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Record of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting: Budget Workshop & Ordinances - September 24, 2024

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 24, 2024
BodyBrookings, South Dakota
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 24, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:46

Okay, call this meeting to order.

0:49

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:12

Will the clerk please take attendance?

1:14

All council members are present, Mr.

1:16

Mayor.

1:17

Thank you.

1:18

Action to approve the agenda.

1:20

Entertain a motion to approve the agenda.

1:22

So moved.

1:22

Second.

1:23

Move and second.

1:25

Any comments from the public?

1:28

Comments from council?

1:29

Questions.

1:32

Please call the roll.

1:33

Rasmussen.

1:34

Aye.

1:35

Specker.

1:37

Tiltenbird.

1:38

Aye.

1:38

Wendell.

1:41

Avery.

1:43

Doran.

1:44

Aye.

1:44

Neemaier.

1:47

Okay.

1:47

Go on to item number four, budget workshop number two, Jake Meshi or Deputy City Manager will present this item.

1:55

Good evening, Mayor and members of the council.

1:58

We are here for our budget workshop number two as part of our budget workshop series in the 2025 budget process.

2:38

As far as the official adoption process of the budget goes, we've already had our first and second readings on the property tax levy ordinance, which was approved.

2:47

We'll have the first reading of the budget ordinance on October 22nd, and then on November 12th, we'll have the second reading of the budget ordinance as well as the adoption of the 10-year capital improvement plan and the consolidated fee schedule.

3:12

This is a slide from last time as well, just as a reminder for council and members of the public.

5:02

The 2025 budget includes a balanced uh general fund budget of 22 point 21.9 million dollars.

5:10

The 21.9 million dollars proposed 2025 general fund budget is a 475,000 or 2.2 percent increase from the 2024 adopted budget.

5:22

We generally focus our presentations predominantly on the general fund because that is the city's primary operating fund.

5:28

Sales tax is the city's primary revenue source, and it accounts for 47% of general fund revenue as well as 74% of CIP revenue, as we'll cover in more detail in tonight's presentation.

5:40

The 2025 budget does not include any impact from the potential passage of initiated measure 28, IM28, which is currently estimated to be a 1.6 million dollar financial loss to the city, which would be split evenly between the general fund as well as the capital improvement plan.

5:57

So it would be $800,000 loss to each of those funds.

6:01

The 2025 budget would also add a master mechanic and associate planner positions to the general fund.

6:07

The master mechanic will expand in-house service capacity, save on external service provision expenses, and reduce the downtime of the fleet.

6:16

That position would also be partially funded by the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.

6:21

The associate planner would be an entry-level position in the community development department and assist the department in achieving long-range planning objectives, customer service enhancements, as well as balancing the workloads of the department.

6:40

The slide before you goes over some of the highlights that are included within our 2025 uh capital improvement plan.

6:48

I would note uh street highlights at $3.6 million, including the annual overlay and chip seal projects.

6:55

Outside agency payments total approximately $1 million to the performing arts center, as well as the Brookings Health System.

7:04

Those payments do drop off after 2027.

7:07

In general, uh the capital project is a maintenance and replacement budget, which means we're prioritizing the care of our existing assets instead of generally adding new.

7:18

The exception to that and a primary addition of the capital improvement plot project or capital improvement plan would be the addition of an inclusive playground near the branch creek development at the fishback soccer complex, and that would be funded through a combination of city funds, which is represented by the $900,000, as well as grants and private donations.

7:40

We are proposing a skate park renovation, which has been in our capital improvement plan for a number of years at $315,000, and this would update aging equipment aging equipment at the complex located near the Brookings High School and Bob Sheldon Field.

7:55

We also have a number of larger scale vehicle and equipment replacements coming up to include vehicles within the police department, a fire engine three replacement, as well as a motor grader and street sweeper within the public works department.

8:15

The slide before you uh gives an executive overview and a 10-year look at our capital improvement plan in its entirety.

8:22

As I previously mentioned, you may notice that our outside agency payments to the performing arts center as well as the Brookings Health System do drop off after 2027.

8:33

We are showing a transfer of sales tax to the general fund to from the capital improvement plan to account for the revenue that's coming in from the BMU water treatment plant.

8:45

So we're transferring that money over to the general fund to make the general fund whole as we are temporarily reducing our transfer from BMU as they're paying sales tax as part of that water treatment plant project.

8:58

I would also draw attention to the uh the note that our debt service currently obligated by the city would fall off after 2023 or 2033.

9:08

Uh the debt to revenue ratio per city council policy is at 33 percent.

9:13

So as you'll notice uh in this line here, city council and the city as well within that policy that's uh comprised there.

9:22

Uh within the 10-year window itself uh would draw attention to that we are showing an overall uh balanced budget, uh which shows that it is structurally sustainable.

9:32

We are projecting a sales tax uh increase of 2.2% year over year, which is the same number that we're utilizing within our general fund or first penny sales tax as well, and then we increase that to a modest 2.5% uh year over year as we go out.

9:50

I would also draw attention to we do have some special revenue funds that are recognized in here in 2027, 2030, and 2031.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations████████████████████20%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████16%
Public Works██████████████14%
Municipal Code Management█████████9%
Floodplain Management████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Conditional Use Permit██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting Summary - September 24, 2024

The Brookings City Council convened on September 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included Budget Workshop #2, several public hearings, and the introduction of multiple ordinances. Key actions included approving the 2025 budget workshop presentations, awarding contracts for trails and concrete maintenance, approving a rezoning after a protest hearing, and advancing several ordinance amendments. The council also scheduled a special meeting for September 30, 2024, to conduct a third reading of the Reasonable Accommodations ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the City Council meeting minutes from September 10, 2024.
  • Approved temporary alcohol / special event alcoholic beverage licenses from existing license holders.
  • Approved the consent agenda unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Carabianki Rassi and Molly Richter expressed strong concerns about a zoning violation at 312 Eighth Avenue, where a single-family home is allegedly rented to seven people. They stated that city leaders have known about the violation for over five months and have failed to enforce zoning laws, despite being directed to do so at the previous council meeting. They questioned the city's selective enforcement and demanded immediate action.
  • Kyle Roush (Dakota Land Design) spoke in support of the rezoning of the East 151 feet of Block 1 in Northern Plains Addition, noting that the developer has worked with neighbors to improve drainage and privacy, and that many neighbors now support the project.
  • Jason Falaski (511 Cardinal Drive Circle) commented on the same rezoning, acknowledging the developer's cooperation but raising concerns about the 151-foot strip extending 28 feet into a commercial parking lot, calling it an "incongruity." He emphasized that over 20 neighbors signed a protest order.
  • Ron Steve (503 Deer Pass) expressed support for the rezoning after a site walk-through with the developer, stating that the new plan addresses his concerns.
  • Tom (802 Fourth Street) commented on the Reasonable Accommodations ordinance, expressing frustration with the city's handling of the 312 Eighth Avenue issue and raising liability concerns if the city fails to enforce its own laws.
  • Claire Kenneke (SDSU Student Association) gave a report on student initiatives, including a survey to keep the General Activity Fee flat, and announced Hobo Week.

Discussion Items

  • Budget Workshop #2: Deputy City Manager Jake Meshi and Finance Director Ashley Wrench presented the 2025 budget highlights. The balanced general fund budget of $21.9 million is a 2.2% increase from 2024. Sales tax accounts for 47% of general fund revenue and 74% of CIP revenue. The budget does not include impacts from potential Initiated Measure 28, which could cost the city $1.6 million split between the general fund and CIP. New positions include a master mechanic and an associate planner. The 10-year Capital Improvement Plan is balanced and includes major projects such as an inclusive playground (funded in part by $900,000 in city funds), a skate park renovation ($315,000), and fleet replacements. The fee schedule proposes a 3% increase in solid waste rates (residential to $19.10/month), an increase in the airport hangar application fee to $150, and a $10,000 TIF application fee, among others.
  • Presentation: Six-Mile Creek Feasibility Study: City Engineer Charlie Richter presented the FEMA-funded study. Five flood mitigation concepts were analyzed:
    • Lengthening Highway 14 bridges (cost: N/A; benefit-cost ratio: 0.62–0.93)
    • Channel connectivity & bridge widening (cost: $21–23 million; BCR: 0.48–0.71)
    • Channel bypass (cost: $38–40 million; BCR: 0.58–0.77)
    • Upstream detention (cost: $18–20 million; BCR: 1.11–1.49, most favorable)
    • Levee system (cost: $43–45 million; BCR: 0.49–0.66) Staff will work with FEMA technical assistance to refine options and pursue grants. The study is posted on the city's website.
  • Resolution 24-089: Award of the 2024 Brookings Trails Project to Timmons Construction for $164,008.23, including two new trails and one maintenance project.
  • Resolution 24-087: Award of the 2025-09STI Concrete Maintenance Project to Timmons Construction for $298,549.50 (2% below estimate).
  • Resolution 24-088: Change Order No. 1 for the 2024-09STI Concrete Maintenance Project to add sidewalk and curb repairs.
  • Resolution 24-086: Change Order No. 1 for the 2024-06STI Chip Seal Project, adding 5th Street South to the project at a cost of $22,631.30 (4% increase).
  • First Readings: Introduced ordinances 24-016 (speed zones), 24-032 (rezoning Prairie Hills Addition), 24-033 (commercial corridor design review), 24-034 (porch/deck projections), and 24-035 (planned development districts). All second readings and public hearings scheduled for October 8, 2024.
  • Protest Hearing – Ordinance 24-023: Rezoning the East 151 feet of Block 1 in Northern Plains Addition from B-2A to R-2. The council heard public comments and voted unanimously to approve, with the required two-thirds majority.
  • Tabled Item – Ordinance 24-024: Conditional Use Permit for townhouses in Northern Plains Addition. The council removed it from the table, held a public hearing, and approved it unanimously.
  • Tabled Item – Ordinance 24-031: Reasonable Accommodations ordinance. The council removed it from the table, held a public hearing, and approved an amendment to use the revised version. The council then approved the amended ordinance for a third reading, scheduling a special meeting for September 30, 2024.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the consent agenda and all resolutions (24-089, 24-087, 24-088, 24-086) unanimously.
  • Approved Ordinance 24-023 (rezoning) with a unanimous vote, satisfying the two-thirds requirement despite the protest.
  • Approved Ordinance 24-024 (CUP for townhouses) unanimously.
  • Amended and advanced Ordinance 24-031 (Reasonable Accommodations) to a third reading; special meeting scheduled for September 30, 2024, at 6:00 PM.
  • Introduced five ordinances for second readings on October 8, 2024.
  • Scheduled the next regular meeting for October 8, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Will the clerk please take attendance? All council members are present, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Action to approve the agenda. Entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. Move and second. Any comments from the public? Comments from council? Questions. Please call the roll. Rasmussen. Aye. Specker. Tiltenbird. Aye. Wendell. Avery. Doran. Aye. Neemaier. Okay. Go on to item number four, budget workshop number two, Jake Meshi or Deputy City Manager will present this item. Good evening, Mayor and members of the council. We are here for our budget workshop number two as part of our budget workshop series in the 2025 budget process. As far as the official adoption process of the budget goes, we've already had our first and second readings on the property tax levy ordinance, which was approved. We'll have the first reading of the budget ordinance on October 22nd, and then on November 12th, we'll have the second reading of the budget ordinance as well as the adoption of the 10-year capital improvement plan and the consolidated fee schedule. This is a slide from last time as well, just as a reminder for council and members of the public. The 2025 budget includes a balanced uh general fund budget of 22 point 21.9 million dollars. The 21.9 million dollars proposed 2025 general fund budget is a 475,000 or 2.2 percent increase from the 2024 adopted budget. We generally focus our presentations predominantly on the general fund because that is the city's primary operating fund. Sales tax is the city's primary revenue source, and it accounts for 47% of general fund revenue as well as 74% of CIP revenue, as we'll cover in more detail in tonight's presentation. The 2025 budget does not include any impact from the potential passage of initiated measure 28, IM28, which is currently estimated to be a 1.6 million dollar financial loss to the city, which would be split evenly between the general fund as well as the capital improvement plan. So it would be $800,000 loss to each of those funds. The 2025 budget would also add a master mechanic and associate planner positions to the general fund. The master mechanic will expand in-house service capacity, save on external service provision expenses, and reduce the downtime of the fleet. That position would also be partially funded by the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. The associate planner would be an entry-level position in the community development department and assist the department in achieving long-range planning objectives, customer service enhancements, as well as balancing the workloads of the department. The slide before you goes over some of the highlights that are included within our 2025 uh capital improvement plan. I would note uh street highlights at $3.6 million, including the annual overlay and chip seal projects. Outside agency payments total approximately $1 million to the performing arts center, as well as the Brookings Health System. Those payments do drop off after 2027. In general, uh the capital project is a maintenance and replacement budget, which means we're prioritizing the care of our existing assets instead of generally adding new. The exception to that and a primary addition of the capital improvement plot project or capital improvement plan would be the addition of an inclusive playground near the branch creek development at the fishback soccer complex, and that would be funded through a combination of city funds, which is represented by the $900,000, as well as grants and private donations. We are proposing a skate park renovation, which has been in our capital improvement plan for a number of years at $315,000, and this would update aging equipment aging equipment at the complex located near the Brookings High School and Bob Sheldon Field. We also have a number of larger scale vehicle and equipment replacements coming up to include vehicles within the police department, a fire engine three replacement, as well as a motor grader and street sweeper within the public works department.

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