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Home My WebLink About2025_09_09 CC MinutesBROOKINGS CITY COUNCIL September 9, 2025 The Brookings City Council held a meeting Tuesday, September 9, 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 Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Doran, that the agenda be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. Budget Workshop #1. The 2026 Budget Workshop #1 was held, covering the following topics: budget highlights, total budget comparison, primary revenue sources, the budget overview included the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, and Enterprise Funds, as well as the 10-year General Fund projection plan, and outside agency funding discussion. Open Forum. Tim Caya expressed concerns he has with the Brookings Police Department. Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Wendell, 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 August 26, 2025 City Council Minutes. B. Action on Temporary Alcohol / Special Event Alcoholic Beverage Licenses from existing alcohol license holders: Sodexo Catering (License Holder RB-28249 and RW-28251): SDSU TL25-081, SDSU TL26-001. Proclamation. Mayor Niemeyer presented a Proclamation declaring as September Suicide Prevention Month. Nikki Eining, SD Center for Disabilities, Tehra Nelson and Heidi Gullickson, Brookings Area United Way, accepted the proclamation. MAYORAL PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, in South Dakota, suicide is the 9th leading cause of death and the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals ages 10 -34; and WHEREAS, in 2023, South Dakota reported one of the highest suicide rates in the nation, with approximately 20 deaths per 100,000 residents, well above the national average; and WHEREAS, local leaders, schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and community members continue to work together to reduce stigma, promote protective factors, and expand access to mental health resources; and WHEREAS, research shows that connectedness, early intervention, trauma-informed care, and reducing access to lethal means can save lives; and WHEREAS, the City of Brookings supports the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, behavioral health programs, and community-based prevention efforts; and WHEREAS, during Suicide Prevention Month, we remember those lost to suicide, honor the resiliency of survivors, support families affected, and commit to a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength. 89 90 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Oepke G. Niemeyer, Mayor of the City of Brookings, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Month, and call upon all residents to learn the warning signs, to reach out with compassion to those in need, and to join in our shared responsibility of preventing suicide and promoting hope. Report: SDSU Student Association. Anna Hundt, SDSU Student's Assoc. Government Affairs Chair, and Sophie Spear, SDSU Student's Assoc. President, provided an update on SDSU current affairs. Report: City Council Ex-Officio Report. A Brookings Municipal Utility Board report was given by Council Member Specker. A Brookings Health Systems Board of Trustees report was given by Council Member Doran. Resolution 25-077. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Wendell, that Resolution 25-077, a Resolution Awarding the Bid for the 2025-11 STI Capital Street and 32 nd Avenue Sanitary Sewer and Road Project, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. RESOLUTION 25-077 -RESOLUTION AWARDING BIDS ON PROJECT 2025-11STI CAPITAL STREET AND 32ND AVENUE SANITARY SEWER AND ROAD PROJECT WHEREAS, the City of Brookings opened bids for 2025-11 STI Capital Street and 32 nd Avenue Sanitary Sewer and Road Project on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 1 :30 pm at the Brookings City & County Government Center; and WHEREAS, the City of Brookings received the following lowest bid for the 2025-11 STI Capital Street and 32 nd Avenue Sanitary Sewer and Road Project from Rounds Construction Company, Inc., in the amount of $517,533.99. WHEREAS, the total low bid was approximately 14% lower than the Engineer's Opinion of Cost ($604,252). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows: 1. That the total low bid of $517,533.99 from Rounds Construction Company, Inc. be accepted. 2. The City Manager is authorized to sign the contract documents for this project and any further contract documents and change orders which may be required. Resolution 25-076. A motion was made by Council Member Wendell, seconded by Council Member Doran, that Resolution 25-076, a Resolution Awarding the Bid for the Public Drop-off Z-Wall Construction, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. RESOLUTION 25-076 -RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLIC DROP-OFF AREA Z-WALL CONSTRUCTION WHEREAS, the 2023 Solid Waste Master Plan recommends constructing a Public Drop-off Area; and WHEREAS, the City opened bids for the Public Drop-off Area Z-Wall Construction on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 1 :30 pm; and WHEREAS, Clark Drew Construction, headquartered in Brookings, SD, submitted the lowest responsive bid; and WHEREAS, the amended 2025 Budget includes sufficient appropriations in fund 625 - Solid Waste Disposal of $495,000.00. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows: 1. The low bid of $217,800.00 from Clark Drew Construction is hereby accepted. 2. The City Manager is authorized to sign the contract and any necessary change orders in accordance with procurement requirements. FIRST READING -Ordinance 25-028. Introduction and First Reading was held on Ordinance 25-028, an Ordinance to Change the Zoning within the City of Brookings ((NE¼, NE¼, Excluding H-1 & that Part East and North of H-1 in Section 14, Township 109, Range 50, also known as 21625 471 st Avenue, from a Joint Jurisdiction Business JJ-B3 Heavy District to a Joint Jurisdiction Industrial JJ-I1 Light District). Public Hearing and Action: September 23, 2025. Ordinance 25-030. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Doran, that Ordinance 25-030, an Ordinance Certifying the 2026 City of Brookings Property Tax Levy to the Brookings County Finance Officer, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. Ordinance 25-031. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Specker, that Ordinance 25-031, an Ordinance Authorizing Budget Amendment No. 7 to the 2025 Budget, be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. Special Event Temporary Alcohol Application. A public hearing was held on a Special Event Temporary Alcohol Application from the Brookings Area Chamber, to host a Downtown SDSU Watch Party on the 300 Block of Main Avenue on October 4, 2025. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Wendell, that the Special Event Temporary Alcohol Application be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 -Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. Resolution 25-003. A public hearing was held on Resolution 25-003, a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a 10-year On-Sale Liquor Operating Agreement with Reyes Aranda, La Cantina Grill LLC, dba La Cantina Grill. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Wendell, that Resolution 25-003 be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Avery, Doran, Hager, Niemeyer, Specker, Tilton Byrne, and Wendell. RESOLUTION 25-003 -ON-SALE LIQUOR OPERA TING AGREEMENT - 10-YEAR AGREEMENT: REYES ARANDA, LA CANTINA GRILL LLC BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Brookings, South Dakota, that the City Council hereby approves an Operating Alcohol Management Agreement for On-Sale Liquor between the City of Brookings and Reyes Aranda, owner, La Cantina Grill LLC, dba La Cantina Grill, for the purpose of an alcohol manager to operate the on-sale establishment or business for and on behalf of the City of Brookings at 3001 LeFevre Drive. Legal description: South 225 feet of Lot 8, LeFevre Addition, City of Brookings, Brookings County, South Dakota. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager be authorized to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City, which shall be for a period of 10-years, with a 5-year mid-term renewal. Executive Session. A motion was made by Council Member Specker, seconded by Council Member Wendell, to enter into Executive Session at 7:19 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. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Doran, to exit Executive Session at 8:00 p.m. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. 91 92 Adjourn. A motion was made by Council Member Tilton Byrne, seconded by Council Member Doran, that this meeting be adjourned at 8:00 p.m. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. CITY , D ATTEST: