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Home My WebLink About2025_08_12 CC Minutes82 BROOKINGS CITY COUNCIL August 12, 2025 The Brookings City Council held a meeting Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM, at the Brookings City & County Government Center, Chambers, with the following City Council members present: Mayor Oepke Niemeyer, Council Members Wayne Avery, Brianna Doran, Lisa Hager, Bonny Specker, Holly Tilton Byrne, and Nick Wendell. City Manager Paul Briseno, City Attorney J. Vincent Jones, and City Clerk Bonnie Foster were also present. Agenda. A motion was made by Mayor Niemeyer, seconded by Council Member Tilton Byrne, that Item #5F, Action on Resolution 25-072, a Resolution designating the Official Newspaper, be removed from the agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Council Member Tilton Byrne, that the agenda be approved, as amended. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. Open Forum. Josh Linehan, former Brookings Register Editor, shared he is beginning the process for a new start-up newspaper to serve the Brookings community. Sean Sarvis, former Huron Daily Plainsman publisher, shared details of a potential buyer for the 4 newspapers in South Dakota which were recently closed (The Brookings Register, The Huron Plainsman, the Redfield Press, and the Moody County Enterprise). The buyer is intending to publish a paper as early as the end of this week. Their goal is to honor existing subscribers and clientele, and want to continue to serve the Brookings community. Doug Austreim complimented City staff on the work being done with 6-Mile Creek. Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Council Member Tilton Byrne, that the consent agenda be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. A. Action to approve the July 22, 2025 City Council Minutes. B. Action to abate property taxes in the amount of $246.69 for Parcel #40090- 01300-007-00, also known as 1307 Breckenridge Lane. Legal description: Block 13, Lot 7, Camelot Square Addition. C. Action on Temporary Alcohol / Special Event Alcoholic Beverage Licenses from existing alcohol license holders: Sodexo Catering (License Holder RB-28249 and RW-28251): SDSU TL25-074, SDSU TL25-075, SDSU TL25-076, SDSU TL25-077, and SDSU TL25-078. D. Action on Resolution 25-071, a Resolution declaring surplus property for the City of Brookings. RESOLUTION 25-071 -DECLARING SURPLUS PROPERTY WHEREAS, the City of Brookings is the owner of the following described equipment formerly used at the City of Brookings: Police Department: 2022 Ford Explorer, VIN: 1FM5K8A9NGA50310. WHEREAS, in the best financial interest, it is the desire of the City of Brookings to dispose of as surplus property; and WHEREAS, the City Manager is hereby authorized to sell or dispose of said surplus property. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the governing body of the City of Brookings, SD, that this property be declared surplus property according to SDCL Chapter 6-13. E. Action on an appointment to the Brookings Human Rights Commission: Mark Aberle (term expires 1/1/2028). Proclamation: A Day to Celebrate the Cultures of Our Community. Mayor Niemeyer presented a Proclamation recognizing Wednesday, August 20th, as A Day to Celebrate the Cultures of Our Community. The following individuals from the Brookings Multi-Cultural Center accepted the proclamation: Amanda Fickes, Michele Dudash, Heidi Briseno, Marilyn Hildreth, and Christie Delfanian. MAYORAL PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, the Brookings Multicultural Center supports a thriving international community that contributes to the high quality of life and provides a vital economic impact to the Brookings area; and WHEREAS, Brookings has greatly benefited from the contributions of international faculty, students, and their families, who bring valuable enrichment to our community. Today, the presence of 850 international students from 81 countries enrolled at South Dakota State University continues to positively impact Brookings by fostering cross-cultural understanding, supporting the local economy, and enhancing the educational environment for all; and WHEREAS, the Brookings Multicultural Center and the South Dakota State University Office of International Affairs will hold the 4th Annual International Ice Cream Social and Community Fair to welcome international faculty and students and their families to our community and all who would like to join us to celebrate this event. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Oepke G. Niemeyer, Mayor of the City of Brookings, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, August 20, 2025 as A Day To Celebrate the Cultures of Our Community. Report: 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Audit Summary. Brian Stavenger, Eide Bailly, presented the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Audit Summary. Reports: City Council Ex-Officio Reports. A Brookings Municipal Utilities Board was given by Council Members Avery and Specker. A Brookings Health System Board of Trustees Report was not presented. Council Member Wendell provided an update on the Economic Development Merger. FIRST READING -Ordinance 25-029. Introduction and First Reading was held on Ordinance 25-029, an Ordinance Authorizing Budget Amendment No. 6 to the 2025 Budget. Second Reading and Action: August 26, 2025. Ordinance 25-027. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Doran, that Ordinance 25-027, an Ordinance Authorizing Budget Amendment No. 5 to the 2025 Budget, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. Ordinance 25-024. A motion was made by Council Member Specker, seconded by Council Member Doran, that Ordinance 25-024, an Ordinance Establishing a Citizen's Request for Reconsideration Policy Appeal Process, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. Ordinance 25-023. A public hearing was held on Ordinance 25-023, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 94, Article VI, Division 6, pertaining to Section 94-505, Regulations relating to Cannabis Dispensaries. A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Council Member Specker, that Ordinance 25-023 be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. Ordinance 25-025. A public hearing was held on Ordinance 25-025, an Ordinance to Change the Zoning within the City of Brookings (various City properties from an 83 84 Agriculture A District, Floodway FW District, Residence R-1 Rural Estate District, Residence R-1 B Single-Family District, Residence R-2 Two-Family District, Residence R-3 Apartment District, Residence R-3A Apartments/Mobile Homes/Manufactured Housing District, Residence RMH Single-Family and Manufactured Housing District, Business B-3 Heavy District, Industrial 1-1 Light District, Industrial 1-1 R Restricted District, Industrial 1-2 Heavy District , and Planned Development District to a Civic District). A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne , seconded by Council Member Specker, that Ordinance 25-025 be approved. Public Comment: Doug Austreim. The motion carried by the following vote : Yes: 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran, Niemeyer, and Wendell. Ordinance 25-026 . A public hearing was held on Ordinance 25-026, an Ordinance to Change the Zoning within the City of Brookings (the South 110 feet of Outlot A in the Southwest¼ in Section 20, Township 110, Range 49, City of Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota, also known as 716 34 th Avenue, from Agriculture A District to Bus iness B-3 Heavy District). A motion was made by Council Member Wendell , seconded by Council Member Tilton Byrne , that Ordinance 25-026 be approved. The motion carr ied by the following vote : Yes : 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery , Doran , Niemeyer, and Wendell. Preliminary Plat. A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Council Member Tilton Byrne, that a Preliminary Plat of Block 1 of Legacy Addition, be approved . The motion carried by the following vote : Yes : 7 -Tilton Byrne, Specker, Hager, Avery, Doran , Niemeyer, and Wendell . Executive Session. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne , seconded by Council Member Wendell, to enter into Executive Session at 7:04 p.m., pursuant to SDCL 1-25 -2 .3, for consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters; and SDCL 1- 25-2.5, for discussing marketing or pricing strategies by a board or commission of a business owned by the state or any of its political subdivisions , when public discussion may be harmful to the competitive position of the business . The motion carried by a unanimous vote . A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Counc i l Member Doran, to exit Executive Session at 8 :10 p.m . The motion carried by a unanimous vote. Adjourn. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Wendell , that this meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m . The motion carried by a unanimous vote. [ CITY KIN , SD ATTEST: