MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING  

FREMONT CITY COUNCIL  

Monday, April 18, 2005 – 7:00 PM  

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

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

Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake and Public Works Superintendent Brian Hettinger

Public Present: John Goudie, Dave Parker, Mark Whitelaw, Esther Jiran and Mr. & Mrs. Tim Robinson

Approval of Meeting Agenda

City Manager Yonker requested the addition of the following items to the agenda:

-         Request for use of Arboretum Park for Wedding Ceremony

-         Consideration to approve yard width variance from Subdivision Code

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the meeting agenda as amended; motion approved.

Presentation of Tree City USA Award and Flag

DPW Supervisor Hettinger announced the City’s notification of its 12th consecutive annual designation as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day foundation and presented the new Tree City USA flag to Council.  

Consent Action Items

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

·      Minutes of the Regular Session held March 21 and the Special Session held March 24, 2005

·      VFW Post 6898’s Request for Street Closures & Use of Veterans Memorial Park for Memorial Day Parade & Services on Monday, May 30, 2005

·      Professional Services Contract with Mead & Hunt for Design Engineering at the Fremont Municipal Airport for $56,400, whereas the City’s would only be obligated to 2.5% (or $1,410) of said contract

·      Amend the FY 04/05 Budget by transferring $1,410 from the General Fund (101-966.000-999-490) to the Capital Projects Fund (490-000.000-699-000) and appropriating the contract by expense of $56,400 (490-537.000-801.000) and State reimbursement of $54,990 (490-000.000-553.000)

·      Confirm Election of Officers for the Fremont Fire Department as follows:

Chief:                    Rusty Boeskool                          1st Lieutenant:             Bill Boike

Assistant Chief:     Brian Hettinger                           2nd Lieutenant:            Phil Smalligan

Captain:                      Ed Cook                                                 Secretary-Treasurer:        Ed Bell

·      FY 04/05 Budget Amendment for Conversion of Master Plan Map Files to GIS Format for $4,400 (101-371.000-801.000)

·      Ms. Kimberly Young’s Request for use of Arboretum Park for her Wedding Ceremony on Saturday, July 4, 2005 @ 2 PM

·      Resolution R-05-09: Authorizing the Installation of a Temporary Event Banner over the M-82 Trunkline to publicize the Public Meeting to review the results of the Downtown Blueprints Project

·      Mr. Michael Noffsinger’s Request for use of Arboretum Park for his Wedding Ceremony on Saturday, April 30, 2005 @ 3 PM

Accounts Payable Reports dated March 31 and April 13, 2005

Motion by Councilmember Mani, supported by Councilmember Breuker to approve the accounts payable check register reports dated March 31, 2005 totaling $150,952.65 and April 13, 2005 totaling $700,527.40; motion approved.  

Public Hearing: Application for an Industrial Facilities Tax (IFT) Exemption Certificate for Gerber Products Company

Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:06 PM to receive comment of the proposed IFT application.  Mayor Rynberg noted the hearing would stay open for one-half hour.  

Mr. Dave Parker, of Gerber Products Company, gave a brief overview of the $2,500,000 project entailing equipment modifications for enhanced safety features to Gerber’s existing glass line.  

Professional Services Contract for Preparation of New Zoning & Subdivision Codes

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to authorize staff to execute the agreement with LSL, Inc. for $72,793 and amend the FY 04/05 Operating Budget (101-371.000-801.000), authorizing use of additional General Fund fund balance of $22,793 for said project; motion approved.  

Ordinance O-05-02: Amending Chapter 22 “Zoning” of the City Code to Amend the Official Zoning Map

City Manager Yonker reported the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the request of the Fremont Co-op Produce Co. to re-zone a portion of the property recently purchased from Webb Lumber Co. along W. Main Street, from Industrial and B-C Business Central to B-H Business Highway Commercial and to receive a variance on the western lot’ width requirements from 110’ down to 40’.  

Motion by Councilmember Mani, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to adopt Ordinance O-05-02 amending Chapter 22 “Zoning,” the zoning map, and to approve a variance from lot width requirements of the Subdivision Code, as recommended by the Planning Commission; motion approve by unanimous roll call vote of  

            Yeas:    Rynberg, Mani, Drake, Breinling, Breuker

            Nays:   None  

Rescheduling the Designated Time for the May 2, 2005 Regular City Council Meeting

Mayor Rynberg recommended Council consider changing the starting time of the May 2nd Regular Meeting due to the public forum to be held that evening at 7:00 PM for the purpose of presenting results of the Downtown Blueprints Program.  

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to reschedule the start of the May 2, 2005 Regular Council Meeting from 7:00 PM to 8:40 PM; motion approved.  

Proposed Mayors Exchange Day with Greenville

Council requested staff request Wednesdays, May 25th at Greenville and June 1st in Fremont , as exchange days with the City of Greenville .  

Authorizing a Skateboard Contest at the Fremont Skate/Bike Park

Mr. Tim Robinson, of Xtreme Skate & Sports requested permission to conduct a skateboard tournament at the Fremont Skate/Bike Park on Saturday, May 14, 2005.  He agreed to the City’s requirements for insurance, parking and cleanup procedures.  Council requested he also provide a crossing guard for pedestrian crossing of Lake Drive and restroom facilities during the event.  

Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to grant the request as noted; motion approved.  

Resolution R-05-08: Approving an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate for Gerber Products Co.

Mayor Rynberg closed the public hearing at 7:45 PM.  

Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Mani to approve Resolution R-05-08 approving Gerber Products Company’s request for an Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption Certificate, exempting $2,500,000 for a three-year period as requested; motion approved.  

Request for use of Arboretum Park for Wedding Ceremony

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve Councilmember Drake’s request for use of Arboretum Park for a Wedding Ceremony on Saturday, April 30, 2005 @ 1 PM; motion approved with Councilmember Drake abstaining.

Re-Appointment of Richard Conley to the Fremont Area District Library Board of Directors

Motion by Councilmember Mani, seconded by Councilmember Drake to re-appoint Richard Conley to the Fremont Area District Library Board for a three-year term expiring June 30, 2008; motion approved.

Reports

Council requested staff make arrangements for the Downtown Blueprints public forum to be held in the High School Multi-Purpose Room.  

The Following Written Communications Were Submitted for Council Review:

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

·         Fremont Fire Department Minutes of the 3/28/05 & 4/11/05 Meetings

·         Fremont Downtown Blueprint Process Committee Minutes of the 3/24/05 Meeting

·         Sheridan Charter Township Board Minutes of the 3/24/05 Meeting

·         City Clerk/Finance Director 4/14/05 Memo: Monthly Budget Comparison Report for the P.E. 3/31/05

·         4/14/05 City Press Release: “ Fremont Releases Results of Citizen Survey”

·         Official 5/3/05 Ballot for Fremont Public School Board and NC-RESA Tax Levy Proposals

·         Notice of 4/21/05 Annual Meeting: Recycling for Newaygo County

·         January 2005 Newsletter: Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

·         MML Board Approves 05/06 Legislative Priorities

·         GVMC 6/9/05 Growing Communities Conference Registration Form: “Place in Mind- Building Public Awareness about Great Communities”

·      Fremont City Planning Commission Minutes of the 3/22/05 Meeting

·      Subcommittee of the Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee Minutes of the 3/21/05 Meeting

·      Fremont Area Park & Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of the 3/14/05 Meeting

·      Fremont Area District Library Semi-Annual Report: July – December 2004

·      MDOT 3/28 Letter: Confirmation of MDOT Upgrades to M-82 Detour Route prior to’06 Reconstruction

·      Pine Street Primary School 2005 City Hall Tour Pictures

·      April ’05 LINC Alumni Synergy Newsletter

·      3/28/05 MI Downtown Association Email: Passage of Bill Permitting Sidewalk Cafes along State Trunklines

·      Times Indicator Articles:

Ø      3/23: “Citizens Invited to Help Form Vision for Downtown”

Ø      3/23: “Chemical Bank Employees Receive Citizen Citations for Stopping Crime Ring”

Ø      3/30: “Mayor’s Letter to Editor: Future of Fremont”

Ø      4/13: “Fremont Police make Drug Arrests”

Ø      4/13: “ County Commissioners Move to Hire Lake

Ø      4/13: “Fremont Schools to hold Public Forum April 25”

·      Muskegon Chronicle Articles:

Ø      3/23: “Ramshorn to Reopen as Public Golf Course”

Ø      3/27: “Small Stores Push Uniqueness in Battle against Big Chains”

Ø      3/20: “Mayor’s Letter to Editor: Downtown Blueprints Community Visioning Session”

Ø      4/5: “Another Close Administrator Vote Likely”

Ø      4/6: “Officials try to Allay Concerns over Sewage Treatment Plant”

Ø      4/7: “Citizen Involvement Sought for Downtown Plan”

Ø      4/7: Mayor’s Letter to Editor: “ Fremont - Have your Say this Tuesday”

Ø      4/7: “Coopersville Officials: City’s Appearance Matters for Uniform Growth”

Ø      4/14: “ County Hires Administrator”

Ø      4/14: “ Township & Spring Lake Village to Share Cost of Signs”

·      Grand Rapids Press Articles:

Ø      4/1: “Community Briefs: Fremont Downtown Blueprint Community Vision Session”

Ø      4/7: “Community Briefs: Yahaba Friendship City Program”

Ø      4/13: “ Holland Contest Cleans Illegal Signs”

Ø      4/14: “ Allegan County leads Region’s Growth”

Ø      4/14: “ Lake Ready to Tie Loose Ends as Administrator”  

Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Mani to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM; motion approved.