Duties and Powers of the City Clerk’s Office

• Conducts over 130 City Council meetings annually. All Council meetings are available live over the Internet or cable television (Channel 16). Archived versions can be accessed through www.siouxfalls.org.
• Oversees and administrates agenda management of all City Council meetings.
• Assists in an official capacity in the Charter Revision Committee, Districting Commission, and the Board of Equalization.
• Conducts City elections: including regular, runoffs, bond issues, referendums, and initiatives.
• Conforms to the City Charter and state law by adhering to publishing deadlines in the official City newspaper for all City matters.
• Assists the Council in constituent services and research.
• Administers the Record Retention Program for the City of Sioux Falls.
• Notarizes documents for the City and public. Certifies official records and documents on behalf of the City. Attest official documents of the City Council meetings and files official documents with Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties as needed.

Contact City Council Staff

City Clerk Debra Owen
367-8080 dowen@siouxfalls.org

Owen functions in a new role to direct and oversee the day-to-day City Council operations, assists the Council in developing public policy, and operates as the City Council’s liaison to the Mayor and his Administration (Executive Order 99-32). Owen also serves as the Elections Officer of the City and is the keeper of the City Seal.

Owen is a licensed attorney who acquired her Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota. While a student at USD, she served as Managing Editor to the Great Plains Natural Resources Journal. She was published in both the Great Plains Natural Resource Journal (twice) and co-authored an article in the South Dakota Law Review. Owen received her undergraduate degree at Augustana College and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. (GO AUGIE!!)

Previous positions held include: South Dakota Field Coordinator for Congressional and Public Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; intern for Senate Majority Leader Barb Everist; intern for Johnson, Heidepriem, Miner, Marlow, & Janklow; elected to the Helena, (Montana) Citizens Advisory Council; appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

Assistant City Clerk Tamara Jorgensen
367-8080 tjorgensen@siouxfalls.org

Tamara is the senior Assistant City Clerk, and in the absence of the City Clerk, assumes responsibility for all services in the City Clerk’s Office. Her duties include attending City Council meetings and committee meetings as required, preparing agendas, minutes, publications, and processing all legislation enacted by the Council. She processes invoices, orders office supplies, provides record retrieval services to city departments and to the public, and provides customer service to internal and external customers. Her duties also include city elections and working with candidates and processing their documents, preparing Election suitcases, working with poll workers, working at Election School, assisting the Minnehaha County Auditor with Absentee Voting, assisting residents prior to and on Election day, and performing a variety of other Election Day tasks. Tamara is a graduate of Dakota State University in Madison, SD. She graduated in May of 2006 from the City of Sioux Falls’ Management Excellence Certificate Program. In the fall of 2007, she was nominated for the V.L. Cruisenberry Award. She served as Siouxper Speakers Toastmasters Vice President for Public Relations and has also volunteered time for the Sioux Falls Cosmopolitan Club.

Previous positions include: Administrative Assistant for the following companies: Avera McKennan Hospital; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana; the Criminal Investigations Unit/Department of Justice for the State of Montana; Behr Heat Transfer Systems; and the Sioux Falls School District. An Operations position held at the BNSF Railway; Executive Secretary for the RJR/Nabisco Sales Company and for Citibank (South Dakota), N.A.

Assistant City Clerk Denise D. Tucker
367-8080 dtucker@siouxfalls.org

Denise serves the City Council and City Clerk in a variety of capacities. Her duties include attending City Council meetings and committee meetings as required, preparing agendas, minutes, publications, and processing all legislation enacted by the Council. She also processes invoices, orders office supplies, provides record retrieval services to city departments and to the public, provides customer service to internal and external customers and serves as a press communication liaison by writing press releases and preparing press packets. Denise serves as the contact for the City's records facility. Her duties also include city elections and working with candidates and processing their documents, preparing Election suitcases, working with poll workers, working at Election School, assisting the Minnehaha County Auditor with Absentee Voting, assisting residents prior to and on Election day, and performing a variety of other Election Day tasks.

Previous positions include: Denise graduated from Mount Marty College with a degree in Journalism. She worked as a reporter for the Yankton Press & Dakotan and spent 13 years with the Argus Leader. Denise served in the Army National Guard for 10 years. She is currently enrolled in the Minnesota Municipal Clerk's Institute working towards her Certified Municipal Clerk's designation.

Assistant City Clerk Jamie Palmer
367-8080 jpalmer@siouxfalls.org

Jamie serves the City Council and the City Clerk in a variety of capacities. Her duties include attending City Council meetings and committee meetings as required, preparing agendas, minutes, publications, and processing all legislation enacted by the Council. She also processes invoices, orders office supplies, processes council travel, provides record retrieval services to city departments and to the public and provides customer service to internal and external customers. Her duties also include city elections and working with candidates and processing their documents, preparing Election suitcases, working with poll workers, working at Election School, assisting the Minnehaha County Auditor with Absentee Voting, assisting residents prior to and on Election day, and performing a variety of other Election Day tasks.

Previous positions include: Office Manager for USD Department of Nursing for 3 years, Administrative Assistant for Sioux Valley Hospital/Clinic (Sanford) for 13 years. Jamie is a graduate of Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls and is currently enrolled in the Minnesota Municipal Clerk's Institute working towards her Certified Municipal Clerk's designation.