MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
Monday, May 15, 2006 – 7:00 PM
Mayor Pro Tem James Breinling 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 Pro-Tem James Breinling and Councilmembers Dick Conley, Jane Drake and Larry Breuker. Mayor James Rynberg was absent.
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker and City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake
Public Present: Ron Zuverink, Ben Zuverink, Kim Zuverink, Courtney Webster, Elissa McDonald, Jodi Zuverink and Sherry Heiss
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.
Consent Action Items:
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker, and carried to approve the following Consent Action Items:
The Fire Dept. collected donations for the benefit of sending children to “Burn Camp.”
101-336.000-801.000 Professional Services $ 5,000
101-000.000-675.005 Contributions to Fire Dept $ 5,000
Filing cabinets were needed in the Administrative Offices, whereas over the last ten years, the current filing space is insufficient.
101-265.000-740.000 City Offices Supplies 2,000
101-000.000-699.028 Transfer from Fund Balance 2,000
Show repair (expense) and insurance (revenue) related to street light pole hit by vehicle.
101-000.000-691.000 Reimbursements 8,660
101-446.000-930.000 Repair & Maintenance 8,660
The City originally budgeted $20,000 for the carryover of professional services related to the Gerber MTT Appeal. Knowing a budget amendment would be needed once the project was finished; Council authorized staff to continue paying for the services.
101-209.000-801.000 Professional Services- Appraising 40,000
101-000.000-699.028 Transfer from Fund Balance 40,000
Following settlement of the Gerber MTT Appeal, the loss in 2005 real property taxes must be accounted for.
101-000.000-402.000 Current Property Taxes 34,609
101-000.000-437.000 Current IFT Taxes 700
101-000.000-699.028 Transfer from Fund Balance 35,309
The City accepted the MSHDA grant, but further breakdown of the expenditure process is needed to separately account for each project, as well as each applicant’s upfront deposit funds.
101-690.000-801.000 Prof. Services- Grant Admin. (City & CNH) 54,800
101-690.000-801.601 MSHDA Rental Project 06-01 (2 units) 53,125
101-690.000-801.602 MSHDA Rental Project 06-02 (2 units) 53,125
101-690.000-801.603 MSHDA Rental Project 06-03 (2 units) 53,125
101-690.000-801.604 MSHDA Rental Project 06-04 (6 units) 160,000
101-727.000-801.000 Prof. Services- Economic Development 304,800
101-000.000-547.000 Rental Rehab Owner Matching Funds 19,375
EQUIPMENT FUND
Fuel prices have increased more than 40% in the last year. Fortunately, the City’s competitive bidding process has kept the City $40,000 under budget in capital equipment purchases this year.
661-000.000-751.000 Fuel & Oil 10,000
661-000.000-970.000 Capital Outlay 10,000
Results of Lottery Picks of Applicants for Downtown Rental Housing Rehab Program
City Manager Yonker reported the City received applications from four property owners for the rehabilitation of 12 total units under the first phase of the MSHDA DT Rental Rehab program. However, the original grant funding was for 10 units. He announced that MSHDA reported today they will secure the additional funding of approximately $65,000 for the 2 additional units.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve all four applications (12 units) for participation in the DT Rental Rehab Program; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the May 11, 2006 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $117,884.75; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker, and approved to grant NBFF’s request for a revised route for the Grand Parade, which will add approximately four blocks to the end of the prior route. The parade would continue from Darling & Sheridan, south to Maple and then west to Mechanic.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to authorize South Grandville CRC and Fremont Wesleyan Church the use of Veterans Memorial Park & Amphitheater for a Mission Trip fundraising event on Sunday, June 11, 2006; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to accept the Economic Feasibility Study. Following discussion, there was consensus that the DDA should accept the Study first and a substitute motion was made by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to table this item until the June 5, 2006 meeting; motion to table approved.
City Clerk Blake reported that Priority Health Insurance recently notified the City of a 5.17% increase in premium costs for employee health care at the current levels of service. Currently employees have a $30/co-pay for office visits, $15-generic/$50-name brand co-pay for prescriptions and a $100-individual/$200-family prescription deductible, of which the $100/$200 deductible is reimbursed to employees under union contracts.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to authorize renewal of employee health care agreements with Priority Health Insurance at the current service levels; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Drake to authorize annual reimbursement of the $100/$200 prescription deductible to administrative employees the same as was negotiated in both the Public Works and Police Dept. Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA’s); motion approved.
City Manager Yonker submitted a copy of the tentative schedule for Mayors Exchange Day with the City of Zeeland. Eight reps from Fremont will travel to Zeeland on Thursday, May 31st.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve Resolution R-06-09; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve Resolution R-06-10; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker reported that a countywide Rental Housing Inspection Program will likely be pursued this summer. It would initially cover the four largest municipalities, who could contract with Newaygo County to conduct the inspections. It is hoped that eventually the program could be expanded to cover most of the rest of the county.
Mr. Yonker also announced that the Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee has scheduled a Public Forum for City and Township boards, Committee members, Planning Commissioners, ZBA members and residents to discuss the joint planning efforts and receive a presentation on the new Zoning Enabling Act, from Mr. Steve Langworthy of LSL Planning. The Forum will be held on Monday, June 12th. An informational flyer will be mailed to the entire residency of the participating jurisdictions, inviting them to the Forum at the District Library.
City Clerk Blake noted there are public hearings scheduled for the next Council meeting to hear public comment on the finalization of the E. Maple Street Special Assessment project and the proposed amendment to the Water & Sewer Ordinance.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 PM; motion approved.
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James Breinling, Mayor Pro-Tem
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk