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Council approves special-assessment rolls for weeds, snow, trees, sidewalks and litter; residents raise notice and fairness concerns
Summary
The council approved multiple special-assessment rolls covering nuisance vegetation (249 unpaid contractor mowings), sidewalk snow removal, tree trimming and health notifications, sidewalk repairs (106 unpaid invoices totaling ~$131,218), and litter cleanup assessments (~$22,740). Public commenters questioned notification practices and consistency of enforcement across neighborhoods.
On Aug. 13 the Sioux Falls City Council approved a package of special-assessment rolls tied to code-enforcement work across the city, including nuisance vegetation, sidewalk snow removal, tree trimming and health inspections, sidewalk repair invoices and litter cleanups.
Planning and Development staff said contractors respond to complaints, provide notices and, where property owners do not comply, perform the work and levy assessments. Staff reported 249 outstanding contractor mowings for nuisance vegetation in 2023 that resulted in assessments; the department also reported roughly 1,639 vegetation cases that year with about half voluntarily corrected. Sidewalk snow-removal data showed 1,180 cases last winter with 821 voluntary compliances and 35 assessments on tonight’s roll.
Parks forestry staff reported about 2,892 clearance violations from a 23,000-parcel survey and 268 dead-or-diseased tree notices from a separate health survey. Public Works said 794 sidewalk invoices were issued in 2023 for repairs totaling over $1 million, with 106 unpaid invoices remaining (about $131,218) now proposed for assessment.
Environmental Health reported 14 litter cleanups last year with total assessments of $22,739.76. Council approved each assessment roll unanimously.
During public comment several residents said they did not receive adequate door-hanger notification or letters before a contractor performed work, questioned permit fees for private repairs, and asked why the city’s own properties were sometimes slower to be serviced than private parcels. Staff described a multi-step notification process (door hanger, letter 1, letter 2) and said contractors are competitively bid.
Council members voted to approve the rolls and asked staff to continue public outreach about procedures and to monitor contractor performance.
