City Council Minutes 04-28-2025 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, April 28, 2025 — 5:30 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Kip Christianson, Charlotte Gabler, Tracy Hinz, and Lee Martie
Absent: None
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Matt Leonard, Angela Schumann, Sarah Rathlisberger, Tom
Pawelk, and Jennifer Schreiber
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Franchise Fee/Assessment Policy Discussion
Matt Leonard, Public Works Director/City Engineer, gave an overview of the City's
Assessment Policy, including what types of projects the City assesses for. He proceeded
to offer information on using franchise fee revenue versus assessment for pavement
maintenance type projects such as mill and overlay. Assessments would still apply for
such projects as rural to urban section conversion projects where curb and gutter,
addition of sidewalk/pathway, and utility service line improvements.
Mr. Leonard noted that many cities have transitioned to a franchise fee. The process is
that cities charge utility companies a fee and then the utility companies usually pass this
fee onto customers. Therefore, residents would see an increase in their utility bill. This
would most likely be a gas franchise fee in Monticello. Most bills list it as a "city" fee.
Councilmember Christianson asked if there could be more innocuous wording such as
right-of-way fee rather than city.
Mr. Leonard mentioned that the City would generate approximately $1.8 million
annually with a franchise fee.
There was City Council consensus to further review using gas franchise fees versus
assessments for items such as mill and overlay, road reconstruction, etc. Staff will
continue to look at developing a process of using franchise fees to fund such projects.
3. Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber U r 1(WtLk-__
City Council Special Meeting Minutes —April 28, 2025
Attest:
dity dministrato
City Council Special Meeting Minutes —April 28, 2025