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Brainerd council adopts charter amendment shifting utilities language after union questions
Summary
The Brainerd City Council adopted Ordinance 1601, updating charter language on public utilities after a public hearing where Local 49 asked for clarity about how organizational changes would affect union positions; staff said any changes to bargaining-unit positions would be negotiated.
The Brainerd City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 1601 on May 4, approving charter language changes recommended by the charter commission that reorganize how certain public utilities functions are described and administered.
The change followed a public hearing at which Daniel Revere, representing Local 49, asked for details about an organizational chart and whether moving water functions under the Public Utilities Commission would alter bargaining-unit positions. Revere said the union had asked for communication and clarity "to gain some type of insight" into impacts on departments and bargaining units.
City staff, including Nick Broyles, replied that the ordinance reflects structural changes in management and that the charter language itself should not alter union positions without negotiation. "If there are any changes with union employees, everything has to be negotiated," staff said. Councilmembers emphasized the city’s intent to work with the unions during upcoming negotiations and to avoid unilateral changes to represented positions.
After the public hearing, the council dispensed with the formal reading of the ordinance, adopted Ordinance 1601, and approved a resolution to publish a summary of the ordinance. Roll-call votes recorded council members Chesak, Johnson, Stunek, Yager, Erickson, Bevens and O'Day voting in favor.
The ordinance implements the charter commission's Chapter 5 language changes and directs staff to follow statutory processes where assessments or other state statutes apply to on-street projects. The council said staff will continue engagement with union representatives as organizational steps proceed. The ordinance and the summary-publication resolution carried; the charter amendment will take effect after statutorily required post-adoption timelines.
