Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Curt Soehl, Pat Starr (arr. 4:01 p.m.), Janet Brekke, Christine M. Erickson, Alex Jensen, Rick Kiley, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg Council Members Absent: None Council Chair Greg Neitzrt called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. City Council Open Discussion Council Member Christine M. Erickson recognized her son, Anthony in the audience; and spoke about changes to the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance bylaws. 3. Presentations A. USD Discovery District Update by Mark Brown, USD Discovery District Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Mark Brown, President and CEO of the USD Discovery District, began the presentation by providing a brief background introduction of himself. He spoke about his mission to increase the bio science/pharmaceutical workforce and bring in many high paying positions. Brown believes Sioux Falls could become the next pharmaceutical and bio science hub in the country. By doing this, it will help keep jobs in the United States and will reduce the high costs of prescription drugs and therapeutics. The first steps would be to establish a critical mass of the bio science community at the Discovery District. Brown provided development updates of the district. He said the next step is recruiting a contract development and manufacturing organization for Sioux Falls. Brown spoke about a new LifeScape Campus Development project in the district. He mentioned the upcoming Porkapolooza in the District. Brown said staffing is limited in the district; and they will be looking at future funding opportunities to bring in new positions like a project manager. Discussion followed, regarding: staffing needs and costs; lack of high tech jobs in the district; the district's infrastructure; bio science complexes and manufacturing facilities; economic support; funding needs for support staff; State support of the district; praising Brown's resume; how COVID-19 has helped boost the need for the district; infrastructure work in the district; and workforce pool. B. June 2020 Monthly Financials by Shawn Pritchett, Director of Finance Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Pritchett spoke about the following during his presentation: the 5% decline in employment since January, due to COVID; unemployment is at 9.5%; Insured Unemployment rate is at 4.47%; Inflation rose slightly to 0.6%; Building Permits YTD Building Valuations is at $286 millions, which is less compared to previous years; Sioux Falls YTD Residential Permits (Units) are tracking closely to last year's figures; Sales Tax Collections w/out Audits remains down due to the pandemic; Entertainment Tax Collections w/out Audits continues to be down; the ups and downs of the Industry Taxable Sales Data; the impacts of the CY Month over PY Month Sales Tax Growth Moving Averages; the increase in YTD Property Tax Revenues (Current); the Lodging Tax Receipts are trailing compared to last year; the Lodging BID Tax Receipts are also down; the General Fund - Revenues YTD are up slightly; and the General Fund - Expenditures YTD are down compared to last year. Discussion followed regarding sales tax and entertainment tax collections. C. Transparency Ordinance by Councilors Rick Kiley and Christine M. Erickson Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Erickson began by explaining the origins of the ordinance, the definition of transparency, and what the Council/City currently do in regards to transparency. Council Rick Kiley mentioned that the councilors have met with the City Attorney. He spoke about the potential changes to Ordinances 30.002 and 30.014. Special Meeting Notices will have a background provided, notice will be available to the public and at least 24 hours prior to the meeting or by 4 p.m., the day prior to the meeting, whichever occurs first. Items added after the deadline will have the same requirements. Kiley said, Ordinance 30.022 will require a written background explanation from the sponsor(s) and who a proposal's sponsor is, be it the Mayor, two Council members or a private applicant. The readings will be August 4th and August 8th for the ordinance. Erickson said Tom Greco, City Clerk, provided background research and shows that other municipalities are doing the same thing. Kiley said the Mayor and Chief of Staff are also aware of the ordinance. Discussion followed regarding: Red Notes and how the public should also be receiving summary information; notice requirements; slowing down the process; exempt items that won't be listed in the summaries; item summaries; replacement of Red Notes; Agenda Review Meetings; the Agenda packet; Agenda Approval Forms; emergency notification; and the agenda format. D. 2020 Legislative Discussion by Jim David, Chief of Legislation & Policy Presentation: Approximately 5 minutes followed by discussion David reviewed the process and last year's Resolution. He explained that this list is provisional and that he would like it in place prior to the South Dakota Municipal League Legislative Policy Meetings in August. David showed the 2021 Legislative Priority schedule and reviewed the recommended changes. He spoke about four options to the resolution and asked for a conscientious from the Council in order to add an item to the resolution. The new items include: Urging the State of South  Dakota to provide adequate funding to reconstruct a portion of Slip Up Creek Road, from 476th Avenue to the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery; supporting legislation allowing the electors of a municipality to consider a one cent temporary municipal sales tax for specific infrastructure project(s); and supporting efforts to raise the bid limit for supplies and services from $25,000 to $50,000. Council Member Pat Starr removed his request to support expanding Medicaid in South Dakota, due to the efforts to place it on the November ballot. Starr objected to increasing taxes. 4. Public Comment Mark Weber spoke about municipal sales tax. 5. Executive Session A. Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters pursuant to SDCL 1-25- 2(3) A motion was made by Council Member Erickson and seconded by Council Member Selberg to enter Executive Session for "Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(3)". Voice vote to enter Executive Session. 8 Yes: Soehl, Starr, Brekke, Erickson, Jensen, Kiley, Neitzert, Selberg; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. Council Member Marshall Selberg left the meeting at this time. A motion was made by Council Member Jensen and seconded by Council Member Brekke to exit Executive Session at 6:14 p.m.. Voice vote to exit Executive Session. 7 Yes: Soehl, Starr, Brekke, Erickson, Jensen, Kiley, Neitzert; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. Council Member Marshall Selberg left the meeting at this time. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Greg Neitzert adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk