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Council agrees to begin process to accept tax-forfeited parcel near Evergreen Landing
Summary
Crow Wing County offered a 32-acre tax-forfeited parcel near Evergreen Landing to the city; council voted to start the transfer process after staff said most of the parcel lies in the floodway and is currently the site of seasonal homeless encampments.
Brainerd City Council voted to start the process to accept a roughly 32-acre tax-forfeited parcel adjacent to Evergreen Landing after staff told the council most of the property lies in the floodway and has historically been used seasonally by people camping on the site.
Community Development Director James Kramvik told the council Crow Wing County had approached city staff about the parcel (PID 41230522) and that about 96 percent of the site is in the floodway or flood fringe. He said the parcel has "historically" hosted a seasonal homeless population, with primary habitation in spring, summer and fall. Kramvik said staff had no concern with the transfer now that the city has an ordinance banning camping on public property (Ordinance 15-71).
Police Chief John Davis told the council the department has been preparing a plan this spring to reduce encampments and related safety risks. "We have a plan in place starting this spring to hopefully prevent it before it even starts," Davis said.
Why it matters: ownership would give the city clearer authority to manage the site, which staff and council members said could simplify enforcement and cleanup and remove a parcel that had multiple overlapping jurisdictions.
A motion by Councilmember Bevins to move forward with accepting the parcel and beginning the transfer process was seconded by Councilmember Gabe Johnson and passed on a recorded vote.
Council comments focused on public safety and local control. Councilmember Johnson said he preferred city control so local ordinances and enforcement could govern the site rather than leaving it under county control. Councilmember Bevins said accepting ownership would let the city manage the property consistently with local policy.
Next steps: staff will begin the formal transfer process with Crow Wing County and incorporate the parcel into the Evergreen Landing park area; no acquisition cost or specific maintenance plan was presented at the meeting.
