Brookings City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

The Brookings City Council met at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in the Council Chambers at the Brookings City & County Government Center. All council members were present, and there were no contracts or change orders on the agenda. The Council approved the agenda and consent calendar, introduced the 2027 appropriations ordinance, adopted two ordinances, held a public hearing and approved a lease, approved two resolutions, and received reports from the SDSU Student Association and city staff. No public comments were made during Open Forum or on listed agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously by roll call. It included: City Council meeting minutes of October 13, 2026 (ID 26-0428); temporary alcohol / special event alcoholic beverage licenses from existing license holders (ID 26-0430); and Resolution 26-067 authorizing a three-year agreement for OpenGov Budgeting Software (RES 26-067).

Presentations & Reports

• SDSU Student Association representative Jackie Mollison reported on Hobo Week and homecoming activities, the Student Association parade float, newly approved bowling and pre-optometry club constitutions, upcoming athletic events, and campus efforts to encourage voter participation around Election Day. She also noted that students were excited about the possible Menards development. Councilmembers briefly discussed dressing up for next year's meeting at Mollison's suggestion.
• Samantha Beckman presented the October 2026 City Progress Report, which included: the Mayor's Holiday Celebration and Awards on December 2 at 5:00 PM at the Dakota Bank Center; absentee voting deadline November 2 and Election Day November 3 with polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Western Avenue overlay and two drainage projects nearing completion; airport snow removal equipment building bid awarded with completion expected next summer; police SROs earning NASRO practitioner recognition after nearly 200 hours of specialized training; library flooring replacement and Friends of the Library book sale proceeds of just over $10,000; an October 18 community food forest open house; a pollinator bioblitz with just over 1,300 observations and 299 pollinator/plant species; activity center membership pricing with a $50 Hy-Vee gift card drawing incentive; and the Public Information Office receiving its first Savvy Award at the 3CMA conference and being named a Diamond Award finalist among nearly 1,250 entries in 37 categories.

First Reading: 2027 Appropriations Ordinance (ORD 26-030)

• Finance Director Ashley Rynch presented a balanced proposed 2027 budget of $77,376,579, including $23.7 million in the general fund, $21.6 million in enterprise funds, $16.4 million in special revenue and tax increment financing funds, and $15.7 million for the capital improvement plan. The overall budget increased by $4.8 million, or 6.7%, from 2026, primarily due to capital and infrastructure projects.
• Rynch noted that 2027 is the final year of the approximately $1 million annual commitments to the SDSU Performing Arts Center and Brookings Health System. Since the September workshops, staff increased the Research Park contribution to $110,000 by reducing the Dakota Bank Center contribution and added an engineering technician funded by the Storm Drainage Fund rather than the general fund; there are no additional general fund employees. The general fund is balanced at $23.7 million, up $770,000, or 3.35%, from 2026. Sales tax growth is assumed at 2.5% and property tax growth at 3.327%. Sales tax provides 46% of general fund revenues, property tax 19%, and transfers 15%, totaling about 80%. Police, public works, parks/recreation/forestry, and fire together make up about 73% of general fund spending.
• Councilmember Hager expressed concerns about Research Park funding, saying she had voted no on the earlier proposal and found the follow-up memo unsatisfactory. She cited inconsistent online information, more than half of the 40 tenants lacking a website or listing Brookings as a place of business, and questioned whether 101 jobs could be trusted without adequate staff data. She said she planned to support the overall budget and would not make another counterproposal, but wanted the concerns on the public record.
• Councilmember Specker asked whether the new engineering technician is paid from the storm drainage special revenue fund; Rynch confirmed it is not paid from the general fund. Specker also asked about the proposed 2027 budget's online availability; Rynch said it is not yet online.
• The second reading and action, together with the 10-year capital improvement plan and consolidated fee schedule, are scheduled for November 10, 2026.

Second Reading and Action: Trails, Sidewalks, and Shared-Use Pathways (ORD 26-026)

• Interim Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Josh Bowman presented the ordinance establishing rules for bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility devices. It distinguishes pedestrian-oriented sidewalks from shared-use trails, gives pedestrians the right of way, requires users to keep right and pass left, and prohibits Class 3 e-bikes, ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, reckless operation, damage, and obstruction. Implementation would emphasize education first, with enforcement tools available if needed.
• Councilmember Specker asked about the 15 mph speed limit on shared-use trails and the prohibition on Class 3 e-bikes; staff explained that Class 3 devices are larger, heavier, and more like motorcycles in speed and danger. Councilmember Hager asked about communicating the ordinance to law enforcement; the Mayor said the police chief had already been asked to discuss it with officers.
• The ordinance was approved unanimously by roll call.

Second Reading and Action: 2026 Budget Amendment No. 8 (ORD 26-035)

• Finance Director Rynch explained that the Dakota Bank Center is projecting a year-end operating variance of approximately $193,000. The ordinance authorizes transferring up to that amount from existing 3B tax fund reserves, but only as needed based on monthly cash analysis. 2026 is the final year of the Dakota Bank Center's separate cash management structure before its funds move into the city's pooled accounts on January 1, 2027.
• The ordinance was approved unanimously.

Public Hearing and Action: Lease to University of Northwestern - St. Paul (RES 26-066)

• Public Works Director John Thompson presented a resolution authorizing a lease with the University of Northwestern - St. Paul for radio equipment on the grain silo structure at 210 Front Street, the old co-op elevator. The initial term is one year with automatic renewals for up to five additional one-year terms. The 2026 lease rate is $325 per month plus $85 per month for utilities, increasing 3.5% each year. Public notice for the hearing was published October 13, 2026, under SDCL 9-12-5.2.
• In response to Councilmember Doran, Thompson said the radio equipment can remain and would not interfere with future development of the property. The equipment transmits KNWC 1270 AM.
• The resolution was approved unanimously.

Other Business: Supplemental Grant Appropriation (RES 26-068)

• Finance Director Rynch presented Resolution 26-068, authorizing a supplemental appropriation of $17,104.50 in grant revenue and corresponding equipment expenditures in the Capital Improvement Plan Fund. The Brookings Fire Department received the funds through South Dakota's volunteer firefighter personal protective equipment grant program established by Senate Bill 136. Staff confirmed there is no local match and the grant covers 100% of the designated equipment, which will be new structural gear.
• The resolution was approved unanimously.

Other Business: Property Transfer to Brookings Regional Growth Alliance / Menards (RES 26-069)

• Community Development Director Mike Struck presented Resolution 26-069, authorizing the transfer of approximately 29.5 acres from the City of Brookings to the Brookings Regional Growth Alliance, which will then transfer and sell the property to Menard Inc. Menards plans to construct an approximately 200,000-square-foot home improvement store on the property just north of Target. The January 2026 appraisal valued the land at $4.50 per square foot, the same price at which the developable land will be sold; the total sum is approximately $5,390,550. The city will retain the south 70 feet for right-of-way and extend Capitol Street; roughly 27.5 acres will be sold as developable land, and about two acres of drainage areas will be owned and maintained by Menards and not charged.
• Councilmember Specker asked for clarification on the land amount, and Struck explained the acreage breakdown. Councilmember Doran said the public is excited about the development and asked how to stay involved; Struck said the future rezoning and any tax increment financing district would require public hearings at both the Planning Commission and City Council. The schedule anticipates entitlements in 2027, construction in spring 2028, and a store opening in 2029.
• Councilmember Wendell thanked staff for being responsive to Menards and said national retailers help grow the city's sales tax base. The Mayor commented that retailers make location decisions when they believe they can be profitable and the city needs to be ready when they decide to proceed.
• The resolution was approved unanimously.

Future Meetings and Closing

• Deputy Mayor Nick Wendell announced he would preside over a special joint city/county canvass meeting on November 5, 2026. The November 10, 2026 meeting will include liquor/wine renewals, a Solventum PFAS update, and second reading and possible action on the 2027 budget.
• The Council adjourned after completing its business.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda, ORD 26-026, ORD 26-035, RES 26-066, RES 26-068, and RES 26-069, all by unanimous roll-call votes.
• Introduced ORD 26-030, the 2027 Appropriations Ordinance, with second reading and action scheduled for November 10, 2026.
• Received the SDSU Student Association update and the October 2026 City Progress Report.