YMCA asks Brainerd for $4 million to help build community pool; council directs staff to study funding options

The YMCA urged the Brainerd City Council to help finance an aquatic center at its new facility, presenting economic-impact estimates and a request that the city work with municipal advisor Baker Tilly to identify a potential $4 million municipal contribution.

Shane Riffle, speaking for the YMCA, outlined the organization’s local history and community programming and said the proposed partnership would include hospitals and other municipal or regional partners. Riffle told the council the YMCA’s economic-impact analysis estimated approximately $51.9 million in community economic benefit from the project and said the YMCA would be one partner among several in the capital stack. "It's not just us going alone," Riffle said, asking staff to work with Baker Tilly so the advisor could "bring back their proposal for a mechanism to fund this project." (Transcript summary.)

Council members pressed for details about the request: whether Brainerd would be the sole municipal funder, what the aquatic center would include, how resident access and discounts would be handled, and whether bond financing would be needed. Riffle said the aquatic center would be a natatorium; operating models might range from a city‑owned aquatic facility operated by the YMCA under an operating agreement to other ownership/management structures. He also described potential programmatic partnerships (e.g., third‑grade water‑safety programs with the school district) and existing regional partners such as Sourcewell and Baxter (which leases a summer camp site the YMCA operates).

Councilmember Johnson moved to "direct staff to work with Baker Tilly to find funding options to build a community pool at the new YMCA facility." The motion drew vocal support and opposition: one council member objected to providing what he described as significant taxpayer support to a private nonprofit and said he could not support bonding for a private entity, while other members said the YMCA delivers broad public benefits and potential resident discounts that distinguish it from a commercial subsidy. The council voted and the motion carried; the motion directed staff to research funding mechanisms and return with a proposal.

Next steps: staff will consult Baker Tilly and return to the council with financing scenarios and recommended mechanisms for possible municipal contribution or participation. No debt issuance was approved at this meeting; the council simply directed staff to explore options and report back.