Brainerd committee approves multiple public‑works and public‑safety measures, seeks consultant review of transit operations

The Brainerd City Safety and Public Works Committee on an agenda meeting in the 645 Council Chambers approved a package of enforcement actions, construction contracts, and policy steps affecting public safety, transportation projects and downtown events.

Committee members voted to direct staff to pursue code enforcement at three residential properties, adopt a resolution to add the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Police to the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division (LADED) joint powers agreement, award a Safe Routes to School construction contract for Lowell Street and adopt the related MnDOT grant terms, enter a cooperative construction agreement with MnDOT for the Trunk Highway 371B/Willow Street roundabout, award a chip‑seal contract, approve a farmers market at the City Hall parking lot, authorize placement of a large planter near Holiday Station to reduce sidewalk parking, approve consultant services to review transit operations, and direct staff to revise a draft busker (sidewalk performers) ordinance for further council consideration.

Why it matters: the package mixes near‑term enforcement and event permits with multi‑year transportation projects and a regional policing agreement that the chief said could affect eligibility for state grant funding. The committee also asked for an outside operational review of the city’s transit contractor after repeated performance issues.

Code enforcement: three properties Community development director James Kramvik brought three active code enforcement cases to the committee and asked for direction on how to proceed. Kramvik recommended beginning legal action and “issuing a $300 citation…