City Council Minutes 08-11-2003 JointMinutes Special Meeting - 8/11/03
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
JOINT MEETING WITH TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
Monday, August 11, 2003 - 7 p.m.
Council Members Present: Roger Carlson, Glen Posusta, Robbie Smith, Brian Stumpf and Bruce
Thielen.
Council Members Absent: None.
Township Officials Present: Franklin Denn, Brett Holker, Ted Kopff, Ken Scadden and Bill
Youngs.
1. Welcome and Introductions:
Bruce Thielen called the meeting to order and welcomed those present. Introductions of city
and township officials were made. Bruce Thielen explained the purpose of the meeting was to
discuss growth and annexation issues.
2. Review of recent Lyrowth and discussion of LyroN�Ih pressures.
Deputy City Administrator, Jeff O'Neill, pointed out where development is taking place in the
city and areas where the City has received requests for annexation. Although most of the
development pressure is residential, Jeff O'Neill pointed out that CSAH 18/I-94 interchange
project could bring about some commercial development as well.
The criteria the City follows in allowing property to be annexed was also review. This
criteria includes a concept plan submittal, annexation request must be initiated by the property
owner; availability of utility service and the property must be contiguous to city limits.
The township officials indicated that at the present time the township is under the Wright
County Planning Ordinance and that periodically that plan is reviewed by the township.
Currently the township is in the review process but Franklin Denn indicated that nothing
concrete has happened on that. Bruce Thielen asked what specific changes were being
looked at. Franklin Denn responded they were looking at the A -R (Agricultural/Residential)
district which allows single family development with a lot size of 10 acres unless in an
approved rural planned unit development and some development with 5 acre lot size. Bruce
Thielen asked if the township's A -R district would overlap with what the City is looking at as
future annexation area. Franklin Denn indicated that it possibly did. Franklin Denn stated
there are two basic policies in the county plan which are the preservation of agricultural land
and residential development adjacent to city limits. City Administrator, Rick Wolfsteller
questioned whether the County's plan wanted residential development to take place in the city
Minutes Special Meeting - 8/11/03
or adjacent to it. Franklin Denn stated that whatever the township does with their land use
plan will be in the best interest of the township.
3. Review of current annexation process and discussion of whether there is an interest in
developing a new annexation agreement.
Bruce Thielen asked if the township officials felt there was support to come up with a new
orderly annexation agreement and if so what would the township look for. Franklin Denn
responded that the township officials had asked the City what they did not like about the
previous annexation agreement but the City never responded. Bruce Thielen stated that there
was no advantage for the City in going back to the previous agreement and that previous
agreement was not a smoothly operating agreement. Rick Wolfsteller stated that the biggest
problem with the old agreement was when the land use designation from the City's plan was
changed. The City did not feel it was appropriate for another entity to change the land use
classification of the City's land use plan. Bill Youngs and Ken Scadden stated that township
had offered control of the zoning to the City as long as there was no leapfrogging but the City
had rejected the offer. Bill Youngs indicated this type of agreement would be similar to what
Buffalo and Buffalo Township have. The current City Council was not aware of when that
township offer was made or why it was turned down.
Rick Wolfsteller asked about the MOAA boundary line and whether there had to be a set
boundary line in order to have an agreement. Franklin Denn stated that with the township it
was a matter of trust. Jeff O'Neill stated that by not leapfrogging development or grabbing
big chunks of land the City has demonstrated that they are conducting themselves in an
appropriate manner. Bruce Thielen stated that trust goes both ways and the City doesn't feel
like they get full cooperation from the township.
Rick Wolfsteller asked if the township had any problems with the process for annexation that
was outlined by Jeff O'Neill and if so, what would they like changed. Franklin Denn stated
that with an agreement if the City doesn't like it they can go by state statutes. Bruce Thielen
asked at what point does the City and the township talk about merger or consolidation. He
noted that a number of communities have been doing this and noted cost efficiencies by
combining services. Bruce Thielen felt they should be doing something to pull the
communities together instead of creating division.
Brett Holker questioned the concept of annexation by ordinance when there was an
agreement. Brian Stumpf stated the city did not want an agreement that would give them less
than the state statutes. Roger Carlson felt if there was an agreement it should have a sunset
date and be reviewed periodically during the period it was in effect. Rick Wolfsteller asked
again what would the township like to see. Franklin Denn stated that township would have to
have assurance that there would be some advantage to the township to have an agreement.
Rick Wolfsteller replied that the city wants the same.
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Minutes Special Meeting - 8/11/03
There was some additional discussions on what advantage there would be for the township if
there was consideration of consolidation. Franklin Denn stated there is a lot land that should
never have been brought into the city. He also indicated that there are ordinances that allow
for consolidation of townships. Again the township officials asked how consolidation would
benefit them. Bill Youngs pointed out that other than the Gold Nugget development, the
township did not stand in the way of previous annexations by the City.
Bruce Thielen stated there is much to discuss and no resolution would come tonight. He
suggested that if there was a consideration of consolidation, there should be an ad hoc
committee set up of two township residents (not township officials ) and two city residents
(not officials) and the city planner to look at the pros and cons of consolidation. Brett Holker
stated the township would like to do some research on that before they make a decision and
indicated the township officials are a little gun shy about going down that road again in any
joint venture with the city.
4. Adjournment.
The j oint meeting was adj ourned at 6: 3 0 p.m. with no date set for any additional meetings.
Recording Secretary