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, December 5 ,2019 at 7:00p.m. City Hall, Room 315 211 S. Williams St. Royal Oak, MI 48067 Meeting called to Order 7:00 PM Members Present: Sarah Kindinger, Tim Ciechorski, Commissioner Melanie Macey, Crystal Chow, Paul Kanan, Nicole McEachern, Mike Ripinski, Stephanie Comptois Also, Present: John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation, Greg Rassel, Director of Public Works and Recreation, Aaron Filipski, Director of Public Works and Recreation Members Absent:, Ilene Orlanski, Maya Harris I. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Mike Ripinski, Second by Sarah Kindinger. Passed unanimously. II. City Commission Comments: City tax bill has info about lead advisory notice. Golf course netting was approved by City Commission. III. Business: a. Upcoming CDBG Project – Traffic Diverters & Parks - Joseph Murphy from planning presents proposed plans for berms using CDBG funds on E. Hudson Ave, E Harrison Ave, Batavia Ave, Irving and E. Parent Ave and Dondero Ave. As well as proposed plans for the berms, Joseph explained the proposed plans to upgrade the two parks within the area, Lawson Park and Franklin Park. - Options for improvements to berm include but limited to:  Replacing wood bollards, restoring the curbline, rain gardens, remain as is, create more maintenance friendly berms. - Options for Lawson Park improvements   Unimproved northern roadway remain as is or create new concrete/asphalt roadway incorporating parking spaces  New playground equipment and picnic shelter  Resurface basketball court/new multi-use game area  Recondition existing baseball field  New outdoor fitness equipment to replace volleyball court - Options for Franklin Park improvements  No change  Eliminate one tennis court and re-do the other  New playground IV. Public Comment: Joe Hughner – Volleyball court rarely used, multisport area good idea for Lawson Park. Fitness equipment good idea, both age group playground. Do 1 tennis court and 1 basketball court at Franklin. Jim Ellison – Tennis courts at Franklin need to be completely re-done, reduce to 1 tennis court, suggest all age playground. Opportunity with diverters to incorporate green infrastructure. Make diverters look apart of the neighborhood not just placed there. Brandon Cowell – Nice to see Lawson Park invested. Would like to see berms maintained better, natural plants etc. Turn volleyball court into exercise equipment, south portion of park would be better for parking lot, fix tennis courts at Franklin. Arthur Armstrong – Would like to see diverters gone. No stop signs around parks. Would like to see Franklin Park gone. Ross O’Hara – Lawson Park basketball court empty because of condition. Would like to see a new basketball court Josh Fisher – exception of baseball field, majority use of Lawson Park are young kids and dogs. Funds used to improve what already there, simplicity is best, rip out baseball court. Bill Goober – would like north end pavement to remain as dirt road. Red clay mix for the baseball field. Prefers fitness equipment over volleyball equipment. Lynette Kip – 3rd playground since living there, focus on a playground that will last. Likes fitness equipment over volleyball court. Outfield needs to be reconditioned. Basketball court could get more use if fixed. Franklin Park most people use just 1 tennis court.  Kathy Condent – Lawson Park used for dog walking, kids biking. Both age group of playground equipment – keep simple, Picnic shelter replace volleyball court. Dennis Cook – Franklin Park tennis courts need to be repaired, make park suitable for young kids, lack of parking there. Not in favor of basketball courts at Franklin Tim Hobert – new kids’ area at Franklin Park. Repair 1 tennis court and a roller blade court at park. Open berms up. Doug Tannis -berm vacating property – biggest issue with city maintaining berm is that they don’t. Create a light pollution berm. If property was vacated, they would have additional questions. Melissa Brough – leave road on north end of Lawson Park a lone. Concern would be overnight parking lot. Recondition baseball field, pull volleyball courts, new play structure. John Duff – express support of enhancement of berms. Likes playstrucure idea, get rid of volleyball court. Supports install of shelter would increase use and develop ballpark area. John Honeyman -try to improve berms as if they belong and aren’t just placed there. Raise level of curb Ron Arnold – opportunity to represent uniform plan for berms. All berms should be treated the same way Scott Langdorf – replace volleyball court with fitness equipment, improve basketball area. Franklin Park tennis courts need to be repaired. Likes multi-age playground Mike Thompson – prefer dirt road at Lawson Park. Create a green wall to eliminate light pollution. Improve baseball field, outdoor fitness equipment to replace volleyball court Marty Buchanon – quality and longevity, not catchy or fancy equipment in the parks. Should concrete south side. Don’t do budding out curbs Nancy Poproski – Possibility with berm at Batavia being reopened. Nice to add as many evergreens as possible. Nice to keep height at other berms. End of Public Comment Discussion from board regarding item “a.” Mike Ripinski – states that there are clear areas discussed by the residents. Firm on 1 court at Franklin, proper drainage at parks, multi age playground, eliminate volleyball court. Commissioner Macey – Franklin park only 1 tennis court, good place for little kids. Not in favor of small age play structures but Franklin is a good spot for it. If baseball field gets improved, going to have a lot of traffic. Resurface basketball courts. Nicole McEachern – makes a motion to recommend writing thoughts down and come back to January’s meeting with recommendation. - Second by Mike - Unanimously approved. b. Senior Service Aging in Place Task Force Update - Sarah Kindinger states that there is 1 more session/focus group on January 11th. Present a plan in 6 months request further direction from City Commission. V. Items not on the Agenda: Mark Twain Dog Park fence has been installed Batting cage improvements have been approved by staff back in 2017 no further action needed. John states we need a motion to move January 2nd meeting to January 9th. Commissioner Macey motions, 2nd by Nicole McEachern. Passed unanimously. Commissioner Macey – subcommittee report, Nicole made a comprehensive spreadsheet between Royal Oak and other cities. There are some places with holes in recreation but not gaping holes. Talked about getting the word out more and creating a Facebook page. Some ideas would be good for the library. Start thinking about long-term planning as far as upgrades to golf course club house and recreational facility as department is running at full capacity. Nicole McEachern adds that with the amount and variety of programming based on staffing is great. Troy has multiple staff; Royal Oak has 3. Commissioner Macey – at the city liaison meeting, schools will be rolling out no verbal signs for communication. May be a good idea for parks or senior center. VI. Upcoming Events  Jingle Fest – December 14th Next Meeting: Thursday January 9, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Adjourn: Motion by Sarah Kindinger, second by Nicole McEachern. Pass unanimously at 9:25 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, John Fedele Paul Kanan John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation Paul Kanan, Secretary