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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025.11.05 - 42425 November 5, 2025 Chair Bagley called the meeting of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 2:08 p.m. in the Independence Oaks – Wint Nature Center, 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston, Michigan 48348. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Ebony Bagley, Yolanda Smith Charles, Andrea LaFontaine, Ann Erickson Gault, Kate Baker, Lola Banks, Christine Long, Jim Nash, Shanell Weatherspoon COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Eric McPherson OTHERS PRESENT: PARKS AND RECREATION Chris Ward, Director Alan Jaros, Deputy Director Jim Dunleavy, Manager – Park Management & Operations Sarah Cook-Maylen, Chief – Natural Resources Management Bill Singleton, Chief – Business Systems Ashlie Smith, Chief – Nature & Outdoor Education Desiree Stanfield, Chief – Communications & Marketing Kevin Syoen, Chief – Budget & Procurement Mark Adams, Project Manager Engineer Julie O’Brien, Project Manager Engineer Zach Zuchowicz, DEI & Community Engagement Coordinator Liz Caltagirone, Data Analyst Patrick Canniff, Education and Outreach Specialist Eric Diesing, Natural Resources Program Coordinator Sean Zera, Natural Resources Program Coordinator Jami Monte, Staff Assistant Katri Studtmann, Natural Resources Specialist Shannon Kenny, Technical Office Specialist ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Kristen Wiltfang, Administrator Trails, Transportation & Environment Ryan Dividock, Supervisor Planning, Zoning & Land Whitney Calio, Principal Planner PUBLIC Linda Smith, Michigan Audubon Rex Mathewson, Headwater Trails Don Burlett, Oakland Bird Alliance APPROVAL OF AGENDA Smith Charles moved to approve the agenda, as presented. Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. 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 Kate Baker Lola Banks Ann Erickson Gault Christine Long Eric McPherson Jim Nash Shanell Weatherspoon November 5, 2025 Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Long moved to approve the minutes of the October 1, 2025 regular meeting and the October 1, 2025 Closed Session, as presented. Seconded by Erickson Gault. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENT None. PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS A. Staff Introduction – Julie O’Brien Director Ward introduced Julie O’Brien as the new Project Manager Engineer. B. Service Award – Donna Folland This item was not taken up due to Ms. Folland’s inability to attend this meeting. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS C. FY2025 Monthly Financial Report Mr. Syoen provided an overview of the FY2025 Monthly Financial Report. D. Oakland County Parks Expansion – Bringing parks closer to residents Director Ward and Ms. Caltagirone provided a presentation on Oakland County Parks expansion. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 1. 2026 Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Schedule Chair Bagley requested staff to send a poll to the Commissioners to choose the activity and location of the September 2, 2026 meeting. LaFontaine moved to approve the 2026 Oakland County Parks and Recreation Meeting Schedule. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 2. Facility Improvements – Glen Oaks / Red Oaks Smith Charles moved to approve expenditure Not to exceed $3,407,870, to execute Facility Improvements at Red Oaks and Glen Oaks golf courses. Seconded by LaFontaine. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 3. USDA Deer Management LaFontaine moved to approve the white-tail deer management program utilizing firearms at Addison and Groveland Oaks and approve and forward the USDA Cooperative Service Agreement to the Board of Commissioners. Seconded by Long. Erickson Gault moved to amend the motion to include Independence Oaks. Seconded by Long. Motion to amend carried unanimously on a roll call vote. November 5, 2025 Page 3 Main motion, as amended, carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 4. FY2026 Capital Equipment Budget Amendment Smith Charles moved to approve the FY2026 Capital Equipment Budget, as amended. Seconded by Banks. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 5. Springfield Oaks Residential Lease Renewal – Terry Foshia LaFontaine moved to approve the Residential Lease with Terry Foshia for the Springfield Oaks Residential Property located at 12080 Clark Rd, Davisburg, MI for a 1-year term effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. In addition, staff is directed to develop and present to the Commission a plan for phasing out residential lease arrangements on park property, including options for future property use, maintenance, or disposition, consistent with the long- term mission and operational needs of Oakland County Parks. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 6. Groveland Oaks Residential Lease Renewal – Robert Hatt Baker moved to approve the Residential Lease with Robert Hatt for the Groveland Oaks Residential Property located at 6000 Grange Hall Rd, Holly, MI for a 1-year term effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. In addition, staff is directed to develop and present to the Commission a plan for phasing out residential lease arrangements on park property, including options for future property use, maintenance, or disposition, consistent with the long- term mission and operational needs of Oakland County Parks. Seconded by LaFontaine. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 7. Springfield Oaks – First Amendment to Telecommunications License Agreement Smith Charles moved to approve the First Amendment to the License Agreement between The County of Oakland, a Michigan municipal and constitutional corporation (“Licensor”), and Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Licensee”). Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 8. Bird City Designation Application Smith Charles moved to approve the attached resolution and forward to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for their approval. Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 9. 2025 Strategic Partnership Grant – Charter Township of Royal Oak Nash moved to authorize and recommend to the Board of Commissioners approval of the Park Development Grant Agreement with the Charter Township of Royal Oak for the Restrooms at Civic Center Park project, with a Strategic Partnership Grant in the amount of $250,000. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. November 5, 2025 Page 4 10. Turtle Woods Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Award Acceptance Erickson Gault moved to approve the FY2024 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Project Agreement (TF24-0047) for the Turtle Woods Acquisition in the amount of $2,175,000 for the purchase of 71.17 acres in Troy, and forwarding of the agreement to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for approval. Seconded by Long. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 11. Rouge River Green Corridor Initiative LaFontaine moved to authorize Oakland County Parks and Recreation staff to re-convene the Rouge Green Corridor stakeholder group, expand participation to include the Cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills, and allocate up to $150,000 from Budgeted Equity Adjustment line in FY26 to support facilitation, technical planning, and framework development for the expanded Rouge Green Corridor initiative. A Budgeted Amendment will be included in the First Quarter Forecast. Participating communities will be asked to contribute a nominal amount of approximately $5,000 each to demonstrate commitment to the effort. Seconded by Nash. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 12. Clinton River Water Trail Partnership Nash moved to authorize the Director to enter into a three-year cooperative funding agreement with the Clinton River Watershed Council to implement the Clinton River Water Trail Comprehensive Plan (2025) within Oakland County, providing $50,000 annually from 2026 through 2028, subject to final review by Corporation Counsel and the County Executive’s Contract Compliance Unit. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 13. Strategic Sourcing Agent Position Creation Banks moved to recommend to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approval of the creation of a full-time Strategic Sourcing Agent Position. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 14. Director’s Report Director Ward provided an overview of his report. 15. Executive Committee Update There was no discussion on this item. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ADJOURNMENT At 3:47 p.m., there being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned to December 3, 2025, or to the Call of the Chair. November 5, 2025 Page 5 Andrea LaFontaine, OCPRC Secretary Jami Monte, Recording Secretary NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Commission approval.