City Council Minutes 03-23-2026 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, March 23, 2026 — 5:15 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Kip Christianson, Tracy Hinz, Lee Martie
Absent: None
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Sarah Rathlisberger, Angela Schumann, Matt Leonard, and Tom
Pawelk
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
2. Discussion on Residential Speed Limits
Public Works Director/City Engineer Matt Leonard provided background on state
legislation passed in 2019 allowing cities to set residential speed limits lower than the
statutory 30 mph and noted the requirements for implementation. Mr. Leonard noted
that the Council reviewed this option in 2020 but decided not to implement 25 mph
limit at that time. To now adopt a lower limit, the City would need to develop a policy,
survey existing speed limit signs, create an implementation plan, conduct public
outreach, and install signage.
Matt Leonard played a short video on reducing speed limits to improve public safety. He
noted that the study reviewed in the video indicated that lowering speed limits alone
does not meaningfully reduce travel speeds; driver behavior is more influenced by the
roadway environment. The study recommended focusing on environmental
improvements such as lighting, sidewalks, road maintenance, pothole repairs, and traffic
calming measures.
Matt Leonard stated that the implementation of a 25 mph zone would require
approximately 65 signs for residential areas, and expanding into the downtown
commercial district would raise the number to about 90 signs. He added that the
estimated costs are $57,000 for residential -only implementation and $85,000 if
downtown streets are included.
City Administrator Rachel Leonard emphasized the importance of clearly defining the
problem the City is trying to address. She noted that it's necessary to distinguish
between actual speeding issues and perception concerns and highlighted that
expectations for enforcement and communication must be considered.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes — March 23, 2026
Matt Leonard noted recent City efforts, including the Safe Routes to School plan and
roundabout projects, that have successfully enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety. He
added that most speed complaints in the City are on higher -volume roads like
Edmonson and Fallon. Fewer complaints occur on residential streets, though some
downtown wide streets experience higher speeds as drivers use them as bypass routes.
Matt Leonard recommended keeping current speed limits and focusing resources on
traffic calming, road improvements, sidewalk extensions and strategic striping. Mayor
Hilgart concurred and expressed skepticism that lowering speed limits would
meaningfully change driver behavior. Rachel Leonard noted that traffic -calming
strategies are most effective when integrated into roadway design rather than relying
on signage alone.
There was minimal discussion by City Council. Councilmember Christianson noted that
parked cars narrow a street, making wide roads feel narrower and naturally slow traffic.
Matt Leonard agreed and noted that residential streets have been designed with
narrower widths over time which has helped to calm traffic.
Resident and former City Administrator Jeff O-Neill spoke on the importance of
retrofitting older, wider streets with modern design features like striping and
roundabouts.
The Council decided to not move forward with lowering the speed limit. There was no
further discussion and other traffic calming measures would be reviewed for possible
implementation.
3. Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Recorder
Jennifer Schreiber lky" LZ
Attest:
City Council Special Meeting Minutes — March 23, 2026