendar year.

• Ordinance 9-44 — Joint zoning ordinance clarification: Long-term lease or rental is not intended to be prohibited by the zoning ordinance (first reading): Moved by Wendy; seconded by Capitelli; approved by voice vote. The ordinance adds language making clear long-term rental/lease of property is permitted so long as the use is lawful.

• Ordinance 9-45 — Joint zoning ordinance amendment regulating shipping containers (first reading): Moved by Hanslick; seconded by Chuck; approved by voice vote. Proposal defines shipping containers, allows temporary placement up to 90 days without a permit, requires painting or covering exposed portions to prevent corrosion, and prohibits permanent freestanding shipping containers on parcels that do not contain a principal building.

• Change Order No. 2 (Park Building) — Approve $5,729.54 to change to vaulted trusses: Moved by Hans Lick; seconded by Chuck; approved by roll call (Berg Yes; Meyer Yes; Nelson No; Jones Yes; Hans Lick Yes; Kevin Jelly Yes).

• Third Street special assessment rule — File final assessments and set public hearing: Council agreed to file the third-street special-assessment roll as prepared by DGR Engineering and set a public hearing for March 3 at 7:00 p.m. The finance officer noted the city traditionally sets the assessment interest rate at 2 percentage points above prime; with prime at 7.5% the assessment interest will be 9.5%, and the city’s customary payback period of 10 years will be used. Motion to file and set hearing moved by Bob and seconded; motion carried.

• City Hall and library cleaning contract — Approve award to Elite (single bidder): Motion to approve contract with Elite for City Hall and library cleaning services passed; the company will begin as soon as practical per contract mutual notice.

• Planning Commission appointment — Reappoint Virgil Klein for a five-year term: Moved by Wendy; seconded by Chuck; approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: Several items change land-use rules across the city and the county’s joint jurisdiction (short-term rental rules, shipping-container rules and long-term rental clarification), set the assessment schedule and payment terms for a street-improvement project, and finalize a small construction contract change and a vendor contract.

Next steps

• Joint meeting and second readings: Three joint-zoning ordinance second readings and potential adoption are scheduled at the joint meeting with Minnehaha County on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. (county administration building); council members were reminded to attend.

• Special assessment public hearing: March 3 at 7 p.m.; certified notices and published public notice will follow filing of assessment roll.

Speakers

• Chuck — Council member (government)

• Bob — Council member (government)

• Wendy — Council member (government)

• Barry — Council member (government)

• Hans Lick / Hanslick — Council member (government)

• Finance officer — Finance officer (government)

• Sheldon Jensen — Community Development Director (government)

Authorities

[{"type":"ordinance","name":"Ordinance 9-41","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-contracts-appointments"]},{"type":"ordinance","name":"Ordinance 9-42","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-contracts-appointments"]},{"type":"ordinance","name":"Ordinance 9-43 (joint zoning - short-term rentals)","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-contracts-appointments"]},{"type":"ordinance","name":"Ordinance 9-44 (joint zoning - long-term lease clarification)","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-contracts-appointments"]},{"type":"ordinance","name":"Ordinance 9-45 (joint zoning - shipping containers)","referenced_by":["votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-contracts-appointments"]}]

Provenance

[{"block_id":"block_1717.315","local_start":0,"local_end":160,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes. Thank you, Mayor Early. Sheldon Jensen again, community development director... The first 1 is ordinance 9 43... add short term rentals as a conditional use...","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_2401.9102","local_start":0,"local_end":64,"evidence_excerpt":"Moved by Wendy to approve first reading of of ordinance 9 44. Do I have a second? Second. Seconded by Capitelli. All in favor signify by saying aye.","reason_code":"topicfinish"},{"block_id":"block_2818.52","local_start":0,"local_end":84,"evidence_excerpt":"Attached is the special assessment rule for the Third Street project as calculated by DGR Engineering... I recommend the council make the motion to file the Third Street special assessment rule... and set the public hearing for March 3 at 7PM.","reason_code":"topicintro"}]

topics:[{"name":"municipal finance","justification":"Special assessment roll filing and interest/payback terms set for Third Street project; council set public hearing date.","scoring":{"topic_relevance":0.95,"depth_score":0.65,"opinionatedness":0.00,"controversy":0.20,"civic_salience":0.75,"impactfulness":0.60,"geo_relevance":1.00}},{"name":"joint zoning/county","justification":"Three joint-zoning ordinance first readings affect county joint jurisdiction around Dell Rapids (short-term rentals, long-term rental clarification, shipping containers).","scoring":{"topic_relevance":1.00,"depth_score":0.60,"opinionatedness":0.00,"controversy":0.25,"civic_salience":0.70,"impactfulness":0.55,"geo_relevance":1.00}}],"sections":{"lede":"The council approved a package of first readings and motions covering zoning amendments, a park-building change order, a special-assessment filing, a vendor contract and a planning commission appointment.","nut_graf":"Notable actions include first readings of joint-zoning ordinances that would regulate short-term rentals, clarify long-term rentals and add rules for shipping containers; council also set a March 3 public hearing for Third Street special assessments and approved a cleaning contract and a park-building contract change order.","ending":"Second readings and the assessment public hearing are the next procedural steps; council members were reminded of the joint meeting with Minnehaha County when several items will return."}