Council temporarily designates Visit Brainerd to manage lodging-tax proceeds; schedules work session

The Baxter City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-003, temporarily designating Visit Brainerd as the city’s parking organization and visitors bureau through Feb. 20, 2025, to bring the city into compliance with Minnesota statute 469 and the city code.

The measure was presented by Brad, city administrator, who told the council the temporary designation is intended to allow the city to continue using lodging-tax proceeds while the council evaluates a permanent arrangement. "The purpose of the temporary resolution is intended to bring the city into compliance with Minnesota statute 469 as well as the city code while the city explores [a] permanent solution regarding the use of lodging tax proceeds," Brad said. He told the council the resolution includes an expiration date of Feb. 20, 2025, as the council previously directed.

The council also set a work session for Jan. 21 in which Visit Brainerd will present its 2025 budget, a 2025 marketing plan and a draft agreement for the council’s review. Brad said Mary Devine Johnson, executive director of Visit Brainerd, supplied the budget, marketing plan, draft agreement and recent letters of support in advance of the work session and those documents were included in the meeting packet.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (Items 1–7): approved (motion to accept the consent agenda was made and seconded; approval by voice vote). Items listed on the consent agenda included: approval of Dec. 17, 2024 council minutes; payment of bills and finance report; Resolution 2025-001 establishing 2025 council appointments; Resolution 2025-002 establishing 2025 annual designations; authorization to execute the annual advertising contract with the Brainerd Dispatch; acceptance of the water system planning and hydraulic model report; and approval to trade a 2018 police squad vehicle. Specific vote tallies and named movers/seconders for the consent agenda were not specified in the transcript.

- Resolution 2025-003 (temporary designation of Visit Brainerd): motion by Councilmember Seal; second by Councilmember Tabbitt; approved by voice vote.

Other business and items noted - City staff noted a closed session was scheduled under Minnesota Statute 13D.05 to review an offer related to a temporary easement identified on the agenda; the council moved to close the open session and convene the closed session as posted.

- Several council members offered remarks about local growth and planning. Council members praised recent development in Baxter and suggested council-level follow-up on long-range topics including the Gateway Zoning District, creative mixed-use development at a corner near Rush Lake and preserving the community character as Highway 371 projects move forward with MnDOT. A council member also suggested beautification (for example, planting trees in medians) on local bypass routes that could carry traffic during construction. Those comments were discussion only; no formal direction or ordinance was adopted on those items during the meeting.

- No public comments were received in writing and none were read into the record at the meeting.

What happens next - Visit Brainerd will present its 2025 budget, marketing plan and the draft agreement at the Jan. 21 work session for further council review. The temporary designation provided by Resolution 2025-003 will expire on Feb. 20, 2025, unless the council takes further action before that date.