City Council Minutes 02-27-2023REGULAR MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, February 27, 2023 — 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Tracy Hinz, Lee Martie and Sam Murdoff
Absent: None.
1. General Business
A. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Hilgart called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
B. Approval of Agenda
Councilmember Gabler moved approval of the agenda. Councilmember Martie
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Special Meeting Minutes from February 13, 2023
• Regular Meeting Minutes from February 13, 2023
Councilmember Hinz moved approval of both sets of minutes. Councilmember
Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
D. Citizen Comments
None.
E. Public Service Announcements
• Haley Foster, Communications Coordinator, gave an update on the
following:
- Spring Tree Sale
- Compost Facility
- MCC Egg Dive
F. Council Liaison Updates
• 1-94 Coalition — Councilmember Gabler provided an update of the
meeting held on February 16. The meeting included an update of federal
funding and grant funding.
G. Department Updates
• Wright County Sheriff's Office Quarterly/Annual Update —Lieutenant Kramber
presented the quarterly report and the 2022 annual report to the City Council.
City Council Minutes: February 27, 2023 Page 1 14
Economic Development Update —Jim Thares, Economic Development Manager,
gave an update to the City Council that included department activity for 2022.
2. Consent Agenda:
Councilmember Gabler move approval of the Consent Agenda excluding F, H, and I.
Councilmember Murdoff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
A. Consideration of approving the payment of bills. Action taken: Approved the bill
and purchase card registers for a total of $616,862.68.
B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments.
Action taken: Approved the hires for MCC and Building Department and
departures for Hi -Way Liquors.
C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action
taken: Approved the sale of Public Works Department surplus property.
D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2023-19 accepting donation in the amount
of $22,802.61 from Monticello Fire Relief Association for Fire Department Items.
Action taken: Resolution accepting the donation was adopted.
E. Consideration of approving appointments of Rob Stark and Tony Velishek to the
Industrial Economic Development Committee (IEDC). Action taken:
Appointments were approved.
F. Consideration of special event permit for Wright/Sherburne Pride Committee
event. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
G. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 798 amending Fee Schedule for Public
Works and Miscellaneous fees. Action taken: Ordinance was adopted.
H. Consideration of approving monthly stipend adjustments for Monticello Fire
Department Captains. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT
AGENDA.
I. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 799 and Summary Ordinance 799A for
amendments to the Monticello City Code XV, Chapter 153, Monticello Zoning
Ordinance, Various Sections. Applicant: City of Monticello. Action taken: ITEM
WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
Consideration of a request for a 6-month extension of final plat approval for
Twin Pines First Addition. Action taken: Extension of final plat was approved.
K. Consideration to call for a public hearing by the Planning Commission on
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 for amendment to the Monticello 2040 Vision + Plan
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(Comprehensive Plan), Chapter 3, "Land Use, Growth and Orderly Annexation"
re -guiding certain parcels from their existing Industrial designations to
alternative Industrial, Employment and Commercial categories, and amending
the text of the Plan to add flexibility for Implementation of the Plan's goals and
land Use objectives. Action taken: Public hearing was set for March 7, 2023.
2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion
F. Consideration of special event permit for Wright/Sherburne Pride Committee
event
Councilmember Gabler removed the item to allow the applicant to comment on
the event. Helene Woods, applicant, gave a brief overview of the event.
Councilmember Gabler moved approval of the event permit. Councilmember
Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
H. Consideration of approving monthly stipend adjustments for Monticello Fire
Department Captains
Councilmember Murdoff removed the item and questioned the stipend increase
for the captains as they were increased in 2022. Rachel Leonard, City
Administrator, responded that after several meetings and discussions in 2021
and 2022 with staff, Personnel Committee and Fire Department, it became
apparent that Fire Department officers' stipends were relatively low for the
amount of responsibility of the position. They were increased from $50 to $100
in 2022; however, following review and revision of the job descriptions and time
commitment, it was determined the 2022 increase remained out of alignment
with the responsibility of the positions.
The proposed increase was budgeted in 2023 knowing the possibility of
increasing the stipends. Ms. Leonard gave a brief overview of the responsibilities
of the captains.
Mayor Hilgart commented on the fact that the captains were paid $50 for many
years and an increase was long overdue. Councilmember Martie spoke in favor
of the increase and noted the small impact it would have on the budget.
Councilmember Murdoff also expressed concern that the Captains haven't
signed the employee handbook yet request an increase. He suggested the
approval for the increase be tied to signing the handbook. He agreed that
because of the job duties an increase is justified but is concerned about the
department's lack of acknowledgement of city policies. Ms. Leonard noted that
these issues were being addressed separately and have been a work in process.
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Councilmember Gabler added there are two items; one is a personnel issue, and
one is a budget issue and should be addressed separately. Councilmember Hinz
spoke in support of the increase and the effort staff is taking in relation to the
department.
Mayor Hilgart moved approval of the stipend adjustments. Councilmember
Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-1; Councilmember Murdoff
voted against for reasons listed above.
1. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 799 and Summary Ordinance 799A for
amendment to the Monticello City Code XV, Chapter 153, Monticello Zoning
Ordinance, Various Sections. Applicant: City of Monticello
Councilmember Murdoff removed the item for clarification.
Councilmember Murdoff moved approval with amendment to table 3-4 and 3-
5 to list heading as Accessory Structures and uses. Councilmember Gabler
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Public Hearings:
4. Regular Agenda:
A. Consideration of authorizing Bolton & Menk, Inc. to provide consulting services
Tom Pawelk, Park & Recreation Director, provided an update on consulting
services for the Parks Needs Assessment. A revision was made to the proposal
submitted by Bolton and Menk to account for the fact that the school district is
not participating in the current study. The revised proposal and revised cost
were submitted to address city needs.
There was minimal discussion by the City Council.
Councilmember Hinz moved approval to authorize Bolton & Menk, Inc. to
provide consulting services for the Parks Needs Assessment. Councilmember
Murdoff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
S. Adiournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber
s
Approved:
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n
Attest•
V"'�/City Administrator
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