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Home My WebLink About2025_09_16 CC Mtg PresentationCITY OF BROOKINGS |Meeting Agenda | STUDY SESSION "We are an inclusive, diverse, connected community that fuels the creative class, embraces sustainability and pursues a complete lifestyle. We are committed to building a bright future through dedication, generosity and authenticity. Bring your dreams!" Tuesday, September 16, 2025| 6:00 p.m. | Community Room (Room 300) The City of Brookings is committed to providing a high quality of life for its citizens and fostering a diverse economic base through innovative thinking, strategic planning, and proactive, fiscally responsible municipal management . Brookings City & County Government Center –520 3rd St. –Brookings, SD 57006 –Phone: (605) 692-6281 1. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- 2. RECORD OF COUNCIL ATTENDANCE - 3. ACTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA -Action: Motion to Approve, Roll Call 4. OPEN FORUM -Any member of the public may make a brief announcement or invitation, or request time on the agenda for an item not listed.Individuals are asked to state their name and city of residence for the record.Public Comment is limited to a maximum of three minutes per person. The speaker’s comments and views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the City of Brookings or City Council. 5. SOUTH DAKOTA OPEN MEETINGS LAWS REVIEW - SD Open Meetings Laws Review as required by SB74 (2025) SD Open Meetings Laws Brochure •What are SD Open Meetings Laws? ‣Intended to encourage public participation in government ‣SDCL 1-25 requires: ‣Official meetings of public bodies must be public; and ‣Advance notice is to be given of such meetings. ‣Official Meetings definition ‣Where quorum of the public body is present; and ‣At which official business or public policy of the body is discussed or decided. ‣Teleconference – ‣exchange of information by any audio, video, electronic medium, including the internet SD Open Meetings Laws •Official Meetings ‣Not a public meeting if: ‣Members attending a press conference called by a representative of the public body. ‣Events hosted by a non-governmental entity to which a quorum of the public body is invited and public policy may be discussed, BUT the body does not control the agenda ‣Encourages the public body to post a Notice of Quorum, in lieu of an agenda. SD Open Meetings Laws •Meeting notifications (SDCL 1 -25-1.1) ‣Post a notice and copy of the proposed agenda ‣To include: date, time, location; and ‣Must be: visible, readable, accessible to the public for 24 continuous hours immediately preceding the meeting. ‣Website: must be posted on the website upon dissemination of the notice ‣https://cityofbrookings.legistar.com/calendar.aspx ‣Special / Rescheduled Meetings ‣Must comply with the regular meeting notice requirements as much as circumstances permit ‣Agenda Support Materials ‣Posted on the public body’s website ‣Make materials available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the hearing ‣Or when made available to the public body members --whichever is later. SD Open Meetings Laws •News Media ‣Defined as (SDCL 13-1-57): ‣Those personnel of a newspaper, periodical, news service, radio station, or television station regardless of the medium through which their content is delivered. ‣Attorney General Opinion: all news media –broadcast and print –that regularly carry news to the community. ‣News Media Notification ‣Delivered in person, by mail, by email, or by telephone ‣Provide to local news media who have asked to be notified SD Open Meetings Laws •Adding agenda items less than 24 hours before a meeting ‣Proposed agenda is a fluid document ‣Final Agenda ‣Public body adopts the final agenda upon convening the meeting ‣At the time the agenda is adopted, the governing body may add or delete agenda items, and may also change the order of business. ‣New items cannot be added after the public body adopts the agenda. SD Open Meetings Laws •Public Comment Period (SDCL 1 -25-1) ‣Required to provide at every official meeting ‣Public Body has discretion to limit public comment as to: ‣Time allowed for each topic commented on. ‣Total time allowed for public comment. ‣Not required at meetings held solely for an executive session, inauguration, presentation of an annual report, or swearing in of elected officials. SD Open Meetings Laws •Recording Meetings (SDCL 1 -25-11) ‣Public bodies are required to allow recording (audio or visual) ‣Must be: reasonable, obvious, and not disruptive ‣Does not apply to those portions of a meeting which are confidential or closed to the public SD Open Meetings Laws •Closed Meetings / Executive Session (SDCL 1-25-2) ‣Only allowed to the following purposes: ‣1) discuss personnel issues pertaining to officers or employees ‣2) consideration of the performance or discipline of a student, or the student’s participation in interscholastic activities ‣3) consulting with legal counsel, or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters ‣4) preparing for employee contract negotiations ‣5) to discuss marketing or pricing strategies of a publicly -owned competitive business ‣6) to discuss information related to the protection of public or private property such as emergency management response plans or other public safety information SD Open Meetings Laws •Closed Meetings / Executive Session ‣Additional exception: ‣Meetings may also be closed by cities and counties for certain economic development matters (SDCL9-34-19) •SDCL 9-34-19.Exemption of documentary material and data involving trade secrets,etc.from disclosure-- Consideration in executive session. •Any documentary material or data compiled or received by a municipal corporation,county,or an economic development corporation receiving municipal or county funds,for the purpose of furnishing assistance to a business,to the extent that such material or data consists of trade secrets or commercial or financial information regarding the operation of such business,is not a public record.Any discussion or consideration of such trade secrets or commercial or financial information by a municipal corporation or county may be done in executive session closed to the public. •Source:SL 1998,ch 48,§1;SL 2004,ch 77,§1. SD Open Meetings Laws Questions? SD Open Meetings Laws 6. DISCUSSION: HOUSE BILL 1130 -Permissible Dates for Municipal Elections House Bill 1130 2026 Municipal Election City of Brookings Current Election details: •Council Members serve 3-year terms •3 / 2 / 2 election rotation •Annual Election held 2nd Tuesday of April •Annual Combined Election with the Brookings School District HB 1130 effective January 1, 2026. Election Date to be identified by January 14, 2026. City Council’s decisions - Determine 2026 Election Date •First Tuesday after the First Monday in June; OR •First Tuesday after the First Monday in November City Council’s Terms of Office •State Statute 9-13-41: extends the current elected officials’ term until the office holder or another candidate is duly elected and qualified. •Council Member Term start date / swearing in: •June 2, 2026 Election •Elected Official to be sworn in no later than 1st regular council meeting in July •November 4, 2026 Election •Elected Official to be sworn in no later than 1st regular council meeting in December Election details unknown •Administrative Election details to be determined at a later date: •Election Calendar, which includes: •Notices •Petition carrying / filing dates •Absentee voting timeframes •Also needed: •Clarification on verbiage “in conjunction with” –would this allow a Municipality / School Board to run a ‘mirror’ election alongside a June or November State or Federal Election. Election Data to Consider •Voter Turnout •Average: 2,500 •Voter Registration: 12,000 •Election Costs •Average: $21,000 Brookings County Results --General Election (November) Ballots Cast Registered Voters Voter Turnout 2018 11,870 18,417 64% 2020 14,745 19,685 75% 2022 12,605 20,292 62% 2024 15,255 21,587 71% Brookings County Results --Primary Election (June) Ballots Cast Registered Voters Voter Turnout 2018 3,386 17,845 19% 2020 4,490 18,590 24% 2022 6,344 19,776 32% 2024 2,608 20,696 13% Election Facts –June Primary •Potential shorter ballot. Local candidates more prominent. •Increase in number of ballot styles •Smaller voter turnout. •Voter Confusion --Independents and Democrats have not typically voted in June Primary Elections. •Candidate Forums –would be scheduled in May •New elected officials seated the first meeting of July. Seated at the start of the next year’s budget planning. Election Facts –November General •Potential longer ballot. •Election date well known by the public. •Everyone votes -highest voter turnout. •Fewer ballot styles than June Primary. •Local candidate costs to run could see significant increase. •Local candidate may have difficulty gaining name recognition in a crowded field against state / federal candidates and statewide ballot questions. •SDSU Students will be in town •Candidate Forums –would be scheduled in October •New elected officials seated the first meeting of December. Next year’s budget has been adopted by previous council. City Council’s decisions - Determine 2026 Election Date •First Tuesday after the First Monday in June; OR •First Tuesday after the First Monday in November Election date must be determined by January 14, 2026. QUESTIONS? 7. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER INTRODUCTION OF TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION.-Any Council Member may request discussion of any topic at a future meeting. Items cannot be added for action at this meeting. A motion and second is required which states the topic, requested outcome, and time frame. A majority vote is required. 8. ADJOURN -Brookings City CouncilMayor: Oepke Niemeyer Deputy Mayor: Nick Wendell Council Members: Wayne Avery, Lisa Hager, Brianna Doran, Bonny Specker, Holly Tilton Byrne Council StaffPaul M. Briseno, City Manager Steven Britzman, City Attorney Bonnie Foster, City Clerk