Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (Formerly Parks, Rec and Senior Services)

City of Royal Oak Recreation Department 1600 North Campbell Road Royal Oak, MI 48067 248-246-.3180 Minutes Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Advisory Board Thursday May 2, 2019 at 7:00p.m. Mahany/Meininger Senior/Community Center 3500 Marais Avenue Royal Oak, MI 48067 Meeting called to Order 7:01 pm Members Present: Sarah Kindinger, Tim Ciechorski, Maya Harris, Commissioner Melanie Macey, Nicole McEachern, Paul Kanan Also, Present: John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation, Greg Rassel, Director of Public Services and Recreation Members Absent: Crystal Chow, Ilene Orlanski, Jeff Plachta I. Approval of Minutes: Change date to April. Change from foot to fruit, correct Jeff Plachta. Motion by Sarah Kindinger, 2nd by Nicole passed unanimously. II. City Commission Comments: Budget process is happening this month, Downtown Park Task Force meeting on Tuesday and the designer was picked, MKSK, and the developer looked pretty good. Three meeting this month for the budget, May 15, May 23 and June 3, be good to look at budget in advance. III. Public Comment: Janice Wagman: Is thrilled with Realtor Park and asks when the development of Normandy Oaks is starting construction. Rick Vincent: Prior City Assessor, interested in the golf course community and is concerned the previous commission has not kept it’s promise for the upgrades at the golf course through the sale of Normandy Oaks Golf Course. Understanding was once the $3 million was spent on the park the remaining would be spent on the golf course. Told the golf course was getting cart paths but nothing has started yet and was wondering why there are not golf cart paths planned to be on all holes. It is important for this board to understand that the funding was promised to the golf course and believes something is going on here.  - Commissioner Macey: Understanding from the sale of Normandy Oaks Golf Course is the same as Rick Vincent’s. Believes where she heard the fee breakdown was from Normandy Oaks discussion groups and believes that the $700k should be going to the golf course. o Greg: Sat down with the golf course and the intent was to never have golf cart paths on all holes. $258K will take care of cart paths and the parking lot. o Tim would like to have the map of the golf course sent to the board and bring to the next meeting. o Greg proposes June meeting at the Royal Oak Golf Course. End Public Comment IV. Business: a. Senior Center Transportation, Tim’s Kitchen – Paige Gembarski - Partnership with SMART with community credits, able to use capital money to spend on new vehicles. Receive a $30k grant through Beaumont to help supplement program which comes out to be 2 PT staff members. Ridership is $4 round trip, $3 one way trip. Provide free shuttles at 9:15 and 9:45 for residents to come to senior center if they participate in the lunch program. Still have to pay for lunch and take all of them home at one time. Wednesdays, they take to the mall, Monday is a Meijer’s run. Can book a trip up to 2-weeks prior to. Received additional funding through the bond issue, goes by the population of the city. Partnership with Pleasant Ridge provide service and receive their community/municipal credits to provide 2 trips to their residents per month, service to them only on Thursdays. Hours run is due to the amount of money received.  Nicole asks if Paige can meet the demand? o Paige states it varies, we try to meet the demands of medical first. Mornings are most in demand. In the afternoons they all come at the same time.  Nicole asks if they go outside the city limits. o Paige states that they do make trips outside of city limits. Open to anyone 62 or older or anyone with a permanent disability. Have a partnership with the RO Middle School as well.  Sarah Kindinger: Questions regarding the food from the kitchen and had a wish list for fresh fruit/vegetables. o Paige, we are self-sustaining there is no budget for the nutrition program. There used to be one group that service Oakland County called Oakland County Meals. After they disbanded, it became a  free for all. Tim worked for Oakland County Meals when the city decided to bring Tim on as a pilot for self-sustaining. Never been a line item in city’s budget. Seniors and community are extremely generous with donations. With Erin coming on board, created a “wish list” which is on the website and newsletter. Believe this is what came up on last meeting. Erin looks at menu for the month and create a wish list off menu. i. Paul Kanan, when working with Oakland County and the Animal Shelter, can go on Amazon Wish list and residents from their homes can get stuff off that wish list. 1. Paige says cannot do that because it must be tied to the Roots foundation and it must be a 501c3. There is money in the Roots foundation and is used to supplement Tim’s Kitchen. The menu has changed up the menu, Erin Koch cooks different than Tim. She has kept the popular meals. Average customers are 70+. Sizes of desserts are smaller. Two “Heart Smart” days and “Vegetarian Days.” During summer months, the fresh fruit will be there. December, January and March are tough for fruit since there is nothing much. Have to make reservations beforehand. b. Senior Task Force Focus Group Update - Sarah Kindinger started the focus groups and have had 2 so far. On Monday, April 29th there are multiple domains and can go through and speak about each domain. Library was a challenge in usage. Problem with accessibility. Another focus group on Saturday May 4th at the St. John’s Episcopal Church. Three groups of about 5 – 6 people in each group. Commissioner Douglas conversed with Sarah, noticed a lot of independent, internet savvy seniors and want to reach more.  Commissioner Macey- one meeting is at the Royal Oak Manor and Commissioner Douglas had flyers that was handed out. V. Items not on the Agenda: - Maya Lane – concerns regarding Cummingston Park with the fence near Meijer’s was broken and wondering regarding repair.   Greg – not in the budget. - Tim Ciechorski would like to move the June meeting to the Golf Course. Motion my Tim Ciechorski tour at 7:00 pm and meeting follow there on after, 2nd by Paul Kanan, pass unanimously. - Commissioner Macey – Highlight reel for what is on the agenda for the 19/20 Budget?  Greg - Some money for Basset Park, Dog Park Fence, Salter Center Roof. Kenwood is happening this year FY18/19. - Commissioner Macey - New Proposal for the CDBG?  Greg- can have Joe write up a proposal. - Commissioner Macey – it is wetter than it is last year, how are we doing with seasonal?  Greg – have a handful now but when college is let out, we will have more slots filled. Hired up to 20 so far. Have been out cutting grass. There is a north cycle and south cycle, if we go to a park and it cannot be cut, we move on and hit that park until the cycle repeats. o Commissioner Macey – proposes a list of what the North Cycles are, and the South Cycles are and note when we mowed them/skipped them because of rain etc. i. Greg mentions that it is a 4-6-week problem. In June we are caught up. It happens every year, just need to ride it out. 1. Paul – mentions having a digital checklist where they go through and check a box on what was/was not done and export the data to Commissioner Macey etc. - Sarah Kindinger – has seen a lot of off leash dogs in the park, is there a number that they should be calling?  Greg – we are putting more signs up, but they need to call the non-emergency police number, but we have not authority on that issue.  Commissioner Macey – if we see off leash dogs, we should take it upon ourselves to say something. - Commissioner Macey – Normandy Oaks Timeline?  Greg – rain delay, should see silk fencing up next week, start moving equipment. Earth work and drainage first, sometime in the fall should see Playground/Splash Pad. - Commissioner Macey- would like to have t-shirts made for the board. - Sarah Kindinger – how did the park clean up go?  Had about 18 parks that did not get cleanup which means we had more parks cleaned than usual.  VI. Upcoming Events Volunteer Appreciation Lunch – May 3rd 10:00 am Ice Arena Ice Show – May 17th – 19th Royal Oak Sandlot League Opening Day – Saturday June 1st 5K Run Police June 1st Royal Oak Leprechaun Meet and Greet – May 16th Next Meeting: Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Adjourn: Motion by Paul, 2nd by Sarah Kindinger passed unanimously at 8:15 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, John Fedele Paul Kanan John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation Paul Kanan, Secretary