HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2003.08.06 - 39117OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
August 6, 2003
Chairman Pecky Lewis called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. in the commission room of the parks and
Recreation Commission's administration office.
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Pecky D. Lewis, Jr., Vice Chairman Richard Skarritt, Hugh D. Crawford, Vincent Gregory, John
Richards, J. David VanderVeen
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT:
Secretary Fred Korzon, John P. McCulloch, Suzette Vogt
ALSO PRESENT:
Parks and Recreation
Oakland County Purchasing Division
Oakland County Corporation Counsel
Oakland County Board of Commissioners
RB133, LLC
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ralph Richard, Executive Officer
Dan Stencil, Administrator — Parks Operations
Frank Trionfi, Administrator - Administration
Joseph Figa, Chief of Design and Development
Janet Pung, Public Communications Officer
Mike Thibodeau, Chief of Golf
Clyde Herb, Park Supervisor
Sheila Cox, Accountant IV
Jon Noyes, Landscape Architect
Mike Donnellon, Architectural Engineer I
Joan Daniels, Buyer
John Ross, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Charles Palmer, Commissioner
Timothy Birtsas, Owner
There were neither questions nor comments made by the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Moved by Mr. Crawford, supported by Mr. Richards to approve the minutes of the meeting
of July 23, 2003, as written.
AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS:
Moved by Mr. VanderVeen, supported by Mr. Skarritt to approve the Payment Approval
Summary, including:
- Payment Register, including Voucher Report for June (FM 09, FY 2003) and CIP
Voucher Report for June (FM 09, FY 2003)
AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
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NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS:
The Combined Statement of Operations for June (FM 09, FY 2003), 2003 was accepted as filed.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BUDGET UPDATE:
The Capital Improvement Projects Budget Update as of June 30, 2003 was accepted as filed.
AWARD PRESENTATION:
Public Communications Officer Jan Pung reported that Waterford Oaks has been the host site of the
Rainbow Connections Picnic for children with life -threatening illnesses. Staff member Kim Soncrainte has
worked closely with them in the coordination of this event.
Rainbow Connections awarded a plaque to the Commission in thanks for our continued support and
generosity; Ms. Pung presented this plaque to Chairman Lewis and congratulated the Commission.
SULLIVAN PROPERTY ACQUISITION GRANT APPLICATION UPDATE:
Jon Noyes, Design and Development staff member, reported on the supplemental information compiled for
presentation to the State of Michigan for their additional consideration in the ranking process of the Sullivan
acquisition grant application.
The three areas staff has focused on include:
- The value of the property as part of a wildlife corridor. This acquisition would expand publicly owned
land in the wildlife corridor between Addison Oaks and Bald Mountain State Recreational Area and
increase the connections with the Stony Creek Watershed.
- The design and use of the property allows the opportunity to focus on the creation of universally
accessible facilities for hunting and nature appreciation.
- If the property is acquired and the universally accessible hunting is promoted, it would be the first facility
of its type in Oakland County and only the seventh in the state. Benefits to sportsmen with special
needs would be enormous, and would add to the economic and tourist opportunities within the county.
PARK PERMIT POLICY:
Administrator -Park Operations Dan Stencil reported on the current park pass policy, as it pertains to day
use during non -peak seasons, and requested Commission approve a change to actively enforce the
requirement for a park permit year round.
Commission suggested consideration to have park staff who patrol the parks sell permits, provide the entire
list of agencies who sell permits on our behalf to park patrons, add HCMA and the joint park pass
information on the list of selling agents, plus investigate the use of vending machines at the park sites to
assist in the sale of the permits.
Moved by Mr. Richards, supported by Mr. Gregory to approve the change in the Parks
Commission's park pass policy to allow enforcement of the park permit requirement
effective October 1, 2003.
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AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
Staff will also investigate additional agencies to sell these permits on our behalf.
WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENT — SPRINGFIELD OAKS ACTIVITY CENTER:
Moved by Mr. Skarritt, supported by Mr. Richards to authorize the additional expenditure of $11,683.00 to
be added to the contract to Greenan Excavating for the installation of an underground water system at the
Springfield Oaks Activity Center; new contract amount will be $72,883.00.
AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
ELLIS BARN UPDATE:
In response to Commissioners' questions posed at the July 23 meeting, Chief of Design and Development
Joe Figa presented detailed information on the Michigan Department of Transportation approval process
for the grant to relocate the Ellis Barn to Springfield Oaks. He also noted that the owners of the barn have
once again contacted The Henry Ford for their possible interest in placing the barn at their site; a reply is
expected within 30 days. Staff is also investigating whether the grant will be transferable.
Citing the tight time frame involved in completing this process by the required deadline, Mr. Figa requested
the Commission approve a contract now for limited assistance in the development of an MDOT approved
Proposal, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) package to the architectural firm of SmithGroup in an
amount not to exceed $35,100. If The Henry Ford decides to accept the barn, costs incurred through this
contract should be minimal and could be considered a contribution to The Henry Ford as part of this project.
Moved by Mr. Skarritt, supported by Mr. Gregory to award the contract for architectural
services to assist in the development of an MDOT approved Proposal, Specifications, and
Estimates (PS&E) package for the Ellis Barn Relocation to SmithGroup in an amount not
to exceed $35,100.
AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM — INDEPENDENCE OAKS:
Administrator -Parks Operations Dan Stencil requested Commission approval to begin a deer management
program at Independence Oaks with a managed hunt during the archery season. Hunters would be
stationed on the undeveloped, east side of the park only; park visitors will still have access to the west side
of the park, which includes the trails and nature center.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Township of Independence have both approved
the proposed program.
Moved by Mr. VanderVeen, supported by Mr. Skarritt to approve the deer management
program for Independence Oaks.
AYES: Crawford, Gregory, Lewis, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (6)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT:
In addition to the Executive Officer's Report filed in the agenda, the following was noted:
---Executive Officer Richard noted that staff is working with Drain Commission staff to formalize a lease
agreement on the Red Oaks Golf Course. The Drain Commission will also be paying to replace the concrete
pads for the picnic shelter at the waterpark, which had been removed for the drain expansion project.
---Landscape Architect Jon Noyes updated the Commission with information on the Emerald Ash Borer,
including a proposed protocol for the identification, removal, and replacement of infected trees.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
The next Commission meeting will be 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2003.
Fred Korzon, Secretary
C /
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Karen S. Kohn CPS/CAP, Recording Secretary
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