HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1988.07.20 - 38835OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
July 20, 1988
The meeting was called to order at 9:17 a.m. by Chairman Lewis Wint in the Parks
and Recreation Commission's conference room.
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Lewis Wint, Vice Chairman Jean Fox, George Kuhn, Richard Kuhn, Jr., Thomas
Law, Ralph Nelson, John Olsen, Richard Vogt
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT:
Secretary Pecky Lewis, Jr., Daniel Murphy
ALSO PRESENT:
Parks and Recreation
Corporation Counsel
Oakland Parks Foundation
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Ralph Richard, Manager
C. L. Ross, Chief, Administrative Services
Michael Thibodeau, Chief of Golf
Daniel Stencil, Chief of Parks
Joseph Figa, Chief, Design and Development
Janet Pung, Public Communications Officer
Sheila Cox, Accountant
Jacklyn McParlane, Recreation Supervisor
Chris Bundy, Intern
Anne Seebaldt, Intern
Pat Campbell, Real Estate Division
Fran Greenebaum, Executive Director
Moved by Mr. Nelson, supported by Mrs. Fox to approve the minutes of
the meeting of July 6, 1988, and the Public Hearing of July 6, 1988,
as written.
Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS:
Moved by Mr. R. Kuhn, supported by Mr. Olsen to approve the payment
of Vouchers 7-1 through 7-177 and the Transfer Voucher for the June
charges.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Nelson, Olsen, Wint, Fox, G. Kuhn, R. Kuhn (6)
NAYS: (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried.
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(Commission Meeting, July 20, 1988)
Mr. Ross informed Commissioner R. Kuhn that the expenditures through June for
the Springfield Oaks Golf Course starter building total $19,800.
ACTIVITIES REPORT:
Moved by Mr. G. Kuhn, supported by Mr. Olsen to receive the Activities
Report for June, 1988.
Motion carried.
WELL PUMP REPLACEMENT - ADDISON OAKS:
Moved by Mr. G. Kuhn, supported by Mrs. Fox to approve the expenditure
for the pump replacement for the restroom facility well at the modern
campground at Addison Oaks to James Layman Well Drilling in the amount
of $2,056.50.
Motion carried.
LICENSE FEE - RED OAKS WAVE POOL:
Staff requested Commission approval of an expenditure of $5,000 for a one-time
license fee for maintenance parts and service for the wave -generating equipment
at the Red Oaks Wave Pool to Aquatic Amusement Associates, the company that holds
the patent on the equipment.
Corporation Counsel has reviewed, but not approved, this license agreement; how-
ever, they conceded the fact that any fees for litigation against it would probably
exceed the $5,000 figure. Therefore, staff recommended approval of the $5,000
for the license agreement.
Moved by Mr. G. Kuhn, supported by Mr. R. Kuhn to approve the expenditure
for a license fee for maintenance parts and service for the wave -generating
equipment at the Red Oaks Wave Pool to Aquatic Amusement Associates
in the amount of $5,000.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Olsen, Wint, Fox, G. Kuhn, R. Kuhn, Nelson (6)
NAYS: (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried.
INDEPENDENCE OAKS ROAD RIGHT OF WAY:
Mr. Figa explained that, because of proposed road improvements on Sashabaw Road,
the Oakland County Road Commission is requesting a transfer of property within
the proposed 60 ft. right of way from Independence Oaks Park in the amount of
$1.00. We will not be required to move any fencing, because it was previously
installed at the 60 ft. line in anticipation of these improvements.
Staff recommended approval of this transfer.
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(Commission Meeting, July 20, 1988)
Moved by Mr. Olsen, supported by Mr. G. Kuhn to authorize staff to proceed
with the transfer of the 60 ft. road right of way on Sashabaw Road at
Independence Oaks to the Oakland County Road Commission in the amount
of $1.00.
Motion carried.
This request will be forwarded to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Planning
and Building Commission for approval.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Moved by Mr. Olsen, supported by Mr. R. Kuhn to adjourn into Executive
Session.
Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 9:40 a.m.
Meeting re -convened at 9:57 a.m.
PROPOSED PROPERTY PURCHASE - ADDISON OAKS:
Moved by Mrs. Fox, supported by Mr. Olsen to authorize staff to proceed
with the appraisals on three parcels of land adjacent to Addison Oaks.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Vogt, Wint, Fox, G. Kuhn, R. Kuhn, Law, Nelson, Olsen (8)
NAYS: (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried.
MANAGER'S REPORT:
In addition to the Manager's Report filed in the agenda, the following was noted:
---Commissioners are invited to visit the Franklin Settlement Camp for the blind
in Lake Orion, which will be session August 1 - 5. Arrangements can be made through
Ralph Richard or Jackie McFarlane.
---Ralph Richard and Joe Figa will be going to Lansing on August 3 to make a pre-
sentation on the Waterford Oaks Refrigerated Toboggan Run before the Michigan
Natural Resources Trust Fund Board. It has been suggested that the Commission
consider including additional features to make this more of a year-round facility.
---Ralph Richard, Joe Figa and Jack Hays met with Mike McDonald from the Department
of Natural Resources to review the possibility of the County's use of the vacant
administration office building for temporary office space.
At the meeting it was noted that when grant funding is involved, the State does
not differentiate between acquisition and development; for regulatory purposes,
the State feels they go hand in hand.
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(Commission Meeting, July 20, 1988)
The parkland at Waterford Oaks was purchased by the County, but development was
completed with federal grant funds. Therefore, the State feels they can regulate
the use of the land according to the grant regulations.
Corporation Counsel Jack Hays contends that, because the land was purchased by
the County, the County has the final say on its use.
The State is willing to be flexible and has provided guidelines for the County
to follow in keeping with our request; however, Mr. Hays is handling the request
from his original approach.
Commissioners directed staff to contact County Executive Murphy to inform him
of the situation. Also, staff will send copies of all correspondence on this
subject, to date, to the Parks Commissioners.
---Planning and Building Committee has approved the demolition of the house at
Groveland Oaks; it will go before the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for
final approval.
Staff has also been informed by Chairperson Hobart that the Parks Commission must
get approval from the Planning and Building Committee on any demolition projects;
Corporation Counsel Jack Hays has concurred.
Staff expressed concern about having to deal with the delays in capital projects
this will cause, plus wasting the Oakland County Board of Commissioners' time
with everything the Parks Commission is involved with, such as pit toilets.
---Staff and Oak Management have had preliminary meetings to review the addition
to the Addison Oaks Conference Center. Staff input has been included in these
plans; Oak Management will be bringing the plans to the Commission for approval
next month.
The Conference Center will be closed this winter during the construction; staff
will present a list of projects to be completed at the Conference Center by us
during that time.
---Staff and Oak Management are also involved in negotiating the new concession
contract percentages. The proposed figures will be presented to the Commission
later this fall.
---The weekend of July 15 - 17, Ralph Richard, Joe Figa, Jackie McParlane and
Chairman Wint visited four camps in New York and Connecticut, giving them an op-
portunity to see how they operate and evaluate the camps for comparison to our
proposed plans at Orion Oaks. Staff showed videotapes and slides of the highlights
of the camps they visited.
Staff will send a letter to each of the camps thanking them for their time and
hospitality.
ORION OAKS FUNDING PROPOSAL:
Recreation Supervisor Jackie McParlane stated that staff has reviewed the fund-
raising concepts for the development for Orion Oaks and believes it is possible
to handle the job in-house, making it no longer necessary to do an RFP to hire
a consultant.
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(Commission Meeting, July 20, 1988)
Groups are surfacing that want to be financially involved in this project; forming
and coordinating committees to work with these groups will still be necessary.
Commissioner Olsen urged staff to be assured of an understanding between us and
the groups donating funds that the funding is appreciated, but it does not give
them the final say in who uses the facility or how it is designed.
A presentation will be developed to show interested groups for help in soliciting
additional development funds; staff will be coming back to the Commission for
approval of additional funds to develop that presentation.
Commissioner Nelson stressed the importance of seeking endowment funds to maintain
and operate the facility.
The possibility of approaching a "big name" personality to be connected with the
park was raised; the Commission had no objections as long as that person did not
attempt to take over the program, once involved.
The next Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, 1988, at 9 a.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:26 a.m.
Pecky D. Lewis, Jr.
Secretary
Karen Smith
Recording Secretary
ks
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