A pole for disposing of cigarette butts is placed outside the Ann Street entrance to Ann Arbor’s city hall building.

Smoking within a specified distance of certain locations is punishable under the new ordinance through a $25 civil fine. Those locations include: (1) bus stops; (2) entrances, windows and ventilation systems of the Blake Transit Center; (3) entrances, windows and ventilation systems any city-owned building; and (4) areas of public parks where signs have been posted as determined by the city administrator. Except for bus stops, the specified distance is 20 feet. For bus stops, the distance is 10 feet.

Community service could be ordered instead of the payment of a fine. The amount of the fine was reduced during deliberations at the April 21, 2014 meeting through an amendment suggested by Stephen Kunselman (Ward 3), who argued that the city charter of Ann Arbor sets a fine for use of marijuana at $25 for the first offense.

A citation could be issued only if someone doesn’t stop smoking immediately when asked to stop by a police officer.

Action giving final approval of the ordinance came at the council’s April 21, 2014 meeting after a public hearing was held, during which six people spoke.

The ordinance also authorizes the city administrator to have signs posted designating certain parks or portions of parks as off limits for outdoor smoking, and to increase the distance from entrances to city buildings where outdoor smoking is prohibited. Enforcement of the ordinance at these additional locations would take place only if signs are posted.

The initial approval of the ordinance had come at the council’s April 7, 2014 meeting after it had been postponed on March 3, 2014, and before that on Feb. 3, 2014. The initial approval came over dissent from Sumi Kailasapathy (Ward 1), Jane Lumm (Ward 2) and Jack Eaton (Ward 4). They cited concern that enforcement of the smoking law could distract from other policing duties and could have a disparate impact on the homeless population.

Chuck Warpehoski (Ward 5), sponsor of the new local law, had appeared before the city’s park advisory commission on Feb. 25, 2014 to brief commissioners on the proposal and solicit feedback.

An existing Washtenaw County ordinance already prohibits smoking near entrances, windows and ventilation systems, according to the staff memo accompanying the resolution – but the county’s ordinance can be enforced only by the county health department. The memo further notes that the Michigan Clean Indoor Air Act does not regulate outdoor smoking.

Ellen Rabinowitz, interim health officer for Washtenaw County, attended the April 7 meeting and spoke to councilmembers about the county’s experience. She supported the city ordinance, as did Cliff Douglas, director of the University of Michigan’s Tobacco Research Network. Douglas addressed the council during public commentary and answered questions later in the meeting on April 7. He also attended the April 21 meeting, again speaking in support of the ordinance.

Final approval of the ordinance came over dissent from Eaton and Lumm.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron.

A sign at Ypsilanti's Water Street property indicating that this will be a future segment of Washtenaw County's Border to Border Trail. A portion of the site adjacent to the Huron River is being considered for a possible new county recreation center. (Photos by Mary Morgan.)

The commission heard from faculty of the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, who will lead a team of six students in developing a conceptual plan for the rec center by the end of December. They also heard from deputy parks and rec director Coy Vaughn about the steering committee and working groups that will oversee and coordinate the design team’s work, and ensure adequate participation by community members and other stakeholders, including the Ann Arbor YMCA. Some commissioners indicated that community input was especially important for this project.

Among the meeting’s action items, the commission approved the acquisition of additional land through the county’s natural areas preservation program, in partnership with other governmental entities, including the Ann Arbor greenbelt program. The properties include 23 acres in Ann Arbor Township and 33 acres in Northfield Township – both owned by J.A. Bloch & Co. – and the 35-acre Sloan property in Scio Township.

Additional items included a report from parks and rec director Bob Tetens about the department’s help in cleaning up after the March 15 tornado touchdown in Dexter; an update on improvement projects and activities at park facilities and preserves; and the latest milestones in a project to connect the Border-to-Border Trail in the village of Dexter, including a new bridge.

Other major action in the meeting included a review of the parks and rec budget to date, through the first quarter of the fiscal year. Tetens reported that the unusually warm weather this year had two effects: much less participation and revenue from Rolling Hills winter park compared to the last two years; and much more activity and revenue at the Pierce Lake Golf Course, which was also in part related to the March 15 tornado’s damage to other golf courses in the area.

Eastern County Recreation Center

By way of background, the site for a proposed new county recreation center is in downtown Ypsilanti, on the south side of Michigan Avenue with the Huron River flowing along the west side of the site. The center would be located on city-owned property in the Water Street redevelopment project. The project was first officially pitched to the Ypsilanti city council last fall. [See Chronicle coverage: "Ypsi Council To Be Briefed on Rec Center."] The county currently operates the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, which opened in 1991 at the corner of Washtenaw Avenue and Platt Road on Ann Arbor’s east side.

At the WCPARC’s April 10 meeting, Craig Borum – a professor of architecture and director of the University of Michigan master of architecture program – provided commissioners with an overview of the project. He began by introducing two assistant professors of architecture and urban planning who would be involved with the project: Maria Arquero and Jen Maigret.

The faculty will work with a team of six students: four in the master of architecture program, one in the master of urban planning program, and one in a joint program of urban planning and natural resources and the environment. WCPARC president Bob Marans, a UM professor emeritus of architecture, spoke of the value of the multi-disciplinary approach this team would take.

Borum underlined the complexity of the student project, which is compounded by its tight timeframe: they must finish by the end of December. The UM Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is helping to fund the project by paying all the students to work through the summer, he said, and for one of them to continue through December. Other faculty would also participate, he added, including experts in business, real estate, and landscape architecture.

Borum used slides from a design project for a school in Trenton, N.J., to illustrate the principles of their process. He described those principles as a “transparent relationship between data analysis and our qualitative design process”; an emphasis on “visualization and communication through two- and three-dimensional representation techniques”; and an “emphasis on multiple expertise and an interdisciplinary team.” He showed slides of the models for the Trenton school project, including one model that was seven feet long, which included images of people using the spaces. The presentation, he said, was designed to show those who would use the school what it would be like for students to move through the spaces during a typical day.

The whole point, Borum said, is to “communicate the ideas and intentions behind the design, to build complex relationships that are meaningful.” They hope to do similar visualizations and models for the project in Ypsilanti. He also showed examples of their work in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighborhood, which they began by a careful analysis of land use, including vacant land.

Borum provided a schedule and timeline for the rec center project:

• May: Site analysis, including geographic information systems (GIS) assessment of soil groups, location of the water table, the planned location for the county’s Border-to-Border Trail, and an examination of historic aerial photos.
• June: The team will work on programming aspects: indoor and outdoor recreation, community and educational uses, parking, user capacity and more as they discover it.
• July: Community involvement, with scheduled public meetings and presentations, including ones with current stakeholders such as the Ann Arbor YMCA and potential stakeholders such as Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.
• Aug.-Sept.: Outreach will continue with publications and exhibits.
• Sept.-Dec.: Conceptual plans will be reviewed, revised and finalized, aiming for completion by the end of December.

The total cost for Borum’s team will be $40,000. WCPARC will cover $10,000 and the Taubman College will pitch in $15,000. The final $15,000 may come from a pending grant application to the University of Michigan’s vice president for research.

Bob Tetens, WCPARC director, told commissioners that deputy director Coy Vaughn would later describe the working groups he was putting together. Vaughn said that Cathi Duchon, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor YMCA, had recently worked on a similarly complex plan and site, and that WCPARC would apply the lessons learned from that project – the working groups would serve as a sounding board. There will be monthly reports to the WCPARC, Vaughn said, and perhaps quarterly reports to the Ypsilanti city council.

Eastern County Recreation Center: Commission Discussion

Barbara Levin Bergman, who also serves on the county board of commissioners, asked how new students would be able to build on previous work. Bob Marans replied that they had chosen the students carefully – they already know each other and have worked together before. Craig Borum added that this is not “just a class” for the students; this is “what they will do as professionals” and they will be paid. “They will be interns as they would be in an architect’s office.”

The University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning rents space in the Liberty Lofts building, at the corner of Liberty and First in Ann Arbor. Students developing the concept design for the county recreation center in Ypsilanti will work out of an office here part of the time.

Coy Vaughn added that the students will work out of an office that the Taubman College has in the building connected to Liberty Lofts in Ann Arbor [at the southwest corner of Liberty and South First Street].

Janice Anschuetz then asked whether the team would have a place to work in Ypsilanti, because that’s where the project is and that’s where the community members are. Bob Tetens responded that “both the city and Rich Fischer [of Fischer Honda on Michigan Avenue] are willing to give them space in Ypsilanti.” He noted that city planner Teresa Gillotti will be on half of the working groups. Anschuetz suggested that “You need to be careful in Ypsilanti. We have the [Eastern Michigan University] COB [College of Business] sitting there like a space bubble, and people in Ypsilanti want a building that is part of their town.”

To that, Tetens responded: “I am confident this will be an award-winning building.” And Marans added: “We may consider getting some citizen groups involved.” Jimmie Maggard suggested that they consider finding a place to display what’s being planned, after the concept is developed. Dan Smith, another representative from the county board of commissioners, said he was “thrilled with this approach, leveraging the brainpower in the county” and that he was “glad to see collaboration and $30,000 in labor going to people in the county.”

Bergman suggested hanging some of this information in Ypsilanti’s city hall now, showing what the process is. And Anschuetz suggested creating a Facebook page. Tetens clarified that this project is structured as a three-party agreement – with the city of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, and the Ann Arbor YMCA – and that they are committed to “collecting citizen input this summer.”

Maggard expressed thanks “to the two Bobs who have really pushed this and done a great job” – a reference to Tetens and Marans.

Eastern County Recreation Center: Working Groups

Later in the meeting, deputy director Coy Vaughn described the working groups, composed of WCPARC staff, city of Ypsilanti staff and perhaps others, who would coordinate the work of the team of planners from the UM Taubman College. There will be four such groups: (1) architecture and site planning, led by Tetens; (2) greenway and Border-to-Border Trail, led by Vaughn; (3) infrastructure and environment, led by superintendent of park planning Meghan Bonfiglio; and (4) partnerships and funding, also led by Tetens. This last group will work on grants, private gifts, and identify partners in addition to the YMCA, perhaps including Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College, which might want to use classrooms in the new building.

The discussion among commissioners identified the need to select people from the Ypsilanti community. Patricia Scribner asked how people would be chosen. Tetens replied that Vaughn had made a presentation to the Ypsilanti city council and that councilmember Peter Murdoch had offered to serve. Vaughn added that there would be room for representation from the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. “There will be a cast of thousands,” Tetens joked. Marans suggested using a slide show to demonstrate the plans as they evolved.

Vaughn said each of the working groups would have five to eight members, and would meet at least monthly. The leads of each group will form a steering committee, which will meet more often. Marans asked Vaughn to supply a list of the groups and their members, and said that WCPARC commissioners could participate as they wanted.

Financial Reports

Several reports were presented during the April 10 meeting that related to WCPARC finances.

Financial Reports: Claims

The claims report includes a list of expenses by park/facility/function, including administration, the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center, park maintenance, capital improvements, and each of the seven major WCPARC locations: Pierce Lake Golf Course, Independence Lake Park, Rolling Hills Park, Parker Mill, Sharon Mills, Staebler Farm, and the Swift Run Dog Park. [.pdf of April 2012 claims report]

There is a separate budget for each of the two components of the natural areas preservation program: (1) natural areas and preserves, overseen by the natural areas technical advisory committee (NATAC); and (2) farmland preservation, overseen by the agricultural land preservation advisory Committee (ALPAC). In each category, there is a line item for acquisition and another for preserve management.

Outcome: The commission unanimously approved the expenses in the claims report.

Financial Report: Year-to-Date vs. Budget

The second part of the financial report compared expenditures for the year-to-date with the budgeted amounts. The fiscal year, which mirrors the calendar year, began with a fund balance of $20,421,471. The budget projects ending the year with a fund balance of $6,052,350, with projected revenue of $9,469,000 and projected expenses of $15,513,721, plus contributions to operating reserves of $6,700,000 and to partnership commitments of $1,624,400. [.pdf of fund balance statement]

There was no substantive discussion on this item.

Financial Report: Recreation – March 2012

WCPARC director Bob Tetens provided a recreation report that covered the financial performance of the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center and Rolling Hills winter park.

Attendance at Rolling Hills was down, and therefore 2012 revenues are down about 50% from 2010 and 2011 because “we had no winter,” Tetens said. The chart below shows year-to-date (Jan.-March) revenue and the number of users at both locations, from 2010-2012.

This chart shows year-to-date revenues and user counts for Washtenaw County's Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center (MLMRC) and Rolling Hills Park. (Links to larger image.)

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Projects Update

During the April 10 meeting, WCPARC director Bob Tetens reported on several improvement projects the department has undertaken, including activity related to the Border-to-Border Trail and the county’s natural areas preservation program.

Projects Update: Parks & Recreation

At Rolling Hills Park, the ring road project is nearing completion. A grand opening dedication is set for Sunday, May 20 from 1-4 p.m. Sidock Architects are working on construction documents for the Rolling Hills water park expansion, and a contractor was engaged to complete upgrades to the sewage pump system.

Entrance to County Farm Park and the Washtenaw County parks and recreation administrative offices.

At Pierce Lake Golf Course, CMA Design Services is continuing work on the pavilion expansion.

A request for proposals (RFP) to repair the pedestrian bridge at Sharon Mills Park was reissued, and Food Art signed a contract to provide catering services there until Dec. 31, 2016.

At Independence Lake Park, SG Construction Services has started site-work operations for a “spray and play zone” project. Fourteen trees were transplanted from that area to elsewhere in the park. The new gravel parking lot for the disc golf course has been opened. Final grading and seeding work will be done this month. The lot will also provide overflow parking for the “spray and play zone” participants.

Work on the County Farm portion of the Mallets Creek drain project continues and should be done by mid-June.

A trail was staked in the field at Osborne Mill Preserve to connect a new parking lot to the existing trail accessing the Huron River.

Projects Update: Border-to-Border Trail

Tetens reported that construction of the Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail continues on the segment southeast of Dexter. The westside connector project in Dexter is complete and there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 24 – a day when over 700 people used the trail as part of the Dexter Wellness Walk.

Scio and Ypsilanti townships received awards from the WCPARC’s Connecting Communities program for trail construction. [WCPARC will make available up to $600,000 each year during the period from 2010 to 2014 – $3 million in total – toward the cost of eligible projects.]

Tetens also reported that WCPARC staff assisted the city of Ypsilanti in preparing a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application to extend the B2B from Michigan Avenue to Grove Road. The application was submitted to the state on April 2. [More information about MNRTF grants is available online.]

Projects Update: Natural Areas

There was also activity in the county’s natural areas preservation program (NAPP), Tetens reported. Closing for the acquisition of the Pellerito property, adjacent to the Meyer Preserve in Superior Township, was scheduled for April 10. [On Friday, April 13, the closing was announced as a deal involving the county, the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and the city of Ann Arbor greenbelt program. See Chronicle coverage: "Superior Greenway Deal Adds 100 Acres"]

The closing on a 22-acre property on Joy Road – the J.A. Bloch & Co. property, to be purchased in collaboration with Ann Arbor Township – is tentatively scheduled for April 20. [Later in this meeting, the commission approved the deal – see below.]

Additional items in this part of Tetens report included:

• Completion of a survey for the Arbor Vistas property, to be purchased with assistance from an MNRTF grant. [Late last year, WCPARC was recommended to receive an MNRTF grant of $2,275,000 to purchase this 54 acres in Ann Arbor Township. The parcel would connect three existing protected areas: Ann Arbor's Marshall Park; the University of Michigan's Horner Woods; and WCPARC's Goodrich Preserve.]
• Continuing an appraisal of a 70-acre property – the Baker property – in Lima Township, where identification of a recognized environmental condition on the site necessitated a “phase two” investigation.
• Engagement of a contractor to remove surficial debris from the Schrock addition to the Draper-Houston Meadows Preserve. Also, submission of a permit application to the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to construct a boardwalk west of the bridge over the Saline River in that preserve.
• Completion of landscape plan drawings for a parking lot for the Squiers Preserve, and preparation of construction drawings. [There is not yet public access to this preserve.]
• The start of staff work on trail layouts for Osborne Mill, the Clark & Avis Spike Preserve, Draper-Houston Meadows, and Trinkle Marsh Preserves. [The latter is located just east of Chelsea at Trinkle and Dancer Roads. It is not yet open to the public, pending construction of a parking lot and trail system.]

Tetens also listed other accomplishments in the last month: four programming days, a presentation for the Washtenaw County Historical Consortium, and attendance at the Ohio Environmental Council’s Vernal Pool workshop. The WCPARC’s website was updated, a planning intern is working on informational kiosks for parks, and two new park and facility coordinators – Lyla Ellens and Allison Richards – began work at the MLM Recreation Center.

Land Acquisition

During the meeting several parcels of land were considered for acquisition, using proceeds of a natural areas preservation program millage that voters renewed in 2010. [For a recent update on one aspect of this program, see Chronicle coverage: "County Working on Farmland Preservation."]

Land Acquisition: J.A. Bloch Property – Ann Arbor Township

The commission discussed the acquisition of the J.A. Bloch parcel, 23 acres in Ann Arbor Township. [J.A. Bloch & Co. is a land development firm based in Southfield.] Tom Freeman – who recently retired as WCPARC deputy director and now is working on special projects – described the parcel using photographs to supplement his written report and maps. The parcel’s north edge is Joy Road; it lies west of Gleaner Hall Road and its east edge is adjacent to Conrail property.

WCPARC staff and the natural areas technical advisory committee – which advises the commission on land acquisitions – made a number of site visits, Freeman reported, and feel it is a high priority property for acquisition for several reasons. Half of the parcel is a high quality woodlot with a diverse mix of tree types. It has a number of vernal ponds. In addition, the parcel is close to other property that’s already protected through conservation easements, so that “protection of this property would effectively enlarge the already existing preserve and enhance its value to the community,” Freeman said.

Further, Freeman reported that Ann Arbor Township and the Ann Arbor greenbelt program have expressed an interest in collaborating on protection of the property. The proposal, he said, is that Ann Arbor Township would purchase a conservation easement and then WCPARC would purchase the fee simple title to the property.

Williams & Associates had appraised the property at $173,000, or $7,450 an acre. The value of a conservation easement on the property is $99,000, leaving an after-easement value of $74,000.

Commission discussion, after a motion to authorize the purchase, focused on the nature of an earthen berm containing coal, which had warranted further investigation by Mannik & Smith Group, an environmental assessment firm. The firm determined that the coal had come from a tipped-over railroad car rather than a “facility” on the site, and therefore it does not represent a hazard nor require any remediation.

Outcome: A roll call vote led to unanimous approval of the proposal to acquire the property at a price of $74,000, contingent upon purchase of a conservation easement on the property by Ann Arbor Township.

Land Acquisition: J.A. Bloch Property – Northfield Township

Tom Freeman also presented information about another parcel owned by J.A. Bloch – a 33-acre site in Northfield Township, with its south edge on Joy Road. The parcel is immediately adjacent to the Northfield Woods Preserve.

“The most significant natural feature is the stream corridor which crosses the property from west to east and then continues south along the eastern border. Five wetland areas were identified,” he reported. Freeman said that acquisition of this Bloch property offers the chance to create a significant trail experience, connecting over 100 acres of protected property. The natural areas technical advisory committee identified this property as a high priority property for acquisition, and the Ann Arbor greenbelt program has expressed a strong interest in collaborating on protection of the property, he added, explaining that the greenbelt program was interested in yet another property immediately west of this, which is also owned by J.A. Bloch.

Due diligence investigations have been conducted: an appraisal by Bosserd Appraisal Services identified a value of $245,250, or about $7,500 an acre. Mannik & Smith Group did a Phase I environmental site assessment and did not indicate any recognized environmental condition on the property. Finally, a boundary survey, legal description, and certified survey drawing were prepared, all at the expense of the property owner.

A motion was made to authorize preparation of a contingent purchase offer for this property, at a price of $245,500. The purchase would be contingent upon development of a participation agreement with the city of Ann Arbor greenbelt program detailing its contribution to the purchase. It would also be subject to final authorization by the WCPARC at a future meeting.

Outcome: The resolution to authorize a $245,500 purchase of the Northfield Township property, with contingencies, passed unanimously.

Following the vote, Bob Tetens commented that he was not sure when the matter would return to the WCPARC. “Ann Arbor’s process is slower than ours,” he explained, “but I hope it will come back in May or June.”

Land Acquisition: Sloan Property – Scio Township

Tom Freeman reported that this 35-acre parcel in Scio Township is located on the west side of Baker Road, south of the village of Dexter. “The most significant natural feature is Mill Creek, which serves as the property’s western boundary,” he said, adding that preserving this property is a high priority for the Scio Township land preservation program, and that Scio Township has applied for and received grant funds through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to acquire the property.

However, the due diligence environmental review revealed the presence of a recognized environmental condition, and Scio Township officials decided to proceed with consideration of only the portion of that property – about 35 acres – that does not have any environmental concerns. An appraisal identified a value of $8,000 an acre. The grant funds would cover 75% of the cost of acquisition and require a local match for the remaining 25%. The local match could be split between Scio Township and WCPARC.

WCPARC’s natural areas technical advisory committee recommends purchase of the property.

A motion was made and seconded to authorize commitment of $35,000 toward the purchase of the Sloan property in Scio Township, which will be used along with an equal amount from Scio Township as the local match requirement for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant.

Discussion among commissioners focused on the DTE power lines on the site and the need for DTE to maintain access by keeping a cleared area. Dan Smith asked: Would that be detrimental, and was there any way to minimize the clearing? Freeman responded that although there was little that could be done because DTE has to maintain the area, it would be possible to meet with DTE and by being cooperative, minimize the amount cleared each time.

Outcome: The motion to authorize the expenditure passed unanimously.

Other Business: Minutes, Communications

During the meeting there are opportunities for communications from staff and the public, as well as housekeeping items such as approval of the agenda and of minutes from previous meetings. At the April 10 meeting, no one spoke during the time for public commentary.

Other Business: Approval, Format of Minutes

Commissioners were asked to approve the minutes of the March 6 meeting. The minutes for WCPARC meetings provide a fair amount of narrative description and detail.

Jimmie Maggard asked “Can these minutes be condensed?” Dan Smith agreed, saying “it is better to have as little as possible for official minutes, and to use a second document you could call notes” to hold details. Janis Bobrin, who also serves as the county’s water resources commissioner, also agreed, indicating that’s the approach she takes with public meetings held by her office. [The minutes of public meetings are the official record and are subject to disclosure under the state's Freedom of Information Act. Unofficial notes of the meeting would not necessarily be subject to FOIA.]

Outcome: Without further discussion, the minutes were unanimously approved.

Other Business: Communications

During his communications to the commission, director Bob Tetens prefaced his remarks by saying “Don’t be alarmed by this.” He was referring to the fact that the Michigan Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) had not approved a plan for a section of the county’s Border-to-Border Trail to be built under the Michigan Avenue bridge spanning the Huron River, adjacent to the site for the proposed recreation center in downtown Ypsilanti.

Tetens then described a possible pedestrian crossing of Michigan Avenue with appropriate devices – not yet determined – to alert cars to the presence of pedestrians. MDOT would have to approve the crossing and any flashers. Tetens said that funds that would have been used for the under-the-bridge project could be used for the Michigan Avenue street level crossing. The Ypsilanti city council has already approved a fund transfer for this project, Tetens reported.

Present: WCPARC members Janice Anschuetz, Barbara Levin Bergman, Janis Bobrin, Jimmie Maggard, Robert W. Marans, Nelson K. Meade, Patricia Scribner, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Dan Smith, and Fred Veigel. WCPARC staff members Bob Tetens, Meghan Bonfiglio, Tom Freeman, and Coy Vaughn.

Next meeting: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the parks and recreation commission administrative offices, 2230 Platt Road in Ann Arbor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Outdoor Upgrades at Buhr, Cobblestone

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

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

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

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

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

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

Outdoor Upgrades at Buhr, Cobblestone: Commission Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DTE Landscaping Buffer

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

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

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

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

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

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

DTE Landscaping Buffer: Commission Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DTE Landscaping Buffer: Amendment

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senior Center Renovations

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

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

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

Senior Center Renovations: Commission Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

Renovations at Leslie Science & Nature Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leslie Science & Nature Center: Commission Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

Financial Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

Financial Update: Commission Discussion

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

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

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

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

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

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

Financial Update: Maintenance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Communications & Commentary

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

Comm/Comm: Public Commentary – Preserving Parkland

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

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

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

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Argo Cascades

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Millage Renewal

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

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

Comm/Comm: Manager’s Report – Market Manager

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

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

Comm/Comm: Commissioner Updates – Rec & Ed

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

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

Comm/Comm: Commissioner Updates – Sustainability

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

The two remaining forums are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Absent: Doug Chapman.

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

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Power golf cart rentals for 9 holes at Leslie Park and Huron Hills will increase from $7 to $8; for 18 holes, the rental fee would increase from $13 to $14. City staff estimate the increases would generate $25,000 in additional revenue per season. Weekend fees for 9 and 18 holes at Leslie Park golf course will increase by $2 and $1, respectively, and the twilight fee would increase to $16, up from $15. These increases would generate an estimated additional $12,500 in revenue per season. In addition, the council approved raising the senior citizen qualification age to 59 for the 2011 season. That’s part of a consultant’s proposal to incrementally increase the qualification age from 55 to 62 by adding one year to the minimum age annually.

The actions came to the council in advance of the regular budget, so that the rates can be in place for the opening of the courses in the spring.

At the council’s meeting, the mandate of the city’s golf courses advisory task force, first appointed in 2008, was also renewed and its members were reappointed. Its members are: Stephen Rapundalo (city council); Julie Grand (park advisory commission); Bill Newcomb and Ed Walsh (citizens with demonstrated golf operations expertise); Thomas Allen (Ann Arbor citizen with group golf play experience); Barbara Jo Smith (Ann Arbor golf courses patron); John Stetz (citizen and member of a neighborhood association adjoining a golf course). The task force will be chaired by Rapundalo.

This brief was filed from the boardroom in the Washtenaw County administration building, where the council is meeting due to renovations in the city hall building. A more detailed report will follow: [link]