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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1986.12.03 - 38790OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING December 3, 1986 The meeting was called to order at 9:12 a.m. by Vice Chairman Jean Fox in the Parks and Recreation Commission's conference room. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chairman Jean Fox, Secretary Pecky Lewis, Jr., George Kuhn, Walter Moore, Daniel Murphy, Ralph Nelson, John Olsen, Carol Stanley, Richard Vogt COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Chairman Lewis Wint ALSO PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Oakland County Corporation Counsel Oakland Parks Foundation Oakland Press Scripps on the Lake and Keatington Cedars Subdivisions APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ralph Richard, Manager Jon Kipke, Assistant Manager C. L. Ross, Chief, Administrative Services Sheila Cox, Accountant Joe Figa, Chief, Design and Development Steve VandenBossche, Engineering Aide Mike Thibodeau, Chief of Golf Dan Stencil, Recreation Supervisor Arnold Johnston, Chief of Parks Jan Pung, Public Communications Officer Jack Hays Fran Greenebaum, Executive Director Scott Simons, Reporter Joe Peruzzi, Phil DeRosiers, David Les, Frank Gambino, Don Frericks, John Miller, Rick Pawlowski Moved by Mrs. Stanley, supported by Mr. Olsen to approve the minutes of the Budget Review of October 29, 1986, as written. Motion carried. Moved by Mr. Nelson, supported by Mr. Moore to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Application on November 5, 1986, as written. Motion carried. Moved by Mr. Lewis, supported by Mr. Olsen to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 5, 1986, as written. Motion carried. 3-1 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) ORION OAKS FENCE PROJECT: Manager Richard noted that a number of residents from the Scripps on the Lake and Keatington Cedars subdivisions adjacent to Orion Oaks had called with concerns about the fence being installed around the perimeter of the park. The following letters have also been received: "November 12, 1986 TO: Lewis Wint XC: Ralph Richard SUBJECT: Proposed fence of Orion Oaks Dear Mr. Wint: The Scripps on the Lake Homeowners' Association met on November 12, 1986 and as a group we are very concerned about he propsed (sic) fence that is soon to be constructed across our property line from lots 1-42. We would like some assurance that we will be given time at the December 3rd meeting in order to have some dialogue to focus on possible compromises that would satisfy both the Park Commission and our homeowners' association. If you would put us on your agenda for December 3rd, we would be greatly appreciative. Also, we request your signature agreeing that the construction of the proposed fence along lots 1-42 be postponed until we have had the opportunity to confer at the December 3rd meeting. Thank you for your consideration, Frank J. Gambino (Signature) President, Scripps on the Lake Homeowners' Association" To: The Scripps on the Lake Homeowners Association I the undersigned have reviewed the request of the Scripps on the Lake Homeowners' Association and do agree to postpone construction of the Orion Oaks fence across lots 1-42 pending the outcome of the December 3, 1986 Oak- land County Parks Commission Meeting. it "11-12-86 2492 Cullen Drive Lake Orion, Michigan 48035 Oakland County Parks & Recreation Commission 2800 Watkins Lake Road Pontiac, Michigan Dear Mr. Ralph Richards, (sic) 3 - 2 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) Being a lifttime (sic) resident of Oakland County and enjoying your Parks for years now. Its the best use of my tax dollars at work that I have seen yet, until now. As a home owner on Cullen Ct. bordering your Park and having a industrial looking six foot high cyclone fence almost in my back yard is very disturbing. There is a abuse problem with the Park land and probably always will be one. If the fence is necessary its where the land is open to the public on Baldwin - Clarkston -Joslyn roads. However the Ceder (sic) Key Drive -private home line will act as your south fence line to close up the box. Having that type of a fence where home values and taxes are very high makes little sence (sic) to me. Concern Home Owner, (signature) Dean D. Yanuszeski" "November 14, 1986 Oakland County Parks & Recreation 2800 Watkins Lake Rd. Pontiac, Michigan Dear Commissioners: I am writing you in regards to your plan to fence -in the Orion Oaks Nature Reserve Park site in Orion Township. Since my property abuts the Nature Reserve, I would hope at the very least, that your organization will listen with an open mind to my suggestions for placement of the proposed six-foot high fence. Please be assured that the Scripps on the Lake Homeowners Association is just as distressed about the abuse of the Park Site as you. My wife, Joanne, and I have often spoke of the abandoned refrigerators, stoves, and other household items, as well as the destruction of nature caused by snow- mobiles, 4-wheel drive vehicles, etc. And when you consider the liability issue facing the county --especially in light of a recent drowning on Lake Sixteen --a park fence is probably the only long-term solution. However, I would like to offer two compromises for your consideration. Plan 1: Fence -in along all major arteries --Joslyn, Clarkston, and Baldwin roads. A close examination would indicate that the majority of access to the Park site originates along these public thoroughfares. The portion of the park that abuts the neighborhoods could be left open with a strong warning to residents not to abuse the Park land. Residents that are found to maintain roads to the park (one instance is known) or docks on Lake Sixteen (I know there are some) should be fined, ticketed, or whatever it takes to get your point across. 3 - 3 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) By installing this fence across the residential backyards, you are in effect penalizing the entire community for the abuse of a few. I'm convinced that most of the destruction is caused by non-residents who drive their vehicles to the public access points for the day. The resi- dents that I have met are just as conservation minded as I know you are. Plan 2: If on the other hand, you are determined to fence -in the property, you could at least establish a setback for the fence line that takes in ac- count the residents' wishes in regards to line of sight and environmental impact. In some cases this setback might only be a few feet, especially in wet land and rolling hills areas where a fence might be hidden by tall weeds, bushes, trees, or hills. In other cases where the property is open, a 30-50 foot setback or ease- ment would continue to give residents a feeling of country living and open property lines. Try to remember that many of our residents bought near your Reserve Site because of its scenic beauty and open field conditions ... a won- derful area to raise children. The setback could be considered by the Commission in the same vein as the 10-20 foot drainage easements that border many of the property owners' land (see Plat map). Such easements should not be considered as a "give-away" or bribe to quiet a group of radical homeowners. Similar easements granting limited use are common place where utilities run underground pipelines, over- head wires, etc. Such an easements (sic) is really a very small price to pay for securing resident support of your plans and establishing a precedent for taking into consideration the wishes of the "little guy." Everyone in the Scripps on the Lake homeowners association realize that you will probably not be able to make all happy when it comes to fencing -in property and altering what is now a very beautiful landscape. I'll be the first to admit that the Parks Commission is performing a difficult job, at best, when it comes to establishing lands that can be en- joyed by everyone in Oakland County. I would just ask that you consider these compromises in the place of the homeowners that will be bordering your free to contact me at my office or home if you would like letter further. Best regards, Joseph A. Peruzzi 2841 Glenwood Court Lake Orion, Michigan 48035 Office phone 280-3718 Home phone 391-0708 and put yourself park. Please feel to discuss this We're currently in the process of building a home on Lot 21 along Cedar Kay drive." "December 2, 1986 3 - 4 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) Oakland County Parks & Recreation Commission 2800 Watkins Lake Rd. Pontiac, Michigan 48054 Dear Commission Members: Oakland County Parks & Recreation Commission owns a 925+ acre parcel bounded by Joslyn Road on the east, Clarkston Road on the north, Baldwin Road on the west, and Keatington Cedars and Keatington Lake View Subdivisions on the south. There has been a continuing concern on the part of home owners in the area regarding how the boundary between their property and the park property would be delineated and marked. Many of the residents are concerned that an eyesore not be created in their rear yard. I realize that it is the intent and policy of the Commission to fence their park property in its entirety. I believe that in implementing this policy that discretion has to be used. A chain link fence along major roads, such as Clarkston and Baldwin, is generally not offensive. However, that same style fence can be offensive in a subdivision where such fences are precluded through deed restrictions. If it is possible to protect the integrity of the park land through the use of natural barriers, such as wetlands, bodies of water, etc., the Township would appreciate you directing staff not to fence those areas. If it is absolutely necessary to fence an area behind these subdivisions, then the Township would request that you give strong consideration to placing the fence inside the property line and planting some type of screening mate- rials, such as evergreens, along the property line so that the fence does not become a visual intrusion into these subdivisions. The Township and its residents will appreciate whatever help you can provide in directing staff to keep the concerns of the residents in mind as they work to secure the perimeter of Orion -Oaks. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any questions, please call me. Sincerely, (Signature) JoAnn Van Tassel Supervisor Charter Township of Orion" Because of the number of responses from the residents, staff felt it would be best to give them the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to the Commis- sion. Several residents spoke, requesting Commission consideration of several alternatives, including: Providing an easement behind the homes with a screen of natural plant material, and allowing the homeowners to cover that land under their homeowners insurance policies as common ground; Kul (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) Installing no fence at all behind the homes, letting the homeowners on that border police the line themselves and taking steps to have current encroachments by residents eliminated. Installing a different type of fence, such as a 4 ft. farm fence or vinyl - clad chain -link fence. Staff noted that they had been in touch with the County's liability insurance consultant, Lois Fleming; she noted in a response letter that, to minimize lia- bility, we should not only put up a fence around the entire perimeter of the park, but also put up as needed signage. Jack Hays, Corporation Counsel, informed the residents that, because of stipula- tions included with the purchase of the property stating the property would revert back to the state if it is used other than for recreation purposes by the County, an easement cannot be made along the property line for the fence. Staff did not recommend vinyl -clad fence behind the homes because it is cost prohibitive. Some residents showed a willingness to share the cost of that fence; however, the Commission was unwilling to enter into that type of joint project as they felt it was the Parks' obligation. Farm fence was not recommended either, because of apparent ease in climbing over it. Mr. John Miller expressed his concern about whether the channel that runs between Lake Sixteen and Voorheis Lake would be blocked; staff noted that it is a navigable waterway, and therefore must remain open by DNR standards. ( Moved by Mr. Murphy, supported by Mr. Vogt to amend the contract awarded to Nationwide on October 2, 1986, to modify the fence being installed behind the homes adjacent to Orion Oaks from a 6 ft. to a 4 ft. chain -link fence. Moved by Mr. Olsen to table the motion until staff can get an opinion from our liability insurance consultant on whether a 4 ft. chain -link fence would meet the criteria of the Commission's legal responsi- bilities. Motion to table failed for lack of support. ROLL CALL VOTE ON MOTION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT: AYES: Murphy, Vogt (2) NAYS: Kuhn, Lewis, Moore, Nelson, Olsen, Stanley, Fox (7) A sufficient majority not having voted therefor, the motion failed. APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS: Moved by Mr. Moore, supported by Mr. Lewis to approve the payment of Vouchers 11-1 through 11-288 and Transfer Vouchers for October, 1986. Motion carried. 3 - 6 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS: Moved by Mr. Lewis, supported by Mr. Moore to accept the Statement of Operations as of October 31, 1986. Motion carried. ACTIVITIES REPORT: Commission received the Activities Report for October, 1986, as presented in the agenda. 1987 BUDGET: Moved by Mr. Nelson, supported by Mr. Moore to approve the resolution adopting the 1987 Parks and Recreation Commission's General Appro- priations Act incorporating the 1987 operating budget. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Lewis, Moore, Murphy, Nelson, Olsen, Stanley, Vogt, Fox, Kuhn (9) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. RTD TTEM: As per the information filed in the agenda, the following bid item was approved: Moved by Mr. Murphy, supported by Mrs. Stanley to award the bid for the purchase of non -slip safety stair treads for the Waterford Oaks Water - slide to the low bidder, Wooster Products, Inc., in the amount of $1,981. Motion carried. NAME THE LAKES CONTEST: Moved by Mr. Moore, supported by Mr. Olsen to approve the following resolution: WHEREAS, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission wishes to name two lakes at Addison Oaks County Park; and WHEREAS, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission has chosen the names of Lake Buhl for the larger lake and Lake Adams for the smaller lake as a result of a Name the Lakes contest; and WHEREAS, the names chosen are a reflection of the history of Addi- son Oaks and Oakland County; and WHEREAS, the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission recom- mends submitting these names to the United States Department of the Interior Board on Geographic Names. 3 - 7 (Commission Meeting, December 3, 1986) NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission recommends submission of the above -stated names for the lakes at Addison Oaks County Park to the United States Depart ment of the Interior Board on Geographic Names. Motion carried. Staff noted that the resolution will be submitted to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Department of the Interior Board on Geographic Names for approval. MANAGER'S REPORT: ---Camp for Special Populations: A meeting has been scheduled on Thursday, December 11, 11:30 a.m., at the administrative offices. Commissioners are invited to attend; lunch will be provided. ---MRPA Winter Conference is scheduled for January 31 - February 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. Please let Karen know as soon as possible if you wish to attend so she can register you. OAKLAND PARKS FOUNDATION: Executive Director Fran Greenebaum asked commissioners to consider becoming members of the Foundation. Commissioner Stanley bade goodbye to the Commission, noting that her term expires in January and she would not be returning. She expressed her enjoyment received from working on the Commission and her hope that the Commission continues working in the area of cultural arts. Moved by Mr. Moore to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m. The next meeting will be Friday, January 16, 1987, at Addison Oaks Conference Center, which will be followed by a retirement luncheon for Arnold Johnston, Chief of Parks. An open house for Mr. Johnston will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. that after- noon at Waterford Oaks. Pecky D. Lewis, Jr. Secretary Karen Smith Recording Secretary ks 3 - 8