City Council Minutes 07-27-2026MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, July 27, 2026 — 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Kip Christianson, Charlotte Gabler, Tracy Hinz, 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 Councilmember Gabler to approve the agenda. Councilmember Hinz
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Public Service Announcement
• City Clerk Jennifer Schreiber noted the following public announcements:
- Early Voting for the Primary Election
- Finance Annual Reports are Available
- Farmers Market
D. Citizen Comments
• Monica Primeau. 8703 Ebersole Avenue. Ms. Primeau expressed concerns
regarding potential data center development, including electricity demand,
water consumption, environmental impacts, noise, generator use, utility
costs, traffic, transparency, and responsiveness to residents. She criticized
the City's response to resident feedback and urged the Council to prioritize
public trust and community interests.
• Scott Cutsforth. Mr. Cutsforth referenced the Monticello 2040
Comprehensive Plan's themes of sustainability, community health, and sense
of place. He stated that potential data center development does not align
with the City's environmental commitments and urges the Council to rezone
the proposed site to prohibit data centers.
E. Council Liaison Updates
• Parks, Arts, & Recreation Commission (PARC) — Councilmember reported that
the group accepted two commissioner resignations, tabled selection of a new
chair, approved colors for the Bertram pickleball courts, and recommended park
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dedication requirements for the Featherstone Seventh and Eighth preliminary
plats.
F. Department Updates
• Wright County Sheriff's Office Quarterly Update — Lieutenant Jeff McMackins
presented the Sheriff's Office 2026 second quarter report.
• Construction Update — Public Works Director/City Engineer Matt Leonard gave
an update on current construction projects.
2. Consent Agenda:
Motion by Councilmember Hinz to approve the Consent Agenda excluding items H and
L. Councilmember Gabler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
A. Approve the payment of bills. Action taken: Approved the bill and purchase
card registers for a total of $1,315,746.34.
B. Approve the new hires and departures for City departments. Action taken:
Approved the hires for the Monticello Community Center (MCC) and
departures for the MCC.
C. Approve the disposal of surplus City property. Action taken: No report this cycle.
D. Adopt Resolution 2026-64 accepting donations from CenterPoint Energy, West
Metro, and Cindy Mendel. Action taken: Adopted Resolution 2026-64 accepting
the donations.
E. Adopt Resolution 2026-65 accepting a $5,000 Joy Grant from the Initiative
Foundation to support MontiArts Summer Art in the Park program. Action taken:
Adopted Resolution 2026-65 accepting the grant.
F. Approve a charitable gambling permit for the National Wild Turkey Federation
Sand Dunes Gobblers for an event on March 6, 2027, at River City Extreme, 3875
School Blvd. Action taken: Approved the gambling permit.
G. Approve a special event permit for Upstream Church for an event in West Bridge
Park on August 22, 2026. Action taken: Approved the special event permit.
H. Approve a contract with AE2S for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) Integration Services for the Monticello Water Supply Treatment Plant
for $628,100 and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement.
Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I. Approve a Facility Lease Agreement between Wright County, the City of
Monticello, and Monticello Public Schools (ISD 4882) for the operation of the
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Nature -Based Education program at Bertram Chain of Lakes (BCOL) Regional
Park. Action taken: Approved the Facility Lease Agreement for the operation of
the Nature -Based Education program at BCOL Regional Park.
Approve an agency agreement with Rice Lake Construction Group to serve as the
purchasing agent for sales tax exempt materials included in the Monticello
Water Supply Treatment Plant project. Action taken: Approved the agency
agreement with Rice Lake Construction Group.
K. Approve a contract with Ovivo USA, LLC for repairs to the mixer for the digester
at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $34,710.40. Action taken:
Approved the contract with Ovivo USA, LLC in the amount of $34,710.40.
L. Adopt Ordinance 872 amending the Monticello City Code, Title XV: Land Usage,
Chapter 153: Zoning Ordinance, §153.090 Use Table as related to uses by district
and use -specific standards for clinic/medical service uses. Applicant: City of
Monticello. Action taken: ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
M. Adopt Resolution 2026-66 approving a preliminary plat for Redford Crossing,
adopt Resolution 2026-67 approving a Comprehensive Plan Amendment
reguiding certain parcels to Public Institutional and Mixed Neighborhood or
other land use designations necessary to support the Monticello 2040 Vision +
Plan, and adopt Resolution 2026-68 approving a Development Stage Planned
Unit Development (PUD) for development and use as a Public Works Facility, a
Public Building or use. Action taken: Adopted Resolution 2026-66 approving a
Preliminary Plat for Redford Crossing, subject to conditions in Exhibit Z and
based on findings in said resolution; Adopted Resolution 2026-67 approving a
Comprehensive Plan amendment reguiding the proposed Lot 2, Block 1, Outlot
A, and Outlot B of Redford Crossing to Public Institutional and the proposed Lot
1, Block 2 of Redford Crossing to Traditional Residential as identified in Exhibit
A of said resolution based on findings in said resolution; and Adopted
Resolution 2026-68 approving Development Stage PUD for the development
and use of the proposed Lot 2, Block 1, and Outlots A and B of Redford Crossing
as a Public Works facility, a Public Building or Use, subject to the conditions in
Exhibit Z and based on findings in said resolution.
N. Approve a Fourth Amendment to the Contract for Private Development with
Kid's Haven of Monticello Holdings, LLC and Kid's Haven of Monticello, LLC
extending the closing date to August 26, 2026. Action taken: Approved the
Fourth Amendment to the Contract for Private Development and extending the
closing date to August 26, 2026.
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O. Award a contract for the 2026-2027 Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources ReLeaf Program to Rivard Companies, Inc., authorize the Mayor and
City Clerk to execute all required agreements and documents, and advertise for
tree stock necessary for replanting, with pricing requirements extended through
July 28, 2029. Action taken: Approved contract with Rivard Companies, Inc.
authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute all agreements, and authorized
advertisement for tree stock.
2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion
H. Approve a contract with AE2S for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) Integration Services for the Monticello Water Supply Treatment Plant for
$628,100 and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement
Councilmember Gabler confirmed that the SCADA programming is a one-time
construction cost and will integrate with the City's existing system. Public Works
Director/City Engineer Matt Leonard noted that AE2S is familiar with the City's
water and wastewater systems and that, while no monthly service fee is
anticipated, existing software and on -call support costs may continue.
Motion by Councilmember Gabler to approve the contract with AE2S for
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Integration Services for the
Monticello Water Supply Treatment Plant for $628,100 and authorize the
Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement. Councilmember Christianson
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
L. Adopt Ordinance 872 amending the Monticello City Code, Title XV: Land Usage,
Chapter 153: Zoning Ordinance, §153.090 Use Table as related to uses by district
and use -specific standards for clinic/medical service uses. Applicant: City of
Monticello
Councilmember Gabler requested clarification regarding references to bulk fuel
sales and storage in the Planning Commission resolution. Community
Development Director Angela Schumann explained that the Planning
Commission had reviewed and recommended approval of amendments related
to both medical clinic uses and bulk fuel sales; however, Ordinance 872
addressed only allowing clinics and medical services as permitted use in the B-3
District. Staff intends to further review the existing code language related to bulk
fuel sales before bringing that amendment forward separately.
Motion by Councilmember Gabler to adopt Ordinance 872 amending
Monticello City Code Title XV, Chapter 153, Section 153.090, related to clinic
and medical service uses, based on the applicable Planning Commission
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findings and excluding findings related to bulk fuel sales and storage.
Councilmember Christianson seconded the motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
3. Public Hearing:
4. Regular Agenda:
A. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2026-69 amending the Monticello 2040
Vision + Plan (Comprehensive Plan) Chapter 3: Land use, Growth & Orderly
Annexation and Chapter 9: Implementation as related to single-family and
residential land uses and development and any other chapters necessary to
support the City's residential land use goals and policies, and amendments to the
Future Land Use Map re -guiding certain parcels to Estate Residential, Low -
Density Residential or other residential land use designations necessary to
support the Monticello 2040 Vision + Plans goals and policies for residential land
uses and development
Consulting Planner Steve Grittman presented Comprehensive Plan amendments
intended to strengthen neighborhood design standards, revise residential land -
use densities, and update the East Bertram study area. The amendments
emphasize well -designed neighborhoods, establish Estate Residential densities
of two units per acre or less, revise Low -Density Residential to two to four units
per acre, and shift much of East Bertram toward estate and low -density
residential development. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended
approval.
Councilmembers expressed support for the amendments, noting they provide
clearer residential development standards, reflect changing housing trends, and
better account for environmental constraints.
Motion by Councilmember Hinz to adopt Resolution 2026-69 amending the
Monticello 2040 Vision + Plan, Chapter 3 and Chapter 9, and amendments to
the Future Land Use Map as presented. Councilmember Christianson seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 873 and Resolution 2026-70 amending the
Monticello City Code, Title XV: Land Usage, Chapter 153: Zoning Ordinance,
§153.028 Specific Review Procedures and Requirements, §153.041 District
Established, §153.043 Residential Base Zoning Districts, and §153.091 Use -
Specific Standards, and any other sections necessary to reflect the City's
residential land use and development goals and policies
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Planner Steve Grittman presented proposed zoning ordinance amendments
intended to implement the related Comprehensive Plan changes. The
amendments clarify standards within the R-1 and R-A residential districts, align
residential densities with the Comprehensive Plan, and incorporate development
standards commonly applied through planned unit developments. The revisions
emphasize neighborhood compatibility and residential designs that place living
areas more prominently toward the street while reducing garage -dominated
fagades.
Mayor Hilgart requested clarification of ordinance language allowing a garage to
extend six feet in front of a home, or up to 10 feet when features such as a
usable porch, patio, or other facade improvements are included. Steve Grittman
explained that the intent is to emphasize the living area of the property rather
than the garage.
Councilmember Christianson and Mayor Hilgart stated that the language should
more clearly connect the 10-foot allowance to the required design alternatives
and clarify how porches and steps are measured. Mr. Grittman acknowledged
the concern, and Community Development Director Angela Schumann confirmed
that staff would revise the language to clearly reflect the intended flexibility.
Motion by Councilmember Christianson to adopt Ordinance 873 and
Resolution 2026-70 amending the City Code, Title 15, Land Usage, Chapter 153,
and any other sections necessary to reflect the City's residential land use and
development goals and policies. Councilmember Hinz seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
5. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Jennifer Schreiber
Attest:
City Administrator
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