Brainerd City Park Board keeps youth tournament staffing charges at 2025 levels, sets January workshop

Brainerd City — The Brainerd City Park Board voted to maintain 2025 staffing and chalking charges for youth tournaments and directed staff to convene a workshop in January to examine tournament fee structures and staffing solutions.

Staff told the board that five youth tournaments across two park locations in 2025 generated a total staff invoice of $3,793.52 and that overtime made up about 90% of weekend staffing costs. “In 2025, we had 5 tournaments across 2 park locations resulting in a total staff invoice of $3,793.52,” staff said, also listing typical pay rates: full-time regular $56, overtime $69; part-time regular $20, overtime $29.

Why it matters: Board members said the current reliance on overtime shifts costs to community organizations and raised equity concerns because some groups receive different arrangements. One committee member said charging organizations for large overtime bills could be “a disservice to the public” and urged the board to find a sustainable, non‑overtime staffing approach.

Board discussion focused on three options raised by staff: charge actual part‑time costs, adopt a standardized part‑time rate, or adopt a standardized full‑time (overtime) rate to guarantee coverage. Members also discussed an intermediary flat rate (~$45) to partially cover overtime. Committee member Andrew (S4) proposed paying outside organizations a fixed hourly rate to maintain fields as a potential cost-savings approach; other members emphasized earlier recruitment and scheduling changes as partial remedies.

After debate, the board voted to maintain last year’s staff cost and chalking charges for youth tournaments. The chair recorded the vote as passing by 3–1. The board then unanimously directed staff to set a January workshop to identify root causes and develop options for both youth and adult tournament fee structures. The board also tabled the separate adult-tournament fee item until after that workshop.

What comes next: Staff will schedule the January workshop and report back with data and recommended options. Board members asked staff to explore hiring/scheduling changes, partnerships with organizations that might perform maintenance, and clearer expectations in contracts to reduce overtime exposure.

Source: Board meeting transcript. The board discussed the $3,793.52 invoice, pay rates, and the decision to maintain 2025 charges; the motion to direct staff to set a January workshop passed.