Brookings City Council Meeting - August 25, 2026: Flock Cameras, HRC Appointment, and Dakota Bank Center Update
Brookings City Council Meeting – August 25, 2026
The Brookings City Council met on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting featured extensive public comment on the city's Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) contract, a controversial appointment to the Human Rights Commission that was ultimately rejected, a report on the future of the Dakota Bank Center, and routine approvals. The council also set a future presentation on Flock cameras for September 22, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes – Approved the August 11, 2026 City Council meeting minutes.
- Appointments – Item 5B (Jeff Struwe appointment to the Human Rights Commission) was removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
- Resolution 26-055 – Approved awarding bids for the 2026-2027 Contractor Snow Removal Equipment Contracts.
- Temporary Alcohol Licenses – Approved temporary alcohol/special event beverage licenses from existing license holders.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) / Flock Cameras – A large group of residents spoke in opposition to the city's contract with Flock Safety. Speakers included:
- Robert Herb (Aurora resident) – Expressed privacy concerns, stating the cameras track every location and calling the system "not a safe city."
- Andrew Kenichini (Brookings) – Presented a compiled document alleging Flock broke promises regarding data ownership, sale, retention, and local control. Requested council review.
- Craig Jorgensen (Aurora, cybersecurity analyst) – Detailed technical operation of ALPRs, noted no warrant required for searches, and requested a study session on the topic.
- Amanda Fickis – Argued Flock's system creates a "vehicle fingerprint" and cited legal precedents (Carpenter) and federal access issues.
- Warren Snowny (CLEAR chair) – Asked about safeguards, necessity, data retention, and citizen right to know.
- Bradley Walker (Brookings) – Listed four Flock promises he claimed were broken: data ownership, non-sale, 30-day retention, and local access control.
- Caleb Evanson (Brookings) – Detailed Flock’s February 16, 2026 contract changes that weakened data protections and added mandatory arbitration in Georgia.
- Matthew Sanders (new Brookings homeowner) – Summarized concerns and urged council to address the contract discrepancies.
- Noah Hezen (SDSU alum, temporary resident) – Expressed strong opposition to ALPRs.
- Human Rights Commission Appointment (Jeff Struwe) – Multiple residents spoke for and against:
- Against – Brenda Anderson, Chris O'Shalo, Joni Holm, and others cited Struwe’s past public comments (calling LGBTQ people "child molesters," anti-immigrant remarks) as antithetical to the commission’s mission. Several noted the county commission’s selection appeared politically motivated.
- In favor – Jane Pafer and Carla Dieter argued Struwe would bring diverse viewpoints, veteran and disability perspectives, and that the commission needs ideological diversity.
- Bradley Walker also spoke in support, arguing different opinions strengthen decisions.
Discussion Items
- Item 5B – Jeff Struwe Appointment to Human Rights Commission (removed from consent agenda):
- Mayor Niemeyer stated he did not support the appointment, citing Struwe’s views as inconsistent with the commission’s purpose.
- Council members Wendell, Doran, Hager, and Tilton Byrne each explained their opposition, noting the county commission’s unanimous recommendation seemed politically weaponized, and that Struwe’s public record showed he would not advance the commission’s mission of fighting discrimination and promoting inclusion. Several noted overwhelming public opposition (approximately 40-45 emails against, only a few in favor). A roll call vote resulted in 0-7 against approval; motion failed.
- Item 7A – Resolution 26-056 (Drainage Improvements) – Awarded bid to BX Civil & Construction for $324,871.85 (22% below engineer’s estimate). Work includes channel replacement at Village Square and detention basin inlet at 15th St S & 7th Ave. Approved unanimously.
- Item 8A – Ordinance 26-025 (Lost/Unclaimed Property) – First reading introduced by Lt. Jonathan Meinrich. Establishes a 90-day holding period for lost property, with a 30-day notification window for owners. Allows disposal or donation after 129 days (if certified mail sent). No change from current police policy. Second reading set for September 8, 2026.
- Item 8B – Ordinance 26-027 (Conditional Use Permit – Office in Residence) – First reading for a counseling office at 1103 3rd St in an R-2 district. Planning commission unanimously recommended approval; no exterior modifications proposed. Second reading on September 8, 2026.
- Dakota Bank Center Work Group Update (presented by Deputy Mayor Wendell as an informational report):
- Public engagement (spring 2026) yielded over 1,400 survey responses but no clear consensus (roughly one-third each favored recreation, concerts, or hybrid).
- The work group’s mission is to make the center a premier multi-purpose space emphasizing youth sports events and conferences.
- The current management agreement with Oak View Group (OVG) will not be renewed after December 31, 2026. OVG will release current staff from non-solicitation clauses, allowing transition to city management.
- All 2027 events already booked will proceed under city management.
- The recreation focus will not include aquatics or a membership fitness model; instead, it will target youth sports associations (practice, games, tournaments).
- Large ticketed concerts (e.g., Jonas Brothers, Riley Green) are no longer viable for the market; the center will move away from that programming.
- A formal recommendation will be presented to the council on September 22, 2026.
- Item 11 – Progress Report (presented by Deputy City Manager Johnny Mays):
- Airport: SDSU Aviation fly-in breakfast had ~450 attendees and 25 aircraft; 36 discovery flights.
- Street maintenance: Slurry seal completed; paving on Medairy Ave, Regency Ct, Ronda Rd, Spy Glass Hill Dr, Pheasant Run.
- Drainage: Village Square channel and 15th St/7th Ave detention basin projects start September.
- Household hazardous waste event (Aug 15): over 500 vehicles.
- Public works drop-off area paved and striped.
- Nature park: new water bottle filler with dog dish.
- New downtown fire station construction started; 13,000 sq. ft., two stories, five apparatus bays, decon space, staff support.
Key Outcomes
- Human Rights Commission Appointment – Motion to approve Jeff Struwe failed (0-7) . Council directed staff to identify and update ordinances that conflict with the city charter regarding mayor’s nomination of board members; future appointments preferred reserved for county residents nominated by mayor (Councilmember Hager’s motion carried unanimously).
- Consent Agenda – Approved all items except 5B (removed).
- Contracts/Change Orders – Resolution 26-056 (drainage improvements) approved unanimously.
- Ordinances (First Readings) – Ordinance 26-025 (lost property) and 26-027 (conditional use permit) introduced; second readings and public hearings scheduled for September 8, 2026.
- Public Hearings – All four alcohol license/transfer items (Casino 2000 transfers, Kwik Trip/Kwik Star license and operating agreement) approved unanimously.
- Preliminary Plat – Legacy Addition industrial plat (10 lots, ~51 acres) approved unanimously.
- Future Topics – Councilmember Hager’s motion to review conflicting ordinances passed unanimously. Chief Drake will present Flock camera information at the September 22, 2026 meeting.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:15 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right, let's start this meeting. I call this meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. All right. Thank you all for coming this evening. Will the city clerk please take attendance? All council members are present, Mr. Mayor. City Attorney is joining us on conference line. All right, thank you. Entertain the motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. Is there any comments on the agenda from the public? Council have comments, questions? Please call the roll. Avery. Doran. Aye. Hager. Aye. Meyer. Aye. Specker. Aye. Tilton Byrne. Aye. When I'm going to be able to do that. I move on to open forum in order to provide equal access to all during the open forum and public comment portions of the meeting. Each individual offering comments shall not exceed the allotted three-minute period. The podium light will turn green and then to yellow when there is one minute remaining. Your time for comment has expired when the podium light turns red. Is there a member of the public who wishes to address the console on an item not on tonight's agenda? And if you do so, come up to the mic, please state your name and address. Come forward, sir. Hi, my name is Robert Herb. I'm uh president of City of Aurora. Um I'm coming up to discuss the uh automated license plate readers that have come up all over our city. Um would any of you just for the matter of public safety like to list everywhere you've been in the past seven days? I don't see any takers. Um we have some members of our law enforcement community here. Do you would you like to state where you've been for the past seven days? No. That's not surprising. Um maybe if you don't want to tell everybody where you've been, you can just tell me. I am a I am a security analyst. You can definitely trust me with that with that data. I will keep it safe and I won't let anybody know where you've been. Except my business partners and those who have a legitimate reason. Um of course I won't be verifying what those legitimate reasons are.
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