HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2016_12_05Sustainability Council
December 5, 2016
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Holly Tilton Byrne,
Norma Nusz Chandler, Jane Hegland, Stephanie Aure, Nels Granholm, Bob McGrath and Betty Beer.
Absent: Ben Kleinjan, Alvaro Garcia, Mike Lockrem, Paul Peterson and Riley Larson. Others present
included: Jennifer McLaughlin - ESSC, Dan McColley – Habitat for Humanity, Shari Thornes and Laurie
Carruthers.
Chair Tilton Byrne called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. A motion was made by Beer, seconded by Nusz
Chandler, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried.
A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Beer, to approve the September 19, 2016 meeting
minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Schedule next meeting. The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 3pm. Granholm will
be absent.
Updates/Reports.
Big Sioux River Water Summit Report and Membership. Granholm attended the Big Sioux River Water
Summit on September 7, 2016 in Sioux Falls and provided a detailed report. Recommendations from the
Water Summit include determining status of water quality studies, invite Jay Gilbertson from the East
Dakota Water Development District and Jack Majeres from the Moody County Conservation District to
report about their activities at a Sustainability Council Meeting– East Dakota Water Development
District. City Engineer Jackie Lanning will also be invited to this meeting. Other recommendations
include adopting methods of CURE (Clean up the River Environment), keeping an eye on Senate Bill 4
(assessment of certain agricultural land as noncropland) from 2016, which will likely be reintroduced,
communicate with city officials regarding Six Mile Creek and Big Sioux River CREP, assign a Sustainability
Council Member to the Friends of the Big Sioux River Board, which meets on the first Monday of each
month but does not meet during the summer. Granholm will check with city officials and extend an
invitation to Gilbertson and Majeres to attend a meeting. He will also check the 2017 South Dakota
Legislature bills for any pertaining to water quality improvements.
A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Beer, to appoint Granholm to be the Sustainability
Council’s representative on the Big Sioux River Board and reimburse him for mileage. All present voted
yes; motion carried.
Subcommittees.
Urban Ag. The Farmer’s Market was awarded a Wellmark Kickstarter Grant in the amount of $9,000 to
be used for bike racks, benches and infrastructure.
Green Drinks. It has been requested to repeat Council Member Bacon’s presentation on Affordable
Housing at Library. A new summer schedule will need to be considered so it does not conflict with
Downtown at Sundown. It was questioned if the time and day should be changed permanently or just in
the summer. 2017 presentations ideas include – Blue Dasher Farm, pollinator project, waterways, Alvaro
– alternative energy to light homes, passive homes (west of 1st Lutheran Church parking lot), any tiny
homes being built in Brookings and renewable energy with Mike Ropp. In 2017, posters will not be
printed and only digital media/notifications will be used.
Liaisons.
Affordable Housing Task Force. Lockrem was not present.
6th Street Main to Medary Recommendation. Thornes reported the 6th Street Design Ad Hoc Committee
waited for the Community Engagement Report from Bicycle Master Plan. The report advised bicyclists
want to ride on 6th Street with protected lanes. On December 8, 2015 the City Council approved the
Bicycle Advisory Committee’s recommendation to have protected bicycle lanes on all major arterial
streets. The 6th Street Design Ad Hoc Committee voted 4/3 against any bicycle lanes. Lockrem met with
City Council Members requesting support that bicycle lanes be put back into proposal and is looking for
support from the Sustainability Council. Bicycling is consistent with the Sustainability Council’s
philosophy.
A motion was made by Aure, seconded by Nusz Chandler, to support the Bicycle Advisory Committee
and include protected bicycle lanes on 6th Street Redesign Project consistent with the recommendation
from Toole Design Group. All present voted yes; motion carried. Chair Tilton Byrne will submit the letter.
4:02 pm Aure left. Lost quorum.
Brookings Bicycle Advisory Committee. Brookings was designated as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly
Community in November. Signs will be installed. The Bicycle Master Plan Community Workshop is
scheduled on Wednesday, January 25 from 5-7pm at McCrory Gardens Education & Visitors Center.
Everyone is encouraged to attend. The Bicycle Master Plan is scheduled to be presented to the City
Council on February 28 or March 14.
Comprehensive Master Plan Steering Committee. They are scheduled to interview three firms on
December 14, 2016.
Staff.
Membership. There were three members with expiring terms, and all three were reappointed.
Annual Report. Staff will work with Chair Tilton Byrne to complete a draft of the annual report.
Budget. 2016 funds have been spent.
Monarch & Pollinator Promotion. Dakota Rural Action’s Pollinator Project is looking for support from the
Sustainability Council to start native habitat zones on city property. It was suggested they work with
Parks & Recreation Department to coordinate efforts. McLaughlin will check with SDSU on their progress
report.
Subcommittees.
In January the subcommittees (urban ag, green building design and Earth Day) will schedule meetings.
Future meeting agendas. Bylaws, net metering, Big Sioux River Water Summit Report & Membership
and the Governor’s legislation of a 60% property tax reduction on buffer strips along rivers/streams are
scheduled future meeting items. Tilton Byrne advised Dakota Rural Action is following the Governor’s
legislation. The Sustainability Council can also take a stand. Nusz Chandler asked if the Council can gauge
the community’s interest through an online survey or announcements.
Announcements/Correspondence/Communications/Calendar.
12/15 Mayor’s Celebration of Service
4/22 Earth Day
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:18 pm.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers