BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will discuss a shared-use Bicycle Transportation Path Design for Sixth Street at its Tuesday meeting.
The bike path will run on the north side of Sixth Street between Main Avenue and Medary Avenue, according to an attachment to the agenda, available on the city’s website. The lane will be separated from the travel lane by a boulevard green space to accommodate signs, trees, driveway approaches and lighting.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation has asked if the city would like an 8-foot or a 10-foot path.
“From the Bicycle Master Plan, the ideal width for a bicycle path is 10 feet. However, the adopted Master Plan describes the price estimate for the Sixth Street shared use path as an eight-foot width,” according to the attachment. The discussion will cover maintenance responsibilities for the shared use path, such as snow removal.
The estimated cost per mile is almost $547,000, according to an attachment.
The council will also consider repealing and replacing a resolution on the sale of surplus real property.
“Resolution 15-079 prescribes the methods by which property is to be disposed of for business or commercial purposes as being done by: (1) sealed bids and a public auction; or (2) a Request for Proposal (RFP),” according to an attachment to the agenda.
“The amendment clarifies the property subject to this process as being zoned B1-B4 or Planned Development District (PDD). It also adds a third method by utilizing the authorizing provisions prescribed in state law which allows a disposal through transferring to a local non-profit economic development agency. The council could utilize any of these three methods for land so zoned,” according to the attachment.
In other business, the council will consider resolutions:
• Authorizing the Brookings Summer Arts Festival Committee exclusive use of Pioneer Park on July 8-9.
• To set a public hearing May 9 for the Sidewalk Assessment Project east of Medary Avenue South.
• To amend the city’s investment policy pertaining to local bidding preference. “This amendment would provide specific criteria which would allow qualified local financial institutions a preference when awarding investment bids. Section 6.3 is amended to add a provision that would allow the closest, non-successful, local bidder the opportunity to match the high, non-local bidder,” according to the attachment.
Also on the agenda is the first reading on Ordinance 17-011, “establishing what hours public parks and playgrounds are open to the public in the City of Brookings.” The city is recommending parks be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
“This ordinance will allow the Brookings Police Department the ability to cite violators accordingly as it pertains to the hours a person shall be in any public park or playground,” according to an attachment to the agenda. “There have been prior incidences of vandalism and unlawful behavior that have occurred in the parks system primarily during the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.”
The proposed ordinance allows for two exceptions for people being in the parks after hours:
• When camping in an area designated for such purposes; and
• Persons attending scheduled events may be in a park or playground beyond the closing time for a park or playground as approved by the director.
Tuesday’s council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the third-floor chambers of the Brookings City & County Government Center. It is open to the public.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
