BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will consider bids Tuesday to remodel parts of the Swiftel Center.

The study session starts at 5 p.m., the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Brookings City & County Government Center.

There are three bids to remodel office and meeting space at the Swiftel Center: Clark Drew Construction, $193,750; Mills Construction, $234,000; and Ronning Enterprises, $243,900.

“The city council previously purchased the County Resource Center from Brookings County, which included two large meeting rooms, two small meeting rooms, and office space. The city council also previously authorized remodeling this space,” according to an attachment to the agenda, which is available on the city’s website. “The CRC has not undergone any significant improvements since it was built with the Swiftel Center in 1999.

“The scope of the work includes mostly floor covering, paint, security systems, some HVAC modifications, and conference room technology upgrades necessary to host conferences and meetings,” according to the attachment.

The estimate for the project was $346,922. The low bid was 44 percent below that. The entire project will be paid with Third Penny funds, according to the attachment.

The council will also discuss an ordinance to regulate the Transportation Network Companies in the city. There are four primary changes to the initial ordinance, which was adopted Jan. 12, 2016, prior to any state regulations or guidance. Since that time, the state adopted insurance requirements. 

A riding sharing or Transportation Network Company (TNC) is a company that uses an online platform to connect passengers with drivers using their personal, non-commercial vehicles. TNCs do not actually provide transportation services, but only serve to connect the provider with the user, according to the attachment. Examples include Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. 

The TNC organizes “prearranged” transportation services by using a smart phone application to connect for-hire drivers.

During the Tuesday study session, the council will learn about adding snow gates to plows and hear from the Brookings Public Arts Commission.

“The city has received an inquiry from a member of the public asking the City Council to investigate/consider adding snow gates to plows for snow removal operations. Street Superintendent Matt Bartley is collecting research on this issue and will present it at the meeting,” according to an attachment.

The Brookings Public Arts Commission has produced a public education video of public arts in Brookings, which will be presented to the council and public at the meeting, according to an attachment.

In other business, the council will:

• consider awarding a contract for the Eighth Street and 20th Avenue Drainage Improvement Project;

• Discuss a liquor license for Applebee’s on LeFevre Drive;

• Recognize National Volunteer Week on April 15-21; and

• Set a special council meeting for April 3.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.