APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Staab asked under Item 8, Matters for
Commission Discussion or Action, the addition of election of the Chair and
Vice Chair for the Commission is made.
It was moved by Commissioner Tecklenburg and
seconded by Commissioner Staab to add the election under Item 8 on the
agenda.
Voice Vote Unanimous
CITIZEN COMMENTS: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Approval of the June 21, 2012 minutes.
It was moved by Commissioner Tecklenburg
and seconded by Commissioner Wingfield to approve the minutes as
written.
Voice Vote Unanimous
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Walkable Novi - Commissioners
Policicchio & Torimoto
Commissioner Wingfield stated neither
Commissioner on the Committee is in attendance.
Director Mangum stated there was not a
quorum for the Walkable Novi Committee for the meeting that would
have been this evening. The meeting will be rescheduled and there
should be a report at the next Commission Meeting.
B. Novi Parks Foundation - Commissioners
Staab and Tecklenburg
Commissioner Tecklenburg stated at the
most recent meeting the focus was the August 2nd Golf
Outing. He encouraged everyone to participate. The Golf Outing is at
the Links of Novi. The cost is $400 a foursome.
Erika Pratt is now the Executive Director
of the Novi Parks Foundation. She attended the meeting and has since
then been very active in getting involved with the Golf Outing.
Commissioner Staab stated the Golf Outing
is the Parks Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Donations
and Sponsorships are a little lagging but golfers are needed. He
encouraged golfers to participate because the proceeds supply funds
for scholarships and other things for the Parks Department.
STAFF REPORTS:
A. Administration Division-Director Jason Mangum
1. Update Projects
Director Mangum stated we are now in the
first month of our fiscal year for 2012-2013. He would like to give
an update on some of the capital project or service improvements
that have been approved for the coming year. Some of them are just
starting or haven’t started yet but he wants to keep the Commission
updated on a monthly basis.
a. Cemetery
Director Mangum stated after the Novi
Road construction it was noticed that there were some needs at
the Novi Cemetery. We will be doing a fencing project. It will
be a black wrought iron looking fence along the frontage that
faces Novi Road. We will also be restoring some of the historic
stones. There is a least one Revolutionary War veteran buried in
the Cemetery as well as veterans of the War of 1812. We will
also be doing some general clean up. There are several stones
and markers that are broken, have fallen over or have been
moved. We will be doing general repair and maintenance on these
as well as taking care of the vegetation. We are in the process
of receiving a quote for the fencing project.
b. Fencing – ITC Sports Park
Director Mangum stated ITC Community
Sports Park also has some fencing issues. We will be adding
bottom rails to some of the fencing. There is heaving going on
with some of the posts so the concrete footing for the fences
are coming out of the ground. Adding bottom and center rails
will help take care of some of the misshaping of the fence
fabric. We will be taking out some of the fencing between the
infield and outfield fences or anything that are not adjacent to
a pathway or walkway. This will save money on the fencing that
needs repair as well as making maintenance easier and more
efficient for mowing. This is a common practice for many cities
and Parks and Recreations which is more efficient while
maintaining the safety of the facility.
c. Playgrounds
Director Mangum stated there are two
playgrounds that will be
replaced. The one at Rotary Park will
be replaced with something that is newer and meets standard. The
back playground at Lakeshore Park will also be replaced. These
are two of our oldest playgrounds and we will be replacing them
with new equipment. It will give the children a clean, safe
place to play.
Director Mangum stated Pavilion Shore
Park is not on the agenda but it is a project that is ongoing.
It is getting ready to go out to bid. We have received
permission from the Michigan DNR to advertise for bids. We are
in the final stages of our permitting process.
Commissioner Tecklenburg asked if we
take responsibility for the regular maintenance of the Novi
Cemetery.
Director Mangum stated we do take
responsibility for the regular maintenance on that cemetery. We
mow but don’t do anything extensive. We do have a contractor
that does that. We don’t have a big budget but enough to keep it
cut and clean. This year we will do some renovation.
Commissioner Wingfield stated it is an
interesting concept on getting rid of some of the fencing and he
can see why it would be done. There are eight baseball fields at
the park. He asked how many fields would be having the fencing
changes.
Director Mangum stated we have ten
foot fencing that goes from the backstop to the edge of the
infield. That will stay because it is safety fencing. Past the
ten foot fencing and to the corner of the outfield is where the
fence will be removed. Field number eight we will probably keep
fencing all the way around it because it stands alone. The two
fields with the grass infields will be left alone. The fencing
will be removed on the remaining fields. Fence will be taken
anywhere it does not pose a safety hazard.
Commissioner Wingfield stated he is
involved with Novi Youth Baseball League and asked if some of
the projects that had not been done this year that had been
talked about would be done in September and October.
Director Mangum stated after Novi
Youth Baseball is finished for the season we plan to start so we
can get as many projects done as possible.
2. Novi Parks Foundation Golf Outing
Director Mangum encouraged players and
sponsors for the Novi Parks Foundation Golf Outing on August 2nd.
3. Older Adult Office Relocation
Director Mangum stated over the next few
weeks we will be moving our Older Adult Services, which is part of
Parks and Recreation, to the Civic Center. Their offices are
currently at the Senior Center in Meadowbrook Commons. We feel with
the aging population and the opportunities we need to be able to
provide that moving them to the Novi Civic Center will make us more
available and visible. We will still continue to operate the Senior
Center and have staff there for that population. The Administration
for Senior Services and the recreation programmers will be located
in this building. They will be taking the office area where Youth
Assistance was located.
B. Recreation Division – Superintendent of
Recreation Scott Pratt
1. Recreation Coordinator for Cultural Arts
Director Mangum stated the Recreation
Coordinator for Cultural Arts has
been filled by Stephanie Schuetzler. She
was our programmer so this is a promotion for her. Her background is
visual arts and elementary education. She has a unique set of skills
which will help us with arts classes, programs and camps.
2. Cricket Cup
Director Mangum stated the Novi Cricket
Cup was held last weekend at Ella Mae Power Park as well as ITC Community
Sports Park. This is the second year for the Novi Cricket Cup. It is a fast
growing and unique sport to this area. We host a tournament that is well
received by the cricket players in the area. Because we do not have an
extensive knowledge of the sport of Cricket we work with a volunteer
committee to help put on the tournament. It was a great success and we got a
lot of good feedback from the participants, their families and the
spectators. We are looking for ways to enhance it and make it a long
standing tradition.
3. Sizzling Summer Arts Series
Director Mangum mentioned the banner and
fliers in the community advertising the events in this series. We
have Tremendous Tuesdays which is kid’s entertainment almost every
Tuesday at 10:30am. These have been very well received and attended.
They are held a Furest Park in the amphitheater. The next one will
be Little Creatures with Dan the Creature Man. He will be bringing
out live animals. Friday Family Fun just started last week. Every
Friday there will be something fun for the family. There will either
be a live band or a movie in the park. We had the Candy Band last
week and had over two hundred people. This Friday is the movie "Gnomeo
and Juliet" on the big screen in the park.
Commissioner Tecklenburg asked about the
Cricket Cup.
Director Mangum stated we had sixteen
teams that participated, which filled the tournament. The teams were
regional. We had teams from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing and from
around Oakland County. Ours is modified Cricket so you can play it
on a softball field. This works well until we can create a cricket
ground.
Commissioner Tecklenburg asked if we
received any feedback from the participants or the committee who
helped with the tournament.
Director Mangum stated there are ups and
downs in any tournament but the general consensus was that it was
well run and everyone had a good time.
Commissioner Wingfield asked about the
upcoming Softball Tournament.
Director Mangum stated the Tournament is
the first week of August. We have again been selected for an ASA
National Tournament. We host this tournament within our department.
This year we have U14 Girls. It is fast pitch and high level
competition. This is the third year we have received an ASA Award of
Excellence for our two previous years. We are the only city in
Michigan to have received this award two years in a row. That award
is based on feedback of the participants, coaches and organizations.
We are very proud of that. Our facilities are always top notch when
it comes time for this tournament.
Commissioner Wingfield asked how many
teams are participating and if the fields will accommodate them.
Director Mangum replied there are enough
fields. We use all six fields.
Commissioner Wingfield asked about the
status of the Sports Coordinators job.
Director Mangum stated that Sports
Supervisor, Matt Ostermeyer, has tendered his resignation. His
career goals have been to be a Professor of Parks and Recreation and
he has been accepted to the University of Indiana PhD Program for
Leisure Behavior and the Social Psychology of Leisure. It is one of
the top programs in the country for that. We conducted a search and
advertised on the National Parks and Recreation website and we have
nearly one hundred applications for that position and are in the
process of going through the hiring process. We have conducted a
round of interviews and are very pleased with the quality and
caliber of people who want to come to Novi to work.
Commissioner Tecklenburg asked if there is
a timeframe for hiring.
Director Mangum stated the sooner the
better. Matt Ostermeyer is the National Tournament Director for the
tournament coming up in August. The ultimate goal is to have someone
in place before that tournament but we also realize people have
families and other jobs so we will be flexible.
MATTERS FOR COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION:
A. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for the Novi
Parks, Recreation and
Cultural Services Commission
Commissioner Wingfield asked if there were any
nominations for Chairperson. He nominated Paul Policcichio for
Chairperson.
Commissioner Tecklenburg seconded the
nomination.
Director Mangum asked if there were any other
nominations.
There were none.
Voice Vote Unanimous
Commissioner Wingfield asked if there were any
nominations for Vice Chairperson.
Commissioner Staab nominated Harry Torimoto
for Vice Chairperson.
Commissioner Tecklenburg seconded the
nomination.
Commissioner Wingfield asked if there were any
other nominations.
There were none.
Voice Vote Unanimous
CITIZEN COMMENTS: None
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
Commissioner Staab state in regards to the
relocation of the Older Adult Offices he knows that we must have done all
kinds of advertising and notifications. He just wants to make sure everyone
is well aware of the move.
Director Mangum stated we have done pre-planning
on this since January. Senior Transportation made the move to the Civic
Center last month. You may have noticed all to the Senior Transportation
vehicles outside. It has been working well and everyone is pleased. People
will still be able to go to the Senior Center to get their questions
answered, to register for programs and to participate in programs.
Commissioner Staab welcomed Commissioner Ferrell.
Commissioner Tecklenburg welcomed Commissioner
Ferrell and stated he is looking forward to working with her.
Student Representative Kodali stated
he missed the age limit for the Golf Outing or the
Cricket Cup to either volunteer or participate.
Director Mangum stated there is no age limit. Just
let us know. He knows that Suhas is a great volunteer. He has volunteered
for some of our other events.
Student Representative Kodali also welcomed
Commissioner Ferrell.
Commissioner Ferrell stated that she is
excited and happy to be aboard.
Commissioner Wingfield welcomed Commissioner
Ferrell. He stated it was a very good meeting and that it has been a very
active July. There were activities cancelled due to the excessive heat,
which he thinks was wise.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Staab
and seconded by Commissioner Ferrell.
Voice Vote Unanimous
The meeting was adjourned by Commissioner
Wingfield at 7:37pm.
DATE APPROVED:
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