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Sioux Falls council approves consent items, parks ordinances move forward and adopts personnel changes
Summary
At the Nov. 6 meeting the council approved multiple consent items, licensed transfers and first readings on parks ordinances (Falls Park alcohol changes, Jacobson Plaza ice‑ribbon fees), set dates for second readings and approved job‑description changes and appointments; votes on routine items were unanimous.
The Sioux Falls City Council on Nov. 6 approved its consent agenda and moved several ordinances and personnel items forward with largely unanimous support.
Licensing staff presented three routine licensing items — two packaged liquor‑license transfers and a one‑day wine license for the Sioux Falls Lutheran Booster Club — which the council approved without public comment.
Planning and Development Services representative Jason Bieber presented a second reading to rezone a 0.20‑acre property at 209 E. 34th St. to allow construction of a single‑family home on a narrow lot; neighbor Karen Munger said she had no objection though she and a neighbor raised snow‑removal and parking concerns. The council approved the ordinance 7–0.
City staff also brought forward first readings and set second‑reading dates for several parks‑related ordinances. Jackie Nelson, recreation manager, described proposed changes to code that would allow licensed alcohol sales within Falls Park (currently limited to the Overlook Cafe) and an ordinance adding a definition and fee schedule for the Jacobson Plaza refrigerated ice ribbon; Nelson said skate rental would be $3 and skate‑time reservations $5 and described proposed operating hours. Both items were set for second readings on Nov. 19.
Public Works Senior staff (Andy Berg) explained a first reading to grant electric‑facilities easements to Xcel Energy to accommodate the I‑229/Cliff Avenue interchange; council set the second reading for Nov. 12.
The council approved a resolution declaring certain city equipment surplus and authorizing donation to a neighboring county emergency management office, and approved a resolution of intent to lease 2,700 square feet of the Westside Recreation Center to Sanford Medical Center for physical‑therapy operations beginning Jan. 1, 2025; the staff described the initial rent schedule as $37,100 monthly for the first three years with scheduled increases thereafter. Appointments to multiple citizen boards were also approved 7–0.
On personnel matters, the council adopted a revised chief administrative officer job description that assigns day‑to‑day supervisory duties for council staff to a new CAO role; some members of the public objected, while others supported the move as a way to centralize research and supervisory duties. A separate change shifts day‑to‑day supervision of the city clerk to the CAO but retains the clerk as an appointed council position; both job‑description updates passed 7–0.
The council also adopted updates to the 2024 City Council Policies and Procedures manual, including meeting‑absence guidance, an office‑spending policy (approval thresholds and required signoffs), adoption of the City's Language Access Plan and travel restrictions for high‑risk activities; the amendments passed unanimously.
Votes and next steps: Most routine items passed 7–0. Ordinances set for second readings are scheduled Nov. 12 (electric‑facilities easement) and Nov. 19 (parks code amendments and fee updates); staff will present the second readings and any revised language on those dates.
