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Brookings council approves new three-year audit contract, updates fee schedule and revives yard award program
Summary
At its April 28 meeting, the Brookings City Council awarded a three-year independent audit contract, adopted an updated master fee schedule, and reinstated a yard-of-the-month program; each measure passed on council motions.
Brookings City Council voted April 28 to award a three-year independent audit services contract, adopt an updated master fee schedule and reinstate a five-month yard-of-the-month program beginning in May 2025.
City staff recommended selecting Sensaba LLP for a three-year contract covering city and Urban Renewal Agency audits. The staff report said comparing proposals and normalizing travel costs showed Sensaba’s proposal would save the city about $22,255 over three years compared with the current auditor, Moss Adams. The council voted to accept the recommendation and authorized the city manager to execute the contract.
Council also adopted Resolution 25-R-1273 to update the city’s master fee schedule. Staff said the 2025 updates follow a 2.7% cost-of-living (CPI-W) increase from February to February, include larger increases for some park-use fees to reflect maintenance costs, and reflect a higher public-safety fee to cover a school resource officer (SRO) position after the school district reduced its contribution. The resolution repeals the prior schedule and the council set the new schedule to take effect July 1, 2025.
Separately, the council approved reinstating the city’s yard-of-the-month recognition program for five months beginning in May 2025. Monthly winners will receive a certificate, a sign and a $50 rebate toward their city utility bill, and winners will receive local media recognition.
Consent items approved at the meeting included approval of the April 14 council minutes and receipt of the March 2025 monthly financial report.
Votes at a glance: - Independent audit services contract: approved. Staff recommended Sensaba LLP; staff estimated approximately $22,255 in savings over three years compared with Moss Adams. Council authorized the city manager to execute a three-year contract. - Master Fee Schedule (Resolution 25-R-1273): approved. Updates reflect a 2.7% CPI-W adjustment, higher park-use fees for maintenance cost recovery and an adjusted public-safety fee to cover SRO costs; effective July 1, 2025. - Yard-of-the-month program reinstatement (May–September 2025): approved. Monthly winners receive a $50 utility rebate and recognition. - Consent calendar (minutes of April 14; March financial report): approved.
City staff told the council the city solicited 51 firms for the audit RFP, received three proposals and performed reference checks. Council members who spoke expressed appreciation for staff work on the RFP and for the city’s historically clean accounting records.
No ordinances that require second readings or charter changes were on the agenda. The meeting moved on to public-comment items and urban renewal business after these approvals.
Ending: Council adjourned the city portion of the meeting after routine business and proceeded to the Urban Renewal Agency meeting, where directors later approved the agency’s portion of the Sensaba LLP audit contract.
