The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026. 

To view the agenda, and minutes when available, visit the Agenda Center.

To watch the recorded meeting, stream it online or tune in on cable channel 12 (FiberNet), channel 997 (TDS) or channel 180 (Charter). The rebroadcast schedule is available here. 

Council Highlights provide a summary of key agenda items and decisions made by the City Council. This overview may not reflect all topics discussed or actions taken during the meeting. For complete details, refer to the meeting agenda. Official minutes are published once approved.

Public Service Announcements

Spring Tree Sale

The City’s Spring Tree Sale began on February 5. Trees cost $50 each, and quantities are limited. There are eight varieties available for purchase. Orders may be placed in person at City Hall, online, or by mail. Orders are due Monday, April 20. For more information, visit Spring Tree Sale.

Farmers Market Vendors Needed

The Monticello Farmers Market is preparing for the 20th anniversary of its outdoor market season. Applications are now open for outdoor vendors. Those interested in becoming a market vendor should visit the Farmer's Market website for details and to apply.

Presidents Day

City Hall, Public Works, and the Monticello DMV will be closed on Monday, February 16, in observance of Presidents Day. Hi-Way Liquors and the Monticello Community Center will be open their standard hours.

GLOW Fest Parade

Get ready to Glow! MontiArts’ annual GlowFest is scheduled for Saturday, February 28.

Join us for a parade and celebration featuring glowing creatures, illuminated signs, fun wearables, and more! The parade kicks off at the Monticello Community Center at 7 p.m. and will follow Walnut Street to a Glow Party in West Bridge Park. 

MontiArts is also offering two FREE, family-friendly workshops where participants can make a lantern or troll hat for the festivities. Registration is required and can be done online.

City Council Decisions

Kid’s Haven of Monticello to Potentially Develop Childcare Facility

In late 2025, Kids Haven of Monticello put forward an offer to the City to purchase 2.93 acres of City-owned property along School Boulevard near the Emagine Monticello movie theatre. The development would involve subdividing the land, an action which normally requires ownership over the entire plot. 

To allow the development review process to proceed, City Council authorized Kids Haven of Monticello Holdings, LLC to act as the signatory applicant for the plat.

The submitted land use application is planned to be considered by the Planning Commission during the March 3, 2026, meeting.

Approval of the Final 2025 Operating Transfers

Operating transfers shift money from one fund to another for a variety of reasons, such as to repay debt, to cover unanticipated operating expenditures, or to finance city projects. Many of the operating transfers approved were anticipated and authorized when the council adopted the 2025 budget resolution; however, two transfers were adjusted according to staff request.

The closure of the Park & Pathway Fund resulted in the transfer of those funds into the Capital Projects Fund. Because funds for capital projects within the Park & Pathway Fund typically originate from the Capital Fund, the closing of the Park & Pathway Fund will simplify the recordings of projects. This action will not affect the City’s Park Dedication Fund, which is restricted to new recreational improvements.

An additional transfer from the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund was made with funds that resulted from higher revenues and lower spending than was budgeted during the year. 

Extension Granted for Haven Ridge West Application

A second 6-month application extension was granted to Twin Cities Land Development, the applicant for the plat and Planned Unit Development (PUD) of Haven Ridge West. This extension allows the developer more time to finalize details around the plat’s configuration and ownership of the project. 

Originally approved on August 26, 2024, the preliminary plat’s approval was set to expire on August 21, 2025. The developer met the required deadline to submit the final plat and PUD materials in April 2025, staying within the 360-day submission window following preliminary plat approval according to Monticello’s Subdivision Ordinance.

Under state law, the City must act within 60 days of receiving a complete final plat application and within 120 days for the Development and Final Stage PUD. Twin Cities Land Development requested its first extension to this timeline in August 2025, which was approved by Council. Since that extension, the developer has continued to address matters related to the application. This second extension is granted for an additional 120 days.

Haven Ridge West will bring 298 new single-family homes to Monticello, offering a variety of lot sizes and home styles. Infrastructure plans also include a new roundabout at the intersection of Fallon Avenue and 85th Street. 

Meadowbrook Utilities

The developer of Meadowbrook Plat has finished constructing public improvements including streets, sidewalks, signage, mailbox, streetlights and public utilities. City Engineering and Public Works Departments have inspected, tested and approved the improvements. City Council accepted the public utilities for the development.

This progress allowed City staff to recommend reducing the letter of credit for the developer, while maintaining a portion of securities to protect the City from unexpected expenses until all landscaping is established and warranties complete.

School Boulevard Roundabouts Project Change Order

During construction of roundabouts along School Boulevard, adjustments in curb line and placement of new sidewalks and trails interrupted existing privately owned irrigation systems. Additional funds for irrigation repair were required.

Federal grant funds will reimburse $1,485,000 of the cost. City Council approved the transfer of $380,000 from the Street Lighting Fund and a transfer of the rest of the cost from the Capital Projects Fund to be returned to the 2025 budget year because the work was completed in 2025.  

Wright County Pavement Preservation Project on CSAH 39

Wright County has a pavement preservation project planned for CSAH 39 in 2026. Portions of the project fall within the city limits and include a mill and overlay of Elm Street between Broadway Street and Golf Course Road, as well as Golf Course Road from 7th Street west to CSAH 8. The project will extend the service life of the roadway, improve the driving surface, and enhance overall safety for motorists. Construction is anticipated to take approximately one month and is planned for completion this summer.

City Council adopted a resolution to support Wright County’s project, which will not require local cost participation. Staff will coordinate with Wright County throughout the project. Support for this project allows for investment in the community’s public infrastructure systems and in critical partnerships with other agencies.

Advancement of Municipal State Aid Funds

Any municipality eligible to receive State Aid funding may advance, or “borrow,” State Aid construction funds up to four times its annual construction allotment from its State Aid account.

While the City received a total of $1,006,255 in State Aid Funding for 2026, $549,944.11 remains outstanding from an advancement of State Funds in 2023, leaving $2,468,819.89 available for advancement. Out of this amount, $2,255,717.92 is available for State Aid eligible projects.

The portion of the School Boulevard Roundabouts Project that was not funded by grant funds will be eligible for State Aid advancement once the final project is accepted and approved by MnDOT.

City Council adopted the resolution to borrow $2,255,717.92 from State Aid funding which, if approved by the State, will be moved to the Transportation Improvement Fund to provide funding for future projects in the community. 

MnDOT Cooperative Construction and Maintenance Agreement for TH 25 I-94 Bridge

City Council adopted a resolution for the City to assume long-term ownership and maintenance responsibilities for components of the TH 25 bridge over I-94, following construction in 2027. The bridge project will be completed by MnDOT and will include bridge redecking, bituminous surfacing, approach panels, sidewalk improvements, lighting replacement and aesthetic enhancements.

The City will maintain all sidewalk elements of the bridge, own and maintain all bridge lighting and will cast-in-place “Monticello” lettering on the west barrier as well as swan emblems on ornamental railing panels.

Ongoing operation and maintenance costs for this project are estimated to be around $15,000 annually, which will be paid for from a combination of the Street Lighting Improvement Fund and the General Fund.