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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 2011.07.06 - 39263OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING July 6, 2011 Chairman Fisher called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. in the commission room of the Parks Commission's administration office. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gerald Fisher, Vice Chairman John McCulloch, Secretary J. David VanderVeen, Chairperson Emeritus Pecky D. Lewis, Jr., Christine Long, Gary McGillivray, John Scott, Eric Wilson COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Robert Kostin ALSO PRESENT: Parks and Recreation OC Fiscal Services OC Corporation Counsel Road Commission for Oakland County Oakland County 4-H Fair Association Oakland Co. Veterans' Services Division Genesee Co. Dept. of Veterans Services Brown Funeral Home Great Lakes National Cemetery APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Daniel Stencil, Executive Officer Susan Wells, Manager-P & R Operations Mike Donnellon, Chief -Parks Fac., Maint. & Ops. Terry Fields, Chief - Recreation Programs & Services Jim Dunleavy, Chief, Parks Ops. & Maint. — N. District Larry Gee, Chief, Parks Ops. & Maint. — S. District Karen Kohn, Supervisor — Administrative Services Desiree Stanfield, Communications Supervisor Jon Noyes, Planning Supervisor Brittany Bird, Natural Resources Planner Jeff Phelps, Supervisor II Jody Hall, Assistant Corporation Counsel Dennis Kolar, Deputy Managing Director LC Scramlin, General Manager Garth Wootten, Division Manager Jeanne Thick, Director Donald Lada, Funeral Director Richard Anderson, Director Moved by Mr. McGillivray, supported by Mr. Scott to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 1, 2011 and the public hearing of June 1, 2011, as written. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (7) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Mr. VanderVeen, supported by Mr. Wilson to approve the agenda as presented. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (7) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. 4-1 (Commission Meeting, July6, 2011) PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no comments or questions received by the public. Chairman Fisher announced: • Chairperson Emeritus Lewis has been named as a 2011 Outstanding Public Official by the National Association of Park and Recreation Officials. • The Oakland Parks Foundation has been revived thanks to the efforts and monetary contribution of Vice Chairman McCulloch. CONSENT AGENDA: Moved by Mr. Lewis, supported by Mr. Wilson to approve all items under the Consent Agenda as follows: Internal Service Funds Journal Voucher Register for month ending 5/31/11 (FM 8, FY 11); Payment Register for month ending 5/31/11 (FM 8, FY 11); and Monthly Financial Statement Executive Summary for month ending 5/31/11 (FM 8, FY 11). AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (7) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. APPRECIATION PRESENTATION BY GENESEE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES: Jeanne Thick, Director of Genesee County Department of Veterans Services, presented Executive Officer Stencil and Manager-P & R Operations Wells with a Certificate of Appreciation for their support of veterans and the national cemetery by providing buses for the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Township. Mr. Lada of Brown Funeral Home also presented a photo of one of the Oakland County buses at the cemetery. SPECIAL INVITATION — 2011 OAKLAND COUNTY FAIR, JULY 12 - 17: Oakland County 4-H Fair Association General Manager LC Scramlin invited the Parks Commissioners to the Oakland County Fair, sharing plans on the expanded exhibits and events planned throughout the Fair, including new "green" efforts resulting from a grant through the Michigan Soybean Association. INDIANWOOD GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB/2012 US SENIOR OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT PARKING REQUEST — ORION OAKS: Moved by Mr. Wilson, supported by Mr. VanderVeen to approve the use of Section B and C of the Orion Oaks Dog Park for parking during the 2012 U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament being hosted by the Indianwood Golf and Country Club, subject to approval of the final agreement. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McCulloch, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (8) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. 4-2 (Commission Meeting, July 6, 2011) RCOC JOSLYN ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS REQUEST — ORION OAKS: Staff has received a proposal from the Road Commission for Oakland County for safety improvements on Joslyn Road at the Orion Oaks Lake Sixteen boat launch and fishing site. The RCOC has identified the need for an acceleration and deceleration lane as well as a northbound passing lane at this site. The RCOC proposes to provide preliminary and construction engineering, project bidding and management at a cost of approximately $85,000. Parks portion of the project is estimated to be $350,000; no funds are currently budgeted for this project. Moved by Mr. McCulloch, supported by Mrs. Long to investigate other options to the proposed Joslyn Road safety improvements at Orion Oaks including inquiring aboutfinancial options with the township, getting an estimate or count through September of how many people use the boat launch, determining whether or not there are any implications to us if we close the boat launch, and determining if there are other options to the boat launch. Staff is to report back to the Commission in October. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McCulloch, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (8) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. ITC/INDEPENDENCE OAKS -NORTH USE AGREEMENT:, Moved by Mr. Wilson, supported by Mr. Scott to approve an evergreen agreement (renewed in perpetuity unless cancelled for cause by either party) with International Transmission Company (ITC) to use its utility corridor for trail connectivity and passive recreation in three locations at Independence Oaks -North in the amount of $341.00 annually. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McCulloch, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (8) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND GRANT AGREEMENT UPDATE: Staff provided an update on three pending grant agreements through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF); the 2007 Addison Oaks Trail Connector Development Grant, the 2007 Addison Oaks Property Acquisition Grant, and the 2010 Natural Area Accessibility Improvements at Highland, Lyon, Red and Rose Oaks County Parks. A significant transition in the staffing at the DNR and Attorney General's office was a factor in the lengthy negotiations of these agreements. The grants directly address the need for access, open space, and trail connectivity — high priority needs as determined by the countywide recreation needs assessments. Too, there has been a shift in focus at the state to more urban grants, so future grants for similar projects will be more difficult to attain. The grant agreements will be brought to the Commission for approval at the August 3 meeting. COMMISSION MEETING LOCATION CHANGE — SEPTEMBER 7: Moved by Mr. McCulloch, supported by Mr. VanderVeen to approve the meeting location change for the September 7 Commission meeting to the Huntington Woods Recreation 4-3 (Commission Meeting, July6, 2011) Center at 2600 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods to coincide with a groundbreaking ceremony at Catalpa Oaks County Park. AYES: Fisher, Lewis, Long, McCulloch, McGillivray, Scott, VanderVeen, Wilson (8) NAYS: (0) Motion carried on a voice vote. OPERATIONS BUDGET SUBSIDY REPORT: Fiscal Services Supervisor Jeff Phelps provided an Operating Subsidy Management Report, noting staff will be looking at: • How the pricing policy affects our subsidies • Amending the pricing policy to identify subsidy ranges that can be agreed upon by staff and Commission as targets to incrementally reduce the subsidies • Revenue -generating opportunities, including grants CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM/MAJOR MAINTENANCE/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING UPDATE: Chief of Parks Facilities Maintenance and Development Mike Donnellon provided information on active and pending projects, plus quarterly additions/adjustments to the Capital Improvement and Major Maintenance Plans. Planning Supervisor Jon Noyes provided a brief update on planning projects, including the proposed collaborative regional interpretive planning and draft of the Waterford Oaks master plan. Natural Resources Planner Brittany Bird updated the Commission on natural resource management initiatives, including the prescribed burns completed this spring. The total number of acres included in the burns will be provided to the Commission. ACTIVITY REPORT: The Activity Report for May (FM 08 FY 2011) was accepted as filed. Discussion followed on the Orion Oaks Dog Park and the safety concern for those patrons who park at Orion Oaks Elementary School and walk across Joslyn Road to go to the dog park. Staff will contact the new school superintendent to discuss the possibility of posting signs at the school discouraging walking across the road to get to the park. EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT: In addition to the Executive Officer's report filed in the agenda, the following information was noted: ---Former Executive Officer Ralph Richard will be inducted into Michigan Recreation and Park Association's Hall of Fame on October 6. ---Vice Chairman McCulloch has been elected Treasurer of the Huron -Clinton Metropolitan Authority. ---Updated Commission on litigation involving General Motors and the City of Milford regarding taxes. Oakland County Equalization will keep us apprised on the progress of this issue. 4-4 (Commission Meeting, July 6, 2011) OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None The next Commission meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Meetina was adiourned at 10:45 a.m. J. David VanderVeen, Secretary Karen S. Kohn CPS/CAP, Recording Secretary 4-5