Brookings City Council Meeting - February 11, 2025
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Brookings City Council Meeting - February 11, 2025
The Brookings City Council met on February 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered a range of topics including public comments on a new skating academy, a first reading to repeal the "No Mow May" ordinance, approval of a new Civic District zoning district, tabling of a street naming resolution, and approval of a resolution designating Brookings as a Bee City USA affiliate. Council also received reports from the SDSU Student Association and city boards.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from January 28, 2025.
- Approved temporary alcohol/special event alcoholic beverage licenses from existing holders.
- Approved property tax abatements: $615.41 for 1120 Western Avenue and $4,342.89 for 900 20th Street South.
- Approved Resolution 25-011 designating vote center locations and appointing election superintendents and deputies for the April 8, 2025 combined municipal/school board election.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Trish Matson Boose, membership chair of the Brookings Figure Skating Club, thanked the City and Parks and Recreation Department for supporting the inaugural Brookings Skating Academy. She reported that skaters aged 3 to 54 participated, including new adaptive skating for children with disabilities, adult beginners, teen beginners, and beginning hockey skills. She expressed strong positive feedback and requested the city explore year-round ice availability, particularly summer ice, to accommodate growth.
Presentations & Reports
- SDSU Student Association (Claire Kennicki): Reported on legislative activity. They opposed Senate Bill 100 (concealed carry on regental campuses), which passed the Senate State Affairs committee 7-2. They also opposed House Bill 1193 (prohibiting requiring on-campus housing after first year), with testimony scheduled for the next day.
- Brookings Municipal Utility Board (Councilmember Avery): Reviewed quarterly financials, discussed cybersecurity efforts, and noted a scholarship program for Brookings high school students (three $1,000 scholarships).
- Brookings Health System (Councilmember Rasmussen): Reported on strategic plan review, monitoring of state/federal healthcare policies, Northern Plains Healthcare Network updates, and a perfect score of 100 on the Maternity Practices and Infant Nutrition and Care survey.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 25-004 – Repeal of "No Mow May" (First Reading): Albert Potan, Vice Chair of the Sustainability Council, presented the recommendation to repeal the "No Mow May" designation due to challenges including proliferation of invasive species, negative impacts on neighborhood aesthetics, property values, and enforcement difficulties. The Council recommended focusing on alternative strategies such as education, native plantings, and invasive species management. Second reading is scheduled for February 25, 2025. Council members expressed appreciation for the Council's work and interest in alternative pollinator-friendly approaches.
- Ordinance 25-002 – Creation of Civic District Zoning (Public Hearing and Second Reading): Community Development Director Mike Struck presented the ordinance creating a new zoning district for public civic uses (e.g., city, school, county, state facilities). The district aims to hold public facilities to higher standards and address concerns from locating in residential areas. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-1. The Council approved the ordinance unanimously (7-0).
- Resolution 25-013 – Street Naming (Market Street and Prime Place): Mike Struck presented a request to name two streets in the Brookings Marketplace area: a private road (suffix "Place") and a public road (suffix "Street"). Councilmember Specker suggested soliciting public input via email for alternative names. The Council voted to table the resolution to the February 25 meeting to allow time for suggestions.
- Resolution 25-014 – Bee City USA Affiliation: Albert Potan presented the recommendation to designate Brookings as a Bee City USA affiliate. Commitments include establishing a pollinator committee (initially housed under the Sustainability Council), developing a pollinator habitat plan, reducing pesticide use, hosting educational events, public acknowledgment, and annual reporting. The application fee is $200, with an annual $200 fee shared by the Sustainability Council and Parks and Recreation Department. Councilmember Specker inquired about tangible resources for homeowners, such as a native plant list, and noted existing programs (native plant reimbursement, tree program). Parks and Recreation Director Kristen mentioned ongoing pesticide management practices, including natural deterrents and ladybug releases. The resolution was approved unanimously (7-0).
Key Outcomes
- Approved the consent agenda unanimously.
- Approved Ordinance 25-002 (Civic District zoning) on second reading, 7-0.
- Tabled Resolution 25-013 (street naming) to February 25, 2025, with public input solicited.
- Approved Resolution 25-014 (Bee City USA affiliation), 7-0.
- First reading of Ordinance 25-004 (repeal of No Mow May) was held; second reading scheduled for February 25, 2025.
- The next study session is February 18, 2025, and the next regular meeting is February 25, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
I don't know if I can help them. Oh, it's holding. Call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you all for coming this evening. Will the clerk please take attendance? All council members are present, Mr. Mayor. Councilmember Wendell is joining us on the conference. Okay. Um action to approve the agenda. Entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So move. Comments from public on anything on the agenda. Questions, comments from council? Please call the rule. Avery. Doran. Aye. Neymar. Hi. Rasmussen. Hi. Specker. Aye. Tilton Byrne. Hi. Wendell. Okay. Please come forward, state your name and address. Good evening. My name is Trish Matson Boose, and I have a teenage daughter who is one of the older advanced skaters in the Brookings Figure Skating Club, where I serve as the membership chair on the volunteer board. I'm honored to be here tonight and just wanted to express my great thanks to the City of Brookings, specifically the Park and Rec Department. Kristen, for support in launching our inaugural session of the Brookings Skating Academy this past January, last month. So for years there had been discussions about the possibility of the Brookings Figure Skating Club taking over the group figure skating lessons that had traditionally been offered by the Park and Rec department here in Brookings. But it really seemed like a huge over undertaking since our club is a volunteer-run club, and our membership had decreased over the years, especially during COVID. However, thanks to the strong growth for the past three years, along with support from Park and Rec, we took that leap, and what a success it turned out to be. Skaters ranged in age from three to 54 years old, from absolute beginners who had never worn skates to highly advanced skaters. We were also thrilled to introduce new classes never before offered in Brookings, which included adaptive skating for children with disabilities and special needs, adult beginners, teen beginners, and even um uh beginning hockey skills for a couple of different age groups because I I think officially you can't join the hockey association until you're five years old, and then they don't really teach skating. So we had um great encouragement from Visa to offer the hockey skating group lessons. Uh to ensure, I know that I only have three minutes to ensure a high quality experience. We utilize our professional coaches and the ice skating program developed by the ice sports industry. It's a national program created over 50 years ago, and it's the program of choice for skating skills around the country. It provides a structured fun and progressive learning experience that has taught millions of people how to skate, including many who have gone on to achieve national and international success. The feedback that we received was overwhelmingly positive. Families appreciated the organization, the instruction, the welcoming environment that we provided. Our post-session surveys reflected strong satisfaction, and we've already um heard lots of excitement about future sessions. None of this would have been possible without the support of the park and rec department, of course, as a part of the city of Brookings in making the transition from park and rec to the figure skating club, helping with that transition and making it smooth and successful. Your willingness to support us and um work with us to develop the program has made a tremendous difference, and we truly appreciate it. That being said, with uh rapid growth in both our figure skating club and the skating academy now, we have outgrown our available ice time.
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