At the Oct. 2 City of Coos Bay Parks Commission work session, commissioners discussed ongoing repairs and management of the Mingus Park Community Building and examined the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local scouting groups that use the cabin.

Commissioners said the initial cabin rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance have relied heavily on volunteer labor coordinated by the Adopt a Park volunteers and community organizers. The commission reviewed a to‑do list for the building that includes replacement of worn hinges, door hardware, locks and lights, possible replacement of a hot water heater, and a potential roof rehabilitation that will require design and construction funding. Commissioners said they are actively seeking funding and grants for an architectural assessment to scope roof repairs and historic‑standards updates.

The commission discussed the MOU language that waives rental fees for scouting groups but noted the resolution the city council adopted does not include a requirement for monthly reports or specific maintenance duties. City staff and commissioners agreed scouting groups have historically provided much of the cabin upkeep, but the commission discussed clarifying responsibilities in the MOU or using project‑by‑project outreach to ask scouting groups to partner on specific tasks.

Commissioners raised several site issues: storage concerns in the cabin, the need to keep scout‑related items separate from personal belongings, and a list of prioritized maintenance tasks. They also discussed repeated theft and vandalism of memorial markers and the need to fund replacements and continue donor outreach to support marker replacement.

No new fee schedule or MOU amendments were adopted at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to continue pursuing funding for design and repair of the roof and to bring defined project requests back to the commission when funding or specific partnership commitments are available.