Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, July 27, 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 (Via telecom), Christine M. Erickson, Greg Neitzert, Marshall Selberg, Pat Starr Council Members Absent: Alex Jensen, Rick Kiley, Curt Soehl City Clerk Tom Greco called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. as the Chair and Vice Chair were absent. He asked if any Council Member would serve as a Chair Pro Tem and Council Member Greg Neitzert volunteered. There were no objections and Neitzert presided over the remainder of the meeting. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. IM 26 Task Force: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 (Council Member Neitzert) Neitzert reviewed the five jurisdictions addressed in the discussions: the unincorporated areas in Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties; the joint zoning areas with Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties; and, the City itself. Three categories of authority were discussed: zoning (where businesses can be located); licensing (the rules businesses have to follow/license fees); and, nuisance/health (smoking and/or consumption laws). Joint jurisdiction applies only to zoning. Neitzert then reviewed several important deadlines to include: promulgation of State Rules by October 29th and the passage of applicable local laws by October 1st (assuming State Rules are adopted by October 4th, as announced). He then identified specific meeting dates to meet these deadlines. The Task Force established several goals to guide their work through the sharing of knowledge, understanding each others' interests, establishing frameworks for ordinances, researching other jurisdictions, and gathering public input and suggestions. Neitzert provided an overview of the general path forward for each of the five jurisdictions he identified previously. He concluded with a review of next steps. B. Multi-Cultural Center Intergovernmental Board: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 (Council Member Starr) Starr indicated that the Center recently completed its annual audit and is in the process of finalizing its 990 form. The Board has also been discussing strategies for the hiring of a new, permanent Executive Director. Specifically, they are identifying goals and whether they are looking for someone to focus on fundraising or  programming. Starr concluded by stating that the after school program will be paused for this school year. 3. Councilor Remarks Council Member Marshall Selberg stated that the Accessible Housing Advisory Board met on July 21st and received an update from Sioux Falls Thrive. There are many great programs and opportunities throughout the City to improve the availability of housing. Council Member Christine Erickson stated that the Sioux Falls Development Foundation Board recently met, but she was unable to attend as it conflicted with the annual Budget Address. She will provide an update at a future meeting. Starr spoke about the cancellation of an advisory board meeting due to improper notice. He stated that he will meet with the Attorney's Office to recommend strategies to improved board liaison training. 4. Presentations A. Vector Control Update by Denise Patton, Health Program Coordinator Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Patton provided an overview of West Nile Virus and explained the public health importance of addressing transmission of it. Both Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties see a relatively high incidences of the virus with the Dakotas in general seeing high incidences compared to other parts of the country. The Integrated Pest Management Strategy aims to mitigate the incidences of West Nile Virus through: source reduction; surveillance; control; and education. Source reduction includes actions like eliminating standing water or other conditions that may allow mosquitos to thrive. Surveillance may include trapping and fieldwork. Patten explained there are a series of traps located throughout the City and are used, in part, to identify specific mosquitoes of significance in order to guide spray efforts. In terms of control, standing water habitats are treated with one of a handful of safe/environmental products. There are several considerations that go into decisions on when and where to spray. They include: determination of a threshold of specific mosquitos found in traps; the day of week (avoidance of weekends, if possible); weather parameters; and the ability to adequately inform the public. The City uses press releases and text alerts to inform citizens about sprays along with posting information to the website and running information in CityLink. The Department also engages in several educational efforts by presenting to various organizations throughout the year. Discussion followed about: the timing of sprays; the safety of the spray chemicals; tracking of beneficial insect populations; and the number of staff assigned to vector control. 5. Public Comment Emmett Reistroffer spoke about his disappointment in the direction the proposed medical cannabis ordinances are going because he views them as too restrictive.  Jason Karimi encouraged the Council to look to steps taken by Iowa to address medical cannabis ordinance concerns. Matt Jorgensen spoke about the importance of allowing medical cannabis testing facilities to operate within the City. Rose Grant spoke about the lack of dispensaries downtown or on bus routes that could result if the proposed ordinance is passed and stated it would be detrimental to those who are mobility-impaired or rely on the bus service. Chris Lee encouraged the Council to embrace the benefits of medical cannabis to the community. Seth Pearman, Attorney General of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, encouraged the Council to consider the ability of patients to get medical cannabis and look at making the ordinance less restrictive. He also recommended that potential licensees be required to show proof that they will be able to supply their dispensaries. Lisa Nolen spoke about the problems with over-regulating medical cannabis. Christopher Reistroffer spoke about the importance of not stigmatizing those who use medical cannabis. Alec Vanhove spoke about the problem with applying uneven standards to the implementation of medical cannabis laws. Scott Ehrismann spoke about the lack of transparency of the Task Force because the meetings were held during inconvenient times for the public and did not provide for enough of the public to comment. He also spoke about the timing of vector control spraying and the chemicals used. 6. Adjournment Chair Pro Tem Greg Neitzert adjourned the meeting at 5:18 p.m. Thomas M. Greco, City Clerk