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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025.10.01 - 42319 October 1, 2025 Commissioner Erickson Gault, in her capacity as a member of the OCPRC Executive Committee, acting as meeting facilitator in the absence of the elected officers, called the meeting of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 1:05 p.m. at the Red Oaks Golf Course, located at 29600 John R Road, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Ebony Bagley, Yolanda Smith Charles, Andrea LaFontaine, Ann Erickson Gault, Kate Baker, Lola Banks, Christine Long, Eric McPherson, Jim Nash, Shanell Weatherspoon COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: None OTHERS PRESENT: PARKS AND RECREATION Chris Ward, Director Alan Jaros, Deputy Director Jim Dunleavy, Manager-Park Management & Operations Melissa Prowse, Manager – Community Services & Accessibility Sarah Cook-Maylen, Chief – Natural Resources Management Zach Crane, Supervisor – Design, Engineering & Compliance Donna Folland, Chief – Planning & Public Engagement Tom Hughes, Chief – Park Operations – North District Erik Koppin, Chief – Park Operations – South District Bill Singleton, Chief – Business Systems Ashlie Smith, Chief – Nature & Outdoor Education Brandy Sotke-Boyd, Chief – Recreation Programs & Services Kevin Syoen, Chief – Budget & Procurement Zach Zuchowicz, DEI & Community Engagement Coordinator Ryan Dansescu, Park Supervisor – Red Oaks Sandy Dorey, Recreation Program Supervisor Jami Monte, Staff Assistant Jess Whatley, Associate Planner Tiffany Mason, Communications & Marketing Assistant Shannon Kenny, Technical Office Specialist COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE J. David VanderVeen, Project Advisor / former OCPRC Commissioner MSU EXTENSION Kristi Evans, Director PUBLIC Nancy Quarles, former OCPRC Commissioner APPROVAL OF AGENDA Long moved to approve the agenda, as presented. Seconded by Nash. Motion carried on a voice vote with Bagley, Smith Charles, LaFontaine and Weatherspoon absent. OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 2800 WATKINS LAKE ROAD, WATERFORD, MICHIGAN 48328 Telephone: (248) 858-0906 REGULAR MEETING Ebony Bagley, Chair Yolanda Smith Charles Vice Chair Andrea LaFontaine Secretary Ann Erickson Gault Kate Baker Lola Banks Christine Long Eric McPherson Jim Nash Shanell Weatherspoon October 1, 2025 Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES McPherson moved to approve the minutes of the September 3, 2025, regular meeting and September 3, 2025 Closed Session, as presented. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried on a voice vote with Bagley, Smith Charles, LaFontaine and Weatherspoon absent. PUBLIC COMMENT None. Commissioner Erickson Gault temporarily postponed items A, B and C until all Commissioners arrived. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS D. FY2025 Monthly Financial Report Mr. Syoen provided an overview of the FY2025 Monthly Financial Report. E. Waterpark Season Summary Mr. Koppin provided an overview of the 2025 waterpark season. Vice Chair Smith Charles arrived and assumed the role of meeting facilitator. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 1. Martha Foshia Residential Lease – Springfield Oaks 2. Robert Hatt Residential Lease – Groveland Oaks Long moved to postpone Items 1 and 2 until the next meeting on November 5, 2025. Seconded by Erickson Gault. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Bagley and LaFontaine absent. 3. Beaudette Park License Agreement and Consent to Work Amendment Nash moved to approve the License Agreement and Consent to Work Beaudette Park – Restroom Facility. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Bagley and LaFontaine absent. 4. Position Creation – Recreation Program Coordinator Erickson Gault moved to recommend to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approval of the creation of a full-time position dedicated to Active Adult recreation programming. Seconded by Banks. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Bagley and LaFontaine absent. 5. Clinton River Oaks Park Partnership Agreement with the City of Rochester Erickson Gault moved to recommend to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approval of the Interlocal Partnership Agreement with the City of Rochester for the operation and management of approximately 48 acres of city-owned property to be incorporated into Clinton River Oaks Park, and authorize the Director of Oakland County Parks and Recreation to finalize agreement language with Corporation Counsel. Seconded by Weatherspoon. October 1, 2025 Page 3 Long moved to amend the main motion to add “and the Parks Commission requests that the Board of Commissioners approve the Clinton River Oaks Plan in full, or defer the action until the Parks and Recreation Commission determines whether it will recommend proceeding with a partial plan.” Seconded by Erickson Gault. Motion to amend carried on a roll call vote with Bagley absent. Main motion, as amended, carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Chair Bagley arrived and assumed the role of meeting facilitator. PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS A. Service Award – Nancy Quarles Chair Bagley recognized and thanked Nancy Quarles for her service on the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. B. Service Award – J. David VanderVeen Chair Bagley recognized and thanked J. Davide VanderVeen for his service on the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. C. Service Award – Melissa Prowse Chair Bagley recognized and thanked Melissa Prowse for her work in the Oakland County Parks and Recreation department. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 6. Policy on Naming of Parks, Facilities, and Amenities Smith Charles moved to adopt the Policy on Naming of Parks, Facilities, and Amenities as the official policy of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. Seconded by Banks. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Erickson Gault moved to designate the park name of the Turtle Woods property as “Turtle Woods Nature Discovery Park”. Seconded by Nash. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. Smith Charles moved that three members of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, to be designated by the Chair, are hereby authorized to enter into negotiations with the Waterford School Board for the purpose of reaching a mutually acceptable solution regarding the naming of the park established under the existing partnership agreement between the parties. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 7. Mission 26 Update & Commissioner Engagement Opportunity Commissioners volunteered to lead or co-facilitate the following stakeholder meetings: 1. Economic & Cultural Partnerships – McPherson, Smith Charles 2. Education & Learning – Bagley, Weatherspoon, Banks 3. Environmental & Natural Resources Stewardship – Smith Charles, Weatherspoon, Nash 4. Health & Wellbeing – Long, Bagley October 1, 2025 Page 4 5. Universal Accessibility – Erickson Gault, Baker, Long 6. Volunteerism & Civic Engagement – Baker, LaFontaine, Banks 8. Frost School Partnership Pilot – MOU/License Proposal for Immediate Activation Nash moved to authorize the OCPRC Executive Committee to review and approve the final MOU/license agreement on behalf of the full Commission, allowing the partnership to move forward more quickly while maintaining appropriate oversight. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 9. Director’s Report Director Ward provided an overview of his report and also discussed . 10. Executive Committee Update Chair Bagley stated that she attended the NRPA Annual Conference and a few trends stood out, such as adult play, portable recreation, fancy dog parks, outdoor fitness and school pathways to employment. CLOSED SESSION 11. Pursuant to MCL 15.268(d) – Discussion to consider the purchase or lease of real property Baker 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 McPherson. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. The Commission went into Closed Session at 3:27 p.m. The Commission reconvened in Open Session at 4:10 p.m. Smith Charles moved to direct staff to proceed as discussed in Closed Session. Seconded by Long. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ADJOURNMENT At 4:11 p.m., there being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned to November 5, 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.