Illegal boulevard garden wins mayor's award

Warren Shoberg's yard is among the city's most beautiful.

It's also illegal.

Mayor Mike Huether recognized Shoberg on Tuesday night with a Beautiful Excellence Award for his aesthetically appealing front yard foliage. It's something the mayor does every so often to celebrate efforts by property owners to beautify the community in ways that boost environmental conservation and sustainability. Shoberg's boulevard, though, violates a city rule that allows only sod between sidewalks and roadways. Flowers, rocks, bricks and mulch are off limits. Shoberg's East 28th Street yard is one of hundreds throughout Sioux Falls in violation.

Heather Hitterdal, communication specialist for the city of Sioux Falls, said in an email Wednesday afternoon the mayor's involvement in selecting the award winners is limited. Rather, Sioux Falls Beautiful, a nonprofit citizen advocacy group with a goal of improving the outdoors in the city, makes the selections.

"The City has a fairly limited role in the process," she said.

City Councilor Greg Jamison, who is working to change the ordinance, said the award illustrates the need to update Sioux Falls' boulevard rules.

"Nobody is getting tickets today. In fact they're getting awards," Jamison said. "It's time to move on."

Huether agreed.

"We definitely need to update the ordinance," he said in an email. "The City Council, the city of Sioux Falls team and the citizens will work together find a good solution that makes common sense, keeps us safe and is enforceable."

Jamison plans to bring a proposal to loosen boulevard restrictions to the council's Land Use Committee in the coming months.

Other recipients of the mayor's Beautiful Excellence Awards were Nick's Gyros at 1512 West 41st Street and Michelle Jackson, the winner of the community advocate category.