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Park board directs staff to draft contract with Lonfest organizers for Millsfield concerts
Summary
The Brainerd City Park Board asked staff to draft an agreement with Lonfest organizers to host concerts at Millsfield, with organizers expected to contribute to incremental facility improvements; staff said the fire marshal has approved venue capacity and the board voted to proceed with contract drafting.
The Brainerd City Park Board directed staff to draft a contract with Lonfest organizers to host concerts at Millsfield, after staff described a multi‑year partnership model in which organizers contribute to site improvements while the city provides limited concessions or campsite packages.
Staff said organizers are experienced and that the fire marshal has approved the proposed capacity. Staff outlined a staged contribution model, using $20,000 as an early‑year example toward improvements at Millsfield, and said the city would consider concessions or campsite arrangements to help organizers offset startup losses.
"They would always be contributing to the city of Brainerd $20,000, whatever that that that's just a number that I'm using as an example," staff member Mike said, describing how organizers might help bring the site up to standard in the first years.
Board members pressed for contract language that protects the city — including clear terms for exclusivity, noise ordinances and the ability to cancel if organizers fail to meet obligations — and supported the motion to have staff work with the city attorney on a draft agreement. The motion to direct staff to prepare the agreement and return it to the board passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: staging concerts at Millsfield would require site upgrades and entail public‑safety planning, logistics and neighbor outreach. The proposed agreement model ties organizer contributions to incremental improvements and anticipates a transition to greater self‑sufficiency by organizers over multiple years.
Next steps: staff will work with the city attorney to draft a contract for board review. The board asked staff to keep the partnership terms and any exclusivity provisions clear and to include contingency language if organizers do not meet improvement or operational commitments.
