HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2024_08_14City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 14, 2023 4:00 PM SDSU Harding Hall, 881 Campanile Ave
Sustainability Council Members: Bruce Pengra, Cynthia Kunkel, Louis Hesler, Albert Patin, Samuel
Krueger, Anthony Shanks, Robin Buterbaugh, Emily Abele, Kiley Rath, Kyle Jamison, and SDSU Student
Representative Valentyna Stopul, City Staff: Samantha Beckman Assistant to the City Manager
1. Call to Order
A. Shanks
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion to Approve: B. Pengra
Second: A. Patin
Aye: All Opposed: None
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to Approve: L. Hesler
Second: K. Jamison
Aye: All Opposed: None
4. Open Forum
At this time, any member of the public may request time on the agenda for an item not
listed. Items are not typically scheduled for the end of the meeting; however, very brief
announcements of invitations will be allowed at this time.
5. SDSU Facilities Tour
• Facilities tour of LEED Gold Certified building Harding Hall as well as one of the chiller
plants on campus. Highlighted learnings from the Harding Hall project and ways the
building will continue to be adapted for use with a growing program.
6. City Update – Samantha Beckman via Albert Patin
• Consultant/new communications specialist will work on recycling 1 pager
• Ameresco project went to City Council
• Household Hazardous Waste Event - August 17, 8-12 @ Dacotah Bank Center (see city
social media for details)
• Josh Bauman had applied for a grant awhile back for the food forest sprinkler system &
has not heard back
• 60/40 split (rental vs owner occupied) for the 107 properties out of compliance post June
7th for No Mow May
• Master Transportation Plan Update - Public Works finalized the City’s advisory team
for the Master Transportation Plan update. This group will meet with DOT and the
consultant over the next 1-1/2 years to discuss transportation issues throughout
the City. Included in this plan update will be a sub-study that will focus on pedestrian
safety in downtown Brookings.
• Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Wood - The South Dakota DANR approved a wood
chipping process at the landfill in response to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine. This
allows chipping continuation and chip shipping (versus landfilling all the wood) to the
POET Biorefining plant in Chancellor, SD. The city's vendor is a zero-waste company.
POET burns the chips in a boiler that produces enough steam for up to 60% of the
plant’s power needs.
• Road Repair - Crews worked hard over the last couple of months, making the
necessary repairs to the roadways for chip sealing in August. This is just one of the
many things our crews do to help preserve our roadways.
• USGA Site Visit - The United States Golf Association visited Edgebrook Golf Course.
During this site visit, they took cup samples to assess soil conditions, offer ways to
improve play, look at equipment and environmental sustainability, and help us plan for
the future of Edgebrook.
• City and County Government Center Generator Update - The new generator has
been commissioned and is operational should an emergency warrant the use. The
generator will power the entire building, whereas the previous generator was only
powering IT equipment and the exterior door locks of the building. The City and County
Government Center is the official storm shelter for the City of Brookings during an
emergency.
• Safety Town - Safety Town 2024 has come to an end. Another 50+ teens volunteered
and 200+ kiddos graduated during this summer’s program.
• Forestry - Crews have been busy stump grinding and treating Elm and Ash Trees
throughout Brookings. With the wet weather we have had we are experiencing an uptick
in the number of cases of Dutch Elm Disease. Staff are issuing letters to residents with
impacted trees and they are being taken down. A tree tag will be placed on treated Ash
trees.
• Rain Event - There was minimal damage to the system, facilities, and infrastructure.
The water receded quickly because of the infrastructure investments, proper
maintenance, and quick response. It's assumed the event was a 100-year event (more
common these days). Rain totals range from 4"+.
• Grocery Tax IM 28 - $1,631,000 is the potential impact to the City of Brookings in loss
of grocery sales tax if IM 28 is successful, according to the League of Municipalities. The
council requested a study session on September 17.
• Charter Review Committee in progress
• Leachate Force Main Project - Solid Waste Staff hosted an initial kick-off meeting for
the Leachate Force Main project.
• 2024 Citizens First Responder Academy - On August 27, 2024, the Brookings Police
Department will kick off the opening session of the Citizen First Responder Academy.
6. Downtown at Sundown Planning
● Volunteer shifts coordinated for Downtown at Sundown on August 29th. Partnering with
the Parks department to make seed balls. August 29th is also SDSU night.
7. Mayor’s Awards Planning
• Industrial: Northwestern Energy for natural gas capture instead of releasing it into the
wild. Targeting net zero emissions by 2050. Converting dairy cow manure into natural
gas & fertilizer
o Motion to Nominate Northwestern Energy for the Industrial Category: T. Shanks
o Second: A. Patin
o Aye: B. Pengra, C. Kunkel, A. Patin, A. Shanks, K. Rath, K. Jamison
o Opposed: L. Hesler
• Nonprofit/Government: City of Brookings Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department for
their work with no mow May, tree vouchers, native plantings, and native plants by dog
park.
o Motion to Nominate City of Brookings Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department
for Nonprofit/Government Category: T. Shanks
o Second: A. Patin
o Aye: All Opposed: None
• Individual: Kiley Rath for her small business in town, Eco Market, which offers
handmade, non-toxic, sustainable candles, and lotions as well as bulk refills in The
Carrot Seed for detergents, cleaners, shampoo, soap, etc.
o Motion to Nominate Kiley Rath for the Individual Category: A. Patin
o Second: A. Shanks
o Aye: B. Pengra, C. Kunkel, A. Patin, A. Shanks, L. Hesler, K. Jamison
o Opposed: None
o Abstain: K. Rath
9. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Marketing and Communication
i. No Updates
b. Climate Action Plan
i. No Updates
c. Waste
i. LAPC on Aug 15th. Recent rains.
d. Energy
i. No Updates
e. Local Foods
i. Kristen from Parks Dpt. confirmed location. She wants to wait on filing any more
grants. Signage in progress. Landscape architecture dpt will help with design in
Spring semester. Public engagement session targeted for early 2025. Target
planting for spring 2025. Met with Josh from Parks dpt for brainstorming layout &
logistics.
f. Temporary: No Mow May
i. Propose a Slow Mow May in lieu of No Mow May. Could amend ordinance to
specify that sight requirements are priority and still required during May.
Reference Pollen-aider pledge in Mankato. St Louis Park, MN does a native plant
kit pack with samples around town so people can see it. Increase pedestrian
access to area by new development. Allow for native plantings by pedestrian
walkways assuming it doesn't interfere with sight triangle. Suggestions for
options to replace No Mow May with something else with the same/similar
purpose to help pollinators but be more agreeable to the community. Is it more
beneficial to encourage planting more native plants vs just not mowing - more
active participation. Use No Mow May as a stepping stone to another program.
City council wants a presentation at the 10/15 study session. By next mtg have a
proposal/memo for what we want to do different/present to city council.
10. Updates from Liaisons
a. Parks and Recreation Board
i. Bruce attended the Parks & Recreation Board meeting. Want to re-establish the
bicycle committee. Discussed Emeral Ash Bohrer emergence in Brookings.
Discussed converting the 5th St gym to a city owned building.
b. Planning Commission
i. No Updates
c. Historic Preservation
i. No Updates
d. Local Emergency Planning Commission
i. No Updates
e. BATA
i. No Updates
11. Call for Future Agenda Items
12. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn
Moved: B. Pengra Second: K. Rath Aye: All Opposed: None
Respectfully submitted by Cynthia Kunkel