City Council Minutes 07-28-2025 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, July 28, 2025 — 4:30 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Kip Christianson (arrived at 5 p.m.), Tracy Hinz,
and Lee Martie
Absent: None
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Sarah Rathlisberger, Angela Schumann, Matt Leonard, Mike
Haaland, Tom Pawelk
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
2. MnDOT TH25 Corridor Study Update
City Administrator Rachel Leonard provided a summary of MnDOT TH25 Corridor Study
in advance of their open house on August 4. Public Works Director/City Engineer gave
additional details of some of the options to be presented at the open house.
3. 2026 Budget Discussion
Finance Director Sarah Rathlisberger gave a brief overview of the 2026 budget. As part
of her presentation, the City Council reviewed a slide on City personnel. Mayor Hilgart
indicated interest in hiring a staff planner in mid-2026. The City Council discussed what
information is necessary to determine whether the City utilizes in-house staff or
consultants. Mayor Hilgart expressed interest in hiring City staff before the current
planner retires. The City Council concurred and will have future conversations on this
topic.
Rachel Leonard commented on a slide on strategic planning. She noted that typically
strategic planning has been done in-house, however, to gain the best outcome she
questioned whether the planning should be conducted by a consultant. No direction
was provided by the Council.
4. Review of Pickleball Court Concept
Parks, Arts, and Recreation Director Tom Pawelk gave a brief overview of the process
the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC) used to finalize a pickleball court
plan. This included how the courts would fit into the Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic
Complex improvements. He presented a concept that was recommended by PARC.
There was consensus of the City Council to proceed with the concept shown and bring
plans and specifications to City Council for approval.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes —July 28, 2025
Customer Classification
Residential
Firm A
Firm B
Firm C
Small Volume, Dual Fuel A ("SVDF A")
Small Volume, Dual Fuel B ("SVDF B")
Large Volume, Firm and Dual Fuel ("LVDF")
Amount Per Account
Per Month ($)
$7 per month
$7 per month
$24 per month
$83 per month
$83 per month
$175 per month
$292 per month
(e) Payment. Franchise fees are to be collected by the Company, consistent with the Minnesota
Public Utility Commission's March 23, 2011, Order establishing franchise fee filing requirements
in Docket No. E,G999/CI-09-970, and submitted to the City as follows:
January — March collections due by April 30
April — June collections due by July 31
July — September collections due by October 31
October — December collections due by January 31
(f) Record Support for Payment. The Company shall make each payment when due and, if
requested by the City, shall provide a statement summarizing how the franchise fee payment was
determined, including information showing any adjustments to the total made to account for any
non -collectible accounts, refunds or error corrections. The Company shall permit the City, and its
representatives, access to the Company's records for the purpose of verifying such statements.
(g) Payment Adjustments. Payment to the City will be adjusted where the Company is unable to
collect the franchise fee. This includes non -collectible accounts.
(h)_Surcharge. The City recognizes that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission may allow the
Company to add a surcharge to customer rates of city residents to reimburse the Company for the
cost of the fee, consistent with the Minnesota Public Utility Commission's March 23, 2011 Order
establishing franchise fee filing requirements in Docket No. E,G999/CI-09-970.
(i) Dispute Resolution. If either party asserts that the other party is in default in the performance
of any obligation hereunder, the complaining party shall notify the other party of the default and
the desired remedy. The notification shall be written. Representatives of the parties must promptly
meet and attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved
within 30 days of the written notice, the parties may jointly select a mediator to facilitate further
discussion. The parties will equally share the fees and expenses of this mediator. If a mediator is
not used or if the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within 30 days after first meeting with
the selected mediator, either party may commence an action in District Court to interpret and
enforce this ordinance or for such other relief permitted by law.
0) Effective Date of Franchise Fee. The effective date of this Ordinance shall be after its
publication and ninety (90) days after sending written notice enclosing a copy of this adopted
Ordinance to Company by certified mail. Collection of the fee shall commence as provided above.
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(k) Relation to Franchise Agreement. This ordinance is enacted in compliance with the Franchise
Ordinance and shall be interpreted as such.
(1) Periodic Review. The City Council shall review this ordinance every two (2) years in whatever
manner the City Administrator then determines to be appropriate, including, but not limited to,
review by the City Council in either a work session or a regular meeting. Failure to review this
ordinance shall not in any way invalidate or limit it.
Section 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be published and take effect as provided by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS 27th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025.
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Mayor
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
Published in the Monticello Times newspaper the 30th day of October, 2025.
237470v1