HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2021_05_12City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 4:00 PM Virtual
Sustainability Council Members: Emily Abele, Darcy Green, Brianna Kratz, Ben Vukovich,
Stephanie Aure, Louis Hesler, Norma Nusz Chandler, Jennifer McLaughlin, Anna Barr, Robin
Buterbaugh, and Betty Beer. City Staff: Jacob Meshke, Assistant City Manager, DJ Buthe.
1. Call to Order
Ammendment to agenda:
1. Vote to have new minutes taker (prior to approval of minutes): Emily Abele
volunteered. Stephanie moves, Louis second
2. Discussion about 2022 budget after approval of minutes
2. Approval of the Agenda Moved Robin, Betty second
3. Approval of the Minutes Moved Robin, Betty second
4. Budget discussion:
$4k in budget in the last year; $5k in 2019 (decreased because this is how much using.
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference - registration $155/person (open June 1,
early bird thorugh mid-August); in Dubuque, IA October 12-13, in total with travel likely
$1000/person
Robin and Emily express interest.
If request budget to go higher, need to submit how much and what purpose
Motion to approve: Betty, Robin second
4. Open Forum
Jennifer passed along that Anna graduated and got position at Brookings Extension;
looking at getting local foods to the schools.
5. City Update
Park masterplan: May work session next Tuesday
City Council vacancy opening application closing today.
Native Landscaping project at SDSU in process with rainwater project - Robin working
on. Educational signage coming.
June 25th - Community Games
Additional charging station: coming Fast charger and 1 regular charger; July/August
timeframe, should be by interstate (unsure location)
6. Community Gardens Promotion
Craig Pahl SDSU master gardener Special speaker, involved in Friends of Community
Garden (in existence x1 year - Facebook page)
6 years master gardener; passion in growing food
2% of US population involved in food source - importance of mental health and food
source
Open house at Community Garden on Father's day weekend Saturday and Sunday
afternoons; Craig asks for promoting help for this event. So far he has been talking to
people who have a plot which is how they advertised for last year’s inaugural event.
Special plots at community garden: 3 sisters plots, non-chemistry/weed abatement,
vegetables in raised beds, straw, Dutch white clover between rows for weed abatement
Ideas for promotion: Consider funding article (Free)/ads (would require funds) in
Brookings Register; potential for contact with Lutheran Social Services to help promote
with low income individuals; Friends of Community Garden group is giving away apple
trees at end of the month - could pass out fliers with apple trees to 1st and 2nd graders
Talk to school district to promote with kids - get them excited about it/do school trip.
Idea for expanding community gardens in more accessibility and areas throughout the
city. Robin notes that she has been looking into this possibility and potential to establish
plots with parks department
City website option for promotion
Craig will send a promotional blurb on to Robin to be able to send on to promote with city
site and others
7. South Dakota Resilient Communities Pledge
Betty reviews strategy and report from today's Zoom call for this organization
Brookings as city has already signed on
Discussion on if this would fit into Sustainability Council mission or not including review
of mission statement
Vote for whether Sustainability Council to sign SD Resilient Communities pledge:
For: Betty, Darcy
Against: Louis, Emily, Jennifer, Robin, Stephanie
Motion fails
8. Strategic Plan Review
Delayed until June meeting due to time constraints
9. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Marketing and Communication
Native plants promotion in Brookings Register - working on circulation; discussion on
moving forward with promoting as sustainability Council
Discussion that Marketing team can move forward without vote unless specifically
effects whole group
b. Waste
No new meetings; most recent meeting; Getting restaurants to become more sustainable
in town; products that are compostable, decrease waste
c. Energy
No new meetings
d. Local Foods
Presentation from Craig
Good Roots Farm - day camps; possible promotion part of next meeting
Potential for increasing community gardens around community
10. Updates from Liaisons
a. Bicycle Committee – no report
b. Human Rights Commission – Report: approval to be a part of
c. CLEAR - Mental Health Forum on May 17; will have a report to bring back next meeting
11. Call for Future Agenda Items
12. Adjourn
Minutes respectfully submitted,
Emily Abele, Secretary