FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Monday, October 16, 2006 – 7:00 PM
Mayor James 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 Rynberg and Councilmembers Dick Conley, Jane Drake, James Breinling and Larry Breuker
Staff Present: City Manager Chris Yonker, City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake and Police Chief Phil Deur
Public Present: Don Reinders, Fred & Barbara Billerbeck, Carol Graham, Janice Overzet, Barbara Pettit, Vicki Gilliland, Gary Haveman, Jordan Lacy, Gordon Witte, Doris & Max Jordan, Rose LaPenna, Nancy & Ted Johnson, John & Maxine Dykstra, Nancy Lindner, Robert Paxton, Corie Shira, Wes & Barb Cooper, Maynard DeKryger, Russ & Margaret Price, Sherri Patterson, George & Norma Purvis, Jeff Greene, Ryan Rademacher, Scott Carpenter, Wayne Mast, Ben Landheer and David Landheer
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to approve the meeting agenda; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to confirm Mayor Rynberg’s Proclamation declaring “National Save for Retirement Week” in Fremont; motion carried.
Consent Action Items
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and carried to approve the following Consent Action Item:
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Conley to approve the October 12, 2006 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $104,463.54; motion approved.
Mr. Jeff Green and Mr. Ryan Rademacher, from Michigan DNR, addressed Council and those in attendance regarding whitetail deer population problems in Michigan’s urbanized areas. Mr. Green explained the following options available to the City, and noted they are temporary remedies to an on-going problem:
Residents informed Council of the ongoing problem with deer eating the flora in their yards. They suggested the City adopt an ordinance prohibiting intentional feeding of deer and requested the City Council address the deer population problem through one or more of the above recommended options.
Officer Rademacher recommended the City contact the City of Big Rapids, who has recently implemented some of the options listed above in order to address the same type of deer problems.
Following discussion, Council informed those in attendance that the City will consider addressing the deer problem through one of the aforementioned or other options. Council requested staff research and prepare a recommendation entailing identified greenways and deer refuge areas and the method(s) that could be used to address the problem.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to authorize Detective Steve Heiss’ request for payment of 30 unused hours of vacation time, due to a difficult schedule during employee changeovers; motion approved.
Council denied Trinity Christian Reformed Church’s request for waiver of interest on a proposed special assessment payment in December.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to approve Resolution R-06-25 authorizing the sale of 2006 Capital Improvement Bonds for an amount not to exceed $1,700,000 and authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to award the sale of bonds on November 14, 2006; motion approved by unanimous roll call vote of:
Yeas: Rynberg, Conley, Drake, Breinling, Breuker
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Drake to approve Ordinance O-06-04 amending Chapter 2, Article III “City Planning, to establish the Fremont Community Joint Planning Commission; motion approved by unanimous roll call vote of:
Yeas: Rynberg, Conley, Drake, Breinling, Breuker
Nays: None
Absent: None
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and approved, to amend Section 5.7 “Longevity Pay” of the Personnel Policies Manual, by bringing the policy for full-time administrative employees in line with the policy for both City unions:
Councilmember Drake and City Clerk Blake summarized the Fremont/Yahaba Friendship City art exchange project and presented the engineered design of the art sculpture, which will be placed in front of the Municipal Building next spring.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to award the bid for construction of the Civic Art Sculpture for $66,400 to Holland Custom Metalworks; motion approved.
City Manager Yonker gave a brief presentation on MDOT’s proposed design considerations for widening S. Warner Ave. to three lanes, from the City limits to south of 56th Street. Mr. Yonker requested Council’s consideration for the use of concrete curb & gutter in lieu of a rolled asphalt curb. during MDOT’s project scheduled for 2008; MDOT is willing to do so if the City pays the difference between the two methods (estimated @ $40-50,000.) He also requested that MDOT’s engineering allow room for future installation of City water & sewer utilities and the Town & Country Path.
Council requested staff contact Sheridan Township officials regarding any cost-sharing between the City and Township for concrete curbing and other utility installations.
Reports
City Manager Yonker noted the City’s Leaf Collection program began today and would run through mid-November, weather permitting.
Mr. Yonker also updated Council on the unfinished land-exchange between the City and Mr. Ben Landheer. The exchange originally consisted of vacant land owned by Mr. Ben Landheer, currently within the Industrial Park, and City-owned land located between 44th and State Streets and Stone Road and Market Avenue. There was discussion regarding zoning and road rights-of-way for Hemlock Street.
The Following Communications were Transmitted for Council Information:
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to close the regular session at 9:35 PM and enter into a Closed Session to discuss pending litigation; motion approved by unanimous roll call vote.
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 PM; motion approved.
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James M. Rynberg, Mayor
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk