Brackets in URL Field Get Reformatted to %5B%5D
Though I have not come up with an answer to my question, the easy work-around I created was to add a text field instead of a URL field in my content type.  

I then used the Linked Field Module to link the text field to the outside website.  This preserved all of the crazy characters that were needed.

For those not familiar with the Linked Field Module, after you have added a text field to your content type, go into:


Manage Display for your content type
Set the Format to Default
Click on the Gear Symbol
Say No to link to content
Check the box to Link the field
For Destination use the field item name with dashes, like this [node:field-online-link-to-resource]
Use the Advanced section to add a title, link text, etc.


FYI that I would only allow trusted content editors to add data to this type of field.