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, September 1, 2022 at 7:00p.m. Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Community Center Royal Oak, MI 48067 Meeting called to Order 7:00 PM Members Present: Vincent Brown, Rebecca Cheezum, Michael Lawrence, Mike Ripinksi, Joseph Vukich, Commissioner Melanie Macey, Sarah Kindinger Also, Present: John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation, Members Absent: Aaron Filipski Director Public Works and Recreation, Samantha Grant, Alexandra Borngesser I. Introductions: II. Approval of Minutes: Motion Mike Ripinski, 2nd Michael Lawrence, unanimously approved. III. City Commission Comments: Update on ice rink at Centennial Commons, Mike Ripinski presented the motion to the commission. Commission upset they did not receive many sufficient opportunities to make the ice rink happen. Feels as if obstacles are insurmountable to have the ice rink. Rest of commission is hesitant to place rink in alternative location. If all 3 contingencies are met, ice rink will move forward on September 12 commission meeting. IV. Public Comment: Jordan Zupke – skatepark in the city, working with Tony Hawk Foundation and looking for a park that will serve the community. Want to have insight into this project. Misconceptions of drugs, loud are false. Skatepark in Ferndale was built with funds from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Current skatepark at Memorial Park that is dilapidated. Skateparks are much more sophisticated. Going rate is anywhere between $400,000 to $2,000,000. Matching grants are available. Oliver – student at RO middle school. Skateboard, soccer, and basketball are hobbies. Memorial Park only place to do it and in poor condition. Concrete  cracked, ramps not even. Neighboring cities have invested in new skateparks including Birmingham, Ferndale, and Huntington Woods. Proposes to update Memorial Park’s skatepark. Oliver’s Father - Looking to provide a place for a greater community to enjoy the sport. Contact couple companies and got cost for some options. Proposal is on a smaller scale for a new skatepark but provide two different options to consider. Cost of equipment to furnish the equipment at Memorial Park. Roughly $125,000 for equipment plus cost of resurfacing concrete surface. Reached out to American Ramp Company. Mark Sackett – General Manager of Royal Oak Leprechauns. Increase volume of 18,000 – 19,000 in attendance. Four incidents where people almost got seriously injured during ball games. People tripping up bleachers, getting hit by balls, cars getting hit. Concerned for the city for what they could be going through. Come up with a plan and hands out long-range plan. Would like for the city to consider a three-phase plan to improve Memorial Park. Park is old and dangerous. If more people attend, can be some serious consequences. New backstop, netting, re-do stands. Let’s keep supporting park, not only used for baseball but skatepark, dream cruise. Joe Spadafore – Director of Golf Operations for Royal Oak Golf Course. New website that is linked to city website, have a drone of every hole. When city starts handing out $28 million to come look at the building. Would like to leave clubhouse nice when contract is up. Janice Wagman – Everyone is asking for funds so good night to discuss AARPA funds. Tons of cities, counties and states using AARPA funds for parks. Millages, City Manager advocated the parks and rec master plan to create a yes committee. City cannot legally vouch for yes votes but a committee was formed. Proposal is to maintain status quo. Capital Improvements listed in the mileage is only enough to do one park. Senior Millage is proposed to fund $600K but this is what is funneled through the general fund. We can come back with a product better. Proposes a Capital Improvement Millage for Parks and Seniors that guarantees certain improvements will be made. Keisha – Appreciate of opportunity for Hamer Finch Wilkins Park. Sign went up and the historical sign is also up. Signs went up quickly and is thankful. End Public Comment IV. Business: a. Hamer Finch Wilkins Park - Judy Davids – Community Engagement Specialist brief update on park. Sign went up today 9/1/22. Since last meeting, presents concept of construction documents. Next year’s sidewalk program is close to park  and can be included for the park. Talking to Oakland County for community grant up to $150,000 with a 25% match. Park is reflected and quiet, would like to put in overstock benches from Centennial Commons in and also put in a statue in honor of Hamer Finch Wilkins. Statue is $30,000. Main reason is to raise $15,000 from public in order to get the public spaces, wild spaces grant. Approximately 9-month total time for structure. Crowd funding rather than city fund, we have over 50 parks and cannot have a statue for every park. Asks that when we go to the fundraising stage, to think of those who have similar interest that can help with the fundraising. b. Senior Center Report - Center is starting to do in house meals - Aging in Place Workshop c. Request Pavilion Schedule Change - John Fedele presents proposal to board. Addresses this change would allow for more access to the pavilions. - Motion by Mike Ripinski to adopt staff recommendations for pavilion hours and fees as proposed on attachment, second by Joseph Vukich. Unanimously approved d. Staff Report - Johns Statement V. Items not on the Agenda: Commissioner Macey – ROFC kickoff is next Saturday, get a table for master plan insight. VI. Upcoming Events Public Engagement – Parks and Recreation Master Plan 9/2 1 – 6 pm @ Arts, Beats and Eats September 2nd – September 6th Movie Night – Normandy Oaks September 13 Next Meeting: Thursday October 6, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Adjourn: Motion Commissioner Macey, 2nd Rebecca Cheezum passed unanimously Respectfully Submitted, Approved, John Fedele Samantha Grant John Fedele, Superintendent of Recreation Samantha Grant, Secretary