Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - On a vote of 8-0, the Sioux Falls City Council has passed an ordinance that allows more flexibility in the Council's meeting agenda process.
The amendments to the ordinance require that all city meeting agendas be posted by 5PM on Friday before a Tuesday meeting, and allows for items to be added to the agenda on Monday afternoon. A revised agenda then needs to be posted by 5PM on Monday, with the added items labeled as such.
Councilor Michelle Erpenbach said it's in everyone's best interest to have the agenda posted on Friday. "It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to the citizens as well." Christine Erickson added it's about planning and preparation "not just for the council, but also for citizens."
Erpenbach also added a “stuff happens” amendment to the ordinance, which says the meeting can still go on as planned even if a glitch in the city’s web site prevents the agenda from being posted by the deadline, as long as it is still emailed to those that have signed up to receive it and a hard copy is posted in city hall. "This is a one in a million years kind of thing, just in case," said Erpenbach
Originally, the ordinance said that meeting agendas must be posted by the close of business on Monday, however several councilors and those in the city clerk's office said they would still strive to have all agendas posted by Friday evening.
The measure proved to be a hot topic when it was introduced back in January, with many residents calling it way of silencing public input by not allowing extra time for. Some even made comments attacking individual council members over the measure.