The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 26, 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.
City Receives Partner of the Year Award
The City of Monticello was awarded “2025 Partner of the Year” by the Wright County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) for our long-standing commitment, visionary leadership, and unwavering support of workforce and economic growth in Wright County. Monticello’s Economic Development Manager, Jim Thares, was notably recognized by the WCEDP for his readiness to assist and openness to include WCEDP staff in various efforts throughout the year.
The WCEDP is a non-profit economic development organization with 68 members dedicated to strengthening the economic vitality of the County. The City of Monticello has been in support of the WCEDP since 1993. The City’s involvement has been in the form participation on the WCEDP board, sharing key development information, and collaborating on business retention and expansion efforts.
Monticello’s economic goals include attracting and retaining quality jobs, workforce development, tax base expansion, downtown vitality, and promoting collaborative partnerships. The City strives to coordinate and implement sustainable growth in a sustainable and approachable way.
City Council Decisions
New Member Appointed to Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission
The City Council approved the appointment of Erin Stein to the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Commission (PARC). She fills a vacant seat with term ending on December 31, 2026.
The PARC serves as an advisory body to the City Council. They develop and review plans for the acquisition and development of park and recreational facilities, programs, and parkland dedications. They make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council. The PARC meets at 8 a.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month.
Adoption of Monticello Industrial Alternative Urban Areawide Review and Mitigation Plan
The City of Monticello initiated an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for a proposed 550-acre technology campus by Monticello Tech LLC, located south of 85th Street and east of Highway 25 within the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area. The AUAR process was initiated in early 2025 following the presentation of a development concept for a data center campus concept at a public City Council and Planning Commission workshop.
An AUAR is a study document that evaluates the environmental impacts of future development scenarios within an identified area, and the opportunities to manage and mitigate those impacts.
The Monticello Industrial AUAR was prepared by Kimley Horn and reviewed by City staff and the City’s consulting environmental firm, WSB. The AUAR provides the City with information on the maximum development impact of the proposed data center campus concept and as well as an additional development scenario consistent with the Monticello 2040 Plan.
The two scenarios evaluated in the Monticello Industrial AUAR were identified as part of an initial Scoping Document process. A 30-day public comment period was held on the Scoping Document from August 5 through September 4, 2025. Comments were incorporated into the Scoping Document and informed preparation of the full AUAR. The City Council approved the AUAR Scoping Document and ordered preparation of the draft Monticello Industrial AUAR on October 13, 2025.
The Draft Monticello Industrial Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) included an environmental impact analysis in each specified AUAR category and a detailed mitigation plan stating required studies, permits, plans, and other strategies necessary to address potential impacts for either development scenario. It also notes where additional environmental study will be required when future project details are better understood. A 30-day comment period on the draft AUAR was held from November 18 through December 18, 2025. Comments were incorporated into the revised document which was submitted to state agencies and the Environmental Quality Board Monitor.
Following a required state agency objection and comment period, the AUAR document was revised and submitted to the City Council for adoption. No agency objections were received.
The City Council adopted the final Monticello Industrial AUAR, including Mitigation Plan, at the January 26 meeting. By adopting the AUAR, the City Council has determined that the AUAR includes the appropriate level of analysis for the development scenarios evaluated, and that the AUAR follows the required process for review and comment. Acceptance of the included mitigation plan also represents the City’s commitment to prevent and address potentially significant environmental impacts from development projects within the study area, as identified in the AUAR. The AUAR does not provide any specific project approval.
Following adoption, the final Monticello Industrial AUAR and Mitigation Plan was published in the EQB Monitor and posted to the City’s website.
An adopted AUAR is valid for five years. If development is not complete within that timeframe, the AUAR must be updated to reflect development activity and mitigation measures implemented within the study area. If development is proposed within the study area that is more intense or inconsistent with the AUAR, the AUAR will require amendment.
More information is available on the Environmental Reviews page.