City Council Minutes 05-13-2024REGULAR MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 13, 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. Proclamation for Pet Partners Therapy Animal Teams was read by Mayor
Hilgart.
C. Approval of Agenda
Mayor Hilgart requested to add discussion on the Let's Chalk event.
Councilmember Murdoff motioned to approve of the agenda with the added
discussion on Let's Chalk. Councilmember Hinz seconded the motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
D. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Regular Meeting Minutes from April 22, 2024
Councilmember Gabler moved to approve the minutes. Councilmember Martie
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
E. Citizen Comments
None.
F. Public Service Announcements
Haley Foster, Communications & Marketing Specialist, noted the
following public announcements:
• No Mow May
• Farmers Market
• Walk & Roll — June 8
• Camp Manitou — Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park
G. Council Liaison Updates
• Economic Development Authority (EDA) — Councilmember Hinz gave an
update of the meeting held May 8, 2024. The EDA held a workshop on Block
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34 redevelopment. At the regular meeting the group reviewed the following:
TIF 1-42 Modification; Wiha Tools expansion certificate of completion; use of
property for Wright County Sheriff's Office K-9 training; UMC TIF
Development Subsidy amendment; a GMEF application for Excelsior Tool;
purchase agreement for 118 Broadway East; and an interfund loan for 118
Broadway East.
• Central Mississippi River Regional Planning Partnership (CMRP) — Rachel
Leonard, City Administrator, commented on the meeting held in April. The
group discussed two primary pieces of business. They received two
management proposals to guide them from a joint power organization to a
non-profit organization and chose Flaherty & Hood. The second item
discussed was the Community Energy Transition (CET) program.
• Industrial and Economic Development Committee (IEDC) — Councilmember
Murdoff gave an update of the meeting held May 7. At the meeting, Wayne
Elam gave a presentation on commercial and industrial land pricing, sales
trends, availability, etc. Updates from the Chamber of Commerce, Wright
County Economic Development, and City Council were also presented.
• Planning Commission — Councilmember Gabler gave an overview of the
meeting held May 7. The Planning Commission held four public hearings:
amendment to City Code regarding flood plain; Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
for accessory structure; CUP on electric vehicle charging station; and CUP for
restaurant with drive thru.
G. Department Updates
• FiberNet Quarterly Update — Mark Birkholz, Arvig, presented the quarterly
update.
• Wright County Sheriff's Office Quarterly Update— Sergeant Kevin Triplett
presented the quarterly update. He introduced Lt. Jeff McMackin who will be
the new contact for the City of Monticello.
• Construction Update — Matt Leonard, Public Works Director/City Engineer,
gave an update on current construction projects.
2. Consent Agenda:
Councilmember Murdoff moved to adopt the Consent Agenda excluding items D and
M. Councilmember Martie 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 $2,203,758.67.
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B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments.
Action taken: Approved new hires for Monticello Community Center and Parks
Department.
C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action
taken: No report this cycle.
D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-40 establishing polling places for the
2024 Primary and General Elections. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM
CONSENT AGENDA.
E. Consideration of approving a special event permit for seven outdoor
events/concerts to be held at Nordic Brewpub located at 530 Cedar Street.
Action taken: Special event permit approved contingent on notification of
surrounding business owners, payment of event fee, and contact with Wright
County Sheriff's Office.
Consideration of approving annual liquor license renewals for 2024-2025. Action
taken: Liquor license renewals were approved.
G. Consideration of approving a special event permit allowing exclusive use of
Ellison Park and related assistance in conjunction with the Brewfest event on
August 17, 2024, and approving a temporary liquor license for the event. Action
taken: Approved the special event permit contingent on the following: site
plan and coordination with the Streets Superintendent and Parks
Superintendent: coordination with the Chief Building Official on any tent
permits that may be needed; verification of trash and portable bathroom
services for the event; verification of notification of affected local businesses
and residents within a 2- block radius of the park by the permit holder, no later
than two weeks prior to the event; and event coordination with the Wright
County Sheriff's Office.
H. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-41 accepting a grant of $8,000 from
the Central Minnesota Arts Board for MontiArts Summer Arts in the Parks
project. Action taken: Resolution accepting the grant was adopted.
Consideration of submitting a letter of support for Sherburne County's
Community Energy Transition (CET) grant application to help fund the Trunk
Highway 25 Tier 1 Environmental Review for Central Mississippi River Regional
Planning Partnership. Action taken: Authorized the submission of the letter of
support.
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J. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 825 amending the Monticello City Code,
Title XV: Land Usage, Chapter 153: Zoning Ordinance, Section 153.046: Overlay
Zoning Districts, adopting the updated Flood Hazard Determination including
Flood Insurance Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City of Monticello
as part of the Official Zoning Map and the Subject Zoning Ordinance Section
herein. Applicant: City of Monticello. Action taken: Adopted Ordinance 825
amending the Monticello City Code, Title XV, Chapter 153, Section 153.046.
Adopted the updated Flood Hazard Determination including Flood Insurance
Study and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for the City of Monticello as part of the
Official Zoning Map and the subject Zoning Ordinance Section herein, based on
findings in Resolution PC-2024-12.
K. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-42 determining that it is not currently
feasible to connect public water and sewer to 7407 County Road 39 NE. Action
taken: Adopted Resolution 2024-42 determining that it is not feasible to
connect public water and sewer to 7407 County Road 39 NE.
L. Consideration of approving an agreement with Xcel Energy for the relocation and
undergrounding of utilities associated wit the downtown project for
$205,829.50. Action taken: Agreement was approved.
M. Consideration of approving the purchase of right-of-way the School Boulevard
Intersection Improvements Project and authorizing the Finance Director to make
payment of such claims. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM CONSENT
AGENDA.
2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion
D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-40 establishing polling places for the
2024 Primary and General Elections.
Mayor Hilgart removed the item to allow a member of the public to speak.
Colton Kratky, 9127 Fieldcrest Circle, expressed concern that the polling place
was in a church and voters may not feel comfortable voting at the location.
Jennifer Schreiber, City Clerk, addressed the concern and noted that voters have
the option to vote by mail or at City Hall. She also noted that the voting takes
place in a community room of the church. Churches are adequate spaces for
polling places because they are available, large enough, ADA compliant, and
have parking.
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Mayor Hilgart moved to adopt Resolution 2024-40 establishing polling places
for the 2024 Primary and General Elections. Councilmember Murdoff seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
M. Consideration of approving the purchase of right-of-way for the School Boulevard
Intersection Improvements Project and authorizing the Finance Director to make
payment of such claims.
Councilmember Gabler removed the item and expressed concern over the cost
per square foot that is being paid for Outlot A and wondered if that could be
renegotiated. Matt Leonard noted that renegotiating is an option. The property
owner also has the option to get an appraisal and the City would have to pay up
to $1,500 for the appraisal. The property owner is concerned that the City's
appraisal didn't include all comparable properties, such as the Savannah Vista
project and Due North. There is the chance that the appraisal could come in
higher, or it could delay the project. In addition, there will be an assessment for
this project that is assessed back to the property owner.
Councilmember Gabler moved approval of purchasing the right-of-way for the
School Boulevard Improvements Project and authorized the Finance Director to
make payment of such claims. Councilmember Murdoff seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
3. Public Hearings:
4. Regular Agenda:
A. Consideration of approving public contribution for Haven Ridge 3rd Addition
street and utilitv oversizing
Matt Leonard presented the item and noted that the City is proposing to pay the
oversizing cost for trunk sanitary sewer and watermain for the Haven Ridge 3rd
Addition. In addition to water and sewer, staff proposed paying for oversizing on
the collector roadways of Fallon Avenue, Eisele Avenue, and 85t" Street. The
estimated costs are $1,850,000 — trunk sanitary sewer, $600,000 — trunk
watermain, and $200,000 street oversizing. The final cost being included in the
developer agreement to be considered at a future council meeting. The
oversizing credits for the utility extensions would be paid for by the Trunk Utility
funds and the oversizing credit for roadways would be paid for by the Capital
Project fund.
The Council discussed the item and had questions for clarification.
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Ben Schmidt, Twin Cities Land Development, addressed the City Council and
noted that they are in agreement with City staff.
Councilmember Hinz moved to approve the public contribution for Haven
Ridge 3rd Addition street and utility oversizing. Councilmember Martie
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Consideration of change orders for the Monticello Downtown Roadwav &
Pedestrian Proiect, ON Proiect 22C005, for additional grading and concrete work
at West Bridge Park and purchasing tree guards for Walnut Street for $234,574
Tom Pawelk, Parks & Recreation Director, gave a history of the project and
presented the change orders. The change order for the tree guards is a
confirmed cost and replaces the proposed bridge rail component in the project.
The proposed change order for West Bridge Park is the engineer's estimate. The
Improvements noted were additional grading for the final playground design,
new playground fall zones, connecting accessible sidewalks surrounding the play
area, and expanding the woodchip surfacing area.
The Council discussed the West Bridge Park change order. Councilmember
Gabler and Hinz questioned what the consequences would be for waiting on the
West Bridge Park change order improvements. Mr. Pawelk noted that it would
be a greater mess in the future to make the changes. Installing the
improvements in conjunction with the current project will minimize future park
closures, costs, and site disturbance. Mayor Hilgart spoke in support of adding
the improvements with the current project because residents having already
endured the closures and doing them now makes more sense than in the future.
Mr. Pawelk presented the change order for tree guards. He noted that the tree
guards will mimic the bridge rail that was going to be used. There were a couple
of questions regarding the tree guard change order. Mayor Hilgart questioned
why the tree guards were removed from the project initially and then added
back in. Angela Schumann, Community Development Director, responded there
were tree guards in other locations of the project that were removed. These tree
guards were included in the project instead of metal guards that were originally
proposed.
Councilmember Martie moved approval of proposed change order for West
Bridge Park as part of the Downtown Roadway & Pedestrian Project, City
Project 22C005 to provide additional grading and concrete work at West Bridge
based on the engineer's estimate of $219,483, with final cost negotiated by
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City Engineer. Councilmember Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
Councilmember Hinz moved approval of Change Order #2 for the Monticello
Downtown Roadway & Pedestrian Project, City Project 22C005, removing the
refurbished bridge rails from the project and adding in two-sided tree guards
for a total cost of $15,091. Councilmember Martie seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
5. Additional Items:
Mayor Hilgart requested discussion on the Let's Chalk event. Mayor Hilgart noted his
past participation in the event and his fundraising efforts. His question was whether
Chalk Fest should be a City event, a private event where he would submit a special
event permit or organized by committee. Chalk Fest is currently funded by donations,
but there is a commitment of staff time for planning and working the event.
Councilmembers expressed support of the event, however, there wasn't a consensus on
how the event should be managed.
There will be continued discussion on the item at a future Council workshop or meeting.
6. Adiournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
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Recorder: Jennifer Schreibqrf
Atte 3
City Administrator
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