HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2006.11.01 - 39174OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
November 1, 2006
Chairman Pecky D. Lewis, Jr. called the meeting to order at 9:06 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, Secretary J. David VanderVeen, Hugh
D. Crawford, Martin Knollenberg, John McCulloch, Charles Palmer, John Richards
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT.
Vincent Gregory
ALSO PRESENT:
Parks and Recreation
Oakland County 4-H Fair Association
Oakland County Corporation Counsel
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public questions or comments.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Daniel Stencil, Executive Officer
Sue Wells, Administrator — Pks & Rec. Operations
Frank Trionfi, Administrator - Administration
Joseph Figa, Chief, Design and Development
Mike Thibodeau, Chief of Golf
Clyde Herb, Chief of Parks
Jim Dunleavy, Chief of Recreation
Desiree Stanfield, Public Communications Assistant
Sheila Cox, Accountant IV
LC Scramlin, General Manager
Art Noren, Director
John Ross, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Moved by Mr. Palmer, supported by Mr. Crawford to approve the minutes of the meeting
of October 4, 2006, as written.
AYES: Crawford, Knollenberg, Lewis, McCulloch, Palmer, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (8)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
OAKLAND COUNTY4-H FAIR ASSOCIATION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT EXTENSION
— SPRINGFIELD OAKS ACTIVITY CENTER:
Administrator — Parks and Recreation Operations Sue Wells requested Commission authorization to
extend the current Professional Services Contract with the Oakland County 4-H Fair Association for the
management of the Springfield Oaks Activity Center. The current contract expires November 5, 2006;
staff requested a six-month extension to allow sufficient time to complete the negotiations, review, and
approvals for the new contract.
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(Commission Meeting, November 1, 2006)
Moved by Mr. Richards, supported by Mr. Crawford to authorize Parks Chairman Pecky
D. Lewis, Jr. to sign a six-month extension of the current Professional Services Contract
with the Oakland County 4-H Fair Association for the management of the Springfield
Oaks Activity Center. The extended contract will expire May 5, 2007.
AYES: Crawford, Knollenberg, Lewis, McCulloch, Palmer, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen (8)
NAYS: (0)
Motion carried on a voice vote.
Discussion followed on the Commission's authority to sign contracts and a clarification of the intent under
PA 261. After discussion, Commission directed staff, representatives of this board who are also on the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners as well as representing the County Executive, to determine all
the concerns regarding the Parks Commission's authority under PA 261 and then request clarification on
those concerns from the state legislature.
GENERAL PARKS PRESENTATION:
Staff showed the general parks presentation, which has been updated with both still photos and video,
showcases the Parks' facilities, programs, and services.
Executive Officer Dan Stencil reported that the revision was done in-house by staff, including the
narrative. The presentation, which is on DVD, is being used as part of the presentations being made to all
the cities, villages, and townships through the Community Connection Initiative.
DVD's will be made available to Parks Commissioners and local cable stations, upon request.
Suggestions for the next revision included a longer length of coverage for the Oakland County Fair and
inclusion of the magnitude of the parks system's acreage.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE
Chief of Design and Development Joe Figa gave an overview of the major projects underway throughout
the parks, along with their current status.
PROPOSED 2007 MASTER CALENDAR:
Staff presented the proposed 2007 master calendar for the Commission. Staff will check on the dates for
the MAC and NACo Conferences to avoid conflicting with those, if possible.
Staff will reconsider the strategic planning session scheduled for April, acknowledging the recent
stakeholders interviews and countywide survey completed for the comprehensive recreation master plan
may have served that purpose. However, staff plans to schedule a strategic planning session with both
staff and Commission in future years.
The revised calendar will be presented for approval at the December meeting.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION INITIATIVE MASTER CALENDAR/UPDATE:
Staff distributed a copy of the calendar reflecting those presentations already made and those scheduled.
Staff's goal is to complete visits to each of the 61 cities, villages, and townships by February, 2007.
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(Commission Meeting, November 1, 2006)
PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLAN:
Staff presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Parks' proposed strategic plan for 2007 — 2009.
Commissioner Crawford suggested staff ensure that we are addressing seniors' needs and concerns,
placing more emphasis on programs and facilities for them.
Executive Officer Dan Stencil shared information on a meeting held with Oakland County Drain
Commissioner John McCulloch and officials from the city of Madison Heights on the possibility of the
Parks leasing the property on the west side of John R (former site of the Red Oaks Golf Dome) for use as
youth soccer fields. This may create an opportunity for a private non-profit and/or local unit of government
to participate in a Professional Services Contract for the scheduling of the fields. Maintenance of the
facility may be negotiated between the Drain Commission and the city of Madison Heights.
Staff responded to Commission concerns on direction with our urban park strategy, clarifying we are not
considering taking over municipal parks or overlapping services.
FALL GOLF REPORT:
Chief of Golf Mike Thibodeau presented a comprehensive golf report, noting revenue comparison at the
golf courses from 2001 through 2006, reporting on the existing and new programs directed toward youth
golfers, and promotional programs.
Mr. Thibodeau also reported on the course improvements at Glen Oaks and Springfield Oaks, plus the
proposed netting installation on #2 at Red Oaks.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Moved by Mr. Crawford, supported by Mr. VanderVeen to adjourn to Executive
Session for the purpose of discussing a proposed land acquisition.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Crawford, Lewis, McCulloch, Palmer, Richards, Skarritt, VanderVeen, (7)
NAYS: (0)
A sufficient majority having voted, the motion carried.
The Chair declared the meeting closed at 10:39 a.m. The meeting resumed in open session at
11:04 a.m.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT:
In addition to the Executive Officer's Report filed in the agenda, the following was noted:
---Commissioner McCulloch has agreed to assist staff with the review of the financial/operational
assessment RFPs.
---Staff is working with a vendor regarding a proposal to put global positioning systems in carts at the
Lyon Oaks Golf Course at no cost.
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(Commission Meeting, November 1, 2006)
--- The County of Oakland is now registering with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for a government music
license. As it stands now, the license will be under the county's name, with the county picking up the
entire cost of this license. Also, all the parks, golf courses, and waterparks can now play music under the
new licensing.
---Staff met with a local tennis pro who is interested in making a proposal to construct a tennis bubble at
Waterford Oaks and pay for six new tennis courts. The "bubble" operations would run from October 1
through April 30. A proposal may be presented to the Commission at the December meeting.
Staff is concerned with the perception of competition with the Deer Lake Racquet Club and the Bloomfield
Hills Tennis Club; that concern with be addressed in discussions with the gentlemen making the proposal.
The next Commission meeting will be at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at the Parks
Commission's administration office.
The meetingWas adjourned at 11:09 a.m.
C J. David VanderVeen, Secretary Karen S. Kohn CPS/CAP, Recording Secretary
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