SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Activist Bruce Danielson says the “Triple Check the Charter” petition he’s circulating for signatures has one central purpose.
“Returning City government to the people,” Danielson said after a news conference in front of the parking garage for the now-defunct “Village on the River” project.
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His group proposes the following revisions to Sioux Falls City government via the city charter.
- Reinstate the plurality election of councilors.
- Remove the mayor from the Council and their tie-breaking vote.
- Require a supermajority for bond issues for projects.
He says he’s trying to save the City’s decades-long charter, not destroy it.
“There’s a great movement in this community to get rid of the home rule charter,” Danielson told KELO Radio News. “This is my attempt to save the home rule charter.”
He says the controversial parking ramp for the “Village on the River” project is “the most flagrant example as to why we need to do this.”
He says recent major community projects have passed because of mayors voting to break ties after the Council has deadlocked.
Danielson says the changes would make the Council more responsive to the citizens and “end some of the chaos that’s been going on.”
Danielson and his group need to obtain approximately 5,500 valid Sioux Falls voters’ signature to put the measure on the ballot. If that is done, there would be a vote on the changes, Danielson says, probably before the end of the year.
Click the video above to watch the news conference.
