MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING  

FREMONT CITY COUNCIL  

Monday, March 7, 2005 – 7:00 PM  

Mayor Pro-Tem James Breinling 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 Pro-Tem James Breinling and Councilmember’s Jane Drake and Rob Mani. Mayor Rynberg and Councilmember Larry Breuker were absent. 

Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake, Police Chief Phil Deur, former Officer Brian Boyd, Officer Matthew Buter and NED Director Michele Ribant

Public Present: Sarah Boerema, Katrina Mansfield, Leo Woodard and Emilie Yonker

Approval of Meeting Agenda

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

Presentation of Civilian Citations by Fremont Police Department

Police Chief Deur presented Civilian Citations to Ms. Sarah Boerema and Ms. Katrina Mansfield recognizing the significant efforts to thwart a crime taking place at Fremont ’s Chemical Bank.  

Presentation of 11-year Service Plaque to Police Officer Brian Boyd

Police Chief Deur presented a Certificate of Appreciation for eleven years of service to former Fremont Police Officer Brian Boyd.  

Introduction of Matt Buter as Newest Part-Time Reserve Police Officer

Police Chief Deur introduced new part-time Police Officer Matthew Buter to the Council.  

Presentation of Gift to City from Councilmember Jane Drake re: Yahaba Friendship City Program

Councilmember Drake presented a framed calligraphy in Japanese Kanji script of “Town of Yahaba ” (Yahaba Cho) to the City of Fremont .  She asked that it be created during her trip to Yahaba last year as the Community Representative on the delegation from Fremont .  

Proclamation: Proclaiming April 29, 2005 as “Arbor Day” in the City of Fremont

Mayor Pro-Tem Breinling read the Proclamation, followed by a motion by Councilmember Mani, seconded by Councilmember Drake to adopt the Proclamation honoring Saturday,

April 29, 2005 as “Arbor Day” in Fremont ; motion approved.  

Consent Action Items

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

·      Minutes of the Regular and Closed Sessions held February 21, 2005

·      Renewal of Lease for Federal Aviation Administration installation of radio equipment @ the Fremont Municipal Airport terminal building, for air traffic control, air navigation, weather reporting and communication activities

·      Resolution R-05-06: Granting Permission to City staff to hang a banner across Main Street promoting the Community Vision Session for Fremont ’s Downtown Blueprint program

·      Amend FY 04/05 Budget (101-301.000-740.000) for use of $2,322 of Police Forfeiture Funds for the purchase of six new back-up firearms for full-time officers

·      Continuation to offer one hundred $20 Tree Purchase Coupons to honor Arbor Day for City residents

Accounts Payable Report dated March 3, 2005

Motion by Councilmember Drake, supported by Councilmember Mani to approve the

March 3, 2005 accounts payable check register report totaling $62,591.33; motion approved.

Public Comments

Mr. Leo Woodard requested permission to set up an amateur radio station at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, May 28, 2005 from 7 AM to 4 PM.  He will be providing use of his radio equipment for citizens to contact servicemen and women overseas, in honor of Memorial Day.

Motion by Councilmember Mani, seconded by Councilmember Drake to grant permission to Mr. Woodard as requested, subject to coordination with City staff; motion approved.

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 Fire Department Minutes of the 2/14/05 Meeting

·      Fremont Planning Commission Minutes of the 2/22/05 Meeting

·      NCCS- CNH “ Fremont Townhomes” Proposed Site Plan, Exterior Elevations and Floorplans

·      “Questions on Establishing Cooperative Planning Arrangements in the Greater Fremont Area”- Basis for Discussions with LIAA Ex. Director Joe VanderMeulen @ FAJPC Meeting on 3/14/05

·      City Clerk Memo: “Effects of new Election Consolidation Act on Municipal & School Elections”

·      FACF Spending Rule on Annual Endowment Fund Grants

·      Sen. Laura Toy Letter of Invitation to 3/10/05 State Forum: “What State Government can do to give Local Officials more Flexibility in Managing their Resources”

·      MI Association of Counties 2/05 Editorial: “Thinking Outside of the Revenue Sharing Box”

·      ICMA Public Management 3/05 Articles:

Ø    “Successful Leadership”

Ø    “The Ethics of Council-Staff Teamwork”

Ø    “How do you Deal with the Entry of a New Wal-Mart Supercenter into your Town?”

·      NY Times 2/28/05 Editorial: “Don’t Blame Wal-Mart”

·      Times Indicator Articles:

Ø    3/2/05: “Election Law Brings Changes to Vote Schedules”

Ø    3/2/05: “ County Board ’s Administrator Choice Declines”

Ø    3/2/05: “Notice of Park & Recreation Committee Meeting”

Ø    3/2/05: “Board of Review Notice”

·      Muskegon Chronicle Articles:

Ø    Editorial: “Those Highways were Paved with your Tax Dollars”

Ø    2/19/05: “Gas War in Fremont Delights Motorists- Peeves Stations”

Ø    2/20/05: “Odors, Troubles Bubble from Food Processing Lagoon”

Ø    2/27/05 Editorial: “State has to Take the Lead Role on Consolidation”

Ø    3/3/05: “A Tangled Mess: North Muskegon Orders High Wires Buried, but Fight is on over Who Will Pay the Bills”

·      Grand Rapids Press Article:

Ø    2/21/05: “Community News Briefs - Trailways Ordinance”

Ø    2/24/05: “Community News Briefs – BBQ Grills @ Fremont Parks”

·      WZZM TV-13 2/24/05 Article: “Gas War in Freemont cuts Price per Gallon”

·      WOOD TV-8 2/21/05 Article: “County Operates Private Charity; Taxpayers Take a Hit”  

Adjournment

Councilmember Mani left the meeting at 7:30 PM.  Without a quorum present, the regular meeting was adjourned.

Status Report on Downtown Blueprint Program

NED Director Michele Ribant submitted: 1) DT Blueprint Process Committee Minutes of the 2/24/05 Meeting; 2) DT Blueprint Process Committee Agenda for the 3/10/05 Meeting; and

3) Draft Promotional Brochure for DT Blueprint Program “Community Vision Session.”  

Ms. Ribant gave an update on the door-to-door business and citizen phone surveys.  She noted the consultants, HyettPalma, require a 60% return on the business surveys and she has currently received about 45% back.  

Reports

The City Manager noted Joe VanderMeulen, from LIAA, will be speaking to the Fremont Area Joint Planning Commission on March 14^th, from 4:45 to 6:00 PM.