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, August 4, 2022, at 7:00p.m. Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Community Center Game Room 3500 Marais Royal Oak, MI 48067 Meeting called to Order 7:00 PM Members Present: Michael Ripinski, Sarah Kindinger, Samantha Grant, Michael Lawrence, Joseph Vukich, Commissioner Melanie Macey Also, Present: John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation, Aaron Filipski, Director of Public Services and Recreation Members Absent: Rebecca Cheezum, Alexandra Borngesser I. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Mike Ripinski, 2nd by Michael Lawrence, unanimously approved II. City Commission Comments: Parksa and Recreation and animal shelter milage on November ballot. Library milage passed at 70% need to show awareness for this milage. Animal Shelter got through congressional fund for a new shelter. III. Public Comment: Jeff Eisenberg – ROSL Board Member, last year leprechauns had 21 home games this year they had 29. Claims leprechauns are not always the home team. 10 games are between the Jet Box and Leprechauns. Limited playing at Memorial Park. 95% of games are at night ROSL represents over 750 kids from Royal Oak. Feels like the Leprechauns are trying to squeeze out ROSL. Tom Williams – ROFC field manager would like to see better care for soccer fields. Need to hire more maintenance people. Soccer fields are neglected and dangerous. Would like to see drainage, fertilizer program for the fields. More parking is needed along exchange and Red Run Park. Lights at Quickstad would be beneficial  Janice Wagman – County converting Red Oaks Golf Course into park using AARPA funds. City will need to come up with 20% match for the Animal Shelter congressional fund. End Public Comment IV. Business: a. Senior Center Report Yolanda Botello reports that a new chef has been hired and daily meals will start on 8/10. Three Urban League participants working now. Carry out requests are still popular, and chef has 75 meals/day. New language class for French and Spanish and will be hiring a new clerk. b. McKenna Presentation  McKenna presents a general oversense of the feedback received up until August 4 point and goes over the boards goals and objectives for the 5-year master plan c. Dog Park Results - John discusses the top three improvements requested by the survey. #1 being drainage, #2 Trails, #3 Lighting. Top 2 age in the park are 10 years of age and 5 years of age. Majority of people support the green windscreens on the fence. d. Ice Rink - Mike Ripinski states he would have liked to see the ice rink brought to the Parks and Recreation Board and could have reviewed and provided some advice. Annoyed it went directly to commission. Was an ice rink design ever approved at the Downtown Park Task Force?  Sarah Kindinger states that they were just renderings of potential events and was not considered a designed element of the park. - Board put on record a motion by Mike Ripinski that the board supports the idea of an ice rink but concerned about the sod and long-term sustainability and infrastructure and usability of the park in Spring and Summer. 2nd by Joseph Vukich unanimously approved. e. Staff Report - Tree program full tree planting at least 100 trees will go into parks.  - John mentions Hudson Park is the next park for upgrades, centennial water fountain is up and running. Grass at Normandy Oaks Soccer field are coming back after irrigation issue was fixed. V. Items not on the agenda: - Commissioner Macey asks about the Turtle at Franklin  John states that the turtle has rebar sticking out and is a hazard. Will be looking at solution to repair turtle. - Mike Ripinski mentions a fundraiser for the animal shelter at Normandy Oaks August 9th. Movie night in the park. VI. Upcoming Events Parks and Recreation Master Plan Public Engagement – Saturday August 13 @ Normandy Oak’s Park Woodward Dream Cruise – Aug 20 Next Meeting: September 1 Adjourn: Motion by Commissioner Macey, 2nd by Samantha Grant at 9:15 pm, passed unanimously Respectfully Submitted, Approved, John Fedele Samantha Grant John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation Samantha Grant, Secretary