Term of Office:
Council members are elected to serve one four-year term in either one of the five Districts or three of the At-Large positions. Council members may serve a total of 2 consecutive terms. District Council Members must live within the district from which they are elected. City Council and the Mayoral elections fall on even years. The job is part-time and the salary is set by City Charter. City Council Members are not eligible to participate in the city's employee benefit program. City Council Members employ the City Clerk's division and the Internal Audit division.
Council Powers & Duties:
The City Council is the Legislative body of the City. The City Council is responsible for setting City policy through ordinances, resolutions and appropriates the City's budget. The Council legislates by passing ordinances which become City laws. An ordinance has two readings which occur at separate Council meetings. Upon the second reading of the ordinance the Council takes action by voting. After Council adopts the ordinance, it becomes effective 20 days after publishing in the Argus Leader.
All other official acts by the Council are done by adopting a resolution the night it is calendared on a City Council agenda. Once the Council adopts the resolution, it becomes effective 20 days after publishing in the Argus Leader. The Council adopts ordinances with five members of the Council and resolutions by majority vote. If a measure is vetoed by the Mayor, the veto may be overridden by the Council by a (vote of six out of eight members).
Council Members also serve on a number of other boards and commissions of intergovernmental agencies such as the South Eastern Council of Governments, the Urban Development Council, the Homeless Advisory Board and the Metro Council.
Council Meetings:
The City Council takes official action at City Council meetings which take place at 7 p.m. on the first three Mondays of every month at the Carnegie Town Hall, at 235 West Tenth Street. The Mayor presides at City Council meetings but only votes when the Council has a tie vote.
Time for public testimony occurs during the agenda item called "Public Input." This occurs near the beginning of each 7 p.m. City Council meeting. However, if a member of the public needs to speak to an item on the agenda, that should occur at the time the Council addresses that agenda item. The Mayor may limit the time allowed for public testimony.
Informational Meetings:
The City Council conducts an Informational Meeting every Monday at 4 p.m. at the Carnegie Town Hall located at 235 W. Tenth Street, with the exception of a month with five Mondays, during which the Council will not meet on the fourth Monday of that month.
An agenda for any meeting can be obtained from the City Clerk's office at the Carnegie Town Hall at 235 W. Tenth or online at www.siouxfalls.org. Council Meetings can be seen live on cable channel CityLink 16. Meetings are rebroadcast throughout the week. Check schedule for times. All Council meetings are open to the public.
Public Hearings:
The City Council is required to hold hearings on proposed ordinances, public improvements, property acquisitions, special assessments, utility charges, and the City budget. Generally these occur at the City Council meetings at 7 p.m. Public hearings may also be held on other issues such as budget hearings.
Committee Meeting Schedule and Agendas:
Council Committees are composed of three to four Council members. The Committees meet regularly, and the Council is best able to address the concerns of the administration and constituents during these meetings. Recommendations are then taken to the full Council, and action is taken at a City Council meeting.
Sioux Falls District Map:
The Sioux Falls District Map makes it easy to find your Council Member
Contact Us:
The City Council welcomes your comments. Please contact the Council Members or Council staff for assistance.
Council Members:
City Council Staff:
In 2005, the City Council exercised the Home Rule Charter's provision of appointing a City Clerk to serve at the pleasure of the Council. In January 2006, the City Council established an independent branch of City government and for the first time hired employees to serve the legislative branch. The City Clerk was given new duties upon hire and now serves as a Chief of Staff for the Council. The scope of the new role includes directing and overseeing the day-to-day City Council operations, assisting the Council in developing public policy, and to operate as the City Council's liaison to the Mayor and his administration.
In addition, to the new duties assigned to the City Clerk, the Clerk's division continues the same tradition of excellence by providing a legal record of Council meetings, ensuring proper administration of legal documents acted on by the Council, and to administrate agenda management of the Council meetings and committees.
In 2005, the City Council adopted an ordinance which authorized an internal audit function. (This change was directed by the State of South Dakota's Legislative Audit and the City's external Auditor, Eide Bailly.) In 2006, the Council appointed an Audit Committee comprised of three CPA's and two City Council members. The Audit Committee drafted an Internal Audit Charter for the City and hired a Lead Internal Auditor with the approval of the City Council. In 2007, the Audit Committee hired an Internal Auditor and established an Audit Plan for 2007 and 2008.
Contact Council Staff:
- City Clerk's Office
- Internal Auditor's Office
General Information:
