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Council sets public hearing on 2026 resurfacing plan and votes to include angled parking for JC's Park
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Summary
Council received the feasibility report for Improvement 25-062026, called a public hearing for April 6, and narrowly directed staff to include diagonal parking along Pine Street and full Delmar Drive replacement after debate about cost and safety.
The Brainerd City Council on March 2 received a feasibility report for the city’s 2026 resurfacing program and voted to call a public hearing for April 6. The report covers multiple streets including Graden, Spruce, Hillcrest, Pine Street, Delmar and South 11th in the industrial park.
Staff recommended not pursuing a costly angled-parking addition on Pine Street that staff estimated would cost over $40,000 and yield only two additional stalls, but recommended full removal and replacement of Delmar Drive pavement with assessments split 50/50 between the city and adjacent property owners. Council debate focused on safety, math and cost: Councilmember Gabe Johnson said angled stalls near JC's Park were important for safety and tournament parking, while others questioned the expense for only a couple of spaces.
Johnson argued: "I think the Pines Street angled parking stalls are really important for the safety of the park users." The mayor and staff noted parking construction is expensive and that staff would refine designs and cost estimates with the chosen engineer before final design.
Council voted to receive the feasibility report and call the public hearing (motion by Bevins, second by Chesak) and then voted to include the Pine Street angled parking and Delmar Drive full replacement in the design direction to staff. Staff will return with refined designs and a more detailed estimate before final project approvals.
Next steps: public hearing set for April 6 at 7:30 p.m.; staff to provide refined designs and updated cost estimates prior to final assessment decisions.
