HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2025_08_13City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 13th, 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: Joshua Bauman Assistant Parks, Recreation & Forestry Director
1. Call to Order
T. Shanks
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion to Approve: R. Buterbaugh
Second: C. Evers
Aye: All Opposed: None
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to Approve: L. Hesler
Second: R. Buterbaugh
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 - Joshua Bauman
● Stormwater Investments Shows Impact - Nearly six years ago, a 6-inch rainfall event in
July 2019 caused widespread neighborhood flooding and property damage across
Brookings. In contrast, a recent 6.5-inch rainfall just two weeks ago resulted in no major
neighborhood flooding or widespread backups.
● Charlie Kuhn: Brookings implementing pilot program for food composting!
○ Partnering with Burns & McDonnell engineering out of Sioux Falls and Dept. of
Ag and Natural Resources.
○ Hoping by the end of September. Drop-off only starting out. Locations:
■ East/South Side Fire Stations
■ Community Government Center
■ Landfill
● 4th Annual International Ice Cream Social - August 20th at Good Roots Farm and
Gardens at 7pm, Parks Rec & Forestry will have a booth.
● BMU Solar Farm - The MRES solar project is still moving along. I think they ran into
some contractor delays, but it is on pace to be operational in Summer 2026. The
underground cable that will interconnect the solar array into BMU’s 34th Ave Substation
is installed, and BMU crews will be making the necessary upgrades to the substation this
fall.
● Trail Construction Update - 12th St S. almost complete, 20th St S is starting, Arrowhead
Park start date has been moved back.
● Tree Ordinance changes - More vague to allow for better care of our urban forest.
● The Volga Tribune is the official City paper for any and all legal notices which must be
published by law.
● Ordinance to change various City properties to a Civic District.
6. Pollinator Day at Brookings Farmers Market - August 9th
● M. Graham:
○ Fullest market to date vendor-wise (42 vs. 30 on average)
○ Great turnout, very positive feedback (especially from kids!)
○ Hope to move to Pollinator Week next year (June 22nd-28th)
○ Have a bigger table/tent for the Sustainability Council Booth
○ Have more environmental-based groups attend in the future.
● A. Patin: Excellent outreach opportunity. Best engagement we’ve made to date.
7. Update: Food Forest Signage “Eat at Your Own Risk”
● “Eat At Your Own Risk” - English & Spanish; Some Graphic
○ Print a small temporary sign, laminate, and staple to a fence post.
● Next meeting: K. Rath will come with quotes and images to make motions on for other
signage.
8. Update: Social Media Posts
● J. Bauman: Met with Sherry & Jess; K. Rath will be making a marketing calendar for the
year for Council to approve.
10. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Education and Outreach
● No Additional Updates.
b. Climate (Biodiversity)
● No Updates.
c. Waste
● No Updates.
d. Energy
● No Updates
e. Local Foods
● No Additional Updates.
11. Updates from LIaisons
a. Parks and Recreation Board
i. S. Hartung: Food Forest fence is going in! Posts to be in by next week.
ii. Install kiosk on fence post
b. Planning Commission
i. No updates.
c. Historic Preservation (Vacant)
d. Local Emergency Planning Commission
i. No Updates.
e. BATA (Vacant)
12. Continuing Items
a. SDSU Student Project Ideas
i. C. Evers: Pollinator Day
ii. R. Buterbaugh: Food forest help once fence is installed
iii. L. Hesler: help with the City’s food composting project
b. Mayor’s Awards Planning - December 3rd, 2025.
i. [July meeting] motion to nominate Kool Beans and their reusable cup initiative for
the (only) 2025 Mayor ’s Sustainability Award: C. Evers Second: A.
Patin Aye: All Opposed: None
c. Downtown Brookings Brainstorming
d. Pollinator Day Planning - June 2026
13. Call for Future Agenda Items
● Food Forest Signage
14. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn: A. Patin
Second: R. Buterbaugh
Aye: All Opposed: None
Respectfully submitted by Kiley Rath.