Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee
Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 8, 2006
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Sherman Township Hall
Members Present:
Dayton Township: Shirley Hooker, Supervisor
Dayton Township: Barbara Popp, Board Member
Dayton Township: Vern Staley, Planning Commissioner
Dayton/Sheridan Townships: Peter Lance, Zoning Administrator
Sheridan Charter Township: Dave Lue, Supervisor
Sheridan Charter Township: Don Potter, Board Member
Sheridan Charter Township: Jeff Wharton, Planning Commissioner
Sheridan Charter Township: Jack Taylor, Planning Commissioner (Acting Chair)
Sherman Township: Fran Derks, Board Member
Sherman Township: Joan Obits, Supervisor
City of Fremont: Peg May, Planning Commissioner
City of Fremont: Jim Breinling, Mayor Pro Tem
City of Fremont: James Rynberg, Mayor
City of Fremont: Richard Rought, Zoning Administrator
Members Absent: Dayton Township: Chuck Witteveen, Planning Commissioner
Sherman Township Roman Miller, Zoning Administrator
Sherman Township: Randy Paulson, Planning Commissioner
Sherman Township: Warren Stroven, Planning Commissioner
City of Fremont: Chuck Whitman, Planning Commissioner
Alternates Present: Sheridan Charter Township: Jennifer Christensen, Board Member
Sheridan Charter Township: Sandy Vandenberg, Planning Commissioner
Others Present: Dayton Township: Vicki Kunnen, Treasurer
Sherman Township: Murry Stocking, Board Member
City of Fremont: Jane Drake, Fremont Councilmember
City of Fremont: Chris Yonker, Fremont City Manager
City of Fremont: Todd Blake, Fremont City Clerk/Finance Director
City of Fremont: Michele Ribant, Director of Neighborhood & Economic Development
Facilitator Present: Land Information Access Association (LIAA): Joe VanderMeulen, Executive Director
Call to Order & Welcome
Jack Taylor announced that the chair, Chuck Witteveen, was not able to make the meeting and that he would be chairing the meeting in Mr. Witteveen’s absence. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
A motion was made by Dave Lue, seconded by Don Potter and carried to approve the minutes from the April 10, 2006 Fremont Area Joint Planning Committee meeting.
Presentation by Joint Planning Education Subcommittee on the Benefits of Establishing a Joint Planning Agreement
Dave Lue reviewed the reasons the Fremont community should engage in joint planning. He indicated that joint planning is more of a challenge for new townships that have not worked cooperatively on projects in the past. He indicated that joint planning can be a tough process, but the rewards are great. It was expressed that we need to continue to work with all governmental units a party to the Joint Planning Agreement to encourage cooperation so that our community benefits.
Feedback on the Efforts of the Education Subcommittee
Dave Lue informed the Committee that the Joint Planning Education Subcommittee had been to the Dayton Township and the Sherman Township Planning Commission meetings to inform them of the benefits of entering into a Joint Planning Agreement. It was expressed that Dayton Township as well as Sherman Township still have some reservations about our joint planning efforts.
The point was made that we need to do a better job of communicating the benefits of joint planning with the governmental units a party to the Agreement.
Plan for Next Meeting
Jack Taylor reminded the Committee that the next Joint Planning meeting is as follows:
June 12, 2006
Fremont Area District Library
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Regular Joint Planning Meeting
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Presentation by Steve Langworthy of LSL Planning Inc. on the new combined
Michigan Zoning Act
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Public Forum on the Benefits of Establishing a Joint Planning Agreement
Jack Taylor, Jennifer Christensen and Jim Breinling volunteered to work together and meet with people within the community who could help us understand how best to communicate the benefits of joint planning. Dave Lue volunteered to contact one of Michigan’s state officials (Geoff Hansen, state representative or Gerry Van Woerkom, state senator) to inform them of the Committee’s efforts and to get the perspective from Lansing.
It was decided that a flyer on the benefits of joint planning should be sent to every citizen in the City of Fremont, Dayton Township, Sherman Township and Sheridan Charter Township. It was also decided that a press release on the benefits of joint planning should be sent to the Times Indicator a week or two before the meeting. Joe VanderMuelen volunteered to create the flyer and the press release, and Michele Ribant volunteered to coordinate the dissemination of the material.
Adjournment
There being no further business of the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.