Larry Deck of the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition gave a presentation to the Ann Arbor park advisory commission about the Border-to-Border trail. (Photos by the writer.)

The main presentation focused on the Border-to-Border trail connections in Ann Arbor. The trail runs roughly along the Huron River from Livingston County in the north to Wayne County in the east, using paved shared-use paths, unpaved paths and bike lanes.

Larry Deck from the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition highlighted three areas that WBWC has identified as high priorities: (1) between Bandemer Park and Barton Park/Huron River Drive (the B2B trail ends at the north edge of Bandemer Park); (2) near the intersection of Fuller Road and Maiden Lane; and (3) near the Fuller Road bridge over the Huron River.

Another WBWC priority is to improve the bicycling connections between the University of Michigan’s central and north campuses.

Deck suggested that PAC consider a resolution recommending to city council that these projects be designed and funded, and in general renew the priority of the B2B trail along the Huron River greenway. It’s been a city priority for decades, he noted, but it’s good to have a reminder of that.

Discussion among commissioners focused on the challenges of crossing railroad tracks at various points along the B2B route, as well as interest in coordinating with other projects like the recommendations of the North Main Huron River corridor task force.

During the meeting, commissioners also got an annual update from George Taylor, president of the Cobblestone Farm Association, as well as briefings from PAC’s dog park and downtown park subcommittees. Results from surveys to solicit public input for both subcommittees are now available, and will be analyzed by commissioners and staff in preparation for upcoming public forums. [.pdf of 306-page dog park survey results] [.pdf of 110-page downtown park survey results]

Two public forums are scheduled for the downtown park project: On Monday, Sept. 9 in the basement of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at city hall’s basement conference room, 301 E. Huron, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The dog park subcommittee – which is looking for a possible location for a third dog park – will hold a public forum on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Cobblestone Farms, 2781 Packard. In noting the history of opposition to proposals for a dog park at West Park, Tim Berla wondered whether it would be possible to locate a dog park anywhere near a residential neighborhood. It’s a “classic Ann Arbor trap,” he said – everyone is in favor of it, until something specific is proposed and the neighbors say no.

In his manager’s report, Colin Smith highlighted several upcoming events. The annual season-closing “dog swim” at Buhr Park pool will be held on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 from 3-8 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. in Liberty Plaza – the downtown park at Division and Liberty – a grand opening will be held for the “sensory garden” there. It’s a project of the Ann Arbor commission on disability issues, in collaboration with the city’s adopt-a-park program and the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Smith also noted that the popularity of Argo Cascades has led to a shortage of parking in that area. As a result, beginning Labor Day weekend the staff will start using a portion of Longshore Park to park cars. It’s a short-term measure while the staff seeks longer-term solutions, he said.

Border-To-Border Trail

Larry Deck from the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (WBWC) gave a presentation on the Border-to-Border trail connections in Ann Arbor, highlighting some areas that need attention.

WBWC has been an advocacy organization, Deck said, and he briefly described some of the work that the group has done, including advocating for changes to the city’s crosswalk ordinance. Members have participated in the city of Ann Arbor’s alternative transportation committee, Ypsilanti’s non-motorized advisory committee, the Washtenaw County greenways advisory committee, and other public groups. WBWC also partners with other entities, he said, including the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, Center for Independent Living, and the getDowntown program.

The Border-to-Border (B2B) trail, an initiative spearheaded by the Washtenaw County parks & recreation commission, runs roughly along the Huron River from Livingston County in the north to Wayne County in the east, using paved shared-use paths, unpaved paths and bike lanes. About half of it is complete, Deck reported, with more segments in the works.

WBWC has prioritized parts of the trail countywide, Deck said. Those priorities are based on several factors: (1) connecting centers of population and activity; (2) connecting to the existing Border‐to‐Border trail; (3) accommodating the needs of all people and abilities; (4) countywide significance; (5) near‐term feasibility; and (6) whether trails are prioritized in current plans by local municipalities, like Ann Arbor’s non-motorized transportation plan.

Outside of Ann Arbor, Deck noted that about 7 miles of trail between Dexter-Huron Metropark through Dexter and out to North Territorial Road will be completed by the end of this year. There are a lot of projects in the Ypsilanti area too, he said, to pull the trail segments together.

Within Ann Arbor, one WBWC priority is to improve the bicycling connections between the University of Michigan’s central and north campuses. Deck reported that WBWC is working with staff at the city and university on this project.

But Deck focused on three other primary areas that WBWC has identified as problems: (1) between Bandemer Park and Barton Park/Huron River Drive (the B2B trail ends at the north edge of Bandemer Park); (2) near the intersection of Fuller Road and Maiden Lane; and (3) near the Fuller Road bridge over the Huron River.

Three problem areas in Ann Arbor for the Border-to-Border trail, as identified by the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition.

Some of the city’s plans also identify these areas as locations that need to be addressed, Deck said. For example, the 2007 non-motorized plan calls for a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Huron River just west of Maiden Lane at Fuller, plus trail connections at three existing underpasses in that area. When the existing bridges were built in the 1980s, they included wide concrete paths underneath the bridges, in anticipation that connection to those trails would be completed. “But 30 years later, we still need to complete them,” he said.

The city’s parks and recreation open space (PROS) plan also shows trails at all of those underpasses in the Fuller/Maiden Lane and Fuller/Huron River area. In addition, the PROS plan indicates plans for an underpass under the railroad, connecting Bandemer and Barton parks.

Deck showed PAC members a series of maps that indicated how B2B connections might be achieved in these three areas. In the case of the Fuller Road/Maiden Lane area, the goal is to avoid the “nasty” intersection where pedestrians and cyclists are expected to cross now. WBWC also hopes to see some existing shared-use paths widened to 14 feet. [The Fuller Road and Maiden Lane intersection has one of the higher volumes of pedestrian traffic in the city.]

Deck noted that demand is high, especially in the Fuller Road/Maiden Lane area. A 12-hour traffic count at that intersection in 2006 – conducted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. – recorded 1,767 pedestrians and 443 bicyclists on Fuller Road, plus 2,694 pedestrians and 292 bicyclists at Maiden Lane. More than 90% of the bicyclists weren’t using the road, but were on sidewalks. “So there is a need for improving these facilities,” Deck said. He estimated the cost at about $500,000 for that area.

Possible B2B connections at Fuller Road and Maiden Lane. (Image by WBWC.)

Possible B2B connections at Fuller Road along the Huron River. (Image by WBWC.)

Possible B2B connections between Bandemer and Barton parks. (Image by WBWC.)

Possible B2B connection between Barton Park and Foster Bridge. (Image by WBWC.)

Making connections at Bandemer and Barton parks would be more expensive, Deck noted – likely $2 million or more, because it involves the railroad tracks. Currently, there’s an “informal” crossing and path that Deck described as “an accident waiting to happen.” With higher-speed trains coming, it will be even more risky, he said. There are other alternatives, Deck noted, but none are as desirable as a railroad underpass.

Deck said that of the projects considered by the city’s North Main Huron River corridor task force, the highest priority for WBWC is the Bandemer/Barton connection. Lower priorities, from WBWC’s perspective, include: (1) a railroad underpass near Main & Depot; (2) sidewalk repair and possible extension in the North Main Street area; (3) a park on the DTE site, with a trail and bridge over the Allen Creek; (4) a railroad gate at Lakeshore Drive; (5) a crosswalk to Bluffs Park; and (6) Main/Depot intersection improvements.

In terms of financing, Deck told PAC there was funding available for significant projects, especially for regional initiatives. Possible sources include the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Trust Fund, the federal transportation alternatives program, Washtenaw County parks & recreation, local transportation funding, the city’s park maintenance and capital improvements millage, and the University of Michigan.

Deck suggested that PAC consider a resolution that would recommend to city council that these projects be designed and funded, and in general renewing the priority of the B2B trail along the Huron River greenway. It’s been a city priority for decades, he noted, and it’s good to have a reminder of that.

Border-To-Border Trail: Commission Discussion

Alan Jackson told Deck that there are different groups with different priorities, and he wanted to give some pushback on the WBWC’s priorities. He wondered whether all bicyclists would use the B2B connections, or whether it would be better to spend money on road improvements, for those cyclists who ride on the roads. At Fuller Road and Maiden Lane, for example, it’s possible to cross the road, even though it’s difficult, he said. In contrast, the railroad crossing between Barton and Bandemer is a real impediment.

Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner Alan Jackson.

Deck replied that bicyclists do have the right to be on the road, and that’s what many bicyclists do. But a lot of people don’t ride their bicycles because they’re afraid to go on the road, especially at busy intersections like Fuller and Maiden Lane. Deck said he does a lot of biking – he rode to the PAC meeting, for example – but he prefers a good trail, if it’s available. He thinks most people would prefer to use a trail.

Jackson also raised the issue of the route between UM’s central and north campus, saying he agreed it wasn’t a good connection. He wondered if WBWC has worked with the university in any substantive way, and did UM officials indicate they’d be willing to fund such a project? “Certainly that would help us in our decision-making,” Jackson said.

Deck replied that some WBWC members recently met with UM staff and Eli Cooper, the city’s transportation program manager. There’s no indication of funding, but UM is willing to work on these issues, he said.

Bob Galardi told Deck that he’s involved in the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy. If the greenway gets built, it would go through downtown Ann Arbor and allow a lot of people to connect to the B2B trail. One of the difficult connections is at Main & Depot, and he wondered what Deck thought about that. Deck replied that the proposed greenway would enhance the B2B trail, though he saw the greenway as a longer-term vision. A good first step would be to figure out a way to cross the railroad tracks near Main & Depot. That would make it easier to justify funding for other projects in that area, Deck said.

Galardi pointed out that getting across Main Street is another challenge. He was on the B2B trail the previous day, Galardi said. “It’s so nice, but getting to it – for a big population that are Ann Arbor residents, at least – is not easy.” Deck suggested looking at building a passage underneath the Main & Depot intersection and the railroad, though he acknowledged it would be very expensive.

Tim Berla agreed that there were a lot of expensive projects related to these connections, but the city should get some of the projects moving. The biggest challenge is the railroad tracks, he said, and it should be the highest priority. Berla recalled that Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, had worked on that a few years ago. How should the city proceed if they wanted to get this project “back on the tracks,” he quipped.

Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner Bob Galardi also serves on the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy board.

Kuras recalled that the city did an engineering study about eight or nine years ago, and negotiated with the railroad to get some preliminary commitments for a pedestrian crossing. The biggest issue is that the railroad – which is now under new ownership – wouldn’t allow any changes that might interrupt train service, Kuras said. She’d spent a lot of time lining up potential federal, state and local funding sources, but then the city decided not to move forward with the project. The estimated cost was around $2 million.

Berla noted that a crossing had seemed possible at the time. He suggested that PAC could weigh in and recommend it as a priority, so that Kuras could re-initiate the project. Kuras cautioned that a lot has changed since her previous work, including priorities that are being recommended by the North Main Huron River corridor task force. So it would be important to look at the bigger picture and coordinate with other entities, like the state and University of Michigan. Berla felt it would be a good long-term priority.

Julie Grand, who has served on the North Main Huron River corridor task force, clarified that one of that group’s recommendations will be for a railroad crossing at Fourth & Depot, to connect to the DTE site and on to the Huron River. [The city hopes that the land now owned by DTE, next to the Huron River and across from Argo Cascades, will eventually become parkland.] There might be grant funding for that project, she noted, which might make it rise in terms of priorities.

Kuras added that three locations have been considered for pedestrian underpasses at the railroad tracks: (1) at Nichols Arboretum; (2) between Barton and Bandemer parks; and (3) at Fourth & Depot to connect to the DTE property. A bridge over North Main Street has also been discussed, she said. The challenges with bridges include the clearance needed for the trains, and making the ramps ADA accessible. And any connection needs to be done in a way that makes people want to use it, she added, or else millions of dollars will be spent and people will just use the current informal routes, if those are more convenient.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said there’s been a lot of attention over the past year regarding the B2B trail, the area around Main Street and the Allen Creek greenway. A lot of opportunities have been identified, and PAC can help figure out where the city should focus when applying for grants to pursue some of these projects, he said.

Outcome: This was not a voting item.

Cobblestone Farm Association

George Taylor, president of the Cobblestone Farm Association, delivered a brief update to the commission, along with a written annual report for 2012. [.pdf of 2012 annual report] The association is a nonprofit that works in partnership with the city of Ann Arbor, which owns the Cobblestone Farm property and buildings at 2781 Packard Road, adjacent to Buhr Park.

George Taylor, president of the Cobblestone Farm Association.

Noting that it seemed like ancient history now, Taylor reported that in 2012 the city hired an architect to assess the facilities, and determined that roof replacement and work on the windows were priorities. Taylor contacted Preservation By Design to look at the windows. Soon after that, one of the windows was broken from an attempted break-in, so that window was replaced by PBD. [On Jan. 7, 2013, the city council approved a contract to replace the roofs at Cobblestone Farm's event barn and the Tincknor-Campbell House.]

One of the newest activities at the farm is a weekly farmers market, Taylor reported. It’s held every Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., and there have been up to 300 people on some Tuesdays, with 10-20 vendors. There are arts and crafts for kids, bicycle repair, free music. He invited commissioners to drop by later that day.

Among other activities held at Cobblestone, Taylor highlighted the first craft show, which had five vendors. They’ll all be coming back for an event in September, he said.

Taylor reported that the parks system rents out the farm for lots of weddings. The association is tapped into the resource, he said, and rents out the Tincknor-Campbell House for two hours for wedding parties to use as a staging area and tour, for a $75 fee. “It’s been a great revenue source from us,” he said. Many people who come say that they’ve lived in Ann Arbor all their lives, but haven’t ever been to the Cobblestone Farm house, he said. “The word’s getting out there that Cobblestone Farm is probably one of the best kept secrets of the city of Ann Arbor.”

Next year will be mark the association’s 40th year in partnership with the city of Ann Arbor, which owns the facility. The group is planning a large party at its annual meeting in April, and Taylor invited commissioners to attend. He noted that there have been ups and downs over the years at Cobblestone, but now “everything is really looking up.” He thanked the parks staff for their work.

Downtown Park Update

PAC received a briefing on the downtown park subcommittee from Ingrid Ault, who chairs that group. Other members are Julie Grand, Alan Jackson and Karen Levin.

Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner Ingrid Ault serves on the dog park subcommittee and chairs the downtown park subcommittee.

The online survey has closed, with about 1,600 responses. The results are posted on the subcommittee’s website. [.pdf of 110-page downtown park survey results].

A lot of the questions had been open-ended, so that the community could drive the conversation, Ault said. The subcommittee members and parks staff will be analyzing and categorizing the results.

The subcommittee’s next meeting is on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at city hall’s 6th floor conference room. They’ll be discussing how to do more community outreach, now that the survey results are in, Ault said. The meetings are open to the public.

Two public forums are scheduled as well: On Monday, Sept. 9 in the basement of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at city hall’s basement conference room from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Dog Park Update

PAC’s dog park subcommittee consists of Ingrid Ault, Karen Levin and Missy Stults. Stults and Levin did not attend PAC’s Aug. 20 meeting, so Ault gave the update. A survey to get public input closed on Aug. 12, and over 1,500 responses were received. The subcommittee will next meet on Friday, Aug. 23 at city hall to discuss the results. Another meeting is set for Sept. 11 at Cobblestone Farm.

The survey had asked a range of questions, Ault said, including whether respondents used the existing dog parks and what people like or don’t like about them. The survey also asked for feedback on specific parks that might include a dog park. Julie Grand noted that about two-thirds of the respondents were female.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said the number of responses for this survey and for the downtown park survey had been extremely high, compared to other city surveys. Both subcommittees had done outreach to solicit input.

Julie Grand, chair of the city’s park advisory commission.

Tim Berla asked whether the results are available to the public. Smith reported that the results are posted on the subcommittee’s website. [.pdf of 306-page dog park survey results] Berla suggested that in addition to making the information available in a .pdf file, the raw data should be posted in a format so that anyone could download it into a spreadsheet and do their own analysis. He felt it’s important to “just let the ideas into the marketplace and people can figure it out.”

Grand noted that it’s also important to remember that the survey is just one piece of input. It wasn’t intended as a way for people to vote, she said. The survey will be used to help inform PAC’s recommendation, along with feedback at public meetings and other types of information.

Berla then alluded to the prior recommendation to put a dog park in West Park. [In 2012 and then earlier this year, two locations for a new centrally-located dog park were explored at West Park, but ultimately rejected because of protests from nearby residents as well as the New Hope Baptist Church, which is located across the street from the park.] Based on what happened at West Park, he said, “people are going to say, ‘Yeah, I’m in favor of dog parks – just not anywhere near my house.’” It seemed like almost an intractable problem to him. The city’s two existing dog parks, on the far north and south sides of town, aren’t near anyone’s house, he noted.

Berla wondered if there was any way to move forward. It’s a “classic Ann Arbor trap,” he said – everyone is in favor of it, until something specific is proposed and the neighbors say no.

Grand replied that’s why the dog park subcommittee is taking these steps to get more input and look at the broader policy issue. She thought that would make it easier to move forward with a decision. Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, expressed interest in developing standard criteria for things like a recommended distance between a dog park and residences. That’s something the subcommittee hopes to develop out of this public process, she said.

In terms of input, the day after PAC’s meeting, the parks & rec staff received an email from Tom Egel, a resident who lives near West Park, with the subject line “Ode to the PAC Dog Park Subcommittee”:

I do not want a loud dog park
I do not want to hear dogs bark

Parks are for people (and dogs on leashes)
Not for a fence that's filled with feces

I live in Ann Arbor and enjoy when it's quiet
Walking my dog means we don't have to diet

We do not need a dog park in "The Ann"
For those who insist, I have a good plan:

There's plenty of land on the outskirts of town
Where dogs can run free and play with more hounds

People with dogs will come from afar
No need to walk there, 'cause they have a car

For those in the city, you can take a nice walk
You'll meet other dogs as you circle the block

So give up this obsession (some call it a lark)
To insist on a centrally located dog park

The residents will thank you, to say the very least
As we relax and enjoy our quiet and peace

Egel had spoken against locating a dog park at West Park during PAC’s March 19, 2013 meeting.

Communications & Commentary

There were several opportunities for communications from staff or commissioners during the Aug. 20 meeting. No one spoke during the two slots available for public commentary.

Communications & Commentary: Officer Elections

Julie Grand, PAC’s current chair, reminded commissioners that officer elections would be held at PAC’s Sept. 17 meeting. She encouraged anyone who is interested in holding an office to talk to current officers, including herself.

Ingrid Ault is vice chair. Grand’s term on PAC ends on Oct. 18, 2013.

Communications & Commentary: Manager’s Report

Colin Smith, the city’s manager of parks and recreation, gave several brief updates on upcoming events. The annual season-closing “dog swim” at Buhr Park pool will be held on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 from 3-8 p.m. Even if you don’t own a dog, it’s pretty fun to watch, he said. Local businesses are providing prizes for raffles.

Colin Smith, parks & recreation manager.

On Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. in Liberty Plaza – the downtown park at Division and Liberty – a grand opening will be held for a “sensory garden” there. It’s a project of the city’s commission on disability issues, in collaboration with the adopt-a-park program and the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Smith also highlighted the grand openings held earlier this summer for the Ann Arbor skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park, and for the newly renovated ballfields at Vets, West Park and Southeast Area Park.

Attendance at the city’s pools has been down in August because of the cooler weather, Smith reported. On the other end of the spectrum, the Argo Cascades has been extremely busy, he said. In July of 2013 compared to July 2012, operations at the Argo livery increased by 52%.

That has resulted in an extreme shortage of parking, especially on the weekends. As a result, beginning Labor Day weekend, the staff will start using a portion of Longshore Park to park cars, Smith said. They expect to accommodate up to 50 vehicles there.

The parks staff will be looking for longer-term solutions, Smith noted, but in the short term, that’s the plan. Part of the problem now is that people are parking on Longshore Drive, which narrows the road and limits the access of emergency vehicles.

Present: Ingrid Ault, Tim Berla, Bob Galardi, Julie Grand, Alan Jackson, Graydon Krapohl, Jen Geer and councilmember Mike Anglin. Also Colin Smith, city parks and recreation manager.

Absent: Karen Levin, Missy Stults and Christopher Taylor (ex-officio).

Next PAC meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 at 4 p.m. in the city hall second-floor council chambers, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. PAC’s land acquisition committee meets on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. [Check Chronicle event listing to confirm date]

Next downtown park subcommittee meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at city hall’s 6th floor conference room. Two public forums are scheduled as well: On Monday, Sept. 9 in the basement of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at city hall’s basement conference room, 301 E. Huron, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. More information about that group is on the subcommittee’s website.

Next dog park subcommittee meetings: Friday, Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. at city hall’s first floor north conference room; and on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Cobblestone Farms, 2781 Packard. More information is on that group’s website.

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Graffiti at Argo Pond. Parks and recreation manager Colin Smith reported that there’s been an increase in graffiti in the parks system. (Photos by the writer.)

Park commissioners were briefed on budget details at their April meeting, and voted unanimously to recommend the budget for approval. The parks budget will be a component of the overall budget that the city council will vote on in mid-May. The public hearing on that budget will be held on May 6. “The message is status quo,” parks and recreation manager Colin Smith told commissioners.

In a separate vote, commissioners recommended raising fees – ranging between 4-9% – for rentals at the Gallup Park meeting room and Cobblestone Farm. It was the first fee increase at these facilities since 2007 and 2006, respectively.

In other action, commissioners unanimously recommended approval of a five-year contract with Coca-Cola Refreshments for cold beverage concessions. It will replace the 10-year contract with Pepsi that expires this summer. Pepsi was the only other bid received by the city for a new contract, but missed the deadline and was disqualified.

Commissioners also recommended that the city award a $535,000 contract to Pranam Global Tech Inc. to replace the nearly 40-year-old roof at Veterans Memorial Park Ice Arena. The project includes a 10% construction contingency of $53,500, bringing the total project budget to $588,500.

Public commentary included an update from advocates of an ice-skating rink at the city-owned Library Lane site, as well as a report from the Library Green Conservancy, which hopes to make the parking lot into a park. [.pdf of Library Green Conservancy report]

Updates from commissioners included ongoing efforts to find a new centrally located dog park, as well as more information-gathering work by the downtown parks subcommittee.

And in his manager’s report, Smith informed commissioners of an increase in spray-painted graffiti in the parks. The staff is collecting data on how much time they spend repairing areas that are hit with graffiti, “and it’s substantial,” he said. Even trees have been tagged, which is unusual, Smith reported. “There have been some rather inappropriate things painted on some very nice trees.” He added: “It’s extremely frustrating … We’re not in the business of providing spray-painting opportunities any more than we are in the business of providing apothecary options for people in the parks. I’ll leave it at that.”

Parks and Recreation Budget

One component of the city’s fiscal year 2014 budget – for the parks and recreation unit – was on PAC’s April 16 agenda for review. [link to the city's Legistar system, where 12 parks-related budget documents can be downloaded] FY 2014 begins on July 1, 2013.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, gave a presentation with highlights of the budget. [.pdf of budget presentation] He began by noting this is the first budget in at least a decade that hasn’t included service reductions. “So it’s a little bit of an easier message,” he said. Smith also thanked commissioners Tim Doyle and Bob Galardi for reviewing the budget in more detail, as members of PAC’s budget & finance committee.

He explained that this is the first year of a two-year budget plan. Ideally, he said, the second year is less labor-intensive to prepare, and usually requires only minor modifications. He noted that the city council has already been briefed on this budget proposal for parks and recreation at a working session earlier this year. There were very few questions from councilmembers, he said, “which is a little bit different than it’s been in the past, and I hope is reflective of the fact that there are not any significant changes in this particular budget.”

Colin Smith, Ann Arbor’s manager of parks & recreation.

Organizationally, parks and recreation operations are part of two different city units, Smith explained. Most of the parks and recreation services fall under the city’s community services area, led by Suhmed Bahl. Those operations include recreation facilities and administration, the farmers market, the natural area preservation program, capital projects, park planning, and volunteerism. Park maintenance and park forestry are part of the city’s public services area, overseen by Craig Hupy.

Smith also explained the two primary funding sources for parks and recreation. The city’s general fund supports a range of activities, including mowing, snow removal, utilities, and the daily operations of most recreational facilities and administration.

The second source is the city’s parks maintenance and capital improvements millage, which pays for capital projects and park planning, parks forestry, park maintenance, the natural area preservation program (NAP) and volunteerism.

Budgeted expenditures for the parks and recreation unit in FY 2014 – from the city’s general fund as well as from the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage – are $12,546,068. Of that, about $5.2 million will be paid from the millage, with $7.3 million from the general fund. In addition, the parks and recreation unit has responsibility for several smaller budgets, including a separate fund for the farmers market.

“The message is status quo,” Smith told commissioners. “There’s not a significant change here.”

FY 2014 Ann Arbor parks and recreation budget chart (from PAC slide presentation). The percentages do not refer to the overall pie chart, but rather to the percentage from the general fund or millage, respectively.

FY 2014 millage-funded parks budget (from PAC slide presentation).

FY 2014 general fund parks budget (from PAC slide presentation).

Smith noted that the parks system generates “a not insignificant amount of revenue” for the general fund – about $3.8 million. Expenses are higher than that, however, so the system gets additional support from the city’s general fund, too.

Among the items Smith noted in his presentation was a change in the budgeting for the city’s two golf courses at Huron Hills and Leslie Park. [PAC received a more detailed update on golf operations at its March 19, 2013 meeting.] Rather than operating as a separate golf enterprise fund, as it has in recent years, the budget for the golf courses will be part of the parks and recreation portion of the general fund. That change better mirrors how the golf courses actually operate, Smith said, and helps integrate the golf operations into the rest of the parks and recreation unit. Responding to a query from Christopher Taylor, Smith reported that the projected loss from the combined golf courses is $173,000 in FY 2014 and $133,000 in FY 2015. He described it as “middle of the pack” in terms of support required for the city’s other recreational facilities.

Smith also stressed that moving the golf operations into the general fund would not “cannibalize” other operations or facilities.

Highlighting other areas, Smith noted that the FY 2014 budget is projecting a $58,000 increase in revenues from the Cobblestone Farm facility, related to increased rentals as well as the proposed fee increases. Revenue increases are also projected for the Argo and Gallup canoe liveries – up by $106,000 – because of increased rental activity. He reminded commissioners of the presentation made at PAC’s March 19, 2013 meeting by Cheryl Saam, facility supervisor for the Argo and Gallup canoe liveries. Since the Argo Cascades opened, the liveries have increased rentals from about 35,000 people per year to nearly 50,000.

The ice arena at Veterans Memorial Park is projected to have $23,000 less in revenues for FY 2014. That figure primarily reflects fewer registrations for ice-skating lessons. Smith said it was a small decrease in the context of the roughly $475,000 in revenues that the arena brings in each year.

The farmers market, which operates as an enterprise fund, has budgeted for an increase in expenses for FY 2014 to reflect operational needs, Smith said. Three years ago, he noted, the market recorded about 1,000 transactions for Bridge Cards, which act like debit cards and have replaced food stamps, as well as for the “Double Up Food Bucks” program. In the past year, the market recorded about 6,000 transactions, or about $100,000 in revenue. To handle this increase, the market needs more staff during market hours, he said.

At the same time, the market has seen a decrease in annual parking revenue from about $30,000 to $10,000. That decrease is tied to changes in the 2011 parking contract negotiated between the city and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, which manages the city’s public parking system. As part of the transition, the parks system received a one-time lump sum payment of about $100,000, Smith reported. Of that, about $70,000 was put into the market’s fund balance. Some of that fund balance will now be used in FY 2014 and FY 2015 to cover the market’s gap between expenses and revenues.

The city’s market manager, Sarah DeWitt, is already working on ways to align expenses and revenues in the future, Smith said. She’s developing recommendations with the public market advisory commission, he added, and those recommendations would then be reviewed by PAC.

PAC’s April 16 budget resolution highlighted several key elements of the fiscal 2014 parks and recreation budget:

• Increased revenue due to higher than anticipated usage at the Argo Cascades.
• Increased revenue by increasing rental fees at Cobblestone Farm and the Gallup Park meeting room.
• A continuation of the 14-day mowing cycle.
• Continued use of seasonal park supervisor positions to increase staff presence in the parks for improved maintenance and enforcement.
• A reduction in natural gas usage expenses, reflecting recent infrastructure energy improvements at various recreational facilities.
• A reduction in expenses for materials and supplies that were previously needed to maintain recreation facilities, as a result of recent improvements.
• A plan to optimize staff software use and eliminate unnecessary software installations where appropriate.

Parks and Recreation Budget: Commission Discussion

Alan Jackson noted that parks maintenance expenses have dropped because personnel costs are down. He referred to survey results that had been included as part of the most recent parks and recreation open space (PROS) plan, which indicated that some residents weren’t happy with the level of parks maintenance. He wondered if an increase in volunteerism has helped reduce maintenance costs.

Ann Arbor park advisory commissioners Tim Doyle and Julie Grand. Doyle has chaired PAC’s budget & finance committee. His term ends on May 17 and he will not seek reappointment.

Smith replied that when the survey was done a few years ago, the city was at a “low point” in terms of its budget, and the parks system was on a 21-day mowing cycle, compared to the typical 14-day cycle. “So that entire summer, grass was far longer than what people were used to and far longer than people cared for it to be,” he said. That dissatisfaction was reflected in the survey results, Smith added. The city has now returned to a 14-day cycle, so he thought those concerns had been addressed.

Regarding volunteerism, Smith said that in general it’s a way to improve or enhance the work of staff, not necessarily to alleviate that work. It’s also a way to engage people in the community to take ownership of their parks, he added, “but I wouldn’t identify it as a cost-saving measure.” There’s also a lot of staff time needed to run a volunteer program well, he said.

Christopher Taylor noted that it was delightful not to have service cuts in this budget cycle. “It seems like it’s been a long time, so huzzah to us all.” He noted that in the past, PAC has received a spreadsheet that provided data on per-user subsidies to the various parks and recreation facilities, along with historical data for those subsidies. It would be useful to see that information, Taylor said.

Tim Doyle thanked Smith and field operations manager Matt Warba, saying that the budget & finance committee had spent close to five hours with them reviewing the budget. More detailed financial data is available, he noted, but “it requires green eyeshades and a lot of intense effort” to digest. Doyle said he pushed hard not to include the level of detail that’s provided in PAC’s meeting packet. He preferred a less detailed briefing, but other commissioners should let Smith know how much information they’d like in the future. Doyle applauded Smith for being knowledgeable, transparent and open with PAC about these budget details.

Julie Grand noted that if Smith had stood here five years ago and said that golf operations would no longer be an enterprise fund, “we would have had people lined up down the hall and out the door because of the fear that it meant golf would go away.” It’s a credit to staff to be able to go through this transition smoothly, she said.

Grand also reported that earlier in the day, Doyle had informed her that he would not be seeking reappointment for a second term. He’s planning to spend more time in Florida. It’s sad for everyone, she said, adding that PAC was grateful that he had chaired the budget & finance committee. She said she was glad he didn’t leave mid-budget cycle. Doyle’s term ends on May 17.

Smith joked that he’d be happy to come to Florida to discuss the budget with Doyle next year.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the FY 2014 parks and recreation budget. The PAC recommendation will be forwarded to the city council, which is expected to vote on the city’s overall budget on May 20. A public hearing on the city’s budget will take place at the council’s May 6 meeting.

Fees for Cobblestone, Gallup

Commissioners were asked to recommend fee increases – ranging between 4-9% – for rentals at the Gallup Park meeting room and Cobblestone Farm. The fee increases would take effect during fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1, 2013. [.pdf of fee schedules] [.pdf of comparative fee data]

From left: Park advisory commissioners Bob Galardi and Tim Berla.

Fees haven’t been increased at Gallup Park meeting room since 2007, and the facility is undergoing major renovations this summer that were approved by the city council on April 1, 2013. As an example of the fee increases that would take effect in January of 2014, a resident of Ann Arbor could rent the meeting room for 2-10 hours at $40/hour – up from the current rate of $25/hour for 2-4 hours and $30/hour for 5-10 hours.

Jeff Straw, deputy manager of parks and recreation, told commissioners the new fees reflect the upcoming renovations, as well as comparable fees at other city-owned facilities and at similar facilities in the community.

For Cobblestone, rental fees – which were last increased in 2006 – would increase by 4%. The base rental time would also increase from 10 to 15 hours. For example, a resident of Ann Arbor who rented Cobblestone for a Saturday event during the months of May through September would pay $1,560 compared to the previous fee of $1,200. The new rates would take effect in July of 2013.

Cobblestone can be rented for larger groups, up to 150 or 200 people, and is a popular place for weddings. Straw noted that in the past, the city would charge an hourly rate if an event lasted longer than 10 hours. But more events in recent years are taking longer than 10 hours, so the staff is proposing to increase the base rental time. Straw said this would prevent customers from being “nickel and dimed,” and also give them more time so they don’t feel rushed.

Cobblestone is generally booked every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April through November, and the facility is booked 18 months in advance. There’s high demand, and that was another factor in setting the new fees, Straw said.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, noted that as part of the budget process, the staff reviews fees at all of its facilities. In that context, this year there are very few increases being proposed. It’s somewhat of an art, he added, because you don’t want an increase to result in lower demand.

Fees for Cobblestone, Gallup: Commission Discussion

Alan Jackson wondered if the use of Gallup’s meeting room was high. It is, Straw replied, and it’s expected to be booked even more after the renovations. There will be French doors that open onto a patio overlooking the Huron River, making it more attractive for wedding receptions and other events, he said. Parks and recreation also uses the room for the city’s summer day camp.

Tim Berla wondered if the staff had considered trying to book two events in one day, on Fridays and Saturdays. Would that be a plausible way to bring in more revenue?

Straw replied that the majority of people are looking to use the space for a longer period. The staff would be open to that, but he didn’t think the logistics would work in most cases. “We’d certainly try to make it work if we could.”

Missy Stults, the newest Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner.

Missy Stults noted that because the hours are increased at Cobblestone, the fees on an hourly basis aren’t actually increasing very much. She asked if the staff felt comfortable that these new fees would increase revenues. Yes, Straw replied. The staff believes these fees will cover the operational costs as well as make the facility more competitive.

Ingrid Ault wondered why the city hasn’t raised fees for so many years. The staff had evaluated a possible increase in the past, Straw said, as part of each two-year budget cycle. But until now they didn’t feel it was the right time to raise fees, given economic conditions.

Smith added that the overall economic climate is always a consideration. He also noted that in the past few years, the staff at Cobblestone have gotten more involved in helping people create and plan their events. So events have become more elaborate and take more time, and the fee increase reflects these operational changes, too, he said.

Smith also pointed out the distinction between the city and a business, which might raise its rates annually to cover higher costs. In contrast, if the city did that, it would be less “palatable” from a customer service standpoint, he said. “It is tricky.”

Ault asked whether the Tuesday evening farmers market at Cobblestone pays a fee. Yes, Straw said. They’re charged a park use fee, similar to what any group would pay to rent a field in a park or baseball diamond.

Julie Grand wrapped up the discussion by saying she was thrilled that these are the only fees the city is raising. This is the first year in a long time that there haven’t been cuts to the parks and recreation budget, she noted. “It’s refreshing that we don’t have to think about revenues on the other side.”

Outcome: PAC unanimously voted to recommend approval of the fee increases. These recommendations will be forwarded to city council for its consideration.

Coke Contract

Commissioners were asked to recommend approval of a five-year contract with Coca-Cola Refreshments for cold beverage concessions.

A 10-year contract with Pepsi Bottling Group of Michigan is set to expire in mid-June of 2013. In vying for the new contract, only two companies responded to a request for proposals (RFP). According to a staff memo, the other bidder was disqualified after failing to meet the bid deadline. The memo did not name that company, but deputy parks and recreation manager Jeff Straw told commissioners that Pepsi had missed the deadline.

The new contract will cost the city an estimated $25,000 annually for non-vending items, but the city expects to generate $47,500 in revenues from the beverage sales. In addition, Coca-Cola Refreshments will provide an annual sponsorship fee of $10,000 to the parks and recreation unit, and give a 96-cents-per-case rebate on each case that’s sold. These funds will be used to provide scholarships to low-income kids for parks and recreation programs. The case rebate is estimated to bring in $700 to $1,000 each year for scholarships, according to Straw, depending on sales.

The company also will provide 50 cases of free product each year for public special events, and will sponsor four special events annually with product sampling and free giveaways. The firm also will provide recycling containers with credit for returnables.

Concessions and vending are located at Leslie Park Golf Course, Huron Hills Golf Course, Veterans Memorial Park, Buhr Park Pool and Ice Rink, Fuller Park Pool, Mack Indoor Pool, Gallup Park Canoe Livery and Argo Canoe Livery.

Coke Contract: Commission Discussion

Alan Jackson indicated that it was somewhat difficult to evaluate, because there’s only one bid – so he asked Straw to comment on how the proposed contract compares to the current one. He also asked if the city would need to purchase new equipment related to this change in vendors.

From left: Field operations manager Matt Warba and Jeff Straw, deputy manager of parks and recreation.

Straw said the city had expected to get bids from both Pepsi and Coke. He agreed it was difficult, given that one of those companies didn’t meet the deadline. However, the new contract is competitive, he said – based on comparison to the existing contract as well as checking with other entities that use a beverage vendor.

Regarding the equipment, Coke will be providing the equipment at no charge, Straw said, as well as replacing anything that breaks during the contract period.

Ingrid Ault wondered if it would be possible to get a contract with Faygo, to promote Michigan-based companies. Straw replied that if Faygo had bid on it, the city would have considered it. Ault clarified with Straw that the next opportunity would be in five years, when the contract is put out for bid again. She suggested reaching out to Faygo at that time, to make sure the company knows about it. Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, noted that these bids are posted online as part of a statewide network [the Michigan Inter-governmental Trade Network (MITN) Purchasing Group]. He indicated that it’s possible Faygo saw the city’s posting but decided not to bid.

Missy Stults asked if there was a plan for the existing equipment. Straw said Coke will work with Pepsi on a transition plan so there’s no interruption of service. The old equipment would go back to Pepsi.

Smith pointed out that Coke and Pepsi both offer a lot of products other than soda, including bottled water and juice.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the contract with Coke. The recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for consideration.

Vets Ice Arena Roof

On PAC’s April16 agenda was a resolution recommending that the city award a $535,000 contract to Pranam Global Tech Inc. to replace the roof at Veterans Memorial Park Ice Arena. The project includes a 10% construction contingency of $53,500, bringing the total project budget to $588,500.

Pranam, based in Livonia, was the lowest of five responsible bids received by the city. Other bidders were A.Z. Shmina Inc. ($612,000), Cedroni Associates Inc. ($738,000), Construction Solutions Inc. ($738,800) and Phoenix Contractors ($747,754).

From left: Park planner Amy Kuras and Ingrid Ault, a member of the city’s park advisory commission.

Parks and recreation manager Colin Smith introduced the item, noting that the roof is nearly 40 years old and has several leaks. A coating was applied 12 years ago but is no longer effective. The purlins and beams have rusted due to moisture condensation, and many need to be replaced and painted.

Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, reported that in the past few years the roof has leaked so badly that Dennis Simon, the facility’s supervisor, has had to put out 20-30 cones on the ice to warn people who were skating. The city hired Stantec, a structural engineering firm, to evaluate the structural integrity of the roof and supporting structure. Those consultants gave the city several options, Kuras said. The option that’s being pursued is to leave the existing roof in place and put another steel roof on top of it, which will also increase the amount of insulation. That should help keep the ice arena colder, Kuras said.

The city solved the issues it was having with condensation by installing a dehumidification system several years ago, Kuras said, but the purlins and beams were already damaged by then.

There’s also a solar system on the roof, so as part of this project the city will test the system to see how well it’s functioning. If it’s still functioning well, the system will be reinstalled – but in a way that won’t pierce the roof. Kuras indicated that installing the solar system had contributed to the roof leaks.

The work will take place over the summer. Kuras noted that because the existing roof won’t be removed, there’s no reason why the facility won’t be able to open on time in the fall.

The project will be funded from the FY 2013 park maintenance and capital improvements millage proceeds.

Vets Ice Arena Roof: Commission Discussion

Christopher Taylor wondered how much height would be added by the new roof. Kuras replied that there’ll be about six inches between the old and new roofs, so overall she estimated it might add a foot to the structure. The insulation will be in the new roof, not in a separate layer between the two roofs.

Regarding the selection of the lowest responsible bid, Ingrid Ault asked how the staff determines what “responsible” is. Kuras explained that it includes whether all the requirements of the bid have been supplied, and whether the city has experienced poor performance from the bidder in the past. Pre-qualifications were also a factor in this particular bid, she said. Kuras said it’s pretty rare for the lowest bid to be rejected. The bid includes examples of other projects as well as references.

Alan Jackson asked if there was any difference in the types of roofs that different bidders offered, in terms of things like durability. Kuras replied that the city specified the type of roof system. The bidders were permitted to submit an alternative, but what the city wanted was a contractor to purchase and install the specified roof system, which had been suggested by the engineering consultant Stantec. “We rely on their expertise,” Kuras said.

Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner Alan Jackson.

Parks and recreation manager Colin Smith noted that Suhmed Bahl – Smith’s supervisor, who serves as the city’s community services area administrator – has a background in engineering. “I think he occasionally quite likes when these things come up to weigh in,” Smith said.

Jackson noted that as someone who plays ice hockey, “I have certainly witnessed directly the deterioration on the ice surfaces” as well as the rusted roof.

Jackson wondered if the existing roof contains asbestos. It’s metal, Kuras said, so there’s no asbestos, but there might be lead paint. That will be tested, she said, and if lead paint is found, it will be abated. An allowance for that is already built into the contract.

Julie Grand asked how long the new roof is expected to last. Kuras indicated that it would be a standard warranty of 20 years, but she expected it would last much longer than that.

Taylor wondered how the staff would know if the top roof developed leaks, given that the water could get trapped by the original roof. Kuras said it would be the same situation as the one that currently exists. It’s difficult to tell where the actual leak is on the top of the roof, because there’s insulation between the ceiling and the rooftop. “It’s much more difficult than a standard shingle roof,” she said.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously voted to recommend awarding the contract to Pranam Global Tech. PAC’s recommendation will be forwarded to the city council for consideration.

Communications & Commentary

There were several opportunities for communications from staff or commissioners during the April 16 meeting, as well as time for public commentary.

Communications & Commentary: Manager’s Report

Colin Smith, parks and recreation manager, reported that the weather this spring “hasn’t been anybody’s friend.” Bad weather has caused some of the park system’s construction projects to limp along, he said, and it’s been the latest opening for the golf courses in more than 20 years. He reported that the city has completed the majority of seasonal hiring for its recreation facilities, including pools and canoe liveries.

Smith also reported that there’s been an increase in spray-painted graffiti in the parks. He asked commissioners to let him know if they see any graffiti in the parks that they visit. The staff is collecting data on how much time they spend repairing areas that are hit with graffiti, “and it’s substantial,” he said. Trees are being tagged, which is unusual, Smith reported. “There have been some rather inappropriate things painted on some very nice trees.” He hopes to figure out how to reduce it or to make sure that the people who do it are made responsible for restitution. Every hour that the staff spends dealing with graffiti is an hour that they could spend doing something else, he noted. “It’s extremely frustrating … We’re not in the business of providing spray-painting opportunities any more than we are in the business of providing apothecary options for people in the parks. I’ll leave it at that.”

Communications & Commentary: Downtown Parks

Tim Berla asked for an update on the downtown parks subcommittee, hoping that PAC will have recommendations “before the council sells anything.” Christopher Taylor, an ex-officio member of PAC who also serves on the city council, indicated that there would be sufficient time before the council acted. [Berla was referring to steps that the council is taking possibly to sell the former YMCA lot, which the city now owns, at Fifth and William.]

Ingrid Ault, who chairs that subcommittee, said the group has put together a strategic plan for its work and is doing data collection and research through late May or early June. They’ll do community outreach in June, and plan to report recommendations to city council in late July or early August. She expected that the subcommittee’s April 23 meeting would include presentations from local groups that are interested in this topic. [The subcommittee's next meeting is on Tuesday, May 7 from 5-6 p.m. at the second floor council workroom in city hall, 301 E. Huron.]

Communications & Commentary: Dog Park

Berla also requested an update on the selection of a new dog park. He felt that there are two really committed groups of citizens “with very opposite opinions” about choosing a location at West Park for that purpose. Noting that the staff and dog park subcommittee had evaluated about 15 possible locations, Berla hoped they would be able to look at a much larger number of spots. “There’s no doubt that there’s a need,” Berla said. “Maybe if we widen the net we can find something better.” He also hoped there was a way to open dialogue with people who fear having a dog park near their homes, as well as with dog park advocates.

Karen Levin, who chairs the dog park subcommittee, reported that the group would be meeting the following week, on April 23, to review possible next steps. Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, added that these meetings are open to the public and have opportunities for public commentary at the beginning and end of each meeting.

From left: Ann Arbor park advisory commissioner Graydon Krapohl talks with city councilmember Mike Anglin, who serves as an ex officio member of PAC.

Smith indicated that it’s time to get away from looking at West Park. It was a very long process to establish the city’s existing two dog parks, Smith noted, and both are on the outskirts of town. It’s evident that there’s a need for a dog park that’s centrally located, he said, but at the same time some people are very passionate about not having a dog park in their neighborhood. “It’s not an easy solution, but we’re not giving up on it. We will find something.”

Bob Galardi asked if the subcommittee has done any research about pollution caused by dog parks. Whenever a new site is suggested, this dialogue will start all over again, he said.

Julie Grand noted that some of the possible sites aren’t directly adjacent to people’s homes, but are still walkable from neighborhoods. At a meeting she attended regarding the future use of the city-owned 721 N. Main site, there was more overwhelming “thumbs up” for a dog park there than she’d ever heard before. That’s because it’s walkable from the nearby neighborhoods, she said, but it’s not directly next to someone’s home. Grand indicated that perhaps a more incremental approach, coupled with education, might be successful.

Tim Doyle noted that when he was in Florida recently, he’d seen a dog park located under a freeway that seemed to work well. He wondered if the city could identify a site and purchase it with funds through the open space and parkland acquisition millage.

Communications & Commentary: Library Lane

Alan Haber told commissioners that he was there to continue promoting the possibility of an ice-skating rink on part of the Library Lane site. He noted that he was wearing his “dusty shop clothes,” and one reason he knows this project would be easy to do is because he could do it himself with his own hands and his friends. It comes out of the spirit of wanting to do something nice for the city and the “love economy,” he said. “But we’re also working on the money.”

Gwen Nystuen, center, talks to Alan Haber and Mary Hathaway before the start of the April 16 PAC meeting.

He’s spoken to the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority’s partnerships committee, and to the Ann Arbor Library District board. The common desire from both groups, he said, was that the rink organizers have a liaison with PAC. He thought this project could be an experiment that would be helpful for the commission, even though he knew they had a longer-term agenda for downtown parks. The current timeline calls for the rink to open in mid-October, and to be evaluated at the end of the year to see if it’s something worth continuing. Haber called it an “on-the-ground field research way of experimenting” about what might work on that site. He hoped PAC could identify someone to act as a liaison.

Gwen Nystuen read a statement from Will Hathaway on behalf of the Library Green Conservancy, and also passed out a report from the conservancy as part of its effort to try to make the lot into a park instead of being used for parking. [.pdf of Hathaway's letter] [.pdf of Library Green Conservancy report] The intent of the report is to provide an alternative perspective to the Connecting William Street project, which was undertaken by the Ann Arbor DDA.

From Hathaway’s letter:

While the Library Lot has been and continues to be the focus for our group, we recognize that there is a need for a variety of types of public open space throughout our downtown. We feel that this site has particular strengths as the location for a town square. Our community lost a central, public open space when the old County Courthouse was torn down over half century ago – its generous lawn paved over and filled by a new building. We’re glad that the PAC is looking at all the potential sites and thinking broadly about the needs of all the constituencies for downtown open space.

The letter praised the approach of PAC’s downtown parks subcommittee, especially for allowing public input, and highlighted some caveats about using online surveys. The conservancy will be making a presentation to the subcommittee, according to the letter.

Nystuen, a former PAC member, thanked commissioners for their work.

Stewart Gordon spoke at the end of the meeting about the proposed ice-skating rink, saying that advocates have taken very seriously the feedback they’re getting from the DDA, the library, and PAC. Both the DDA and the library – as well as rink organizers – would like some kind of ongoing connection with PAC, he said. He hoped that PAC would identify a liaison for this project. That person could receive updates about the project, as well as forward any concerns from PAC. It would be more efficient than taking up time during public commentary, he said. This project is about placemaking, Gordon added. “We’re in the business of making a place in downtown Ann Arbor that’s attractive, exciting and that will benefit both institutions and businesses.”

Chris Hewitt spoke about both a downtown park and a centrally located dog park. Both are crucial to supporting the city’s goals of building a dense core and attracting young professionals, he said. It also supports other city initiatives, like the non-motorized plan. He told commissioners that he and his wife relocated to Ann Arbor about three years ago, and seriously looked at living downtown. But there weren’t any grocery stores, dog parks or places to hang out downtown, he said. Those amenities are important, and he supported both a downtown park and a centrally located dog park.

Present: Ingrid Ault, Tim Berla, Tim Doyle, Bob Galardi, Julie Grand, Alan Jackson, Graydon Krapohl, Karen Levin, Missy Stults, and councilmembers Mike Anglin and Christopher Taylor (ex-officio). Also Colin Smith, city parks and recreation manager.

Next PAC meeting: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 4 p.m. in the city hall second-floor council chambers, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. PAC’s land acquisition committee meets on Tuesday, May 7 at 4 p.m., followed by a meeting of PAC’s downtown parks subcommittee at 5 p.m. [Check Chronicle event listing to confirm date]

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Fees haven’t been increased at Gallup Park meeting room since 2007, and the facility is undergoing major renovations this summer that were approved by the city council on April 1, 2013. As an example of the fee increases that would take effect in January of 2014, a resident of Ann Arbor could rent the meeting room for 2-10 hours at $40/hour – up from the current rate of $25/hour for 2-4 hours and $30/hour for 5-10 hours.

For Cobblestone, rental fees – which were last increased in 2006 – would go up 4%. The base rental time would also increase from 10 to 15 hours. For example, a resident of Ann Arbor who rented Cobblestone for a Saturday event during the months of May through September would pay $1,560 compared to the previous fee of $1,200. The new rates would take effect in July of 2013.

These recommendations will be forwarded to city council for its consideration.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers at city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Four firms bid on the contract, according to a staff memo, but two of those bidders – Kristel Cleaning and Pristine Cleaning – were disqualified. Magic Finish submitted a lower bid than H & K Janitorial Services.

The city-owned Cobblestone Farm, located at 2781 Packard, is used as office space for the parks and recreation customer service staff and GIVE 365 volunteer program. Event space is rented to hold public meetings and special events, including weddings. Revenue generated by the facility is growing, and reached $342,000 in 2012. Although cleaning and set-up services have been used in previous years, the amount now required has grown to the point that the contract triggered the need for city council approval.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where PAC meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

The work would be funded with proceeds from the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage.

According to a staff memo, the Tincknor-Campbell House is a cobblestone farmhouse that was built in 1844. Its existing wood shingle roof was installed in 1977 and is in serious disrepair. The proposal calls for the new roof to be made of cedar shakes, with flashing done in copper.

The event barn, built in the late 1980s, is rented out for weddings, parties, business conferences, and other events. Its existing roof is over 30 years old and is also in poor condition. Because the building is not historically significant, the proposal calls replacing the roof with a recycled plastic shingle that resembles cedar, but that is less costly and more durable.

The alternative material was approved by the city planning staff who provide support to the city’s historic district commission. The Cobblestone Farm Association has also reviewed the proposal and agreed with the recommendations. The park advisory commission voted to recommend the contract at its Dec. 18, 2012 meeting.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Three of the leaders of the New Hope Baptist Church sign up for public commentary at the Ann Arbor park advisory commission’s Dec. 18, 2012 meeting. (Photos by the writer.)

Commissioners recommended that a site at West Park – next to the park’s entrance off Chapin Street – be designated as the city’s third dog park. Their action came after several members of the New Hope Baptist Church spoke during public commentary to oppose the location, which would be directly across the street from the church. Congregants cited concerns over safety, noise, “dog stink” and other issues. One speaker suggested the possibility of swapping the location with the existing Project Grow gardens, located in West Park but farther away from the road.

In response to New Hope concerns, PAC amended its original resolution to specify that parks staff and PAC would meet with church members to discuss a possibly temporary dog park at that location, and to review the status of the dog park a year after it’s in place, with particular attention to noise levels. The new dog park would need approval from the city council before being installed.

In another vote, commissioners recommended approval of the final concept design for the Ann Arbor skatepark, to be built at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park, near the intersection of North Maple and Dexter Avenue. They were briefed on the design features by Wally Hollyday, a well-known California skatepark designer who had come to town specifically for the presentation. He had been hired earlier this year to do the design and oversee the project’s construction.

Two residents who live near Veterans Memorial Park spoke against the location during public commentary, concerned about noise, maintenance, safety and other issues that they felt hadn’t been adequately addressed.

Trevor Staples, chair of the nonprofit Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark, also spoke to PAC and noted that the group would be holding a retreat later this winter to discuss their future mission. He indicated the group would be involved in ongoing support for the skatepark. Part of the memorandum of intent with the city stipulates that 10% of fundraising for the skatepark is being set aside for future maintenance.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013, with a goal of completing the project by the fall.

Also at the Dec. 18 meeting, commissioners recommended awarding a $109,500 contract to Renaissance Restorations Inc. to replace roofs at Cobblestone Farm on the event barn and on the Tincknor-Campbell House. They also got an update from Colin Smith, who reported that the city has withdrawn its application for a state permit to build a whitewater section in the Huron River, near Argo Cascades. City staff are working with the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality to come up with a different design that would address concerns raised about the environmental impact of the whitewater feature.

At the end of the meeting commissioners bid farewell to John Lawter, whose term ends on Dec. 31. Lawter has been instrumental in moving forward plans for a new centrally located dog park.

Dog Park at West Park

For more than 18 months, the issue of a possible new dog park has periodically emerged at PAC meetings, spearheaded by John Lawter. At PAC’s Aug. 21, 2012 meeting, commissioners had voted to direct its dog park subcommittee to work with city staff and develop recommendations that could lead to additional off-leash dog parks. The city currently has two legal off-leash dog parks, at Olson Park and Swift Run. Those parks are located on the far north and south sides of the city; but there’s not a centrally located dog park.

Aerial view of proposed dog park in West Park, next to the park’s entrance off of Chapin Street.

On Dec. 18, PAC considered a resolution recommending a section of West Park, located off Chapin across from the New Hope Baptist Church, as the preferred location for a new fenced-in dog park.

The site is roughly a quarter-acre in the park’s northeast corner, where the city recently bought and demolished a house near the entrance off Chapin Street. PAC had been most recently briefed on the project at its Oct. 16, 2012 meeting.

Five potential locations were evaluated by the PAC subcommittee of Lawter, Karen Levin and Ingrid Ault, with park planner Amy Kuras. Those locations were: West Park (the new lot on Chapin Street), two sites at Bandemer Park (south of Huron River, and north of Huron River at Barton Drive), South Maple Park, and Ward Park. Criteria included location relative to other dog parks, size, parking, access to water, shade, and neighborhood buffer. [.pdf of scoring sheet and map of existing and potential dog parks]

The site at West Park emerged as the preferred location.

City parks staff reported that feedback from a public meeting held on Nov. 7 was overwhelmingly positive. But at a subsequent meeting with members of New Hope Baptist Church, none of the church members who attended were supportive of a dog park at that location.

Dog Park at West Park: Public Commentary

Ten people spoke about the dog park during public commentary at the Dec. 18 meeting, including eight members of the New Hope Baptist Church who are opposed to the location.

Tom Miree, a trustee of the church, commended commissioners for their work and for the overall condition of parks in Ann Arbor – saying they are world-class in every way. But members of the church were there to oppose the dog park location. He showed commissioners a map of the properties that New Hope owns in the neighborhood. In addition to the chapel at 218 Chapin, the church owns six other lots on Chapin and Miller, including sites for the New Hope Outreach Clinic at Miller and Chapin, and a parking lot directly adjacent to the West Park parcel where the dog park is proposed. He asked commissioners to reconsider the West Park location for a dog park.

Lawrence Brown, chair of the church’s board of trustees, strongly urged commissioners to reconsider the location. “We will be directly affected by the dog park, more than anyone else on the street.” He asked that the city be sensitive to the church’s concerns. He said he wasn’t opposed to dog parks or dogs – he loves dogs. It was simply a matter of the location. Ann Arbor is a city that really cares about the aesthetics of their land, he said, and he commended the city for renovations at West Park. It adds a lot to the area, but he strongly urged commissioners not to put the dog park there.

Sammie Hugan, chair of the church’s board of deacons, also opposed the location, citing safety concerns. He said he has a dog himself and he loves dogs. But “you know, dogs do get loose.” Sometimes dogs like to jump on people and it scares people, he said. And because the dog park would be next to the church parking lot, people might be afraid when they go to get into their cars.

A few of the congregants of the New Hope Baptist Church on Chapin Street who attended the Dec. 18 park advisory commission meeting to oppose the dog park at West Park.

Johnita Porter supported looking for other locations, and was concerned about the proximity of the proposed site to the New Hope worship facility. Children and teenagers from the church often go over to the park to play, and she was worried about their safety. She also wondered why such a small parcel of land was deemed acceptable, when the other two dog parks are so much larger. She was uncertain that the city would achieve its goals for the dog park, given its size.

Porter noted that the church has collected over 130 signatures from congregants who are opposed to this location, and they are continuing to collect signatures. She asked commissioners to reconsider it. Even moving the location more toward the park’s interior would be better, she said.

Cloyd Peters, also a church trustee, told commissioners that he grew up on a farm and liked dogs. But putting a dog park 100 feet away from the church is too close, he said, citing potential noise problems, safety concerns and the fact that people don’t always clean up after their dogs.

Charles Stroud of New Hope suggested swapping the proposed dog park location with the area in West Park that’s currently used for Project Grow gardens. That way, the church wouldn’t be faced with noise, “dog stink” and safety problems, he said.

The groundskeeper for the church also spoke, saying that he already had to clean up a lot of trash because of activity at West Park, and a dog park would only add to that work.

Another church member, who didn’t give her name, told commissioners that she was opposed to a dog park, especially in front of a church. She’s seen several other locations that would be better, including land along Stadium Boulevard. She wondered if any of the commissioners attend church, and if they did, how many of those churches had dog parks next to them. People only pick up after their dogs if someone else is watching, she said. She noted that in the past, you could call the police if a dog came into your yard. But now, the city won’t take any action for that. In Ann Arbor, she said, if you hit a dog with a stick, you go to jail. If you hit a person with a stick, the police will just come out and talk to you.

Two people spoke in support of a dog park at West Park. One man identified himself as a resident of the Old West Side, and noted that dogs are now running off-leash – saying that’s a safety issue, too. He recalled that there used to be gatherings of people with their off-leash dogs at a middle school. [He was referring to what was considered an informal dog park at Slauson Middle School.] There’s a need for a dog park on the Old West Side, he said, and West Park seems like a good fit – if not at that specific location, then perhaps elsewhere in the park. However, he wondered if the proposed site was large enough for dogs to socialize.

Virginia Gordan supported the West Park dog park. In most major cities, it’s very common to have dog parks and it creates a sense of community without causing problems or danger. In Ann Arbor, most people who use the parks have dogs, she said. Gordan said she happily votes to pay for parks, even though there are many things that she doesn’t use, like baseball diamonds. People want more dog parks so they don’t have to spend time and money on gas driving to the other city dog parks. She urged commissioners to add more dog parks, noting that the city is trying to encourage people to move downtown. But if you live in an apartment downtown, there’s no place to take your dogs off-leash. That’s not consistent with the city’s overall policies, she said. There might be another location within West Park that would be better, but in general she supported this dog park and creating additional ones as well in more neighborhoods.

Dog Park at West Park: Commission Discussion

Amy Kuras, the city park planner who’s been working on this project, reminded commissioners that she had briefed them about the proposal at their Oct. 16, 2012 meeting. The resolution notes that Chapter 107, Section 9:45 of the city code states that dog play areas are designated by the city’s community services area administrator, and approved by city council.

The original resolution had one resolved clause:

RESOLVED, That the Park Advisory Commission recommend designating a fenced off leash dog play area in West Park as identified by the Community Services Area Administrator.

Referring to the safety concerns cited by church members, Christopher Taylor clarified with Kuras that the area would be fenced and gated. Kuras explained that the fence would be about 4-5 feet high and like the city’s other dog parks, it would be double-gated. People would enter the first gate into a small corral, before passing through another gate into the main dog park.

A parking lot for New Hope Baptist Church, on the right, is separated by a row of hedges from the parcel at West Park, on the left, that’s being proposed for a dog park.

Responding to a query from Mike Anglin, Kuras said there were no specific limits to the number of dogs that the area would contain. Unlike the other two dog parks, though, it’s not intended to be a running area, she said. It’s viewed as an area where dogs can socialize off-leash.

John Lawter spoke at length about the issues that had been raised during public commentary. Of course it would be better to have a larger area, he said. But in his experience, people and their dogs tend to cluster together, regardless of the dog park’s size. Any area where dogs can be off-leash and socialize is better than nothing, he said. If it’s crowded, that’s great – it would show that there’s a need for even more dog parks.

Lawter said that in his experience, noise isn’t a problem, either. If someone brings an aggressive, barking dog, other people at the dog park will self-police and tell that owner to leave. The same thing happens with clean-up after a dog, he said – saying that if the owner doesn’t notice it, others will point it out. Nor is safety a concern, Lawter said. He didn’t know of any dogs that had escaped from the other dog parks.

To him, having more dog parks could be an opportunity to educate people about the true nature of dogs. Usually, when people are afraid of dogs they’ve had a bad experience, Lawter said. He’s witnessed parents bringing their children to a dog park to get familiar with dogs. At first the children are apprehensive, but soon they become comfortable and the joy on their faces is spectacular, he said.

Regarding the idea to switch places with Project Grow, Lawter said the lot that’s being considered for a dog park has mature trees, which is great for a dog park but not for gardening. He also noted that West Park would eventually be great for an unfenced off-leash dog park, but the city isn’t ready for that yet. Nor would it be a good idea to fence in a larger area of West Park, he said, for aesthetic reasons and because it would limit people from using the park for other purposes.

PAC’s Dec. 18 meeting was the last one for John Lawter, who has led the effort for more dog parks in Ann Arbor. He has served for two three-year terms – his current term ends Dec. 31.

Wrapping up, Lawter said if the location becomes a problem, “the city can always make [the dog park] go away.” He asked people to give it a chance, saying he thought it would be a huge amenity.

Several commissioners weighed in with their own experiences at dog parks, saying they didn’t find noise, safety or cleanup to be a problem. Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, offered to organize trips to other city dog parks for people to see the situation at those locations.

Julie Grand wondered whether there could be limited hours of use, encouraging people not to use it during Sunday worship services, for example. Smith indicated that the city could post signs, but having a sign doesn’t mean that people will pay attention to the directions.

Kuras noted that it would be possible to put up temporary fencing for a period, until it’s determined that the location will work for a dog park. Smith reminded everyone that the resolution was just to recommend that the site be designated as a possible dog park location – PAC’s action wouldn’t commit the city to actually building it there, although that’s implied, he said. Temporary fencing was certainly something they could consider, Smith added.

Taylor suggested amending the resolution to specifically mention that there would be follow-up after a year, to see whether the location was suitable. Alan Jackson wanted to add a mention of checking noise levels as part of the follow-up.

Smith crafted two additional resolved clauses, which were considered friendly amendments and did not require a separate vote: (1) that parks staff and PAC’s dog park subcommittee will work with the New Hope Baptist Church to discuss locating the dog park there on a trial basis; and (2) that staff will report back on the dog park’s one-year anniversary with a status update, including information about noise levels.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution, as amended, recommending West Park as the preferred location for a new dog park. The city council is expected to consider the item at its Jan. 22 meeting.

Ann Arbor Skatepark Design

Commissioners were briefed on the proposed design for a $1 million skatepark, an ambitious effort to be built at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park. It’s a project that’s viewed as a potential regional attraction. The designer, Wally Hollyday, attended the Dec. 18 meeting to talk about his work. It incorporates a variety of features for skaters at all levels, as well as elements for the general public, suggestions for dual-purpose objects like skateable public art, and rain gardens and other landscaping features to help with stormwater management. In July of 2012, the Ann Arbor city council had authorized a $89,560 contract with his firm – Wally Hollyday Skateparks, based in Orange County, California – for the design and construction oversight of the skatepark. [.pdf of skatepark concept design]

Ann Arbor Skatepark Design: Public Commentary

At the beginning of the meeting, two people spoke during public commentary to oppose the skatepark’s location at the site in Veterans Memorial Park. Patricia Bova Boven passed out a letter to commissioners – addressed to Trevor Staples of the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark – that outlined her concerns. [.pdf of Bova's letter] She said she represented 20 homeowners and residents who live near the park, and contended that they were never brought to the table when the location was being considered. She said they never received a direct mailing about the skatepark until a notice for the design meeting on Oct. 15, 2012. The residents are calling themselves the Friends of Veterans Park and are circulating a petition, she said. The request might sound extreme, Bova said, but they’d like the skatepark to be moved to the southwest corner of the park. She reported that residents – including the owners of Knight’s Restaurant, located across the street from the park – are concerned about the impact of traffic, and how maintenance will be handled. “We’re not against the skatepark,” she said. “We’re against the location of the skatepark.”

Carol Potter told commissioners that she lives on Lyn Anne Court, across from the north side of Veterans Memorial Park. She lives on a beautiful street, she said, and she’s concerned about the impact of the skatepark. Would skateboarders get off the bus and ride on the sidewalk to get to the park? What about the noise?

Ann Arbor Skatepark Design: Presentation

Later in the meeting Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, began the skatepark presentation by describing the history of the project. He recalled that Trevor Staples and other supporters had approached PAC in 2007 about the need for a skatepark. In 2008, there were two public meetings about choosing a location. Smith described the meetings as heavily attended with about 75 people, and noted that the meetings had been publicized with a mailing to residents.

Wally Hollyday, left, with two supporters of the proposed skatepark.

During 2008, the skatepark had been an item on PAC’s agenda at three public meetings, and a public hearing had been held on the project in May of 200 specifically to get input about the location on the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park, Smith said. PAC had unanimously voted to support that location, he said, and public input for it had been overwhelmingly positive.

In November of 2008, PAC unanimously recommended approval of the memorandum of intent (MOI) between the city and the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee – which later became the nonprofit Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark – spelling out how the two entities would interact to design, fundraise and build the proposed skatepark.

The city council approved that MOI in December 2008, specifically citing the Veterans Memorial Park location. [.pdf of memorandum of intent] Among other things, the council stipulated that 10% of all fundraising must be set aside in an endowed fund for future maintenance. From the council resolution:

Whereas, 10% of all funds raised by the Ann Arbor Skatepark Action Committee shall be allocated to an endowed fund designated the Ann Arbor Skatepark Fund (or similar name), through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for operations, maintenance and future improvements to the Ann Arbor Skatepark.

The community foundation provides more details about the endowment on its website.

Smith told commissioners that the city will also tap its volunteer programs, like Adopt-a-Park, to help with the skatepark. But he stressed that the care and maintenance of the skatepark would not be on the shoulders of volunteers.

Finally, Smith reminded commissioners that grants awarded for the skatepark – from the Washtenaw County parks and recreation commission, and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund – were linked specifically to the site in Veterans Memorial Park.

Trevor Staples spoke next, as chair of the Friends of the Ann Arbor Skatepark. [He has addressed PAC on several other occasions related to the skatepark, most recently at the June 19, 2012 meeting when PAC recommended approval of Hollyday as the skatepark's designer.]

From left: Skatepark designer Wally Hollyday, Ann Arbor park planner Amy Kuras, and Jeff Straw, deputy parks and recreation manager.

He and others have been working on this project for about five years, Staples noted, and it’s exciting to see the skatepark come to fruition. He remembered attending the public hearing in May of 2008, and recalled that the council chambers had been packed. Only one person had opposed the project, Staples said, and everyone else had supported it – it was great to get such strong community support, he said.

The original mission of the nonprofit had been to build a skatepark, Staples continued. Now that they’re close to achieving that goal, the board will be holding a retreat this winter – facilitated by the NEW Center – to shape its next mission. They’ll invite the city parks volunteer outreach staff, he said, and plan to work together. The nonprofit intends to help with all aspects of the skatepark in the future, including maintenance, upkeep and special events.

Staples thanked the skatepark supporters, PAC and the city council, but gave special thanks to Bob Tetens, director of the county parks and recreation commission, and county commissioner Conan Smith for offering $400,000 in matching funds, which was crucial in securing the $300,000 state trust fund grant. Those two grants are providing the majority of funding for the skatepark construction.

Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, gave additional background, saying that the skatepark and the dog park have been two projects with the most advocacy and public input of any others she’s worked on with the city. She noted that even though the more recent skatepark effort dates back to 2007, the history of residents pushing for a skatepark can be traced to the 1980s.

Kuras gave an overview of the project, noting that the cluster of oak trees in the northwest corner won’t be removed, and will provide shade for portions of the skatepark. The city has also pushed to include more greenspace in the design, she said, and she’s excited about that. The location was chosen because it’s easily accessible – located on a bus line, and near the interchanges with I-94 and M-14. And Veterans Memorial is already a very active park for recreation activities, she said. [The park includes baseball diamonds, a pool and ice arena.]

Kuras said the project hopes to get stormwater funding from the city, which will help with skatepark’s budget. The design also provides barrier-free access, she noted, with a new path that connects the parking lot on Dexter Avenue to the parking lot on North Maple. Barrier-free access will also be an element of the design within the skatepark itself.

The skatepark design has been in the works for about six months, Kuras said. After getting a recommendation on the concept design from PAC, the plan is to present the design to city council in January for their approval.

The conceptual design by Wally Hollyday for the Ann Arbor skatepark at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park.

Hollyday was on hand to walk commissioners through the elements of the design. He noted the advantage of having the skatepark on a hillside – it would help with stormwater runoff.

The design includes a wide variety of skateboarding features – including bowls and pools; banked, Hubba and cantilevered ledges; and slappy curbs. The two larger bowls, with an 8-10 foot depth, provide a lot of variety – including stairs and a “love seat.” The bowls will be popular with older skaters, he said, as well as with “punky” teen skaters – because of the retro appeal. Those bowls also provide larger transitions – the term used to described the curved surfaces, transitioning between horizontal and vertical.

The smaller bowls are easier to skate, Hollyday said, with lots of places to roll in and roll out. You can literally tear through the bowls on a wheelchair, he said. “As crazy as that sounds, I’ve seen that happen.” There are also lots of places to transfer from one bowl to another.

Looking good is important in skating culture because it’s a very social sport, Hollyday told commissioners. He said young girls are really attracted to small bowls. When his own daughter began skating, she had been put off by “the stares from the boys and the looks of ‘What are you doing here?’” It makes you very self-conscious, he said, but you can look good in the small bowls, even as a beginner.

Other features include flat banks, rocks built into walls, rollers, a quarter pipe, and several other skateable elements.

Landscaped areas and rain gardens are located throughout the park, which will also serve as stormwater management elements. It’s important to create a visual effect, Hollyday said, so there are elements like spillover areas on walls for rain water to flow down into the rain gardens, for example.

The design also includes a small stage, which could be used for skateboarding demonstrations as well as other community performances.

Ann Arbor Skatepark Design: Commission Discussion

Tim Berla said he’d expected that there would be a fence around the skatepark, but clarified with Wally Hollyday that it wouldn’t be fenced. Hollyday explained that skaters like to socialize, and in parks where there are fences, people find ways to get around them anyway. There will be guardrail fences around the large bowls, but the intent is for non-skaters to be able to walk through the skatepark, too. If it succeeds as a community center, Hollyday said, that’s even more important than succeeding as a sporting center.

Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner, had briefed planning commissioners about the Ann Arbor skatepark design at the planning commission’s Dec. 11 working session.

Amy Kuras added that the city would put up signs along the pathways to indicate that people are entering the skatepark. She noted that there will be paths going around both sides of the skatepark too, so people don’t have to go through it.

Responding to another question from Berla, Hollyday said he plans to put benches along the paths, so there will be places for people to sit. Trevor Staples recalled that when he was growing up, there were picnic tables and barbeque pits at the top of the hill in that part of the park. Now, that area isn’t well used, he said. It will overlook the skatepark, and he hoped it would again become a community gathering place. Colin Smith, parks and recreation manager, noted that there are a lot of comparisons, in that regard, to the Argo Cascades, which is also drawing the community – even people who don’t canoe or kayak.

Responding to another question, Smith said that the nearest bathrooms were in a shelter, but those will be removed during an upcoming renovation. As an interim, there will be port-o-potties in the area.

Alan Jackson asked about the durability of the materials. Are there choices that can be made to reduce future maintenance needs?

Hollyday replied that the skatepark itself will be concrete, and that the parts requiring more regular maintenance will be the landscaping elements. He noted that he’s seen city officials in other communities “freak out” when concrete gets chipped, but a popular, well-used skatepark is a good thing, he said.

Kuras pointed out that one of Hollyday’s tasks is to provide the specifications for construction so that the city can pre-qualify concrete contractors. The work is specialized, and requires more experience than most other projects that use concrete.

Jackson also asked how much of the concrete would be colored. That will depend in part on the budget, Hollyday replied. But there are less expensive ways to add color, he added – for example, adding black paint will result in a richer, charcoal gray concrete that won’t reflect light. It’s an inexpensive way to reduce glare.

Bob Galardi jokingly referred to palm trees shown in the design images, then asked how the skatepark would hold up in Michigan’s colder climate. The construction will use 4,000 psi (pounds per square inch) concrete, Hollyday said, which is “pretty strong.” There will be a lot of reinforcement and caulking in the joints, with a rebar structure and six-inch minimum thickness.

Smith noted that the terms of the MOI require that the skatepark design gets approved by city council. After that happens, the final design specifications will be completed and the city will seek bids for construction. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013, with a goal of completing the project by the fall.

Outcome: The commission unanimously recommended approval of the design for the Ann Arbor skatepark. It will next be considered by city council for approval.

Cobblestone Farm Renovations

The commission was asked to recommend awarding a $109,500 contract to Renaissance Restorations Inc. to replace roofs at Cobblestone Farm on the event barn and on the Tincknor-Campbell House. It was the lowest of three bids received for the work. The contract includes a 10% contingency, bringing the total to $120,450.

The work would be funded with proceeds from the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage.

According to a staff memo, the Tincknor-Campbell House is a cobblestone farmhouse that was built in 1844. Its existing wood shingle roof was installed in 1977 and is in serious disrepair. The proposal calls for the new roof to be made of cedar shakes, with flashing done in copper.

The event barn, built in the late 1980s, is rented out for weddings, parties, business conferences, and other events. Its existing roof is over 30 years old and is also in poor condition. Because the building is not historically significant, the proposal calls replacing the roof with a recycled plastic shingle that resembles cedar, but that is less costly and more durable.

The proposal is being reviewed by the city’s historic district commission. The Cobblestone Farm Association has already reviewed the proposal and agreed with these recommendations.

Cobblestone Farm Renovations: Commission Discussion

There was little discussion on this item. Alan Jackson asked about the material being proposed. Amy Kuras reported that if the historic district commission signs off on using the recycled plastic shingle for the event barn, then it would likely last longer and cost less.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved recommending the contract with Renaissance Restorations for the Cobblestone Farm roof replacements. The item will next be considered by the city council.

Volunteerism in the Parks

Dave Borneman, manager of the city’s natural area preservation program, presented NAP’s Volunteer of the Year award to Community High School. He read a proclamation from the mayor that had been presented at the city council’s Oct. 24, 2012 meeting, which recognized the school’s students and staff for working “enthusiastically” to improve the city’s parks and natural areas, in part by participating in a bi-annual day of service focused on invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, and tree planting. Borneman noted that in the spring, 360 CHS volunteers pulled nearly 4 tons of garlic mustard and other spring invasives in the city’s natural areas.

Dave Borneman, left, manager of the city’s natural area preservation program, presented the NAP 2012 Volunteer of the Year award to Community High School. In the foreground is lead teacher Marci Tuzinsky. Also on hand were CHS students Lexi Schnitzer, Obiageri Ugwuegbu and Denny Carter.

On hand to accept the award were Marci Tuzinsky, a lead teacher at CHS, and students Obiageri Ugwuegbu, Lexi Schnitzer and Denny Carter. They received a round of applause from commissioners. Tim Berla pointed out that he was a member of the school’s second graduating class.

Borneman, who has been with the city since the NAP program began 19 years ago, now also oversees all volunteer efforts in the parks. Those programs include NAP workdays and park stewards, Adopt-a-Park and Adopt-a-Median, memorial plantings and “citizen pruner” efforts. For the overall parks system, the Give 365 initiative offers a range of volunteer opportunities, including one-day events, swim team volunteers, counselor-in-training and lifeguard-in-training programs, and golf rangers.

He then introduced a presentation by two of his staff: Tina Roselle, volunteer and outreach coordinator for the city’s NAP and Adopt-A-Park programs, and Gayle Hurn, outreach coordinator for Give 365.

Highlights of their presentation:

• Since NAP was launched in 1993, volunteers have contributed nearly 90,000 hours of work.
• More than 425 people have been trained for NAP’s volunteer crew for controlled burns.
• Volunteers work on a range of monitoring programs, including frog and toad surveys, salamander surveys, breeding bird surveys, photo monitoring, and a new turtle steward program. The turtle steward program grew out of concern by volunteers who discovered turtles nesting in the volleyball court at Scheffler Park, and a report of snapping turtles that were crossing the road near Dolph Park. Now the city has created five turtle nesting locations in various parks.
• There are 55 park stewards who work in 35 of the city’s parks.
• Twelve medians have been “adopted” by volunteers in the city’s relatively new Adopt-a-Median program.
• About half of the total volunteer hours is spent on control of invasive species.
• The number of volunteer workdays per year reached a high of 129 in 2010. Since then, the number of workdays has been decreasing, in part because staff is scheduling workdays for private groups on the same days as public workdays, in an effort to better allocate staff resources, Roselle said.
• Give 365, which launched in March of 2011, has logged nearly 12,000 hours of volunteer service. In fiscal 2012, volunteer efforts were the equivalent of $124,173 based on $20 per hour. Nearly six months into fiscal 2013, volunteer hours are the equivalent of $81,488 in hourly wages.

In response to a question from Alan Jackson, Hurn indicated that the city planned to work with volunteers to help with the ongoing care of the skatepark, after its construction.

Colin Smith, the city’s parks & recreation manager, noted that the Give 365 program has dramatically exceeded expectations for the number of volunteer hours they had hoped for in its initial year. Several commissioners also praised the outreach and volunteer efforts.

Communications & Commentary

Throughout the meeting there were several opportunities for communications and commentary. Here are some highlights.

Communications & Commentary: Whitewater on Huron River

During his report to commissioners, Colin Smith – the city’s parks and recreation manager – reported that on Nov. 9 the city had withdrawn its application for a permit to build a whitewater section in the Huron River, near Argo Cascades. A permit was needed from the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), but letters of objection to the project had been filed by by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the state Dept. of Natural Resources fisheries division, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the local Huron River Watershed Council. [For more details on this issue, see Chronicle coverage: “EPA, Others Object to Whitewater Project.”]

The EPA had filed its letter on Aug. 15. From that date, the MDEQ had 90 days – until Nov. 13 – to resolve the EPA’s concerns. Rather than let that period expire and possibly have the permit denied, the city decided to withdraw the application. Smith said city staff have met with MDEQ staff and are working to come up with a new design that would be acceptable. They’re looking at projects in other communities, he said, so work will continue on that.

Communications & Commentary: Appointments

Julie Grand, PAC’s chair, joked that she was continuing the commission’s long tradition of appointing people when they weren’t at the meeting – noting that she initially had been elected chair that way. Grand told commissioners that she was appointing Missy Stults, the newest PAC member, to fill the PAC position on the city’s environmental commission. Grand reported that Stults, who was absent from the Dec. 18 meeting, had agreed to serve, and that she had “more than adequate background” for the job.

Julie Grand, chair of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission.

Stults is a research scientist and doctoral student at the University of Michigan, studying urban and regional planning. She previously has worked as a sustainability analyst with Summit Energy Services in Louisville, Kentucky, and in various roles with the Boston-based ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA.

Also during the meeting, Grand referred to a list of PAC committees that had been discussed at the commission’s Nov. 4 retreat. The list was a summary of the committees, and the PAC members who’ll serve on them. [.pdf of committee list] There are two new committees: (1) a downtown open space committee (Ingrid Ault and Alan Jackson), to work with other entities like the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority on needs for parks and open space in the downtown area; and (2) an education committee (Missy Stults) to educate the public on issues like invasive species and other parks-related issues.

Bob Galardi, one of the newer PAC members, asked about the greenway committee. That committee’s membership includes Galardi, Stults and Grand. Grand indicated that it was an existing committee that has been “dormant”– but it’s now re-emerging because of activity related to the Allen Creek greenway. She explained that work on this and other committees is left up to the discretion of its members.

Ault reported that the downtown open space committee had held is first meeting and plans to do a walk-through of downtown sites with DDA executive director Susan Pollay. The date of that walk-through hadn’t been set, but all PAC members would be invited, Ault said.

Communications & Commentary: Ice Rink at Library Lane

During public commentary, Alan Haber told commissioners that he’d spoken to them before about the need for the Library Lane site to be a park for all the people. [Most recently, Haber addressed PAC at its June 19, 2012 meeting.] He said he was glad that PAC had made a recommendation that a park should be considered as a best use for downtown property. [Haber was referring to a resolution that PAC passed at its Sept. 18, 2012 meeting regarding the Connecting William Street project. PAC did not advocate that a particular site be turned into a park. Rather, the resolution recommends that the Ann Arbor city council seek additional evaluation of locations for a downtown park, the best mix of amenities for the population expected to use a downtown park, and the costs of developing and maintaining a new addition to the parks system.]

Haber suggested that part of the Library Lane site could be turned into an ice skating rink. A downtown skating rink would be a great community gathering place, he said, and it would give people a sense of how the area would work as a park on a permanent basis. Volunteers could build a platform for the rink and a small warming shelter, he said, using private donations. There aren’t many cars that use the surface lot now, he noted, so it’s not being efficiently used for that purpose. Turning it into a skating rink “would be very easy to do,” Haber concluded.

Communications & Commentary: Farewell to John Lawter

PAC chair Julie Grand noted that this was the last meeting for John Lawter, whose term ends on Dec. 31, 2012. She said she was thrilled that PAC had acted on the dog park at the meeting, since this had been an initiative led by Lawter. However, Grand noted that he hadn’t been a one-trick pony – “or dog, as it were,” she joked. Lawter had served as vice chair, and had always been a “reasonable voice” and advocate for parks, Grand said.

Lawter described the last six years as a “huge growth experience” for him, and that PAC had accomplished a lot during that period. He looked forward to working with the parks as a park steward and in other ways in the future.

Present: Ingrid Ault, Tim Berla, Bob Galardi, Alan Jackson, Karen Levin, Julie Grand, John Lawter and councilmembers Mike Anglin and Christopher Taylor (ex-officio). Also Colin Smith, city parks and recreation manager.

Absent: Tim Doyle, Missy Stults.

Next meeting: PAC’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 begins at 4 p.m. in the city hall second-floor council chambers, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. [Check Chronicle event listing to confirm date]

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The work would be funded with proceeds from the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage.

According to a staff memo, the Tincknor-Campbell House is a cobblestone farmhouse that was built in 1844. Its existing wood shingle roof was installed in 1977 and is in serious disrepair. The proposal calls for the new roof to be made of cedar shakes, with flashing done in copper.

The event barn, built in the late 1980s, is rented out for weddings, parties, business conferences, and other events. Its existing roof is over 30 years old and is also in poor condition. Because the building is not historically significant, the proposal calls replacing the roof with a recycled plastic shingle that resembles cedar, but that is less costly and more durable.

The proposal is being reviewed by the city’s historic district commission. The Cobblestone Farm Association has already reviewed the proposal and agreed with these recommendations.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron, where PAC holds its meetings. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Colin Smith, Ann Arbor's parks and recreation manager, signs sheets from more than a dozen local high school students attesting that they had attended the Feb. 28, 2012 meeting of the city's park advisory commission, as part of a class assignment. (Photos by the writer.)

The largest of the action items was a $865,190 contract for road, parking, pathway and other exterior renovations at Buhr Park and Cobblestone Farm. The work will include resurfacing the entry road off of Packard, and improving the path system to allow better access within the park area, as well as a connection from Essex Street into the park. The city council later approved the project at its March 5 meeting.

Commissioners also recommended approval of a 15-foot landscaping buffer in Riverside Park, next to a proposed new DTE Energy substation that abuts the park. DTE is seeking a variance from the city code, which requires a land use buffer for any commercial site that’s adjacent to a park – without the variance, that buffer would need to be located on DTE property. The new substation, to be located in the utility company’s Ann Arbor service center at 984 Broadway, will provide more electrical power to the downtown area due to increased demand.

Also recommended for approval was a $35,200 contract for restroom renovations at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. The facility will be closed in May while the project is completed, and activities will be scheduled at other locations. When PAC chair Julie Grand said she was impressed to see that so many companies had bid on the project, parks manager Colin Smith noted that it might reflect changes related to CUB agreements.

To comply with new state legislation, last summer the city council rescinded a resolution that had previously required contractors for city projects to execute Construction Unity Board (CUB) agreements. The agreements are negotiated between local trade unions and contractors, and require that contractors abide by terms of collective bargaining agreements for the duration of the construction project.

At their Feb. 28 meeting, park commissioners were also updated on a project to make exterior improvements – primarily related to pedestrian pathways – at the Leslie Science & Nature Center. The center, located at 1831 Traver Road, was previously part of the city’s parks system but since 2007 has operated as an independent nonprofit. However, the city still owns and maintains the buildings and property. The first stage of the project will focus on making pathways to the center’s popular raptor enclosures more accessible.

Commissioners also learned that during the week of March 12, the city will begin to install a new pedestrian bridge at the end of the Argo Dam bypass. Because of the construction, the recently renovated bypass will be temporarily closed. A stoplog will be put in to stop the flow of water into the bypass – the project will likely take a couple of weeks. The path along the bypass is expected to be paved later in April, with the end in sight for the entire project by May.

Smith reported that Argo Cascades will be the new name for the bypass – a series of drop pools that eliminates the need to portage along that stretch.

During an update on the parks and recreation budget, Smith reported that due to extra funds available from the park operations budget, plans are in the works to: (1) restore mowing to a 14-day cycle – the cycle has in recent seasons been every 19 days; (2) increase seasonal staffing between April 15 and Oct. 15; and (3) hire three park rangers from May through September, to deal better with maintenance and enforcement issues in the parks.

Several items were also raised during the time set aside for communications. Smith noted that the six-year, 1.1 mill parks maintenance and capital improvements millage will be coming up for renewal this fall. Staff has already started working on the renewal process, gathering materials in preparation for a March 12 city council working session. The millage was last approved in 2006.

It was also noted that two key staff members are leaving their jobs soon. Molly Notarianni, the city’s market manager, is stepping down at the end of March after about four years on the job. The position has already been posted. And long-time Rec & Ed director Sara Aeschbach will be retiring this summer. Both were praised for their service.

At the end of the meeting, commissioner Gwen Nystuen reminded her PAC colleagues about an upcoming sustainability forum on Thursday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the downtown Ann Arbor District Library building. It’s the third in a series of four, this one focusing on climate and energy, and is part of a broader sustainability project that began last year and includes developing sustainability goals for the city. [See Chronicle coverage of the first and second forums in the series.] A public forum on the forums is also scheduled for March 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library building, 343 S. Fifth Ave.

Outdoor Upgrades at Buhr, Cobblestone

Commissioners were asked to recommend approval of a $865,190 contract for road, parking and other exterior renovations at Buhr Park and Cobblestone Farm, located at 2781 Packard Rd. The contract would be awarded to Fonson Inc.

Fonson submitted the second lowest of 10 bids. The contract includes a $786,536 base bid plus a $78,654 (10%) contingency for possible change orders. Funding would come from the park maintenance and capital improvements millage, as well as the park rehabilitation and development millage. According to a staff memo, the lowest bid received was from Pranam Global Tech for $499,000. However, no paving subcontractors were listed and no testing fees were included, both of which were requirements of the bid.

Parks planner Amy Kuras described the proposed work in detail. Among other things, Fonson’s work would include resurfacing the road. Kuras showed slides of the current deteriorated roadway, including “unintentional pervious pavement,” she joked. The project would also expand the parking lot at Cobblestone by about 15 spaces, and create a pedestrian pathway system throughout the park area. The path system would include changes to allow better access within the park area, as well as a connection from Essex Street into the park. The project also includes stormwater management features, such as a bioswale, rain gardens, porous pavement in certain areas, and stormwater basins to improve water quality.

These improvements were recommended as part of a stormwater management master plan completed in 2000, Kuras said. The renovations were also recommended as part of the recently updated Parks & Recreation Open Space (PROS) plan. [The 9MB plan can be downloaded from the city's parks planning website.]

Proposed changes will also help the park facilities comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Kuras said.

Work is expected to begin this spring. The plan is to keep the park open while the project is completed, though that will be a challenge, Kuras said. The work will begin in the Buhr parking lot and gradually move toward the Packard Road entrance. The plan is to finish the project by the fall of 2012.

Outdoor Upgrades at Buhr, Cobblestone: Commission Discussion

Commissioners had several questions and comments about the plan. Sam Offen asked whether the project will have any impact on the scheduling of events at Cobblestone Farm. Kuras said she’s coordinated with Jessica Black, parks and recreation customer service manager, who manages events at Cobblestone. [The building is rented out for weddings and other events.] When the parking lot is closed, there will be parking available on the grass, Kuras said. The plan is to mill the asphalt rather than remove it, she noted, so that would likely allow people to drive on it during the project.

Parks manager Colin Smith added that most events are held on Friday nights or the weekend, when construction workers won’t be active. It will be a challenge to coordinate, he said, but there are options. Even if it rains and they can’t use the grass area for parking, a gravel lot is available. It wouldn’t be optimal, but it would work.

Offen asked when the Buhr Park pool opens. Memorial Day, Smith reported. The work at the Buhr parking lot will likely be done by then, he said.

David Barrett said he assumed that the parks staff has reached out to Ann Arbor Rec & Ed, noting that the organization schedules games in the park. Yes, Smith said, they’re being kept in the loop.

Christopher Taylor asked for more detail about the pedestrian pathway from Essex Street. Previously, Kuras replied, there’s been no access from Essex into the park – it’s just lawn. With the new path, people will be able to bike or walk to facilities in the park.

Gwen Nystuen asked whether pervious pavement will be used for the new parking spaces at Cobblestone Farm. No, Kuras said. There’s room within the park to handle stormwater treatment in other ways, she said, accomplishing the same environmental goals related to water quality. When Nystuen suggested that they could accomplish even more by using pervious pavement, Kuras replied that the same amount of water would be handled – it’s just a matter of the method used to handle it.

In response to a question from Offen, Kuras noted that the original raingarden in Buhr has been doubled in size, and another one was added there. Nystuen mentioned that it’s the location of the Buhr Park children’s wet meadow project, and Kuras said she’s worked closely with the project’s organizer, Jeannine Palms.

Smith told commissioners that this entire project is a good example of the city taking care of its existing parks infrastructure. Over the past 10 years, several parts of Buhr Park and Cobblestone Farm have been renovated, including improvements at the swimming pool and ice rink. By the time this current project is completed, the entire park will have been redone, he said. The city is lucky to have a large parks system, Smith said, but in reality many of the parks are quite old and in need of an overhaul.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the contract with Fonson Inc. for renovations at Buhr Park and Cobblestone Farm. The Ann Arbor city council subsequently approved the project at its March 5 meeting.

DTE Landscaping Buffer

The commission was asked to recommend approval of a 15-foot landscaping buffer in Riverside Park, next to a proposed new DTE Energy substation that abuts the park.

Site plan for DTE Buckler substation. (Links to larger image.)

DTE is seeking a variance of the city’s conflicting land use buffer. Chapter 62 of the city code requires a buffer for any commercial site that’s adjacent to a park – without the variance, that buffer would need to be located on DTE property. The code requires that the buffer be at least 15 feet wide, include one tree for each 15 feet of abutting land, and provide a continuous screen at least 4 feet high using a hedge, berm, wall, fence, or combination of those elements.

According to a city staff memo, DTE is building the new Buckler substation in the utility company’s Ann Arbor service center at 984 Broadway, to provide an increase in electrical power to the downtown area due to increased demand for electricity. Because of physical constraints on DTE’s property, the utility is asking the city to place the buffer – which will include 23 new trees – in Riverside Park. The buffer would remain city parks property. The parks staff recommended approval of the plan.

Parks manager Colin Smith walked the commission through the proposal. The current border between Riverside and the DTE property includes a fence, scrub, and a “haphazard” screen of trees of varying quality, he said. All of the substation’s construction would occur on DTE property, Smith said, and the city’s ownership of the park property would remain unchanged. He noted that the city’s forester would select the trees, and the area would include other landscaping as well. It will look much better than it does now, he said.

Smith also noted that the proposal will decrease the city’s maintenance costs – because of the landscaping, they won’t need to mow around the trees as they do now. He stressed that the proposed buffer is not an area that’s actively used, and that the city already has tried to create a buffer between the DTE facility and the park, so that park users won’t have to look at the DTE site. The project is an example of the city trying to be a good neighbor, he said, because the reality is that DTE needs a new substation to serve the electricity needs of residents.

DTE Landscaping Buffer: Commission Discussion

Sam Offen asked what is currently on the site where DTE plans to build its new substation. Scott Trowbridge of DTE Energy came to the podium to answer the question, saying that it’s a paved storage area for vehicles and equipment.

Offen asked if there were any other areas where the substation could be built, so that it wouldn’t abut the property line with Riverside. Trowbridge noted that the DTE property is on the edge of a floodplain, and if the substation is located closer to the river, it would require more floodplain mitigation. Underground conduits are also located in that area, he said, which will be used for the new substation – that also affects the choice of location.

Offen said he normally doesn’t like it when people don’t follow the city’s zoning code. It’s the property owner’s responsibility to provide a screen, he noted. On the other hand, he wants to be a good neighbor, so he was debating how to vote on this resolution. He trusted that DTE had considered alternatives, and that the company had determined this was the best option.

Offen said he said he assumed that since the buffer is on the city’s property, it would then be the city’s responsibility for maintenance? Yes, Smith replied, adding that most trees would come with some kind of warrantee. Offen wanted to ensure that the warrantee is at least the industry standard and that if a tree doesn’t survive, DTE would replace it.

Ann Arbor parks & recreation manager Colin Smith, left, talks with Scott Trowbridge of DTE Energy before the Feb. 28, 2012 meeting of the city's park advisory commission.

Smith said he agreed entirely with Offen’s points, and that if there had been a way to accomplish this within the zoning code, that would have been the way to go. But the proposal seems reasonable, he added, and DTE has been working with planning staff about it.

Offen then asked if the path running along the river would be affected by the new substation. The path would not be affected, Smith said.

Christopher Taylor asked if there would be a vertical or noise element as part of the substation. Trowbridge reported that there’s currently a cell phone tower on that site that’s over 100 feet tall. The equipment at the substation would be no taller than about 16 feet, he said, but because of floodplain issues, the project includes raising the grade of the land there about four feet.

Regarding noise, Trowbridge said you would probably be able to hear a hum at the fenceline, but not much more than that.

Taylor noted that based on a Google Earth map, it looks like there’s a park playing field close to the property line. Tim Berla added that there’s a goal located not too far from the existing fence, and that one corner of the field is close to the property line.

Smith said the buffer won’t impact the ability to schedule games on that field. If anything, he added, it will result in a better parks buffer. He also noted that DTE is planning to provide additional landscaping along Canal Street, which runs next to the park.

Tim Doyle wondered what DTE would do if the city denies this variance request. Does the company have an alternative plan? Trowbridge said the decision would involve many people, and would lead to a delay in meeting downtown Ann Arbor’s demand for electricity – there’s only so much load the current substation can provide. It would lead to choices about how DTE can serve new developments, he said. And when the load peaks in the summer, DTE might need to shut down some circuits to protect its equipment.

Trowbridge said there are two main drivers in selecting the current site for a substation. One is that DTE already owns the property. The other is the location of underground conduits with existing circuits and spare ducts. At that location, DTE could easily bring cables underground into the new substation. Distribution circuits now come out of the Argo substation, located across the street on Broadway. In response to a query from Doyle, Trowbridge said that building the new substation as proposed is the most economically viable plan for DTE.

Doyle noted that raising the grade by four feet was dramatic, and he wondered if anyone had looked at the impact of drainage into the park. Trowbridge said the plan called for capturing stormwater runoff on the DTE site, by using a detention pond and stone surface instead of asphalt.

Noting that parks staff supports the proposal, David Barrett said he wanted to make sure that staff was comfortable that drainage wouldn’t be a problem and that the field wouldn’t be deluged. Smith indicated that the staff felt fine about the proposal.

DTE Landscaping Buffer: Amendment

John Lawter said he assumed that the proposed 23 trees exceeds the amount required by code – that would help compensate for using parkland for the buffer. Trowbridge said he couldn’t speak to that.

Doyle suggested amending the resolution to require that a minimum of 23 trees be used in the buffer. There was some discussion about what the code actually required. From Chapter 62, Section 5:603 of the city code:

The conflicting land use buffer shall consist of the following:
(1) A landscaped buffer strip at least 15 feet wide. If there is an existing building or vehicular use area located within the required 15-foot landscape buffer strip, the landscape buffer strip may have an average of 15 feet in width over the entire length of the required buffer area, with no specific location along the buffer strip being less than 8 feet in width
(2) One tree for each 15 feet or fraction thereof of abutting land. At least 50% of the trees within the conflicting land use buffer shall be evergreen. Arrangement of trees in clusters or groupings is encouraged, but in all cases shall be between 15 feet and 30 feet apart on center. Plantings should be placed to screen the views between buildings that existed at the time of site plan approval, (especially windows and patio views) on the adjacent property.
(3) A hedge, landform berm, wall, fence or combination thereof forming a continuous screen at least 4 feet high. All gasoline or service stations shall employ opaque walls as the continuous screen. For parcels principally used or zoned for residential purposes the requirement for a hedge, landform berm, wall or fence is only required to screen vehicular use areas and refuse/recycling containers that are adjacent to the conflicting land use buffer.

Parks planner Amy Kuras said she had recommended that an additional 7-8 trees be added between the Riverside parking lot and Canal Street. [Kuras is overseeing a larger renovation project at the park – commissioners were briefed on that effort at their October 2011 meeting.]

At the direction of commissioners, Smith crafted an amendment to request that DTE provide an additional 10 trees in landscaping for a parking lot in the park, adjacent to Canal Street. It was considered a friendly amendment to the resolution, and was not voted on separately.

Outcome: The commission unanimously recommended approval of a landscaping buffer in Riverside Park, next to a proposed DTE substation, as well as additional trees between the Riverside parking lot and Canal Street. DTE also needs to secure a variance from the city’s zoning board of appeals and planning commission, as well as final approval by the city council.

Senior Center Renovations

On the Feb. 28 agenda was a resolution to recommend approval of a $35,200 contract for restroom renovations at the Ann Arbor Senior Center. Staff recommended that the contract be awarded to L.C. Construction, which submitted the lowest of eight acceptable bids. The facility will be closed in May while the project is completed, and activities will be scheduled at other locations.

The $35,200 includes a $32,000 base bid and a $3,200 (10%) contingency fund to cover possible change orders. Funds would come from proceeds of the park maintenance and capital improvements millage.

According to a city staff memo, the restrooms don’t meet the state’s Barrier Free Code. The center’s two existing restrooms – each with two stalls – would be converted to three single restrooms that would each meet the Barrier Free Code standards. The memo notes that because L.C. Construction only has three employees, it is exempt from the city’s living wage and human rights ordinances.

Senior Center Renovations: Commission Discussion

There was little deliberation on this item. Julie Grand said she was impressed to see that so many companies had bid on the project. Parks manager Colin Smith mentioned that it might reflect changes related to CUB agreements.

By way of background, at its Aug. 15, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council rescinded a resolution it had passed in November 2009, which had required execution of Construction Unity Board (CUB) agreements by contractors and subcontractors with the Washtenaw County Skilled Building Trades Council as a condition of award for all city construction contracts. The resolution also had required inclusion of the requirement in all construction bids issued by the city.

CUB agreements are negotiated between local trade unions and contractors, and require that contractors who sign the agreement abide by terms of collective bargaining agreements for the duration of the construction project. In return, the trade unions agree that they will not strike, engage in work slow-downs, set up separate work entrances at the job site or take any other adverse action against the contractor.

The council rescinded its CUB resolution because state Act 98 of 2011 – which became effective July 19, 2011 – prohibits municipalities from including as a requirement in a construction contract anything that would either require or prohibit contractors from entering into agreements with collective bargaining organizations. The act also prohibits discrimination against contractors based on willingness or non-willingness to enter into such agreements.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the contract with L.C. Construction. City council subsequently approved the contract at its March 5 meeting.

Renovations at Leslie Science & Nature Center

Amy Kuras, the city’s parks planner, gave an update on a project to make exterior improvements – primarily related to pedestrian pathways – at the Leslie Science & Nature Center. The center, located at 1831 Traver Road, was previously part of the city’s parks system but since 2007 has operated as an independent nonprofit. However, the city still owns and maintains the buildings and property.

This photo of raptor enclosures at Leslie Science & Nature Center was provided by city staff as part of the packet of materials for the park advisory commission's Feb. 28 meeting.

The goal of the changes is to make the center compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and to make the pathways and overall organization of the site less confusing, Kuras said.  The site includes a lot of paved impervious surface, and a lot of it isn’t necessary, she said. The project will also address soil erosion and water runoff issues.

The center’s raptor enclosures – housing owls, falcons, a bald eagle and other birds of prey – are located at the highest part of the site, Kuras said. The birds are very popular, she added, so it’s important to make the area as accessible as possible. In addition to pathways, there will be better signs indicating how to get to the enclosures, as well as directions to other parts of the center.

The city has hired JJR as a consultant on the project, Kuras said. There has been one public forum about the proposed changes, and staff has met with the center’s board as well.

After developing a master plan for the entire site, a more detailed design for the pathway to the raptor enclosures will be completed, Kuras said. Construction on that pathway will begin in the fall of 2012, after the center’s summer camps are over.

Leslie Science & Nature Center: Commission Discussion

Gwen Nystuen asked whether pervious pavement would be used in the project. As with all projects, Kuras replied, pervious pavement would be used where it’s appropriate. She’s looking at possibly using some innovative products, she added, including a product made from crushed recycled glass. Kuras said she hopes to find a local source for the glass, and that the pavement sparkles and is quite beautiful. However, there needs to be additional testing to see if it’s appropriate for the site, she said.

In response to another question from Nystuen, Kuras explained that the existing parking will be reconfigured from angled to perpendicular parking, which will allow for more spaces on the same footprint. They’re also looking at putting pervious pavement in the overflow parking areas, which are currently grass. Kuras said that instructional signs aren’t part of this project, but that the center’s staff will take care of that component.

Sam Offen noted that he also serves as a board member for the center, and reported that the board and staff are very excited about the project.

Kuras hopes to apply for a state grant to help fund the full project. Julie Grand clarified with Kuras that the pathways to the raptor enclosures would be handled first, followed by the rest of the renovations as funding allows.

The report was informational only – it was not an action item for PAC.

Financial Update

Colin Smith, the city’s parks and recreation manager, gave PAC a financial update on parks and recreation operations, for the period starting July 1, 2011 through Jan. 31, 2012. [.pdf of parks and rec quarterly financial update as of Jan. 31, 2012] The city operates on a fiscal year from July 1 through June 30.

From left: Ann Arbor city councilmember Christopher Taylor (Ward 3), and park advisory commissioners Tim Doyle and Gwen Nystuen. Taylor is an ex officio (non-voting) member of PAC.

Smith started by focusing on the recreational facilities supported by the city’s general fund. On the revenue side, some facilities are ahead of budget and some are behind, he noted. Overall, however, the forecast for the full fiscal year anticipates $2.368 million in revenues – about $2,500 ahead of budget. And expenses are projected to be $15,000 lower than budgeted, at $3.445 million for the fiscal year. That means the forecast for the year is now $17,500 better than budgeted from the general fund for parks and recreation, he said.

There are no alarms in any of the facilities supported by the general fund, he said. The forecast anticipates a $1.076 million general fund subsidy for parks and recreation for the year.

Smith then turned to the park system’s three enterprise funds – areas that are intended to be self-sustaining – the farmers market, Huron Hills golf course, and Leslie Park golf course. Revenues and expenses are on budget for the market, Smith said, at about $165,000.

The $369,875 forecasted revenues for Huron Hills is about $12,000 less than budgeted, while Leslie Park’s $896,319 in revenues is forecasted to be about $25,000 less than budgeted. Expenses at each golf course are about $5,000 less than budgeted, Smith said. The net forecasted loss for the two courses is $27,500 for the fiscal year. It’s not an insurmountable amount, he added, especially if the spring weather isn’t as wet as last year.

Financial Update: Commission Discussion

After reviewing some of the other line items in the parks and rec budget, Smith answered questions from commissioners.

Sam Offen observed a $17,500 drop in forecasted revenues for the Argo canoe livery. Is that because construction has been delayed? Smith replied that the drop relates to the offer by DTE to pay for the whitewater feature in the Huron River near the Argo bypass, if the city delayed action on that project. When the budget was developed in early 2011, the parks staff had assumed that the whitewater feature would be open during the summer of 2012, creating new revenue opportunities. Now, it’s likely that the river whitewater feature won’t be ready until 2013.

In response to a question from John Lawter, Smith clarified that the city subsidizes the parks and recreation budget by about $1.076 million from the city’s general fund. Tim Berla noted that the golf courses are subsidized with about $292,000 in general fund dollars.

David Barrett asked why the golf courses are forecast to have a total of $10,000 less in expenses than anticipated. Smith replied that when the weather is bad, staff at the courses are sent home. That’s primarily why expenses are lower.

Barrett also asked about the fitness center at Veterans Memorial Park. Revenues are only about $5,500, which Smith said reflected low usage of the center – revenues come from fees paid by users. He said the staff are exploring better ways to use that space, and think that perhaps a fitness center isn’t the best option. Karen Levin speculated that perhaps people in the neighborhood just don’t know about it, and that if the facility is marketed, usage might increase. Smith observed that the equipment is out of date, and it’s not really the park system’s main business.

Gwen Nystuen asked about the line item for administration – $159,171 in revenues. Smith clarified that it comes from a variety of sources, including parking rental from Fuller and Riverside parks.

Financial Update: Maintenance

Matt Warba, supervisor of field operations, briefed the commission about the portion of the budget related to maintenance. [.pdf of parks maintenance financial summary] He began with operations funded from the general fund, and noted that by the nature of the work, there are very few revenues. Regarding expenses, overall they’ll be well within the budgeted amounts, he said.

For operations funded through the parks maintenance and capital improvements millage, Warba highlighted a few line items. The Argo livery is over budget due to maintenance and the purchase of additional kayaks and canoes in anticipation of the new Argo Dam bypass. Expenses are also higher than budgeted for the Ann Arbor senior center, due to renovations there.

David Barrett asked whether the winter’s lack of heavy snowfall saved in expenses. Warba said he didn’t want to say, because there was still the chance that the region would get hit – the potential for snow isn’t over yet. Warba’s assumption is that there will be savings, “but you never know.”

Smith noted that a budget impact statement for field operations had been distributed at a Feb. 13, 2012 city council working session. Over the past three years, he said, there have been savings in park operations, primarily due to budgeted but unfilled job vacancies. [Responding to a follow-up email query from The Chronicle, Smith clarified that since fiscal year 2009, park operations has annually underspent its expenditure budget by an average of about $550,000.] As a result, he said, parks staff were asked to figure out how best to use that money in the parks system.

The parks staff are making several recommendations: (1) restore mowing to a 14-day cycle – the cycle has in recent seasons been every 19 days; (2) increase seasonal staffing between April 15 and Oct. 15 so that active recreation areas can be maintained better; (3) hire three park rangers from May through September, to deal better with maintenance and enforcement issues in the parks; and (4) increase seasonal staff at the city’s ice arenas to help clean the facilities.

Sam Offen asked how much enforcement capability the rangers would have. When the city had park rangers in the past, that was an issue – the rangers didn’t have much ability to act. Offen also asked whether PAC would get more details about these proposals at a later date.

Smith replied that yes, details are still being worked out and would be brought forward to PAC. Regarding rangers, Smith said they will be parks staff, not police. Warba added that the intent of the rangers is to be informational – they won’t even have the ability to write tickets. If there were a problem, the rangers would call the police. The rangers are seen as stewards of the park system, Warba said, and would do tasks like check restrooms or ensure that people don’t jump the fence and use soccer fields when it’s too wet, which damages the field.

Smith noted that the parks staff does some of this work now at special events. For example, someone is on hand to greet people when they arrive to a special event held at a park, and to take care of any details that need to be handled. It’s a way that the parks staff can respond to issues in a timely way, Smith said, rather than waiting for residents to call in a problem.

Tim Doyle suggested that the rangers wear more formal uniforms, saying this would create a kind of “sentinel effect.” He joked that it wouldn’t hurt to carry a squirt gun too. Smith quipped that perhaps they could plan a fashion show at the next PAC meeting.

Communications & Commentary

Every meeting includes opportunities for public commentary and communications from commissioners and staff. Two people spoke during time allocated for public commentary at the Feb. 28 meeting.

Comm/Comm: Public Commentary – Preserving Parkland

George Gaston indicated that he’d spoken at other PAC meetings. Several years ago, the community strongly supported a proposal to protect parkland, he said. [Gaston was referring to a voter-approved city charter amendment, which prohibits the sale of city parkland unless approved by voters.] That proved inadequate, he said, as evidenced by efforts to develop Huron Hills golf course and Fuller Road Station. [Fuller Road Station was a proposed joint project between the city and the University of Michigan. Its first stage was a large parking structure, but UM withdrew from that partnership last month.] Gaston urged commissioners to close the loopholes and protect the city’s parks, calling them a great asset.

He described the new bypass at Argo Dam as wonderful, saying he’s already seen kayakers using it and having fun. Parks are parks, not public land, he said. When the city wants voters to approve a millage, the city refers to the land as parkland, he noted. But when city officials want to develop the land, they call it public land. Gaston asked commissioners to protect parkland now and in the future.

Saying she echoed Gaston’s comments, Rita Mitchell noted that projects totally unrelated to parkland have been proposed on parkland, like the Fuller Road Station at Fuller Park. She said she was asking PAC to uphold the principle of using parkland for parks. She said 80% of voters had supported the charter amendment to prohibit the sale of parkland without a voter referendum. She urged commissioners to protect parks and keep them as people in the community intended.

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Argo Cascades

Parks manager Colin Smith reported that during the week of March 12, the city will begin to install the new pedestrian bridge at the end of the Argo Dam bypass. PAC had recommended approval of the new bridge, along with other project changes, at its Aug. 16, 2011 meeting, and the changes were subsequently approved by the city council. [.pdf of Argo headrace design and bridge info]

Because of the construction, the recently renovated bypass will be temporarily closed, Smith said. A stoplog will be put in to stop the flow of water into the bypass – the bridge will likely take a couple of weeks to install. Then in early April, parks staff plan to install a rubber guide in one of the series of drop pools in the bypass, Smith said. The intent is to make the drops easier to navigate. If that guide seems to be effective, others might be installed later.

The path along the bypass is expected to be paved later in April, with the end in sight for the entire project by May. Smith said PAC will get a presentation in March or April regarding all the improvements, programming and marketing for the bypass area.

Smith also reported that based on a survey that yielded about 600 responses, Argo Cascades will be the new name for the bypass.

John Lawter asked about the whitewater portion of the project. By way of background, the original renovation of the Argo Dam bypass had included construction of a stretch of whitewater in the section of the Huron River next to the bypass. DTE Energy subsequently offered to pay for the whitewater feature of the project – about $180,000 – if the city agreed to hold off on construction of that piece until after DTE completes environmental remediation on its nearby property, as required by the state.

Smith reported that DTE has submitted a remediation plan to the state, but the whitewater feature won’t be built this year. The Argo livery is expected to open in early May, with a grand opening for the new bypass expected sometime later this year. The Gallup Pond livery will open April 14.

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Millage Renewal

Smith noted that the six-year, 1.1 mill parks maintenance and capital improvements millage will be coming up for renewal this fall. Staff has already started working on it, gathering materials in preparation for a March 12 city council working session. PAC will be briefed at their March 20 meeting, and there will be several public forums as well after that. A recommendation for renewal will likely be considered by PAC in July, with the council making a decision in August about putting it on the November ballot. “We’re certainly starting to work on that quite heavily,” he said.

The millage was most recently deliberated by PAC at its May 2011 meeting, in the context of budget allocations and how millage proceeds are spent. See Chronicle coverage: “Council to Get Reminder of Parks Promise.”

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Market Manager

In his final communication, Smith reported that the city’s market manager, Molly Notarianni, will be leaving that job at the end of March. She’s been with the city for about four years, he said, and has been extremely enthusiastic about her work and has taken initiative to improve the market. She’ll be missed, he said.

The city has already posted the job and he hopes to get someone on board quickly, Smith said. According to the posting, the job has a minimum salary of $38,082 with a midpoint of $48,793. In the interim, the work will be handled by Jessica Black, parks and recreation customer service manager. Smith noted that Black ran the market before Notarianni joined the staff. He told commissioners that if they see Notarianni in the coming weeks, “wish her well and thank her, please.”

Comm/Comm: Commissioner Updates – Rec & Ed

Tim Berla, who’s also a member of the city’s recreation advisory commission (RAC), reported that Ann Arbor Rec & Ed is excited about the city’s upcoming work on the ballfields. [See Chronicle coverage: "Major Renovations of City Ballfields Planned."]

Berla also reported that long-time Rec & Ed director Sara Aeschbach will be retiring this summer. He described her as a rock, and someone who provided exemplary public service. There’s been a lot of turnover in the city parks management, he noted, but Aeschbach has provided stability at Rec & Ed over the years. [Rec & Ed is a unit of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, but works closely with the city parks staff.] Berla hoped someone equally good would be hired to replace her.

Comm/Comm: Commissioner Updates – Sustainability

Gwen Nystuen reminded commissioners about the upcoming sustainability forums. As part of a broader sustainability project, the city scheduled four forums this year, one per month, starting in January. All forums are held at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library building, 343 S. Fifth Ave. starting at 7 p.m. [See Chronicle coverage: "Sustaining Ann Arbor's Environmental Quality" and "Land Use, Transit Factor into Sustainability"]

The two remaining forums are:

• March 8, 2012: Climate and Energy – including an overview of Ann Arbor’s climate action plan, climate impacts, renewable and alternative energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
• April 12, 2012: Community – including housing, public safety, public art, recreation, outreach, civic engagement, and stewardship of community resources.

All forums are being videotaped by AADL staff. The videos will be posted on the library’s website. Additional background on the Ann Arbor sustainability initiative is on the city’s website.

The four forums reflect categories in a framework that the city is developing to organize its existing goals as they relate to sustainability. The project, which began earlier this year, is being led by Jamie Kidwell and funded by a $95,000 grant the city received from the Home Depot Foundation. Four city commissions – park, planning, energy and environmental – participated in a Sept. 27, 2011 joint working session focused on prioritizing existing goals for the city that touch on sustainability issues. [For additional background, see Chronicle coverage of Kidwell's briefing at the Nov. 15 park advisory commission meeting.]

PAC chair Julie Grand reported that the parks perspective will be represented at the April 12 forum.

Grand also serves on a committee that’s developing the sustainability goals. Draft goals were presented at the Feb. 9 sustainability forum. Tim Berla said he’d seen the draft goals and they seemed generic. He wondered if there would be more details associated with each goal at some point. Karen Levin, who serves on the sustainability committee with Grand, said the idea is to have 15 broader goals, then develop more detailed objectives and targets for each goal. Grand added that by highlighting this smaller set of goals, the intent is not to negate all of the other goals that have been set by the city.

A public forum to discuss the goals is also scheduled for March 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library building’s fourth floor conference room.

Present: David Barrett, Tim Berla, Tim Doyle, Julie Grand, Karen Levin, Gwen Nystuen, John Lawter, Sam Offen, councilmember Mike Anglin (ex-officio), councilmember Christopher Taylor (ex-officio). Also Colin Smith, city parks manager.

Absent: Doug Chapman.

Next meeting: PAC’s meeting on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 begins at 4 p.m. in the city hall second-floor council chambers, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. [confirm date]

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The first, for $893,030 with RMD Holdings, covers the renovation of softball and baseball diamonds at Veterans Memorial Park, Southeast Area Park, and West Park. The second, with Fonson Inc. for $786,536, will cover renovation of roads and parking lots, build paths and improve stormwater management at Buhr Park and Cobblestone Farm. Both contracts also include an additional 10% contingency.

The projects were discussed by the city’s park advisory commission and recommended for approval – the Buhr/Cobblestone project on Feb. 28, 2012, and the ballfield renovations on Jan. 24, 2012.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Fonson submitted the second lowest of 10 bids. The contract includes a $786,536 base bid plus a $78,654 (10%) contingency for possible change orders. Funding would come from the park maintenance and capital improvements millage, as well as the park rehabilitation and development millage. According to a staff memo, the lowest bid received was from Pranam Global Tech for $499,000. However, no paving subcontractors were listed and no testing fees were included, which were both requirements of the bid.

Among other things, Fonson’s work would include resurfacing the road, expanding the parking lot at Cobblestone for about 15 spaces, and creating a pedestrian pathway system. The project also includes stormwater management features, such as a bioswale, porous pavement, and stormwater basins to improve water quality.

This brief was filed from the PAC meeting in the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]