FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 – 7:00 PM
Mayor James Rynberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Councilmember Jane Drake gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
Present at Roll Call: Mayor James Rynberg and Councilmembers Jane Drake, James Breinling, Larry Breuker and Dick Conley
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker and City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake
Public Present: Lindsay Hagar and Bill Hawley
Mayor Rynberg requested the addition of Action Item 8.4 “Mayor Exchange Selection for 2007.”
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to approve the meeting agenda as amended; motion approved.
Consent Action Items
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Breinling, and carried to approve the following Consent Action Items:
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve the August 31, 2006 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $167,174.75; motion approved.
City Clerk Blake noted staff planned to address the timber-sale bid request during Staff Reports and reported staff is recommending the bids be refused at this time. Staff believes the bids were below expectations and recommends the City perform a wider-scaled bid request at a later date. The City may receive a better price for its lumber from a winter bid request. City Manager Yonker and City Clerk Blake also noted they were not aware of any written forester consulting contract for this project.
Following discussion, Council requested staff meet with Mr. Hawley and place the issue on the next regular agenda for further discussion.
Mayor Rynberg opened the public hearing at 7:10 PM and welcomed citizen input. A letter supporting the assessment, but questioning the 15% overhead and administration fee, received from Mr. Ron Mousel was entered into the record. There being no further public comment or input regarding the project, Mayor Rynberg closed the hearing.
Staff summarized that the Resolution would establish a special assessment district for the construction of water and sanitary sewer main extensions from Industrial Drive westward to the eastern property line of Crandell Funeral Home. The new mains will potentially service properties on both the north and south sides of Main Street between Industrial Drive and Green Avenue.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve Resolution R-06-20 ordering the special assessment project; motion approved.
Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH) Director Mr. Lindsay Hagar summarized their proposed purchase and renovation of these two facilities and asked for a commitment from the City to consider adopting a PILOT Ordinance addressing the CNH projects. Mr. Yonker noted that should Council wish to support this request, two separate site-specific ordinances would need to be crafted.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the concept of a 10% PILOT Ordinance for CNH’s submittal of an application to the MI State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) for low-income housing tax credits on the proposed Meadow Hills North and Wedgewood Apartment projects; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker summarized the proposed special assessment that would be used to cover approximately 2/3’s the cost of purchasing property, demolishing a building & reconstructing the parking lot area in the northeast block of Downtown. He related how the prior Downtown Parking System special assessments were spread across the entire Downtown area based on a formula established in the 1970’s. Should Council desire to again levy such an assessment, it must be determined what changes or updating of the data in the formula would be necessary.
Motion by Councilmember James Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Jane Drake to approve Resolution R-06-21 setting a public hearing on the proposed establishment of the parking assessment for the October 2, 2006 City Council meeting; motion approved.
Mayor Rynberg reported the Village of Pentwater has requested the City of Fremont participate in Mayor’s Exchange for 2007. He recommended establishing May 22nd & June 5th, 2007 as the exchange dates.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to participate with the Village of Pentwater in the 2007 Mayor’s Exchange as recommended; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker announced the next Fremont Community Leadership Meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 15th at Gerber Products Company.
The Following Written Communications Were Submitted for Council Information:
The Following Written Communications Were Previously Transmitted via E-Mail for Council Information:
Closed Session
Motion by Councilmember Jane Drake, seconded by Councilmember Larry Breuker to close the regular session at 8:50 PM and enter into a closed session, by request of City Manager Yonker, to complete the City Council’s annual performance review; motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
The closed session ended at 9:40 PM and the regular session reconvened.
Open Session
Motion made by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to adopt the results of the City Manager’s 05/06 performance review; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to not make any adjustments to the City Manager’s current salary and benefit package; a semi-annual review is scheduled for the December 4, 2006 City Council meeting; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adopt the City Manager’s Performance Plan & Objectives for FY 06/07 as revised by the City Manager and submitted to the Council; motion approved.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 PM; motion approved.
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James M. Rynberg, Mayor
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk