MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING  

FREMONT CITY COUNCIL  

Monday, January 3, 2005 – 7:00 PM    

Mayor James Rynberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.  Councilmember Jane Drake gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.  

Present at Roll Call: Mayor James Rynberg and Councilmembers Jane Drake, Larry Breuker, James Breinling and Rob Mani  

Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker and City Clerk Todd Blake  

Public Present: Bryan Crawford, Bethany Crawford and Heather Osborn  

Approval of Meeting Agenda  

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.  

Ceremonial Items  

Mayor Rynberg introduced the City’s newly appointed Director of Neighborhood & Economic Development, Ms. Michele Ribant.  Michele gave Council a brief summary of her employment history and personal background.  Council welcomed her to the City team.  

Consent Action Items  

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Mani and carried to approve the following consent action items:  

·      Resolution R-05-01: Requesting Election Funding from the State of Michigan through the “Help America Vote Act”

·      Resolution R-05-02: Setting Fremont Guidelines for 2005 Poverty Income Property Tax Exemptions

·      5-Year Parks & Recreation Capital Improvements Schedule (2005-2009) as recommended by the Fremont Area Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee  

Minutes of the Regular Council Session held December 20, 2004  

Councilmember Breuker requested paragraph 9 of page 2 of the minutes be amended as follows: “…specifically the Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Association Downtown businesses and Chamber membership, to review the …”  

Motion by Councilmember Breuker, supported by Councilmember Drake to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held December 20, 2004 as amended; motion approved.  

Accounts Payable Report dated December 29, 2004  

Motion by Councilmember Mani, supported by Councilmember Drake to approve the December 29, 2004 accounts payable check register report totaling $81,530.67; motion approved.  

Setting Date, Location and Program for Annual Employee Recognition Dinner  

Council requested staff secure the Black Box room at the Dogwood Performing Arts Center on Monday, February 28, 2005 for the annual employee recognition dinner.  City Manager Yonker noted staff is already looking into dinner arrangements for that day.  

Reports  

The City Manager announced the next Fremont Community Leadership Council meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 21st from 11:30-1:00 PM at Gerber Products Co. corporate offices.  

Councilmember Drake thanked the Parks & Recreation Committee for their past and continued efforts on the updated Capital Schedule and its projects.  

Council set a meeting date for Monday, January 31st in the Library’s Community Room to hold a public forum on transportation issues in the community.  The forum would:  

·      Present the results of the Origin & Destination Traffic Study

·      Discuss potential solutions for addressing traffic problems identified in the Study and in other reports, such as the Fremont Area Joint Community Development & Growth Management Plan & the M-82 Corridor Study

·      Discuss the status of the planned transportation improvements included in the City’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan.

·      Review the recently drafted informational brochure and frequently asked questions (FAQ) sheet as reviewed by the citizen Transportation Stakeholders Committee  

Mayor Rynberg noted City Manager Yonker and he will be giving an annual “State of the City” presentation to the Fremont Rotary on Tuesday.  

The Following Written Communications Were Submitted for Council Review:

 

·      City Manager’s Friday Newsletter: Semi-Mo. Progress Report on Key City Objectives, Policies & Projects

·      Fremont Area Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of the 12/13/04 Meeting

·      Final Executed Copy of Act 425 Conditional Property Transfer Agreement with Dayton/Sheridan Townships

·      Year End Zoning Permit Report for Calendar Year 2004

·      Fremont Area District Library Resolution establishing 2005 Regular Meeting Dates

·      NCEDO Executive Director’s Report for November 2004

·      Governing Dec. ’04 Article: “Beyond the Basin- Many States are Revisiting their Laws that Govern how Water is Allocated”

·      The Farmer’s Exchange 12/10/04 Article (from Jim Breinling): “Land Consumption, Taxes Go Together”

·      Times Indicator Article: 12/29/04: “Why Recycle?”

·      Grand Rapids Press Articles:

Ø   12/23/04: “A to Z Community Briefs- Newaygo/Fremont”

Ø   12/29/04: “Five Candidates Picked in Search for Newaygo Co. Leader”

·      MiBiz West Articles:

Ø   12/13/04: “Americans want Shorter Commute Times and Smart Growth Developments”

Ø   12/27/04: “Wal-Mart Goes Head-to-Head with Meijer in Roosevelt Park ”  

Adjournment  

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 PM; motion carried.