HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMinutes_2002_05_20 479
Brookings City Council
May 20, 2002
The Brookings City Council convened in regular session on Monday, May 20, 2002, at 5:30 p.m. at City
Hall with the following members present: Mayor Virgil Heniott, Council Members Tom Bozied, Doris
Roden, Scott Munsterman, Mike McClemans and Sam Artz. Council Member Keri Weems was absent.
City Manager Michael Williams and City Attorney Steve Britzman were also present.
Consent Agenda. A motion was made Roden, seconded by Artz, to approve the consent agenda which
included approval of the April l, 2002 and May 13, 2002 minutes; and action to approve Resolution
No. 23-02 authorizing the transfer of Fire Department equipment to another municipality. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
RESOLUTTON NO. 23-02
FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT GIFT
WHEREAS, The City of Brookings is the owner of the following equipment:
Structural Firefighting Coats-32 total
Structural Firefighting Pants- 16 total
Structural Firefighting Helmets- 20 total
VVHEREAS, the above property is no longer necessary, useful or suitable for City purposes, and
it is the desire of the city of Brookings to give the surplus properry to another municipality; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with SDCL 6-5-5, the City of Brookings agrees to donate the above
referenced equipment to the Municipal Fire Departments of Aurora, Bruce, Elkton, Sinai;Volga, and
White.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,by the governing body of the City of Brookings,
South Dakota, that this property be declared surplus and be donated to the above referenced
municipalities.
Passed and approved this 13`'`day of May 2002.
Mavor's Proclamations. Mayor's Proclamations were read for"Cynthia Mielke Day" Tuesday, May 21,
2002 and "Buckle up America Week", May 20`h to 27`h, 2002
BQard of Health Renort. Dr. Merritt Warren presented an overview of the Board's acrivities. No action
was taken.
State of the Citv Message bv the Mavor. "The year 2001 is now history for the City of Brookings and
for most of us, our eyes are focused on the future rather than the past. It still is useful to recall some of
last year's highlights so we can measure progress.
Two new members were elected to the Council, Doris Roden and Scott Munsterman. Bill Davidson,
who chose not to run again and Nate Bibby,who failed to win re-election, left the Council after
meritorious service. Our City Charter provides for elections every other year, thus giving the citizens the
opportunity to "change faces around the table" rather frequently if they wish. I believe in that concept.
Since the Council is supposed to be a policy-making body with administrative duties generally assigned
to the City Manager, long tenure by council members is not necessarily a virtue.
The capital improvement programs progressed well during the year. The law suit concerning the
MultiPlex was decided by the State Supreme Court, thus enabling the close-out of the various contracts.
The remaining space in the interior of the Research and Technology building was finished and has all
been leased out. Purchases of MultiPlex operating equipment and other improvements not included in
earlier contracts due to budget constraints were made.
The construction of the multi-purpose Larson Ice Center and the livestock building for the Multi-Plex
moved along well and the Ice Center was host to the State Hockey Tournament in March of this year.
The Soccer complex was constructed with only the seeding, landscaping, parking areas and visitors stand
being the only remaining items for 2002.
The Community's cornmitment to and investment in these facilities, contribute to making"Brookings,
someplace special." The facilities not only directly serve the citizens of our communiry but also help
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make Brookings "a destination" for visitors from a much larger area. Those visitors not only find
entertainment and other cultural attractions but spend money here, expanding our sales tax income and
stimulating economic activity from which we all benefit.
2001 was not a good year for sales tax income due to the slow-down in the general ecanomy. For the year
2001, the Sales Tax income was $425,000 under budget. The City Manager, recognizing that sales tax
income was not increasing according to our year earlier estimates, reduced planned spending to maintain
a balanced budget, partly by not filling vacancies in personnel positions.
As the 2002 budget was being prepared late last summer, the Council was faced with whether
expenditures should be restrained to fit a conservative estimate of income,without using any of the
City's approximately$2,200,000 of un-designated General Fund reserves. This could be accomplished by
continuing the vacant personnel positions and deferring certain e�enditures, even though they would
have to be made up later, inflating a later year's budget. The budget for 2002 that was ultimately
adopted following this plan.
Thus far for 2002, sales t�income is in excess of that contemplated in the approved budget. I hope that
some of the items deferred in the budget may now be added so as to the reduce the amount of
"makeup" required next year.
The City's unobligated fund balance for the 2°a penny sales tax was approximately three quarters of a
million dollars at the end of 2001. These funds are restricted by State Law as to what they can be used
for, mainly capital improvement projects.
It was a disappointment that the "3� B" sales tax on prepared foods was rejected by the voters on April
30`�`. The City now must now either curtail planned spending for bringing entertainment and cultural
events to the City which could have greatly increased our sales tax income or finance those costs from
other ta�c sources. •
With the MultiPlex, SDSU Performing Arts Center and other faciliries in the community,we have the
potential to be a "destination" for many people from a large area in addition to making it possible for
local people to attend events that otherwise would not be available in Brookings. Not all of the funds
derived from this tax would have had to be spent on just"bringing events to town"but for a number of
other "advertising and promorional" purposes, some of which are presently funded by revenue from
other sources.
Perhaps the Council must share some of the blame for the issue losing in the election.We operated on a
short time schedule so that the ta�c collections could have become effective July 1"rather than having to
wait until January 1" 2003. State law only permits the July 1"or January 1"beginning dates. Perhaps
more time was needed to properly explain the need for the tax. The Chamber of Commerce and other
supporters made a valiant effort in the short time available and I commend them for their efforts.
The delivery of city services seems to proceed on a well managed and executed basis. The leadership of
City Manager Michael Williams has improved the productivity and efficiency of our staff of professional
city employees. He has instituted new training programs to enable employees to acquire new skills and
experiences, re-organized some work assignments and improved coordination between departments.
Appro�rimately 60°6 of our general fund budget is for payroll and related costs so improved productivity
and efficiency pays big dividends. I commend all of our employees for their dedication and perforrnance.
The Council approved a new 20/20 Plan, a blue print for the aoning and growth of the City for future
years.A growing population, e�cpanding economic development and changing demographics will bring
about many changes. By planning for them in advance,we will make better use of our resources.
As a result of the public referendum rejecting the City's by-pass proposal and the Sur�ace Trarisportation
Board's decision, the DM&E system up-grade will now go through town on the existing right-of-way.The
Council is weighing issues concerning grade crossing safety at the five in-town crossings. At issue are the
kinds of crossing safety devices for controlling traffic and who will pay for them. Hundreds of thousands
of dollars, perhaps more than a million are involved.
We have approximately 104 citizen volunteers serving on 14 important boards, commissions and
committees. These volunteers perform a valuable public service for the benefit of us all. Each of the
volunteers has expertise and interest in the area of responsibility of their group. City staff inembers
provide information and support to the groups. I think it is a system that works well, providing much
needed citizen input and recommendations
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We continue to partner and otherwise work with SDSU. Their faculty and staff, the students and their
families are important members of our community.Joint financing for the Performing Arts Center and
the Stadium field at the new Soccer fields bring benefits to both SDSU and the City.
The City Council, responding to a request of the SDSU Student Association, helped set in motion a
plan for a Student Advisory Council which will also include students from the Brookings High School
and others.We expect the Council to become functional in the fall of 2002.
It has been my privilege and an honor to serve as your Mayor since 1999. I ran for the office because I
felt that my background of nearly 40 years of training and experience in cooperative management would
enable me to contribute to getting the new form of government off to a good start under the revised
Charter.
I knew that perhaps our most important task was hiring an experienced and well qualified City Manager.
That we did. We then began to move toward a system of "Policy Governance" as provided for in the
revised Charter. Progress has been slow and a Iot of time has�een spent on administrative matters which
State Statues require to be dealt with by the Council. Some progress has been made and a good future
course has been set. We can set a good example for how a Council/City Manager form of government
can and should work.
I have concluded that I will not be a candidate for Mayor in 2003 when my term e�ires.As I said earlier
"long tenure is not necessarily a virtue." To change faces around the table provides the opportunity for
others to make their contribution and by announcing my plans now, others who may be interested in
serving as Mayor can make their plans for the future." Submitted by Virgil H. Herriott, Mayor
Ordinance No. 08-0Z - Conditional Use - 1106 Christine Avenue. A public hearing was held on
Ordinance No. 08-02, an application for a conditional use permit to establish a major home occupation
(beauty shop) on Lot 26 and the north 20' of Lot 25, Block l, Camelot Square Addition, also known as
1106 Christine Avenue.All present were given an opportunity to be heard.A motion was made by
McClemans, seconded by Munsterman, to approve Ordinance No. 08-02. All present voted yes; morion
carried.
(�rdinance No. 10-02 -Sales Tax. A motion was made by Bozied, seconded by Munsterman, to approve
the second reading of Ordinance No. 1402, an ordinance amending Section 259 of the Revised
Ordinances of the City of Brookings, South Dakota and pertaining to the purposes for which sales tax
on lodging, atcoholic beverages, prepared food and admissions may be used by the Ciry of Brookings.
All present voted yes; except Roden, motion carried.
Qr_dinance No 09-02 - Rezonin�of Lot 9.Block 1.Pheasant's Nest.A public hearing was held on
Ordinance No. 09-02, an ordinance to rezone Lot 9, Block 1, Pheasant Nest Addition from a Residence
R 1B District to a Residence R 2 District. All present were given an opportunity to be heard. A motion
was made by Roden, seconded by Munsterman, to approve Ordinance 09-02. All present voted yes;
motion carried.
Adiournment. Motion was made by Roden, seconded by Munsterman, to adjourn. All members voted
YES; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
CITY OF BROOKINGS
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Virgil Herriott, Mayor
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� S ornes, City Clerk