OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, November 18, 2025
BodyBrookings, South Dakota
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, November 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:38:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:38

I call this meeting to order.

0:41

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:05

Will the city clerk please take attendance?

1:08

Mayor Nemeyer is absent this evening.

1:11

All other council members are present, Deputy Mayor.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Item number three is the approval of the agenda.

1:18

I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the agenda.

1:21

So move.

1:22

Second.

1:22

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

1:24

Are there any comments on the agenda from the public?

1:29

Any comments on the agenda from a member of the council?

1:34

All right, hearing none, will the city clerk please call the roll?

1:37

Hager.

1:38

Aye.

1:38

Specker?

1:39

Aye.

1:40

Tilton Burden.

1:41

Aye.

1:41

Wendell?

1:42

Aye.

1:42

Avery?

1:44

Doran.

1:45

Aye.

1:47

Motion passes.

1:49

Okay, item number four is an open forum, which is an opportunity for a member of the public to address the council on an item that is not otherwise listed on our agenda.

1:57

Would any member of the public like to come forward and speak in the open forum?

2:08

Okay.

2:18

Two Mondays ago, we had an opportunity to host uh a couple of open houses about a potential uh building project.

2:27

Uh as many folks in the community know, we are considering whether or not to build a new police department facility and where we should build such a facility.

2:38

During the open house, we had an opportunity to discuss a piece of land that is on the corner of Fifth and Medairy, adjacent to our high school in Maderi Elementary, and have good public comment around the use of that particular piece of land.

2:51

Uh city staff had worked with the council to identify more than 20 potential properties throughout the community that might be appropriate settings for a new police department facility.

3:01

That one sort of bubbled to the top for a variety of reasons, but we knew that there were a number of stakeholders that would have interest in that particular property.

3:09

And so before we invested a lot more time and resources and planning around that property, we thought it would be valuable to host some open forums so members of the public and stakeholders, folks from the neighborhood, uh folks from the school board and the school district could be a part of a community conversation related to the pros and cons of that particular property.

3:31

And so we got a lot of great feedback and that elicited lots of feedback online, and I know as counselors we've heard from lots of members of the public about that particular property and its suitability for a future home for the Brookings Police Department.

3:45

After we received that feedback and had that conversation, we turned back to staff and have asked them to continue considering properties throughout the community that could be suitable locations for a police department facility in the future.

3:58

And so that property is not entirely off the table, but it's now part of a continuing conversation about potential locations.

4:05

And I think by mid-January, staff will come back to us with a list of potential property in the community that could be home to a future police department.

4:13

And we'll have lots of considerations that will be part of what would be the best place for that uh future facility.

4:20

Uh obviously, cost as a driver, if it's connected to a main artery or thoroughfare in the community.

4:27

Uh is it connected to other risk factors and other areas in the community?

4:31

There's lots of criteria that we would use to determine the most suitable future location for the Brookings Police Department.

4:37

But that really kicked off an initial phase of the community conversation, and we wanted to circle back with you all to let you know that the conversation is ongoing, and by mid-January, we'll get a full report from staff uh around other potential locations for a future police department facility.

4:57

Okay, I think that closes item number four.

5:00

Item number five is the consent agenda.

5:03

Are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda?

5:08

Or any questions related to items on the consent agenda?

5:11

Councilmember Specker?

5:12

Yeah, and I think this uh question is for Bonnie.

5:16

It has to do with 5D and the temporary alcohol license for Sodexo.

5:23

Since later on they are presenting because they've had a violation.

5:29

Can we approve this before they do that?

5:33

Yes, you certainly can, because we consider the alcohol compliance violation a separate topic.

5:39

Okay, thank you.

5:42

With that answer, are you comfortable keeping the item on the consent agenda?

5:46

Okay.

5:47

Any other items to consider or potentially remove from the consent agenda?

5:52

Okay.

5:53

I'd entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Downtown Revitalization██████████████████18%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Public Safety█████████9%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Conditional Use Permit████4%
Economic Development███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Brookings City Council Meeting - November 18, 2025

The City of Brookings held a regular meeting on November 18, 2025, to address agenda items including routine approvals, ongoing community projects, a new police facility site search, budget adoption, and public hearings on licenses and zoning. Mayor Nemeyer was absent for the evening. The council approved the consent agenda, adopted the 2026 appropriation ordinance, and entered an executive session for vulnerability assessments without taking action.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the agenda unanimously.
  • Approved the consent agenda, which included routine municipal actions, without objections or items removed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • James Quinn (Resident District Manager, Sodexo) & Emily O'Connor (Catering Director): Addressed a compliance check failure regarding alcohol service at the Dana J. Dykehouse Stadium. They expressed a commitment to implementing new safety procedures and training to prevent future occurrences. Quinn stated, "It's 133,000 cans would be uh uh over a seven-game period... that one incident, it won't happen again."
  • Councilmember Hager: Expressed strong support for Sodexo's immediate corrective actions, noting firsthand observation of enhanced ID checking protocols as a season ticket holder. He stated, "I just want to tell you that I appreciate how serious you all were taking it... I really appreciated that."
  • Councilmember Tilton Byrne: Echoed support for the quick action taken to correct the compliance issue. He noted, "We do have materials that you've submitted uh outlining some of those changes, and so thank you for providing us that information and thank you for taking quick action to correct this."
  • Doug Ostrheim: Expressed opposition to the proposed increases in residential building permit fees. He argued that "we ought to lower those building permit costs as low as we could possibly lower them" and that reductions across the board are necessary to support affordable housing, stating, "every increase in the cost of housing across the board impacts people at the next stage below."

Discussion Items

  • Police Facility Site Search: Council discussed the status of identifying a new police department facility. Staff reported that while the property at 5th and Medairy generated significant public feedback, it is not entirely off the table but is part of a continuing conversation. Staff plans to return in mid-January with a full report on potential properties based on criteria including cost, connectivity to main arteries, and risk factors.
  • Brookings Municipal Utility Board: Provided an update on 2026 rate increases: electric rates are projected to increase by 3.5% (approx. $3.35/month), water rates by 2.1% (approx. $1.50/month), and wastewater rates by 2.9% (approx. $1.28/month). The 6th Street water tower is slated for removal in May or June 2026 following the relocation of telecommunications equipment.
  • Brookings Health System: Reported on the transition to EPIC, recruitment/retention efforts (currently 553 employees), and new CMS age-friendly hospital measures. Highlights from the 2024 report included 4,248 hospital patient days (up 42.7%), 23,896 imaging procedures (up 38.6%), and over $1 million in financial assistance to 656 local people. An annual economic impact of over $56 million was calculated. The installation of a naloxone distribution box was also noted.
  • Downtown Revitalization: Presented updates on the master plan implementation since October 2024, including streetscaping, building facade grants, interior incentive programs, and the "Lights Camera Action" safety initiative. A fire update noted that while 21 businesses were affected, the community raised over $75,000 in relief funds, and most businesses chose to relocate back to downtown. Specific projects like the 310 Main Avenue parklet and facade renovations for businesses like Main Street Pub were highlighted.
  • Bridge Reinspection: Civil Design Incorporated reported that the four city bridges are in satisfactory to good condition. The 114-foot bridge on Western Avenue (rated 6) shows advanced deck delamination due to salt intrusion. The North Maderi bridge (1968) is nearing 60 years of age but is expected to have 15-20 years of service left before major replacement is needed.
  • 2026 Budget & CIP: The proposed 2026 budget of $72.5 million was discussed, representing a 1% decrease driven by enterprise fund capital projects. The 10-year Capital Improvement Plan balances through 2035. Councilmember Hager addressed a potential conflict of interest regarding SDSU budget components, concluding with the City Attorney's opinion that no conflict exists. Councilmember Specker questioned the timing of a $1 million fire truck purchase, clarifying that spreading costs is a strategic financial decision regarding cash flow and capital capacity.
  • Zoning Changes: Discussed a rezoning from R-3 to B-3 for a former fraternity site intended for motel conversion, and a conditional use permit for a property management office in an R-2 residential district.

Key Outcomes

  • Police Facility: Staff directed to return in mid-January with a comparative list of potential police department locations.
  • Budget: Adopted the 2026 Appropriation Ordinance (25-034) unanimously. Adopted the 2026 Consolidated Fee Schedule (Resolution 25-087) unanimously. Authorized a $95,000 transfer from the CIP sinking fund to the general fund for recreation facility planning (Resolution 25-089). Approved the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (Resolution 25-087/Item 10C).
  • Licenses & Zoning:
    • Renewed the wine and alcoholic beverage license for Sodexo despite the recent compliance violation.
    • Approved a special event temporary alcoholic beverage license for St. Thomas Moore Catholic School's winter gala.
    • Approved Ordinance 25-033 to rezone 213 West Highway 14 bypass from R-3 to B-3.
    • Approved Ordinance 25-035 granting a conditional use permit for a property management office at 717/719 Main Avenue.
  • Amendments: Ordered the second reading of Ordinance 25-036 (budget amendment for Fishback Park splash pad) to the November 25 meeting.
  • Executive Session: Entered executive session pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2.6(a) for a vulnerability assessment; no action was taken following the session.

Meeting Transcript

I call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Will the city clerk please take attendance? Mayor Nemeyer is absent this evening. All other council members are present, Deputy Mayor. Thank you. Item number three is the approval of the agenda. I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So move. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Are there any comments on the agenda from the public? Any comments on the agenda from a member of the council? All right, hearing none, will the city clerk please call the roll? Hager. Aye. Specker? Aye. Tilton Burden. Aye. Wendell? Aye. Avery? Doran. Aye. Motion passes. Okay, item number four is an open forum, which is an opportunity for a member of the public to address the council on an item that is not otherwise listed on our agenda. Would any member of the public like to come forward and speak in the open forum? Okay. Two Mondays ago, we had an opportunity to host uh a couple of open houses about a potential uh building project. Uh as many folks in the community know, we are considering whether or not to build a new police department facility and where we should build such a facility. During the open house, we had an opportunity to discuss a piece of land that is on the corner of Fifth and Medairy, adjacent to our high school in Maderi Elementary, and have good public comment around the use of that particular piece of land. Uh city staff had worked with the council to identify more than 20 potential properties throughout the community that might be appropriate settings for a new police department facility. That one sort of bubbled to the top for a variety of reasons, but we knew that there were a number of stakeholders that would have interest in that particular property. And so before we invested a lot more time and resources and planning around that property, we thought it would be valuable to host some open forums so members of the public and stakeholders, folks from the neighborhood, uh folks from the school board and the school district could be a part of a community conversation related to the pros and cons of that particular property. And so we got a lot of great feedback and that elicited lots of feedback online, and I know as counselors we've heard from lots of members of the public about that particular property and its suitability for a future home for the Brookings Police Department. After we received that feedback and had that conversation, we turned back to staff and have asked them to continue considering properties throughout the community that could be suitable locations for a police department facility in the future. And so that property is not entirely off the table, but it's now part of a continuing conversation about potential locations. And I think by mid-January, staff will come back to us with a list of potential property in the community that could be home to a future police department. And we'll have lots of considerations that will be part of what would be the best place for that uh future facility. Uh obviously, cost as a driver, if it's connected to a main artery or thoroughfare in the community. Uh is it connected to other risk factors and other areas in the community? There's lots of criteria that we would use to determine the most suitable future location for the Brookings Police Department. But that really kicked off an initial phase of the community conversation, and we wanted to circle back with you all to let you know that the conversation is ongoing, and by mid-January, we'll get a full report from staff uh around other potential locations for a future police department facility. Okay, I think that closes item number four. Item number five is the consent agenda. Are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? Or any questions related to items on the consent agenda? Councilmember Specker? Yeah, and I think this uh question is for Bonnie.

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