SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — It’s going to be tougher for the Triple Check the Charter group to dramatically change the Sioux Falls City charter.
The city charter, itself, specifies that the signatures of five percent of registered voters are needed to get a proposed charter change on the ballot. But the City Attorney’s Office has ruled that the stricter state law must apply, meaning that the petition drive must get the signatures of ten percent of registered voters. The ruling also limits the number of people that can collect signatures.
Petition Drive Spokesman Bruce Danielson calls the ruling a “game-changer.”
“How can the staffers require a whole new set of rules after the process starts?” says Danielson.
His group seeks significant changes to how City Council operates, including removing the mayor from council sessions and requiring supermajorities for the approval of bond issues.
Danielson accuses city officials of deciding they have the ability to reject sections of the charter they do not agree with.
City Spokesman T.J. Nelson strongly disagrees with Danielson’s interpretation.
“Once again, Mr. Danielson’s organization’s public comments are grossly misconstrued and inaccurate—a pattern many of us have sadly grown accustomed to.”
Nelson says the city charter likely needs to be updated to align with state laws.
