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City Council Minutes 01-22-2024REGULAR MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Monday, January 22, 2024 — 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 Murdoff moved approval of the agenda. Councilmember Gabler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. C. Approval of Meeting Minutes • Special Meeting Minutes from January 8, 2023 • Regular Meeting Minutes from January 8, 2023 Councilmember Gabler moved approval of the minutes. Councilmember Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. D. Citizen Comments None. E. Public Service Announcements Haley Foster, Communications & Marketing Specialist, noted the following public announcements: • Spring Tree Sale • DMV Trailer Registration • Kids Lifting Certification • Father Daughter Dance • Deep Freeze Pickleball Tournament • Indoor Farmers Market F. Council Liaison Updates • Economic Development Authority (EDA) — Councilmember Hinz provided an update on the meeting held January 10, 2024. The EDA considered the following: GMEF loan pre -application from Deephaven-Simplicity; contract City Council Minutes: January 22, 2024 Page 1 1 5 with WSB to complete Phase I ESA and ARM at 216 Pine Street; and contract with WSB to complete Phase I ESA at 118 Broadway East. • 1-94 Coalition — Councilmember Gabler gave an update. G. Department Head Updates • FiberNet (Arvig) Quarterly Update — Mark Birkholz presented the final quarter report and annual report from 2023. • DMV Update — Carolyn Granger, Deputy Registrar Manager, presented the DMV annual update. The presentation included information on staff, revenue and operations. • Hi -Way Liquors Update — Randall Johnsen, Liquor Store Manager, presented Hi -Ways liquor annual update. The update included information on staffing issues, revenues, and events. • Election Update — Jennifer Schrieber, City Clerk, gave an update on the Presidential Nomination Primary election being held March 5, 2024. 2. Consent Agenda: Councilmember Murdoff moved approval of the Consent Agenda excluding item G. Councilmember Hinz 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 $1,013,525.86. B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments. Action taken: Approved the hires for Engineering, Monticello Community Center, and Parks, and departures for Monticello Community Center and Streets. C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action taken: No report this cycle. D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-07 approving a donation from Steve Johnson of framed historical photos with a value of $75. Action taken: The resolution accepting the donation was adopted. E. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-08 appointing election judges, including head judges and Absentee Ballot Board judges, for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Nomination Primary. Action taken: Resolution appointing election judges was approved. F. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 820 adopting the 2024 City of Monticello Official Zoning map and appendix maps. Action taken: Ordinance was adopted. City Council Minutes: January 22, 2024 Page 2 1 5 G. Consideration of a request for Conditional use Permit for drive -through services as a accessory use in a B-3, Highway Business District. Applicant: Todd Olin. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. H. Consideration of approving a license agreement between the City of Monticello and Prosperity Avenue LLC (108 Cedar Street) for use of the Cedar Street right of way. Action taken: License agreement was approved. Consideration of approving a request for extension of final plat approval for Twin Pines First Addition to August 28, 2024. Action taken: Extension was approved. J. Consideration of approving an agreement with Flaherty & Hood, P.A. for government relations services during the 2024 legislative session. Action taken: Agreement was approved. K. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-09 authorizing submission of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant application for Monticello SRTS sidewalk gaps. Action taken: Adopted the resolution authorizing submission of the grant. L. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-10 authorizing submission of an Active Transportation grant application for CSAH 30 trail improvements. Action taken: Adopted the resolution authorizing submission of the grant. M. Consideration of approving Change Order 1 for the Downtown Roadway & Pedestrian Improvements Project in the amount of $25,838.50. Action taken: Approved the change order. 2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion G. Consideration of a request for Conditional Use Permit for drive -through services as an accessory use in a B-3, Highway Business District. Applicant: Todd Olin Item was removed by Councilmember Martie as he had questions about the entry and exit for the proposed drive -through from Cedar Street. He noted that he received a call with a concern about the proposed drive -through and that there could be an issue of congestion at the location. He questioned why access couldn't be accommodated from Oakwood. Steve Grittman noted that all access points were reviewed for congestion and other issues. Staff and the applicant, Todd Olin, both noted that the proposed drive -through location is the best alternative for the project. Councilmember Gabler moved approval of the request for Conditional Use Permit for drive -through services. Councilmember Hinz seconded the motion. City Council Minutes: January 22, 2024 Page 3 1 5 Motion carried 4-1; Councilmember Martie voted against the motion; he was opposed to the proposed access location on Cedar Street. 3. Public Hearings: 4. Regular Agenda: A. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-11 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bid for the Broadway Street Roadway and Utility Improvement Project and 7th Street Retaining Wall, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon, and sidewalk Improvement project Matt Leonard, Public Works Director/City Engineer, presented the item and noted that the projects were bid together to obtain better bid pricing. The Broadway project includes roadway and utility improvements, in conjunction with Wright County's project, on Broadway Street. The City's project includes: spot repair on concrete and gutter; repair sanitary sewer and storm manholes; paved trail; pathway lighting; upgrade medians; pedestrian crossings; and boulevard trees. Mr. Leonard noted that the City was not able to secure an easement to connect the River Walk Trail to Broadway Street, therefore, recommended that the section of sidewalk that was proposed on the north side of Broadway Street be removed from the project. Mayor Hilgart commented on the medians and questioned whether there could be concrete pots instead of grass. Matt Leonard responded that the plan was to install turf. Councilmember Gabler added that trees and the green soften the area. Rachel Leonard, City Administrator, reiterated that the green was included to soften the area and slow down traffic. In addition, the City did not budget the purchase of concrete pots for the east side of Broadway. There was discussion on the section of trail that is proposed to be removed by Hart Boulevard to Fenning and focus on the pathway on the south side of Broadway. There was consensus of Council that they would like the trail, but they support removing it from this project. This trail could perhaps be addressed later. The 7th Street project includes reconstruction of retaining wall, sidewalks, and replacement of rectangular rapid flashing beacon. Mayor Hilgard questioned the high assessment for the property located at 221 7th Street West. Matt Leonard noted that it is higher because of the slope of the property. Mayor Hilgart questioned the assessment policy and that it doesn't seem like a fair amount compared to other property assessments. He added that he wouldn't support this sidewalk being in the project if the assessment is the amount that is listed. City Council Minutes: January 22, 2024 Page 4 1 5 Councilmembers Murdoff and Martie concurred that the assessment proposed should be amended. Matt Leonard noted that it isn't assessed until the project is complete and the Council determines the assessment based on City policy. He added that staff will review the assessment policy for sidewalks, since it is questioned often, and perhaps it can be updated. Councilmember Hinz moved to adopt Resolution 2024-11 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bid for the Broadway Street Roadway and Utility Improvement Project and 7t" Street Retaining Wall, Rectangular Rapids Flashing Beacon, and Sidewalk Improvement Project with the removal of the Hart Boulevard path and move focus to existing pathway on southside of Broadway. Councilmember Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Adiournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. 1 Recorder: Jennifer Schreibe Attest: City Administrator City Council Minutes: January 22, 2024 Page 5 1 5