MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, September 6, 2005 – 7:00 PM
Mayor James M. Rynberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Councilmember Dick Conley gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Present at Roll Call: Mayor James M. Rynberg and Councilmembers Dick Conley, Jane Drake, James Breinling and Larry Breuker
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake, Police Chief Phil Deur and Police Officer Matt Hendrie
Public Present: Karla Gilliland, Michael Grabill, John Grasley, Kurt Delia, Frank Stabile, Steve Turco and Liam Mullane
Mayor Rynberg requested the following be added to the agenda: 9.1 Acceptance of Resignation of Richard Conley from the Fremont Area District Library Board; and 9.2 Appointment to the Fremont Area District Library Board.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the meeting agenda as amended; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker and carried to approve the following consent action items:
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve the accounts payable check register report dated September 1, 2005 totaling $2,566,105.43; motion approved.
NC Sheriff Deputy Frank Stabile gave a brief description of activities planned for the event.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to grant the above request and authorize staff to negotiate an acceptable use agreement; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker submitted a memorandum addressing airport issues and a comparison of the two proposals submitted by Mr. John Frens and Mr. John Grasley.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to authorize the City Manager to negotiate based on the proposal put forth by Mr. Grasley and the City Manager’s recommendations: 1) an Airport Manager contract with Mr. Grasley; 2) a Fixed-Based Operator (FBO) agreement with Avcraft. Ltd.; 3) a lease agreement for the use of the City-owned maintenance and former Gerber hangars with Avcraft. Ltd.; and 4) an increase in the price paid for the annual Airport Manager contract in order to offset the cost of the Gerber hangar lease payment; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve Resolution R-05-32 establishing the ballot language for a proposed amendment to the City Charter to allow elected officials to serve on appointed committees, as permitted or governed by Michigan statute; motion approved.
Councilmember Drake reported a Yahaba delegation will be in Fremont from October 25th to November 5th to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the signing of the Friendship City Accord. The Friendship City Board is working on an itinerary for the upcoming celebration and requests confirmation of funding and direction on activities for the event. Councilmember Drake noted there may be funding available through a possible foundation grant and local donors in support of the Yahaba program.
Councilmember Drake also reported the concept of a civic art exchange project was presented to the City of Yahaba and accepted. The project would entail a Japanese artist designing a piece of civic art to be constructed in Fremont and a Michigan artist designing art to be constructed in Yahaba. A “call to artists” has been publicized for the project with an anticipated selection by December 1, 2005. Design work is estimated at $10,000 per each design and $35,000 for the fabrication and installation of each piece of art. Possible sources of funding for the project could be the Fremont Beautification Fund, contributions from past participants in the exchange program, foundation grants and others.
Councilmember Drake also noted Yahaba has invited a Fremont delegation to visit Yahaba and help celebrate its 50th Anniversary as a City to be held November 6-13th.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to: 1) authorize up to $3,000 from the Community Promotions Department budget for expenditures related to the 10th Anniversary Celebration; 2) appropriate up to $4,500 for expenses related to the Mayor and Police Chief representing the City of Fremont in the Fremont delegation to Yahaba; 3) amend the FY 05/06 Budget for the Fremont delegation trip by use of unreserved fund balance from the General Fund (101-895.000-880.000 $4,500); and 4) deduct any community support from the above amounts; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to accept Councilmember Dick Conley’s resignation with regret from the District Library Board; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to confirm Mayor Rynberg’s recommendation to appoint Karla Johnson as one of the two City of Fremont representatives to the Fremont Area District Library Board with an initial term ending July 1, 2008; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker noted the City’s designation by the Governor’s Office as an official “Cool City” and that the State will be supplying “Cool City” signs to be installed at locations determined by the City. The designation will also be helpful in the marketing of Fremont, especially for the Downtown as we implement the recently adopted Downtown Blueprint Plan.
City Clerk Blake announced the N.C. Clerks Association is sponsoring a parliamentarian session free to local governmental officials of the county on Wednesday, September 28th at 6:30 PM in the Community Room at the Fremont Area District Library.
Councilmember Breinling reported the Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee would be meeting on September 12th. The City’s representatives to the Joint Committee will be Mayor Rynberg, Councilmember Breinling, City Planning Commissioners Chuck Whitman & Robert Goscicki and City Zoning Administrator Richard Rought.
Mayor Rynberg announced the recent establishment of the Daughters of the American Revolution Fremont Chapter, which would be meeting on September 17th. The organization will supply appropriate signage for installation on the service club entry signs at the three locations at the City limits.
Closed Session: Union Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Negotiation Strategy
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to close the Regular Session at 9:10 PM and enter into a Closed Session to discuss union CBA negotiation strategy; motion approved by roll call vote of:
Yeas: Rynberg, Conley, Drake, Breinling and Breuker
Nays: None
The Closed Session ended at 9:33 PM and the Regular Session reconvened.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 PM; motion approved.
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James M. Rynberg, Mayor
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk