Brookings City Council Meeting - March 11, 2025

The Brookings City Council met on March 11, 2025, in a joint session with the Brookings County Commission to approve a zoning change, followed by the regular city council meeting. The council addressed a range of items including a downtown fire update, a council vacancy process, budget amendments, floodplain ordinance updates, and a conditional use permit for a gunsmithing business.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (ID 25-0113): Minutes of February 25, 2025, approved.
• Temporary Alcohol Licenses (ID 25-0118): Approved.
• Drainage Fee Abatements (ID 25-0117, 25-0119, 25-0120): Three $73.68 abatements for parcels where common areas were erroneously charged an additional ERU. Approved.
• Surplus Property Declaration (RES 25-025): Approved.
• Restriction Agreement with Ryan Companies (ID 25-0129): Approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• HOSA Student Presentation: Amelia Wendell and Lauren Bortnum (Brookings High School HOSA) presented on childhood food insecurity, citing national data (1 in 5 children) and local data (1 in 6 children in Brookings County). They announced a food drive through March 12, 2025. No council action taken.
• Public Hearing on Rezone (ORD 25-005 / County 2025-02): No public comment; council and commission approved.
• Public Hearing on Conditional Use Permit (ORD 25-006): Applicant Reed Cummings spoke, confirming reloading is for personal use only. Council approved.

Discussion Items

• Joint Rezone (ORD 25-005 / County 2025-02): Ordinance to rezone Outlots 10 and 11 from Joint Jurisdiction Agriculture to Joint Jurisdiction Business B-3 Heavy. Located near South Main Avenue and 36th Street. Councilmember Specker questioned road maintenance responsibility for 36th Street South (not city or county responsibility). Passed unanimously by both bodies.
• Ryan Companies Update: Patrick Daly reported Target will break ground in 30–45 days, vertical construction in summer, opening summer 2026. Aldi and other parcels progressing. Local subcontractors will be used.
• BMU Report (Councilmember Bonnie Foster): Approved leachate line connection, water/sewer connections for marketplace, automated metering update, 6th Street water tower removal planned summer 2026.
• Brookings Health Report (Councilmember Brianna Doran): January ER visits increased 13.5% to 932; network upgrade and financial software transition ongoing; opioid task force continuing.
• Downtown Fire Update (Deputy City Manager Jake Meshke): Fire on December 30, 2024, at Broce Fashions; cause undetermined. Partial collapse extended barricade; property condemned. Building status: 314 Main (Grunwald) – structurally sound, target reopening summer 2025; 318 Main (Broce) – owner wants to rebuild, soliciting debris quotes; 320 Main (Seven Songbirds) – total loss, owner wants to rebuild; 322 Main – smoke/water damage, sharing wall with 320. Monthly updates to council. Kirsten Jezdal (Downtown Brookings) reported business relocations and community fund (~$75,000 raised, up to $3,000 reimbursement per business). Donations accepted through early next week.
• Council Vacancy Process (City Clerk Bonnie Foster): Vacancy from Andrew Rasmussen (effective Feb 28, 2025). Appointment will serve until 2026. Timeline: press release March 14, applications due April 4, study session April 15, appointment April 22, oath May 13. Council consensus on proposed timeline.
• Floodplain Ordinance Update (Public Works Director John Thompson): ORD 25-010 (first reading) updates floodplain regulations per FEMA mandate; new FEMA maps effective April 23, 2025. Key changes: expanded floodway northwest, new 100-year floodplain southeast; two-foot freeboard; floodplain administrator designated. Property owners with prior LOMAs notified. Council discussed definitions of floodplain vs. floodway. Second reading March 25.
• Budget Amendment 10 (2024) (Finance Director Ashley Runch): ORD 25-009 (first reading) adds expenditure authority in five areas ($68,451 total) offset by revenue. Second reading March 25.
• Budget Amendment 1 (2025) (ORD 25-007, second reading): Carries forward $7.3 million in CIP funds, $700,000 general fund, and other amounts. Includes $834,549 for sinking fund, police overtime, and projects. Passed unanimously.
• Conditional Use Permit (ORD 25-006) (Community Development Director Mike Struck): Major home occupation for gunsmithing at 1630 Olwien St., in detached garage. Conditions: applicant must obtain state/federal permits, provide proof of renewal every 3 years; permit non-transferable. Police no concerns. Passed unanimously.
• Transfer of Contingency Funds (RES 25-021): Transfers $156,700 in 2024 contingency funds: $145,000 for police overtime (due to vacancies and academy), $11,700 for forestry equipment maintenance. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Joint Rezone: ORD 25-005 and County Ordinance 2025-02 passed unanimously (City Council vote: 6-0; County Commission vote: 5-0).
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Budget Amendment 1: ORD 25-007 passed unanimously.
• Conditional Use Permit: ORD 25-006 passed unanimously.
• Contingency Transfer: RES 25-021 passed unanimously.
• Executive Session: Removed from agenda by motion (item 14 removed).
• Next Meeting: March 25, 2025 (no meeting March 18).

Note: Meeting started at 5:30 PM joint session; regular council began after 6:00 PM.