Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Janet Brekke (via telecom), Christine M. Erickson, Rick Kiley (via telecom), Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl, Pat Starr, Theresa Stehly Council Members Absent: None Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. City Council Open Discussion Council Member Theresa Stehly expressed her appreciation for the positive dialogue and collaboration that has occurred for the past two months regarding COVID-19. 3. Presentations A. COVID-19 Update by Administration Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Jill Franken, Director of Health, spoke about data points and how they will become the benchmark going forward. She spoke about the current 14 day trend, which is how the CDC said to view monitoring. Franken said they are looking for a downward trajectory of cases; and for a low incidence plateau. These are considered good signs. A bad sign would be a five day in a row surge in cases. Franken said the 14 day trend information will be placed on the website. Hospitalizations will continue to be monitored on a daily basis. Next week updated modeling will be presented to the Council. Franken explained that the hospitalization chart is based on information from both hospitals. She said that April 11-21st, didn’t follow the trend and it was a lower peak than projected. There has also been a flattening out of hospitalization rates. She said that these two points will be the things we’ll continue to monitor and will drive decision making. Jeff Eckhoff, Director of Planning and Development Services, shared data on the SOAR program. He said that activity has been high. They have received about 200 calls, provided more than 50 evaluations, and received about 51 complaints. The program's approach to enforcement is to work with companies. He provided a story, in regards to a complaint from the weekend. Eckhoff spoke about a new SOAR document that has a safety checklist for the public titled “SOAR How can you be a responsible patron?”  Discussion followed regarding: What happens to the SOAR program if the ordinance is repealed?; downtown sidewalk patios; access to health care; 14 day trends; making conclusions without all of the information; monitoring positivity rates; Why do testing?; daily positive case rates available online; hospitalization rates and trying to keep people out of the hospital; what other communities have done, who are ahead of us; how to mitigate the spread?; COVID is still a virus in our community; and use of chlorine in pools. B. April 2020 Financials by Shawn Pritchett, Director of Finance Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Shawn Pritchett, Director of Finance, provided the presentation and mentioned that some of the information was pre-pandemic and spoke about the unemployment rate from March. He explained Insured Unemployment and spoke about the Insured Unemployment Rate, Continued Claims, and Covered Employment. He provided figures for the week ending May 2nd. The average Insured Unemployment Rate for the South Dakota is 5.63% and for the United States it's 14.51%. He also spoke about: Inflation; Building Permits YTD Building Valuations; Sioux Falls YTD Residential Permits (Units); Sales Tax Collections w/out Audits; Industry Taxable Sales Data; Entertainment Tax w/out Audits; General Fund – Revenues YTD; and General Fund - Expenditures YTD. Pritchett closed by speaking about a forward outlook and having reason for some optimism. Discussion followed regarding: savings from not opening pools and financial impacts; staffing; future amendments; indoor vs outdoor pools; additional youth activities; new parking ramp update in June; daycares; requesting update on visitor industry; property tax numbers; new summer programming; entertainment facilities and events; hiring seasonal workers; opening pools; reducing expenses; reducing part time hours; costs for projects that have been delayed; parking ramp leases and bond payment (2nd penny). C. 2021 Legislative Priorities by Jim David, Chief of Legislation & Policy Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion No presentation. D. Election Update by Tom Greco Presentation: Approximately 10 minutes followed by discussion Tom Greco, City Clerk, said there have been changes made to the polling places, several of them since April 14th, the original Election day. Three voting precincts are outside of the City limits and those residents will vote in their regular polling locations. Postcard reminders of the June 2nd Election will be mailed and will identify the voter's actual polling place. Greco encouraged voters to bring their own pen. He said that sanitation kits will be at each precinct. In an effort to promote social distancing, the old suitcase style voting booths will be used. Greco encourages voters to review the sample ballot prior to going to the precinct, but some will be available for review. Additional poll workers will serve as precinct rovers. Greco spoke about the Election agreement with both of the Minnehaha and Lincoln County auditors. He explained how items have been made to look  differently between the City and Counties for this Joint Election to prevent ballots from going into the wrong ballot box. Additional differences of items include different colored binders, registration lists and ballot boxes. A worker will also check the ballot stamp to ensure the ballot is going into the proper box. Greco said that Election Day and Night is going to be long. The Old Courthouse Museum will be used for preparing the Absentee ballots. He said, additional help from City employees will be used to retrieve equipment from the Lincoln County polling places; and runners will be available if needed to go to Canton and Minnehaha, in the event that a ballot is placed in the wrong ballot box. Greco said there have been about 15,000 absentee ballots mailed and only about half have been returned. Auditors Bob Litz and Marlene Sweeter are lining up workers. Workers are also still needed for the Absentee board. Discussion followed regarding: what happens if someone ends up with two ballots; Election Day controls; status of hiring workers; appreciation of leadership; and yellow postcards. 4. Public Comment There was none. 5. Adjournment Council Chair Marshall Selberg adjourned the meeting at 5:36 p.m. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk