HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2023_08_09City of Brookings Sustainability Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 4:00 PM
Attending: Bruce Pengra, Cynthia Kunkel, Kyle Jamison, Louis Hesler, Albert Patin, Anthony Shanks,
Robin Buterbaugh, Betty Beer, and Emily Abele.
City Staff: Samantha Beckman, Assistant to the City Manager.
Not present: Samuel Krueger, Kiley Rath, Gabrielle Bolwerk
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of the Agenda
● Motion: Bruce
● 2nd: Tony
o All Yay
o No Ney
3. Approval of Minutes
● Motion: Bruce
● 2nd: Robin
o All Yay
o No Ney
4. Open Forum:
● Zeno Wicks
o No Mo May
▪ Cool Idea! Could we fund a study to determine what to mow or what could be
planted instead of grass/mowing?
5. City Update
● Sam is officially the Staff Liaison for Sustainability Council.
● Dec 6th is the Mayors Party at the Dakota Bank Center
● The City of Brookings does not test compost for anything
● Stormwater fee is tagged onto property taxes not an individuals water bill
● Finalizing designs on Solar Farm
o To be completed by the end of 2023
o Could we introduce Pollinator Plots to the plan? Talk to BMU/City
● John Thompson
o Proposed City Code revision for Floodplain
▪ Proposal is 2 ft
▪ November is the tentative date for adoption
● Parks Department
o Introduced Lady Bugs in the downtown flowers
▪ Eliminated Aphids without harsh chemicals!
● Kristen Zimmerman
o No Mo May Proposal for an additional 6.27 Acres to not be mowed
▪ What are the requirements to obtain a “Bee City” Certification?
o Prairie Burn in fall and/or Spring at the Dakota Nature Park
● Solid Waste Master Plan
o Final review Complete on 8-9-23
6. Community Food Forest
● Nature Park is not the optimal place for the Parks Department
o Mainly due to Maintenance
● Possibility moving the plan to the Community Gardens (East Side)
o Would allow room for expansion.
● Potential new bike path closer to the community gardens in the proposal stage
● Need to further discuss with Parks Dept on tilling or burning (Robin)
● Tentative plan is to plant Spring of ‘24
● Open to the public Summer of ‘24
● Proposal: Follow up with City Officials to determine ownership, timeline, and funding
along with tabling the table toppers.
o Motion: Albert
o 2nd: Louis
▪ All Yay
▪ No Ney
7. Discussion and Possible Action on Table Toppers: See above discussion on food forest
8. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Marketing and Communication: Will create or publish a post about the lady bugs in item 5
b. Climate Action Plan: No new updates
c. Waste: No new updates
d. Energy: No new updates
e. Local Foods: No other updates other than food forest as above
9. Updates from Liaisons
a. Parks and Recreation Board: No new updates
b. Human Rights Commission: No new updates
10. Call for Future Agenda Items
11. Adjourn
Respectfully submitted by Anthony Shanks