1000 Rochester Hills Dr
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
(248) 656-4600
Home Page: www.rochesterhills.org
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Chairperson Gerald Carvey, Vice Chairperson Dahlvin Peterson
Members: Peter Beightol, Tim Gauthier, Jayson Graves, Darlene Janulis, Sandra Niks, Donald Price, Terry Stephens
Council Member Susan Bowyer Ph.D.
Youth Representatives: Mallory Boyd, Ramona Johnson and Joshua Morgan
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Chairperson Carvey called the Green Space Advisory Board meeting to order at 6:55 p.m.
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Peter Beightol, Gerald Carvey, Tim Gauthier, Jayson Graves, Darlene Janulis, Sandra Niks, Dahlvin Peterson and Donald Price
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Non-voting members present: Ken Elwert, Lance DeVoe, Kurt Dawson, Ramona Johnson, Mallory Boyd, Joshua Morgan
Non-voting members absent: Council Member Bowyer with notice
Others present: Patrick Endres
Board Member Stevens provided notice that she would be unable to attend and asked to be excused.
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Regular Meeting - August 23, 2016
Attachments:
A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Beightol, that this matter be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote:
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Resolved that the Green Space Advisory Board hereby approves the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 23, 2016 as presented/amended.
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Chairperson Carvey welcomed the newly appointed Rochester Hills Youth Council Members and asked everyone to introduce themselves.
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Director Elwert reported that as part of the budget adopted by City Council at the September 26th meeting there would be one-million in matching funding available for the development of Riverbend Park next year. In addition, City Council agreed to a four-year funding total of 3.4 million dollars for the Park. Director Elwert stated that this is a significant investment in the quality of life here in Rochester Hills.
Director Elwert reviewed the recommendations from the Deer Management Advisory Committee to City Council at the September 26th meeting. The annual "Don't veer for deer" sign campaign that runs from mid-October through November will be expanded. Outreach efforts to local churches and schools to include the "Don't veer for deer" message on their signs will be pursued.
Director Elwert reminded everyone of the annual Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 8th at the Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.
Director Elwert and Chairperson Carvey gave a brief overview of Riverbend Park and the Green Space property to the north of the Park to the new Youth Council representatives.
Board Member Gauthier asked where the matching funds for the development of Riverbend Park would come from. Director Elwert responded that the funds would come from potential grants and from private donations.
Niswander Status Report:
Park Ranger/Naturalist DeVoe reported that Niswander Environmental has completed this year's phragmites spraying program at City Parks and the Museum property.
Director Elwert confirmed that Niswander Environmental has received, on behalf of the City of Rochester Hills, the Monarch Waystation Certification from Monarch Watch International. Park Ranger DeVoe commented that interpretive signage will be installed by Niswander at the Harding Green Space property trailheads in October. Director Elwert will ask the Mayor's Office to issue a press release on the matter.
Director Elwert provided an overview of the GSAB for the new Youth Council representatives.
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None at this time.
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None at this time.
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GSAB Administrative & Strategic Sub-Committee
No report at this time.
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Concept plans for individual Green Space properties.
Attachments:
Chairperson Carvey reported that he met with Board Members Graves and Beightol and Park Ranger DeVoe to discuss their vision for the next ten to twenty years for the Green Space properties. They discussed the possibilities of adding pathways, benches and parking areas to some of the Green Space properties acknowledging there may be ADA compliance issues with some of the ideas. Director Elwert commented that the question of ADA accessibility at Green Space properties was still under review by John Staran. Chairperson Carvey stated that when the community voted to approve the use of Green Space funds for stewardship one of the issues that Mayor Barnett wanted to insure was that people could walk the property. Director Elwert suggested that this would be worth looking at for the Harding property rather than at the White property. With the potential development of Riverbend Park and a proposed bridge there will be a way for people to access the White Green Space property in the future. Director Elwert commented that the Planning Department would need to be consulted prior to the addition of parking spaces at a Green Space property. Director Elwert stated that we would need to be sensitive to the residents in installing parking spaces at the Harding property and proposed installing curb cut parking spaces. Park Ranger DeVoe agreed that this type of parking at Harding would help with maintenance and stewardship work. Board Members discussed the issue of allowing accessibility to Green Space properties. Director Elwert asked the Board Members if they thought it was appropriate to spend Green Space funds to build a parking lot and suggested further discussion by the Board at a later time. Chairperson Carvey reminded everyone that the Green Space properties were not purchased as neighborhood parks but they were purchased for the entire community and we need to provide some way for people to access the properties. Board Members agreed to take up this discussion again at a later date.
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GSAB Communication, Promotion & Education Sub-Committee
No report at this time.
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Motion to send an email to GSAB Members to adopt an official tag name for GSAB properties.
Board Member Graves reported on the results of the email that he had sent out to request feedback on the survey for the adoption of an official tag name for Green Space properties. The Board agreed that all Green Space properties would have Green Space added as part of the property name. Director Elwert confirmed that all Green Space properties would be officially known in this manner.
Whereas, the initial vote of the committee ranked "Green Space" as the number one selection for tag line names to be used in conjunction with the Green Space property name. Whereas, the committee now has new members that did not participate in the original vote, an email will be sent to all members to revisit and confirm the vote. Now be it resolved, that if confirmed, the Parks Department will move this issue through the City naming policy.
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GSAB Property Nominations & Acquisitions Sub-Committee
Chairperson Carvey opened the discussion on the Clinton River Rookery Preserve by explaining the process that the GSAB uses to evaluate a nominated property. This evaluation includes the use of a score sheet that the MIS Department creates based upon the Natural Features Inventory that Niswander developed for the City of Rochester Hills. Chairperson Carvey stated that several Board Members along with Park Ranger DeVoe and Director Elwert had visited the Rookery Preserve for the purpose of scoring the property. He requested that Board Member Gauthier review the scoring of the Clinton River Rookery Preserve for the Board. Member Gauthier reviewed the scoring of the Water Resources on the Rookery property. Director Elwert stated that the Rookery property is designated as having both wetlands and woodlands. Board Members agreed upon the total score of 23 points for the Water Resources features. Member Gauthier discussed the Habitat Protection scoring that looks at wildlife habitat and woodlands. Board Members agreed with the total score of 15 points for Habitat Protection. Member Gauthier moved on to the Recreations/Historical Value section. Board Members discussed the issue of the property having frontage on the Galloway Creek and agreed to increase the score from 0 to 5 for this ranking and increased the score of the scenic view ranking from 0 to 3 for a total score of 16. In looking at the scoring for Other Factors Board Members increased the score for market value consideration from 0 to 3 and scored the question of steep slopes a 1 for a total score of 9. Member Gauthier went through the scoring of the final section dealing with Adverse Factors. Director Elwert brought up the issue of other unique detractors stating that since this property is currently held by a land conservancy nothing would happen if we decided not to take over the property. If the City were to take over this property and agree to manage it because the land conservancy cannot perform this function it brings up budgetary issues. Board Members discussed encroachment issues as well as potential budget issues that are associated with taking on the Rookery property. It was decided to rank this issue with a score of negative 3. Member Gauthier confirmed the overall score of 60 points for the Clinton River Rookery Preserve. Director Elwert informed the Board that Council Member Bowyer is strongly in favor of recommending this property to City Council as a Green Space property.
Chairperson Carvey asked if the Board wanted to make a motion regarding the
nomination of the Rookery Preserve. (see legislative file number 2016-0366)
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Evaluation of the Clinton River Rookery Preserve for the purpose of considering recommending to City Council a transfer of the property from the Six Rivers Land Conservancy to the City of Rochester Hills as a Green Space property.
Attachments:
Chairperson Carvey inquired if there was any further discussion on the motion. Member Gauthier expressed concerns that although this is a great property their are liabilities in taking on this property and there is a lack of public access to the property. Vice Chair Peterson expressed concerns regarding the enforcement of encroachment. Member Beightol stated that the encroachment into the property took place prior to the property being deeded to the land conservancy. After further discussion the motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson Carvey appointed Director Elwert and Members Beightol and Janulis to put together a presentation to City Council once the legal review is complete. Director Elwert invited the Youth Council representatives to participate in this process.
Motion by Janulis, second by Niks, that the Green Space Advisory Board recommends the transfer of the Clinton River Rookery Preserve to the City of Rochester Hills as a Green Space property, pending legal review.
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GSAB Stewardship & Advocacy Sub-Committee
No report at this time.
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Discuss Stewardship Management Plan
No report at this time.
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Chairperson Carvey reported that we presently have in the Green Space cash account one and a half million dollars and five million, twenty-eight thousand in the trust fund.
Chairperson Carvey spoke with Mayor Barnett regarding the Clinton River Valley (2) property that runs between the Clinton River Trail and the Clinton River. This Clinton River Valley (2) property has been sold to a new developer and Chairperson Carvey has asked the Mayor to look into a potential purchase of the parcel. The GSAB has previously recommended the property for purchase and City Council approved the nomination but the negotiations were not successful. Director Elwert identified the property owner as George Kruk
and informed the Board that the City is currently in negotiations to have a very small portion of this property donated as a memorial.
Chairperson Carvey proposed that the GSAB recommend to City Council the designation of City owned parcel #15-15-404-001 as a Green Space property. The parcel is located on the south side of the Clinton River between the Clinton River Valley (2) parcel and the south end of the Harding Green Space property. Chairperson Carvey stated that if the parcel were to be designated as a Green Space property it could be maintained along with the other Green Space properties. Chairperson Carvey asked for a motion on the matter.
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Motion that the Green Space Advisory Board would recommend to City Council that City owned parcel 15-15-404-001 be designated as a Green Space property.
Resolved that the Green Space Advisory Board recommends to City Council that City owned parcel 15-15-404-001 be designated as a Green Space property.
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Resolved that the Green Space Advisory Board hereby recommends that City Council designate City owned parcel 15-15-404-001 as a Green Space property.
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Board Member Niks inquired if Director Elwert had an update on the use of goats for landscaping in Ottawa County parks. Director Elwert will report on this at a upcoming meeting.
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- Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
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There being no further business to discuss, Chairperson Carvey adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Maureen Nakonek
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Gerald Carvey, Chairperson