HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2025_12_10City of Brookings
Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 10th, 2025, 4:00 PM Dakota Nature Park
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 (Amended) Agenda
Motion to Approve: R. Buterbaugh
Second: E. Abele
Aye: All Opposed: None
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to Approve: A. Patin
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. Partnership Program Proposal from Charlie Richter
● Stormwater Incentive Program
○ Rain Garden
■ 3 people signed up
■ SDSU designed three, but timeline for finalized designs didn’t allow for
opportunity to be implemented, will continue next year
○ Native Plants
■ 25 people got vouchers
■ 12 people back for reimbursements
● Rain Barrels
○ 9 people purchased this year
● Planning to continue this program next year
○ Perhaps lower the minimum threshold to earn reimbursement to make it
more accessible..
6. City Update - Josh Bauman
● Mayors Awards
○ Parks Dept. Public Lands Preservation Award: went R. Buterbaugh
● Compost update
○ 5,820 total pounds collected so far
● BSC to go on Tour of Millborn Seeds
○ January 14th
○ C. Richter: Invite BMU? Partner for an incentive program to utilize more resilient,
requiring less water grass seed blend.
● New Assistant City Manager - Samantha Beckman
● Brookings Winter Farmers Market - First and Thursday Saturday - 9 - noon - 5th St Gym
● Golf Course Water Sourcing
○ High bids being rejected at the next CC meeting.
7. 5% Pledge - Emily Abele
● E. Abele’s husband is working on making a nonprofit “...inspiring and equipping the
world’s wealthiest [which includes most middle class Americans] to lower their carbon
footprints by 5% annually.”
○ Encouraging any and everyone to join the pledge.
○ fivepercentpledge.org
8. Update: Budget
● Roughly $2,000 remaining in the budget.
○ Already approved up to $2000 for plant material for Community Food Forest.
■ K. Rath: Motion to approve remaining funds after purchase of plant
material to be used to purchase more reusable tote bags (Reduce,
Refuse, Reuse…) to be given out at events.
■ Second: A. Patin
■ Aye: All
■ Opposed: None
9. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees
a. Education and Outreach
● No Updates.
b. Climate (Biodiversity) - Lead Vacant
● No Updates.
c. Waste
● No Updates.
d. Energy
● No Updates.
e. Local Foods
● No Updates.
10. Updates from LIaisons
a. Parks and Recreation Board - Stephen Hartung
i. No updates
b. Planning Commission
i. No Updates.
c. Historic Preservation (Vacant)
d. Local Emergency Planning Commission
i. A. Patin: new city fire dept. chief - reevaluation of emergency contingency plans
for companies in Brookings.
e. BATA (Vacant)
11. Continuing Items
a. Terms expiring: E. Abele, L. Hesler
b. SDSU Student Project Ideas
12. Call for Future Agenda Items
13. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn: E. Abele
Second: R. Buterbaugh
Aye: All Opposed: None
Respectfully submitted by Kiley Rath.