Brookings City Council Regular Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Brookings City Council met at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in Council Chambers. Six council members were present; Councilmember Wendell was absent, and City Attorney Vince Jones attended by conference call. The council approved consent items, heard proclamations and reports, introduced two ordinances, held second readings and public hearings, and took action on assessments and licenses. All roll call votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting minutes.
• Appointed Erin Lavender-Stott to the Brookings Human Rights Commission.
• Appointed Kathryn Jones to the Brookings Disability Awareness Committee.
• Appointed David Meyer to the Brookings Health System Board of Trustees.
• Approved temporary alcohol/special event alcoholic beverage licenses from existing alcohol license holders.
• Approved Resolution 26-063 authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with Dakota State University for SecureSD Cybersecurity Services.
• Canceled the October 20, 2026 City Council Study Session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No comments were made during Open Forum.
• Samantha Elfson, an 18-year-old Brookings resident, testified during the first reading of Ordinance 26-026. She stated she supports regulations for e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices but asked the council to balance public safety with allowing responsible riders to continue riding. She described being pulled over on October 4, her six years of longboarding, her safety equipment, and a video showing her riding at or below 15 mph. She asked whether the new rules would leave riders like her with no legal place to ride. Councilmember Tilton Byrne thanked her and encouraged her to also share her perspective with county and state officials.

Proclamations

• Mayor Niemeyer proclaimed October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation cited that 27.8% of women and 23.6% of men in South Dakota experience domestic violence, and that on a single day in 2022 South Dakota programs served 367 victims, received 62 hotline calls, and had 25 requests for services unmet. The executive director of Margot's Place said those numbers remain consistent through 2026, that the shelter has been full on and off since last summer, and shared the 24/7 hotline 605-692-7233 and MargosPlace.co.
• Mayor Niemeyer proclaimed October 2026 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, noting its 80th anniversary. Jim, a speaker during the presentation, said disabled unemployment is about 80%, described barriers such as losing benefits when earnings increase, and urged polio vaccination ahead of National Polio Day on October 24.

SDSU Student Association Report

• Jackie reported on upcoming SDSU events: Hobo Week preparations, a tree planting on October 18, Bumma Meal, Jack's Talent, Rally at the Rails, Bumfire, the Hobo Day Parade on October 24 at 9:30 a.m., and the SDSU game. She invited the council and community to participate.

City Council Ex-Officio Reports

• Councilmember Wayne Avery reported on Brookings Municipal Utilities: BMU held a first reading and public hearing on proposed rate adjustments, including a 3.5% residential electric rate increase, with an example of an 800 kWh bill rising from $92 to $95.20; a 4% water rate increase; and no wastewater rate change. He also reported the October 2 power outage was caused by a squirrel, that BMU will begin using consent agendas, and that BMU will continue its public messaging campaign about local ownership.
• Councilmember Brianna Doran reported on Brookings Health System: an open-meeting-laws review and revenue-cycle technology updates; average scheduling time improved from 21 days in May to one day in September; pediatrics and FMOB specialties are returning; the ED physician team is now full after about eight years; BHS was accepted as a USD Frontier and Rural Medicine clinical site; rural health transformation awards were received; hospice volumes are at record levels; and Medicare Part D open enrollment was noted.

Contracts and Change Orders

• Resolution 26-065 was approved unanimously. Finance Director Ashley Rensch said the resolution authorizes placing a $500 outstanding lawn care invoice on the special assessment roll for collection through 2027 property taxes. Staff described notification, past-due notices, and assistance options for property owners.

Ordinance First Readings

• Ordinance 26-026, amending Chapter 62 on Trails, Sidewalks, and Shared-Use Pathways, was introduced. Josh Bowman, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Assistant Director, said the ordinance updates facility rules for evolving devices: 15 mph maximum speed on trails and shared-use pathways; sidewalks primarily for pedestrian-pace use; class 1 and 2 e-bikes permitted on shared-use pathways; class 3 e-bikes not automatically permitted; ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, and similar motorized vehicles prohibited unless specifically authorized; and an education-first approach with signage and outreach. No vote was required on first reading. Second reading and action are set for October 27, 2026. During discussion, Police Chief Drake said that under current law, because of the device's maximum speed, the roadway was the only place Samantha Elfson could operate her electric longboard, but that under the proposed ordinance, a speed-governed device could be used on trails and sidewalks; he noted state law changes are being considered.
• Ordinance 26-035, authorizing Budget Amendment No. 8 to the 2026 Budget, was introduced. Ashley Rensch said the Dakota Bank Center projects a $193,000 operating budget variance through the end of 2026, and the ordinance establishes authority to transfer up to that amount from existing 3B tax fund reserves as needed during the transition to city operations on January 1, 2027. Second reading and action are set for October 27, 2026.

Public Hearings and Second Readings

• Ordinance 26-024, authorizing Budget Amendment No. 7 to the 2026 Budget, received its second reading and passed unanimously. Rensch said it adds $145,000 in budget authority within the bed/pillow tax fund for one-time Dakota Bank Center transition costs; total transition costs are estimated at $235,000, consisting of roughly $168,000 in capital investments and $67,000 in employee leave payouts, with the remaining $90,000 funded through existing 3B tax budget authority.
• A public hearing was held and the council approved the special event temporary alcoholic beverage license for the Pope Pius XII Newman Center. City Clerk Bonnie Foster said the event kicks off a public capital campaign for a new facility across the street from the existing location; Father Patrick Gurdy was unable to attend, and staff recommended approval.

Other Business

• Resolution 26-064 was approved unanimously. City Engineer Charlie Richter presented the 2026-01 SWR Concrete Maintenance Project sidewalk repair and installation resolution. City staff inspected one-fifth of city sidewalks and notified 148 properties by August 3; 102 property owners elected to opt out, and the 16 properties on the resolution of necessity were holdovers from previous inspections. The assessment interest rate is 8.68%; residents can repair defects themselves before construction or pay over five years. Council also learned the city re-inspects self-repaired sidewalks, and properties not completed will be placed in the next project, expected in 2028.

Council Member Topics for Future Discussion

• Councilmember Bonny Specker requested, and the council unanimously approved, a future presentation from Solventum/3M on the April 2026 PFAS monitoring report, 2026 mitigation activities, and 2027 plans.
• Councilmember Specker also requested, and the council unanimously approved, a future BMU Water Department presentation on drinking water concerns in local trailer parks, including how many parks remain out of compliance and long-term remediation plans.

Key Outcomes

• All action items requiring roll call votes passed unanimously: the consent agenda, Resolution 26-065, Ordinance 26-024, the Pope Pius XII Newman Center license, Resolution 26-064, and both future-topic requests.
• Ordinance 26-026 and Ordinance 26-035 were introduced and will receive second readings and action on October 27, 2026.
• The next regular City Council meeting is October 27, 2026.