HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2021_07_14City of Brookings Sustainability Council Minutes
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 4:00 PM Virtual Meeting
Sustainability Council Members: Darcy Green, Brianna Kratz, Ben Vukovich, Stephanie Aure, Norma
Nusz Chandler, Robin Buterbaugh, Jennifer McLaughlin, Betty L Beer, Louis Hesler, Emily Abele, and SDSU
Student Representative-VACANT. City Staff: Jacob Meshke, Assistant City Manager.
1. Not official meeting due to agenda not published on city webiste, so no Call to
Order, Approval of the Agenda, or Approval of the Minutes
2. Open Forum
3. Brookings Farmer’s Market – Nick Ruskin, Farmer’s Market Manager; unavailable
tonight, so maybe hearing from at next meeting
4. City Update – J. Meshke presented
Possibility of indoor Farmers Market at the Swiftel Center
City bought Plug-In Hybrid Ford Escape – awaiting arrival
Storm water master plan in process (last one around 10 years ago) – focus on green
infrastructure with the firm the city is hiring
Grant to state for food pantry collaboration (Food insecurity groups)
Starbucks with Drive-thru going to be going in on 6th St.
Old Pizza Hut site – Brookings County Title will go in there
Swiftel Center new management: Spectra Venue Management
First reading of ordinance on medical marijuana dispensaries regulations in City
Council
Parks master plan is wrapping up
5. Affordable Housing Initiatives – Mike Struck, Community Development Director
- Connecting 15th St S from Main through Medary, likely potentially connecting to
22nd Ave
- Properties for drainage/water collection along 15th St on the north side in new
development (
- Other property planning to put in workforce housing (18 units that are owner
occupied but have association) on south side
- Timberline addition: Restricted to $245k. Another possibility for ICAP and Habitat
in the West
- River run addition west of Valley View addition (South of West 20th St) through
Habitat.
- Southline addition: Income based; working with South Dakota Housing Initiative
- Generally working on increased density with ownership opportunities to increase
efficiency of land and affordability for housing.
- Effect of increased lumber costs on some of these projects, but this is resolving
6. Common Read Collaboration
What the Eyes Don’t See (Flint water crisis); possible collaboration to put on this
event. Will be email vote coming out.
7. Strategic Plan Review
- Annual Mayor’s sustainability award: need to put out call for nominations.
Celebration is in October at Swiftel Center. August to accept nominations.
- Reviewed the sustainability themed social media posts/ads from the last year and
plans for new ones
- Reviewed the local food efforts and presentations on the community gardens and
looking towards more community gardens elsewhere in the city.
- Energy committee no updates at this time. No new movement on solar for the city.
- Waste: no updates. Possible collaboration with university
- Climate: Climate action plan maybe from one of the subcommittees; maybe look at
other communities; maybe share at next meeting
- City Support: Continue to support city where education needed.
8. Growing Sustainability Communities Conference
- Robin and Emily planning to go – see email vote coming out
9. Updates from Liaisons
a. Bicycle Committee: not available
b. Human Rights Commission: Juneteenth event and Pride panel. Looking at Common Read event
c. CLEAR: Mental health forum; report in process. Working on mental health call person instead of
calling police
10. Call for Future Agenda Items
- Consideration of Sustainability Council table at Farmer’s market: Robin, Darcy, and
maybe Louis to help.
Respectfully Submitted: Emily Abele, Recorder