SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Sioux Falls City Council is devising a policy to govern public input at non-regular meetings of council, as required by state law.
Council has to decide exactly what types of meetings to include, how much time for public input and when in the meeting it should take place.
There are lots of devils in the details. For example, Councilor Greg Neitzert says a swearing-in ceremony can't be what the new state law means. "The idea that there might be another unintended consequence of the law that you would have public input at a swearing-in ceremony seems just absurd on its face."
Councilor Theresa Stehly says giving the public more occasions to speak is a good thing. "It's not a easy thing for a lot of people to come forth and when they speak to us here all ears are on them and I think it's a very valuable thing for people to do."
Councilors hope to have a formal policy in place by the July first deadline.
(Mark Russo, KELO.com News, contributed to this report)