MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING

FREMONT CITY COUNCIL

Monday, October 17, 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, Dick Conley, Jane Drake and James Breinling

Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker and City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake

Public Present: Megan Fikse, Natalie Hansen, Jackie Canniff, Matt Tanis, Sue Hatting, John Sovinski, Doug Berens and Greg & Janice Zahrt

Approval of Meeting Agenda

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

Consent Action Items

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

• Minutes of the Regular Session held October 3, 2005
• Authorization for DTE to install a natural gas main for service to the Fremont Municipal Airport (FMA) Airpark Development, at a cost of $11,796
• Amendments to the FY 05/06 Budget by transferring $11,796 from the General Fund (101-966-000-999.490) to the Capital Project Fund (490-000.000-699.000) for installation of the above natural gas main at the FMA (490-537.000-971.004)
• Adoption of a policy and procedures: “Use & Disclosure of Social Security Numbers” and Amendments to the City Personnel Policies Manual to include said policy & procedures

Accounts Payable Report dated October 13, 2005 totaling $204,091.07

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the accounts payable check register report dated October 13, 2005 totaling $204,091.07; motion approved.

Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to amend the meeting agenda by adding Item #8.3: “Selection of a Design for the Yahaba Civic Art Exchange Project”; motion approved.

Public Hearing: Application for Industrial Facilities Tax (IFT) Exemption Certificate from Hi-Lites Graphics, Inc.

Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:06 PM.

John Sovinski, President of Hi-Lites Graphics gave a brief summary of their recent project regarding the installation of new 4-color printing equipment.  Following discussion, Mayor Rynberg closed the hearing.

Receive Public Input on Proposed “Fremont Downtown Rental Housing Rehab Project”

Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:10 PM.

NED Director Michele Ribant summarized the proposed MSHDA rehabilitation project and the grant administration process.  Following discussion, Mayor Rynberg closed the hearing.

Resolution R-05-38: Approval of Application for IFT Exemption Certificate from Hi-Lites Graphics, Inc.

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve Resolution R-65-38 approving Hi-Lites’ application for an IFT Exemption Certificate for the full 12-year period allowed by State law on personal property & equipment valued at $173,190; motion approved.

Agreement for Provision of a P.A. 198 Tax Abatement for Hi-Lites Graphics, Inc.

Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to sign an agreement with Hi-Lites for commitment to implement the economic development project giving Hi-Lites an IFT abatement on said equipment; motion approved.

Selection of Design for Yahaba Civic Art Exchange Project

Mayor Rynberg presented the painting “Last Snow of April - Fremont Lake”, created by local artist Jane Stroschin.  The Mayor commissioned the painting for the City of Fremont’s presentation to the Town of Yahaba, Japan.  Mayor Rynberg will present the painting to the Mayor of Yahaba during his visit to Japan next month, for their 50th Anniversary as a town.

Councilmember Drake gave an update of the civic art exchange project and reported the Selection Committee met to review artwork designs submitted by Japanese artists.  The Committee chose a design and recommends placement in front of the Fremont Municipal Building at the northeast corner of the intersection of Main Street and Merchant Avenue.

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to accept the Committee’s recommendation and commission the design of said artwork for placement in front of the Municipal Building; motion approved.

Reports

City Manager Yonker reminded Council there will be a special Council meeting to be held jointly with the City Planning Commission to discuss the status of the new joint planning project with the surrounding townships and to receive an update on the progress of the new zoning ordinance.  The meeting will be held Tuesday, October 25th at 3:15 PM in the Council Chambers.

Councilmember Drake announced there will be a luncheon for the Yahaba delegation on Friday, October 28th at noon in the Council Chambers and a social gathering on Saturday, October 29th at 6:00 PM.

The Following Written Communications Were Submitted for Council Review:

• CM’s Friday Newsletter: Semi-Mo. Progress Report on Key City Objectives, Policies & Projects
• Fire Department Minutes of the 10/10/05 Meeting
• Planning Commission Minutes of the 9/27/05 Meeting
• Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee Minutes of the 9/12/05 Meeting
• Downtown Development Authority Minutes of the 9/28/05 Meeting
• Museum Committee Minutes of the 9/29/05 Meeting
• Chamber of Commerce 10/12/05 Letter: Nomination of 2006 Board Members
• Dayton Township Board Minutes of the 9/8/05 Meeting
• MDOT 10/7/05 Letter: P.A. 141 of 2005- 8% Reductions in Motor Fuel Tax Distribution Amounts
• Copy of 10/14/05 Max Lee Letter to Mayor Rynberg: Fremont Municipal Airport
• Times Indicator Articles (10/5/05):
• “Smile in the Sky”
• “Jumping at an Opportunity”
• “Halloween Haunting to be found at Fremont Municipal Airport”
• “Cemetery Walk held at Maple Grove Cemetery”
• Legal Notice: “MSHDA Downtown Rental Housing Rehab Public Hearing”
• Combined Public Notice: “City General Election”
• Public Notice: “Meetings to Explain Fremont Area Joint Planning Project”
• Chamber of Commerce Connections Articles (10/5/05):
• “Fremont to Celebrate with Fall Harvest Festival”
• “Believe it or not- Christmas is Right Around the Corner”
• “2005 Fremont Summer Concert Series Finishes Stellar Season”
• “Thank You NBFF Sponsors”
• Times Indicator Articles (10/12/05):
• “Harvest Festival Pictures”
• “Fremont Officer Honored for use of Non-Lethal Force”
• “Fall in Fremont”
• Letter to Editor: “Thank You for Harvest Festival”
• “Fremont Fire Department Open House”
• Legal Notice: “Hi-Lites IFT Tax Abatement Public Hearing”

Closed Session: Public Works Union Negotiation Strategy Discussion

Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to close the Regular Meeting at 8:08 PM and enter into a Closed Session to discuss union collective bargaining agreement negotiation strategies; motion approved by unanimous roll call vote.

The Closed Session ended at 9:25 PM and the Regular Meeting reconvened.

Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 PM; motion approved.

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                                                                                      James M. Rynberg, Mayor

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                                                                                      Todd M. Blake, City Clerk