HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025.05.07 - 42045
May 7, 2025
Chair Bagley called the meeting of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission to order at
2:03 p.m. in the Parks Commission Room.
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ebony Bagley, J. David VanderVeen, Andrea LaFontaine, Lola Banks, Ann Erickson Gault, Christine
Long, Jim Nash, Nancy Quarles, Yolanda Smith Charles, Shanell Weatherspoon
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE:
None.
OTHERS PRESENT:
PARKS AND RECREATION Chris Ward, Director
Jim Dunleavy, Manager – Operations
Melissa Prowse, Manager – Planning & Development
Aaron Stepp, Manager – Internal Services
Sarah Cook-Maylen, Chief – Environmental Sustainability & Planning
Zach Crane, Supervisor – Parks Engineering & Development
Donna Folland, Chief – Planning & Resource Development
Tom Hughes, Chief – Park Operations & Maint. – North District
Erik Koppin, Chief – Park Operations & Maint. – South District
Bill Singleton, Chief – Business Operations
Brandy Sotke-Boyd, Chief – Recreation, Programs & Services
Desiree Stanfield, Chief – Marketing & Communications
Darryn Horvath, Project Manager Engineer
Zach Zuchowicz, DEI & Community Engagement Coordinator
Alan Jaros, Project Advisor (Director of Bowers School Farm &
Johnson Nature Center)
Stephanie Mackey, Supervisor – Organizational & Employee Dev.
Liz Caltagirone, Parks Data Analyst
Jami Monte, Staff Assistant
FISCAL SERVICES Kevin Syoen, P&R Fiscal Coordinator
SIX RIVERS LAND CONSERVANCY Chris Bunch, Executive Director
PUBLIC Roman Wasylkevych, Waterford Community Greenways
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Long moved to approve the agenda, as presented. Seconded by VanderVeen.
Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Nash and Smith Charles absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Erickson Gault moved to approve the April 2, 2025 Regular meeting minutes and the April 2,
2025 Closed Session minutes, as presented. Seconded by Banks.
OAKLAND COUNTY
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
2800 WATKINS LAKE ROAD, WATERFORD, MICHIGAN 48328
Telephone: (248) 858-0906
REGULAR MEETING
Ebony Bagley, Chair J. David VanderVeen
Vice Chair
Andrea LaFontaine
Secretary
Lola Banks
Ann Erickson Gault
Christine Long
Jim Nash
Nancy Quarles
Yolanda Smith Charles
Shanell Weatherspoon
May 7, 2025 Page 2
Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
A. Natural Resources and Environment 2024 Review
Ms. Cook-Maylen provided an overview of the 2024 Natural Resources and Environment efforts.
B. Education and Nature Discovery Programming Strategy
Mr. Jaros provided an overview of the Education and Nature Discovery Programming Strategy.
COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS
C. FY2025 Monthly Financial Report
Mr. Syoen provided an overview of the FY2025 monthly financial report.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
1. Pontiac Oaks Park Action Plan Amendment
Nash moved to preliminarily approve the Pontiac Oaks Park Action Plan Amendment and
authorize staff to complete the plan in compliance with the Interlocal Partnership Agreement
dated February 14, 2025, and submit the Final Amendment to the School District of the City of
Pontiac Representative for approval. Seconded by Weatherspoon.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
2. BOC Healthy Communities Project – Catalpa Oaks
Smith Charles moved to approve expenditure not to exceed $1,100,400 to add renovation of two
soccer fields and the addition of a fitness court (contingent upon a minimum grant of $30,000) to
BOC Healthy Communities Project – Catalpa Oaks. Seconded by Weatherspoon.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
3. Oakland County Farmers Market Location
Erickson Gault moved to request that the Board of Commissioners take action to add the
operation of a farmers market as an authorized use of the 105-acre property transferred to
Oakland County Parks management, commonly known as Bicentennial Oaks. Seconded by
Weatherspoon.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
4. Proposed FY 2026-2028 Budget Review
Quarles moved to preliminarily approve and forward to the County Executive the FY 2026-2028
Budget Plan for Oakland County Parks and Recreation, including the FY 2026-2028 Operating
Budget, FY 2026 Capital Improvement Plan, and FY 2026 Capital Equipment Plan, as presented.
Seconded by Smith Charles.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
May 7, 2025 Page 3
5. Interlocal Agreement with the City of Farmington Hills for Heritage Park
Nash moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners approval of the Interlocal Partnership
Agreement with the City of Farmington Hills for Heritage Park and authorize the Director to
finalize the terms of the agreement in consultation with Corporation Counsel. Seconded by Smith
Charles.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Long voting no.
6. Interlocal Agreement with the City of Rochester Hills for Bloomer Park
LaFontaine moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners approval of the Interlocal
Partnership Agreement with the City of Rochester Hills for Bloomer Park and authorize the
Director to finalize the terms of the agreement in consultation with Corporation
Counsel. Seconded by Erickson Gault.
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Long voting no.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
7. Director & Mission 26 Status Report
Director Ward provided an overview of his report.
8. Executive Committee Update
Chair Bagley stated that there is no further update outside of what was discussed today.
CLOSED SESSION
9. Pursuant to MCL 15.268(d) – Discussion to consider the purchase or lease of real property
Smith Charles moved that the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission enter into
Closed Session for the purposes of discussion to consider the purchase or lease of real property.
Seconded by Erickson Gault.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Commission went into Closed Session at 4:21 p.m.
The Commission reconvened in Open Session at 5:47 p.m.
VanderVeen moved to direct staff to proceed as discussed in Closed Session. Seconded by
LaFontaine.
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Smith Charles stated that she requested a report from the Visit Oakland County Survey
to be shared with the Parks Commission.
May 7, 2025 Page 4
Commissioner Nash invited Commissions to come out to the Art, Fish, Fun event at Beaudette Park on
June 7th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
At 5:49 p.m., there being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was
adjourned to June 4, 2025, or to the Call of the Chair.
Andrea LaFontaine, OCPRC Secretary Jami Monte, Recording Secretary
NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Commission approval.