Site plan for Staebler Farm.

Commissioners approved an application to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources trust fund for a grant to help develop Staebler Farm for recreational use. WCPARC has owned the 98-acre property in Superior Township since 2001, and Donald Staebler – who is 103 years old – still lives there in a lifetime agreement with WCPARC. The plan calls for adding fishing piers to the property’s two ponds, as well as putting in a trail system and other features. A second phase might involve developing a farm incubator program.

Commissioners also awarded $600,000 in grants through WCPARC’s Connecting Communities program, which supports trail projects throughout the county. Grants were given to projects in Ann Arbor Township, Northfield Township, Pittsfield Township, and the village of Manchester.

In non-voting business, WCPARC director Bob Tetens gave an update on the east county recreation center, a proposed partnership between the city of Ypsilanti and WCPARC in which the city would supply the property and WCPARC would provide the building. The center would be located on part of the 38-acre Water Street redevelopment area. Tetens said they’ve been working with the city of Ypsilanti on a development agreement.

Ypsilanti mayor Paul Schreiber and city councilmember Pete Murdock both spoke to the commission about Water Street during public commentary. Schreiber told commissioners that he wasn’t aware of any “show-stopping” issues. He also gave an update on Water Street Flats, an apartment project that’s planned for the site. The complex would be rental apartments for residents with between 50-90% of area median income.

In other action, commissioners approved about $500,000 for repairs at the Rolling Hills water park, and were briefed on several financial reports and project updates.

An issue that had been raised during public commentary at the Feb. 11, 2014 meeting emerged again on March 11: How should deer overpopulation be managed? Two residents – Maurita Holland and Barb Lucas – urged commissioners to play a role in dealing with the issue, which is affecting WCPARC parks and preserves. “We know there’s a lot of political fallout and a lot of education that needs to be done,” Holland said. She reported that a new group has formed – Washtenaw County for Ecological Balance. Members of WCEB include Larry Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County’s clerk/register of deeds, and Chris Graham, who serves on Ann Arbor’s environmental commission.

Commissioners discussed the issue at length. Jan Anschuetz advocated for a cautious approach, noting that it’s a complex problem that needs to be addressed by multiple entities, not just WCPARC. She also expressed concern that action by WCPARC could affect the 10-year renewal of the operations millage that WCPARC expects to be put on the November 2014 ballot. “If we do something that displeases our public, we will not have a millage and will not have a parks commission and we will not have a preserve,” she said.

Janis Bobrin noted that in this community, “If we start talking about killing anything, there are people who will just not hear anything after that.” There’s the actual management of the problem, she said, but also a major education piece that’s needed. “How do we begin to get a dialogue that isn’t one camp against another? That would seem to be a productive first step.”

Tetens told commissioners that WCPARC has applied for a $29,960 grant through the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife habitat grant program. Those funds would allow WCPARC to quantify the deer impact on county parks and preserves more precisely. Everyone agrees that the growing deer population is a problem, Tetens said, but “nobody can solve it on their own.”

Commissioners also authorized Tetens to draft a letter opposing a proposed sand and gravel mine that McCoig Materials wants to start in Lyndon Township, on 189 acres north of Chelsea on M-52. The rural site is located near several parks and nature areas, including Waterloo State Recreation Area, the Pinckney State Recreation Area, Park Lyndon, the Green Lake Camping area, and the Waterloo-Pinckney Hiking Trail. WCPARC has been interested in buying the property for at least two decades, and is hoping to work with the current landowner to add the site to the county’s nature preserves, rather than being mined.

The March 11 meeting began with a moment of silence for Fred Veigel, a long-time parks & recreation commissioner who represented the road commission on WCPARC. He died on March 2. Commissioners also passed a resolution of appreciation for his work. A replacement to WCPARC will be appointed from one of the current three road commissioners: Barb Fuller, Doug Fuller or Bill McFarlane.

Staebler Farm

The meeting included two items related to a Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources trust fund grant application for Staebler Farm: a public hearing, and a presentation to commissioners about the project.

Coy Vaughn, WCPARC’s deputy director, told commissioners that this is a resubmission of an application that was originally made in 2013. Feedback from the state was that the original project emphasis was weighted too much toward preservation, education and agriculture, and not enough toward recreation. So WCPARC withdrew the application, modified it, and is resubmitting for the current grant cycle. “We’re confident that we have a much stronger application,” Vaughn said. [.pdf of staff memo]

By way of background, commissioners had approved the 2013 grant application at their March 12, 2013 meeting. The public hearing at that time had drawn four nearby property owners who raised concerns about trespassing. No one spoke at the public hearing on March 11.

First phase of the master plan for Staebler Farm.

The $300,000 grant would help a master plan for the Staebler Farm County Park. The 98-acre property, which straddles Plymouth Road in Superior Township, had been a family farm for nearly a century. WCPARC has owned the property since 2001, but Don Staebler – who is 103 years old – still resides there under a lifetime agreement with WCPARC. A farmer also raises hay on several acres south of Plymouth Road. Fleming Creek runs through the property, and it has frontage on Frains and Murray lakes. [For additional background, see Chronicle coverage: "County Parks: Options for Staebler Farm."]

The acreage on the south side of Plymouth Road, where Staebler lives and which is still being farmed – will be part of a second phase, Vaughn explained. So the initial phase to develop for recreational use will focus on the north side of Plymouth. There are two ponds that were created as a result of the construction of M-14. There’s a demand for fishing from the public, he said, so the application is proposing a parking lot, a trail system with a pavilion and restroom, some improvements to Fleming Creek, and fishing piers in each pond. Vaughn noted that fishing piers receive extra points on the trust fund applications.

Eventually, the site will provide a learning center to teach the history of farming, including sustainable farming practices that are currently used. “We don’t want this to just be a farm theme park,” Vaughn said. “We want it to be an active farm.”

The total project is expected to cost about $700,000. WCPARC is asking for the maximum amount from the trust fund – $300,o00 – with the remainder coming from a $400,000 WCPARC match.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked if WCPARC would need to find a way to let people cross Plymouth Road. Vaughn said they hoped to discourage that, so the design will reflect that. Fences will be installed on both sides of the road, for example.

Sizemore then said he’d gone out to talk with Staebler recently, and had gotten the impression that Staebler was worried about upkeep on the property. “It’s the county’s building now, but it’s not up to our standards,” he said. He suggested spending $5,000 or $6,000 to clean it up and add gravel to the driveway. Sizemore also suggested organizing a volunteer day to help with the cleanup.

Vaughn replied that Staebler and his family have been part of the design process. Jan Anschuetz noted that a video interview of Staebler is posted online.

Dan Ezekiel, the newest WCPARC member and former chair of the Ann Arbor greenbelt advisory commission.

Evan Pratt clarified with Vaughn that revisions to the plan are still in line with what WCPARC wants to accomplish. Vaughn noted that Superior Township has also seen the new plans and is supportive. Pratt then asked if a farm management plan would be developed for the site, for the portion of the site that is being actively farmed. WCPARC director Bob Tetens said the tricky thing is that not a lot can be done while Staebler lives on the property. However, WCPARC has talked with Michigan State University about the possibility of a farm incubator program, Tetens said, as well as with the Veterans Affairs hospital about a possible program for veterans who are receiving treatment.

Dan Ezekiel noted that there’s a lot of pent-up demand for fishing, so he was glad to see the fishing piers as part of the project. He also supported the idea of a farm incubator. Pointing to the dramatic decrease in the butterfly population, Ezekiel wondered whether this project could incorporate habitat for butterflies – particularly the Monarch – into the pasture and meadow areas. Other commissioners and staff supported his suggestion.

Janis Bobrin clarified with Tetens that the fishing piers would be accessible to those with disabilities. Tetens replied that the plan’s goal is for universal accessibility throughout the site.

Jan Anschuetz noted that the County Farm Park’s playground has a farm theme, and she wondered if the playground on the Staebler Farm would also have that theme. “Everything we do out there is going to have a farm theme,” Tetens replied.

Sizemore asked if the project would include a petting zoo. It won’t, Tetens replied. Anschuetz noted the proximity to Domino’s Farms, which has a petting farm, and said WCPARC wouldn’t want to compete with a private enterprise.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved applying for the MDNR trust fund grant for Staebler Farm.

Connecting Communities Grants

At WCPARC’s Feb. 11, 2014 meeting, commissioners had reviewed applications for this year’s cycle of Connecting Communities grants, which covered six proposed projects. Staff made recommendations for commissioners to review and approve on March 11. [.pdf of February staff memo] [.pdf of applications] [.pdf of March staff memo with recommendations]

Coy Vaughn, WCPARC deputy director.

By way of background, in May 2009 WCPARC authorized the Connecting Communities initiative. The program makes up to $600,000 available annually from 2010 through 2014 – a total of $3 million – toward the cost of eligible trail projects. According to a staff memo, “eligible projects will be those that accomplish the Commission’s primary objective of providing valuable non-motorized connections between communities and activity centers, offering a healthy alternative for recreation, transportation, fitness, and energy conservation.” Grant recipients have two years to fulfill any contingencies, such as acquiring grants from other organizations.

As an example, the city of Ann Arbor was granted $300,000 in 2013 (of total cost of $1 million) for 1,500 feet of trail, part of a project for the “development of pathways, storm water features to improve the quality of Allen Creek … on property which will serve as a trailhead for the proposed Allen Creek Greenway.” The site includes city property at 721 N. Main. Paths would connect Felch Street to both North Main and west Summit Street. The proposal stated that the city would also apply for a match from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources trust fund (MDNRTF), and that the city would consider using the adopt-a-park program to help maintain the facility. The grant required success with the MDNRTF, but the city’s application in 2013 failed. The city has another year to try again.

WCPARC developed criteria for selecting projects, which include 10 primary considerations. Among those considerations are projects that provide important links between communities, parks and other points of interest, that are adjacent to waterways, or that are major multi-jurisdictional efforts. There are 14 types of projects that generally are not eligible, such as trails solely within existing local parks.

Applicants must document a compelling need for a project. Six criteria that are used to evaluate the projects. For example, projects are evaluated based on whether they directly relate to the county’s important natural features, such as a river. The Huron River corridor is WCPARC’s highest priority. Five secondary criteria – such as land availability, or the likelihood of funding from other sources – are then applied to high-ranking projects.

The process for selecting projects to be funded involves a staff review of the applications. The projects are then presented to the Greenways Advisory Committee, which provides input that staff uses to prioritize the applications and make recommendations to WCPARC for final approval.

Connecting Communities: Applications & Staff Recommendations – Ann Arbor Township

Ann Arbor Township applied for $300,000. The total project cost is $1.2 million for two miles of pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting Parker Mill and Plymouth Road along Dixboro Road, to connect to the Parker Mill trail at Geddes and Dixboro on the south, and the proposed trail from Plymouth/Dixboro to Main Street/Cherry Hill on the north.

Evan Pratt, county water resources commissioner, and Patricia Scribner, Pittsfield Township treasurer. They both serve on the county parks & recreation commission.

The application states that other confirmed project funders include $600,000 in private donor matching funds. Potential project funders include the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources trust fund, the Washtenaw County road commission, the Michigan Dept. of Transportation alternatives program, and additional private donors. It’s part of a broader project that WCPARC has taken the lead on, hoping to build partnerships with the township and the University of Michigan to create a north-south Border-to-Border trail connection. The township has received no previous grants from the Connecting Communities program.

Dan Smith noted that he had attended a forum the previous night hosted by Ann Arbor Township about non-motorized pathways. He’d talked with some residents who live on Geddes Road, as well as someone from Pittsfield Township who rides mountain bikes in that area. Smith said he’d been taken aback because these people weren’t too keen about the trail project. The residents were concerned about increased traffic and parking. Parker Mill is already a popular destination. And the mountain biker prefers natural trails over engineered trails, Smith said. “You can’t make everybody happy, he said, adding that he fully supported this project.

WCPARC director Bob Tetens said they try to make the trails accessible to the broadest possible number of people. Last year, he noted, a cyclist had been hit along that section of road, so a non-motorized trail is needed in that area.

Evan Pratt clarified with staff that Ann Arbor Township had never received an MDNR trust fund grant. He suggested that WCPARC staff help out with the application. Tetens said that the staff works with all of the entities that apply for trust fund grants, when WCPARC is offering matching funds. Pratt said he knew that applications including regional trails score higher.

Responding to a query from Bob Marans, Vaughn indicated that the township hadn’t completed its design of the trails yet, but that WCPARC will be involved in that process.

Jan Anschuetz noted that the broader project has been on WCPARC’s “dream list” for more than 20 years, and they’ve put a lot of energy into it. “My poor husband has become a very old man – I don’t know if he’ll be able to walk this trail,” she quipped.

Tetens noted that the university hasn’t always been interested in providing trail connections in its property, which includes the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. But there are some new people who want to make it happen now, he said.

Staff recommendation: $250,000.

Connecting Communities: Applications & Staff Recommendations – Village of Manchester

The village of Manchester applied for $150,000 (of $225,000 total cost) to improve an existing rail bed owned by the village into a walking/biking trail traversing the entire community and linking several parks, businesses, schools, and neighborhoods, ending at the county’s Leonard Preserve.

The Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation will provide $100,000, and the Kiwanis Club of Manchester another $2,000. Potential additional funders include community fundraising and private donations; and grants such as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21); Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Surface Transportation Program (STP), which are both programs of the Federal Highway Administration in the federal Dept. of Transportation; and the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

The village had previously been awarded $150,000 from the Connecting Communities program in 2011, which it planned to use as matching funds for a Michigan Dept of Natural Resources trust fund grant. However, it decided not to apply for that grant, so the WCPARC funds weren’t awarded. The village now intends to apply for the state grant this year. WCPARC considers this a renewal of the previous 2011 grant, so the money won’t come from the $600,000 in Connecting Communities funds that are available this year.

Staff recommendation: $150,000 (renewal).

Connecting Communities: Applications & Staff Recommendations – Northfield Township

Northfield Township applied for $260,000 (of $600,000 total cost) for 2,925 feet of trail along Barker Road in Whitmore Lake, connecting Whitmore Lake’s downtown with the Northfield Township Library and Whitmore Lake Elementary School. This is the third phase of a project that received $120,000 in 2010 and $250,000 in 2011 from the Connecting Communities program.

Other confirmed project funders are $60,000 from Northfield Township, $60,000 from the Whitmore Lake Downtown Development Authority, $1,000 from the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and $1,000 from the Kiwanis.

Staff recommendation: $250,000.

Connecting Communities: Applications & Staff Recommendations – Pittsfield Township

Pittsfield Township applied for $400,000 (of total cost of $1.9 million) for 1.8 miles of trail, phase 2 of the Lohr-Textile greenway, extending it east from the corner of Lohr and Textile, on Textile, to the Marshview Meadow Park and the Pittsfield Preserve.

Grants from WCPARC’s Connecting Communities project to the township were $300,000 in 2010; $290,000 in 2011; and $150,000 in 2013. Those 2013 funds were intended as matching funds for a MDNR trust fund grant, which the township did not secure.

Confirmed funding is from Pittsfield Township (up to $400,000); and MDOT/SEMCOG through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) program ($1,064,708).

Bob Tetens noted that this project is compatible with the township’s State Road corridor improvement authority project. Coy Vaughn pointed out that Pittsfield Township has received more money from Connecting Communities and other WCPARC sources than other communities, but the township has been successful in completing its projects and in leveraging WCPARC’s money to secure other funds.

Staff recommendations: $250,000 as matching funds for the TAP grant. (Includes $100,000 in new Connecting Community funds, and renewal of the $150,000 from 2013.)

Connecting Communities: Applications & Staff Recommendations – Ypsilanti Township

Ypsilanti Township applied for $240,000 for two projects totaling 3,032 feet (total cost of $240,000). One project (2,032 feet) would run along the east side of Tuttle Hill Road from Textile Road north across South Huron River Drive and into Ford Lake Park. The other (1,000 feet) would run on the south side of Textile from just east of South Huron River Drive to the entrance of Lakeview mobile homes.

The township received WCPARC funding for trail projects in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Bob Tetens noted that one of the criteria for new Connecting Communities funding is that any previously funded project must be completed. The township is still working on finishing the trail that was funded by WCPARC in 2013, he said.

Staff recommendation: No funding for this cycle.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved all staff recommendations for Connecting Communities grants.

Connecting Communities: Next Steps

Bob Marans noted that this is the last year of the five-year Connecting Communities program. He wondered if WCPARC staff was going to recommend continuing it. “There’s always that option,” Bob Tetens replied.

From left: Washtenaw County commissioners Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5) and Dan Smith (R-District 2) also serve on WCPARC.

Tetens told commissioners that the program has been extremely popular. In surveys of county residents, trails and open space typically rate the highest in terms of support. The Connecting Communities program was developed because WCPARC was receiving a lot of requests from local communities for help with trail projects, and it was difficult to objectively evaluate each project when there weren’t other projects to compare against.

Every year, requests are typically double the amount of available funding, Tetens said. In looking ahead, WCPARC staff had looked at using the funds that would be available after the end of the Connecting Communities program to instead fund debt payments from the proposed east county recreation center, if WCPARC decides to bond for that project. But given the popularity of Connecting Communities, Tetens said, the staff will likely propose keeping some version of it – assuming that the WCPARC operations millage is renewed by voters.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. jokingly asked if some of the money can be used to repair roads. Tetens noted that WCPARC has funded some road shoulder projects, in partnership with the road commission. WCPARC is usually involved in any significant trail project in the county, Tetens said. Much of that is through the Border-to-Border Trail project. In addition to projects in the Connecting Communities program, other trail projects are in the works for North Territorial, and an effort to connect Dexter and Chelsea, among others.

Dan Smith clarified that Tetens anticipates continuing Connecting Communities, but it’s contingent on the millage renewal. That’s right, Tetens replied. “It would be hard to do it if we don’t have that assured cash flow.”

Eastern County Recreation Center

WCPARC director Bob Tetens gave an update on the east county recreation center, a proposed partnership between the city of Ypsilanti and WCPARC in which the city would supply the property and WCPARC would provide the building. The Ann Arbor Y would then contract with WCPARC to manage the center, which would be located on part of the 38-acre Water Street redevelopment area. [For additional background, see Chronicle coverage from WCPARC's Dec. 10, 2013 meeting.]

Tetens said they’ve been working with the city of Ypsilanti on a development agreement. “There are some terms that we’re not fully comfortable with, and I think the city probably has the same feeling,” he said. WCPARC staff have met with attorneys several times to review the agreement, and work on that continues. He thought he’d have a better sense of how it was progressing at the commission’s April meeting.

Paul Schreiber, mayor of Ypsilanti, told commissioners that he wasn’t aware of any “show-stopping” issues.

Earlier in the meeting, Schreiber had spoken during public commentary to update WCPARC on actions by the city of Ypsilanti that affect the rec center. The previous week, on March 4, the Ypsilanti city council approved a purchase agreement for Water Street Flats, a development with 90 residential units. He thought it was something that’s good for the city.

Paul Schreiber, mayor of Ypsilanti.

The complex will be rental apartments for residents who earn 50-90% of area median income. For Ypsilanti, that comes out to market rate, he said. So it’s market-rate housing, Schreiber said, that’s being financed through low-income housing tax credits.

The apartments will bring more people to that area, Schreiber said. The development won’t be next to the rec center, but will be nearby – on the south edge of the Water Street property. He thought the complex would attract young professionals making $30,000 to $40,000 a year, just starting out after graduating from Eastern Michigan University or other institutions. There will be some Section 8 housing, he said. Other properties by the same developer – Herman and Kittle Properties – have had Section 8 units for between 4% and 21% of the entire development, he noted. Since this location is on the river, near downtown and the Border-to-Border Trail, “I think we’re going to be on the low end of that [percentage],” he said.

Schreiber told commissioners that there had been a “lot of spirited discussion against it,” but the majority of the Ypsilanti city council decided to approve it. The developer is applying for tax credits and financing. That’s a competitive process, he noted, so it’s still unclear how it will turn out.

Schreiber felt that the project fits in with the rest of the Water Street plans, including the rec center and WCPARC’s goals. Construction would be in 2015, with completion likely in 2016.

Ypsilanti city councilmember Pete Murdock also addressed commissioners, noting that the developer still owns similar properties that it built, “so they’re not just getting in on the front end and then leaving.” He said the developer would also be building a lot of infrastructure that would serve the rest of the site, including several roads, sidewalks and utilities.

Responding to a query from Rolland Sizemore Jr., Murdock said that even if the rec center isn’t built, the apartment project would move forward.

Rolling Hills Water Park Repairs

WCPARC director Bob Tetens described this item as the “convergence of several problems.” Part of the issue is related to the capital improvement program, but a lot is tied to conformance with current regulations, he said.

From the staff memo:

A few years ago, through dye testing, we discovered the Lazy River was leaking water from four of the seven floor and wall expansion joints. As result, this past fall we removed one of the leaking joints to investigate the extent of the problem. It was confirmed that the rubber membrane in the expansion joints had failed causing the leak. To remedy the situation each expansion joint will be removed and replaced.

The operation of the pools and Lazy River are regulated by several County/State and Federal codes or guidelines. One of these is the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) of 2008 (with updates in 2011). This Act was enacted to prevent hazards of drain entrapments in public pools and spas. Since enactment of the VGBA, we initiated replacement of drain grates throughout the Main Pool facility to comply with the 2008 requirements. However, the drain grates within the Lazy River have not been replaced due to their custom configurations and other needed modifications. Now VGBA and State regulations mandate further changes be made to the drain sump structures and grates to be compliant.

“Slide Mountain” and its associate stairway system are some of the original features of the Waterpark. Over time through regular patron usage and weather, the stairs have developed significant deterioration requiring extensive repair and reconstruction.

Due to the complexity of the project work, Stantec Consulting of Michigan (a local engineering firm) was hired to evaluate the above issues and recommend corrective measures to address each. As a result, an RFP was developed and structured to allow a portion of the work to be completed this spring before opening, then resume after Labor Day shut-down. The scope of work is somewhat specialize and the documentation required perspective bidders to demonstrate previous years of experience with this type of project. [.pdf of full staff memo]

Four bids were received in response to the RFP. The low bid was by Baruzzini Construction Co. of Brighton, for $497,549. The firm had worked on the water slide addition last year and is familiar with the Rolling Hills facility, according to the staff memo. Baruzzini also is doing work on Rutherford Pool in Ypsilanti.

The staff recommended approval of this contract with Baruzzini, plus a $35,000 contingency for potential change orders.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the contract for work at the Rolling Hills water park.

Communications & Commentary

Each WCPARC meeting includes opportunities for public commentary, as well as various communications from staff and commissioners. Here are some highlights.

Communications & Commentary: Deer Management

Two people spoke on the issue of deer damage in the county. Maurita Holland noted that she’d spoken to commissioners at their previous meeting, on Feb. 11, 2014. A group has formed called Washtenaw County for Ecological Balance, she reported, with members including Larry Kestenbaum [Washtenaw County's clerk/register of deeds] and Chris Graham [who serves on Ann Arbor's environmental commission].

Maurita Holland.

Holland pointed out that Time magazine had a picture of a deer on the cover of its last issue in 2013. A chart in the article shows that the deer population has grown more than any other animal since the middle of the last century. In the past 50 years, the U.S. deer population has increased about 800% to about 32 million head, she noted.

The Forest Preserves of Cook County, in Chicago, has developed a sustainability plan, Holland reported, which includes an annual cull of deer. She reported that the city of Jackson, Michigan, has been culling deer for several years. During that time, about 500 deer have been culled in the city and provided to food pantries there.

Holland concluded by asking commissioners what they needed. “We do understand that the political part of this is undoubtedly much more difficult than getting the MDNR in here with a special permit, if you were to vote as a board to do that,” she said. “We know there’s a lot of political fallout and a lot of education that needs to be done.” The new group is very dedicated to this cause, she said, but only in ways that can be as positive as possible.

Barb Lucas also spoke on this issue. She is contracted by Washtenaw County to do environmental shows on WEMU and Community Television Network – called the Green Room. The November show on WEMU focused on deer overpopulation. It had been very illuminating to interview different stakeholders about it, she said, and it led her to feel that people need to find commonalities because there are such passionate feelings on all sides.

Both sides want to preserve life, Lucas said. If the animal rights supporters were educated about the “web of life” and how there are so many different creatures that depend on the ecosystem, they might have a different view. If deer graze heavily in an area, other species will suffer and starve to death, she said. Animal rights activists talk about “species elitism,” Lucas said, so that’s something to talk about – whether it’s better to protect a “charismatic” species like deer or to protect a range of other species too. That might be a way to find common ground, rather than to start by talking about culling deer, which would “polarize everybody immediately,” she said. Lucas concluded by urging commissioners to listen to the Green Room segment on this issue.

Holland spoke again, noting that she’d spoken with Ann Arbor city councilmember Sabra Briere. Holland said that Briere was also very concerned about this issue, and had indicated that she’d be contacting WCPARC because it was a good idea to talk about how this affects both the city and the county. The deer right now are in the county’s northwest quadrant, Holland said, and are moving towards Ann Arbor. “This is going to be a moving target,” she said.

Communications & Commentary: Deer Management – Commission Discussion

Later in the meeting, WCPARC director Bob Tetens noted that the board packet included some material related to this issue. [.pdf of February 2014 staff report on deer populations in county parks] [.pdf of Feb. 17, 2014 Inside Michigan Politics article] [.pdf of Meridian Township deer management plan] [.pdf of 2012 Ann Arbor Observer article]

Tetens thanked Holland and Lucas for providing more information, and told commissioners that WCPARC staff would be collecting as much information as possible. He reported that WCPARC has applied for a $29,960 grant through the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources wildlife habitat grant program. Those funds would allow WCPARC to quantify the impact on county parks and preserves more precisely.

WCPARC member Jan Anschuetz.

Tetens told commissioners that this will now be a regular agenda item, as the staff continues to research this issue. He noted that the county board of commissioners held a working session in February that focused on the deer population in Washtenaw County, which included a presentation by Timothy Wilson of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Everyone agrees that the growing deer population is a problem, Tetens said, but “nobody can solve it on their own.”

Bob Marans asked about a timeframe for putting some kind of plan in place. Dan Smith, who serves on the county board representing District 2, described a couple of points from the February working session. The USDA would assist in helping carry out various remediations, he said, but only after some other entity assesses the problem. In Michigan, that falls to the DNR and local entities.

Smith also reported that the “lethal” technique was surprisingly expensive. He’d expected that to be the least expensive, but that wasn’t the case. According to the USDA, the most effective technique would be even more unpopular than other management efforts, Smith said – to bring back natural predators. “That would be even more unpopular than bow hunters.”

Marans asked Tetens where he saw this headed, in terms of WCPARC’s role. Tetens replied that the DNR is responsible for managing the deer population, so ultimately it would need to be a collaborative effort with the DNR, local communities, the Farm Bureau, and others.

Marans then asked: “Is it our responsibility to push the DNR?” It’s everyone’s responsibility, Tetens replied. Right now, it’s a problem that the county can’t manage alone. The USDA representative had noted that even if the problem is solved in one location, the deer move elsewhere, he said.

As a society, “we have created the perfect environment, with our rural residential development,” Tetens said. Scio Township has been in the top five municipalities statewide in terms of the number of deer-vehicle accidents, he noted. Hunting is limited, while suburban homes plant landscape gardens that attract deer. He likened it to putting up a sign that says: “We’re not going to hunt you. Here’s free food. Come on in!” There needs to be a cultural shift, Tetens said.

Dan Smith said that from a policy perspective, WCPARC can be a driver as far as the county is concerned, because it manages significant acreage in parks and natural areas. The elected county board of commissioners has indirect control, but the county board doesn’t directly own a lot of land.

Marans agreed that WCPARC plays an important role, but “the directive should come from the county board,” he said.

Smith noted that the townships in Michigan have the most control over land use issues, so it’s important to work with the township officials too. Based on his research, Smith said, it’s clear that there are conflicting interests – farmers want one thing, hunters want another, conservationists want yet another thing, depending on what type of conservationist they are.

Barb Lucas.

Janis Bobrin referred to a point that Barb Lucas had made regarding the need to find common ground. “This is a community where if we start talking about killing anything, there are people who will just not hear anything after that,” she said. There’s the actual management of the problem, she noted, but also a major education piece. “How do we begin to get a dialogue that isn’t one camp against another? That would seem to be a productive first step.”

Jan Anschuetz said it would be presumptuous to say that culling deer would solve the problem. About five years ago, WCPARC considered the issue seriously, she said, adding that she’d spent about 40-50 hours researching the problem at that time. Studies that she’d read revealed that culling deer actually encourages reproduction. It’s a very complicated issue, she said, and WCPARC shouldn’t just jump into it.

Marans replied that clearly they need to move slowly. He described a deer management program at the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority, which he said was very successful. [Marans also serves on the board of the HCMA, which oversees the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.] He noted that HCMA has more land than WCPARC, and it’s also hard to know what happens on land outside of the metroparks.

Anschuetz urged commissioners and staff to be “a little bit humble.” They need to work with and listen to the animal rights advocates, she said.

Dan Smith noted that it’s clear the deer are harming native plants and wildlife in the county’s preserves. The reason the county invests in these preserves is to ensure that native plants and wildlife have protected areas. He thought that managing the deer population could be part of the broader management efforts for those areas. But the success of that management isn’t known, he added. Smith said he’d read that deer have evolved so that their reproduction is a way to survive predators. When there are no predators – aside from vehicles – then they overpopulate.

Evan Pratt said it would be helpful to get feedback from staff about what WCPARC’s role should be. Should they be hosting symposiums? Or just providing information?

Anschuetz argued that WCPARC exists in order to serve the entire population of Washtenaw County that pays for parks. “If we do something that displeases our public, we will not have a millage and will not have a parks commission and we will not have a preserve,” she said. Deciding how to handle the deer issue is an important decision, she added – not just for the people who are concerned about this issue, but for the entire parks system.

Dan Ezekiel suggested seeing if there are any resources at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment.

Dan Smith asked if Tetens would be comfortable preparing a recommendation over the next month or two. Smith said it sounded like Marans wanted direction from the county board of commissioners. Marans thought the county could be a leader in initiating a program, whatever that might be. It wasn’t wise to just be passive, he said.

Tetens said his staff hadn’t been able to spend much time on this issue so far. Marans wanted to see a proposal for various options within six months or so.

Regarding HCMA’s deer management, Anschuetz pointed out that HCMA’s millage is permanent and doesn’t require renewal. But WCPARC’s millage does need renewal, she noted, and “if we aren’t representing the community, we are in a very vulnerable position.” Marans countered that commissioners don’t know what the community thinks as a whole.

Bobrin said that Anschuetz’s point is well taken – WCPARC needs to understand that. Anschuetz told commissioners that she’s very involved in animal rights issues, and is very involved with the Humane Society. “I know what goes on,” Anschuetz said. “You may be underestimating the power of the people in this community.” She didn’t see WCPARC as leading this effort, but rather they should partner with other entities.

Pratt drew an analogy to weed control in lakes. Once you start spending money to try to manage it, “you’re just rolling the rock up the hill,” he said. “You just start this Sisyphean task when you try to force-fit nature into what you want it to be.” He said he wasn’t arguing against a deer management program, but WCPARC first needs to figure out what its role should be.

Dan Smith said he wasn’t suggesting that WCPARC take on deer management itself. But because they’ve invested in preserves, that’s why WCPARC has a role in it. “If the preserve just becomes a bunch of prairie grass, that’s not a very interesting preserve,” he said. “That’s not why we’re buying this land with tax dollars.”

Smith noted that if the best solution turns out to be introducing natural predators to the area, that introduces an entirely new set of problems. “Now the farmers will really be up in arms,” he said.

Communications & Commentary: Lyndon Township Mining Proposal

McCoig Materials is proposing a sand and gravel mine in Lyndon Township, on 189 acres north of Chelsea on M-52. The rural site is located near several parks and nature areas, including Waterloo State Recreation Area, the Pinckney State Recreation Area, Park Lyndon, the Green Lake Camping area, and the Waterloo-Pinckney Hiking Trail.

Janis Bobrin, a member WCPARC. In the background is WCPARC director Bob Tetens.

Bob Tetens reminded commissioners that the southern part of WCPARC’s Park Lyndon covers most of the edges of Lake Genevieve, and “we’ve always sort of felt, despite where the fences are at, that the whole lake was ours, and it’s not.” A small portion of the southern tip of the lake is part of the Cunningham family property – the site that McCoig wants to purchase.

In the past, WCPARC had talked to the family about possibly buying that land, Tetens said. WCPARC has been interested in it for at least two decades.

Residents in the area are very concerned about McCoig’s proposal, Tetens said. It would mean a lot of additional traffic from trucks – 60-80 round-trip gravel haulers each day would be driving through Chelsea, throughout the estimated 30-year life of the operation. There are also concerns about the impact on local ecosystems and hydrology, Tetens said.

Part of what makes the northwest part of Washtenaw County so special is its concentration of parks and recreation areas, Tetens said, so it doesn’t make sense to take 190 acres out of that for mining.

Tetens asked for the commissioners to support drafting a letter to Lyndon Township and state officials, opposing a special use permit that would allow the company to remove sand and gravel. He stressed WCPARC’s continued interest in buying the property for the county’s natural areas preservation program, and said that an application for NAPP had been sent to the Cunningham family. The resources are available in NAPP’s budget to buy the property at fair market value, Tetens said. Any added value related to mineral rights would have to be negotiated.

Tetens also reported that the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources has been working with McCoig to try to find an alternative site – possibly property that the DNR owned or could acquire, that could be traded for the Cunningham property so that the ecosystem in that area could be maintained.

Janis Bobrin noted that because of relatively recent state legislation, it’s very difficult for local governments to turn down mining operations in their communities.

On its website, Lyndon Township has noted that its authority is limited:

Michigan State Legislators have greatly reduced township control by passing Act 110 of 2006 (125.3205). Under that law, the township must not “prevent the extraction, by mining, of valuable natural resources from any property unless very serious consequences would result from the extraction of those natural resources. Natural resources are considered valuable for the purposes of this section if a person, by extracting the natural resources, can receive revenue and reasonably expect to operate at a profit.” The township’s authority is limited to “reasonable regulation of hours of operation, blasting hours, noise levels, dust control measures, and traffic that are not preempted by part 632 of the Michigan environmental laws,” 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.63201 to 324.63223.

Outcome: Commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to send a letter to Lyndon Township regarding the McCoig proposal. [.pdf of Tetens letter]

Communications & Commentary: Millage Renewal

Bob Tetens updated commissioners on the process of renewing the county’s 10-year parks & recreation operations millage, which is likely to be on the November 2014 ballot.

Bob Marans, president of WCPARC.

The countywide parks & recreation operations millage is a 10-year, quarter-mill tax that was first approved in November 1976 1978, and subsequently renewed in 1984, 1994, and 2004. The current millage expires on Dec. 1, 2016. Typically, a renewal proposal is put on the ballot two years before the existing millage expires.

Tetens said there will be two separate tracks. The county staff and commission can market its services and programs to the greatest extent possible – that’s well underway, he said. As part of that, staff are developing the next five-year strategic plan.

In 2004, when the millage was most recently renewed, the county board of commissioners – the elected body that has the authority to put a millage proposal on the ballot – was asked to do that in June, Tetens said. That’s likely the timeframe that will be followed this year. WCPARC staff will be making a presentation to the county board to describe what’s been done in the past 10 years. “We’ve got a good story to tell about that,” he said. The presentation will also include a planning document about how the millage would be used in the next 10 years.

Parallel to that is the organization called Friends of the County Parks. It’s the group that handles fundraising for the millage campaign itself, Tetens explained. Nelson Meade, the long-time WCPARC member who retired in December of 2013, used to lead that effort. Tetens said that commissioners might want to designate someone to serve as treasurer of that group, in place of Meade.

Financial Reports

Each month, staff provide several different financial reports to WCPARC, focused on the past month’s expenses (the claims report), monthly and year-to-date reports on expenses and revenues in the form of fund balance reports, and a listing of major non-recurring expenses when they are significant.

There are separate reports on parks and facilities, and on the natural areas preservation program (NAPP), which includes preservation of agricultural lands. Each of these has its own, separate funding, although WCPARC administers all of these programs.

Financial Reports: Claims Report

Director Bob Tetens began by saying that the reports reflect WCPARC’s off season. Parks and facilities paid a total of $113,859 in claims during February. Most of those expenses were for capital improvements, primarily at the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center and Rolling Hills.

NAPP claims totaled $661,101 in February. Most of those expenses – $613,784 – were spent on a conservation easement for the Bloch property in Superior Township, which commissioners had approved at their Feb. 11, 2014 meeting.

Total expenses in February were $774,961. [.pdf of February 2014 claims]

Financial Reports: Fund Balance – Parks and Recreation

Tetens noted that there hadn’t been any dramatic changes since the previous month’s report.

January 2014 began with a fund balance of $10,521,250. [This is the total of the $3,146,250 fund balance on Dec. 31, 2013, plus the $6.7 million operating reserve and the $675,000 committed to funding partnerships.] Revenue as of Feb. 28, 2014 was $4,128,849 with expenses of $696,711. The operating reserve for 2014 is $6.7 million, and the funding commitments for partnerships is $820,000. [.pdf of February 2014 parks & rec fund balance]

The projected fund balance at the end of 2014 is $6,430,817.

Financial Reports: Fund Balance – NAPP

The February report started with the fund balance of $7,195,911 and showed revenue of $1,968,881. Expenses totaled $622,947, for a projected fund balance at the end of 2014 of $8,450,839. [.pdf of February 2014 NAPP fund balance]

There was no substantive discussion of the reports.

Outcome: WCPARC unanimously voted to receive, accept, and file the financial reports.

Recreation Reports

Typically, there are several monthly reports on attendance at WCPARC facilities where attendance can be counted, with information about participation in measurable activities and revenue received at those facilities. The reports include the current year-to-date summary as well as similar information for the prior two years.

For the March 11 meeting, only one recreation report was presented.

Recreation Reports: Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center

At the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, year-to-date participation as of Feb. 28, 2014 was 56,541 and revenue was $250,023. In 2013, year-to-date participation was 63,615 and revenue was $262,635. In 2012, participation was 67,824 and revenue was $249,565. [.pdf of MLM recreation center report]

WCPARC director Bob Tetens noted that activity had been slow during February, which he attributed to the bad weather. “People just weren’t getting out,” he said.

Tetens reminded commissioners that two years ago, the county’s Pierce Lake golf course opened in the third week of March, and in 2013 they opened in the last week in March. So things will be slow at the golf course this year too, he said.

Outcome: The recreation report was received and accepted for filing unanimously.

Projects and Activities

Staff of WCPARC provide monthly updates to commissioners about ongoing improvements at facilities, and activities at parks and natural areas. Some of this information is provided in writing in the board packet; more is provided with visuals and informal commentary. [.pdf of projects/activities report]

Here are some highlights of items discussed at the March meeting.

• The annual ice fishing derby at Independence Lake had a good turnout, Coy Vaughn reported. Rolland Sizemore Jr. observed that in the photos that Vaughn showed of the event, there weren’t any minorities. He asked how WCPARC advertised the event. Vaughn replied that they used posters, partnered with businesses like Cabela’s and local bait shops, and posted information online. WCPARC director Bob Tetens said there is typically a larger turnout of minorities for events at Rolling Hills, on the county’s east side.
• The annual “Daddy Daughter Dance” at the Meri Lou Murray recreation center on Feb. 22 drew 168 people this year. Vaughn played a clip from a feature about the dance that aired on Community Television Network’s FYI show.
• A summer job fair was held at the gym in the Meri Lou Murray recreation center, with several county departments and the Michigan Works office represented. Attendees could apply and be interviewed on the spot. It drew over 100 people.
• Vaughn showed two short videos that will be used to promote various WCPARC facilities online. He plans to show one or two new videos at each WCPARC meeting over the next few months. The videos shown on March 11 highlighted County Farm Park and the water parks at Rolling Hills and Independence Lake.

Remembering Fred Veigel

The March 11 board packet included a resolution of appreciation for Fred Veigel, who died on March 2. [.pdf of resolution] Veigel was a long-time WCPARC member who held a seat designated for a county road commission representative.

WCPARC director Bob Tetens described Veigel as “an even more colorful figure than we’d realized,” based on pictures that had been on display at Veigel’s memorial and funeral. Veigel had been a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 252 for 60 years, and the union is planning a memorial “toast and roast” on Friday, June 13.

Evan Pratt noted that the family is encouraging people to come and share stories about Veigel. “It sounded like there weren’t going to be many boundaries,” he said.

Outcome: Commissioners passed the resolution of appreciation.

Present: Jan Anschuetz, Janis Bobrin, Dan Ezekiel, Robert Marans, Evan Pratt, Patricia Scribner, Rolland Sizemore Jr., and Dan Smith.

Absent: Conan Smith.

Staff: Director Bob Tetens, deputy director Coy Vaughn.

Next meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the county parks and recreation department’s office at 2230 Platt Road in Ann Arbor.

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A section of Miller Creek runs through a property off of Geddes Road that the Washtenaw County parks and recreation commission might help preserve, in partnership with the city of Ann Arbor. The land is located in Ann Arbor Township. (Photos by the writer.)

Commissioners were then briefed on what WCPARC director Bob Tetens called a record monthly expenditure for his time with the commission: $3.9 million in January 2013, including $2.9 million for parks and recreation – primarily for capital improvements at Rolling Hills, Independence Lake and Sharon Mills parks – and $1 million for natural areas preservation.

Expenditures in January for the natural areas preservation program included acquiring land from the Ford Road Property LLC on the east side of Berry Road in Superior Township; for improvements at Trinkle Marsh, Spike, Hornback, and Nagle preserves; and for phase 1 due diligence on the proposed purchase of the Trolz property in Manchester Township.

The commission also approved taking the next steps on several additional natural areas preservation proposals. Those steps include applying for (1) federal funds to help cover the purchase of development rights on farmland in Superior and Lima townships, and (2) a state grant to help develop the Staebler Farm, located in Superior Township, into an active park. Commissioners also approved the purchase of a conservation easement on 82 additional acres from the Ford Road Property LLC in Superior Township.

Also discussed was a proposal to help the city of Ann Arbor buy the 8-acre Taylor property on Geddes Road, east of Huron Parkway. The land is immediately east of the city’s Ruthven nature area, and is seen as a priority because a section of Miller Creek runs through it. The creek is subject to flash flooding during heavy rains, and has been the focus of stormwater management efforts by the city and the county water resources commissioner. Conan Smith, a county commissioner who also serves on WCPARC, questioned whether this is an appropriate project for the county’s natural areas preservation program. He indicated that it might be better for the city to partner with the water resources commissioner on this project instead.

In other action, commissioners voted to increase fees at WCPARC facilities, including the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, and Independence Lake and Rolling Hills parks. A staff report indicated that the fees would still be lower than comparable public recreation facilities in this region. [.pdf of fee schedule]

WCPARC members were briefed about applications to fund eight projects through the Connecting Communities initiative, under which WCPARC helps pay for non-motorized transportation trails throughout the county. The city of Ann Arbor is among those applicants, asking for $300,000 to fund development of trails along the Allen Creek greenway, including at the city-owned 721 N. Main site. Final decisions will be made at WCPARC’s March meeting.

WCPARC members also re-elected their officers, set the 2013 meeting calendar, and got updates on two months’ worth of activities at the county’s parks and recreation facilities – including a report on flooding at the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center in January, and steps toward developing a new recreation center in Ypsilanti.

The meeting was attended by six of the current nine-member commission. One vacancy remains to be filled on WCPARC by the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, which appoints all WCPARC members. A vote on that position is expected at the county board’s Feb. 20 meeting.

Natural Areas Preservation Program

Several items on the Feb. 12 agenda related to the county’s natural areas preservation program (NAPP), which is funded by a 10-year countywide millage of 0.2409 mill – most recently approved by voters in 2010. It raises about $3 million in annual revenues and has preserved about 2,500 acres of land since NAPP was established in 2000. That land includes both natural areas as well as farmland.

NAPP: Graichen and Heller Properties

The Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee (ALPAC) advises WCPARC on matters relating to the purchase of development rights on parcels of agricultural land in the county. ALPAC has recommended that WCPARC apply for 2013 federal funding for two properties: the Graichen property, 72 acres in Superior Township; and the Heller property, 190 acres in Lima Township. [.pdf of staff memo for Heller and Graichen properties]

Map showing the Graichen property in Superior Township, indicated in yellow. The map also highlights other nearby protected land, including WCPARC’s Meyer Preserve, Superior Township’s Cherry Hill Nature Preserve, and the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens. (Image from the WCPARC Feb. 12 meeting packet.)

The funds would come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). According to the FRPP website, the program “provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses.” It’s a common source of matching funds for farmland preservation, and is frequently tapped by the city of Ann Arbor’s greenbelt program.

According to the staff report from consultant Tom Freeman, WCPARC had in February 2012 given permission to proceed with appraisals and discussions with landowners as needed, so that ALPAC could make final acquisition recommendations for these two properties, along with five others. All seven properties were identified as high priority, using a scoring system that the commission previously approved. At WCPARC’s Feb. 12, 2013 meeting, Freeman showed maps of the local area, topography and soils, for each of the two properties.

The Robert and Opal Graichen property lies at the northwest corner of Vreeland and Leforge roads. The soil map prepared by the nonprofit Legacy Land Conservancy for WCPARC reports that the soils are all “prime and locally important.” WCPARC’s Meyer Preserve is less than a mile to the east on Vreeland; Superior Township’s Cherry Hill Nature Preserve is about the same distance to the north and west, helping to create what Freeman called the “developing Superior Township greenway.”

The 190-acre Else Heller property is in Lima Township, south of a line running from the west end of Liberty (at Guenther Road) to Lima Center Road; a piece of it extends across Guenther Road. The Legacy Land Conservancy’s soil map identifies 144 of the acres as “prime and locally important soils.” Freeman’s presentation highlighted the presence of Mill Creek on the north end of the property, and the proximity of the segment that is east of Guenther Road to Sutton Lake.

Freeman’s presentation concluded with a reminder that these purchases would come back to WCPARC for final approval, and that the matter before the commission tonight was to authorize submission of the grant application.

NAPP: Graichen and Heller Properties – Commission Discussion

Commissioner Jan Anschuetz asked about public access to this property, should the transaction go through. Freeman said the owners would have to agree to allow periodic public visits with prior arrangement, and that this was normally done for a naturalist to present a program. The Legacy Land Conservancy, he continued, does bus tours.

“Could they please tell us when they are going to do that?” Anschuetz asked. “It’s so hard to find out about these without a newspaper.” Freeman took the opportunity to say that once WCPARC was involved, there would be wider outreach.

By way of background, the purchase of development rights (PDR) is a common mechanism for protecting farmland, letting landowners keep their property for farming but preventing – via a conservation easement – its development. Because the landowners retain ownership of the property, the land is generally not open to the public, unless at the invitation of the owners.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved ALPAC’s recommendation to apply for 2013 FRPP funding for these two properties, and to authorize staff to perform any necessary due diligence to strengthen the application.

NAPP: Ford Road Property LLC

Tom Freeman presented a written report, slides, and a verbal description of a proposal regarding an 82-acre property in Superior Township on the north side of Ford Road east of Berry Road. It was nominated for purchase in February 2012 and WCPARC’s Natural Areas Technical Advisory Committee had recommended purchase of a conservation easement on the land. [.pdf of Ford Road Property staff memo]

Map showing two Ford Road Property LLC parcels (encircled) that the county is purchasing for its natural areas preservation program. A third parcel, which fronts Ford Road, is not part of this deal. The land is located in Superior Township.

Freeman reminded the commission that at their Dec. 11, 2012 meeting, WCPARC had approved outright purchase of two adjacent parcels totaling 65 acres. Freeman’s report stated that the agricultural portion of these 82 acres was not deemed appropriate for outright purchase through NAPP. Instead, the report continued, “purchase of a conservation easement on the agricultural portion of the Ford Road property would offer a valuable buffer to the recently purchased natural area [to the north].”

Superior Township has expressed a desire to have a farmer own the land, farm it and pay taxes on it, according to Freeman’s report. The current owner, Ford Road Property LLC, sees it as potential residential land. However,, a realtor has found a Superior Township-based farmer, Freeman said, who wants to farm it and is willing to sell the conservation easement. The land contains a stream that is part of the headwaters of the Rouge River. Access will be through Superior Township’s Schroeter Park, on the north side of land that WCPARC purchased in December, where there is already a parking lot. Bosserd Appraisal placed a value of $413,000 for a conservation easement on the 82 acres.

NAPP: Ford Road Property LLC – Commission Discussion

WCPARC president Bob Marans commented on the collective value of these purchases. “If you could look back a hundred years from now, this is huge,” he said. Freeman added that WCPARC would work with the township to continue to build high quality trails, and that the property would be available for seasonal pre-arranged tours; he planned to meet with Superior Township officials the next day to talk further about this.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the motion authorizing staff to prepare a purchase offer for the southern portion, approximately 82 acres of the Ford Road Property LLC at a price of $413,000 for a conservation easement, contingent on the completion of all necessary due diligence of the property and the commission’s final approval.

NAPP: Taylor Property

This 8-acre parcel on the north side of Geddes Road is immediately east of the city of Ann Arbor’s Ruthven nature area. The current owners, who could by right put residential development on the land, contacted the city, which “immediately asked us to partner with them,” Freeman reported. [.pdf of staff memo for Taylor property]

WCPARC’s Natural Areas Technical Advisory Committee (NATAC) identified the property as a high priority in a Nov. 12, 2012 memo. The Ann Arbor Township property, Freeman said, is densely overgrown with invasive species so much that walking it is difficult. Most significantly, Miller Creek runs through the property, under Geddes Road, and into the Huron River at the Gallup Park parking lot. The creek is subject to flash flooding during large rain events, in spite of work done on it by the county water resources commission and the city of Ann Arbor, Freeman said, adding that the city wants to take the lead on this. [The city's acquisition of parkland and land preservation efforts are funded through a 30-year open space and parkland preservation millage that voters approved in 2003.]

By way of background, according to the nonprofit Huron River Watershed Council, Miller Creek “is degraded due to a high amount of impervious surface in its watershed, and alterations to the stream channel. Stream monitoring data show Millers Creek to be in poor condition overall. According to the city of Ann Arbor:

Millers Creek drains only 2.4 square miles, making it one of the smallest watersheds in the Huron River system. However, the creek is also the steepest tributary to the Huron, averaging a gradient of 52 feet per mile. The creek runs along Huron Parkway from Plymouth Road to the Huron River. The stream’s steep gradient, combined with extensive impervious surface in the watershed and straightening of the stream channel over time contribute to extremely flashy flows in Millers Creek during storm events.

NAPP: Taylor Property – Commission Discussion

At the WCPARC Feb. 12 meeting, Bob Marans asked Freemen, “How would NATAC have valued this [property] if the city had not approached us to partner?” Freeman’s response: “If this were out in the country, it would not be so attractive. What is valuable here is the location – this property has daily impact on the quality of the Huron River. The stream has been highly affected by development elsewhere in the city, which makes sediment flow into the [Huron] River.”

Map showing the location of the Taylor property in Ann Arbor Township, outlined in black within the black circle.

Freeman’s recommendation was that WCPARC contribute $27,500 – about 25% of the estimated $110,000 cost – to help the city buy the property, and in return obtain a guarantee that the property would always be open to the public, and that WCPARC’s contribution be recognized with a sign.

Conan Smith, who represents one of the Ann Arbor districts on the county board of commissioners, asked whether the property could be developed residentially, given that part of it is in the floodplain. Freeman indicated that it would be possible to build on the west side of the property. He continued: “We could do what we did with Malletts Creek at the County Farm Park, slowing the water down, allowing it to overflow its banks onto the west side of the property.” [The Malletts Creek bank stabilization project was discussed most recently at WCPARC's May 8, 2012 meeting.]

Smith replied: “Isn’t that engineering rather than natural area preservation?” Freeman allowed that treating this area “as we did with Malletts Creek would require a huge investment. What we can do [on the Taylor property] is keep the creek from being subjected to the additional hard surfaces of residential development.”

Smith said he “was not sold on this as NAPP” and that although he could support the next step to approve completing all necessary due diligence, he could not yet support the purchase itself. He said his preference is that he and Evan Pratt, the county water resources commissioner, and “one other person” approach the drain board and asked that the office of the water resources commissioner partner with the city on this property, rather than WCPARC. Smith mentioned that it would fit with the Huron River Green Infrastructure Drainage District, which uses tree plantings for stormwater management project within the city of Ann Arbor. [At its Dec. 3, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council approved petitioning the county water resources commissioner to proceed with this green infrastructure project, at a cost of $300,000.]

Freeman replied to Smith: “What I struggle with is once this [property] becomes available, it has a momentum. What is proposed here is for the city to purchase this to make it part of Ruthven, and we would partner in return for getting access.”

Outcome: Commissioner Jan Anschuetz moved to authorize “the option to work with water resources,” and there was unanimous approval.

Connecting Communities

Commissioners received a separate packet consisting of a background memo on the Connecting Communities program, and copies of six applications for funding, which covered eight proposed projects. [.pdf of staff memo]

According to the staff memo, in May 2009 WCPARC authorized the Connecting Communities initiative, through which it would make up to $600,000 available annually from 2010 through 2014 – a total of $3 million – toward the cost of eligible trail projects. According to the memo, “eligible projects will be those that accomplish the Commission’s primary objective of providing valuable non-motorized connections between communities and activity centers, offering a healthy alternative for recreation, transportation, fitness, and energy conservation.”

WCPARC developed criteria for selecting projects, which include:

• ten primary considerations (e.g. highway, river, railroad and other barrier crossings);
• fourteen types of projects generally not eligible (e.g. trails solely within existing local parks);
• six review criteria that applicants must use to document a compelling need for a project (e.g. that the project directly relates to the county’s important natural features, such as a river, and notes that the Huron River corridor is WCPARC’s highest priority)
• five secondary criteria that apply to high-ranking projects (e.g. project quality and land availability or encumbrances).

The process for selecting projects to be funded involves a staff review of the applications. The projects are then presented to the projects to the Greenways Advisory Committee, which provides input that staff uses to prioritize the applications and make recommendations to WCPARC for final approval.

Connecting Communities: Summary of Applications

The applications for 2013 include:

• Ann Arbor: $300,000 (of total cost of $1 million) for 1,500 feet of trail, part of a project for the “development of pathways, storm water features to improve the quality of Allen Creek…on property which will serve as a trailhead for the proposed Allen Creek Greenway.” The site includes city property at 721 N. Main. Paths will connect Felch Street to both North Main and west Summit Street. The proposal states that the city will also apply for a match from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Trust Fund (MDNRTF), and that the city will consider using the adopt-a-park program to help maintain the facility.
• Village of Dexter: $300,000 (the total cost) for the final 1,300 feet of trail connecting Dexter Huron Metropark to Dexter, as part of the countywide border-to-border trail. The trail will run from the current end of the trail to Central Street.
• Northfield Township: $230,000 (of total cost of $600,000) for 2,925 feet of trail along Barker Road in Whitmore Lake, connecting Whitmore Lake’s downtown with the Northfield Township Library and Whitmore Lake Elementary School. This is the third phase of a project that received $120,000 in 2010 and $250,000 in 2011.
• Pittsfield Township: $400,000 (of total cost of $1.8 million) for 1.8 miles of trail, phase 2 of the Lohr-Textile greenway, extending it east from the corner of Lohr and Textile, on Textile, to the Marshview Meadow Park and the Pittsfield Preserve. Other potential project funders include MDNRTF ($300,000) and MDOT/SEMCOG ($1,064,708). This project received $300,000 in 2010 and $290,000 in 2011.
• Superior Township: $300,000 for two projects: 2,700 feet of trail along the east side of Prospect Road from Clark Road to the north side of Berkshire Drive (total cost $406,000); and 2,200 feet of trail along the south side of Geddes Road from Andover Circle to the Ridge Road roundabout (total cost of $267,000).
• Ypsilanti Township: $295,000 for two projects totaling 4,032 feet (total cost of $310,000). One project (2032 feet) would run along the east side of Tuttle Hill Road from Textile Road north across South Huron River Drive and into Ford Lake Park; the other (1,000 feet) would run on the south side of Textile from just east of South Huron River Drive to the entrance of Lakeview mobile homes. The township received $100,000 in 2010 and $250,000 in 2011, and has pledged $100,000 for project engineering.

Connecting Communities: Commission Discussion

Commissioner Jan Anschuetz asked about the Ann Arbor application. “What if they don’t get the [MDNRTF] grant?” WCPARC director Bob Tetens replied: “Then they would not get our money. When we pledge, we put it on the table only until we know whether they get the other money. If they don’t, the money would roll into the next year.”

Outcome: There was no vote. WCPARC staff expects to make recommendations to the commission at the March 12, 2013 meeting.

Funds to Develop Staebler Farm

Planner Coy Vaughn presented information about the recommendation to prepare and submit an application to the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Trust Fund for funding to start development on part of the 98-acre Staebler farm site for active use. [.pdf of staff memo on MDNRTF application] [As background, the site is in Superior Township, east of Prospect Road and south of M-14. It is bisected by Plymouth Road and edges both Frains Lake and Murray Lake. For additional background, see Chronicle coverage: "County Parks: Options for Staebler Farm"]

From left: Bob Marans, president of the Washtenaw County parks and recreation commission, and WCPARC director Bob Tetens.

WCPARC acquired the land in 2001, Vaughn said, and has “invested considerable effort and funds to repair and preserve a loafing barn, cattle barn, horse barn, milk house, and corn crib.” Vaughn’s report suggested that completing a master site development plan and providing entrance drives to allow public access would cost $750,000. The proposal is to apply for $300,000 from MDNRTF – the maximum grant level that’s awarded.

Both Vaughn and WCPARC director Bob Tetens expressed optimism about the success of the application. “We’ve had a lot of success the last few years, and not been denied in several years,” Vaughn said. Tetens chimed in: “Not since I’ve been here.” Vaughn noted that the WCPARC applications line up well with the MDNRTF grant criteria.

The outline plan that Vaughn presented put active uses on the north side of Plymouth Road, retaining the south side (where Don Staebler still lives) for pasturage and hayfields. He reviewed previous thinking about the site: to preserve the character of the historic property with active farming that would also support the local food movement; to celebrate the agricultural heritage of the county and the evolution of agricultural practices; to provide park amenities; and to take advantage of the water resources on the site. Vaughn added that WCPARC staff have met with Superior Township staff to be sure they agree with these ideas.

The first phase of development, Vaughn said, would be a trail, fishing pier, pavilion, parking, interpretive signs, and further improvement of structures on the site.

Funds to Develop Staebler Farm: Commission Discussion

Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked whether the site would have to be rezoned. No, replied Vaughn, but the township might require a site plan. Commissioner Jan Anschuetz asked whether the grant would be for the first phase, and the answer was affirmative. Tetens clarified that the application is due April 1, and there has to be a public hearing, which will occur at the March 12 WCPARC meeting.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously voted to authorize staff to prepare and submit a grant application, and to hold a public hearing at the March 12 commission meeting.

Fees for WCPARC Facilities

Director Bob Tetens introduced the topic by saying: “We have to raise fees, but we don’t want to raise very much.” Coy Vaughn, WCPARC planner, added that with all the improvements and additions to Independence Lake and Rolling Hills parks, which will have facilities they did not have previously, staff compared costs at similar facilities in the area to make the fee proposal. [.pdf of staff memo on proposed fee schedule]

For Rolling Hills, which has had no price increase since 2003, the proposal calls for raising all fees by $1 (but only 50 cents on weekdays after 5 p.m.). The proposal also includes increasing rent for the Great Room from $100 to $125, and eliminating the hourly rental option.

Independence Lake Blue Heron Bay – the new spray-and-play zone – will have a separate entrance fee per day of $4 for county residents and $5 for non-residents. Weekdays after 5 p.m., the fee would be discounted by $1. Children age and under can enter at no charge.

At the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, the annual fees for county residents would be increased as follows:

• Adult (16-61): from $220 to $230, renewal at $220.
• Youth, senior, disabled: from $165 to $180, renewal at $170.
• Over 80: from $50 to $60.
• Family (up to 6, no more than two over 18): from $480 to $495, renewal at $485.
• Non-resident fees will be 50% more than resident fees in all categories.
• Daily fees for adults will go from $7 to $8, and those for youth, seniors and disabled from $5 to $6, with non-resident daily fees $1 higher.
• Independent personal trainer and private swim instructor fees will go up 10%.

The staff report stated that “among the facilities similar to MLM, only the Livonia Rec Center charges less for adult passes, $206.” The report noted that the Livonia facility is heavily subsidized by the city’s general fund. “With an average adult fee of $266 among the public rec centers,” the report continued, “and an average of $538 among the local private gyms, we can justify an increase….”

The report contained charts of fees for publicly owned facilities in Canton, Dearborn, Livonia, Saline, and Troy, averaging $266. Locally, fees for Ann Arbor’s YMCA, Anytime Fitness, Arbor Fit, Liberty Athletic, One-on-One, Planet Fitness, and Washtenaw Community College averaged $538.

Commission discussion was limited to brief comments, agreeing that people are still getting a bargain at MLMRC.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the new fee structure at all locations.

Financial Reports

Because WCPARC’s January 2013 meeting had been canceled, commissioners reviewed financial reports for two months.

Financial Reports: Claims in January 2013

Total claims for January reached $3,912,657 – including $2,265,456 for capital improvements at park facilities. WCPARC director Bob Tetens gave a report to commissioners with highlights, including road and trail construction at Rolling Hills and Independence Lake parks; and bridge replacement at Sharon Mills. [.pdf of January 2013 claims report]

In addition, WCPARC paid $121,000 to the city of Ann Arbor for stormwater fees that had been paid by county facilities on behalf of WCPARC; the city will, in turn, repay the county. In addition, WCPARC paid $373,591 toward partnerships, the second largest monthly expense, including a total of $340,000 to Chelsea, Northfield Township, and Saline.

The natural areas preservation program’s expenses in January were $1,003,799. This included closing on the first Ford Road purchase, approved by WCPARC in December 2012; constructing an overlook in Trinkle Marsh; $83,000 for a boardwalk and parking lot at the Spike Preserve; a $64,000 contribution to a conservation easement on the Hornback property in Salem Township; $40,000 to Mannik and Smith for a phase I environmental assessment on the Trolz property west of Manchester; and improvements at the Nagle and Squires preserves.

Bob Marans asked whether, now that all reports are in electronic form, the printed report could include more details, rather than getting them in an oral report. Tetens agreed to do that.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the claims for January.

Financial Reports: Claims in February 2013

The claims report for February 2013 totaled only $94,588 for parks facilities and functions, plus $119,215 for NAPP – a total for the month of $213,802. The NAPP expense included acquiring a conservation easement in the Drake Preserve. There was no commission discussion. [.pdf of February 2013 claims report]

Outcome: Unanimous approval of the claims for February.

Financial Reports: Year-end 2012

Tetens supplemented the written report with comments on the financials at the end of WCPARC’s fiscal year – Dec. 31, 2012. There were separate reports for parks facilities and functions, and the natural areas preservation program (NAPP). [.pdf of WCPARC fund balance statements]

Parks began with a fund balance of $20,412,417 on Jan. 1, 2012, and ended the year with a projected (unaudited) balance of $12,245,536. On the revenue side, property taxes exceeded budget expectations by $241,863, and fees by $376,329, putting total revenue at $10,219,773. Actual expenses totaled $17,690,375. The top two expenses were $11,091,512 for land development and $4,041,245 for personnel services.

WCPARC planner Meghan Bonfiglio and commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr.

In addition, WCPARC had $6.7 million in an operating reserve, and $50,000 for partnerships, both functioning as expenses. Conan Smith asked Tetens whether WCPARC gets a report from county treasurer Catherine McClary on its investments. Tetens replied that he had not requested that, and was “not sure she can break it out by department.”

NAPP’s beginning fund balance was $9,374,016. Its revenue, primarily property taxes, was $3,357,670. Expenses were well under projections, primarily because land acquisitions, with a budget of $3.2 million, only used $1,638,416. The projected fund balance of $10,818,369 includes money set aside for land stewardship and management.

As background, WCPARC administers the natural areas preservation program (NAPP), which the county board established in 2000. NAPP is funded with a 10-year millage of 0.2409 mills, which voters renewed in 2010. Since 2002 – the first year that millage proceeds were received – the millage has generated about $37 million in revenues. The ordinance enables WCPARC to accumulate these funds, and expend them as properties are identified. With that funding, WCPARC has protected 2,459 acres, often in partnership with other organizations.

Recreation Reports

WCPARC staff gave several reports and updates related to the county’s recreation facilities.

Recreation Reports: Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center

Bob Tetens characterized use and revenue from the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center on Washtenaw Avenue as he has in the past – “stable.” [.pdf of MLM Rec Center report]

In 2012, there were 5,093 memberships that brought in $737,305 in revenue. That’s down from 5,584 memberships in 2011 and $750,008 in revenue. In 2010, memberships were 5,368 and revenue was $736,580. Daily passes and revenue have also declined: 28,071 passes in 2012 ($177,501); 29,748 passes in 2011 ($187,283); and 38,174 in 2010 ($199,364).

In 2012, the center reported overall participation of 325,234 resulting in revenue of $1,218,007. That compares to a count of 339,946 people in 2011 ($1,244,205 in revenue); and 333,865 in 2010 ($1,245,167 in revenue). So the center saw a 4.3% decline in participation and a 2.1% decline in revenue from 2011 to 2012.

The January 2013 report showed participation by 33,151 people and revenue of $157,372, compared to 34,901 ($142,232) in January 2012 and 35,430 ($147,811) in 2011.

Conan Smith asked about the decline in daily passes, especially in light of the concurrent decrease in memberships. Bob Marans asked whether any surveys are taken in the building, to gauge usage.

Tetens said he did not think the decline was due to competition from the Ann Arbor YMCA or the Washtenaw Community College facility, because they are “a different market from Meri Lou Murray.” He pointed to warmer weather in 2012 as affecting use of MLMRC.

Recreation Reports: Pierce Lake Golf Course

Tetens called the report on the Pierce Lake Golf Course “very very good,” with 2012 showing the greatest use and highest revenues ever for the course. In 2012, 19,278 golfers paid $399,242 in green fees, compared to 15,836 ($346,049) in 2011 and 18,477 ($338,905) in 2010. [.pdf of Pierce Lake report]

Retail operations took in $110,589 in 2012, compared to $89,523 in 2011 and $92,325 in 2010. Total revenue in 2012 was $614,620, up from $526,501 in 2011 and $532,415 in 2010. Tetens attributed the increase to the investments in food and beverage, including a stone patio and liquor license obtained in the summer of 2010. He expressed hope that business would increase in the future because the pavilion’s size is now twice what it was.

Recreation Reports: Independence Lake Park

Both attendance and revenue at Independence Lake Park continue to increase: 17,743 ($137,217) in 2012; 17,019 ($132,602) in 2011; and 16,886 ($132,419) in 2010. [.pdf of Independence Lake Park report]

The percent of annual users who are non-residents of the county was 6.2% in 2012; 5.1% in 2011, and 4.5% in 2010. The percent of non-resident daily users is higher, though it has shown a decrease in recent years: 28.8% in 2012, 32.1% in 2011, and 31.6% in 2010.

Annual revenue peaked in 2012 at $211,578. That compares to $209,960 in 2011, and $201,731 in 2010. Tetens called attention to the increase in day camp attendance: 928 in 2012, up from 600 in 2011 and 495 in 2010.

Recreation Reports: Rolling Hills Park and Water Park

The park section of Rolling Hills Park saw 34,788 attendees and $268,288 in revenue in 2012, about the same as 2011, with attendance of 34,844 ($267,130). [.pdf of Rolling Hills report]

In 2010, attendance was 33,780 ($259,990). County non-residents accounted for 5.41% of the annual users, but 46.99% of the daily users. In 2011, non-residents were 3.95% of annual attendance and 46.55% daily; and in 2010, 3.89% annual and 46.29% daily.

The water park section of Rolling Hills, which requires an additional entrance fee, had 114,522 users who paid a total of $780,122 to enter. In 2011 there were 115,012 uses ($780,995), and 113,635 ($761,453) in 2010.

Overall revenue at Rolling Hills was $1,322,131 in 2012; $1,310,515 in 2011; and $1,249,894 in 2010.

Outcome: All recreation reports were received for filing.

Project and Activities Updates

WCPARC meetings typically include a range of updates on parks and recreation projects that are underway, as well as activities within the system.

Project and Activities Updates: Development Projects

Bob Tetens reported on continuing work at Independence Lake Park, where a new water park with an administration/ticket sales and a bathhouse building are under construction, along with spray and play water features that include interactive devices – kids can use their hands to control the amount of water. Tetens highlighted the details such as images of herons, cattails, dragonflies and butterflies in the railings; the standing-seam metal roof; and the water slides, which are the main attractions. One is completely enclosed – commission member Jan Anschuetz called it the “panic attack” feature. Tetens underlined the fact that the play area is fenced off so kids can’t wander into the lake. There is “a beautiful new grill in the concession area,” he concluded.

At Rolling Hills Park, which will have a soft opening the weekend before Memorial Day, there is a new 450-space parking lot leading to a more dramatic entry with a courtyard, a new 32-foot water slide tower, and a new park headquarters building. Tetens also noted, with appreciation to the commission, the value of the new snow removal and snow grading equipment, which has been used this winter.

[See Chronicle coverage of WCPARC's July 24, 2012 meeting, when the projects at Rolling Hills and Independence Lake parks were discussed in detail.]

Project and Activities Updates: East County Recreation Center

The concept for a new recreation center just east of downtown Ypsilanti continues to move forward. It would be at the northwest corner of the 38-acre Water Street development site. [For additional background on this project, see Chronicle coverage: "Public Gives Input on East County Rec Center"]

Tetens updated WCPARC on one component: A section of the border-to-border trail that will run from Riverside Park, across Michigan Avenue, and along the west side of the proposed rec center on the east bank of the Huron River. Currently the county is negotiating with the owner of Fischer Honda for an easement across his property that would contain a bridge, and with the Michigan Dept. of Transportation for a HAWK signal. [A HAWK – High-Intensity Activated crossWalK beacon – is a signal that a pedestrian can activate to stop traffic and allow a safe crossing.]

Tetens said he is very optimistic about getting permission from MDOT, because the pedestrian counts met the warrants for establishing such a crossing. Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. called attention to the need to coordinate the two efforts: “Before we give money to Honda, we have to be sure we can build the bridge and do the crossing.”

Tetens said they would use an escrow account to hold payment for the property until the bridge and the crossing were assured. Several commission members commented on the increased activity and number of residents in downtown Ypsilanti. Jan Anschuetz said “You can’t rent a loft, and Linda [French] is putting $1.2 million into her building [the Sidetrack Bar]. You can’t park in Ypsi at ten at night.”

Project and Activities Updates: Ann Arbor Skatepark

The proposed Ann Arbor skatepark, to be located on the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor – across Dexter Road from Aldi’s – has been approved in concept by the Ann Arbor city council, Tetens reported, and will be released for bids next month. He also said the city is asking for state money to share the cost of handling stormwater.

Ann Arbor skatepark sign at the northwest corner of Veterans Memorial Park.

Coy Vaughn showed a slide of the proposal, and commissioner Bob Marans commented that the design is very different from the original concept.

Tetens responded: “People will drive for three or four hours to use this – there is nothing like it anywhere near here.” Jan Anschuetz stated that if WCPARC hadn’t offered a matching grant, this project wouldn’t have happened. [The county put forward $400,000 in matching funds for the project.] Tetens laughed, saying “that was the year we offered matching grants on a lot of projects and never thought so many of them would come through.” Conan Smith praised Ann Arbor parks and recreation manager Colin Smith, saying he was “awesome.” [The two Smiths are not related.]

Project and Activities Updates: Flood at Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center

Bob Tetens told commissioners that “it was a quiet Friday morning [Jan. 25, 2013] when I got a call about 10 a.m. – we had to evacuate the rec center.” While Tetens narrated, Coy Vaughn showed video from a security camera that was aimed at the source of the water: a fire suppression system leak caused by extreme cold weather.

Tetens described the staff response, as excellent, saying it was so effective that the building re-opened at 5 p.m. that day. “When I walked in,” he said, “I thought we would be closed for a week or more.” He went on to describe the extent of the damage, when the water extended into the “main intersection” of the building, down the stairs, cascading into utility rooms and locker rooms, into heat outlets, light fixtures, and even the elevator. Staff streamed in from field operations and all the parks. They stopped the flow of water, removed water in the building, cleaned outlets and restored electricity, and had the elevator inspected before they could reopen.

Project and Activities Updates: Paving Jennings Road

Tetens reported on a meeting with the county road commission to plan for paving about two miles of Jennings Road. [Jennings Road provides the best route to the county's Independence Lake Park for anyone living south of North Territorial.]

He reported on an agreement in which WCPARC, Webster Township, and the road commission to split the cost three ways, with the road commission “fronting the money and the other two paying them back over three years.” The matter, he said, would come to WCPARC for final approval in a couple of months.

Commissioner Conan Smith asked whether anyone was working with the residents. Tetens replied: “That’s the township’s job. From what I hear, people want it paved, but the next thing we’ll hear is people are driving too fast once it’s paved.”

Project and Activities Updates: Stewardship Proposal

Tetens reported on the result of WCPARC’s Sept. 2013 proposal to the county board of commissioners to modify the NAPP ordinance. [See Chronicle coverage: "Change to Natural Areas Ordinance OK'd"]

The change directs specific fund allocations between acquiring and maintaining natural areas (75%) and agricultural land (25%). Funds used for natural areas are further divided: 93% for acquisition, and 7% for stewardship and maintenance.  WCPARC had suggested the 93%/7% split be changed to 75%/25%. However, as Tetens reported, the county board’s response was to instead give WCPARC discretion about how to spend the 75% of all NAPP funds that can be used for natural areas.

Tetens told WCPARC he would come back with a proposed organizational structure to implement the change. He indicated that there would be two steps: first, adding “a couple of positions.” But also, he said, “we won’t spend all the funds we have available for stewardship or management, so that by 2020 [when the NAPP millage expires] we won’t be forced into asking for re-authorization. We hope to save enough money to pay for stewardship forever, or, in the worst case, ask for a lower millage. There is only so much land we can buy”

Conan Smith, who also serves on the county board of commissioners, complimented Tetens: “Your structure is very smart, dividing this up into three parts: purchase, manage, and stewardship.”

New Members, Election of Officers

WCPARC’s Feb. 12 meeting was the first recent one for new member Conan Smith, whose presence brought the number of WCPARC members up to nine. Smith had previously served on WCPARC, prior to his stint as chair of the county board of commissioners for the past two years. When he rotated off that chairmanship at the end of 2012, he asked his colleagues on the county board to reappoint him to WCPARC. For the past two years that position on WCPARC had been held by county commissioner Dan Smith.

All members of WCPARC are appointed by the county board of commissioners. At their Dec. 5, 2012 meeting, the county board appointed former county water resources commissioner Janis Bobrin as a community member to WCPARC. Evan Pratt, who was elected water resources commissioner in November 2102, took a seat on WCPARC by virtue of that position – it’s mandated that the water resources commissioner serve on WCPARC. Leaving WCPARC at the end of 2012 were former county commissioner Barbara Bergman and public member Jimmie Maggard.

Of WCPARC’s 10 membership positions, up to three can be from the county board. At their Jan. 16, 2013 meeting, the county commissioners made appointments to all of the county’s boards and commissions, including WCPARC. Currently, commissioners Conan Smith and Rolland Sizemore Jr. serve on WCPARC.

One vacancy on WCPARC remains to be filled by the county board. A vote on that position is expected at the board’s Feb. 20 meeting, for a term ending Dec. 31, 2014.

At WCPARC’s Feb. 12 meeting, president Bob Marans announced that the time had come to elect new officers. Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. responded by moving to re-elect all of the current officers: Marans (president), Patricia Scribner (vice president), and Nelson K. Meade (secretary).

Outcome: Without discussion, the motion passed unanimously. 

Meeting Calendar for 2013

WCPARC’s Jan. 8, 2013 meeting had been cancelled for lack of business. So the meeting calendar for 2013 was presented for approval on Feb. 12. The commission meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Remaining meetings are scheduled for March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10. Bob Tetens reminded WCPARC that usually either the July or August meeting is skipped.

Outcome: Without discussion, commissioners approved the 2013 meeting calendar.

Present: Robert Marans, Patricia Scribner, Rolland Sizemore, Jr., Nelson Meade, Jan Anschuetz, Conan Smith.

Absent: Janis Bobrin, Evan Pratt, Fred Veigel. [There also is one vacancy on the commission.]

Staff present: Director Robert Tetens, deputy director Coy Vaughn, planner Meghan Bonfiglio, and consultant Tom Freeman.

Next meeting: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. in the county parks and recreation department’s office at 2230 Platt Road in Ann Arbor, in the County Farms property.

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The city considers its proposal for 721 N. Main to be a strong candidate for the Connecting Communities grant, because it incorporates paths and trails through the site that could potentially be extended to connect to the cross-county Border-to-Border Trail.  [.jpg of conceptual 721 N. Main site plan]

The conceptual site plan includes the following: (1) open space on the floodway portion of the site; (2) floodway portion of the site used for stormwater management; (3) trail connection from Felch and Summit streets encourages future connections to Border‐to‐Border Trail, looping trail through the site; (4) areas not identified as lawn, stormwater management, or other use are assumed to be a native prairie-type landscape; (5) interpretive elements will be included; (6) parking is proposed to be provided off Summit, outside of the floodplain – parking is prohibited in the floodway; and (7) recommendations for future use of the existing building will be based on additional investigations.

The recommendation to apply for the grants stems from the work of a task force appointed by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, to study an area much broader than just the 721 N. Main site. The larger area includes the North Main corridor, extending to the Huron River and including the MichCon property. The connections from 721 N. Main to the Border-to-Border Trail might be given a clearer vision when the task force delivers its recommendation to the city council in the summer of 2013. The task force was asked to provide a recommendation on the 721 N. Main site earlier than that, due to grant application deadlines.

The Connecting Communities grant application is due by the end of the year, while the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant is due April 1, 2013. Historically, Ann Arbor has competed successfully for the statewide grants, last year receiving two MNRTF grants, each for $300,000. One was for renovations to the Gallup Park boating facilities, and the other was for the skatepark to be built in Veterans Memorial Park. Construction on the skatepark is expected to begin in the spring of 2013.

Since 1976, the MNRTF has awarded about $0.4 billion statewide. Of that, about $19 million (4.4%) has been awarded to projects in Washtenaw County. Of the projects in Washtenaw County, those in the city of Ann Arbor have received $6.4 million (32.3%). [.jpg of pie chart of statewide NRTF allocations by county] [.jpg of pie chart of countywide NRTF allocations by jurisdiction]

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]