Council to get project update

BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will hear an update on the Brookings Marketplace project by the Brookings Marketplace LLC development team and hear a re-zoning request for the plot of land at its Tuesday meeting.

Part of the update will be the group’s objectives in moving forward, including continuing tenant negotiations, according to an attachment to the agenda available on the city’s website.

“As of the date of this report, the marketing team is actively working with three potential junior box tenants in an effort to secure letters of intent. While not binding, a letter of intent is the first step toward securing tenants for the Marketplace,” according to the attachment.

The re-zoning request pertains to approving an initial development plan for Block 3 and 9 in the Wiese Addition, also known as Brookings Marketplace.

On a separate subject, the council will discuss the Sixth Street lighting upgrades from Main to Medary avenues. The state Department of Transportation has scheduled the reconstruction project in 2020, and one element of the project is the replacement of existing street lights.

“The DOT standards for lighting along urban highways is a silver 50-foot pole with a cobra-type fixture head, similar to the existing street lights. The city is proposing a black decorative pole and fixture to improve the gateway entrance to Downtown Brookings. … The city would be responsible for the upcharge associated with the decorative poles and fixtures,” according to the attachment.

The light poles would be similar to those recently installed with the Sixth Street reconstruction east of 22nd Avenue. The decorative 30-foot option will require approximately 24 more poles than the DOT standard 50-foot pole.

The DOT cost estimate for standard light poles is $103,634, and decorative poles are $480,344, with a difference of $376,711.

The council will also consider:

• Second reading and action on the city’s 2018 budget ordinance;
• Adoption of the Capital Improvement Plan and Community Reinvestment Plan;
• Introduce Matthew Sommerfeld, new Brookings Airport manager;
• Re-zoning Lot 1, Block 1 of Skinner’s Third Addition at 807 Second St. S. from Industrial I-1 Light District to a single-family district;
• Discussion on Sexauer Park restroom project; and
• Renewal of liquor and wine licenses for several businesses.

The council’s Tuesday meeting starts with a 5 p.m. study session and continues with a 6 p.m. regular meeting. Both are open to the public and will be held in the third-floor chambers of the Brookings City & County Government Center.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.