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City Council Minutes 05-12-2025MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 12, 2025 — 6:30 p.m. Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Kip Christianson, Tracy Hinz, Charlotte Gabler, and Lee Martie 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 Council Member Hinz to approve the agenda. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. C. Approval of Meeting Minutes • Special Meeting Minutes from April 28, 2025 • Regular Meeting Minutes from April 28, 2025 Motion by Council Member Martie to approve the minutes. Council Member Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. D. Citizen Comments None. E. Public Service Announcements Stephanie Trottier, Communications Specialist, noted the following announcements: • No Mow May and ordinance exemption from certain nuisances. • Farmers Market • Memorial Day Business Hours F. Council Liaison Updates • Industrial & Economic Development Committee (IEDC) — Council Member Gabler gave an update of the meeting held Tuesday, May 6. At this meeting the group recommended the appointment of Joe Elam, received a presentation from Finance Director Sarah Rathlisberger on the City's long term financial plan, and had updates from the other City staff, the Chamber of Commerce and Wright County. City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 1 1 7 • Planning Commission — Council Member Christianson gave an update on the meeting held May 6, 2025. He noted that the main topic of discussion was the development of Meadows at Pioneer Park which was unanimously recommended for denial. The Commission reviewed and recommended approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for a data center and a couple other PUD amendments that will be before City Council. G. Department Updates • Fibernet/Arvig Quarterly Update — Mark Birkholz, Arvig, presented the 2025 1st Quarter Report. • Finance Update - Liz Lindrud, Finance Manager, presented an update of last year's activities in the Finance Department. • Construction Update - Matt Leonard, Public Works Director/City Engineer, gave an update on current construction projects. 2. Consent Agenda: Motion by Council Member Martie to approve the Consent Agenda. Council Member Christianson 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 $902,926.68. B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments. Action taken: Approved the hires for Hi -Way Liquors, Monticello Community Center, and Parks and terminations for Parks. C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action taken: No report this cycle. D. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2025-31 accepting donations of $500 from American Legion for Power of Produce Kids Club, $500 from Monticello Lions for a Fire Department fire wrap tool, $700 from Uptown Eye Care for Movie in the Park, and $100 from Dennie and Judy Suedbeck for flowers at the cemetery. Action taken: Adopted Resolution accepting the donations. E. Consideration of appointing Joe Elam to the Industrial Economic Development Committee (IEDC) for a term to expire on December 31, 2025. Action taken: Approved the appointment of Joe Elam. F. Consideration of appointing Clint Berglof to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a six -year term ending December 31, 2030. Action taken: Approved the appointment of Clint Berglof. City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 2 1 7 G. Consideration of approving a Special Event Permit allowing the use of City parks, core City public right-of-way, Monticello Community Center parking lot and related assistance for the annual Riverfest celebration on July 11-13, 2025. Action taken: Approved the special event permit for Riverfest. H. Consideration of approving a temporary liquor license for the Monticello Lions for Riverfest events on July 12, and 13, 2025. Action taken: Approved the temporary liquor license for the Monticello Lions. Consideration of approving a special event permit, a temporary liquor license, and charitable gambling permit for Church of St. Henry for St. Heinrich's Fest on September 27, 2025. Applicant: Church of St. Henry. Action taken: Approved the special event permit for St. Heinrich's Fest. J. Consideration of approving an application for a charitable gambling permit and a temporary liquor license for the Monticello Grad Party organization for a raffle to be held on October 4, 2025, at the Monticello Community Center. Applicant: Monticello Graduation Party. Action taken: Approved the gambling permit and temporary liquor license for the Monticello Grad Party. K. Consideration of authorizing an on -sale liquor license for Nordic Tap House located at 106 Walnut Street beginning June 1, 2025. Applicant: Zach Barthel. Action taken: Authorized the liquor license for Nordic Tap House. L. Consideration of approving a contract with HCM Architects for the preparation of bid documents for the roof replacements from recent storm damage in the amount of $92,368. Action taken: Approved the contract with HCM Architects for roof replacements. M. Consideration of approving a request for Conditional Use Permit for an Accessory Structure -Major in the R-1, Single Family Residential District with a driveway leading to the detached structure in the rear yard. Applicant: Benjamin Roberg. Action taken: Approved the Conditional Use Permit. 2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion 3. Public Hearings 4. Regular Agenda A. Consideration of accepting the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Sarah Rathlisberger, Finance Director, introduced Kelsy Larson, Manager at Abdo, who presented the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Ms. City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 3 1 7 Schweiger noted that the results showed no instances of noncompliance for Minnesota Legal Compliance standards. She then reviewed General Fund Balances, including revenue and expenditures, and all other fund balances including special revenue, debt service, capital projects, water, and others. She also showed comparisons to other comparable cities. There was minimal discussion by the City Council. Motion by Council Member Hinz to accept the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. B. Consideration of approving plans and specifications and authorization to bid for the Ditch 33 Improvements Proiect Matt Leonard gave an overview of the project which is projected to extend a new stormwater outlet from the wetland area just south of the Tyler East development, across CSAH 39, to the Mississippi River. The City received an estimated $2,000,000 from the State of Minnesota and Wright County for construction of the project. A small portion will be funded by the City. Mr. Leonard noted that this new outlet will be maintained by the City as part of the City's stormwater system. Mr. Leonard provided a brief timeline and noted that the project would be completed in Fall 2025. Council Member Hinz questioned what the ultimate impact or goal would be for the project. Mr. Leonard responded that Ditch 33 is in failing condition and is not equipped to take the amount of water that it has had to take. He added that there have been flooding issues on various properties in the area and there is no capacity, and the City would most likely not be able to attain additional discharge permits from the County to develop in the area. By providing an additional stormwater outlet more properties can develop in the area. Motion by Council Member Hinz to approve plans and specifications, and authorization to bid for the Ditch 33 Improvements Project. Council Member Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. C. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 848 granting a 10-year franchise agreement to Fibernet to construct, operate, and maintain a cable system and provide cable service in the Citv of Monticello and to adopt Summary Ordinance 848A for publication City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 4 1 7 Rachel Leonard, City Administrator, presented the franchise agreement which will allow Fibernet to continue to operate in the City of Monticello. Their current agreement is set to expire at the end of May 2025. The proposed agreement would extend their franchise for 10 years, which will bring their agreement on the same schedule for renewal as the other two cable franchises in the City. Ms. Leonard noted some of the elements of the agreement and that there is a change relating to the section on system capacity, specifically to no longer require a minimum number of competitive channels. Arvig wanted greater latitude to adjust to these changes, as trends in television viewing are shifting. Ms. Leonard added that the other two franchise agreements include the minimum channel requirement and that there is no requirement that we change them. However, there may be a future request to amendment to their agreements. There was minimal discussion among City Council. Motion by Council Member Martie to adopt Ordinance 848 granting a 10-year franchise agreement to Fibernet to construct, operate, and maintain a cable system and provide cable service in the City of Monticello and to adopt Summary Ordinance 848A for publication. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. D. Consideration of approving a contract with Safetv Rail Company for the installation of fall protection systems in the amount of $31,716.39 Matt Leonard reviewed the request for the installation of fall protection systems and noted the requirements of the State Building Code and OSHA. He noted the areas that needed to be addressed include the Monticello Community Center, Hi -Way Liquors, Monticello Public Library, and the Fire Station. He added that staff proposed a guardrail system. Mr. Leonard noted that this is not a budgeted item. Three bids were received. One bid was higher than the proposed selection and one bid could not do installation. There were a couple of clarifying questions by City Council. Motion by Council Member Martie to approve contract with Safety Rail Company for the installation of fall protection systems in the amount of $31,716.39. Council Member Gabler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 5 1 7 E. Consideration of authorizing the Citv Administrator to sign a letter of support for TH 25 Area Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study and Wright County's Corridor of Commerce Readiness grant application Matt Leonard gave a brief overview of the letter of support which recommends the three build alternatives for bridges and one no -build alternative to move forward for further NEPA environmental process. He presented the various options that were provided by Wright and Sherburne Counties. Motion by Council Member Christianson to authorize the City Administrator to sign a letter of support for TH 25 Area Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study and Wright County's Corridor of Commerce Readiness grant application. Council Member Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Consideration of adopting an amendment to the Citv of Monticello Assessment Policy and approving a Sewer and Water Availability and Connection and Downtown Parking Fund Assessment Agreement for Nordic Tap House (Property Owner Keith Kiellberg/Londa Yonak) Angela Schumann, Community Development Director, presented the item to City Council which included two items, an amendment to the City's Assessment Policy and approval of an assessment agreement for Sewer and Water Availability and Connection and Downtown Parking Fund. Nordic Tap House requested an assessment agreement for their Sewer and Water Availability and Connection Charges (SAC/WAC). The proposed amount for SAC and WAC totaled $102,999.21. They also requested an assessment of their amount of $80,000, due to the Downtown Parking Fund. The City Council was also requested to amend the City's Assessment Policy in support of its goals for downtown revitalization. The amendment would allow the Council to consider waiving interest for businesses within the Central Community District on assessments for SAC, WAC and Downtown Parking Fund only. Motion by Council Member Hinz moved to amend the Assessment Policy of the City of Monticello for waiver of interest for Sewer and Water Availability and Connection and Downtown Parking Fund payments applicable to specific projects within the Central Community District zone which meet the qualifying criteria for business subsidy. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 Page 6 1 7 Motion by Council Member Martie to approve a Sewer and Water Availability and Connection and Downtown Parking Fund Assessment Agreement for 10 years with Keith Kjellberg/Linda Yonak for Nordic Tap House, based on findings in Resolution 2025-32. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Adiournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber, {� h Attest: _ City Administ ator U \I, -- City Council Minutes: May 12, 2025 page 7 1 7