City Council Minutes 12-09-2024REGULAR MEETING — MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, December 9, 2024 — 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Tracy Hinz, Charlotte Gabler, 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
Motion by Councilmember Gabler to approve the agenda. Councilmember
Murdoff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Regular Meeting Minutes November 12, 2024
• Regular Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024
Motion by Councilmember to approve of the meeting minutes. Councilmember
Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
D. Citizen Comments
Kip Christianson, Monticello resident and incoming Councilmember, thanked
Councilmember Murdoff for his service.
E. Public Service Announcements
The following public announcements were noted:
• Indoor Farmers Market
• Holiday Hours
• Christmas Tree Pickup
F. Council Liaison Updates
• Planning Commission — Councilmember Gabler provided an update of the
Planning Commission meeting held on December 3, 2024. At this meeting,
the commission appointed officers, renewed and appointed commission
member terms, and approved a variance.
• Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC) — Councilmember Gabler
gave an update of the PARC meeting held December 5. The commission
approved to amend their schedule to meetings every month instead of every
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other. They approved the following: PARC member renewals; Bertram Chain
of Lakes Regional Advisory Commission Bylaws; a use agreement with School
District; and EAB tree replacement incentive program.
G. Department Updates
• Community Development Update— Angela Schumann, Community
Development Director, gave a presentation on the City's Development
Services Department which includes Community Development, Building
Safety & Code Enforcement, and Economic Development.
• IT Update —Trevor Mack, IT Technician, gave an annual update of the IT
Department. As part of the review, he noted 2024 accomplishments, security
awareness training, phish prone, and upcoming projects.
2. Consent Agenda:
Motion by Councilmember Hinz to approve the Consent Agenda. 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 $885,942.76.
B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments.
Action taken: Approved the hires for Hi -Way Liquors, MCC, Parks, and Streets,
and departures for Building Department, Hi -Way Liquors and MCC.
C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action
taken: No report this cycle.
D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-122 accepting a grant of $8,000 from
the Central Minnesota Arts Board for the Glow Parade. Action taken: Resolution
accepting the grant was adopted.
E. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-123 accepting a donation of $1,000
from Liberty Bank for Visit with Santa at Bertram Chain of Lakes Park. Action
taken: Adopted the resolution accepting the grant.
Consideration of approving an application for a temporary gambling permit for
bingo and a raffle to be conducted by the Wright County Ducks Unlimited,
Chapter 39 on January 24, 2025. Action taken: The application was approved.
G. Consideration of approving the City of Monticello Business Hours for 2025.
Action taken: 2025 Business Hours were approved.
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H. Consideration of approving the 2025 Regularly Scheduled City Council and
Commission meetings. Action taken: The schedule was approved.
Consideration of renewing a pawn broker license for 2025 for David Corbin dba
Monticello, Gun & Bargain Center at 1219 South Highway 25. Action taken:
Pawn broker license was approved.
Consideration of approving Board and Commission appointments commencing
January 1, 2025. Action taken: Appointments were approved.
K. Consideration of approving a Therapeutic Massage Enterprise license for Jess Say
Yes... Massage located at 1207 State Highway 25. Action taken: Massage License
was approved.
L. Consideration of approving an agreement with OPG-3 for an upgrade to the
City's Laserfiche content management software to include Accounts Payable (AP)
Workflow functionality for a one-time fee of $30,750 in 2025. Action taken: The
agreement was approved.
M. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-124 authorizing the City of
Monticello to submit information to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority
(MPFA) and to enter into a grant agreement with the MPFA. Action taken:
Adopted the resolution submitting information and entering into a grant
agreement with MPFA.
N. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-125 accepting the Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan in conjunction with the Safe Streets 4 All (SSFA) federal grant
program. Action taken: Adopted the resolution accepting the Comprehensive
Safety Action Plan.
O. Consideration of authorizing the purchase of a 2025 Caterpillar 920 compact
wheel loader with snowplow attachment and hydraulic snow blower from
Ziegler of St. Cloud, MN, for a total of $264,763.48 and an auto greaser from
Lubecore for $9,000 and declaring the 2012 John Deere 772GP motor grader as
surplus for trade-in. Action taken: Approved the purchase of both items and
declared the previous grader as surplus.
P. Consideration of a request for Administration Lot Subdivision and Combination
in an R-1 (Single Family) Residential District. Applicant: Steve Johnson. Action
taken: Approved the lot subdivision and combination.
Q. Consideration of approving a partial release of Union Crossings Development
Contract and Planned Unit Development for Lot 1, Block 1, First Federal Savings
Bank Addition. Action taken: Approved the partial release.
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R. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-125 accepting improvements and
authorizing final payment of $9,104 to Olson and Sons Electric for work related
to the undergrounding of electric utilities for the Downtown Roadway and
Pedestrian Improvements Project. Action taken: Adopted resolution accepting
the improvements and authorizing final payment.
S. Consideration of authorizing an agreement for MontiArts Consultant with Erica
Witzmann. Action taken: Approved the agreement.
T. Consideration of approving amendments to the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional
Park Advisory Council Bylaws that support the Joint Powers Agreement and
Operating Memorandum between Wright County and the City of Monticello for
the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Action taken: Approved the
amendments.
3. Public Hearings
3A. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 840 amending the Citv Fee Schedule for
2025 and adopting Summary Ordinance 840A for publication
Sarah Rathlisberger, Finance Director, introduced the draft 2025 fee schedule
and noted the major changes.
Mayor Hilgart opened the public hearing. There was no public testimony. Mayor
Hilgart closed the public hearing.
There was minimal discussion.
Motion by Councilmember Hinz to adopt Ordinance 840 amending the City Fee
Schedule for 2025 and adopt Summary Ordinance 840A for publication.
Councilmember Murdoff seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
3B. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-126 certifving the 2025 Final
Property Tax Levv and authorizing cancellation of certain deferred tax levies
Sarah Rathlisberger presented the final tax levy for 2025. Included in the
presentation was a review of the proposed levy increase for the HRA and the
City. Noted in the presentation were the following: property valuation, tax levy,
tax capacity rate, tax base changes, tax capacity shift and levy impact, tax
impacts, property tax history, and what property tax is used for. The 2025
combined EDA and City Property Tax Levy is proposed to increase by 8.1%.
Mayor Hilgart opened the public hearing. No one testified. Mayor Hilgart closed
the public hearing.
There was minimal discussion by the City Council.
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Motion by Councilmember Murdoff to adopt Resolution 2024-126 certifying
the 2025 Final Property Tax Levy and authorizing cancellation of certain
deferred tax levies. Councilmember Martie seconded the motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
4. Eegular Agenda:
4A. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2024-127 approving the 2025 Budget and
authorizing certain finance related actions
Sarah Rathlisberger presented the 2025 Budget. The proposed budget of
$52,794,000 includes an additional administrative support position for
development services, a 3.5% COLA increase to the City's pay scales, studies
related to compensation and park dedication rates, response to Emerald Ash
Borer, an accounts payable workflow module, and upgrades to the library's fire
system, along with inflation and price increases. Also reviewed were capital
items and projects planned for 2025.
There was minimal discussion by the City Council.
Motion by Councilmember Murdoff to adopt Resolution 2024-127 approving
the 2025 Budget and authorizing certain finance related action. Motion was
seconded by Councilmember Martie. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Adiournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber
Attest: &e 1 r A-"t y
City Administrator
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