FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, July 17, 2006 – 7:00 PM
Mayor James 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 Rynberg and Councilmembers Larry Breuker, Dick Conley, Jane Drake and James Breinling.
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake and Neighborhood & Economic Development Director Michele Ribant
Public Present: Sue Church, Kurt Lowdermilk, Joyce Pearson, Marjorie Robinson, Kurt Schornagel, Ginny Johnson, Tony & Kay Johnson
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.
Consent Action Items
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker, and carried to approve the following Consent Action Items:
¾-ton grass-fire truck chassis $ 22,367.27
1-ton water-source truck chassis 33,562.00
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Rich Construction to replace the steel doors for $5,359; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the July 13, 2006 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $208,629.40; motion approved.
Public Hearing: Considering the Establishment of a Special Assessment District for the Installation of Watermain, Sidewalks & Streetlighting along W. Main Street between Market Avenue & Industrial Drive
Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:10 PM and asked for public comment. Property owners in attendance expressed the following concerns:
Mayor Rynberg closed the public hearing at 7:52 PM.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve Resolution R-06-13 establishing the special assessment district; motion approved.
Councilmember Breuker, owner of Diversity Signs, excused himself from discussion on this item and left the room.
N&ED Director Ribant reported the following bids for holiday/seasonal banners and hardware, which had been revised to include shipping costs:
Bronners, Frankenmuth $ 39,300.00
Diversity Signs, Fremont 40,177.50
Kalamazoo Banner Works, Kalamazoo 40,252.00
Council and staff discussed the 2% margin between the two lowest bidders and the benefits of working on a project like this with local merchants for both service and economic reasons.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to authorize purchase of holiday and seasonal banners and hardware from Diversity Signs for $40,177.50; motion approved.
Councilmember Breuker was asked to rejoin the meeting.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and approved, to authorize the City Manager and Clerk to execute said Professional Services Agreement with Fleis & Vandenbrink, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $88,100 for the following tasks related to the scope of work for said project:
A. Topo Surveying & Mapping D. Final Design Engineering
B. Geo-Technical Soil Borings E. Permits
C. Preliminary Design Engineering F. Easements
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and approved to adopt Resolution R-06-16 authorizing:
“The notice of intent and declaring the intent to sell 20-year general obligation (G.O.) limited tax bonds pursuant to Act 34, P.A. of MI, 2001, as amended (the “Bonds”) in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $1,700,000 in one or more series for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, installing and equipping various capital improvements in the Downtown area and the Fremont Industrial Park (the “Projects”) and associated fees and costs of issuance of the Bonds; and declaring the City’s intent at this time to state its intentions to be reimbursed from proceeds of the Bonds for any expenditures undertaken by the City for the Projects prior to issuance of the Bonds.”
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to authorize the City Manager to engage the firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone as Bond Counsel for the issuance of the 2006 Capital Improvement Bonds; motion approved.
Councilmember Conley reported resident Harold Farwig at Decker & Main had expressed concerns with the overfilling of refuse carts throughout town. Following discussion, Council requested staff issue notices to those violating the refuse and recycling rules and require Allied Waste to abide by its contractual requirement to refuse service to those in violation.
Closed Session: Land Acquisition
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to close the Regular Session at 9:30 PM and enter into a Closed Session to discuss a possible land acquisition; motion approved by unanimous roll call vote.
The Closed Session ended at 9:45 PM and the Regular Session reconvened.
Mayor Rynberg announced Governor Jennifer Granholm would be visiting Fremont’s National Baby Food Festival and will be speaking from the front steps of City Hall at 2:30 PM on Tuesday, July 18th. He also distributed an agenda for the Governor’s visit and requested all members of Council and available staff attend the ceremony.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM; motion approved.
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James M. Rynberg, Mayor
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk