The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 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, please refer to the meeting agenda. Official minutes are published once approved.
Public Service Announcements
Winter Reminders
- Winter parking restrictions are in effect through April 1. There is no parking on city streets between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., or during snow events with accumulation of 2” or more and plowing operations.
- Property owners must clear snow and ice from sidewalks within 48 hours. We also ask residents to clear 3 feet around any fire hydrants to ensure firefighters can quickly access them in an emergency.
Data Center Ordinance Update
The Planning Commission has postponed action on the Data Center Ordinance until its next regular meeting on February 3. The meeting is open to the public; however, there will be no public hearing on the item, as it was closed at a previous meeting.
Ahead of that meeting, a joint workshop with the Planning Commission and City Council will take place this Thursday, January 15, at 4:45 p.m. The workshop is intended as a working session for focused discussion amongst officials. However, the public is welcome to attend and observe.
MLK, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 19. City Hall, Public Works, and the Monticello DMV will be closed in observance of the holiday. Hi-Way Liquors and the Monticello Community Center will be open for their standard hours.
MontiArts GlowFest
MontiArts is gearing up for its annual GlowFest on Saturday, February 28! This vibrant event features a glowing community parade filled with illuminated creations: from creatures and signs to lanterns and wearable art.
To help you join in on the fun, MontiArts is hosting several free workshops in January and February where you can craft lanterns and whimsical troll hats. Families are welcome to register. The workshops are made possible through a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board.
Visit the City website to register.
City Council Decisions
Annual Appointments and Designations for 2026
Appointments and designations to commissions, committees, and organizations that involve City participation were approved. Council Liaison assignments, appointed by the Mayor, were also approved. The 2026 Council Liaison appointments are as follows:
- Central Mississippi River Regional Planning Partnership: Lloyd Hilgart
- Economic Development Authority (voting): Lloyd Hilgart & Tracy Hinz
- I-94 West Corridor Coalition: Charlotte Gabler
- Industrial & Economic Development Committee: Charlotte Gabler
- Library Board: Tracy Hinz
- MOAA (voting): Lloyd Hilgart & Lee Martie
- Parks, Arts, & Recreation Commission: Charlotte Gabler
- Personnel Committee: Lloyd Hilgart & Lee Martie
- Planning Commission: Kip Christianson
In addition, Library Board appointments were also approved. The Library Board recommended the re-appointment of Joan Breslin.
I-94 West Corridor Coalition Membership Renewal
The City Council approved renewal of Monticello’s membership in the I-94 West Corridor Coalition for 2026.
This organization is dedicated to improving the I-94 corridor between Maple Grove and St. Cloud through both short-term and long-term improvements. The Coalition has been instrumental in advocating for important projects, such as securing $78 million for the I-94 Gap Project between Albertville and Monticello in 2023, expanding capacity along the highway.
As members, the City of Monticello participates in efforts to ensure the completion of these funded projects and advocates for future improvements, including the Fish Lake interchange, completing the extension of six lanes between Clearwater and St. Cloud, and additional interchanges along the corridor.
Ordinance 863: Updates to Various Zoning Standards
The City Council approved updates to zoning standards within the Monticello City Code. Over the past three months, staff compiled proposed amendments to various sections of the City Code for updates. Updates include the following:
- The addition or clarification of definitions for “Bar”, “General Warehousing,” and “Sign”.
- Clarification that certain existing non-conforming building conditions on principal use residential structures may be continued for building alterations or expansions.
- Restriction of cannabis-related businesses next to residential zoning districts. This is similar to the restriction that applies to cannabis-related uses in industrial zoning districts that are adjacent to residential districts.
- Other minor corrections in the text, including references and table shading.
Meadowbrook Development Fibernet Installation
City staff worked with Arvig to develop plans and specifications for extending FiberNet into the Meadowbrook residential development. Under the development contract, the conduit was installed by the joint trench contractor. The City then solicited quotes for the installation of fiber service. Four quotes were received, and Castrejon submitting the lowest bid at $72,956.95. The City Council approved the quote.
The project will be funded through the Fiber Optics Fund. Extending FiberNet into subdivisions enhances connectivity and supports economic development by providing high-speed internet access. This initiative aligns with the Monticello 2040 Vision + Plan, which aims to enhance residents’ quality of life and attract new businesses through reliable and fast internet services.
Monticello Public Library Site Improvements Project
The City Council approved the plans and authorization to bid for the Monticello Public Library Site Improvements Project.
The City was awarded a $500,000 Community Facility Projects Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to fund improvements at the Monticello Public Library, with no local match anticipated. The grant supported an HVAC system control upgrade and fire monitoring system installation in 2025. Remaining improvements include ADA upgrades and parking lot improvements, to be completed in 2026.
Bid alternates are proposed for the replacement of additional sidewalks and concrete paving of ADA stalls. The total project cost estimate, including 2025 upgrades, is $386,071. It is anticipated to be 100% reimbursed from the grant funding received.
Approval of bids is being requested from the Minnesota Department of Education with a bid opening planned for early February 2026, with Council consideration anticipated at the February 9, 2026, meeting.
To limit disruption, the parking lot will be reconstructed in sections, with a proposed timeline of 21 calendar days, and target completion date by August 1, 2026. The Monticello Farmers Market, held in the parking lot from May-September, will be relocated nearby for minimal impact.
Community Center to Serve as Emergency Shelter in Partnership with Wright County
Wright County is working to expand local emergency shelters by establishing agreements with community partners who can provide safe, accessible shelter during emergencies. As part of this initiative, the county has requested that the City of Monticello make the Monticello Community Center available.
The Community Center is a public facility in a central location with enough space and staff to support temporary shelter operations. However, if the state declares an emergency, the Minnesota National Guard may take control of the facility for a statewide response, including using it as an official shelter.
In recognition of the state-level obligations, the county proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) limited to county level emergencies. Under the MOU, the City keeps operational authority over the facility and may partner directly with Wright County to provide short-term emergency shelter for residents. The MOU outlines how both parties will coordinate and share responsibilities.
The City Council approved the MOU. The City and County are committed to cooperative planning and implementation to ensure timely, effective and well-coordinated shelter services.
Monticello Orderly Annexation Area Ordinance Amendments
The Monticello Orderly Annexation Area (MOAA) agreement between the City of Monticello and Monticello Township manages planned growth by transitioning a specific area of land from the township into the city in an orderly way. This ensures development aligns with the City’s long-term plans for the extension of municipal services and infrastructure, supporting sensible growth and preserving agricultural lands until urban development occurs.
The MOAA Joint Powers Board (JPB) is the zoning authority for the area. It includes two City Council members, two Township Board members, and the Monticello-area County Commissioner. The JPB has adopted zoning and subdivision ordinances based on Wright County’s ordinances at the time of their adoption by the MOAA. As Wright County considers zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments, they are brought separately to the JPB for consideration. The JPB retains its authority to adopt, revise or deny those changes to the MOAA.
Ordinances 26-1 and 26-2, previously approved by Wright County, will be considered by the JPB on January 14, 2026. Notice was provided to the City of Monticello for comment on the proposed amendments for the MOAA.
A summary of the proposed amendments is provided in the Agenda Item 4A staff report (PDF). The City Council recommended approval of the amendments subject to clarifications on planned unit development requirements and subdivision exemptions proposed in the amendments.
City Council Requests Review of Land Use Guidance for Proposed Data Center Location near Bertram Chain of Lakes
Councilmember Christianson added an item to the January 12 meeting agenda to request a staff analysis and for the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing to potentially re-guide parcels located within proximity to the Bertram Chain of Lakes. Three of the four subject parcels were recently re-guided to Light Industrial Park. The parcels had been included in a concept plan review for a proposed data center by Scannell Properties, LLC.
The subject parcels are approximately 106 acres total, located between the Otter Creek Crossing Industrial Park to the north, 90th Street NW to the south, and abutting the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park to the west, within the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area. Scannell Properties, LLC, proposed a concept plan for a technology park (data center) totaling approximately 1.3 million square feet on the site.
Following the concept plan review, Scannell Properties, LLC applied to amend the Monticello 2040 Vision + Plan to re-guide approximately 76-acres of the 106-acre concept site to Light Industrial Park. The remaining 30 acres were already guided as Light Industrial Park at the time. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed amendment and held a public hearing on the item during its regular meeting on May 6, 2025. The City Council approved the amendment on May 27, 2025.
Following further discussion during recent regular meetings and joint workshops regarding reserving high-amenity areas for single-family housing potential, officials have continued to consider land use objectives for the Bertram Chain of Lakes area, including the noted site.
The City Council voted to support the motion to re-analyze the land use guidance and direct the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing.
A public hearing will be held on this item. The meeting notice will be posted to Public Hearings/Meeting Notices.