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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2026.01.07 - 42630 January 7, 2026 Chair Bagley called the meeting of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 2:01 p.m. in the Parks Commission Room. 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 Sarah Cook-Maylen, Chief – Natural Resources Management Zach Crane, Supervisor – Design, Engineering & Compliance 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 Desiree Stanfield, Chief – Communications & Marketing Julie O’Brien, Project Manager Engineer Zach Zuchowicz, DEI & Community Engagement Coordinator Simon Rivers, Planning Supervisor Sandy Dorey, Recreation Program Supervisor Kelley Moss, Recreation Program Supervisor Liz Caltagirone, Data Analyst Jami Monte, Staff Assistant Jess Whatley, Associate Planner Rebecca Sedam, Parks Naturalist Anna Forshey, Recreation Program Coordinator Kristen Kittell, Parks Administrative Specialist PUBLIC Donna Folland, former Oakland County Parks employee Kelly Hyer, Executive Director – West Bloomfield Parks Rex Mathewson, Headwater Trails, Inc. Roman Wasylkovich, Waterford Greenways APPROVAL OF AGENDA Long moved to approve the agenda, as presented. Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles 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 Kate Baker Lola Banks Ann Erickson Gault Christine Long Eric McPherson Jim Nash Shanell Weatherspoon January 7, 2026 Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Weatherspoon moved to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2025 regular meeting and the December 3, 2025 Closed Session, as presented. Seconded by LaFontaine. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles absent. PUBLIC COMMENT None. NOMINATION & ELECTION OF 2026 OFFICERS A. Chair At Chair Bagley’s request, Director Ward facilitated the election of Chair. Long nominated to elect Ebony Bagley as Chair. Seconded by Nash. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles absent. Chair Bagley resumed facilitation of the meeting. B. Vice Chair Long nominated to elect Yolanda Smith Charles as Vice Chair. Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles absent. C. Secretary Erickson Gault nominated to elect Andrea LaFontaine as Secretary. Seconded by Long. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote with Smith Charles absent. Chair Bagley thanked the Commission for her reappointment, and reappointed Commissioner Ann Erickson Gault to serve as the at-large member on the Executive Committee. PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS D. Service Award – Donna Folland Chair Bagley recognized and thanked Donna Folland for work in the Oakland County Parks department. E. Nature Education Presentation Ms. Smith provided a presentation on nature education. F. Capital Planning & Development Unit Update Mr. Crane provided an update on the Capital Planning & Development Unit. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS G. Monthly Financial Report Director Ward provided an overview of the Monthly Financial Report. January 7, 2026 Page 3 REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 1. FY26 Recreation Assistance Partnership Program Request Long moved to approve the 2026 Recreation Assistance Partnership Program (RAPP) Plan with a projected budget of $250,000 and authorize the Director or Deputy Director to approve program guidelines, award recommendations, and any discounted and waived fees for recreation programming equipment and services offered to local governments and organizations provided through RAPP. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 2. FY26 Incentive Pay Proposal Baker moved to approve the 2026 Incentive Program for part-time positions and to authorize the Chair to approve additional incentives recommended by staff to address critical needs during the 2026 season. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 3. Oakland County Parks 60th Anniversary Recognition Banks moved to approve the proposed resolution in support of recognizing 2026 as the 60th anniversary of Oakland County Parks and Recreation. Seconded by LaFontaine. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 4. FY26 Financial Reserves Strategic Plan and FY25 Year-End Financial Report Baker moved to adopt the attached resolution, FY26 Financial Reserves Strategic Plan and FY 25 Year-End Financial Report. Seconded by Long. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 5. Urban Conservation Partnership with Six Rivers Land Conservancy Erickson Gault moved to authorize the Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding, subject to review by Corporation Counsel, with Six Rivers Land Conservancy to facilitate collaboration associated with a grant awarded to Six Rivers by The Conservation Fund, and to take any administrative actions necessary to support implementation of the partnership, consistent with Commission policy. Seconded by Nash. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 6. Pine Lake Park Affiliate Park Partnership Baker moved to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners of the Affiliate Park Agreement for Pine Lake Park with the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission. and authorize the Director to finalize the terms of the agreement, subject to review and approval by Corporation Counsel. Seconded by Banks. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. 7. Approval of Park Maintenance Services - Clinton River Oaks County Park Baker moved to grant authority to the Director to finalize and execute the Interlocal Agreement for park maintenance services with the City of Rochester Hills, subject to Corporation Counsel January 7, 2026 Page 4 review, and forward the agreement to the Board of Commissioners for final approval. Seconded by Weatherspoon. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. NEW & MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 8. Director’s Report Director Ward provided an overview of his report. 9. Executive Committee Update Chair Bagley advised that there is no update on this item. CLOSED SESSION Long 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 and to consider attorney-client privileged information. Seconded by Baker. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. The Commission went into Closed Session at 3:30 p.m. The Commission reconvened in Open Session at 4:32 p.m. 10. Pursuant to MCL 15.268(d) – Discussion to consider the purchase or lease of real property Baker moved to direct staff to proceed as discussed in Closed Session. Seconded by Smith Charles. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Long voting no. 11. Pursuant to MCL 15.268(d) – Discussion to consider attorney-client privileged information Smith Charles moved to direct staff to proceed as discussed in Closed Session. Seconded by Erickson Gault. Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Smith Charles advised Commissioners that January is School Board Recognition Month. At 4:35 p.m., there being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned to February 4, 2026, or to the Call of the Chair. Andrea LaFontaine, OCPRC Secretary Jami Monte, Recording Secretary NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Commission approval.