Committee approves MOA to set pay code for downtown snow removal duties

The Brainerd City Personnel and Finance Committee voted Dec. 15 to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) negotiated with the parks union that establishes compensation rules when parks maintenance staff perform downtown snow-removal duties.

Chris, the city's HR director, told the committee the MOA clarifies pay when parks staff are assigned downtown work instead of a contractor. "In your packet was the MOA that was negotiated with the union that clarifies the rate of pay that park maintenance staff should receive when they perform downtown snow removal duties," Chris said. The MOA is retroactive to Nov. 1 and will continue through the current contract term to Dec. 31, or until a new contract is ratified.

Staff said the agreement creates a downtown-specific pay code so the city can track labor costs and charge the downtown special service district where appropriate. The city indicated most overtime generated by downtown events is expected to be assessed to the special service district; however, some straight time may also be allocated to downtown depending on shift timing. Staff said historical allocation methods and area-specific calculations used when contractor costs were split will inform the exact allocation.

Council members raised questions about parity between downtown and other snow-removal work and how assessment splits are calculated; staff replied that they set up the pay code to enable accurate tracking and that allocation rules are derived from prior calculations by area. The committee approved the MOA by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will implement the downtown pay code for tracking and billing, apply the MOA retroactively as stated, and monitor allocations during the winter season.