Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Members Present: Janet Brekke (arr. 4:06 p.m.), Christine M. Erickson, Alex Jensen, Rick Kiley, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Curt Soehl, Pat Starr Council Members Absent: None Council Chair Greg Neitzert called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. Metro Management Council: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 (Council Members Erickson and Kiley) Council Member Kiley provided an update of the meeting which included passage of a resolution concerning employee benefits as well as approval of the 2022 Budget. 3. Councilor Remarks Council Member Pat Starr indicated that there is a vacancy on the Multi-Cultural Board and he will be submitting an application to serve as the City Council representative. Council Member Christine Erickson stated that she discussed the status of City boards and commissions with the Finance Director. The Finance Director intends to conduct a review of boards and commissions to find ways to improve recruiting and assess the roles of them. Kiley indicated there will be a ribbon cutting for the State Veteran's Cemetery on Memorial Day with the first burial to occur later that week. Neitzert stated that he will work to coordinate a working session to discuss medical cannibus in the forthcoming weeks. 4. Presentations A. ADA Transition Plan by Sharla Svennes, Assistant City Attorney and Human Relations/ADA Coordinator; Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D. and James G. Felakos, J.D., Blanck Group LLC Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Svennes opened the presentation by discussing the role of the Human Relations Office and by providing background about the ADA Transition Plan. She indicated that no action is immediately required by the Council, but the report provides recommendations that the Council will likely need to act upon in the future. Blanck then provided an in-depth review of the plan's history, which dates back to 2011. He stated that the plan is a requirement of the Department of Justice which provides the City with a roadmap to deal with accessibility challenges and opportunities. He concluded by stating the City is "well-positioned" when it comes to accessibility. Felakos reviewed the key highlights from the report. The report covered: Transportation, Sidewalks and Public Rights-of-Way, Parks and Recreation, Administrative Requirements and the ADA Coordinator, Effective Communications and Technology, Employment and the Human Relations Department, Emergency Management, Police Procedures, Libraries, Health Care, and Voting. For each subject area, Felakos identified key findings along with recommendations which can be found in the report attached to the minutes. Discussion followed about the importance of the study and the City's commitment to following through on recommendations. B. Comprehensive Housing Plan by Jeff Eckhoff, Director of Planning and Development Services; and Matt Tobias, Development Services Manager Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Eckhoff discussed the new "Neighborhood Revitalization" division within Planning and Development Services. It has been formed to take a proactive approach to housing, code compliance, neighborhood associations and grants, vacant home and rental registration, and public investment challenges and opportunities. The division will partner with a wide range of stakeholders representing other governmental and quasi-governmental organizations, non-profit groups, faith-based initiatives, and private developers and builders. Three programs will be utilized to maximize the capabilities of the division's work: the Housing Clinic, the Discretionary Formula, and Federal Affordable Housing programs. The Housing Fund was established to leverage public and private investment to assist new and existing neighborhoods to be affordable, livable, and investable. Application for use of the fund is driven by guidelines which Eckhoff reviewed in detail. Tobias then discussed regulations and zoning. There is an ongoing review of ordinances, rules and policies intended to address design standards, low-impact development, and density zoning in targeted areas. A "Neighborhood Revitalization Manager" will oversee the division, which combines code enforcement, neighborhood services, and housing. Discussion followed about the changing of roles and responsibilities in the department, the planning process for the path forward to identify and address  housing challenges, ways to organize Council committees in order to facilitate the division's work, funding, and communications strategies for multi-family housing. 5. Public Comment Sara Puth spoke about the housing market and medical marijuana. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Greg Neitzert adjourned the meeting at 5:47 p.m. Thomas M. Greco, City Clerk