MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Present at Roll Call: Mayor James Rynberg and Councilmembers James Breinling, Larry Breuker, Rob Mani and Jane Drake
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake and Director of Neighborhood & Economic Development Michele Ribant
Public Present: Loren Edwards and Lon Vredeveld
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Mani to approve Resolution
R-05-03 honoring the 20-year service anniversary of Gerber Memorial Health Services President New Hughes; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Mani and carried to approve the following consent action items:
·
Minutes of the Regular Session held
January 3, 2005
·
Request from Mr. Manino and Ms.
Romager for use of
July
9, 2005
·
Authorization to enter into a
Digital Data License with Newaygo County for Access to Register of Deed’s
Digital Information Database
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, supported by Councilmember Mani to approve the 1/14/05 accounts payable check register report totaling $952,555.40; motion approved.
Friendship City Program Board of Directors Mr. Loren Edwards and Mr. Lon Vredeveld submitted financial information on the Yahaba program and gave an update on the program and fundraising activities. Mr. Edwards noted Fremont Public Schools has notified the program that it will no longer be permitted to conduct fund raising events during school hours. He asked Council to consider the City contributing financially to the program.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker, to authorize the appropriation of $2,500 toward direct expenses of this year’s Yahaba program; motion approved.
Following discussion, Mayor Rynberg appointed Councilmember Drake to establish an ad hoc Committee to promote a “Civic Art Exchange” in coordination with the Yahaba program.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling, to authorize the distribution of the staff-prepared RFP to solicit proposals from qualified planning and zoning consulting firms for preparation of new zoning and land development codes; motion approved.
Staff submitted a memo addressing the quality of work performed by the current contractual cleaning crew and recommending the City establish a part-time janitorial and building maintenance position for the municipal offices. The new position could address not only the standard cleaning services the City currently receives, but many other miscellaneous building maintenance items currently not being address in a timely manner.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Mani to authorize, as recommended by staff, the establishment of a part-time personnel position in lieu of the current contractual cleaning services; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker reported the need to establish a public/private management team, to be known as the Process Committee, for implementing the action plan for the soon to be developed long-term economic development vision and market analysis to determine the potential of the Downtown area. Staff had submitted to the Council a list of potential committee members.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to appoint Councilmember Breinling to the Process Committee for the Fremont Downtown Blueprint Grant Project and to authorize staff to invite the potential committee members as outlined in the staff memorandum; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker reminded Council of the upcoming meetings:
1)
2)
City of
3)
City Clerk Blake reported
submittal of a grant request to the MEDC for a 50% match for the installation of
new public infrastructure and utilities and the extension of the Town &
Country Path westward from
·
City Manager’s Friday
Newsletter: Semi-Mo. Progress Report on Key City Objectives, Policies &
Projects
·
·
·
Sheridan Charter Township 2005
Boards/Commission Meeting Schedule
·
·
·
1/11/05 Press Release: “Governor
Calls on Legislators to Act on Unfinished Business”
·
Year-to-Date Budget Comparison of
General, Water & Sewer Funds as of 12/31/04 (as requested by Councilmember
Drake @ the previous Council meeting)
·
FY 03/04 Auditor Summary of
City’s General Fund: Statement of Revenues & Expenditures and Changes in
Fund Balance
·
Summary of “State of the City”
Address by Mayor & City Manager @ 1/4/05 Rotary Club Meeting
·
“
·
MSU-Extension Brochure: “On-Line
Citizen Planner Program”
·
NCEDO Director’s Report for
December 2005
·
Ø
1/3/05: “
Ø
1/6/05: “
Ø
1/9/05: “Country Club’s Demise
Indicator of Changes in Company’s Town”
Ø
1/9/05: “Ramshorn; Clubhouse was
a Social Focal Point of Fremont”
·
Ø
1/4/05: “Council Nixes Bidding
Rule”
Ø
1/12/05: “County Driving Idea
Home about Roundabouts”
Ø
1/5/05: “Community News Briefs:
New Face in
·
MiBiz West
Articles:
Ø
1/10/05: “Oil’s Well for
Newaygo County Biodiesel Producer”
Ø
1/10/05: “Newaygo County Promotes
Area’s ‘Rural Sophistication’”
Ø
1/10/05: “West MI Strategic
·
Ø
1/10/05: “MDOT Cracks Down on
Outdoor Dining”
Ø
1/10/05: “Editorial: MDOT Ought
to Lighten up on Downtown”
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Mani to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM; motion carried.