Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Name: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board — Royal Oak, MI
Start: 2025-06-05T19:00:00
End: 2025-06-05T21:00:00
Location: Royal Oak, MI

Regular Meeting

Royal Oak, MI · June 5, 2025

Agenda Minutes

Minutes

Minutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Board June 5, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Present: Sarah Kindinger Tony Rennpage Sue Wells Ryan Danescu Perry Abbey Ian McKinney Brandon Kolo Absent: Brigitta Burguess Hannah Holliday _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Meeting Called to Order Meeting called to order at 7:01 pm. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Ryan Danescu Seconded by: Sue Wells Motion Adopted 3. Approval of Minutes Moved by: Ian McKinney Seconded by: Tony Rennpage 4. Public Comment None. 5. Reports 5.a Staff Report – Nicole McEachern Administration 1  Full time Recreation Coordinator position has been posted. Applications close June 30. Anticipated start date in August. A second Recreation Coordinator position (start date Feb 2026) has been proposed and is in the budget for approval by Commission on June 9.  For the Senior Center, the vacant Assistant Senior Center Coordinator position is not being replaced. We have proposed a new full-time Administrative Assistant Position. We also proposed a change to make the part-time Chef position full-time, eliminating a vacant part-time baker position. Both are in the budget for approval by Commission on June 9.  Fall Insight planning has begun and goes to print in July. Recreation  We had an event debrief meeting with the County regarding Great Marshmallow Drop and attendance estimates are over 10,000. The County has expressed interest in returning to Royal Oak in the future, but nothing is confirmed yet. Park/Facilities  Director met with Downtown Manager Daniel Solomon to start planning updates to the greenspace at 5th and Lafayette Parking Structure. There will be community engagement to gather feedback on concepts.  Clawson Park improvements are underway. Drainage has been installed. New playground swing, shade structure, and picnic tables have been delivered. Project is estimated to finish in November. o There was a discussion about the feasibility and need to replace or repurpose aging playgrounds and tennis courts at parks like Meininger and Redrun. o The group is interested in having the Parks & Rec Director ask DPS Director Kevin Lee about the feasibility of repurposing some of the aged tennis courts that are already planned for removal. The Parks & Rec Director will discuss this with Kevin Lee, Susan Barkman and Joe Gacioch.  Senior Center Remodel: Krieger Klatt, the engineering firm responsible for creating the specifications, is currently preparing a bid form. Many of the submissions received lacked sufficient details. Once we receive the bid form, the contractors who submitted proposals will need to complete it and return it to us so that we can compare all the bids. We have informed them that this 2 issue has become urgent due to the time constraints associated with the preschool starting.  Memorial Park Baseball Netting: We are currently awaiting the project schedule from the general contractor, as well as the approval of the structural plans for the new poles to be installed around the ball field.  Contract extensions for Ice Arena and Farmers Market will go to Commission on June 9 for approval.  New informational plaques have been installed at Hamer Finch Park. 5.b City Commission Comments - Commissioner Kolo  Commissioner Kolo: o City Master Plan recently approved. What's included is a some action items about the City prioritizing the parks more starting 2027. This is on page 56 of the Master Plan. o Rehab Board of Appeals recently chose Gundire Park at its next park to improve with grant money. 6. Business 6.a Consideration of Smoking Ban in Parks  Ryan Danescue: Interested in the Chief Moore's opinion on whether this is enforceable.  Commissioner Kolo: Arts Beats & Eats smoking ban signs were noticably successful.  There was a discussion about how enforceable this could be. A pilot program could be a potential avenue. Because signs need to be in an ordinance, taking this through the City Attorney's office would be a necessary part of the process. The DPS Department was relatively nuetral about the idea when the Director McEachern brought it up to them. Overall, the group is generally interested in looking into this.  Director McEachern will work with the City Attorney on putting something together to present to the group.  Tony Rennpage: Suggested looking into MSU as an example. 7. Items Not on the Agenda  Perry Abbey: Asked about the status on pickle ball court resurfacing. 3 o Director McEachern: When this happens and which parks this happens to is very dependent on available funding and CDBG project prioritization.  There was a discussion about how to approach community concerns regarding expectations with tax and millage rates and how much actually goes to Parks & Rec. 8. Upcoming Events Director McEachern is looking for members of the group to volunteer for the Art Fair. Members can also volunteer at the Health and Housing Fest on August 5 as the Parks & Rec Department will have a table there. 9. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm. Moved by: Ryan Danescu Seconded by: Ian McKinney Motion Adopted 10. Next Meeting: Thursday, August 7, 2025 More meetings will likely occur at City Hall to stop impacting Senior Center programming. 4

Agenda

Agenda Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the city clerk’s office at 248-246-3050 at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Pages 1. Meeting Called to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes 3 Recommended Motion: Motion to approve minutes of the May 15, 2025 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. 4. Public Comment 5. Reports a. Staff Report – Nicole McEachern b. City Commission Comments - Commissioner Kolo 6. Business a. Consideration of Smoking Ban in Parks 7 No formal action necessary. For discussion purposes only. 7. Items Not on the Agenda 8. Upcoming Events 1. Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair 54th Annual – July 12-13, Memorial Park (13 Mile & Woodward) Saturday, July 12, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Sunday, July 13, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 2. Health and Housing Fest (in collaboration with Oakland County) at Normandy Oaks Park, August 5, 11 am - 2 pm. 3. Car Show in Memorial Park- Dream Cruise Weekend at Memorial Park Friday, August 15, 12:00 - 7:00 pm Saturday, August 16, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm 9. Adjournment 10. Next Meeting: Thursday, August 7, 2025 No meeting in July. Page 2 of 8 Minutes Parks and Recreation Advisory Board May 15, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Present: Sarah Kindinger Brigitta Burguess Tony Rennpage Sue Wells Hannah Holliday Ryan Danescu Ian McKinney Brandon Kolo Absent: Perry Abbey _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Meeting Called to Order Meeting called to order at 7:02 pm. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Hannah Holliday Seconded by: Tony Rennpage Motion Adopted 3. Approval of Minutes Resolution Number: Motion to approve minutes of the April 3, 2025 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. Moved by: Ian McKinney Seconded by: Brigitta Burguess Motion Adopted 4. Public Comment None. 1 Page 3 of 8 5. Reports 5.a Staff Report – Nicole McEachern Administration  Online registration for Summer Recreation Programs began this week.  There are currently two full time Recreation Coordinator positions proposed in the draft budget. Pending Commission approval, we will be hiring the first one to start soon, hopefully so they can start this summer. The second, if approved, will start in February 2026.  The budget reading is slated for May 19, with potential budget approval June 9. Recreation  We held our annual Senior Center Volunteer Appreciation Brunch on Wednesday, April 30. Last year, we had 103 volunteers that completed over 7,000 hours of service.  Staff attended an introductory meeting with SMART as there have been many transitions in leadership on both sides.  Parks and Recreation Clerk Elana Bordine attended the mParks Emerging Leaders Workshop in Novi.  Four Seasons preschool graduation is next week. Congratulations to our students entering kindergarten next year!  Dance program recital is this Saturday, May 17. We have sold a record number of tickets (nearly 500) so far and expect a full house.  Rock the Block started today, May 15 and continues tomorrow. 22 low-income seniors are receiving outdoor home repairs and yard clean up, plus a couple parks that were missed on Annual Park Clean Up. This is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  New partnership with Oakland County for Health and Housing Fest at Normandy Oaks Park, scheduled for August 5, 11 am - 2 pm. Park/Facilities  Clawson Park Groundbreaking Event was held on Wednesday, April 30. Over 50 community members attended to learn more about the project. Project is estimated to finish in November. Construction began May 5 and should be completed by fall. 2 Page 4 of 8  Bids closed for Senior Center Renovation project on May 8. Bids are currently being reviewed. We are anticipating a 42 calendar day construction timeline over the summer. We are working hard to minimize impact to services and find temporary workspaces for staff. A communications plan is being developed to inform the community.  Memorial Park Netting Project had its pre-construction kick off meeting. Construction will begin within next couple of weeks once materials arrive with full completion by August 1. Impact to field scheduled should be minimal.  At Lockman Park, we will be replacing the swing and reinstalling two removed amenities (hippo climber and dinosaur spring rider). We have those 2 items in storage, and DPS will reinstall them once the necessary parts arrive. The new swing has a 12 week lead time and has been ordered.  Community Garden program started May 1 and is completely sold out. On May 15, McEachern met with Garden Club members who manage perennial border to talk about the upcoming garden season. 5.b City Commission Comments Commissioner Kolo shared the following updates: The play structure at the parking garage at South Lafayette Avenue and West 4th Street will be removed due to condition and age. Efforts are underway to explore potential funding from the DDA for a new amenity at the site. A second-grade Brownie troop visited City Hall, held a mock city council meeting, and brainstormed ideas for the location, including a pollinator garden. The Master Plan, set to guide Royal Oak’s development for the next 50 years, is nearing completion. An upcoming report on downtown vacancy rates will show that Royal Oak is in line with the rest of the region. 6. Business Items 6.a Farmers Market Contract Market operator Shelly Mazur reviewed a report about the Farmers Market. Report is included in agenda packet. Resolution Number: Motion to recommend the City Commission approve the Farmers Market Agreement 18-month Extension as presented. 3 Page 5 of 8 Moved by: Ryan Danescu Seconded by: Sue Wells Motion Adopted 6.b Ice Arena Contract Resolution Number: Motion to recommend the City Commission approve the Ice Arena Agreement 1 Year Extension as presented. Moved by: Ian McKinney Seconded by: Hannah Holliday Motion Adopted 6.c Fee Schedule and Priority Registration Director McEachern reviewed memo on Fee Schedule and Priority Registration, included in agenda packet. In general there was consensus from board about supporting items recommended in the memo. 7. Items Not on the Agenda  Ryan Denascu asked about bathroom facility for farmers market. Commissioner Kolo answered that the bathroom facility is not moving forward, but the city is considering Throne restroom facilities as an alternative. 8. Upcoming Events 9. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm. Resolution Number: Motion to Adjourn Moved by: Hannah Holliday Seconded by: Tony Rennpage Motion Adopted 10. Next Meeting: June 5, 2025 4 Page 6 of 8 Royal Oak Parks and Recreation 203 S Troy Street Royal Oak, MI 48067 248.246.3180 MEMORANDUM DATE: May 20, 2025 TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board FROM: Nicole McEachern, Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: Consideration of Smoking Ban in Parks Overview As part of our ongoing efforts to promote a healthier and more welcoming park environment, we are considering the possibility of implementing a smoking ban in all public parks. This memo outlines the process for adoption and implementation, along with key pros and cons to inform discussion. Process for Consideration 1. Advisory Board Review: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is asked to evaluate whether a smoking ban aligns with community interests. 2. Ordinance Drafting: If the Board expresses interest, staff will work with legal department to draft an ordinance reflecting the intended regulations. 3. Board Feedback: The drafted ordinance will return to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for review and feedback. 4. Commission Approval: If the Advisory Board supports the proposal, it will be presented to the City Commission for formal approval. 5. Implementation: Upon approval, we will develop necessary signage and public awareness communications to educate visitors about the new regulations. Pros of a Smoking Ban  Improved Public Health: Reduces exposure to secondhand smoke, benefiting children, families, and individuals with health sensitivities.  Enhanced Park Experience: Creates a cleaner, more enjoyable atmosphere for all visitors.  Environmental Benefits: Helps prevent litter from cigarette butts.  Community Support: Many cities have successfully implemented smoking bans with positive reception from residents. Cons of a Smoking Ban  Enforcement Challenges: Monitoring and ensuring compliance may require additional resources.  Public Resistance: Some patrons may feel their personal freedoms are being restricted.  Potential Decline in Park Usage: Certain visitors may opt for other locations that do not impose smoking restrictions. Page 7 of 8 Page 2 of 2 Examples of Smoking Bans in Parks As of 2017, over 1,500 municipalities and counties have banned smoking in parks, demonstrating widespread adoption of smoke-free policies. (source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute). Below are some notable examples: 1. Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation: The city enacted the Clean Air and Public Places Ordinance, which prohibits smoking and vaping in all parks and playgrounds. 2. New York City Parks: Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all NYC parks, beaches, boardwalks, and pedestrian plazas to promote a healthier and cleaner outdoor experience. 3. Houston Parks and Recreation Department: Houston has enacted a smoking ban in its parks to ensure safe and clean public spaces for all visitors. 4. Boston Parks and Recreation: Boston implemented tobacco-free park laws to support public health and environmental sustainability. 5. Los Angeles Parks: Smoking bans have been enforced in LA parks to reduce secondhand smoke exposure and improve air quality. Request for Feedback We invite Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members to provide their input on whether this initiative aligns with our community’s goals. Page 8 of 8

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