VISION
The opportunity capital of the Northern Plains—affordable, safe, and powered by neighborhoods where people and business thrive.
We’re a city built on opportunity. People want good neighborhoods, safe streets, beautiful parks, and a place where they can call home. But rising costs and growing service demands mean Sioux Falls is at a crossroads.
I bring experience that will move us forward—years of leading Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. and a background in urban planning. I know collaboration. I know smart growth. I know housing. I know cities and I know my hometown—Sioux Falls.
Our future can be one where every neighborhood thrives—safe, affordable and full of opportunity. To get there, we must focus on what has always made Sioux Falls strong: affordability, safety, and smart growth. That takes planning, discipline, and a commitment to serving residents.
Business as usual won’t get us there. We risk becoming an unmanageable, unaffordable, and less safe city caught in a vicious cycle of reacting to problems instead of preventing them. That’s not the Sioux Falls any of us want.
We must choose ideas that strengthen neighborhoods, not strain them. Choose innovation over inaction. Choose growth with purpose—not by chance. Together, we can build a Sioux Falls that enriches everyone’s lives—safe, affordable, beautiful, connected.
Let’s choose smart growth. Let’s choose opportunity. Let’s build a Sioux Falls for tomorrow that works for everyone today.
JOE KNOWS
Affordability
The cost of living has become untenable for many Sioux Falls families. My administration will concentrate on the following approaches to address the issue:
Increase Housing Supply by legalizing missing middle housing, deregulation, community financing, streamlined approvals, and home builder support services.
Address Childcare Needs by convening an advisory council to guide the implementation of the Community Childcare Initiative Report, and by lobbying the State of South Dakota to match funding to support childcare.
Make Transit a Convenient Mobility Option with high frequency routes on major streets. Make experience and performance upgrades proven to work elsewhere.
Launch a
Food Desert Reduction Task Force to increase food access in northwest Sioux Falls.
Safety
Public safety has long been a competitive advantage for Sioux Falls. As mayor, I will champion approaches to optimize emergency services and enhance crime prevention.
Launch a Safe Streets Task Force to reduce speeding and vehicle thefts (a leading indicator of violent crime) by evaluating best practices and recommending policies and design solutions.
Enhance Police Operations by automating administrative tasks and hiring additional supporting staff.
Reduce Recidivism by lobbying the State of South Dakota to invest in re-entry programs for the formerly incarcerated.
Streamline Code Enforcement operations for an easy-to-navigate experience for citizens and businesses.
Conduct a Metro Ambulance Study to determine the feasibility of a regional service.
Smart Growth
Sioux Falls needs to grow in a well-balanced, financially responsible way to ensure we have a manageable city. I'll make our growth is anchored with a shared vision and driven by smart growth.
Facilitate Neighborhood Planing to define the vision for neighborhoods, preserve their character and guide future development.
Lead Comprehensive Regional Planning to coordinate efforts on metro issues—growth, open space, safety, and transportation.
Launch the Neighborhood Empowerment Studio—a multi-disciplinary team charged with engaging citizens to address issues.
Revitalize Aging Corridors with transit-oriented development, landscaping and pedestrian amenities.
Enhance Green Space & Water Quality with neighborhood trails, pocket parks, trees, buffer strips, rain gardens and wetlands.