HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2025_05_14City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, May 14th, 2025, 4:00 PM City/County Government Center; Room 300
Sustainability Council Members: Anthony Shanks, Louis Hesler, Albert Patin, Robin Buterbaugh, Emily
Abele, Kiley Rath, Kyle Jamison, Conner Evers, Alicia Heich, and SDSU Student Representative
Madalynn Graham, City Staff: Samantha Beckman Assistant to the City Manager
1. Call to Order
T. Shanks
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion to Approve: L. Hesler
Second: E. Abele
Aye: All Opposed: None
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to Approve: R. Buterbaugh
Second: C. Evers
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. City Update - Samantha Beckman
● Brookings ranked #9 best college town in midwest; #29 in nation
● Transitions within City:
○ Fire Chief Pete Bolzer retired, new Chief Troy Hughes
○ Deputy CM Jake Meshke last day May 20
○ City Attorney Steve Britzman retired, Vince Jones at Woods Fuller taking
over
● 2026 budget process has kicked off for the city - about a 6 month process
● Marketplace Groundbreaking ceremony 5/14
● Energy Efficiency Project Nearing Completion - punch list final tasks being
identified. This project was partially funded through energy savings
● Stormwater Incentive Program - as of 5/1 - 20 had picked up native plant
vouchers, 3 rain barrel reimbursements, 7 homeowners interested in the 4 rain
garden vouchers
● Spring Bulky Item Pickup Numbers:
○ Number of visits in 2024: 1,990
○ Number of visits in 2025: 2,433
○ Final numbers: 345.15 tons of waste, 12.38 tons of metal, 47.15 tons of
trees/branches = 809,360lbs total
■ 2024 numbers: 756,000lbs (which was 13% less than 2023)
● Earth Day presentation by Stephen at the Activity Center on pocket pollinators
● Tree Vouchers open - $125/tree + $25 to plant in front yard + $25 to treat for EAB
● Arbor Day - Mayor read an Arbor Day proclamation at the official Arbor Day
ceremony where they planted a Princeton Elm at the Golf course as the official
2025 Arbor Day Tree. Forestry crew talked with third grade classrooms about the
role of trees in our community and each student received a free tree to take
home and plant. (these were just some of the 900 Hackberry Trees the Parks
Dept handed out)
● 43 years of being a Tree City USA
● Sent another press release out on No Mow May/Bee City as a reminder to mow
● Farmers Market summer season started; they reached out about possibly having
Sustainability members do pollinator presentations with some beekeepers who
have demonstration bee hives.
6. Eastern SD Soil & Water Research Farm Annual Field Day - July 9th
● The Sustainability Council has been invited to attend.
7. Garden Discovery Festival Planning - May 18th
● Booth Timeline created.
8. Website Updates & Social Media Posts
● Website has been updated.
● Social Media calender–will be shared with City personnel
9. Follow-Ups From Last Meeting
● Get more events on the City website’s calendar.
10. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Education and Outreach
● No Updates.
b. Climate (Biodiversity)
● No Updates.
c. Waste
● A. Patin: has been searching for grants for water filling stations. Not much available.
○ More education/outreach: signage on website reminding people to have a full
water bottle.
○ C. Evers: “Pack it in, pack it out” signage at Nature Park etc.?
d. Energy
● E. Abele: working on a letter to promote EV charger at new Marketplace location.
e. Local Foods
● R. Buterbaugh: Community Engagement Meeting: April 16th
○ 14 people in attendance - most expressed interest in volunteering with the food
forest.
○ Potentially Sunday, May 25th 1-3pm available to help mulch around trees.
● S. Hartung: The City has updated the floodplain, so we cannot add piles of materials like
mulch.
○ S. Beckman will inquire if a fence is still possible, and if adjustments are
necessary.
11. Updates from LIaisons
a. Parks and Recreation Board
i. No Updates
b. Planning Commission
i. No Updates
c. Historic Preservation (Vacant)
i. No Updates
d. Local Emergency Planning Commission
i. No Updates
12. Continuing Items
a. SDSU Student Project Ideas
i. R. Buterbaugh: Potential Educational Outreach Event for Bee City?
ii. Volunteers for Urban Food Forest
iii. M. Graham: Working on reviving Sustainability Club on campus - May be able to
collaborate.
b. Mayor’s Awards Planning
i. Potential for only one singular nomination instead of 3 categories.
1. Kool Beans - Kurt/Erinn Osborne - new reusable cup initiative
2. City Project - Ameresco Energy Saving (LED//HVAC Updates etc)
ii. All nominations are due August 1st. (Finalize at July meeting)
c. Downtown Brookings Brainstorming
13. Call for Future Agenda Items
● None
14. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn: E. Abele
Second: C. Evers
Aye: All Opposed: None
Respectfully submitted by Kiley Rath.