View Agenda for this meeting 

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL SERVICES
Thursday, June 21, 2012 – 7:00 PM
NOVI CIVIC CENTER – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm with Commissioner Dooley presiding.

ROLL CALL: Dooley (Present), Jewell (Absent-Excused), Policicchio (Absent-Excused), Staab (Present), Tecklenburg (Present), Torimoto (Present), Wingfield (Present), Singh (Present), Kodali (Absent).

Commissioner Dooley welcomed Student Representative Singh and asked her to tell about herself.

Student Representative Singh stated she will be a Junior at Novi High School this next school year. She plays Junior Varsity Field Hockey and is involved in both the school play and musical. She joined the Parks and Recreation Commission because she felt she needed to get more involved in her community and to learn skills such as public speaking that she will need.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

It was moved by Commissioner Staab and seconded by Commissioner Tecklenburg to approve the agenda as written.

Voice Vote Unanimous

CITIZEN COMMENTS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Approval of the May 17, 2012 minutes.

It was moved by Commissioner Wingfield and seconded by Commissioner Tecklenburg to approve the minutes as written.

Voice Vote Unanimous

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

A. Walkable Novi - Commissioners Policicchio & Torimoto

Commissioner Torimoto stated he reported last month on the bi-monthly meeting so there is no update this month.

B. Novi Parks Foundation - Commissioners Staab and Tecklenburg

Commissioner Staab stated they are planning the August 2nd Golf Outing at the Links of Novi. It is $400 a foursome and the early bird special goes through mid-July. There are still sponsorship opportunities. ITC and Walmart are sponsors. The Links of Novi is being refurbished this year. There is new sand in the bunkers and they have remodeled the clubhouse.

Commissioner Dooley stated that Walmart has been very active in providing contributions to various nonprofit organizations in our community before their doors have even opened. He applauded them for reaching out to the Novi Parks Foundation.

STAFF REPORTS:

A. Administration Division-Director Jason Mangum

1. Municipal Road Millage

Superintendent Pratt stated the City has put out information on the Municipal Road Millage which is in the packet. There is also an information board in the Atrium of the Civic Center.

2. Pavilion Shore Park Construction

Superintendent Pratt stated there were some minor changes. The first change was to coordinate with Detroit Edison to relocate some existing poles. The second change added scope to provide several alternates for the bid package to provide flexibility to the City in the bidding process should the bid exceed a certain amount. The third change was required by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a condition of the permit for shore line work adjacent to Walled Lake. Hamilton Anderson has completed the design and it was submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on June 8 for formal review prior to bidding. That is going on as scheduled.

Commissioner Torimoto stated there are fireworks going on at Walled Lake this weekend and asked if Pavilion Shore Park was accessible. Superintendent Pratt stated some "No Parking" signs have been put up to help control some of that and we are keeping Lakeshore Park open to help take care of that.

3. Proclamation Recreation and Parks Month – July 2012

Superintendent Pratt stated Mayor Gatt recently passed a proclamation making July Parks and Recreation Month.

4. Update on Capitol Advocacy Day

On Tuesday, June 19th, an event organized by the Michigan Recreation and Park Association was held on the Capitol Lawn in Lansing. 1,300 youth attended. There were games and activities. It put in the forefront that Parks and Recreation is a needed service in the community. The organizations involved were the Michigan No Child Left Inside Coalition, the USTA Midwest Section, Michigan DNR, and the Michigan Recreation and Park Association.

5. Park Foundation Golf Outing

Superintendent Pratt brought attention to the website on the Registration form in the packet and stated people can also contact the Parks and Recreation office.

6. Senior Services move to Civic Center

Superintendent Pratt stated Phase One is complete. Senior Transportation has moved and is located in the office by the dock. They like their new location.

Commissioner Staab asked what the motivation was to move the Senior Transportation to the Civic Center.

Superintendent Pratt stated by bringing Senior Transportation here we want the community to realize that we are community wide transportation and not just the Senior Center.

B. Recreation Division – Superintendent of Recreation Scott Pratt

1. Recreation Supervisor Sports/Recreation Coordinator Arts – openings

Superintendent Pratt introduced Stephanie Schuetzler, arts programmer, who will talk about some of the arts programs. We have a couple of positions open. Recreational Coordinator Arts division is open, which is a contractual position, as well as Recreation Supervisor – Sports. Matt Ostermeyer is going on to get his PhD. He will be leaving on August 8th so hopefully we can get someone in to the position so they can learn the position from him.

2. Memorial Day activities

Superintendent Pratt stated the Memorial Day Parade was a great event. There were 62 civic organizations, businesses and community members who participated. There were 4 businesses which provided snacks and water. We appreciate everyone who participated.

3. Soccer

Superintendent Pratt stated in the Western Suburban Soccer League three of our teams won their division, two teams placed second and five teams placed third. We did very well.

4. Lacrosse

Superintendent Pratt stated we received many complements on the league. It is growing and should continue to grow.

5. Sizzling Summer Arts Series

Programmer Stephanie Schuetzler stated there was a huge kick off for the Sizzling Summer Arts Series on Tuesday at Township Hall at Fuerst Park. There were over 450 participants. John the Magician performed. Throughout the summer we are going to 6 Tuesday morning performances, 4 band performances on Friday nights and 4 movie nights. Walmart has also joined as a sponsor for the Sizzling Summer Arts Series.

6. Art in the Park

Programmer Schuetzler stated there was an add-on to the packet with photos of the 2012-2013 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. We partner with Brian Ferriby of the Art Institute to help select sculptures for our outdoor exhibit. We have five new pieces. Four are already installed and the fifth one will be installed next week. We will be doing walking tours and brochures. Sponsorships are still available.

Commissioner Dooley asked what the procedure was for placing the sculptures where they are in the park.

Programmer Schuetzler replied that part of it is logistics. They worked with John Thompson in the Department of Public Services. They were placed where there were concrete slabs in a level area where the sculptures could be easily seen. There was a new position where "French Curve" by Jim Havens was placed. There had not been a sculpture there before. The others were placed where sculptures had been before.

We have gotten some comments about looking at a different type of sculpture. People have suggested art to note the historical significance of the park so that is something to look at for next year.

Commissioner Wingfield stated there is a dollar amount below the picture of each sculpture.

Programmer Schuetzler stated it is the going price for each sculpture. The artists have loaned us their sculptures for a $500 stipend for the year. The stipend covers the cost of them bringing their sculpture, setting it up and letting us have it on loan for the year. If a person or a business wanted to purchase the sculpture, the amount listed would be the price.

7. 2012 Cricket Cup

Superintendent Pratt stated this will be the second year for the Novi Cricket Cup. It will be on July 14th and 15th. We are still signing up teams. There is an opening ceremony and social event on July 13th.

Commissioner Wingfield asked where the tournament would be held.

Superintendent Pratt stated it will be at Ella Mae Power Park. The deadline for sign up is July 6th.

8. Farmers Market

Programmer Schuetzler stated the Farmer’s Market has been a huge success. It is open every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. It is by Township Hall in Fuerst Park. There are live musicians or bands who come each Saturday and perform from 10am until 2pm. There are vendors selling everything from arts and crafts to honey as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. The only Saturday there will be no Farmer’s Market is July 21st because of an event.

Superintendent Pratt stated Matt Ostermeyer asked him to mention that this weekend there is an U14 Fast Pitch Softball Tournament. It is an ASA National Qualifying Tournament. We have teams from places like Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota. These teams are trying to qualify for the National Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Superintendent Pratt stated that two figure skaters and their coach are making the Novi Ice Arena their permanent home.

Commissioner Wingfield asked if we were having a big softball tournament here in August and if so, when it is and what level it is.

Superintendent Pratt stated it is in the first part of August and is a National Final Tournament for14 and under.

Commissioner Wingfield asked how the numbers were this year for camps like Camp Lakeshore.

Superintendent Pratt replied that they are up slightly but nothing out of the norm. The only new camp we have is sand volleyball that Matt Ostermeyer has added and we have gotten rave reviews. Camp Lakeshore is solid with a few more than last year. All of our other camps have remained about the same as well. We have noticed that we have gotten a lot more calls with people being more interested.

 

MATTERS FOR COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION: None

CITIZEN COMMENTS: None

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

Student Representative Singh replied that the first meeting went well after being asked by Commissioner Dooley what she thought.

Commissioner Tecklenburg welcomed Student Representative Singh. He stated he thought Matt Ostermeyer did a great job with recreation and we will miss him. He thanked Stephanie Schuetzler for her report. He stated that he is impressed with the breadth and scope of the activities offer by Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.

Commissioner Staab welcomed Student Representative Singh. He reminded everyone about the Novi Parks Foundation Golf Outing on August 2nd at the Links of Novi. He thanked Commissioner Dooley who has been the Commission’s chairperson for the past couple of years and for the 6 years he has been on the Commission.

Commissioner Wingfield welcomed Student Representative Singh. He also welcomed Programmer Stephanie Schuetzler. He asked her how long she has been with the department.

Programmer Schuetzler replied that she joined the department in March.

He thanked Commissioner Dooley for his work on the Commission these past 6 years and stated that he will be greatly missed.

Commissioner Torimoto welcomed Student Representative Singh. He thanked Commissioner Dooley guiding him this past year. It is great to have all of the options that Parks and Recreation offers during the summer.

Commissioner Dooley welcomed Student Representative Singh and appreciated her comment about giving back to the community. He applauded Commissioners Staab and Wingfield for being his mentors 6 years ago. He stated that Commissioners Torimoto and Tecklenburg are talented individuals and will have continued success on this Commission. It has been a wonderful 6 years. Giving back to the community is so vital and important. When you have people step up for the right reasons it is very cohesive and successful and makes it very inclusive. He welcomed Stephanie to the department. He asked Superintendent Pratt to thank Director Mangum for his direction and leadership.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Tecklenburg and seconded by Commissioner Staab.

Voice Vote Unanimous

The meeting was adjourned by Commissioner at 7:36pm.

DATE APPROVED: ___________________________________________________________

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Jay Dooley, Chairperson

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Paul Policicchio, Vice Chairperson