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Park board gives Loonfest conditional approval, asks staff to verify insurance and fee waiver
Summary
The Brainerd Park Board granted conditional approval for Loonfest at Mills Field, asking staff to confirm insurance coverage for the two-day event and to review a request to waive Lumb Park campground fees for this first year. The vote was by roll call with one abstention; staff will forward final items to city council.
The Brainerd Park Board voted to give Loonfest conditional approval to use Mills Field for a multi‑day concert, but asked staff to confirm insurance coverage and to review a request to waive campground fees for the event’s first year.
Staff told the board organizers plan to cap previous indoor shows at about 500 attendees and now expect 800–1,000 people per day. Organizers said they will partner with a local veterans charity and that their event insurance, as presented, covers both days.
Board members pressed organizers and staff on logistics: appropriate restroom counts, overnight equipment storage, security plans and whether donated campsites or fee waivers align with past practice. ‘‘We want to make sure every T is crossed and every I is dotted,’’ staff said, noting the city would confirm the insurance certificate and liquor‑license arrangements before council consideration.
A board member moved for contingent approval, specifying that staff must (1) confirm the insurance requirements are met and (2) review any proposed campground fee waiver. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote; one member abstained and the remainder voted in favor. The park board’s approval is conditional and staff will forward the item and the supporting documentation to city council for any further action.
The board also discussed whether the city should make a one‑time fee concession for the campground to help the event launch; several members signaled willingness to consider a short‑term waiver with a plan to reassess fees for subsequent years.
