OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting - August 12, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyBrookings, South Dakota
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:29

Transcript — Verbatim
1:07

Welcome everyone.

1:08

I call this meeting to order.

1:11

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:31

Again, thank you all for coming.

1:32

Will the city clerk please take tenants?

1:36

All council members are present, Mr.

1:38

Mayor.

1:39

Thank you.

1:40

Action to approve the agenda.

1:42

Um I will entertain a motion to amend the agenda to remove from consent agenda item 5F, action on resolution 25-072.

1:53

A resolution designating the official newspaper from tonight's agenda.

1:57

Is there a second?

1:59

Second.

2:00

Any comments from the public.

2:07

I guess I I would uh ask the city clerk to explain our position here.

2:13

Mr.

2:14

Mayor, we are requesting removal of this item as when we look at state law, the declaration of an official newspaper versus what is a legal newspaper are two separate things.

2:25

So putting a hold on this resolution will allow staff and the city attorney to review this topic and come back at a future future council meeting after discussion has been held internally.

2:37

All right, thank you.

2:38

Any other questions from council?

2:41

Councilmember Duran.

2:43

Thank you, Mayor.

2:44

Um Bonnie, maybe this is also included in your previous answer, but is there any newspaper that will be publishing our legal notices in the meantime?

2:52

So the definition between official and uh legal newspaper, we will be transferring our publication to use a legal newspaper.

3:00

State law outlines that we are first required to publish our notices within a municipal newspaper, of which at this time we do not have one.

3:09

So we will revert to the second portion of that law which states then we are to publish in a legal newspaper within the county.

3:16

So that county newspaper will be the Volga Tribune.

3:20

Thank you.

3:21

All right.

3:22

Any other questions?

3:24

Councilmember Hager.

3:26

So could you speak a little bit to any anticipated um disruptions that may cause in our workload by moving from a pretty much daily newspaper with the Brookings Register to a weekly newspaper with um the Volga Tribune?

3:41

Certainly.

3:42

So the Vulga Tribune is a weekly newspaper.

3:46

Their deadline for submission of items is Monday by 5 p.m.

3:50

and they publish on Thursdays.

3:52

So using tonight's council meeting as an example, we will push anything that is approved tonight.

3:59

We will send to the Volga Tribune next Monday for publication the following Thursday.

4:07

Um so yes, that adds about 10 days to our timeline for referral of items approved by the council.

4:19

Okay.

4:20

Questions, comments, any more?

4:22

All right.

4:23

Please call the roll on the amendment.

4:25

Avery.

4:27

Aye.

4:27

Doran?

4:28

Aye.

4:28

Neymar.

4:29

Aye.

4:30

Hager.

4:30

Aye.

4:31

Specker.

4:32

Aye.

4:32

Tilton Byrne?

4:33

Aye.

4:33

Wendell.

4:34

Aye.

4:35

All right.

4:36

Entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended.

4:39

So moved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████29%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Zoning Regulations███████████████15%
Procedural██████████████14%
Water And Wastewater Management████████8%
Municipal Code Management████4%
Economic Development███3%
Cannabis Regulation███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting - August 12, 2025

The Brookings City Council met on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a presentation of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Audit, multiple public hearings on zoning and budget amendments, and significant public comment regarding the future of local news in Brookings. All votes on consent and action items were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting.
  • Approved property tax abatement of $246.69 for Parcel #40090-01300-007-00 (1307 Breckenridge Lane).
  • Approved temporary alcohol/special event licenses from existing holders.
  • Approved Resolution 25-071 declaring surplus property.
  • Approved appointment of Mark Aberle to the Brookings Human Rights Commission.
  • Item 5F (Resolution 25-072 designating Official Newspaper) was removed from consent agenda via amendment (unanimous vote) and will be reconsidered after staff review of state law distinctions between "official" and "legal" newspapers.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Josh Lenahan (Brookings resident, former managing editor of the Brookings Register) announced his intention to start a new locally owned independent newspaper in Brookings, citing a "groundswell of support" and financial backing. He asked the council to remain flexible on legal notice requirements.
  • Sean Sarvis (publisher of the Huron Plainsman) stated he is working with a company to reopen the Brookings Register within the next week, aiming to honor existing subscriptions and save jobs. He and Lenahan confirmed their efforts are separate.
  • Doug Ostrom (Brookings resident) complimented the city's recent work on Six Mile Creek and South Medary Avenue water issues, noting more progress in the last two months than in 30 years.

Presentations & Reports

  • Proclamation: Mayor Oepke G. Niemeyer proclaimed August 20, 2025, as "A Day to Celebrate the Cultures of Our Community" in recognition of the 850 international students from 81 countries at SDSU and the work of the Brookings Multicultural Center.
  • 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Audit Summary: Brian Stavinger (on behalf of Mike Bailey) presented the audit results. Key highlights:
    • Clean unmodified opinion with no findings for the financial statement audit, federal awards (ARPA), or internal controls.
    • Total cash (excluding BMU and BHS) for the city: approximately $70 million (including investments and restricted cash).
    • General fund unassigned fund balance: $15.16 million at year-end 2024, representing about 50% of annual expenditures (six months of operating reserves).
    • Liquidity ratio (cash to liabilities) ranged from 4 to 6 over the past five years, well above the 2.0 minimum.
    • Sales and use tax revenues continued steady growth.
    • City Manager Paul Briseno and Finance Director Ashley Rynch praised the council's prudent financial policies that enabled cash-funded capital projects.
  • City Council Ex-Officio Reports:
    • BMU Board (Wayne Avery): The BMU expects to transfer $2,705,000 to the city's general fund in 2026 (an increase of $50,000 from 2025). A 5% overall rate increase is planned for 2028–2032, primarily due to wholesale power costs. The electric capital improvement plan totals $63.7 million through 2033 for reserve generators, substations, underground conversions, renewable energy, and other projects. The $70 million water treatment plant is substantially complete by October 2025, with full completion spring 2026. The 6th Street water tower removal is expected spring 2026 after communication lines are relocated. BMU billing dates and software will change, resulting in different bill appearances.
    • Economic Development Merger (Deputy Mayor Nick Wendell): The newly formed 11-member board of the merged economic development organization (launching January 2026) met for the first time on August 11, 2025. They appointed a chair and vice chair, and established subcommittees for CEO search, brand development, and staff engagement.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 25-029 (First Reading): Budget Amendment No. 6 to the 2025 budget. Part 1 increases grant revenue and expenditures by $120,000 for the library's Lowe's hometown grant to enhance youth and teen areas with new shelving (browsing shelves for children, new furniture for teens). Part 2 increases the city/county administration building budget by $54,900 for a preliminary development agreement with Johnson Controls for a chiller replacement project (city share 48%, county 52%). Second reading scheduled for August 26, 2025.
  • Ordinance 25-027 (Second Reading): Budget Amendment No. 5 — $1.3 million for purchase of 214 Front Street for downtown parking lot development, including land, environmental study, appraisal, and closing costs. Funded from the council's financial policy fund for one-time infrastructure purchases. Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 25-024 (Second Reading): Establishing a Citizens' Request for Reconsideration Policy Appeal Process for obscene materials in the library, required by state law. Councilmember Wendell noted the council's unease with the role but acknowledged the mandate. Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 25-023 (Public Hearing): Removing cannabis dispensaries as an allowable use in the B2A (transitional commercial) zoning district. No existing dispensaries are located in B2A, so no non-conforming uses are created. Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 25-025 (Public Hearing): Rezoning approximately 68 city-owned properties (parks, drainage ways, bike trails, substations, lift stations, water tower sites) from various current zoning districts to the new Civic District. Public commenter Doug Ostrom opposed, arguing parks should be in a dedicated park zone and questioned why the city lobbied to change state law allowing park removal without a public vote. No council response. The ordinance received unanimous approval.
  • Ordinance 25-026 (Public Hearing): Rezoning the south 110 feet of Outlot A, 716 34th Avenue, from Agriculture A to Business B-3 Heavy District, consistent with the future land use map. Approved unanimously.
  • Preliminary Plat of Block 1, Legacy Addition (Action): A 3.3-acre parcel on the east side of 34th Avenue to be developed as one lot with multiple structures. The preliminary drainage and grading plans were reviewed. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda amended to remove Resolution 25-072 (Official Newspaper designation) from consent; item will return after staff review of legal definitions.
  • All consent agenda items (except removed 5F) approved unanimously.
  • All public hearings and second readings approved unanimously.
  • First reading of Ordinance 25-029 held; second reading set for August 26, 2025.
  • Executive Session entered under SDCL 1-25-2.3 (legal counsel consultation) and SDCL 1-25-2.5 (marketing/pricing strategies) with no further business after.
  • Next meeting: August 26, 2025, which will include the first SDSU student report of the year.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everyone. I call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Again, thank you all for coming. Will the city clerk please take tenants? All council members are present, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Action to approve the agenda. Um I will entertain a motion to amend the agenda to remove from consent agenda item 5F, action on resolution 25-072. A resolution designating the official newspaper from tonight's agenda. Is there a second? Second. Any comments from the public. I guess I I would uh ask the city clerk to explain our position here. Mr. Mayor, we are requesting removal of this item as when we look at state law, the declaration of an official newspaper versus what is a legal newspaper are two separate things. So putting a hold on this resolution will allow staff and the city attorney to review this topic and come back at a future future council meeting after discussion has been held internally. All right, thank you. Any other questions from council? Councilmember Duran. Thank you, Mayor. Um Bonnie, maybe this is also included in your previous answer, but is there any newspaper that will be publishing our legal notices in the meantime? So the definition between official and uh legal newspaper, we will be transferring our publication to use a legal newspaper. State law outlines that we are first required to publish our notices within a municipal newspaper, of which at this time we do not have one. So we will revert to the second portion of that law which states then we are to publish in a legal newspaper within the county. So that county newspaper will be the Volga Tribune. Thank you. All right. Any other questions? Councilmember Hager. So could you speak a little bit to any anticipated um disruptions that may cause in our workload by moving from a pretty much daily newspaper with the Brookings Register to a weekly newspaper with um the Volga Tribune? Certainly. So the Vulga Tribune is a weekly newspaper. Their deadline for submission of items is Monday by 5 p.m. and they publish on Thursdays. So using tonight's council meeting as an example, we will push anything that is approved tonight. We will send to the Volga Tribune next Monday for publication the following Thursday. Um so yes, that adds about 10 days to our timeline for referral of items approved by the council. Okay. Questions, comments, any more? All right. Please call the roll on the amendment. Avery. Aye. Doran? Aye. Neymar. Aye. Hager.

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