OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting - May 28, 2024

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, May 28, 2024
BodyBrookings, South Dakota
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, May 28, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:55

Okay.

0:56

I call this meeting to order.

0:59

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:20

Thank you all for coming.

1:21

It's always fun to have a full room.

1:23

Um the clerk please take the attendance.

1:27

There are six council members present, Mr.

1:29

Mayor.

1:29

Councilmember Wendell is absent.

1:31

Okay.

1:32

Thank you.

1:33

Uh action to approve the agenda.

1:35

Item three is the approval of the agenda.

1:37

Entertain a motion to approve the agenda.

1:39

So second.

1:40

Please call the roll.

1:43

Doran.

1:44

Aye.

1:45

Neemaier?

1:46

Aye.

1:46

Rasmussen.

1:47

Aye.

1:47

Specker.

1:48

Aye.

1:48

Tilton Byrne.

1:49

Aye.

1:50

Avery.

1:50

Aye.

1:51

At this time we have open form.

1:53

Is there any public or member of the public who wishes to address the council on item not on tonight's agenda?

2:00

Okay, we'll move on.

2:01

Approval of the consent agenda.

2:03

Excuse me, Mayor.

2:06

Oh.

2:12

State your name and address.

2:16

My name is Jacob DeShayne, I live in Brookings, South Dakota.

2:20

Um, June 6th, 1944, the United States and Allies invaded Normandy as part of the operation overlord and what became known as D-Day.

2:28

Two thousand five hundred two Americans and one thousand nine hundred and thirteen allies died on D-Day.

2:33

This year will be the eightieth anniversary of D-Day.

2:36

However, last year in Brookings there was nothing done to remember D-Day.

2:40

As a matter of fact, there wasn't even a single U.S.

2:41

flag flying downtown.

2:43

They were replaced by the gay pride flags.

2:45

I find that pretty sad and pretty disrespectful.

2:48

So this year my hope is that you would have some respect and that they're at the very least you could take a break for just one day and fly the United States flag.

2:56

To remember D-Day and show our respect and give honor to all those who fought and all those who died on June sixth, nineteen forty-four.

3:03

Certainly we can all be proud of and unite behind some of the bravest men who ever lived and sacrificed so much, not only for our country, but the world.

5:01

Alyssa and Emily, if you would please come up.

5:06

So to become a lead dispatcher in the emergency 911 center, which covers all of Brookings County.

5:12

It doesn't just cover the police department in the city, but it covers the sheriff's department.

5:16

It also covers University Police Department, Highway Patrol, and then various fire departments in and throughout the county.

5:23

So as you can understand, working with three or four on the shift at best, probably two or three, it gets pretty overwhelming when y'all call 911.

5:31

When you do, and and chaos ensues, and you call 911, these are the folks that are in charge of making sure stability then is returned by having a calm cooling effect as being a shift supervisor in our emergency 911 center.

5:45

Uh to get here, you have to have great training and experience, and then you go through a selection process and be interviewed.

5:50

And these two young ladies were both selected to be lead supervisors, lead dispatchers in our emergency 911 center.

5:57

So first and foremost is Alyssa Del Plain Plain, sorry.

6:04

She got promoted January 15th, 2024, and she's been with the department since March 14th of 2022.

6:13

She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in criminology.

6:17

And before dispatching, she worked in corrections, I believe, down in Minnehaha County.

6:22

Is that close?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations██████████████████████22%
Personnel Matters█████████████13%
Procedural█████████9%
Public Safety█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Public Works██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting - May 28, 2024

The Brookings City Council met on May 28, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a pinning ceremony for new police officers and dispatchers, presentations on the Police Department Foundation and first quarter finances, approval of a contract amendment, first readings of three ordinances, and public hearings on alcohol licenses. The council also received a progress report.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda listed four consent items: approval of May 7 and May 21 meeting minutes, council ex-officio appointments, a resolution authorizing exclusive use of Pioneer Park for the Summer Arts Festival (July 8-16, 2024), and a resolution amending the Consolidated Fee Schedule. The transcript does not show a vote on these items; they were not discussed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jacob DeShayne (Brookings resident) spoke during Open Forum. He expressed disappointment that last year on D-Day (June 6) no U.S. flags were flown downtown, having been replaced by pride flags. He requested that the city fly the U.S. flag on June 6, 2024, to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the servicemen who died.

Presentations/Reports

  • Pinning Ceremony (Item 6.A): Lead Dispatchers Alyssa del Plaine and Emily Edstrom were promoted, and three new police officers—Devin Isler, Trevin Dombrowski, and Kevin Peterson—were sworn in by the mayor. Their families participated in the pinning.
  • Brookings Police Department Foundation (Item 6.B): Jim West, president, presented the foundation's mission to support officers in crisis, injury, and community relations. He noted a payroll deduction program for officers that has stalled and asked the council for assistance in moving it forward. 95% of donations go directly to officers.
  • First Quarter Finance Report (Item 6.C): Finance Director Ashley Rensch reported total first-quarter tax revenues of $5.37 million. General sales tax (first and second penny) each brought in $2.5 million, $329,000 above budget. 3B tax (bed, booze, board) totaled $298,000 ($26,000 above budget), and pillow tax (BID) totaled $49,400 ($2,600 below budget). The general fund amended expenditure budget is $23.7 million; revenues are at 16% of budget, expenditures at 20%. Council priority projects have $17.5 million available, but primary projects (police facility $16M, fire station $4M) leave a $2.5 million shortfall. Secondary projects include activity center, library, golf course irrigation, and others. Consumer spending on discretionary items is showing modest growth.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 24-053 (Item 7.A): Amendment #3 for the 20th Street South BUILD Project. Public Works Director John Thompson explained the amendment improves the intersection of 22nd Avenue South and 20th Street South, including traffic analysis, environmental assessment, right-of-way, and design to 50% completion. Cost: $293,463, with 80% federal grant and 20% local share split between the city and private donors. The county declined to participate. The council approved the resolution.
  • First Readings – Ordinance 24-017 (Item 8.A): Rezone of five properties on Campanile Avenue and 1310 7th Street from R-2 to Planned Development District with R-3 underlying for an apartment complex. Community Development Director Mike Struck presented; the planning commission recommended 8-1. Councilmember Specker asked about drainage and alley access. The first reading was held; a public hearing is set for June 11, 2024.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 24-018 (Item 8.B): Conditional use permit for a four-unit apartment at 124 and 130 9th Street. This is a renewal after a previous permit lapsed. The plan includes four 4-bedroom units with tuck-under garages. Planning commission recommended 8-1. Councilmember Doran asked about drainage conditions. First reading held; public hearing June 11.
  • First Reading – Ordinance 24-019 (Item 8.C): Conditional use permit for a telecommunications tower at 1461 6th Street (north of former Zesto). BMU representative Kurt Cabers explained the tower will relocate cell and two-way radio antennas from the decommissioned water tower on 6th Street. The new tower will be about 150 feet tall. Planning commission recommended unanimously. First reading held; public hearing June 11.
  • Public Hearing – Temporary Alcohol License (Item 9.A): Brookings Cubs Baseball Group received a temporary license for 12 games at Bob Shelden Field in June, July, and August. Approved unanimously.
  • Public Hearing – Malt License Renewals (Item 9.B): Renewals for establishments that failed alcohol compliance checks (nine first-time failures, one second-time failure). City Clerk Bonnie Foster recommended approval. Councilmember Specker asked about the frequency of checks; Police Chief reported an average of 2-3 checks per year. The council approved the renewals unanimously.
  • Progress Report (Item 11): Assistant to the City Manager Samantha Beckman presented updates on the economic development dashboard, Ivy Center groundbreaking, No Mow May, summer construction projects (University/22nd Ave sewer, chip sealing, concrete maintenance, traffic signal replacement), BMU's 20th Street project completion June 4, stormwater incentive program (40 native plant vouchers, nearly 100 rain barrels), solid waste master plan, e-waste program, police activities (graduation, Special Olympics, Speed/DUI enforcement), retirement of Police Chief Doug Phillips (passed away), Hillcrest Aquatic Center opening, inclusive play project at Fishback Soccer Complex, playground replacements, and library summer reading program (645 children, 84 teens signed up). The final open house for the library/activity center remodel is May 31.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Not explicitly voted on in the transcript; items were listed but not discussed.
  • Resolution 24-053 (20th Street South BUILD Amendment #3): Approved.
  • Ordinances 24-017, 24-018, 24-019: First readings held; public hearings set for June 11, 2024.
  • Temporary Alcohol License (Brookings Cubs): Approved.
  • Malt License Renewals: Approved.
  • Next Regular Meeting: June 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

The meeting was adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. I call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you all for coming. It's always fun to have a full room. Um the clerk please take the attendance. There are six council members present, Mr. Mayor. Councilmember Wendell is absent. Okay. Thank you. Uh action to approve the agenda. Item three is the approval of the agenda. Entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So second. Please call the roll. Doran. Aye. Neemaier? Aye. Rasmussen. Aye. Specker. Aye. Tilton Byrne. Aye. Avery. Aye. At this time we have open form. Is there any public or member of the public who wishes to address the council on item not on tonight's agenda? Okay, we'll move on. Approval of the consent agenda. Excuse me, Mayor. Oh. State your name and address. My name is Jacob DeShayne, I live in Brookings, South Dakota. Um, June 6th, 1944, the United States and Allies invaded Normandy as part of the operation overlord and what became known as D-Day. Two thousand five hundred two Americans and one thousand nine hundred and thirteen allies died on D-Day. This year will be the eightieth anniversary of D-Day. However, last year in Brookings there was nothing done to remember D-Day. As a matter of fact, there wasn't even a single U.S. flag flying downtown. They were replaced by the gay pride flags. I find that pretty sad and pretty disrespectful. So this year my hope is that you would have some respect and that they're at the very least you could take a break for just one day and fly the United States flag. To remember D-Day and show our respect and give honor to all those who fought and all those who died on June sixth, nineteen forty-four. Certainly we can all be proud of and unite behind some of the bravest men who ever lived and sacrificed so much, not only for our country, but the world. Alyssa and Emily, if you would please come up. So to become a lead dispatcher in the emergency 911 center, which covers all of Brookings County. It doesn't just cover the police department in the city, but it covers the sheriff's department.

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