FREMONT CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
Monday, March 5, 2007 – 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 and City Clerk/Finance Director Todd Blake
Public Present: Lola & Mark Ramsey and David Landheer
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Breuker to approve the meeting agenda with the addition of “Payment to Artist for Yahaba Sculpture Design”; motion approved.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker and carried to approve the following Consent Action Items:
Motion by Councilmember Breuker, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and carried to authorize purchase of decorative lighting poles and fixtures for the Downtown NE Block Parking & Market Place Project as follows:
Motion by Councilmember Conley, seconded by Councilmember Breinling and carried to approve the March 1, 2007 Accounts Payable Check Register Report totaling $58,598.04.
City Manager Yonker summarized Allied Waste’s proposal and noted their request for an 82% increase in recycling services from $1.59 to $2.89 per month. He recommended Council consider splitting recycling services off as a separate contracted service with another vendor.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breuker and carried to authorize the City Manager and Clerk to execute a three-year contract renewal with Allied Waste for refuse disposal and other specific services, excluding recycling collections, as contained in the current contract with the following price adjustments and contract provisions:
Mr. Mark Ramsey, with Cart-Right, LLC submitted a three-year proposal for weekly residential curbside recycling collection services in Fremont. His proposal included a letter of support from Recycling for Newaygo County, which would be processing the recycled materials picked up by Cart-Right. Mr. Ramsey proposed a monthly rate of $2.39 per household, with the City supplying the recycling bins to residents. The rate is $0.50/mo. less than Allied Wastes’ proposed ’07 price of $2.89/mo.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Breinling to authorize the City Manager and Clerk to negotiate and execute a three-year contract with Cart-Right, LLC for residential curbside recycling services as proposed; and to pursue (if necessary) a short-term extension of Allied Wastes’ current recycling collection contract until Cart-Right can begin its collections; motion approved. The Council requested staff review and price the options for the City purchasing new (or some of Allied’s used) recycling containers, amortizing the purchase over an estimated 10-year life of the containers and adding that cost to the monthly collection rate proposed by Cart-Right.
By consensus agreement, the City Council supported staff exploring the feasibility and organizational structure of a joint public-private venture for construction and operation of a community recycling center.
Council viewed a video provided by MML entitled “Revenue Sharing: Impacting Your Quality of Life.” The video is an effort to create public awareness of how State reductions in Revenue Sharing impact local government services in Michigan.
City Manager Yonker summarized a list of successful partnering efforts between the City and other entities that have helped streamline government, increase efficiencies, lower costs and share services and facilities in the Fremont area. He noted this list will help the MML, State Legislators, the Governor and Fremont’s citizens better understand the cooperative and collaborative efforts the City has already undertaken for many years. Both this list and a link to the MML video will be posted for viewing on the City’s website.
City Clerk Blake noted the City budgeted $10,000 for payment to a Japanese artist for design of the public art sculpture to be erected in front of the Fremont Municipal Building. He reported there were issues with foreign currency exchange and noted Yahaba has already agreed to pay the Japanese artist if we pay the local Fremont artist for their sculpture design.
Motion by Councilmember Drake, seconded by Councilmember Conley to pay Fremont local artist Lori Hough $10,000 for design of the sculpture to be built and placed in Yahaba, Japan; motion approved.
The Following Communications were transmitted for Council Information:
Adjournment
Motion by Councilmember Breinling, seconded by Councilmember Conley to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM; motion approved.
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James M. Rynberg, Mayor
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Todd M. Blake, City Clerk