HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2022_07_13
City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 4:00 PM City/County Government Center; Room 300
Sustainability Council Members: Bruce Pengra, Cynthia Kunkel, Ben Vukovich, Louis Hesler, Albert Patin, Samuel
Krueger, Anthony Shanks, Robin Buterbaugh, Betty Beer, Emily Abele, Kiley Rath, and SDSU Student
Representative Gabrielle Bolwerk. City Staff: Jacob Meshke, Assistant City Manager.
1 Call to Order
E. Abele
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion to amend the agenda: R. Buterbaugh
Aye: All Opposed: None
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved for approval: R. Buterbaugh Second: B.Pengra
Approval of Minutes
Moved for approval: B. Pengra Second: L. Hesler Aye: All Opposed: None
4. Open Forum
• Tasiyagnunpa Barondeau – Oglala Sioux Tribe
o Oak Lake Writers Society
o Challenges being an Indigenous person in the community…
o Never sure where or what allowed to forage—what is safe?
o Suggested pilot project for municipalities to reintroduce native plants
sustainably/simple
Sage
o Prairie Peoples Project
o Reintegrate humans into the landscape
o Further conversation needed, but perhaps mostly medicinal plants –
signage: guidelines when/how/where to forage in designated areas
o E. Abele: register areas on app/website fallingfruit.org
o G. Bolwerk – extra space in community garden
o “gorilla gardening”
o J. Meshke: Partnership working with the Parks board – Dusty
• E. Abele: Google Doc of resources of informational videos/podcasts, etc. relating
to sustainability in different categories
5. Downtown Buildings Design and Maintenance Guidelines (2004) – Brookings Historic
Preservation Commission
• Matthew Weiss - Brookings Historic Preservation Commission
o Commission hired specialty consultant-Historic Preservation Plan
o Sustainability council to figure out how to best incorporate sustainable
thinking into Design & Maintenance Guidelines
Guidelines for new construction and upkeep of facilities
Does not mention sustainability, but historic preservation can be
considered sustainable versus building new.
o R. Buterbaugh energy efficiency included? M. Weiss: Likely not.
o J. Meshke: not much we can improve when keeping with historic aesthetic
and requirements for historical preservation? Ex. Windows
o National Parks Service (federal) has standards and specific requirements
for cleaning materials – capture contaminated water, etc.
Find more areas where sustainability can be integrated into
language
o Answer on willingness to participate by next meeting
o B. Pengra: Matt to go through document and identify key areas where
sustainability council may be helpful in making suggestions
--
o J. Meshke: provided recommendation to accept opportunity and identify
quickest wins with biggest impact – cost/aesthetic/maintaining buildings
o Tasi- Prioritize materials that can rot/break down – ex: wood vs. vinyl
o E. Abele: Energy and Waste Subcommittees focus on this?
o R. Buterbaugh: blurb in CAP about historic preservation
Motion to discuss with Matthew further before making
commitments. Second: B. Pengra Aye: All Opposed: None
6. City Update J. Meshke
• Two additional EV charging stations being added: two tier-two chargers and one
other
• Stormwater master plan
o Green infrastructure fees
• Solid Waste Master Plan – consultant
o Landfill collections under this
• Economic Development Master Plan
o Influence how to attract and retain businesses in town
• 2nd Annual Household Haz-Waste Event
o August 27th
o Eventually a bigger scale year-round
• Remodel police station and Food Pantry (Jan 2023)
7. Discussion and Possible Sub-Committees Membership
Expressed interest (copied and added to from previous meeting):
Energy: Emily, Louis, Robin, Bruce, Tony
Education: Louis, Samuel, Gabi
Waste: Betty, Albert, (Possibly Bruce?)
Local Foods: Cynthia, Robin, Kiley
• E. Abele: Motion to approve list of subcommittees. G. Bolwerk Second: A.
Shanks
8. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
• B. Pengra: divide climate action plan work across committees—dependent on
how consultant puts plan together and what information they extract
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference: October 17-18:
• Motion to Approve Albert, Robin, Alt: B. Pengra. L. Helser Motions. Second:
G. Bolwerk Aye: all Opposed: None
9. Future Agenda Items
• R. Buterbaugh: urban pollinator initiative (plots/gardens)
• A. Shanks: discuss details of CAP. J. Meshke: hold off until approved for
budget
10. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn
Moved: R. Buterbaugh. First: G. Bolwerk Second: B. Pengra Aye: All Opposed: None
Respectfully Submitted by: Kiley Rath