Brookings City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Brookings City Council met on May 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included the swearing-in of re-elected Council Members Bonny Specker and Holly Tilton Byrne, newly appointed Council Member Lisa Hager, and new City Attorney J. Vincent Jones. The council approved a consent agenda, several alcohol license renewals and transfers, a tax increment financing agreement, and a fire code amendment. A major item was the approval of the Economic Merger Implementation Plan, authorizing up to $250,000 in transition funding for merging four economic development organizations.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the April 22, 2025 City Council meeting minutes.
• Canceled the May 20, 2025 City Council Study Session.
• Approved Temporary Alcohol/Special Event Alcoholic Beverage Licenses from existing license holders.
• Approved Annual On-Off Sale Malt Alcoholic Beverage License Renewals.
• Approved Resolution 25-040 authorizing exclusive use of Pioneer Park for the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.
• Approved Resolution 25-046 awarding the bid for a sign truck.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During Open Forum, Laura Shane Carbonell (Executive Director, Visit Brookings) presented the Larson Family Tourism Champion Award to Sherry Avery, co-chair of the Brookings Summer Arts Festival, recognizing her contributions to tourism and the community.
• Doug Ostrom, a community member with extensive governance experience, expressed concerns about the Economic Merger Implementation Plan. He argued that the four organizations have distinct goals that may not mesh, that the merger should originate from the organizations rather than be driven by the funding mechanism, and that the process lacks a vote by the existing organizations to decide whether to merge.

Discussion Items

• Presentations/Reports: John Thompson (Public Works Director) introduced new staff: Martin Wagner (promoted to master mechanic) and Justin Vosted (new landfill supervisor). He also introduced new Fire Chief Troy (formerly of Los Alamos and Grand Island). Proclamations were read for National Public Works Week (May 18–24, 2025) and Older Americans Month (May 2025). Council Ex-Officio Reports included updates from the Water/Wastewater Board and the Brookings Health System.
• Contracts/Change Orders: Mike Struck (Community Development Director) presented a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement with Sixth St. Development LLC. The TIF runs for up to 20 years, with reimbursements for improvements including Campanillo Avenue median enhancements. A separate maintenance agreement (Resolution 25-049) was also presented, covering boulevard parking, alley parking, and a mid-block pedestrian crossing. The fire chief clarified that crossing improvements are initially developer-installed but future upgrades would be city responsibility.
• Ordinance First Readings: Ordinance 25-008 (amending Commercial Corridor Design Review Overlay District) was introduced on first reading. Mike Struck explained it would allow administrative approval for projects meeting design standards, reducing the approval timeline from two months to a few days. The ordinance also expands the overlay district to include a half-block segment on Main Avenue and requires Planned Development Districts (PDDs) to follow the overlay. The public hearing and second reading are scheduled for May 27, 2025.
• Public Hearings and Second Readings: Ordinance 24-035 (amending Planned Development District regulations) was removed from the table and re-tabled to May 27, 2025, to coincide with the commercial corridor ordinance. Ordinance 25-012 (amending the International Fire Code) was read a second time and passed. It adopts the fire code through the building code chapter, clarifies zoning jurisdiction exemptions for agricultural properties, and allows fire code officials (e.g., fire marshal, deputy chief) to apply the code.
• Alcohol License Items: The council approved temporary alcohol licenses for the Brookings Cubs Baseball Group (11 home games at Bob Sheldon Field) and the Brookings Volunteer Fire Association Street Dance (June 28, 2025, 300 block of Main Avenue). They also approved the transfer of an on-off sale malt license and video lottery authorization from Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar to Den Wil Hospitality Group (dba The Lodge) at 2515 6th Street, and authorized a full-service on-sale restaurant liquor operating agreement for the same location (effective through 2035). Finally, the council approved annual malt beverage license renewals for six establishments that had one compliance failure each within the past 12 months; all had completed state requirements and paid fines. Council Member Hager inquired about internal enforcement policies at some establishments, and responses were provided.
• Other Business – Economic Merger Implementation Plan: Co-chairs Nick Wendell and Tom Fishback presented the draft implementation plan for merging the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, Brookings Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Brookings, and Visit Brookings into a single organization. The presentation detailed the gathering and synthesizing phases, peer community research, a proposed organizational structure (central board, president/CEO, five pillars: Operations, Business Development, Community Development, Destination Development, Sales/Data/Marketing), and a timeline. Key elements included a board selection process, hiring a president/CEO by late summer, and beginning operations in January 2026. Council Member Doran asked about staff support during transition; co-chairs emphasized engaging staff and creating opportunities. Council Member Tilton Byrne clarified that the vote authorizes up to $250,000 in transition funding but does not force organizations to participate; each board will decide by June 30, 2025. Following public comment from Doug Ostrom (who opposed), the council approved the implementation plan.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Contracts/Resolutions: (Roll call votes all 7-0) TIF agreement with Sixth St. Development LLC; Resolution 25-049 authorizing the city manager to sign a maintenance agreement; Ordinance 25-012 amending the fire code.
• Approved Alcohol Licenses/Transfers: All public hearing items (baseball alcohol license, street dance license, license transfer, liquor operating agreement, six annual renewals) passed by roll call votes (7-0).
• Approved Economic Merger Implementation Plan: Motion carried 7-0. The plan authorizes the city to fund the merged entity in FY2026 and provides up to $250,000 in transition funding from the economic development reserve fund. The four organizations must affirm participation by June 30, 2025. A new board of directors will be selected by mid-June to lead the search for a president/CEO.
• Tabled and Re-Scheduled: Ordinance 24-035 (PDD) removed from table and re-tabled to May 27, 2025.
• First Reading Introduced: Ordinance 25-008 (Commercial Corridor Design Review) first reading complete; second reading/public hearing set for May 27, 2025.
• Other: The council recognized Jake’s last meeting; Jake, the outgoing staff member, is moving to become city manager of Indianola, Iowa. The mayor announced a groundbreaking for the Marketplace development on May 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the site west of the Research and Technology Building.