BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will return to the topic of fences, walls and hedges that obstruct vision and refine the ordinance with new height restrictions at the council meeting set for Tuesday.

The meeting starts with an executive session at 5 p.m. to discuss “the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee,” according to the agenda.

The regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the City & County Government Center.

The height of fences, walls and hedges was raised after several motorists told city staff that they had nearly hit other people at various intersections because their sight was obstructed by solid objects that blocked their ability to see what was coming on the adjoining street. The city has asked some property owners to make the intersections safe.

“Currently, the ordinance prohibits any fence, wall or hedge above 30 inches in the front yard. A fence with a horizontal rail design that is 70 percent open may be up to 42 inches in height,” said the attachment to the agenda available on the city’s website.

“In an effort to work with property owners, staff is proposing an amendment that will allow fences, hedges and walls in the front yard to be maximum height of 4 feet. Any fence, wall, or hedge shall not be over 30 inches in the sight distance triangle, unless the design is at least 70 percent open for fences.”

There will be a public hearing on speed limits on Sixth Street to be the same as the speed limits adopted by the State of South Dakota and for speed limit changes on 20th Street South between Main Avenue South and Western Avenue South.

“The State of South Dakota recently adopted new speed limits for Sixth Street, which is a state highway,” according to an attachment to the agenda. 

The new speed limit for Sixth Street is 35 mph from 370 feet east of 17th Avenue to the east city limits of Brookings. 

City staff realized the ordinance had not been updated to reflect a new speed limit on 20th Street South between Main Avenue South and Western Avenue South. 

“The Traffic Safety Committee recommended at their Sept. 10, 2015, meeting to change the speed limit on 20th Street South between Main Avenue South and Western Avenue to 25 mph,” the attachment said.

The council also plans to amend an ordinance to provide for the licensing of residential contractors who provide residential construction in Brookings. It will “have a positive impact on the city’s ISO (Insurance Service Office) for insurance rates,” according to an attachment, adding it will also ensure all contractors have liability insurance. 

The council also plans to set a fee schedule for the residential contractor’s license. Staff reviewed other cities’ fees, which ranged from $60 in Watertown to $150 in Aberdeen, and proposed Brookings’ fee be set at $75.

In the first readings, the council will hear about an ordinance on landscaping regulations. The public hearing is set Jan. 9, 2018. 

In other business, the council will take action on City Manager Jeff Weldon’s compensation package for 2018.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.