Coffee with Paul - Get to Know your Brookings City Manager

Do you want to know more about city operations -- how about what the city manager does? Are you curious about what’s going on in Brookings right now? In our video broadcast Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chats about topics that matter to you and the Brookings community.

Submit a topic or question to be answered in our video series Coffee with Paul by submitting the form below. If your topic or question is chosen as the next segment’s café au lait question of the day you will win a "Bring Your Dreams" Brookings coffee mug.

Video Episodes

Episode 23 - April 08, 2022

In this episode: City Manager Paul Briseno presents the second episode in a series featuring goals that have been met and future intent to meet goals defined in Brookings City Council's Strategic Plan which includes: • Fiscal Responsibility • Safe, Inclusive, and Connected Community • Service and Innovation of Excellence • Sustainability • Economic Growth. In this episode he discusses  SAFE, INCLUSIVE, & CONNECTED COMMUNITY and what the City has recently accomplished as part of this strategy. He also discusses annual spring cleanup, Brookings Community Games and the upcoming police chief search.

Episode 22 - March 02, 2022

In this episode: City Manager Paul Briseno begins a series featuring goals that have been met and future intent to meet goals defined in Brookings City Council's Strategic Plan which includes: • Fiscal Responsibility • Safe, Inclusive, and Connected Community • Service and Innovation of Excellence • Sustainability • Economic Growth. In this episode he discusses FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY and what the City has recently accomplished as part of this strategy.

Episode 21 - December 23, 2021

In this episode: Special Guest: Public Information Officer Chelsie Bakken interviews Paul and talks about the City of Brookings form of government, what role a city manager serves in local government and learns how and why Paul became a city manager and what the role means to him.

Episode 20 - November 19, 2021

In this episode: Special Guest: Brookings GIS Specialist Aaron Karl talks about the Upcoming GIS Day taking place on November 17th at 4 p.m. 

Episode 19 - August 20, 2021

In this episode: Special Guest: Assistant Police Chief, Joe Fishbaugher talks about the new Online Police Reporting System that residents can utilize to submit non-emergency related police reports like auto accidents, theft, lost property and more.

Episode 18 - June 07, 2021

In this episode: Special Guests: Brookings Mayor, Oepke "Ope" Niemeyer and Brookings Human Resources and Risk Management Director Susan Rotert discuss the city operations "one-pager," a document that includes the expectations of individuals who work for the City. They discuss the City's vision, mission, and values. The City's leadership team collectively created the document based on the City Council's vision and mission statements. Mayor Niemeyer, who was involved in creating the City Council's vision and mission, provides some history on how the statements were developed.

Episode 17 - May 11, 2021

In this episode, special guest Jacob Meshke, Brookings assistant city manager and, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chat about the new Brookings Insight Public Dashboard and the value it brings to Brookings residents. Paul provides updates on newly elected Brookings City Council members, the 1st Annual Brookings Community Games, and Brookings yard waste collection services.

Episode 16 - April 8, 2021

In this episode, City Manager, Paul Briseno provides an update on the current COVID-19 ordinance as well as the mask mandate. He also discusses vaccine distribution and upcoming point of dispensing opportunities (PODS). Epidemiologist Bonny Specker provides a summer of the COVID-19 situation of the last week.

Episode 15 - January 29, 2021

In this episode, special guest, Jason Merkley, president and CEO of Brookings Health System and City Manager, Paul Briseno discuss details related to COVID-19 vaccine distribution, groups, timelines and more.

Episode 14 - January 8, 2021

In this episode, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno, City Clerk Bonnie Foster,  and Meagan Irvine-Miller, member of the Brookings Human Rights Commission discuss the importance of Brookings volunteer boards, committees and commissions, and what it's like to serve as a member, and how to apply to be a volunteer.

Episode 13 - December 8, 2020

In this episode, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno and CFO Erick Rangel discuss COVID-19 funds that have been made available to the City, how the funding was allocated, how it is different than COVID-19 funds that are available to other organizations, and ways the funding can and can't be used.

Episode 12 - November 25th, 2020

Paul meets with special guest Julia Yoder from Brookings Health System to talk about being safe during the upcoming holiday season. He also gives an update on Brookings yard waste carts and he provides an update on COVID-19 in Brookings

Episode 11 - October 30th, 2020

Paul talks about Halloween, what happened at the last City Council meeting, the monthly progress report, and he provides an update on COVID-19 in Brookings

Episode 10 - October 15th, 2020

Paul talks about the Bring the Blue event happening Saturday, October 17th, 2020 and gives an update on COVID-19 in Brookings as well as what will be happening at the City Council Study Session which will be taking place October 20th.

Episode 9 - September 11th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno and special guest Daniel Scholl, Vice President for the Division of Research and Economic Development, SDSU chats about COVID-19 testing on the SDSU Campus and how testing results are reported. Paul also talks about the new Brookings mask mandate, FAQs, and exceptions to the mandate.

Episode 8 - July 28th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno and special guest SDSU Epidemiologist Bonny Specker talk about Epidemiology, what it is, and how it is used to inform decisions with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 7 - July 20th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno and special guests Brookings CFO, Erick Rangel and Brookings Assistant City Manager, Jacob Meshke talk about the  2021 Brookings budget process, funding outside agencies and COVID-19 funds.

Episode 6 - July 1st, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chats about topics that matter to you and the Brookings community. In this video, Paul speaks about COVID-19 prevention efforts and remaining vigilant.

Episode 5 - June 5th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chats about topics that matter to you and the Brookings community. In this video, Paul meets with Brookings CFO Erick Rangel to discuss the City of Brookings Budget and Changes due to COVID-19. Also, special guest Dr. Sunne, a family medicine physician at Avera Medical Group talks about COVID-19 precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Episode 4 - May 20th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chats about topics that matter to you and the Brookings community. In this video Paul meets with Park and Rec Director, Dusty and Brookings Public Library Director, Ashia to discuss:  Brookings facility reopening plans, a Park and Recreation update, and a Brookings Public Library update.

Special Episode | Making a Face Covering - May 14th, 2020

Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno demonstrates how simple it is to make a cloth face-covering/mask out of items that you likely have at home. Mask instructions and info available from the CDC by visiting: Cloth Face Coverings (Link)

Episode 3 - May 5th, 2020

In this video Paul discusses:  The Reopening Resolution passed May 4^th & the Incremental Reopening Plan, a business capacity calculator, local municipal and school board elections, Parks and Recreation programming, the pool, and continued safety measures.

Episode 2 - April 20th, 2020

In this video Paul discusses:  the Brookings COVID-19 Emergency Call Center, Brookings COVID-19 Relief Fund, NEW eComment opportunity for public comment, Health Forum – Pressing Health Topics Guiding your City During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Essential Organization Designation Request Form, Question of the Day – “Why are barbershops and hair salons not able to operate under the ordinance?”

Episode 1 - April 14th, 2020

In this video broadcast of Coffee with Paul, Brookings City Manager Paul Briseno chats about topics that matter to you and the Brookings community. In this video Paul discusses: The 2020 Census, The Brookings Combined Municipal/School Board Elections, The Engage Brookings App, City of Brookings Emergency Ordinances and First Reading, and COVID-19 Community Resources. Do you have a question or request for Coffee with Paul? Submit your questions here.