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'City Council'

Sep 28

Press Release: City Council Approves 'No Mow May' - March 14, 2023

Posted to City of Monticello - Press Releases on September 28, 2023 at 11:08 AM by Haley Foster

DATE:           March 14, 2023
                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Haley Foster
                     (763) 295-2711Haley.Foster@ci.monticello.mn.us

City Council Approves ‘No Mow May’


Monticello, MN – On Monday, March 13 City Council approved ‘No Mow May’ in Monticello. For the second consecutive year, the City will suspend nuisance enforcement on grass lengths during the month of May. 

No Mow May is a conservation initiative recommended by the Minnesota DNR. The goal is to allow grass to grow unmown during the month, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. Pollinators play a critical role in our food supply and keeping our natural resources healthy. No Mow May1

Residents are encouraged to suspend mowing for the month, but it is not required. There are other ways you can help Minnesota’s pollinators if you want to continue to mow. The public can also plant bee flowers and native plants as well as keep plants pesticide free.

During the month of May, City staff will continue mowing around rental structures in the parks, and around City buildings to ensure accessibility.  We’re excited to participate in No Mow May in other ways, like adding native prairie grasses and wildflowers throughout our parks system.

If residents plan on participating, please note that enforcement will resume Thursday, June 1. At that time, all lawns must be maintained per the City’s Code (grass cannot be over 8 inches). We recommend giving yourself a few days to safely manage your lawn. Here are a couple of tips from the University of Minnesota for mowing long grass:

  • Adjust your mower to the highest setting, you will have to make more than one pass over the grass.
  • After you have reduced the grass height to a more manageable length, change the mower setting by reducing the height of the blade, before making a second pass.
  • Do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time in a single mowing. This helps prevent root stress and promotes a healthy lawn.

For more information visit the City’s website or check out the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab for other actions you can take to help our local pollinators.

Sep 28

Press Release: City Leaders Seek New Option to Fund Priority Projects - Jan. 26, 2023

Posted to City of Monticello - Press Releases on September 28, 2023 at 11:07 AM by Haley Foster

DATE:           January 26, 2023
                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Rachel Leonard
                     (763) 295-2711 | Rachel.Leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us

City Leaders Seek New Option to Fund Priority Projects

On Monday, January 23 the City Council initiated the process to seek a local option sales tax (L.O.S.T.) in Monticello. This type of funding source has been gaining popularity across Minnesota as cities seek ways to facilitate big projects in their communities. 

Rather than limiting cities to only the taxpayers within their city limits, a sales tax allows revenue to be generated from people shopping in the community. As a regional commercial center, Monticello stands to benefit from a tax that includes contributions from the people drawn to the community from across Central Minnesota. 

The funds must be used for projects valuable to the greater region, and Monticello has identified two large-scale projects with regional significance: Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park and The Pointes at Cedar Recreation Area. 

Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park is already a regional destination for recreation. The initial phases of construction created space for regional regular season play as well as tournament play, bringing in teams from across the state. The completion of the first phase of premiere fields allowed the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association to host the 2021 State Soccer Tournament at the park.

The Pointes at Cedar is a more recent project. It’s intended to mix residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within a 100-acre development area. The project is anchored by a large central lake surrounded by pathways, art, and entertainment that will add a unique flair to the center of the community. 

The City Council is committed to phased development of both projects, but the proposed tax would be a transformational funding opportunity. It will create a specific source to finance future phases of the projects to ensure they can continue to develop for public use. 

The City Council resolution outlines a ½ cent sales tax that would be in place for a maximum of 20 years. This would generate $30 million that would be split evenly to fund $15 million for each project. State law requires the tax to automatically sunset once funds authorized for the projects are collected, or the proposed 20 years (pending approved legislation), whichever occurs first.

The approved resolution does not enact the tax, it allows the City of Monticello to submit a request for special legislation from the Minnesota Legislature. If the legislature approves it, the Council must vote on a second resolution to present funding the two projects with the proposed sales tax. Monticello voters would vote for funding each project individually, allowing for both, one, or none of the projects to be funded with the tax.

Local option sales taxes apply to the same items and services as the general state sales tax. Items exempt from the local sales tax include many essential items such as groceries, prescription and over-the-counter medications, baby products and clothing (here is a complete list of non-taxable items, from MN Dept. of Revenue).

During the meeting, staff also noted that regardless of the funding source, the plan is to pursue phased, needs-based development of both projects. City Administrator Rachel Leonard highlighted that a potential sales tax does not mean immediately completing a full build-out of the recreation facilities. 

“The idea is we keep looking at the needs of the community and how we can phase this in a responsible way. The sales tax gives us the option to either save that money over time and then pay it out when we decide to do another phase of the projects, or we can use that funding to pay the bond costs if we were to levy debt to complete those projects,” explained Leonard.

Prior to voting on the resolution, members of City Council voiced their opinions about the proposed funding source. 

“I think it’s reasonable to expect that a project like Bertram, that’s being utilized by more than just the residents of Monticello,” said Mayor Lloyd Hilgart. “This should be the type of thing that the sales tax is used for. Same with The Pointes, I feel that’s going to be a regional draw for the recreation and shopping that it will have,” he added.

Councilmember Hinz agreed, stating she felt like it was good for the city to have the experience.

“I think this is an excellent opportunity, regardless of the outcome, for the city to walk through the steps of this process. And also for our community to better understand their ability to influence the outcome by learning what they’re voting for. I think it’s a great first step,” said Hinz.

City staff will submit project plans for The Pointes and Bertram, as well as a breakdown of the proposed financial components to the MN state legislature by the deadline of January 31, 2023.

Sep 28

Press Release: City Council Appoints Lee Martie to Vacant Seat - Nov. 18, 2022

Posted to City of Monticello - Press Releases on September 28, 2023 at 11:06 AM by Haley Foster

DATE:           November 18, 2022

                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Rachel Leonard

                      (763) 295-2711 | Rachel.Leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us


City Council Appoints Lee Martie to Vacant Seat

 

Monticello, MN – The Monticello City Council has voted on its newest member! At the regular meeting on Monday, November 14, the City Council appointed Lee Martie to fill the current vacant seat. Martie will serve the remainder of Jim Davidson’s term. Mr. Davidson resigned from the City Council in October due to relocation.

Martie was a City Council candidate in the most recent election, and he was also a finalist to fill a vacant seat on the Council in February 2021. He will be sworn in at the next City Council meeting on November 28, and his term will expire on December 31, 2024.

Martie is a long-time Monticello resident and a graduate of Monticello High school. After leaving briefly for college and law school, he returned to the community as he started his career as an attorney.

Please join us in welcoming Lee to the City Council!