MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WITH THAT THEN I'LL CALL THE PARK
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
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COMMISSION MEETING TO ORDER AT 04:33 PM, HANNAH, FOR OCTOBER 13, 2026.AND IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE SILENCE OR TURN OFF YOUR PHONES DURING THE MEETING, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
COMMISSIONER STEPHENS? MARK STEPHENS: I'M HERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER LICK? AMANDA A. LICK: HERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER MCDONALD? MICHAEL MCDONALD: I'M HERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER NAT RAINBOW? [LAUGHS] COMMISSIONER PHELPS: PHELPS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER FERRIS IS HERE.
AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PACHUCKI.
OK, COURTNEY, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
[3.A. Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center ]
TO YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.COURTNEY WISINSKI: SURE, SO WE ARE GREETED BY JOHN OSTRANDER WITH NOKOMIS CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER.
THEY DO A LOT OF WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO I'VE ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO COME GIVE US JUST AN UPDATE OF EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
I GET TO HEAR ABOUT IT, BUT THE PARK COMMISSION AND THE REST OF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T.
AND THEN THEY'VE REALLY EXPANDED AND ARE DOING SOME GREAT STUFF MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
WELL, FIRST I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME IN TO COME IN AND TALK.
AND SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TALKING BEFORE YOU GUYS, AND SO THIS IS AN HONOR.
NOW DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF NOKOMIS AND THE COMING OF IT? OR-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT.
JOHN OSTRANDER: AND SO-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: PROBABLY IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH THAT.
YEAH, SO IN 1988, EVERYBODY KIND OF CAME TOGETHER TO GET EVERYTHING STARTED OFF ON NOKOMIS.
DURING THAT TIME, THE BUILDING WAS BUILT.
AND IN 1989, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN SEPTEMBER, IS WHEN THE MOVE IN OCCURRED.
NOKOMIS WAS STARTED FOR THE THING OF PROMOTING THE EDUCATION OF NATIVE PEOPLE OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
ONE OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED IN THAT WAS DR. CORNELL, WHO WAS A PROFESSOR OUT AT MSU.
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THAT, HE STARTED THE NATIVE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OUT ON CAMPUS TO MAKE SURE THAT NATIVE STUDENTS WERE BEING RECOGNIZED OUT THERE THROUGH THE TREATIES.
AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE TREATIES GOING BACK TO 1819, AND THEN ALSO THAT TREATY OF 1826, I BELIEVE.
AND SO TODAY, NOKOMIS HAS BEEN HERE FOR 37 YEARS GOING.
APPROXIMATELY ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO-- YOU KNOW, ALL ORGANIZATIONS COULD BE IN UPS AND DOWNS.
AND SO COMING INTO NOKOMIS, I HAD A BUSINESS IN LANSING FOR JUST OVER 25 YEARS.
I WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE [LAUGHS] AND I HAD BEEN WORKING HERE AT NOKOMIS, JUST HELPING OUT.
THEY ASKED ME IF I WOULD COME IN, TAKE OVER THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
AND SO WE STARTED ON A THING OF JUST KIND OF NOT SO MUCH REBUILDING NOKOMIS, BUT BRINGING IT BACK UP AGAIN.
AND SO TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, GOING BACK ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, AS WE STARTED GOING BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS RATHER THAN JUST DOING FIELD TRIPS, AND IF I CAN BACK UP.
SO BECAUSE OF GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, I WAS AT A SCHOOL DOING A PRESENTATION.
AND DURING OUR PRESENTATIONS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE DO A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AFTERWARDS.
AND IT WAS ASKED THE QUESTION FROM A FOURTH GRADER, ARE THERE ANY INDIANS LEFT? AND IT WAS A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
AND SO TO JUMP AHEAD THE NEXT YEAR, I WENT THERE BECAUSE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE BOOK THAT THEY WERE USING AND LIKE THAT, THE NEXT YEAR THEY SHOWED ME THEIR NEW TEXTBOOK.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SEEN THE WORD ANISHINAABE IN AN ELEMENTARY BOOK.
AND SO THAT SPARKED THAT WHERE I FELT THAT WE HAD TO START GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS MORE.
AND SO THE NOTTAWASEPPI TRIBE, WHICH IS FIREKEEPERS DOWN BY BATTLE CREEK, WHICH THEY'VE SUPPORTED US A COUPLE DECADES, AND SO I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE WHOLE SCHOOL PROGRAM I WANTED TO START PUTTING TOGETHER.
AND SO THEY STARTED BACKING US ON THAT THROUGH THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE FUND.
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AND SO GOING INTO LAST YEAR INTO OUR SECOND YEAR OF GOING INTO THIS, SO WE WERE IN FRONT OF 140 CLASSROOMS LAST YEAR.WE GO AS FAR AS DOWN IN DETROIT, ANN ARBOR.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED NOW TO GO OVER ON THE WEST SIDE OF MICHIGAN.
AND SO THOSE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT TWO YEARS OUT.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY HAVE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN THE GREATER LANSING AREA THAT WE WILL START GOING TO, AND THEN REALLY START SPREADING OUT.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS COMING UP THAT ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER FOR US.
AND THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ON THE RESIDENTIAL BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT WERE OCCURRING.
AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ON THOSE.
SO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE OFF AND RUNNING.
WE STARTED DOING SOME COLLABORATIONS WITH THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, WHERE WE'RE DOING DUAL FIELD TRIPS NOW.
SO WHEN THEY COME ON OUT, THE KIDS, SO INSTEAD OF JUST HITTING THAT FOR THE 45-- BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME LEFT OVER-- AND THEN HITTING US ON A DIFFERENT DAY, WE STARTED DOING IT ALL ON THE SAME DAY.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE WE DO THESE ROUND ROBINS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING 80 KIDS COME OUT AT A TIME, AND SO THE WAY WE DIVIDE THEM UP SO, THEM AND THE PARENTS.
OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ALSO WORK WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE WORKED WITH UP TO ABOUT 15 DEPARTMENTS OUT THERE.
AT ANY ONE TIME NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH FOUR TO FIVE DEPARTMENTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS WHERE WE'RE GOING INTO THE CLASSROOMS, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING FROM FINDING-- DEPENDING ON THEIR TOPICS-- WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ON A NATIVE VOICE, AND SO WE GO AHEAD AND WE FIND THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THEM.
WE ALSO GO IN AND WE HELP OUT.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE DID THREE WORKSHOPS HERE.
THOSE STEM FROM THREE EVENTS THAT MSU WAS HOLDING.
AND SO THEY WERE MOVING SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS OUT TO US OUT HERE.
WE ALSO STARTED A NEW GARDEN OUT ON CAMPUS.
THIS WAS ALL TO START WORKING WITH THE NATIVE STUDENTS.
BUT THIS PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED OUT SMALL-- BECAUSE MSU ENDED UP SETTING ASIDE 3/4 OF AN ACRE FOR US AND WE STARTED OFF WITH JUST AN 1/8 OF AN ACRE BECAUSE 3/4 OF AN ACRE IS A PRETTY BIG SECTION OF LAND.
AND SO WE DID ABOUT AN 1/8 OF AN ACRE.
IT WENT VERY WELL AND STARTING IT RIGHT AWAY.
WE HAD FOUR DEPARTMENTS JUMP RIGHT IN FROM MSU AND STARTED HELPING US-- EVERYTHING FROM PHD STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO START COMING IN WITH US IN THE SPRINGTIME TO START PLANNING WITH US SO THEY CAN DO STUFF FOR THEIR PAPERS THAT THEY'RE WRITING.
WHEN WE WENT OUT TO MSU, WE ASKED FOR THE LAND.
WE HAD OUR OWN FUNDING SOURCE THAT CAME INTO THAT TOO.
AND THAT HAS BASICALLY GONE UP INTO SIX DEPARTMENTS NOW ARE ALL PART OF THIS-- CLASSES, RESEARCH.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO GO OUT TO THE RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
IF ANYBODY HAS EVER BEEN OUT THERE, THEY HAVE A WELLNESS GARDEN.
FANTASTIC SO IF YOU'RE EVER OVER ON SERVICE ROAD, STOP IN THERE.
AND THEY'VE ASKED US NOW TO PUT IN A MEDICINE GARDEN.
LUCKILY WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE, ELDERS.
AND THEY CAN WALK RIGHT OUT INTO THE WOODS AND BRING YOU IN MEDICINES.
IF YOU HAVE A CUT-- AND I WATCHED THE GUY DO THIS WHERE SOMEBODY HAD A CUT-- HE JUST WALKED RIGHT INTO THE WOODS HERE, BROUGHT THE STUFF BACK, WORKED IT.
AND IN TWO DAYS THE CUT WAS GONE.
AND SO THAT'S SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUT THERE, MSU.
WE JUST REDID THE FRONT OF OUR BUILDING.
BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING THE MEDICINES, WE GOT RID OF THE TALL NATIVE PLANTS AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO RAISED BEDS WHERE WE CAN KEEP THE PLANTS.
BECAUSE IF NOT, THEY JUST GO ON THEIR OWN IF YOU DON'T KEEP THEM PENNED IN.
[LAUGHS] AND SO WE'LL BE EXPANDING OUR MEDICINE GARDEN HERE ALONG WITH OUR THREE SISTERS GARDEN ALSO.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, WE'RE GETTING READY TO START A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THE GARDENS THAT WE WERE STARTING WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND ALSO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER IF THEY'RE HERE OR OUT AT MSU-- AND JUST TO SAY, MSU, THE GARDEN THAT WE STARTED OUT THERE THIS SPRING, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS WAS A NATIVE-LED INITIATIVE OF PLANTING IN THE GROUND OF CHIEF
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OKEMO'S TRIBE.THE FIRST TIME IN 207 YEARS IS WHEN HE WAS REMOVED.
AND SO TO ME, THAT'S A FANTASTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DO THAT.
AS WE KEEP EXPANDING, JUST HAD A MEETING WITH GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY TO WHERE THEY'RE WANTING US TO START WORKING WITH THEM TO START DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT WE DO OUT AT MSU, AND AS WE DO OUR GARDENS HERE, BRINGING IN THE PUBLIC, THEY WANT TO DO THAT OVER THERE.
AND WE'RE IN TALKS RIGHT NOW WITH GUN LAKE ALSO TO START BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER ON THIS.
WITH THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE COMING OUT HERE JUST OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, WE'RE SITTING WITH ABOUT NINE GROUPS THAT ARE COMING OUT, WHETHER FROM MSU OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH COMPARED TO FOUR YEARS AGO, IF WE HAD TWO COMING IN.
AND THESE ARE A LOT LARGER GROUPS.
WELL, WHEN I SAY TWO BECAUSE REALLY MOST OF THE TIME IF THEY HAD FIVE OVER THAT NEXT YEAR, AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, YEAH, WE ARE JUST DEFINITELY JUST SLAMMED ALL THE WAY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF US IN A NUTSHELL.
BUT THINGS ARE GOING VERY WELL.
IT'S BEEN FUN TO HAVE YOU CLOSE.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS, THE COMMISSION, OR THE DEPARTMENT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION COULD DO TO HELP SUPPORT JOHN OSTRANDER: I THINK IT'S MORE FROM OUR THING ON GETTING OUR INFORMATION OUT.
OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN SO BIG TO WHERE WE JUST HAD A FOUNDATION STEP UP.
AND WE WERE TRYING FOR A GRANT.
I HAD A MEETING WITH THEM, AND THEY SAID, DON'T DO THE GRANT BECAUSE THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FUND AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
I HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO START BUILDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR US.
SO THAT'S OUR BIG THING IS THAT BECAUSE BEFORE THEN-- I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE HELPING.
BUT I KIND OF WAS DOING MOST OF THIS ON MY OWN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
[LAUGHS] BUT IT'S US GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
I'VE TOLD COURTNEY AND I TELL EVERYBODY, THIS IS A GEM OF A PROPERTY SITTING OVER HERE.
AND IT'S NICE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING OUT FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND LIKE THAT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN BACK IN HERE BEFORE, AND TO SEE THEM, AND SEE THEM HAVE A GOOD DAY, WHETHER IF IT'S WITH US OR THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO BE A PART OF THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, SOME WONDERFUL THINGS.
COMMISSIONER LICK-- RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE HAVE A LIAISON FOR EACH COMMISSIONER, AND COMMISSIONER LICK HAPPENS TO BE YOURS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THAT'S SWITCHING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? AMANDA A. LICK: I DON'T.
I MEAN, WELL, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR TONIGHT.
JUST YES, IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU AND TO HAVE YOU DO THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.
AND SO I THINK YES, I'D LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND LEARN MORE.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU MENTIONED THE NEED BEING GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP.
AND SO I THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO COORDINATE WITH YOU, OR MYSELF, OR THE COMMISSION TO DO THAT, WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND FIGURE THAT OUT TOGETHER.
BUT I APPRECIATE AND I LOVE WHAT YOU SHARED ABOUT FIRST NATIVE PLANTING IN 207 YEARS.
LIKE, THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I IMAGINE THAT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO-- I'D JUST LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT FOR ADDITIONAL PLANTINGS LIKE THAT, TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT SO PEOPLE CAN BE A PART OF THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO.
JOHN OSTRANDER: AND LIKE I SAID, THE BIG PART, IS US JUST-- AND NOW THAT I HAVE THE HELP-- BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING STUFF OVER TO HANNAH.
AND THAT WAS EITHER-- AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S DROPPING THE BALL ON IT BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON AND EVERYTHING.
BECAUSE THROUGH COURTNEY'S OFFICE AND THAT, IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.
I FEEL THAT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
SO IT FEELS BETTER THAT AS WE GO INTO THIS NEXT YEAR-- BECAUSE I KEPT BUILDING THE WHOLE TIME BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DID IN MY BUSINESS.
AND YOU KEEP BUILDING, EVEN SOMETIMES IF YOU DON'T STILL
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HAVE THE SUPPORT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME.AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE DID THAT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE START NOTICING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND WHEN YOU'RE IN COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT YOU, THAT'S A BIG THING.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS WE WORK WITH BIGGER AND BIGGER FOUNDATIONS, THEY CHECK YOU OUT, AND THEY LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
AND WHEN THEY SEE ALL THIS THAT'S GOING ON AND LIKE THAT, AND THEN WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MEETINGS WITH THEM, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE-- WHEN THEY'RE GIVING YOU THE FEEDBACK ON ALL THIS STUFF THAT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING TOO.
AMANDA A. LICK: THAT'S ACTUALLY A QUESTION I DO HAVE.
IS THERE IN TERMS OF SUPPORT, LIKE, COURTNEY, DO WE OFFER LETTERS OF SUPPORT WHEN THEY APPLY FOR GRANTS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE CERTAINLY CAN.
AMANDA A. LICK: I WAS GOING TO SAY MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO THESE BIG FOUNDATIONS, JUST FOR THE COMMISSION TO SIGN SOMETHING OR THE CHAIR TO SIGN SOMETHING IN SUPPORT OF YOUR GRANT APPLICATIONS, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO IN ADDITION IF NEEDED.
JOHN OSTRANDER: OH, DEFINITELY.
DEFINITELY SO, YEAH, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT-- WE HAVEN'T IN A LONG TIME.
WE DON'T GO FOR ANY OF THE GOVERNMENT-BASED-- WELL, A LOT OF STUFF DRIED UP.
ALSO TO THE RESPECT THAT-- AND WE'RE TALKING FEDERAL AND THE FEDERAL GRANTS AND LIKE THAT.
AND SOMETIMES GOING THROUGH THOSE THAT SOMETIMES IT'S ALMOST THE TIME YOU HAVE TO PUT INTO IT.
AND MOST FEDERAL GRANTS DON'T EVER GIVE YOU MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT.
AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY SOMEONE OR AT LEAST KEEP THAT GOING WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY DOING IT, THE AMOUNT OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND AND TIME YOU HAVE TO SPEND JUST FOR THE RETURN ON THE DOLLARS-- AND SO WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HOOKED INTO A COUPLE OF THESE VERY LARGE NATIVE FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE AROUND THE US.
AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OF THE OTHER BIGGER ONES THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO.
THESE ARE ONES THAT YOU GET INVITED INTO.
AND IT'S ONE THAT YOU DON'T-- BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FILLING OUT ANY PAPERWORK.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYTHING RIGHT DOWN TO THEM.
AMANDA A. LICK: ARE YOU PART OF THE GREAT LAKES-- OH, IT'S LIKE GLCC.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE ACRONYM.
SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THEM AND THEN ALSO SOME EXPERIENCE AROUND SOME TRIBAL, LIKE FEDERAL GRANTS, THAT MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU MENTIONED PARTNERING WITH A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AT THE STATE.
MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE TO PARTNER WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AT THE STATE TO ACCESS THOSE GRANTS OR SOMETHING AS A SUBRECIPIENT.
I'LL REACH OUT AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO, APPROXIMATELY, THAT I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET US.
BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT JUST RECOGNIZED US AS JUST A 501(C)3.
AND SO IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO APPROXIMATELY THAT WE FINALLY GOT RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE A NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION NOW BECAUSE OF HOW MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE EDUCATION ON THIS.
AND IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR THEM TO DO BECAUSE GRANTS WERE BEING PUT OUT THERE.
AND SPECIFICALLY WITH MICHIGAN AS FEDERAL GRANTS WERE COMING TO JUST THE TRIBES, WELL MOST OF THOSE GRANTS WERE FOR URBAN AREAS.
WELL IN MICHIGAN, YOU HAVE NO TRIBE NEXT TO AN URBAN AREA.
AND THE TRIBES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SET UP IN THE URBAN AREA, FOR ONE, AND BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY RULES, BUT FOR THEM TO SET UP THERE.
BUT, YEAH, I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD JUST AT THE END OF THE PERIOD, IT WASN'T BEING GONE, BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY-- WHEN WE FINALLY GOT PUT AS A NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION, WE WERE ONLY THE SECOND ONE IN MICHIGAN.
AMANDA A. LICK: STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, 80% TO 90% OR SO OF THE TRIBES ARE LOCATED IN URBAN AREAS.
YOU'D THINK IT'D BE MORE RURAL, BUT IT'S NOT.
AND SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, AND I THINK IS IT WISCONSIN OR MINNESOTA, IT WAS THE SAME WAY THERE.
AND THEN THERE WAS A COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNEW THAT THEY GAVE THEM THE NATIVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION STATUS THEN TOO.
SO THAT DOES ALLOW US-- AND I DID NOTICE JUST OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WHERE-- BECAUSE RIGHT
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AFTER THAT HAPPENED, IT WAS ABOUT SIX OR NINE MONTHS IS WHEN ALL THE FUNDING DRIED UP FOR THOSE.AND SO IT'S JUST STARTING TO BE RERELEASED NOW AGAIN.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, IT'S THE GREAT LAKES INTERTRIBAL COUNCIL.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, DO YOU WORK WITH THEM? JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, I KNOW.
JOHN OSTRANDER: ON CERTAIN THINGS.
AMANDA A. LICK: AND THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE, BUT THEN THEY ALSO HAVE AN EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTER TOO.
BUT I'VE WORKED WITH SOME FOLKS AT THE TRIBAL COUNCIL BEFORE.
SO IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT AGAIN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ALSO THAT-- SO DOWN IN DETROIT IS THE AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
AND SO WE'RE PARTNERING UP WITH THEM AS WE GO DOWN THERE AND DO PRESENTATIONS DOWN IN DETROIT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN THEIR ORGANIZATION THEY SLOWLY HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY FROM AND STICKING MORE ON THE HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES END.
SO WE'RE DOING THAT WHILE THEY ARE COMING UP HERE AND DOING WORKSHOPS NOW UP HERE FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE DELTA DENTAL.
WE'RE SETTING UP A TIME WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START DOING-- THAT WON'T BE TILL THE FALL TIME, BUT START DOING DENTAL CHECKUPS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SENDING THE BUSES OUT HERE.
WE'LL BE SETTING ALL THAT UP OUT HERE.
AND THEN THEY SAID BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DEFINITELY GROW THAT.
AND THERE'S A COMPANY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HELP SET US UP WITH THAT ALSO WILL BE SENDING BUSES FOR MEDICAL CHECKS FOR ELDERLY.
AND THAT'LL BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER STEPHENS? MARK STEPHENS: THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS YOU SAID YOU WERE IN 150 CLASSROOMS. IS THAT YOU YOURSELF? OR DO YOU TRAIN MAYBE-- JOHN OSTRANDER: NO, I DON'T.
NO, I MIGHT DO A COUPLE PRESENTATIONS A YEAR.
BUT NO, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT FOR US.
MARK STEPHENS: VOLUNTEERS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE MEANING? JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH.
AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S PRETTY GOOD BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR PROGRAM-- THEY'LL BE CHANGING A LITTLE BIT FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT ALSO THAT OUT AT MSU-- AND THE ONE THING WE TRY TO FIND WE HAVE NATIVE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO INTO THE CLASSROOMS. BUT OUT AT MSU, PEOPLE GOING FOR TEACHING, HOW THEY NEED SO MANY HOURS IN FRONT OF CLASSROOMS. WELL, THE THING IS THEY SAID THEY WERE HAVING A HARD TIME MEETING IT.
AND I SAID, THIS IS ALMOST AS PERFECT A PARTNERSHIP AS YOU CAN GET.
WITH THAT I SAID WE CAN DEFINITELY START PUTTING SOME OF THEM TO WORK.
AND THAT WILL HELP THEM FOR THE CREDITS AND LIKE THAT.
MARK STEPHENS: THAT'S ALL I HAD.
MARK STEPHENS: THANKS FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, NO, THANK YOU.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER PHELPS.
COMMISSIONER PHELPS: JUST THANK YOU.
AND I LOVE THE NOKOMIS CENTER.
AND WHAT YOU DO REALLY MATTERS.
I'M 32, BUT I STILL REMEMBER MY FIELD TRIP FROM SECOND GRADE.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, THANK YOU.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER MCDONALD? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
JUST MAYBE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHERE WOULD YOU SEE NOKOMIS BE IN, LET'S SAY, 10 YEARS? JUST IF YOU WANT TO.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT I HAVE SOME TALKS COMING UP WITH BECAUSE-- I WAS DOWN AT NOTTAWASEPPI FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE FUND CEREMONY WHEN THEY WERE GIVING OUT THE MONEY TO PEOPLE AROUND MICHIGAN.
AND SO THEY HAD TALKED TO ME ABOUT AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY WERE ASKING AS FAR AS HOW WERE WE GETTING OUR GUIDES TO HELP US AS FAR AS WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS. SO THERE WAS A BOOKLET THAT WAS PUT OUT BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IN THE TRIBAL COUNCIL BACK IN 2021.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE STATE DIDN'T REALLY DISTRIBUTE IT.
[LAUGHS] NOW WHEN WE GO INTO SCHOOLS, WE GO AHEAD AND WE GIVE EVERYBODY A COPY OF THAT.
SO THEY HAD ASKED ME, THEY SAID NOW THERE'S A NEW ONE THAT'S COMING OUT, AN UPDATED ONE.
AND THAT'S THROUGH THE INDIGENOUS EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
THEY HAD STARTED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN THEY START GETTING IN THE SCHOOLS.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID THEY SENT OUT ALL THIS INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOLS BUT THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE TEACHERS SAID THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH FOR US TO GO THROUGH AND TRY TO REALLY DECIPHER.
AND SOME TEACHERS ARE APPREHENSIVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE TRYING TO TEACH ABOUT NATIVE CULTURE.
AND I TOLD THEM, I SAID ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
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HAVE THAT WE WON'T MAKE IT FOR THIS COMING SUMMER BUT WITHIN THE NEXT SUMMER IS SETTING UP IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.WE'RE ALREADY GETTING IT TO WHERE WE'RE HAVING NOT JUST HERE AT NOKOMIS.
WE'LL BE HAVING IT HERE FOR NOKOMIS FOR THE WHOLE LARGER MID-MICHIGAN AREA AND THEN HAVING PLACES AROUND THE STATE.
AND SO THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO START SUPPORTING US IN THAT.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID FOR US GOING INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW DOING THIS AT THIS LEVEL.
SO DEFINITELY, IN 10 YEARS, I KNOW THAT IF THINGS GO LIKE AT GRAND VALLEY STATE, I COULD SEE US PUTTING A SATELLITE OVER THERE.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE GROWTH ON THAT.
BUT, YEAH, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND I DO HAVE TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING WITH OUR BUILDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LIMITED RIGHT NOW IS WE CAN GET 40 PEOPLE AT MAX IN OUR ONE ROOM.
THEY USED TO HAVE THE OTHER ROOM OPENED UP, BUT WE MADE IT INTO A FULL GALLERY THAT WE REDO EVERY YEAR.
SO THAT IS JUST OUR THING, IS HOW DO WE COME ABOUT THAT AND GET THAT PROBLEM FIGURED OUT? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AND THE BUILDING LOOKS SO BIG FROM THE OUTSIDE.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT ON MARSH ROAD.
BUT INSIDE IT'S A LITTLE MORE [INAUDIBLE].
JOHN OSTRANDER: I MEAN, IT'S JUST SHY OF 4,000 SQUARE FOOT.
AND THAT'S INCLUDING OFFICES AND STORAGE.
BUT I MEAN WE HAVE STUFF IN EVERY CORNER.
[LAUGHS] BUT THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WELL WE SO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF THE HOMECOMING POWWOWS WHEN LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY BAND-- THEN THE ONE HERE AND DOWN ON THE RIVER.
AND IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL, RESPECTFUL CEREMONY, AND THE DANCE, AND THE FOOD.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE FRY BREAD FOR WEEKS AFTERWARD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BUT THAT'S BEEN REALLY NICE TO SEE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WERE SO MANY TAKING PLACE, I GUESS.
THAT'S ONE THING, HOOKING INTO THAT, MY MOM'S ORIGINALLY GREW UP IN HARBOR SPRINGS.
SO WE WERE MORE FAMILIAR WITH, AND I HAVE SOME FRIENDS, DAVE BUT ANYWAY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WERE SO MANY.
AND THE RESPECT FOR THE MILITARY VETERANS, BOTH THE US AND FOR THE TRIBES, WAS JUST A REALLY MOVING EXPERIENCE.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, FROM BASICALLY MAY INTO SEPTEMBER, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE POWWOW GOING ON EVERY WEEKEND SOMEWHERE IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE THERE'S TRIBES THAT HAVE MORE THAN ONE OR TWO.
YOU HAVE MOUNT PLEASANT, SO THEY HAVE THREE OF THEM UP IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN THE SAGINAW CHIPPEWAS PUT ON ANOTHER ONE.
BUT THEN THEY ALSO PUT ON A TRADITIONAL ONE.
AND THAT ONE'S HELD IN THE WOODS.
AND THAT'S ALL FROM PRIOR TO 1978 WHEN IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW, AGAINST FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, TO HAVE A POWWOW.
AND THEY STILL DO IT IN THE ONE PART OF THE WOODS THAT THEY ALLOWED THAT THEY WOULD HOLD IT.
AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY'D HAVE LOOKOUTS OUT AND HURRY AND DISBAND IT IF ANYBODY WAS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT, YEAH, IT IS NICE TO GO OUT, IF NOBODY'S EVER BEEN TO A POWWOW, TO REALLY WATCH IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: QUITE SOMETHING.
QUITE MOVING, THE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THE YOUNGSTERS.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, AND THAT'S THE THING.
SO WHEN I GO TO THEM, MY FAMILY, MY GRANDMA, SHE CAME AS A YOUNG GIRL.
BUT THEY'RE FROM SASKATCHEWAN.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO THESE, EVERYBODY'S RELATED WITHIN MICHIGAN.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COURTNEY, DID YOU HAVE-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, WE APPRECIATE JOHN AND CAROL AND EVERYBODY AT THE CENTER.
YOU DO WONDERFUL WORK AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT.
JOHN OSTRANDER: YEAH, AND THANK YOU.
AND LIKE I SAID, I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY.
BUT 24TH, WE'VE GOT A CHILI COOK-OFF GOING ON.
SO WE DO GO OUTSIDE THE THING THAT WE'LL BE DOING SO.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO SHARE WITH US.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO GO AND LEAVE BECAUSE I HAVE A BOARD MEETING NOW.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU WERE HERE EARLY TOO.
WELL I LOOKED AT THE THING WRONG.
IT WAS MY FAULT. BUT THANK YOU.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU, JOHN.
JOHN OSTRANDER: HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[00:30:01]
WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.[5. PUBLIC COMMENT ]
RICHARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH US YOUR REPORT? RICHARD MIKSICEK: YES, GOOD AFTERNOON.I'M REPRESENTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
I JUST HAD A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETINGS THAT I THOUGHT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF THE PARK COMMISSION AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF.
SO ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION DURING THE SEPTEMBER ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING REGARDED THE POSSIBILITY OF USING A PORTION OF THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS TO INCENTIVIZE OWNERS OF PRIVATE WELLS TO PERMANENTLY CAP ABANDONED WELLS.
THIS FOLLOWED FROM A PRESENTATION AT OUR AUGUST MEETING FROM LAUREN SCHNOEBELEN FROM THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL COMMISSION, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT ABANDONED PRIVATE WELLS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE RISKS THAT THEY POSE TO GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND SAFETY OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS. AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, AT LAST WEEK'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING, TRUSTEE LENTZ REPORTED ON THE BOARD'S APPROVAL OF THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BUDGET FOR 2027 WHICH INCLUDES RENEWAL OF A $20,000 ALLOCATION FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING.
AND COMMISSIONER LENTZ ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD DURING 2027, WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY PRIVATELY-OWNED PARCELS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP WITH ABANDONED WELLS.
AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO INCENTIVIZE ENVIRONMENTAL WELLHEAD CAPPING.
THE DETAILS FOR THAT REMAIN TO BE WORKED OUT.
BUT THIS IS LIKELY TO BE AMONG THE PRIORITIES TO BE RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION FOR USE OF CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS FOR 2027.
AND I MENTIONED THIS PRIMARILY AS PARK COMMISSIONERS PROBABLY REMEMBER LAST YEAR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY BUDGET PAID FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN PLANS FOR MARSHALL PARK BIOSWALE PROJECT TO ADDRESS STORM WATER RUNOFF ISSUES IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MARSHALL PARK.
SO LOOKING FORWARD, I SEE THAT THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SOME PRESSURES ON THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING DURING 2027.
AND IT'LL BE UP TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO WORK WITH THE STAFF OF THE TOWNSHIP IN TERMS OF DETERMINING WHAT PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING WILL BE.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS WERE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT TRUSTEE LENTZ REPORTED ON THE BOARD'S APPROVAL OF FUNDS FOR THE GREEN GRANT PROGRAM, RESTORING THIS AMOUNT TO $20,000 FOR 2027, WHICH IS UP FROM THE ALLOCATION OF $15,000 WHICH WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR.
SO IT BRINGS US BACK TO THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND THE GREEN GRANTS PROGRAM OF COURSE RUNS A LOT OF VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECTS THAT I THINK HELP BENEFIT THE TOWNSHIP BROADLY AND SUPPLEMENT AND COORDINATE WITH PROGRAMS THAT THE PARK COMMISSION HAS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANKS, RICHARD.
OK, BETH, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW? BETH BECHTEL: YES, BETH BECHTEL, HASLETT, MICHIGAN.
DEAR PARK COMMISSION BOARD MEMBERS, FOR SOME TIME, I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS, COMMISSION MEMBERS, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS, AND STAFF EMPLOYEES TO SEEK NATURAL AND HEALTHY HOLISTIC CARE TO MAINTAIN OUR TOWNSHIP PARKS, PRESERVES, ATHLETIC FIELDS, ET CETERA.
I'VE COME TO PRIOR BOARD, COMMISSION, AND ADVISORY MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS ASKING YOU ALL AND SHARING RESOURCES FOR PROTECTING OUR HEALTH, TO PLEASE FORGE NEW PATH COMMITMENTS TOWARDS REDUCING AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATING ALL TOWNSHIP TOXIC SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL USE FOR THE BENEFIT OF STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AND RESIDENTS' HEALTH.
BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN LISTENING, OPEN TO NATURAL AND HEALTHY WAYS, AND AN EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TOWARD THE SCHOOL.
I'M THANKFUL AND FULL OF GRATITUDE THAT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026 AT 9:30 AM AT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TOWER WOODS PRESERVES, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP CONSERVATION CORPS IS CO-LEADING A GOAT BROWSING DEMONSTRATION EVENT WITH LOCAL OKEMOS-BASED NONPROFIT MID-MICHIGAN LAND CONSERVANCY WHO'S BRINGING GOATS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW GOAT BROWSING NATURALLY AND HEALTHILY REDUCES INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES.
NONPROFIT WILD ONES RED CEDAR CHAPTER IS ALSO PARTNERING WITH THIS GOAT BROWSING DEMONSTRATION EVENT.
MANAGED, TARGETED GOAT BROWSING IS ONE EFFECTIVE NATURAL STRATEGY TOOL OPTION THAT HELPS REDUCE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES SUCH AS ORIENTAL BITTERSWEET, JAPANESE KNOTWEED, TREE OF HEAVEN, KUDZU, BUCKTHORN, POISON IVY,
[00:35:01]
ET CETERA, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES.GOAT BROWSING KEY MECHANISMS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
GOAT DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SEED GERMINATION OF MANY INVASIVE PLANTS, PREVENTING THEM FROM SPREADING TO NEW AREAS.
NUMBER TWO, IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH.
AS GOATS BROWSE, THEIR HOOVES LOOSEN AND BREAK UP COMPACTED LAND, WHILE THEIR MANURE PROVIDES NATURAL FERTILIZER FOR NATIVE PLANT RECOVERY.
NUMBER THREE, BIOMASS REDUCTION.
GOATS' INTENSIVE BROWSING SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS THE COVER AND HEIGHT OF INVASIVE SHRUBS AND REDUCING COMPETITIVE PRESSURE ON NATIVE PLANTS.
AND NUMBER FOUR, COMPLEMENTARY MANAGEMENT.
GOAT BROWSING CAN BE USED WITH MECHANICAL BRUSH CUTTING, MANUAL HAND PULLING, AND/OR CONTROLLED BURNS.
PLEASE NOTE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP STAFF WITH A LIST OF GOATSCAPING SERVICES THAT CAN BE USED AS A RESOURCE GOING FORWARD, WHICH INCLUDES REASONABLE GOATSCAPING SERVICES HERE IN OUR LOCAL AREA.
I HOPE THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD MEMBERS, COMMISSION MEMBERS, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF EMPLOYEES WILL WELCOME MORE NATURAL GOATSCAPING SERVICES IN THE FUTURE.
ADDITIONALLY, I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT ALL NATURAL AND HOLISTIC OPTIONS WILL BE USED TO SAFEGUARD OUR HEALTH AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ELIMINATING ALL TOWNSHIP SYNTHETIC TOXIC CHEMICAL USE.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TOWER WOODS PRESERVE FOR THIS FUN AND EDUCATIONAL GOAT BROWSING DEMONSTRATION EVENT.
AND I'M ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE A LIST OF RESOURCES FROM THE WEBSITE NON-TOXIC COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS HELPING TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES TO MOVE TOWARDS TOTAL ELIMINATION OF TOXIC SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS TO PROTECT AND SAFEGUARD OUR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR UPDATE WITH US.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THANKS, BETH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OK, DO WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR CHANGES
[6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
TO THE AGENDA? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: MOTION TO APPROVE.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SECOND? MARK STEPHENS: SECOND.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, YES? ALL: YES MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OPPOSED, NO? OK, WE'LL GO WITH THE AGENDA AS IS.
I DON'T KNOW, DIRECTOR WISINSKI, IF ANYBODY'S
[7.A. September 8, 2026 Park Commission Regular Meeting Minutes ]
HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEM.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE AREN'T SEEMING TO FIND A NOTHING WENT OUT.
SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THEM, OR WE CAN-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE CAN MOVE THEM TO NEXT MEETING.
I DON'T WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT ON PUBLIC TV.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
SHOULD WE PUSH THEM TO THE NEXT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OK THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR WISINSKI, I'LL MOVE IT TO YOU FOR COMMUNICATIONS.
[8.A. Meridian Conservation Corps Calendar ]
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SURE, I'M GOING TO BE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SHARE A LITTLE BRIEF BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OUR CONSULTANT ONLINE.HE'S JUST GOING TO INTRODUCE FOR US.
BUT WITHIN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE BOTH CALENDARS FOR MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CALENDAR AND OUR HARRIS NATURE CENTER CALENDAR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT WAS WHAT MS. BECHDEL JUST TALKED ABOUT WAS ON SATURDAY THE 17TH, WE ARE HOSTING INVASIVE GOAT-SCAPING WORKSHOP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS AND HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY INCORPORATE INTO SOME OF OUR WORK HERE.
[8.B. Harris Nature Center Events ]
HARRIS NATURE CENTER, I CAN SAY WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR, WE ARE REALLY BIG INTO OUR SCHOOL GROUPS RIGHT NOW.SO IT'S A LOT OF THESE BIG NATURE LESSON.
WE'VE GOT SCHOOL GROUPS COMING, SO A LOT OF EDUCATION HAPPENING THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS ADDED TO YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
[8.C. Deer Management Memo ]
IS THE DEAR MANAGEMENT MEMO SET FORTH FROM OUR OFFICE BY EMMA CAMPBELL REGARDING OUR-- IT HAS A RECAP OF OUR 2026 DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.AND THEN IT TALKS A LITTLE BIT OF OUR 2027 WHICH STARTED ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.
LITTLE DIFFERENCE HAPPENING THIS YEAR WITH OUR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ONLY, AND WE'RE PAUSING THE POLICE CALL FOR THIS YEAR.
SO IT WILL BE OUR VOLUNTEER HUNTERS ON ALL OF OUR DESIGNATED PROPERTIES.
AND I THINK AS OF TODAY, THEY HAD HARVESTED 21 DEER.
THEY'VE BEEN DROPPED AT THE PROCESSOR TO BE TESTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO OUR FOOD BANKS.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: SORT OF LIKE KARMA, OR SOMETHING THAT IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD HAVE HOPED WOULD HAPPEN, WHICH IS CAUSING THE RECENT PROBLEM.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THAT FROM THE DNR, FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM OUR OFFICE, OF COURSE.
AND IT MADE SENSE THIS YEAR JUST TO TAKE TO PAUSE, REASSESS WHERE OUR POPULATIONS ARE NEXT YEAR.
[00:40:03]
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WELL, AND ALSO I THINK-- AND IT IS THE WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN.BUT WHEN IT DOES RESUME THAT OUR DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE A BIT MORE INVOLVEMENT IN THE POLICE PART OF IT, THINGS LIKE JUST SIMPLY ONE OF THE ONLY COMPLAINT I EVER HEARD ABOUT IT WAS THE SURPRISE THAT SOMEONE WHO LIVES ALMOST ACROSS FROM MARK HEARD HE WASN'T UPSET, BUT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE POLICE CAR DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK, AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I THINK THAT KIND OF GUIDELINE, TO ME, IT'S KIND OF COMMONSENSICAL.
IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PASSED YOUR EYES.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, YES, WE HAVE PLANNING MEETINGS REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHERE THOSE LOCATIONS ARE GOING TO BE, HOW DO WE KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
WHAT TYPE OF AMMUNITION DO WE USE? DON'T WE USE NON-LEAD AMMUNITION? DETERMINE THE NUMBERS THAT MAKE SENSE BASED ON WHAT WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS ABOUT THAT.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A LARGE COORDINATION.
I'M SURE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT DON'T AT LEAST I DON'T WANT TO INDEPENDENTLY MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS.
MAYBE MARK HAS A THOUGHT OR TWO, BUT THEY SHOULD GO.
THEY'LL PROBABLY GO THROUGH YOU FOR MORE UNIFORMITY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, I WOULD LOVE IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I HAVE A QUESTION.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT'S MY COMMUNICATIONS, CHAIR.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER LICK? OH THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM? AMANDA A. LICK: YES, DIRECTOR WISINSKI, I SEE THE 2026 OVERVIEW.
IS THERE A SECOND PAGE ON 2027? I ONLY SEE ONE PAGE, SO I'M NOT SURE IF I EITHER.
SO THIS IS THE RECAP OF THE 2026.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE NEED-- I WILL GET YOU INFORMATION ON 2027.
AGAIN, HANNAH'S JOB IS REALLY HARD.
[LAUGHTER] AND YOU APPRECIATE AS A DIRECTOR.
YOU HAVE TO JUST STEP IN FOR A MOMENT AND YOU REALIZE HOW HARD PEOPLE WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? A MOTION TO APPROVE AND PUT ON FILE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I'LL APPROVE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
DIRECTOR WISINSKI, WE ARE ON TO THE FIVE-YEAR MASTER PLAN.
[9. A. 5-year Master Plan Draft ]
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES.SO THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO UPDATE OUR FIVE-YEAR MASTER PLAN.
WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANT, MIKE HOFFMEISTER, WITH MANNIK & SMITH GROUP THAT HAS BEEN HELPING US NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS.
AND SO TONIGHT, REALLY WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO REVIEW OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, MAKE SURE THEY MAKE SENSE BASED ON OUR LAST MEETING, MAKE ANY CHANGES, ANY ADDITIONS, ANY OMISSIONS, AND THEN LOOKING AT THE ACTION PLAN.
SO MIKE'S GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE AND A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HAVE COMPLETED TO DATE AND WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MIKE.
MIKE HOFFMEISTER: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELL GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO BE VIRTUAL TODAY.
I'VE GOT A TWO-PART MISSION AND ONE EVENING, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND BEING VIRTUAL THIS EVENING.
AND SO IN TONIGHT'S PACKET, YOU HAVE A FIRST DRAFT OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INTO IT IN DETAIL, BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND WHAT I'LL DO IS I JUST BRIEFLY INTRODUCE THE NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS, TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND THEN A LOT OF YOU GUYS WILL BE DISCUSSING TODAY AS, DIRECTOR WISINSKI MENTIONED, THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
AND SO, SO FAR, WE ARE PRESENTING YOU A DRAFT, WHICH IS COMPLETED OF ALL THE DNR-REQUIRED CHAPTERS THAT INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION, THE RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY, THE ACTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE ACCESSIBLE ASSESSMENT FOR ALL THE TOWNSHIP PARKS AND FACILITIES.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT STAFF, AS I MENTIONED A FEW TIMES IN OUR CONVERSATIONS EARLIER, STAFF PROVIDED MAJORITY OF THE NARRATIVE, MAJORITY OF THE DATA, MAJORITY OF THE INPUT THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED WITHIN THIS PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN YOU'LL NOTICE IN YOUR DRAFT THAT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVE WERE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY.
AS WE DISCUSSED ALREADY, THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER IN THE EVENING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE APPROPRIATELY INTO YOUR LIKING.
FOLLOWING TODAY'S DISCUSSION, THE DNR DOES REQUIRE A 30-DAY MANDATORY PUBLIC PARK.
THAT IS A PROCESS THAT REQUIRES THE TOWNSHIP TO PUT THE MASTER
[00:45:06]
PLAN ON THE WEBSITE, PRINT IT OFF, PUT NOTICES ON WINDOWS AND DOORS AND ON THEIR WEBSITES TO MAKE SURE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE AWARE THAT THE MASTER PLAN IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT AND IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THAT 30-DAY MANDATORY PUBLIC REVIEW, WE WILL RETURN TO YOU ALL AT YOUR NOVEMBER 10TH MEETING AND REALLY DISCUSS IT'S APPROVAL.
AND SO YOU AS A PARK COMMISSION HAVE JUST SEEN THE MASTER PLAN.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING TOO MUCH COMMENT TONIGHT, UNLESS SOMETHING IS GLARING AND OBVIOUSLY WRONG OR INCORRECT.
WHAT WE WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH WITH A FINE-TOOTH COMB OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE THAT AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT IT 'CAUSE THIS IS YOUR FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
IT WILL ALSO BE GOING IN FRONT OF PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
THAT WAS A REQUEST TO TOWNSHIP STAFF, JUST AS ANOTHER TRANSPARENCY EFFORT AND A PLANNING FUNCTION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING ALL EYES ON IT THAT WE CAN.
FOLLOWING NOVEMBER 10, THIS GROUP, THE COMMISSION, WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE WILL BE ATTENDING TWO BOARD OF MEETINGS AS REQUESTED BY STAFF AND BOARD.
WE'LL BE ATTENDING THE NOVEMBER 17 DECEMBER 15 BOARD TRUSTEE, ULTIMATELY GIVING THEM TWO PERSPECTIVES, TWO OPPORTUNITIES THIS YEAR AS WELL.
FINALLY, IN THE DECEMBER MEETING, WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE PARK MASTER PLAN THROUGH RESOLUTION.
AND THEN WE'LL BE SUBMITTING THE MIGRANTS OUT, REGIONAL PLANNING GROUPS AND THE REGIONAL PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT IS REQUIRED BY THE DNR.
SO THAT'S THE PROCESS LOOKING FORWARD.
TONIGHT IS THE VERY FIRST STEP OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS.
YOUR REVIEW, YOUR INITIAL COMMENTS, YOUR INITIAL DISCUSSION, AND THEN CERTAINLY THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE MASTER PLAN.
THAT ACTION PROGRAM IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO MASTER PLAN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS GET YOUR EYES ON THAT AND AGREE TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
YOU UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF REVIEWING TO BE DONE BY YOU ALL.
AND WE HOPE THAT IT LOOKS GOOD SO FAR.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT COURTNEY RIGHT NOW.
ONLY THAT, I GUESS IN MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE A FULL MEETING, AND INSTEAD OF WORD-SMITHING OR GOING THROUGH DETAILS OF THIS, I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DIGEST THIS.
WHAT I'D LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO IN THE NEXT MONTH, BECAUSE WE'LL SEE THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, BUT IN THE NEXT MONTH TO GO THROUGH THAT AND SEND COMMENTS TO COURTNEY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES SO, YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE GIVING ME.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OH AND WHAT THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE ON, I'LL STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CURSORY OR GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE MASTER PLAN.
BUT I'D LIKE US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THROUGH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AT THIS MEETING SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SAME THING WITH THE UPDATED MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT.
SO DOES THAT WORK FOR EVERYONE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS BACK TO COURTNEY IN THE NEXT MONTH? YES? MICHAEL MCDONALD: JUST A HOUSEKEEPING THING BECAUSE YOU'LL PROBABLY BRING IT UP LATER.
WILL WE, ON NOVEMBER 10, MEET HERE OR THERE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: OUR NOVEMBER 10 MEETING IS AT THE SERVICE CENTER.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE DO QUARTERLY MEETINGS FOR OUR PARK COMMISSION AND WE STAGGER IT WITH BOARD MEETINGS.
AND THEN JUST TO ADD TO YOUR-- THANK YOU FOR THAT CHAIR FARRIS.
AND YOU CAN PROVIDE INPUT TO ME ANYWAY.
I CAN DO IT OVER THE PHONE WITH YOU, OR IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN AN EMAIL, HOWEVER, THAT MIGHT LOOK FOR YOU.
AND THEN IF I HAVE QUESTIONS, I CAN CALL BACK.
THANK YOU FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AS FAR AS GENERAL QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD, DO YOU HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR EITHER DIRECTOR WISINSKI OR MICHAEL? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, I'M ALWAYS CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT THE ADVANCES HIS COMPANY AND OTHERS IN THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT MAKE HIM MORE ATTRACTIVE READABLE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WELL, I DO LIKE THEIR FORMAT.
THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS IN TERMS OF MY PARKS AND REC EXPERIENCE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S QUITE A COMPLIMENT.
COMMISSIONER STEPHENS? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, JUST LOOKING REALLY QUICKLY THROUGH THIS.
WHEN YOU THROW A PHOTO IN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTO SOMEWHERE.
MARK STEPHENS: JUST A LOCATION OR SOMETHING OR WHATEVER.
I SEE SOME KAYAKS IN THERE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ON THOSE PAGES THAT MENTIONS WHAT KAYAKS ARE DOING THERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: GREAT QUESTION.
ANYTHING ELSE? MARK STEPHENS: NO, THAT'S IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMISSIONER LICK? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, I MEAN, AT FIRST GLANCE, IT LOOKS GOOD.
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER STEPHENS THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO JUST HAVE A LITTLE TAG, BECAUSE I THINK WITH THE KAYAKS, THAT WAS
[00:50:01]
OUR FIRST RIBBON-CUTTING EVENT.AND SO JUST SPECIAL PHOTOS LIKE THAT.
ANY OF THE PHOTOS, I THINK, IT'S GOOD TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT OF WHAT IT IS.
MIKE HOFFMEISTER: IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, EXACTLY.
AND JUST MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR USHERING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AND JUST REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS.
AND IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I HAVE NOTHING REALLY TO ADD.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT WAS JUST TIME FOR US TO HAVE A REFRESHED LOOK.
IT'S JUST GOOD TO DO THAT PERIOD.
MARK STEPHENS: LIKE THE DNR KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN THEY REQUEST THIS KIND OF STUFF FROM PLACES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE DON'T GIVE THEM THE SAME DOCUMENT EVERY YEAR WITH TWEAKS.
BUT NO, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, MIKE, AND HAVE APPRECIATED YOU AS OUR CONSULTANT SO FAR, BUT STILL LOOKING FOR GOOD THINGS.
SO WITH THAT DIRECTOR WISINSKI, IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT YOU WANT US TO DO FOR THE DISCUSSION PORTION? COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, NOPE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING IT SOONER.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: IN ANY FORMAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND A DATE BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, MAYBE THE FRIDAY BEFORE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: FRIDAY BEFORE, YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'LL SEND OUT AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT AS WELL AS A DATE.
YEAH, COMMISSIONER? AMANDA A. LICK: ONE MORE QUESTION.
WE JUST NEED TO SEND IT DIRECTLY TO COURTNEY, NOT COPY EVERYONE.
AMANDA A. LICK: LIKE TO NOT VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU FOR THAT CALL.
AMANDA A. LICK: YES, YOU'RE WELCOME.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THOSE SMALL THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR FOR MYSELF.
MARK STEPHENS: I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
BECAUSE IF I EMAIL YOU WITH MY PERSONAL ON THE EMAIL THAT GOES OUT TO EVERYBODY, AND THEN TOMORROW YOU DO.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, YOU DO, OR ON THE SAME DAY, IS THAT IN VIOLATION OF-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: AS LONG AS THE THREE OF YOU AREN'T TALKING TOGETHER.
IT'S ALL COMING TO ONE SOURCE.
YOU'RE NOT EXCHANGING INFORMATION, OR DELIBERATING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO I THINK WE HAVE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
MARK STEPHENS: AND I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, I DON'T EITHER.
I'M NOT SURE-- MARK STEPHENS: IT'S A LOT LIGHTER THAN IT USED TO BE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, IT IS.
WITH THAT, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ACTION ITEMS. COURTNEY? COURTNEY WISINSKI: EXCELLENT.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMISSION-- THANK YOU SO MUCH-- AT OUR LAST MEETING, LOOKING AT WHAT OUR PREVIOUS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE AND THEN WHAT WE ARE-- I THOUGHT THIS IS JUST THE ACTION IN THE VISION.
I APOLOGIZE, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MASTER PLAN AND IT'S NOT.
BUT I CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN REALLY QUICK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: DO YOU HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY? COURTNEY WISINSKI: I DO, I JUST HAVE TO LOG IN REAL QUICK.
AND WHILE I'M LOOKING FOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, YOU WILL SEE YOUR-- YEAH, THESE ARE-- I'M NOT SEEING THREE PAGES FROM THE BACK.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE APPENDIX 9B.
AND THAT'S THE VISION STATEMENT, MISSION STATEMENT.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEP, SEE THAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND THEN 9C IS THE ACTION PLAN THAT I PUT TOGETHER WHILE I SEARCH FOR THE-- AND I'LL BRING THEM UP ONLINE-- FOR THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WHILE SHE'S DOING THAT, MARY, IF AT THIS POINT A FRIEND OF MINE HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTED AND MADE COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT, AND THAT-- IS THIS DOCUMENT ABLE TO BE SEEN, LOOKED AT NOT SO MUCH IN THE CENTURY VIEW? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU MEAN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNTIL TIME? MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
I'M SURE COURTNEY DOES THOUGH.
DO EITHER ONE OF YOU KNOW? MARK STEPHENS: I DON'T KNOW.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT COULD WELL BE ON THE WEBSITE.
MARK STEPHENS: I DON'T KNOW IF THE DRAFT IS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE HAD IT-- PARDON ME.
MARK STEPHENS: WOULD THE DRAFT BE ON THE WEBSITE NOW AT THIS POINT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE? YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT'S IN THE WEBSITE AND IN YOUR PACKET.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOES NOT SEE THAT YET.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THEY CAN SEE IT THROUGH YOUR PACKET, BUT IT IS NOT ON THE ACTUAL IN ITS OWN WEBSITE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL THEN? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE WILL DO THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: HIGHLIGHTED SEPARATE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING MICHAEL? SO THAT SOMEBODY-- MARK STEPHENS: DOESN'T MATTER TO ME IF IT WAS AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK AT OCTOBER 31 OR NOVEMBER 9, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THE COMMENTS, AND I DON'T KNOW, ONLY ONE OF THEM PROBABLY WOULD BE INTERESTED,
[00:55:01]
POSSIBLY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING A LOOK AT THE DRAFT BEFORE THE 10TH.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE THOUGH, FOR THAT REVIEW PERIOD TO HAVE IT OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW, DOESN'T IT? AND SOMETHING THAT'S MORE TRANSPARENT.
YES, WE'LL GET IT ON THE WEBSITE FOR SURE RIGHT AWAY.
BUT THERE'S TWO HARD COPIES, ONE SITTING HERE IN TOWN HALL, ONE IN THE SERVICE CENTER.
SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS NOTED ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO THEY'RE AVAILABLE, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BEEN HIGHLIGHTED YET, IF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT WHERE THEY MIGHT FIND IT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, WE WILL HAVE IT ON BY TOMORROW MORNING.
MARK STEPHENS: IF IT WERE A SHAREABLE PDF OR SOMETHING, ANYBODY THAT RESPONDED, IF WE DO HAVE EMAIL CONTACT FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR RESULTS, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN SEND THEM A PDF OF A DRAFT AND HAVE THEM COMMENT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OR TO A LINK.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, TO A LINK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO THAT IF THEY DO HAVE COMMENTS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU NEVER INCORPORATED MY COMMENTS.
MARK STEPHENS: THEY MIGHT POINT SOMETHING OUT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: IN THE COMMENTS, I WILL INCLUDE IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS IN OUR PART.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS JUST RIGHT NOW IN GENERAL? AMANDA A. LICK: OH, JUST IN GENERAL OR ON THE VISION AND MISSION OR WE-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT GENERAL? COURTNEY, BECAUSE I THINK DID YOU WANT TO TACKLE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FIRST AND THEN THE-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: MISSION AND VISION ARE A BIT SEPARATE.
SO WHAT WE HAD DONE LAST TIME IS WE LOOKED AT THE PREVIOUS ONE.
SO THE COMMISSIONERS DECIDED TO REDUCE THAT.
SO JUST WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT YOU ASKED US TO REDUCE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU FEEL THAT IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE AND CORPORATE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD WHILE COURTNEY'S LOOKING FOR THAT AND HAVE ANY PARTICULAR COMMENTS ON THE VISION AND THE MISSION
[10.B. Updated Mission and Vision Statements ]
STATEMENT.COMMISSIONER LICK? AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK THE VISION STATEMENT LOOKS GOOD TO ME, AND SHORT AND SWEET.
THE MISSION STATEMENT-- I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AROUND DIVERSE PARTS, OR I FEEL LIKE THAT-- MARK STEPHENS: IF DIVERSE NEEDS TO BE IN THERE.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF DIVERSE NEEDS TO BE THERE IN THAT CONTEXT.
MAYBE IT'S DIVERSE IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WE'RE SERVING, OR THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE CREATING THE PARKS FOR.
BUT I THINK I WOULD MOVE THAT WORD OUT.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO REALLY WORDSMITH THESE THINGS HERE TONIGHT OR IF WE SHOULD SEND OUR COMMENTS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VISION STATEMENT AND THE MISSION STATEMENT ARE PRETTY SUCCINCT.
AND I THINK THAT'S FINE FOR US TO DO HERE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL HEARING IT, I GUESS, BECAUSE IF NOT, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING WITH CHANGES THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE TO.
DOES THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY? BECAUSE WE'RE PRETTY SMALL GROUP.
KEEPING IN MIND, THOUGH, THE MEETINGS THAT IT'S OK TO VOICE THOSE BEFORE SO THAT SHE KNOWS WHAT, GOD KNOWS, WHAT IT WOULD BE.
MAYBE I HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE SENIOR CENTER, AND I WOULD SEND THAT TO HER AS SOON AS I DECIDE TO DO IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS, JUST BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY BRIEF AND WE AS A GROUP CAN DO THAT HERE.
ARE YOU GUYS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT'S A LONGER STORY.
I HAVE MY GLASSES ON ME, BUT I HAVE MY FIXED EYES.
WHAT PAGE NUMBER? BECAUSE I CAN DO THAT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BACK.
IT'S THE THIRD PAGE, I THINK BRITTANY SAYS THE THIRD PAGE IN THE BACK.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WELL, THIRD FROM THE BACK.
WHAT WAS THE NUMBER? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: 9B.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IF YOU GO FROM THE BACK.
MARK STEPHENS: THE LAST THREE PAGES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO I GUESS GOING BACK TO AMANDA'S COMMENT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD TOO, BUT I WASN'T-- I THINK THE WHOLE IDEA OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR FACILITIES AND THE POPULATION WE'RE SERVING IS IMPORTANT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WORDING FITS THAT.
MARK STEPHENS: I DON'T KNOW HOW OUR PARKS ARE DIVERSE.
I MEAN, THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARKS AND FACILITIES, BUT A BROAD RANGE OF PARKS OR WHATEVER.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH I WAS THINKING I LIKE THE IDEA OF ADDING BEING REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HAVING THE WORD DIVERSE, BUT MORE LIKE COMMENTING ON OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF IT COULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PARKS, FACILITIES, AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEARN, PLAY, CREATE, AND CONNECT IN A SAFE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
[01:00:08]
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WORKS VERY WELL, DOES IT? MARK STEPHENS: IT DOES WORK LIKE THAT.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BECAUSE BY RIGHT, YOU COULD HAVE DIVERSE PARKS MEANING LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WE HAVE PARKS OR PLAYGROUNDS.
BUT IT'S AN UNUSUAL WAY TO USE THAT WORD.
MARK STEPHENS: IT COULD BE USED SOMEWHERE ELSE.
LIKE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR PUBLIC, THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A PARK THAT THEY CAN GO TO AND FEEL COMFORTABLE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S OUR INTENT.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, THAT'S OUR INTENT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO HANNAH, DID YOU CAPTURE THAT? WERE YOU ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT? DO YOU WANT TO READ IT BACK TO US? HANNAH: IT'S RECORDED.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO WHAT I HEARD AMANDA SAY WAS TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING PARKS, FACILITIES, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEARN, PLAY, CREATE, AND CONNECT IN A SAFE, WELCOMING COMMUNITY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IS IT DIFFERENT? AMANDA A. LICK: YEP, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
I THINK THE ONLY THING IS THAT IF WE SAY COMMUNITY IN THE BEGINNING, I'M NOT SURE IF COMMUNITY IS RIGHT AT THE END.
BUT I WAS TRYING TO FIND A SYNONYM FOR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD-- SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO SAY TOWNSHIP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I JUST THINK-- MARK STEPHENS: I'D SAY INSPIRE OUR CITIZENS.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH MARK STEPHENS: INSTEAD OF PEOPLE JUST IN GENERAL.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: CAN YOU FIND A SYNONYM? AMANDA A. LICK: THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IN LIEU OF-- AMANDA A. LICK: IN LIEU OF-- WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I LIKE COMMUNITY AT THE FRONT, I THINK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: TO INSPIRE A LIFE AND SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AT THE END.
AMANDA A. LICK: THE INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT-- AND A SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.
I MEAN, WE COULD-- MARK STEPHENS: UPDATE THAT RIGHT THERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO TO INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OK, LET ME READ IT QUICK BECAUSE THIS IS-- I THINK GOT IT SHORT.
TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING PARKS, FACILITIES, AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEARN, PLAY, CREATE, AND CONNECT IN A SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU LIKE THAT? I LIKE THAT A LOT.
WHAT ABOUT VISION STATEMENT? ANY COMMENTS ON VISION STATEMENT? ANY CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, OR I THAT IS SUCCINCT? AMANDA A. LICK: I LIKE THAT IT'S SUCCINCT.
I FORGET IF VISION STATEMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WARM, OR IT'S JUST VERY DRY-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK OF IT AS JUST A STATEMENT.
I THINK OF IT JUST AS A STATEMENT.
SO THAT PROBABLY WORKS FOR ME.
BUT CERTAINLY COULD BE OPEN TO BECAUSE IN THE MISSION STATEMENT, THEN WE FLUFF THAT OUT.
MARK, ANY-- MARK STEPHENS: IT'S FINE WITH ME.
MICHAEL, ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE TWO? DO YOU WANT TO BORROW MY GLASSES? MICHAEL MCDONALD: MAYBE LATER.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I MIGHT HAVE AN EXTRA PAIR OR TWO.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: RIGHT OVER HERE.
TRACY SAID I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, BUT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO CAN I JUST READ THIS TO YOU QUICK? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO THE VISION STATEMENT READS RIGHT NOW, "CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH PEOPLE, PARKS AND PROGRAMS".
MICHAEL MCDONALD: SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
WE WENT THROUGH THE MISSION STATEMENT ALREADY.
SO HERE, THIS GROUP, WE'RE GOOD WITH THOSE REVISIONS TO THE VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT? BOARD MEMBER 3: YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THANKS FOR SO EATING UP ALL THE TIME.
[CHUCKELS] MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK GOD WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ALL RIGHT, COURTNEY,
[10.A. 5-year Goals and Objectives ]
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, LET'S GO THROUGH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES BECAUSE I CREATED THE ACTION PLAN FROM THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OBJECTIVES.
SO THESE WERE SENT TO OUR COMMISSIONERS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, SO I THINK EVERYBODY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEM.
BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
SO WITH THAT, WE CHOSE FIVE GOALS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO THESE DIRECTLY REFLECTED OUR DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE
[01:05:03]
BRAINSTORMING AND MISS AMANDA WAS DOING HER-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: WAS HER DOING HER THING.AND WE LOOKED AT OUR PREVIOUS GOALS, WHICH WERE VERY SIMILAR, BUT UPDATED THEM BASED ON WHAT WE AS A GROUP TODAY WERE HOPING TO INCORPORATE, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE SURVEY AND THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO, WHAT I DID, PUT THEM IN GOALS.
I TRIED TO KEEP IT TO LESS THAN FIVE OR FIVE OR LESS OBJECTIVES.
WE CAN GO THROUGH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE.
MY QUESTION IS, YOU'LL SEE THE HIGHLIGHTED AT THE BOTTOM.
WE HAVEN'T ADDED ANY MEASURES TO OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, LET'S SAY QUANTITATIVE REPORTABLE MEASURES.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO MAYBE MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION OR IF WE WERE OK OR APPROVED JUST HAVING OUR REGULAR EXISTING OBJECTIVES.
SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THEM.
AND I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A HEAVY THOUGHT EITHER WAY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU'RE PROVIDING THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: AS AN OPPORTUNITY-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BUT YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDING OR FEELING STRONGLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER? COURTNEY WISINSKI: CORRECT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: CAN I ASK A QUESTION? COURTNEY WISINSKI: OK.
GOAL NUMBER ONE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
SO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, LEVERAGE RESOURCES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
SO I THINK WE COULD MAYBE LOOK AT THAT.
HOW DOES THAT FIT WITH EACH OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION, AND/OR EVEN WORD WORDSMITHING AT THIS POINT? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: I THINK THAT SOUNDS-- BOARD MEMBER 3: JUST STANDARD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHEN I LOOKED AT IT BEFORE, IT'S PRETTY DIRECT FROM OUR DISCUSSION, SO I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OBJECTIVES I PULLED FROM OUR DISCUSSION AS WELL.
SO EXPAND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE CLUBS AND NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES.
STRENGTHEN OUR VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, RECOGNITION, AND RETENTION.
AND I'M ONLY READING THESE BECAUSE THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE THIS, SO I APOLOGIZE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I THOUGHT YOU WERE READING IT BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE IT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WELL, THAT TOO.
[LAUGHTER] MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO COURTNEY, THEY DON'T GET ANY OF THAT THEN? COURTNEY WISINSKI: THEY DON'T SEE ANY OF THIS.
THIS IS JUST-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S TOO BAD.
YEAH, WE SHOULD HAVE A SPLIT SCREEN MAYBE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE DIDN'T SET IT UP THAT WAY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IN THE FUTURE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I SET IT UP TO JUST DO THE ZOOM AND THEN, YEAH, I DIDN'T REALIZE THESE WERE HERE.
SO STILL ON GOAL NUMBER, ONE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, OBJECTIVE 1.3, DEVELOP COMMUNITY SUPPORTED PROGRAMMING FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN EMERGING RECREATIONAL INTERESTS.
AND THEN 1.4, STRENGTHEN REGIONAL RECREATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES ON TRAILS, NATURAL RESOURCES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
SO I'LL STOP THERE FOR ANY COMMENTS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: LET'S GET COMMENTS FIRST, THEN.
DO YOU WANT US TO PROVIDE-- I HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH.
STRENGHTEN VOLUNTEER THROUGH TRAINING, RECOGNITION AND RETENTION STRATEGY.
IT FEELS LIKE THAT SHOULD BE STRATEGIES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I WAS GOING TO SAY SHOULD WE PROVIDE THOSE RIGHT NOW? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: I THINK, YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO I THINK 1.1 NEEDS A PERIOD AT THE END.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND THEN STRATEGIES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I'M NOT SURE THAT CLUB SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED, OR MUNICIPALITIES IN THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHICH ONE IS THAT ON? MICHAEL MCDONALD: 1.1.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT'S JUST GENERIC.
I THINK WE HAVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS NOW, CORRECT? SO MAYBE EXPANDING ON IT IS GREAT, BUT CONTINUE IS ALSO ANOTHER WORD THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING IT AND WE JUST WANT TO EXPAND THOSE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO MAYBE CONTINUE BEFORE EXPANDS? MICHAEL MCDONALD: CONTINUING TO EXPAND.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ARE WE GOOD WITH ONE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH, I'M GOOD.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO I'LL READ THE FIVE YEAR MEASURE THAT I ADDED IN HERE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OH, COURTNEY, SORRY 1.3.
[01:10:01]
COURTNEY WISINSKI: 1.3.COURTNEY WISINSKI: INTERESTS WITH AN S PROBABLY AT THE END.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: INTERESTS, YEAH.
BOARD MEMBER 3: PROBABLY A COMMA AFTER POPULATION, BUT THAT'S JUST LITTLE THINGS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S THE NEW WAY.
IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.
YOU DID NOT PUT A COMMA THERE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I KNOW, YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO 1.3 IS GOOD? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEP.
ANYTHING? COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT'S GOOD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
OK, NOW GO AHEAD WITH THE MEASURE, COURTNEY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S ALRIGHT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO IF WE WANT TO INCLUDE A MEASURE, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS ONE, WE DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE IT AT ALL.
I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF IT HOLDS US TO ANYTHING.
WE DO AN ANNUAL REPORT ANYWAY, SO WE WOULD BE REPORTING ON CERTAIN THINGS.
BUT HERE, ESTABLISH OR STRENGTHEN AT LEAST FIVE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY OR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOP AN ANNUAL REPORT DOCUMENTING PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES.
ANY COMMENTS IN GENERAL ON THE MEASUR? MARK? NOT THIS SPECIFIC ONE, BUT THE WHOLE TOPIC.
DO WE INCLUDE A MEASURE OR NOT? MICHAEL MCDONALD: I LIKE THE IDEA OF A MEASURE.
YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVERAGED RESOURCES ARE, BUT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU ARE LEVERAGED RESOURCE.
[LAUGHTER] MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH.
[CHUCKLES] MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE USE YOU FOR MANY THINGS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, I THINK MORE OF AN IN-KIND TYPES OF RESOURCES.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH NOKOMIS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DOING DOUBLE DUTY WITH PRESERVATION.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO LEVERAGING OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK.
IS THERE A BETTER? MICHAEL MCDONALD: I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BETTER WORD THAN THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO YOU'RE OK WITH HAVING A MEASURE? MICHAEL MCDONALD: I'M GOOD WITH IT, YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AMANDA? AMANDA A. LICK: I'M GOOD WITH IT.
MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, HOW DO WE MEASURE IT NOW? THE PLAN? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I DON'T KNOW THAT WE DO.
MARK STEPHENS: WELL, WE DO REPORTING, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU DO REPORT IT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE DO AN ANNUAL REPORTING THAT DOES HAVE MEASURABLES IN THERE.
BUT IT WAS NEVER-- I MEAN, IT WAS SPECIFIC TO GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A SPECIFIC MEASURE CALLED OUT.
SO REGARDLESS, I DO REPORT BASED ON OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES EVERY YEAR, AN ANNUAL REPORT.
SO LIKE I SAID, I'M INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE MEASURABLE OR NOT.
MARK STEPHENS: BY DOING THIS FIVE YEAR MEASURE, IS THAT CREATING MORE WORK FOR YOU? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE-- TO COMPILE ALL THAT INFORMATION OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO CONTINUE, DO IT ALL THE TIME, PUT IT INTO A REPORT FOR LATER ON USE OR? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, I THINK GIVEN-- SO I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS RELATIVELY EASY.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, START TRACKING FROM NOW TILL THEN, WHICH WE DO ANYWAYS, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE FORMALLY SPECIFIC TO OUR WORK PLAN.
MARK STEPHENS: BECAUSE I KNOW REPORTING ON THESE THINGS FOR OTHER GRANTS, IS THIS A REQUIREMENT? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IT IS NOT REQUIRED.
MARK STEPHENS: IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: MICHAEL, DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, BUT I'M TRYING TO DO, MAYBE WHAT I ALWAYS DO, IS TRY AND PUT A FACE TO EACH ONE OF THESE.
AND ONE THING I WAS THINKING OF WHILE WE'VE BEEN TALKING IS THE NOW COMPLETED TRAIL FROM NANCY MOORE OVER TO MSU'S ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
I'M PROBABLY THE ONE THAT HAS THE QUESTIONS MORE THAN OTHER PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET, IN TERMS OF MEASURABLES.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST US TO DO OUR SHARE OF THE MAINTENANCE? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST EAST LANSING TO DO THEIR SHARE OF THE POLICING? DO YOU THINK IT'S BEEN-- DO YOU THINK IT'S BEING DONE EQUITABLY? USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, NOT THE EXAMPLE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I MEAN, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
I KNOW INTER-DEPARTMENTAL BETWEEN DPW AND PARKS, THOSE ARE NUMBERS I COULD CERTAINLY GATHER.
BUT I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY DONE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WELL IT'S ALSO A WORK IN PROGRESS IN ONE ANALOGY THAT COMES TO ME FROM WORK, WAS LIKE A FIVE PRONG TRAIL THAT'S OVER ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND HOW HURON-CLINTON AND WHATEVER ONE MARK-- I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HIS LAST NAME NOW.
[INAUDIBLE] WAS IN CHARGE OF REGARDING SPLITTING THEM, WHO AND WHEN DID THE SNOW BLOWING.
THAT'S JUST, AGAIN, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
[01:15:01]
OF COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IN COORDINATION.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: BOTH AGENCIES ARE ALL FIVE, AND GO OUT AND PLOW THE SNOW AT THE SAME TIME.
SOMEDAY WE'LL HAVE SNOW AGAIN.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH WELL, AND LAST YEAR, WE HAD QUITE A BIT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL, SO IT'S OUR UTILITY WORKERS THAT SIGN UP FOR SNOW PATROL, WE CALL IT.
BUT IT COULD BE PARKS OR IT COULD BE SEWER, WATER, BUILDINGS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO I GUESS AS FAR AS THE MEASUREMENTS IN GENERAL, I JUST LIKE TO TAKE A QUERY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR-- WELL, I SHOULD SPEAK FIRST.
I MEAN, I'M LEANING A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS LEAVING IT IN.
ONLY BECAUSE I LIKE THE IDEA THAT IT SEEMS TO TIGHTEN IT UP WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE, BUT I COULD ABSOLUTELY GO EITHER WAY.
SO WITH THAT, WHICH COMMISSIONERS, JUST GIVE ME A HAND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THE MEASURES IN, IN GENERAL.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I THINK IT'S FINE.
I MARK STEPHENS: THINK IT'S UP TO YOU.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WORK YOU WANT TO PUT INTO IT.
IT'S LIKE, IF IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHO WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT IT? WHO DID NOT RAISE THEIR HAND? AMANDA A. LICK: I COULD GO EITHER WAY, I GUESS.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF-- I GUESS, WE REPORT OUT ON THE MASTER PLAN EVERY YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU PUT A PLAN IN PLACE, IT'S LIKE, WHAT DOES GOOD LOOK LIKE? SO I LIKE THE FIVE YEAR MEASURE TO TELL A STORY OF WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
WHEN WE BUILT IT, WE PLANNED ON MEASURING IT THIS WAY, AND WE ACHIEVED ALL THAT WE PLANNED TO MEASURE.
BUT I ALSO-- TO MARK'S POINT, IF IT'S GOING TO CREATE ALL THIS WORK AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY AND REALLY THE GOAL IS JUST TO REPORT OUT THAT THERE IS NO EXPECTATION THAT WE-- I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE WITH A PLAN WHEN IT'S DONE.
LIKE, IS IT THAT WE STAYED WITHIN BUDGET? OR IS IT OVER THE FIVE YEARS, THE PUBLIC TOLD US THEY WANTED 20 THINGS AND WE CHECKED 15 OF THEM OFF? LIKE, I JUST DON'T KNOW.
SO I FEEL LIKE THE MEASURE HELPS PUT SOME CONTEXT AROUND THAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF IT'S NOT ACTUALLY LIKE DOING ANYTHING, LIKE WE WERE JUST GOING TO REPORT WHAT WE DID ANYWAYS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I WONDER IF IT'S PUTTING IT IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, BECAUSE YOU DO THIS ANYWAY.
IN MY OWN MIND, IT MAY BE SOME DUPLICATE WORK.
I'M THINKING THAT POSSIBLY IS NOT, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I GUESS I WAS THINKING THIS TIES IN UP HERE.
AND THEN, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT ON ONE REPORT AND THEN THE OTHER, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME INFORMATION.
SO I'M HEARING THAT THE COMMISSION IS LEAVING THAT UP TO YOU.
MARK STEPHENS: IT'S UP TO YOU.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WHERE'S EMILY WHEN YOU NEED HER? YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'LL REVIEW THEM CLOSELY AND I WILL ASK HER INPUT.
WHAT I DO IS I AGREE WITH YOU.
THERE'S SOME ORGANIZATIONAL THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
WHAT I DO LIKE IS HAVING SO FIVE SIGNIFICANT PARTNERS.
IT IS A GOAL AND IT'S AN ATTAINABLE GOAL.
WHAT I DON'T WANT IS WE FOCUS ON MEASUREMENTS AND NOT THE OVERALL PICTURE.
AND SO, I'LL DIGEST A LITTLE BIT.
MARK STEPHENS: WELL, WILL THE PUBLIC FOCUS ON MEASUREMENTS? THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING ABOUT.
LIKE, OH YOU DIDN'T MEET YOUR MEASUREMENTS OR WHATEVER.
LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
IS IT FOUR OUT OF FIVE GOOD? OR ALL FIVE? THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO CALL YOU OUT ANYWAY, NO MATTER WHAT, SO LET'S PUT IT IN THERE.
AND IF YOU WANT, AND JUST SHOW THAT YOU'RE DOING IT.
BUT THEN IF WE DON'T PUT THIS HERE, THEN WHAT TELLS US OUR PLAN WAS SUCCESSFUL? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THE ACCOUNTABILITY ASPECT.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, LIKE-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IT'S ALL IN ONE PLACE, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY GOOD IF THERE'S STRONG OPINIONS THE OTHER WAY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT ALSO SHOWS MAYBE WHERE WE FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PLAN.
LIKE WE COULDN'T GET THERE HERE, MAYBE WE NEED TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE ON THE UPCOMING FIVE YEARS OR SO.
AMANDA A. LICK: I LIKE THE THOUGHT OF THAT TOO.
LIKE, WE PUT THESE MEASURES IN PLACE DUE TO X, Y, AND Z.
WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS OR THAT.
AND NOW WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A GAP GOING INTO THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, AS LONG AS THAT'S DONE.
MARK STEPHENS: BECAUSE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, OH, WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
BUT NOW WE GOT NEW THINGS TO GO ON.
AND SO, WHERE ARE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO ORIGINALLY? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH.
MARK STEPHENS: SO THAT'S-- AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: AS LONG AS IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE'LL READ THE OTHER ONES TOO.
AND MAYBE IT'LL HELP US WITH-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OK, GO ON TO GOAL TWO.
SO REVIEW FOR THE PUBLIC, GOAL ONE WAS COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
GOAL TWO, PARK MAINTENANCE AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT.
[01:20:05]
COMMISSIONER LICK WORKED HARD TO GET THIS INTO A VERY CONCISE-- [LAUGHTER] COURTNEY WISINSKI: A CONCISE GOAL.COURTNEY WISINSKI: BUT I THINK IT WORKS OUT WELL.
SO MAINTAIN, IMPROVE AND STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN EXISTING PARKS AND FACILITIES WHILE DEVELOPING LONG TERM ASSET MANAGEMENT AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES.
AS WE ALL KNOW IN OUR PROFESSIONAL WORLD, STRATEGICALLY INVEST IS IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE DO HAVE GOALS, WE DO HAVE OBJECTIVES, WE HAVE PRIORITIES, BECAUSE THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH RESOURCES TO GO AROUND.
SO THAT'S WHERE I CAME UP WITH THAT, BUT PLEASE WORDSMITH AWAY.
MARK STEPHENS: I ACTUALLY LIKE THAT.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT.
AND THEN, SO OBJECTIVES, 2.1, DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PARK ASSET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY INCLUDING AMENITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVENTORY CONDITION RATINGS.
PRIORITIZE MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY COMMENTS? AMANDA A. LICK: IS THAT DOABLE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE DO.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I GUESS AS A QUALIFIER, I'M THINKING BASED ON A CONVERSATION COURTNEY AND I HAD, THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN HERE THAT IS OUT OF RANGE.
AMANDA A. LICK: OK, THANK YOU.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WOULD THAT BE ACCURATE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT IS ACCURATE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BUT THEN IT JUST MORE HOLDS IT TOGETHER TO ARTICULATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: TWO, FEEDING OFF THAT PRIORITIZE REINVESTMENT IN EXISTING FACILITIES, AND THIS CAME UP IN OUR SURVEY QUITE A BIT, INCLUDING RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT OF AGING AMENITIES, LIFE CYCLE COSTS, MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND LONG TERM OPERATIONAL IMPACTS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMENTS? OK.
YEAH, THAT DID COME OUT REAL STRONG, SO.
I SAID, I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT SO MUCH FROM THE SURVEYS TRANSLATED HERE SUCCINCTLY AND BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS AT THE LAST MEETING, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TIE THAT TOGETHER PRETTY WELL.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WELL, I THINK IT'S GREAT BECAUSE I THINK WE AS A COMMISSION, AS A DEPARTMENT, AS PUBLIC, ALL SEE THE SAME THINGS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: GOOD POINT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE RECOGNIZE WHAT WE HAVE AND TO INVEST, SO.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, NO REAL OUTLIERS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: 2.3, IMPROVE ATHLETIC FACILITIES THROUGH LONG TERM STRATEGY FOR DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING.
SCHEDULING, DRAINAGE, PARKING, RESTROOMS, AND SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SOME OF THESE ARE VERY REAL, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE IN THERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I JUST HAVE STRATEGIES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, STRATEGIES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK THE ONLY THING-- WELL, GO TO 2.4, SORRY, OR NOT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AFTER 2.4? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH.
2.4, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PARK MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES BY EVALUATING STAFFING EQUIPMENT [INAUDIBLE].
IS THIS YOUR QUESTION? [LAUGHTER] COURTNEY WISINSKI: EVALUATE STAFFING, EQUIPMENT.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME COMMAS IN THERE.
SEASONAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND STANDARDS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO COMMAS, NEEDS IS PLURAL AND STANDARDS NEEDS A PERIOD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK THE-- OH, THERE'S A COMMA AFTER THAT TOO, ISN'T THERE? AFTER NEEDS? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I'M SEEING A COMMA AFTER STAFFING.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMA AFTER STAFFING, AFTER EQUIPMENT, AND THEN AN S AFTER NEEDS AND A PERIOD AFTER STANDARDS.
AMANDA A. LICK: BECAUSE NEEDS AND STANDARDS GO TOGETHER WITH SEASONAL MAINTENANCE.
THE ONLY THING I'M NOTICING IN THIS, IF YOU GO BACK UP TO THE GOAL, NONE OF THE OBJECTIVES, AND I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO CALL OUT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY NEED TO SAY THIS, BUT IN THE GOAL, IT SAYS MAINTAIN, IMPROVE AND STRATEGICALLY INVEST.
SOMETIMES THAT STRATEGIC INVESTMENT REQUIRES LAND ACQUISITION.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT CALLED OUT IN THIS AT ALL.
AND I JUST WORRY THAT IF SOMEBODY LOOKED AT OUR OBJECTIVES AND SAID, WELL, YOU SAID THAT YOU'D STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN EXISTING PARKS, THAT COULD BE MISCONSTRUED.
IF WE DO NEED TO PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NECESSARILY FITS, BUT I'M FINE WITH IT BEING PUT WHEREVER.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: 2.1? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S WHAT'S POPPING OUT TO ME.
AMANDA A. LICK: IN THE 2.1? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: INCLUDING STRATEGIC LAND ACQUISITION.
AMANDA A. LICK: YES, EXACTLY, YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THE REST OF THEM SEEM TO FOCUS ON MAINTENANCE AND FIELDS AND-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: ALL RIGHT, I'LL-- YEAH.
AMANDA A. LICK: I JUST WANT TO BE
[01:25:01]
ABLE TO SAY, WELL, NO, IT'S CLEAR HERE AND OBJECTIVE 2.1 THAT WE SAID WE'D STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN EXISTING PARKS, BUT THAT MAY REQUIRE LAND ACQUISITION.BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SAY IT THEN I DON'T-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ACQUISITION VERSUS-- AMANDA A. LICK: RIGHT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: JUST MAINTENANCE.
AMANDA A. LICK: JUST MAINTENANCE.
MARK STEPHENS: IS THERE A WAY-- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THE DIVERSITY THING FOR DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING.
CAN WE JUST PUT IN FOR PROGRAMMING INSTEAD OF DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHICH ONE ARE YOU ON? MARK STEPHENS: ON 2.3.
AMANDA A. LICK: SO I THINK WHERE IT'S USING THE WORD DIVERSITY HERE, MARK, IT WOULDN'T JUST ALL BE SPORTS PROGRAMMING.
IT WOULD BE ART AND FISH AND STEWARDSHIP AND-- MARK STEPHENS: BUT THAT'S PROGRAMMING.
IT'S JUST PROGRAMMING, IN GENERAL.
WE HAVE TO POINT IT OUT THAT YOU HAVE DIVERSE PROGRAMS IN EVERYTHING? COURTNEY WISINSKI: THE REASON I PUT IT IN THERE, SO THAT I WON'T SAY YAY OR NAY, BUT THE REASON I PUT IT IN THERE WAS BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE SURVEY, PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR MORE DIVERSE PROGRAMMING.
SO MORE TO CERTAIN CULTURES, MORE TO DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.
AND SO, THAT'S WHY I PUT THE DIVERSE IN THERE.
BUT INSTEAD OF DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING, WOULD STRATEGIES FOR DIVERSE PROGRAMMING WORK BETTER? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, IF WE HAD QUESTIONS LIKE THAT, WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE DIVERSITY IN PROGRAMMING, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DO THEY WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROGRAMS, OR DO THEY WANT THEIR PROGRAM TO MEET THEIR CULTURE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: A LITTLE BIT OF ALL.
MARK STEPHENS: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING.
AND SO, I'LL HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE MAYBE I CAN CLARIFY IT WITH THAT POINT.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, JUST IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
I MEAN, IT CAN BE IN THEIR DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMMING, AND IT'S OK.
BUT I LIKE DIVERSE PROGRAMS. MARY NARDO-FARRIS: MICHAEL, DID YOU HAVE ANY-- ANY COMMENTS? MICHAEL MCDONALD: VARIETY.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I WAS THINKING SOMETHING OTHER THAN DIVERSE.
VARIETY OF OR-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT'S HELPFUL.
I DON'T LIKE JACK HUGHES IS COMMENTING ON MY STUFF, BUT.
[LAUGHTER] COURTNEY WISINSKI: OK.
DID WE GO THROUGH 2.4? MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT'S GREAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES, WE DID.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHAT ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR MEASURE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: OK, FIVE YEAR MEASURE.
COMPLETE A SYSTEM WIDE ASSET INVENTORY, WHICH WE DO HAVE IN CONDITION ASSESSMENT.
ESTABLISH A PRIORITIZED FIVE YEAR CIP.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SHOULD THAT BE SPELLED OUT BY THE WAY? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND THEN PUT PAREN CIP IN CASE YOU HAVE TO USE IT AGAIN, THEN YOU CAN JUST USE THE INITIALS.
YOU KNOW WE GOT-- THIS CAME IN.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO I JUST TYPED THAT.
SO IT'S A NO-- IT'S JUST, FOR SOME REASON, JACK'S LOGGED INTO THIS COMPUTER AND NOT-- SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SHOWING JACK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YOU'RE JACK-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'M JACK RIGHT NOW.
AND JACK IS WONDERFUL, SO I DON'T MIND.
I DON'T MIND STANDING IN FOR JACK.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: GREAT ANSWER.
I THOUGHT JACK WAS NEXT TO HIS-- JACK WAS UP THERE NEXT TO HIS CROSLEY RADIO LISTENING TO-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: HE'S PROBABLY NOT LISTENING-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: --YOU AFTER FDR'S FIRESIDE CHAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO WERE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT MEASUREMENT? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: 5 YEAR MEASURE? COURTNEY WISINSKI: CONDITIONS-- AMANDA A. LICK: NO, OTHER THAN IT JUST REPEATS, KIND OF-- AS A MEASURE, IT'S REPEATING OBJECTIVE 1 ESSENTIALLY, ISN'T IT? AND SO IT'S-- AND THEN WE SAID WE ALREADY HAVE IT.
I GUESS MY THOUGHT WITH A FIVE YEAR MEASURE, IS IT WOULD PUSH US TO DO SOMETHING WE AREN'T ALREADY DOING, I GUESS.
MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
I WAS THINKING HERE, SO IT IS HAPPENING.
BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE CIP, THAT'S AN ANNUAL REVIEW EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND YOU HAVE TO REPRIORITIZE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO I KIND OF WANTED TO PUT IT-- I KNOW IT IS HAPPENING, BUT IT IS MEASURABLE AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT DOES HAPPEN.
AMANDA A. LICK: AND SO THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE YEAR-- LIKE IT'S A FIVE-- WE'RE CREATING A FIVE YEAR, BUT WE REVIEW IT EVERY YEAR, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY REVIEWING IT EVERY YEAR? WE DON'T HAVE A FIVE YEAR? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE DO.
WHEN WE DO OUR FIVE YEAR MASTER PLAN, THEN THAT'S WHEN WE REVALUATE IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE'RE DOING IT INCREMENTALLY THIS YEAR.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I LIKE THAT-- I LIKE, AGAIN, THAT IT'S IN ONE PLACE.
SO AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, MORE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE OR SHOW UP FOR MEETINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
BUT IF SOMEBODY'S JUST PULLING A DOCUMENT OR GOING TO THE WEBSITE, I JUST LIKE THAT IT'S TIED TOGETHER.
MARK STEPHENS: AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN GIVE TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING--
[01:30:03]
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR TOOLS, IS TO BE OUR COMMUNICATION MARK STEPHENS: SURE.NO, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, THAT-- YES, IN MY HEAD, I KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NECESSARILY.
SO IF IT'S EASIER AND WILL ALLEVIATE QUESTIONS THAT COME TO YOU, THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT THIS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: AND I THINK THAT CAME OUT CLEARLY THROUGH THE SURVEY, BECAUSE THERE WAS THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING THAT PEOPLE WERE OBVIOUSLY NOT AWARE, EVEN WHICH PARKS WERE IN THIS SYSTEM AND WHICH ONES ARE IN LANSING'S SYSTEM OR INGHAM COUNTY'S SYSTEM, SO-- MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, WE ALWAYS SEE THE CONFUSION OF INGHAM COUNTY PARK, THE BANDSHELL AND ALL THAT STUFF.
IT'S LIKE, THAT'S NOT OURS, BUT IT IS A SYSTEM-WIDE CONNECTION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
GOAL 3-- ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
CREATE AN INTERCONNECTED, ACCESSIBLE, AND INCLUSIVE PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO SAFELY ACCESS PARKS, TRAILS, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. I'D LIKE TO ADD "PATHWAYS" IN THERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND I KNOW THERE WAS QUESTIONS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PATHWAYS AND TRAILS, AND THERE IS.
MARK STEPHENS: --SLASH TRAILS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I HAVE THAT ON MY RADAR TO OUTREACH-- TO EXPLAIN TO FOLKS THE DIFFERENCE THERE.
AMANDA A. LICK: "PRESERVES," SHOULD THAT BE ADDED AS WELL? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WHERE [INAUDIBLE]? YES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: LIKE AFTER "PARKS"? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, LIKE INCLUSIVE PARK-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: PARK AND PRESERVE PROGRAM, OR-- RIHT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO, COURTNEY, ARE YOU SAYING TRAILS AND PATHWAYS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE OR ARE THEY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO, FOR THE QUESTION, A TRAIL IS A NATURAL TRAIL, MEANING IT'S NOT PAVED.
A PATHWAY IS, NOT ONLY IS IT PAVED, BUT IT'S PAVED TO ADA COMPLIANT STANDARDS.
SO THEY'RE, IN MOST CASES, 10 FEET WIDE, SOME CASES, 7 FEET WIDE, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL THAT.
SO A PATHWAY IS BOTH BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN, STILL NON-MOTORIZED, WHICH IS-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I ALWAYS FLIP THOSE IN MY OWN MIND.
IN MY OWN MIND, PATHWAY SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE WALKING PATH OR SOMETHING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: TRAIL SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING FORMAL, SO I THINK I'M JUST BACKWARDS.
I DID TOO, SO-- AND I SEE WHY THE-- YEAH, WHERE THE PUBLIC COULD BE SOMEWHAT-- MARK STEPHENS: YEAH.
WHEN THEY CALLED IT THE LANSING RIVER TRAIL, IT'S-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT'S A TRAIL.
MARK STEPHENS: NOT LANSING RIVER PATHWAY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO WE DO HAVE 20 MILES OF NATURE TRAILS AND 90 MILES OF PATHWAY, SO-- AMANDA A. LICK: CAN WE PUT A COMMA AFTER "PRESERVES" AND AN S AFTER "PATHWAY"? AND THEN-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: PRESERVES AND PATHWAYS.
AMANDA A. LICK: AND THEN, CAN WE CHANGE "ACCESSIBLE" BEFORE "INTERCONNECTED", SO IT STARTS WITH "ACCESSIBLE"? AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE "ACCESSIBLE," "INCLUSIVE," AND INTER-- OR-- MARK STEPHENS: AND INTERCONNECTED.
AMANDA A. LICK: AND "INTERCONNECTED PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM".
[INAUDIBLE] COURTNEY WISINSKI: OK.
OBJECTIVES 3.1, IMPROVE-- I'LL SPELL THAT OUT TOO.
I'M JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT RIGHT NOW-- ADA ACCESSIBILITY AND UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBLE.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY-- WHAT DO WE CALL THAT? IMPROVE ADA-- NO, IT IS ACCESSIBILITY, THAT'S WHY.
SORRY-- IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN, WITHIN PARKS, TRAILS, PLAYGROUNDS, PARKING AREAS, RESTROOMS FACILITIES, RECREATION AMENITIES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: CAN YOU CHECK TO SEE IF UNIVERSAL-- NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT CHECK TO SEE IF "UNIVERSAL DESIGN" SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED? COURTNEY WISINSKI: OH, IT PROBABLY SHOULD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK, BUT I-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: I WILL.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, IT'S THE NAME OF SOMETHING, YEAH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I DO THINK IT IS.
PARKS, TRAILS-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: THE CHECK ON THIS QUESTION, I WAS THINKING OF IS, IS THE TERM ADA ACCESS-- TERMS "ADA ACCESSIBILITY" AND "UNIVERSAL DESIGN," ARE THEY OR AREN'T THEY BASICALLY-- ARE THEY OR AREN'T THEY THE SAME? COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, NO.
[INAUDIBLE] COURTNEY WISINSKI: MARY'S PROBABLY MORE OF AN EXPERT ON IT THAN I AM, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN REQUIRES-- SO MAYBE YOU HAVE A BETTER WAY TO EXPLAIN-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I GUESS THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS IT MEANS THERE'S NOTHING SET UP DIFFERENT FOR ONE POPULATION THAN ANOTHER.
MY BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU GO INTO THOSE ELEVATORS AND THE BUTTONS ARE ALL RIGHT HERE.
WELL, TALL PEOPLE, SHORT PEOPLE, PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS CAN ALL ACCESS IT.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR THERE TO BE A HIGHER OR LOWER.
YOU CAN DO THAT WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS,
[01:35:01]
AND THAT'S REALLY THE BEST DESIGN, AND THAT'S UNIVERSAL DESIGN.MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND IT MAY BE A REQUIREMENT, IT MAY NOT BE A REQUIREMENT.
DOES MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAVE AN-- A 504 PLAN FOR ACCESSIBILITY? COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'M NOT SURE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK, TOO, UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS NOT A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
MAYBE THAT'S THE GOAL WE'RE SHOOTING FOR.
IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A BUILDING, YOU WOULD ONLY HAVE A RAMP, FOR EXAMPLE.
THERE'S NO REASON TO DO IT BOTH WAYS.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND 504 COVERS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS FACILITIES, AND I THINK IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THE POINT.
DNR HAS ONE, DON'T THEY, A 504 PLAN? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I'M SURE THEY DO.
YEAH, THEY'VE HAD A-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: --COORDINATOR.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO HAVE ONE, THOUGH, WITH OUR GRANTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
MARK STEPHENS: IS THE WORD "COMPLIANCE" USABLE THERE? LIKE "IMPROVE ADA COMPLIANCE?" COURTNEY WISINSKI: ACCESSIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE? OR "IMPROVE ADA ACCESSIBILITY"? SO WE WANT THE "ACCESSIBILITY," OR WE COULD JUST IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A REQUIREMENT, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING MAYBE YOU FOOTNOTE THAT OR SOMETHING-- WHAT UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS OR WHAT ADA IS.
MAYBE SOMEWHERE YOU FOOTNOTE IT IN THE-- I DON'T KNOW [INAUDIBLE].
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND NOT DECEPTIVELY, BUT PLENTY OF AGENCIES AND STAFF OR DIRECTORS ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR PLAYGROUNDS THAT THEY DUMPED 5 YARDS OF WOODCHIPS IN, WHICH DOES NOT MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF [INAUDIBLE]-- MARK STEPHENS: [INAUDIBLE] TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE OR COMPLIANT.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING ABOUT.
I THINK THEY'RE INTERCHANGEABLE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT YES, THERE IS PLAYGROUND MATERIAL THAT COULD BE IN A WOOD CHIP FORM THAT IS ACCESSIBLE.
IT JUST HAS TO BE A CERTAIN TYPE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I THINK THAT'S FIVE BAR.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: BUT BUZZING TREES AROUND HERE, LIKE WE'RE DOING NOW LIKE CRAZY-- JUST TAKING THE DUMP TRUCK AND PUTTING THEM DOWN, I NEVER FULLY UNDERSTOOD.
WHILE I'VE SEEN FIVE BAR CONFERENCES, I NEVER REALLY GRASPED WHAT THE EXACT ENGINEERING DIFFERENCES OTHER THAN ABOUT A 10 TIMES INCREASE IN COST.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: NO.
IT'S JUST THE PRODUCT, THE MATERIAL, AND YEAH, THE EVALUATION, WHATEVER IS DONE IN THEIR TESTING THAT THEY QUALIFIED AS ADA ACCESSIBLE IS SEPARATE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WE'VE HAD A-- COURTNEY'S HAD A BUMP OR TWO ON THE POURED IN PLACE THERE AT MARSHALL PARK.
BUT TO ME, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE, IS THAT AN AGENCY OR EVEN A PRIVATE ENTITY CARED ENOUGH ABOUT WHATEVER-- COMFORT AND SAFETY-- TO PUT IN POURED IN PLACE.
AND I DON'T THINK THEY'LL-- I DON'T THINK THERE NEEDS TO-- THERE IS PROBABLY REFINEMENT GOING ON.
BUT I THINK THAT, TO ME, IS ALWAYS GOING TO REMAIN THE ULTIMATE-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: CORRECT.
SO-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: --AND THAT COVERS ALL BASES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: REFINEMENTS HAPPENING.
SO AT MARSHALL PARK, IT'S ACTUALLY TURF, WHICH IS-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: --UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND ACCESSIBLE, BUT WE LEARNED FROM THAT.
SO NOW WE DO POURED IN PLACE [INAUDIBLE] THOSE ARE POURED IN PLACE.
SO YES, WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW MATERIALS.
AND IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE UPFRONT, BUT THE MAINTENANCE COST IS MUCH LESS BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE TO PUT WOOD CHIPS DOWN EVERY YEAR.
IT'S LIKE LAWYERS-- IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB, YOU CREATE A NEW LAW THAT ONLY YOU KNOW.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE-- WE'RE MAKING POLICY RIGHT NOW.
I'LL LOOK INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THOSE.
I'LL CHECK THE 504 PLAN AND I'LL ADD AN ADA FOOTNOTE, OR WORK THAT IN A LITTLE BETTER TOO.
SO 3.2, SO WE'RE STILL ON ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY.
CONTINUE TO EXPAND TRAIL AND PATHWAY CONNECTIVITY FOLLOWING THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PATHWAY MASTER PLAN.
THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND THAT DOES EXIST.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT DOES EXIST.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT INCLUDES VERBIAGE, CORRECT? OR IS IT JUST A MAP? COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO, THERE IS A FULL MASTER PLAN.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: 3.3 IMPROVES SAFE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE
[01:40:02]
ACCESS THROUGH COORDINATION WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S PLANNING, ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS-- AND TRANSPORTATION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE NON-MOTORIZED CONNECTIONS.AND OUR PATHWAY SYSTEM IS STILL BEING INSTALLED, SO WE DO COORDINATE WITH ENGINEERING QUITE A BIT, BECAUSE PARKS AND PRESERVES TEND TO BE AN EASY ACCESS FOR A PATHWAY TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
MARK STEPHENS: HOW ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE "CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAFE PEDESTRIAN"? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT SAFE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND WE ARE A REGIONAL DRAW, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME UNFORTUNATE THINGS MAYBE CAUSED BY ONE PERSON IN LANSING ON THE RIVER TRAIL, BUT WE'VE-- BUT LONG BEFORE THAT, WE'VE BEEN AN AREA WIDE DRAW, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT LINKAGE.
AND I'VE MET PEOPLE FROM OTHER TOWNSHIPS, OTHER CITIES.
AND THEN, THE KICKER AT THE END-- QUESTION-- COURTNEY, IS, DO WE HAVE A POSITION-- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STATE LAW OR NOT-- DO WE HAVE A POSITION ON WHAT TYPES OF BICYCLES ARE APPROVED TO BE USED ON OUR TRAILS, OR-- THE TOUGH PART IS REGULATION.
IF WE SAY CLASS I, CLASS II, CLASS III, AND WE NEVER HAVE ANYBODY OUT THERE TO ENFORCE IT-- MARK STEPHENS: YEAH.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: THEN YOU GET RUN OVER ON THE-- ON OUR TRAIL BY SOMEONE WHO'S GOING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A BIKE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO, CURRENTLY, IT IS NON-MOTORIZED.
THAT'S THE TRICKY PART, RIGHT? SO OUR PATHWAYS-- PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS ARE NON-MOTORIZED.
YOU CAN CREATE-- POLICY ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY HARD WHEN YOU'VE GOT 90 MILES, RIGHT? HOWEVER, PLEASE KNOW THAT MERIDIAN AND/OR OUR DEPARTMENT IS CLOSELY WATCHING BUT HAS NOT MOVED FORWARD BECAUSE THE HOUSE HAS TWO BILLS IN OFFICE, OR ARE PROPOSED, REGARDING E-BIKES AND E-MOTOR BIKES.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND PARKS IS CLOSELY WATCHING THIS.
I'M ON THEIR ADVOCATE TEAM, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE HOW THAT-- RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE DOING IT ON A VERY INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ANN ARBOR HAS THEIRS.
THEY DON'T OVERLAP AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
SO IF WE CREATED ONE AND EAST LANSING CREATED ONE AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT, THEN WHEN YOU CROSS THE LINE, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT RULES YOU'RE FOLLOWING? SO WE DECIDED TO PAUSE AND WAIT FOR THE STATE'S PROGRESS AND THEN MIMIC FROM THERE.
SO IT IS ON OUR MIND AND-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND, TO ME-- AND I-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT IS A REAL THING.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I OWN A COUPLE BICYCLES, AND I DON'T OWN A E-BIKE.
THE ONLY DISTINCTION I MAKE UP HERE IS WHETHER IT'S PEDAL ASSISTED OR NOT.
AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT PEDAL ASSISTED, I THINK THAT CAN BE KIND OF DANGEROUS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: --ON THAT TRAIL, I DON'T DO A CENSUS, BUT THERE'S QUITE A FEW NON-PEDAL ASSISTED HAPPY CAMPERS GOING UP AND DOWN THAT TRAIL BETWEEN US AND MSU.
AND IF THEY JUST SAY, COMING ON YOUR LEFT OR PASSING ON YOUR RIGHT, THAT HELPS A LOT BECAUSE THEY'RE PRETTY QUIET.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: THEY ARE QUIET.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO, GOING BACK TO OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, ARE WE GOOD WITH 3.3 AS IT WAS [INAUDIBLE]? OK.
WHAT ABOUT 3.4? AMANDA A. LICK: CAN I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE COMBINE 3.4 AND 3.5? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: 3.3? 3.4 AND 3.5? OK.
[INAUDIBLE] AMANDA A. LICK: AND THEN ADD A-- SOMETHING AROUND PROGRAMMING, BECAUSE WE HAVE IT? I THINK-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: ADD A 3.5 AS "PROGRAMMING"? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, OR JUST TAKE "PROGRAMMING" OUT OF-- ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IS PART OF OUR SYSTEM, SO YEAH, JUST SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF PROGRAMMING, I THINK, SHOULD BE-- WE HAVE IT CALLED OUT IN THE GOAL.
NONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES RELATE TO PROGRAMMING.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO ACCESSIBILITY AND PROGRAMMING? OK.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND I PROMISE THIS WILL BE THE LAST THOUGHT I HAVE-- WHY WOULD WE NEED TO SAY "WOODY COURTNEY WISINSKI: DON'T PROMISE THAT, MIKE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, I DIDN'T.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I THOUGHT YOU SAID I PROMISE.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WHY WOULD WE HAVE-- WHY WOULD WE SAY WOODY DEBRIS INSTEAD OF JUST DEBRIS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE SAY WOODY DEBRIS BECAUSE THE EPA-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: IT LEAVES OUT AUTOMOBILES AND COWS AND-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MONITORING THAT, SO WE ARE REALLY WORKING ON WOODY DEBRIS, AND IT FOLLOWS THE-- EPA'S WOODY DEBRIS MANAGEMENT PLAN.
[01:45:01]
THEY CAME UP WITH THE NAMES, NOT ME.MICHAEL MCDONALD: WELL, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.
SO NEXT TIME I SEE A 57 STUDEBAKER, WHEN I WAS PART OF THE BLOCKADE OF RED CEDAR-- E-BIKES THAN ANYTHING.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, IT'S THOSE LIME THINGS.
AMANDA A. LICK: [INAUDIBLE] IS THAT IT'S A COMBINED.
AMANDA A. LICK: I JUST WANTED TO-- I KNOW YOU WERE COMBINING THEM FOR TODAY, BUT MAYBE JUST-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON THAT ONE.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO COURTNEY WISINSKI: BUT I WAS GOING TO READ IT JUST SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING.
SO THESE ARE COMBINED NOW, BUT IMPROVED TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY THROUGH CONTINUED MAINTENANCE, WAYFINDING AND COMMUNICATION OF TRAIL CONDITIONS.
THE OTHER ONE TO COMBINE, IMPROVE TRAIL-- WATER TRAIL ACCESS TO THE RED CEDAR RIVER THROUGH LAUNCH SITES, WAYFINDING, AND WOODY DEBRIS REMOVAL.
SO THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY IS TERRESTRIAL AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS RED CEDAR.
SO YOU'RE SAYING-- AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK THE TRAIL SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S TRAIL OR WATER, IT'S ALL TRAIL, AND SO IT CAN JUST BE BLANKET FOR BOTH OF THOSE, IS WHAT I WAS THINKING.
MARK STEPHENS: AND YOU COULD SAY "IMPROVE WATER AND TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY." MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH.
MARK STEPHENS: OR TRAIL AND WATER, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO PUT FOR-- AND THEN-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: YOU GOOD WITH THAT, THE FIVE-YEAR MEASUREMENT? BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'M TRYING TO GET YOU GUYS OUT OF HERE.
ALL RIGHT, FIVE-- WE'RE ALMOST THERE, RIGHT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: FIVE-YEAR MEASURE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMPLETE AN ACCESSIBILITY ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZE AT LEAST FIVE SIGNIFICANT ACCESSIBILITY OR CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS SUBJECT TO FUNDING.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: COMMENTS? MICHAEL MCDONALD: SOUNDS GOOD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: LOOKS GOOD.
MARK, YOU GOOD WITH THAT ONE? MARK STEPHENS: I'M GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED "ACCESSIBILITY" IN THERE TWICE, BUT THAT'S ALL.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'M OVERUSING THIS WORD, ISN'T I? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH.
I WAS THINKING TAKE OUT THE FIRST ONE-- COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZE THESE FIVE SIGNIFICANT ACCESSIBILITY-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: OH, YEAH.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: JUST DON'T USE ESCAPABILITY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WHY NOT? MICHAEL MCDONALD: OVERUSED FOOTBALL TERM.
GOAL NUMBER 4, STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY-- PROTECT, RESTORE, AND RESPONSIBLY MANAGE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP'S NATURAL RESOURCES WHILE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTAND, AND PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: COMMENTS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEP, I'M GOOD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: MARK, ANYTHING? COURTNEY WISINSKI: OUR STEWARDSHIP [INAUDIBLE]-- MARK STEPHENS: AREN'T WE BEING RESPONSIBLE NOW? COURTNEY WISINSKI: ARE WE BEING RESPONSIBLE AS A DEPARTMENT? MARK STEPHENS: THE QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED "RESPONSIBILITY" IN THERE AND "RESPONSIBLY?" COURTNEY WISINSKI: YOU'RE RIGHT.
ARE YOU GUYS GOOD WITH REMOVING "RESPONSIBLY", WE JUST ASSUME THAT WE'RE DOING IT RESPONSIBLY? MARK STEPHENS: THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING, IF THAT-- AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK IT'S JUST SAYING THAT'S WHAT WE COMMIT TO DO-- WE'RE COMMITTING TO DOING THAT, NOT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING IT NOW.
AMANDA A. LICK: SO I THINK IT'S JUST-- AMANDA A. LICK: RIGHT.
MARK STEPHENS: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I GUESS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE DOING IT RESPONSIBLY? OK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: --PEOPLE THINK WE'RE NOT.
MARK STEPHENS: WHAT'S THAT? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I SAID SOMETIMES BY THE SURVEY-- COMES FROM THE SURVEY, I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT PEOPLE THINK WE ARE.
SO I DON'T THINK IT HURTS TO ADD IT, BUT I'M OK IF YOU FEEL-- MARK STEPHENS: NO, IT'S OK.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OBJECTIVES 4.1, DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY THAT IDENTIFIES ECOLOGICAL PRIORITIES, THREATS, MANAGEMENT, NEEDS, AND LONG TERM MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.
SO THIS IS OUR LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
SO WE DO HAVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR, NOT ONLY ALL OUR LAND PRESERVES, BUT ALSO OUR PARKS THAT HAVE NATURAL RESOURCES, NOT JUST ATHLETICS IN THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? 4.2, CONTINUE TO EXPAND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT THROUGH INVASIVE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, TREATMENT, MONITORING, RESTORATION, AND VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT.
AS WE KNOW, MERIDIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CONSISTS OF OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE, AND WE-- INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF OUR [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED INVASIVE SPECIES AFTER "THROUGH".
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OH, "THROUGH", YEAH.
IT'S ALL SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, RIGHT.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, THROUGH SPECIES-- OR JUST IDENTIFICATION.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU NEED "SPECIES" THERE BECAUSE YOU SAY IT EARLIER.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: PROTECT AND RESTORE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH INCREASE OF NATIVE PLANTINGS, WETLAND AND HABITAT RESTORATION AND COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT.
[01:50:01]
4.4, IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS, WILDLIFE, WETLANDS, CONSERVATION, AND RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR RECREATION THROUGH GUIDED HIKES AND STEWARDSHIP EVENTS.I DON'T KNOW IF WE IMPROVE, WE CERTAINLY CONTINUE.
MARK STEPHENS: CONTINUE TO PROVIDE-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE'RE PRETTY AMAZING AT THIS, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ME DOING IT, IT'S STAFF, BUT-- MARK STEPHENS: CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
AMANDA A. LICK: AND I WOULD SAY "AND RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR RECREATION PERIOD," BECAUSE THEN IT GIVES-- WE DON'T NEED TO CALL OUT THROUGH EVENTS AND HIKES, BECAUSE THEN WHAT IF WE DO OTHER THINGS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: WHAT IF IT'S OTHER? YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: GOOD POINT.
4.5, PROMOTE-- I'M NOT A WORDSMITH.
AND WHEN YOU READ IT OUT LOUD, IT JUST MAKES A DIFFERENCE TOO.
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND DEVELOP LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY PLANS TO INCORPORATE INTO PARK DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS.
WE DO NOT HAVE SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.
WE HAVE PLANS, BUT I THINK THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT COULD IMPROVE UPON.
WE USE SUSTAINABLE PARK PRACTICES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE FORMAL PLANS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: NOTE TAKEN.
AMANDA A. LICK: THIS IS-- GOAT BROWSING FALLS IN THIS, RIGHT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IT'S JUST FASCINATING.
I HADN'T PICKED THAT UP BEFORE ON STUFF THAT HAD GONE OUT AND-- AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, IT WAS INTERESTING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: --CAN'T WAIT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: CAN'T WAIT.
SO TO MEASURE, DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PRIORITY NATURAL AREAS, WHICH WE DO IN OUR PRESERVES.
OUR PARKS ARE A LITTLE LESS, BUT OUR-- JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, OUR PRESERVATION PROGRAM DOES ASSIST WITH OUR PARKS IN THE NATURAL SENSE-- IN THE NATURAL ECOLOGICAL SENSE.
DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PRIORITY NATURAL AREAS AND ESTABLISH ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP METRICS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES, HABITAT RESTORATION, VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION, NATIVE PLANTINGS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WHICH WE DO HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR THEM AS WELL.
AMANDA A. LICK: SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING, IS THAT-- I GUESS WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, WHAT DOES THE FIVE YEAR MEASURE LOOK LIKE, COURTNEY, I THINK THEN THAT WOULD BE THE START OF ANNUAL GOALS.
WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE TEAM'S GOALS FOR THE YEAR AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOU'D TAKE THESE FIVE YEAR MEASURES AND THAT WOULD BE A STARTING POINT FOR-- SOMETHING THE TEAM IS WORKING ON HAS TO FALL WITHIN THESE FIVE YEAR MEASURES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS-- THAT WE'RE DOING IS DRIVING BACK TOWARDS THIS PLAN.
IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO OPERATIONALIZE IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO EVERYBODY'S ROWING IN THIS THING.
YEAH, SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE REPORTING OUT, IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING WE DID WAS BASED ON THIS FIVE YEAR MEASURE AND IT WAS BASED ON THE PLAN, AND IT'S-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THE GUIDANCE.
SO THAT'S HOW WE LIKE THREAD THAT NEEDLE THROUGH YOUR WORK, COURTNEY, AND THE TEAM'S WORK.
IT'S JUST TO ENSURE THAT IT'S ALL LEADING BACK TO IT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT ONE? WE'RE ON TO GOAL 5, WHICH IS OUR FINAL GOAL.
AGAIN, I LIKE THAT THIS IS SUCCINCT THOUGH.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: GOAL 5, COMMUNICATION.
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH, TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO RESIDENTS-- SO RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THE TOWNSHIP'S PARKS, PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, PROJECTS, OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE.
AND WE HEARD THAT TONIGHT FROM I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF HELPING OUR PARTNERS, TOO.
AND, MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, "BETTER UNDERSTAND," MAYBE? BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME UNDERSTANDING.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE MADE EFFORTS.
IT'S JUST THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF OUR GAPS.
I DON'T THINK HE'S WAVING AT ME [INAUDIBLE]-- AMANDA A. LICK: NO, HE'S WAVING-- THAT'S MY FORMER BOSS.
ANYWAY, SO THAT WE ARE DOING-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: TO BETTER UNDERSTAND-- BETTER UNDERSTAND.
OBJECTIVE 5.1, DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PARKS AND REC COMMUNICATION STRATEGY THROUGH CONSISTENT MESSAGING ACROSS THE WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, NEWSLETTER, SIGNAGE AND PRINTED MATERIALS TO DETERMINE THE BEST COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR KEY AUDIENCES.
AND WE DO THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
COMMUNICATIONS, WE'VE LET DO IT FOR US.
SO I THINK OUR PARTNERSHIP IS WHERE WE COULD DEVELOP OUR OWN PLAN TOO AND ASSIST THEM.
WE COULD DO MORE OF OUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO REVIEW AND TO-- A GOAL WOULD BE GREAT, OR AN OBJECTIVE.
AMANDA A. LICK: COURTNEY, A-- GO AHEAD.
AMANDA A. LICK: JUST A QUESTION I HAVE ON THIS IS, IS THERE AN ACTUAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY DOCUMENT THAT'S CREATED, OR IS IT JUST LIKE, HEY-- IS THERE A SCHEDULE?
[01:55:01]
BECAUSE I'M THINKING TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY DOCUMENT.I'VE SEEN SCHEDULES OF THINGS, BUT I KNOW, PROBABLY-- I DON'T KNOW-- MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR, WE'RE PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE COULD BETTER COMMUNICATE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I JUST-- I THINK THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE-- LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DEVELOP OUR OWN OR IF WE NEED TO DO THAT WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
BUT I WANT TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC HERE, IS THAT IF WE'RE JUST-- IF WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT CREATING A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, THEN THAT'S AWESOME BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN IT, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL TO HAVE-- TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK OR TO HAVE SOMETHING WRITTEN DOWN THAT GETS PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION EVERY YEAR OF LIKE, THIS IS WHAT OUR INTENTION IS FOR HOW WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE OUT.
BUT IF NOT, THEN I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THIS ONE IN HERE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT-- IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT AN ACTUAL STRATEGY PLAN TOGETHER, THEN-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO THAT WAS KIND OF MY THOUGHT.
COMMUNICATION DOES-- IF THEY HAVE A SCHEDULE, THEY PROBABLY HAVE A COMMUNICATION PLAN, I'M SURE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING INTERNALLY THAT IS A DOCUMENT.
I DON'T-- AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, TO DEVELOP SOME SORT OF DOCUMENT.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE HEARD THROUGH THE SURVEY-- YOU HEAR AS COMMISSIONERS-- I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, OR WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT.
HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? AND I JUST DON'T FEEL IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME DEPARTMENTAL OWNERSHIP, BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR AUDIENCE.
SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS KIND OF GOING WITH THAT.
SO NOTHING EXTENSIVE, BUT SOMETHING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY, MARK? MARK STEPHENS: NO, THAT'S EXACTLY-- YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT-- WOULD WE DEVELOP SOMETHING FOR-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT KEY AUDIENCES ARE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, FOR-- MARK STEPHENS: I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A TARGETED THING, OR ARE WE JUST-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: FOR-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO STOP AFTER [INAUDIBLE]? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, MAYBE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OR IS IT METHODS? MARK STEPHENS: METHODS, YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: [INAUDIBLE] THINGS ARE NOT KEY.
5.2? COURTNEY WISINSKI: 5.2, INCREASE AWARENESS OF EXISTING PARKS AND PROGRAMS BY PROMOTING LESSER KNOWN PARKS, PRESERVE, TRAILS, PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES THROUGH SEASONAL CAMPAIGNS, HIGHLIGHTING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
THIS FALLS IN THAT-- FOR ME, THIS FALLS INTO THE 5.1 A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE IDENTIFY THEM-- WE HAVE A STRATEGY, BUT THEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO PROMOTE THESE.
AND I JUST THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: WELL, LET'S THINK OF THE PARK THAT I JUST DISCOVERED WHEN THEY HAD ALL THESE ROAD CLOSURES, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OTTAWA HILLS, WHICH IS, TO ME, A FAIRLY VISIBLE PARK.
THERE'S ABOUT TWO SWING SETS AND A MERRY GO ROUND WITH OUR SIGN-- A VERY NICE MINI PARK TO ME [INAUDIBLE].
COURTNEY WISINSKI: A MERRY-GO-ROUND? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, IT WOULD BE BEHIND PLAYMAKERS AND SOUL DANCE.
SO, USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, I THINK IT'S OK TO SAY THE GENERAL STATEMENT, BUT WE REALLY-- THAT LITTLE PIECE OF LAND REALLY DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE VISITORS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: RIGHT, BUT THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: BUT COMMON SENSE WOULD ALSO SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE A HOT DOG AND HAMBURGER EVENT THERE ANYWAY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE HAVE AT OTTAWA HILLS WHEN I WAS SERVED ON THE-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: I STILL REMEMBER IT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: --WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT, TO YOUR POINT-- ONE, WE DON'T WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE PARK AND SAY-- BUT TO HIGHLIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
SO WE'VE GOT FIVE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
IT'S IN THE PLAN, BUT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE THERE.
BUT TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY ALSO HAS NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: ONE IS NEAR AMANDA AND HER FAMILY, RIGHT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: TACOMA HILLS? MICHAEL MCDONALD: OR THAT'S NOT NEAR-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: THAT'S NOT? AMANDA A. LICK: NO, NO, THAT IS, BUT IT'S A PARK THAT'S NOT MANAGED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: OH, ALL RIGHT, SORRY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: WE DO HAVE-- WE DO HAVE A PARK THERE, TOO.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, WE DO HAVE A PARK THERE WITH THE TRAILS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: --BUT THEN WE HAVE OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, THAT IS HOA PARK THAT IS NOT MANAGED BY THE TOWNSHIP.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: --COMMON AROUND HERE.
THERE IS A TACOMA HILLS PARK WITH A TRAIL SYSTEM.
MARK STEPHENS: SO THE PEOPLE WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES KNOW THAT THERE'S A PARK THERE? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH.
MARK STEPHENS: SO DO WE REALLY NEED TO PROMOTE IT TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES? BECAUSE IT IS JUST A-- IT'S THEIR LOCAL PARK.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, I WOULDN'T SAY PROMOTE IT TO GET PEOPLE TO NECESSARILY VISIT, BUT TO PROMOTE IT SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEIR COMMUNITY HAS THESE TYPES OF PARKS.
[02:00:01]
NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OTTAWA HILLS, THERE'S FOLKS THAT VISIT FROM THE NEIGHBORING APARTMENT COMPLEX TO USE THEIR BASKETBALL COURT.SO THEY DON'T-- MARK STEPHENS: I REMEMBER THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES, YOU REMEMBER THOSE, RIGHT? BUT CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS CAN BE OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD BE WELCOMING TO THAT AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: THAT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THEIR KIDS OR THEM GO TO OTTAWA HILLS PARK BECAUSE IT'S SAFER THAN TRYING TO WALK ACROSS [INAUDIBLE].
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, OR NOT AS BUSY EITHER BECAUSE IT'S A TUCKED AWAY IN A LITTLE PARK.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND I THINK, BECAUSE MANY OF US WERE ON THE COMMISSION WHEN WE HAD THAT EVENT IN OTTAWA HILLS, THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN ENDURING IS WHOEVER THE PERSON WAS THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO GET THE PARTS-- THEY'RE EITHER CHEAP OR GIVEN TO YOU-- I'M GOING TO GET THE PARTS FOR A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY, AND THERE WASN'T ONE.
AND NOW THERE IS, BECAUSE THAT PERSON PUT IT TOGETHER.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHAT IF WE-- HOW DOES IT WORK IF WE REMOVE "BY PROMOTING LESSER KNOWN PARKS" AND JUST STICK WITH INCREASED AWARENESS OF EXISTING PARKS AND PROGRAMS? [INAUDIBLE] TRAILS, PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES THROUGH SEASONAL CAMPAIGNS HIGHLIGHTING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: THAT SOUNDS FINE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: DOES THAT WORK? COURTNEY WISINSKI: BECAUSE IT'S NOT [INAUDIBLE].
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS OUR FACILITIES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO PROMOTE THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ANYWAY FROM COMMENTS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: LIKE IT, OK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: 53? COURTNEY WISINSKI: 53, IMPROVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE INPUT THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, AND CLEARLY COMMUNICATE HOW PUBLIC INFLUENCE PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES.
I COULD TAKE OR LEAVE THIS ONE.
WE'RE DOING IT THROUGH THIS PROCESS NOW.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S ALSO REQUIRED.
[LAUGHS] MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY COMMENTS, MICHAEL? AMANDA? AMANDA A. LICK: I WOULD SAY-- I'D KEEP IT BUT JUST PERIOD AFTER PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT-- MARK STEPHENS: MAINTAIN AN-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: TWO SEPARATE SENTENCES.
MARK STEPHENS: --OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATING BACK TO US.
AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK THAT'S JUST SHORT AND SWEET.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, THAT WE ARE OPEN, WE DO WANT TO HEAR.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO DID WE CUT THAT OFF? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO WE TOOK OUT-- IT'S NOT TWO SENTENCES THEN? COURTNEY WISINSKI: DID YOU PREFER TWO SENTENCES, MARY? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: NO, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD, BUT NO, I DON'T CARE.
I JUST WAS TRYING TO REFLECT IT ON MY NOTES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: OK, 5.4, IMPROVE PROJECT COMMUNICATION BY PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH CLEAR INFORMATION REGARDING MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES, CLOSURES, FUNDING SOURCES, AND EXPECTED BENEFITS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ENGINEERING DOES QUITE OFTEN.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF LARGE PROJECTS LIKE THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM.
AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THOSE PROJECTS TODAY, AND I RECOGNIZE WE DON'T PUT OURS UP THERE.
AND I KNOW COMPARED TO DOWNTOWN OKEMOS AND THE LOCAL ROADS OUR PROJECTS ARE SMALLER, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR US TO START INCLUDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, NANCY MOORE PAVILION AND RESTROOM RENOVATIONS WILL START THIS WEEK.
SO IT DOES AFFECT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT ARE USING IT, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW.
SO THEN THEY CAN GO THERE AND SEE THAT.
AMANDA A. LICK: COULD IT JUST BE, "PROVIDE UPDATED PROJECT COMMUNICATION TO RESIDENTS?" COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES.
AMANDA A. LICK: "UPDATED PROJECT COMMUNICATION TO RESIDENTS WITH CLEAR INFORMATION REGARDING--" [INAUDIBLE] MICHAEL MCDONALD: THAT'S GREAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, AND WE HAD TO CLOSE CENTRAL PARK SOUTH BECAUSE WE REDID THE PARKING LOT.
I THINK IF AND THEN PEOPLE GOT USED TO GOING THERE, THEY COULD SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PARKS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: EXCELLENT JOB, THOUGH, PULLING THAT ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.
MARK STEPHENS: LET'S DO THE MEASURE [INAUDIBLE].
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, WE GOT TO DO THE MEASURE REALLY QUICK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ANY OTHER TOPICS? MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, IT'S NO SMALL THING TO DO WHAT YOU'VE DONE, ARE DOING.
AMANDA A. LICK: I HAVE TWO COMMENTS.
ONE IS THAT IF WE ARE CREATING STRATEGIES OR IF WE'VE CALLED THAT OUT IN HERE, I JUST WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THEM ANNUALLY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
[02:05:01]
MARK STEPHENS: AMANDA A. LICK: SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.MARK STEPHENS: --STRATEGIES ARE WORKING.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, I THINK IT'S JUST-- I THINK WE HAVE TO-- IF WE'VE PUT A MEASURE IN PLACE AND THE TEAM HAS PUT A STRATEGY IN PLACE, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT AND SAYING, OK, DID IT HIT THE MARK? HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ON IT FOR NEXT YEAR? AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THOUGHT IS-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WERE YOU THINKING OF A MONTH OR A TIME OF YEAR JUST TO-- AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHEN COURTNEY HAS HER TEAM, WHEN THEY UPDATE THOSE THINGS.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: I'LL LOOK AT THAT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE AGENDA TRACKER, I CAN LOOK TO SEE WHEN IT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR WHAT IS REQUIRED BUT ALSO WHAT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO IT WOULDN'T BE LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEASON.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: [INAUDIBLE] MARY NARDO-FARRIS: LIKE EVEN A JANUARY KIND OF THING? OF THE YEAR KIND OF THING? AMANDA A. LICK: THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING IS THAT-- CAN I JUST LOOK AT THE GOALS REALLY QUICK ONE MORE TIME? BECAUSE MY THOUGHT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ALL OF THEM? AMANDA A. LICK: --IS THAT I WANTED TO MOVE GOAL 5 UP TO GOAL 1 BECAUSE COMMUNICATION, I FEEL LIKE, IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO IT WAS JUST-- TYPICALLY WHEN PEOPLE READ A LIST OF THINGS, THEY GET TO THE THINGS THAT ARE FIRST THAT ARE GOING TO-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: PRIORITIZED, EVEN IF IT'S NOT-- AMANDA A. LICK: --IN THEIR BRAIN, EXACTLY.
THESE ARE ALL EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO US, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO READ IT AND PRIORITIZE IT IN THEIR BRAIN.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT COMMUNICATION TO FALL DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE DO.
BUT THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT, BUT I DON'T [INAUDIBLE].
MICHAEL MCDONALD: NO, IT'S GREAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: IS THERE [INAUDIBLE]? COURTNEY WISINSKI: ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I AGREE WITH THAT.
SO COMMUNICATIONS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, PARK MAINTENANCE AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY AND STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SHOULD WE MOVE-- I WONDER IF WE SHOULD MOVE ACCESSIBILITY UNDER COMMUNICATION.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO COMMUNICATION ONE, ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY TWO? AMANDA A. LICK: MM-HMM.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I GUESS I'M REALLY LIKING THE PARTNERSHIP ONE [INAUDIBLE].
AMANDA A. LICK: YOU LIKE THAT ONE AND THEN ACCESSIBILITY AFTER? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YES.
BECAUSE I THINK WE'LL DO ACCESSIBILITY, BUT I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT OUR-- I THINK THERE'S THINGS COMING UP, WHETHER IT WAS NOKOMIS OR SENIOR CENTER, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT I THINK OUR RELIANCE ON PARTNERSHIPS IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REALLY STRONG.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO COMMUNICATION [INAUDIBLE].
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, THOUGH? AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
I WAS JUST-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: --PARTNERSHIPS-- AMANDA A. LICK: --LOOKING AT THEM IN TOTALITY AND SAYING, OK, WHAT IS IT [INAUDIBLE]? COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND THEN ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY, OK.
AND THEN MAINTENANCE AND THEN SUSTAINABILITY, DOES THAT OUR WORK? AMANDA A. LICK: I THINK YEAH.
I WAS THINKING SUSTAINABILITY BEFORE MAINTENANCE, BUT I DON'T-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ONE THING, THOUGH, I GUESS BECAUSE WE ALL AS A COMMISSION HAVE OUR OWN DESIRES, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REFLECTING WHAT CAME THROUGH IN THE SURVEY.
AND I THINK WE ARE REALLY BIG ON ACCESSIBILITY.
I DON'T REMEMBER THAT COMING THROUGH STRONG IN THE SURVEYS, BUT PARK MAINTENANCE WAS.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING-- WE CAN GO EITHER WAY AS LONG AS THEY'RE THERE.
AMANDA A. LICK: I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH-- MARK STEPHENS: ALTHOUGH, WE SHOULD BE THINKING OF ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY-- MARK STEPHENS: --ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHILE MAINTENANCE IS BEING DONE.
SO ARE YOU THINKING THAT'S MORE THE OVERARCHING-- SO WE'VE GOT COMMUNICATION OVERARCHING AND THEN ACCESSIBILITY OVERARCHING, AND THEN MAYBE THE OTHERS FALL INTO PLACE, LIKE PARK MAINTENANCE, STEWARDSHIP ARE MORE PROGRAM [INAUDIBLE].
MARK STEPHENS: I WAS THINKING PARTNERSHIPS AS BEING SECOND.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OH, YOU WERE, OK.
I AM ABSOLUTELY GOOD EITHER WAY.
MARK STEPHENS: AND THEN ACCESSIBILITY THIRD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO DOES JACK HUGHES.
AMANDA A. LICK: YEAH, JACK HUGHES-- MARK STEPHENS: WHAT'S THAT? AMANDA A. LICK: I LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE, COURTNEY.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: JACK'S GOING TO SEE US ON HERE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: [INAUDIBLE] NOW, THE UPDATED ACTION PLAN-- I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF HERE, THOUGH.
SO WE COULD REVISIT-- THE ACTION PLAN IS TRULY PART OF YOUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
SO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FEED INTO THE ACTION PLAN.
IF YOU CAN REVIEW THE MASTER PLAN DRAFT THAT MIKE PROVIDED FOR US, THAT INCLUDES YOUR ACTION PLAN, SO YOU LOOK AT IT ALL IN ITS ENTIRETY, MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE NOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
DOES THAT WORK? COURTNEY WISINSKI: AND WE'LL DISCUSS FURTHER AT THE NEXT MEETING THEN WITH THE MASTER PLAN.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WHICH DOES HAVE TO BE A DECISION MEETING.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: NEXT MEETING? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YES.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO WE ARE TAKING ACTION, THOUGH, ON THE FIVE-YEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND UPDATED MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS.
MARK STEPHENS: [SNEEZES] EXCUSE ME.
[02:10:01]
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, DO I HAVE A MOTION, NEED A MOTION? AMANDA A. LICK: DO I JUST READ A MOTION, COURTNEY, TO APPROVE THE UPDATED MISSION AND-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: I DON'T SEE IT IN HERE.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, SO YOU CAN JUST, YEAH, MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FIVE-YEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AS AMENDED.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, I WOULD DO THOSE SEPARATE, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO PUT THE ACTION PLAN ON FOR NEXT MEETING APPROVAL.
AMANDA A. LICK: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE UPDATED VISION STATEMENT, CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH PEOPLE, PARKS, AND PROGRAMS. MARK STEPHENS: SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY, "YES." MARK STEPHENS: YEP.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OPPOSE, "NO." OK.
AMANDA A. LICK: I MAKE A MOTION UP TO THE UPDATED MISSION STATEMENT-- TO ACCEPT THE UPDATED MISSION STATEMENT TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PARKS, FACILITIES AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEARN, PLAY, CREATE, AND CONNECT IN A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: DID YOU READ BOTH OF THEM? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, SUPPORT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, "YES." BOARD MEMBERS: YES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OPPOSED, "NO." MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU, AMANDA, [INAUDIBLE].
AND THEN I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THE UPDATED ACTION PLAN TO OUR CONVERSATION-- MARK STEPHENS: TABLE IT.
AMANDA A. LICK: --IN NOVEMBER, TABLE IT TO NOVEMBER'S MEETING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? BOARD MEMBERS: YES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OPPOSED, "NO." OK.
OK, SO WHAT TIME IS IT? CHAIR IS 6:45.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: CHAIR, I HAVE ONE THING IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YES? COURTNEY WISINSKI: IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO ACTION, BUT IF YOU LOOK ON THE LAST PAGE-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: 9D? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES, 9D, WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COMMISSION, IF YOU GUYS AGREE, IS TO MAKE A MOTION TO REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO HOST A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN AT OUR NEXT NOVEMBER 10 PARK COMMISSION MEETING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: DO WE HAVE TO READ IT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, I THINK IF YOU [INAUDIBLE].
MICHAEL MCDONALD: YOU JUST DID.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I DON'T THINK I CAN READ IT.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I CAN DO IT.
I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2027-2031 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN TO BE HELD AT THE NOVEMBER 10, 2026 PARK COMMISSION MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, "YES." BOARD MEMBERS: YES.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OPPOSED, "NO." THANK YOU, COURTNEY.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO ON DIRECTOR'S REPORTS,
[11.A. Park Commission Agenda Tracker ]
[INAUDIBLE]-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: [COUGHS] EXCUSE ME.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC HERE, BUT ARE THERE ANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT THAT YOU WANT TO POINT OUT OR ANYTHING THAT COMMISSIONERS WANT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: --TO COMMENT ON? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TALK TONIGHT, COURTNEY, OR THAT CAN WAIT? COURTNEY WISINSKI: LET ME DOUBLE-CHECK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: UPCOMING EVENTS MAYBE? BECAUSE THE COMMISSION AGENDA TRACKER WE COULD HOLD-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: YEAH, THAT CAN HOLD.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: --EVEN TO NEXT COUPLE MEETINGS, I THINK.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: SO I COULD JUST DO, YEAH, UPCOMING EVENTS.
[11.B. Upcoming Events ]
JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE FARMERS MARKET AND SUMMER CONCERTS STILL-- FARMER'S MARKET'S ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS.SUMMER CONCERT'S ON WEDNESDAYS.
CONCERTS EXTEND THROUGH OCTOBER.
THE MARKET EXTENDS OUTSIDE THROUGH NOVEMBER.
WE HAVE ONE OF OUR FIRST DARK SKY NIGHTS AT NORTH MERIDIAN PARK THIS FRIDAY.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH ABRAMS PLANETARIUM AT MSU, SO IT SHOULD BE SUPER FUN.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO RAIN, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
FRIDAY-- COURTNEY WISINSKI: --OCTOBER 16 AT 6:30 PM AT NORTH MERIDIAN PARK.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE INVASIVE SPECIES GOAT DEMONSTRATION TOWER PRESERVE.
THAT'S ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT 9:30.
AND THEN HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR IS AT MARKETPLACE ON OCTOBER 29 AT 5:30, AND THE RECREATION TEAM HAS SOME NEW AND FUN THINGS SCHEDULED FOR THAT, SO THAT'LL BE EXCITING.
AND THEN I MENTIONED NANCY MOORE'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK, SO WE'VE ADDED TWO PORTABLE TOILETS, TWO ADDITIONAL PORTABLE TOILETS THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOCCER RUNNING THIS TIME OF YEAR.
THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE TOLLGATE HOUSE IS BEING MAINTAINED.
SO IT'S GOT A CEDAR SHAKE ROOF, SO WE'RE REPAIRING AND CLEANING THAT ROOF.
AND THEN WE'LL SEAL IT AND THEN AS WELL AS THE EXTERIOR SIDING.
THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW IS THAT WE ISSUED THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE CRICKET BATTING CAGES.
I HAD TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS REACH OUT FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BIDS RECEIVED.
ONE CONTRACTOR SAID THEY COULDN'T GET IT DONE THIS YEAR--
[02:15:03]
SO I HAD IT TO BE SCHEDULED TO CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR-- AND THAT IF WE WANTED TO EXTEND IT, THEY WOULD CONSIDER PROPOSING ON IT.I'VE TALKED TO OUR CRICKET AMBASSADORS, I'LL CALL THEM.
THERE'S TWO GENTLEMEN THAT HAVE CHOSEN OR HAVE VOLUNTEERED.
THEY AGREED THAT WE SHOULD EXTEND THE PROPOSAL INTO 2027.
SO IT JUST WON'T HAPPEN THIS FALL, BUT WE WON'T GIVE UP, SO.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THANK YOU FOR GETTING [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S NICE THAT THEY'RE BEING PATIENT WITH THAT.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: YES, THEY'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: NOT GOING THROUGH EACH ONE
[11.C. Project Updates ]
OF THE PROJECTS, IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE ARE COMPLETED ALREADY, FARMERS MARKET, WINDSCREENS, AND HARRIS NATURE CENTER WATER TRAIL LANDING? COURTNEY WISINSKI: NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST TIME I RECORDED.MARY NARDO-FARRIS: [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE] OBVIOUSLY, WE MOVED THAT FURTHER ALONG.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: YEAH, NEXT TIME [INAUDIBLE].
BUT NEXT TIME YOU GO DOWN [INAUDIBLE], ESPECIALLY SOUTH, LOOK TO YOUR LEFT, AND THAT KAYAK-ACCESSIBLE, WHATEVER THE THING IS, LOOKS REALLY COOL AND INVITING, TOO, BY THE WAY INSTEAD OF JUST A BANK.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THAT'S TRUE.
COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON PROJECTS? COURTNEY WISINSKI: NO.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: MICHAEL, QUESTIONS? MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I GUESS THAT WAS A COMMENT.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: STEVE, THE [INAUDIBLE], APPROACHED ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT HIS TAILGATE AND URGES ALL OF US, ANY-- IT'S SEMI-EMOTIONAL, TOO, AND I HAVE NOT DONE IT YET-- TO GO OUT TO AND LOOK AT THE PLAQUE ABOUT THE LACROSSE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: I HAVE DONE THAT, YEAH.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: THAT'S REALLY A NICE-- I WOULDN'T EVEN CALL IT AN ENDING.
IT'S JUST A NICE STATEMENT OF HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS TO STEVE AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YEAH, AND I KNOW MOVING FORWARD WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SO TO AVOID SOME OF THE CONTROVERSY WE HAD THAT WE'LL BE REVIEWING AS A COMMISSION, PLACEMENT TOPICS MICHAEL MCDONALD: ONE YEAR FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, NO ONE WILL REMEMBER ANYTHING, OTHER THAN-- MARK STEPHENS: SOMEBODY WILL.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: [INAUDIBLE] PLAQUE.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: OK, SAME THING ON CIP UPDATES,
[11.D. 2026 CIP Update ]
OK TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.COURTNEY WISINSKI: THE ONLY THING I DID WANT TO MENTION IS THAT THE NANCY MOORE PAVILION AND RESTROOM RENOVATIONS CAME IN UNDER BUDGET-- MARK STEPHENS: NICE.
COURTNEY WISINSKI: --WHICH IS GREAT.
WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE PROJECT YET, SO.
BUT ANOTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE DAUGHTER OF NANCY MOORE.
WE TALKED-- THIS WAS WAY BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
AND HER MEMORIAL FUND HAS RAISED OVER $4,000 TO ASSIST WITH-- IT WAS INITIALLY ASSIST WITH THE PAVILION.
HOWEVER, WE CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, AND THE MOORE FAMILY HAS SAID PLEASE USE IT FOR ANYTHING FOR THAT PARK.
SO WE WILL-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: [INAUDIBLE] GENEROUS.
WE WILL GET HER THE PLAQUE PUT NEXT TO NANCY MOORE'S ON THE PAVILION ITSELF, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE'LL HAVE SOME FUNDING TO DO SOME OF THE RENOVATIONS IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CIP IN YOUR MASTER PLAN FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: THERE DEFINITELY ARE NEEDS THERE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
[13. OTHER MATTERS AND COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS AND LIAISON REPORTS ]
MARK STEPHENS: I HAVE ONE COMMENT.WE DID LOSE HOWARD TANNER, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP RESIDENT, BACK IN AUGUST, AND WE'RE DOING A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR HIM.
SO IF YOU KNEW HOWARD, PLEASE CONTACT-- MARY NARDO-FARRIS: CAN YOU REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THE DATE OF THE CELEBRATION IS? MARK STEPHENS: IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE NOVEMBER 12.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A FISH RELEASE, CEREMONIAL FISH RELEASE IN THE RED CEDAR BETWEEN KELLOGG CENTER AND JENISON.
THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY THERE, AND PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO COME TO THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RSVP TO ME IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN COMING TO AN EVENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AT 4:30.
THAT'S AT 3 O'CLOCK, AND AT 4:30, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT EAGLE EYE.
AND THAT'S A PRIVATE EVENT THAT-- LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL BE THERE, BUT WE NEED AN RSVP FOR THAT.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: HE WAS QUITE SOMETHING.
MARK STEPHENS: HE WAS A SPECIAL PERSON.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: I GOT AN INVITE, WHETHER IT WAS FROM YOU OR NOT-- MARK STEPHENS: YOU DID, THROUGH ME, YEAH.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT, AND SO DO I. COULD YOU SEND A COPY OF THAT TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS? MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, I THINK ALL OF THESE GUYS, ACTUALLY.
YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN [INAUDIBLE].
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND COUNT ME IN AS FAR AS GOING TO THE THING.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO NO EMAIL NEEDED? MARK STEPHENS: NO EMAIL.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: PUT THEM ON YOUR SPREADSHEET.
MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND I HAVE BEEN IN THAT STRETCH, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS SO OPEN WHERE THEY PLANT THE SALMON.
UNLESS IT'S JUST POURING RAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY ACCESSIBLE.
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, WE'LL DO IT IN THE RAIN EVEN.
PEOPLE WILL PULL OUT TO THE PARKING AREA AND GET OUT AND THEN--
[02:20:01]
MARK STEPHENS: YEAH, WE WON'T BE DOING SALMON.DID I SAY SALMON? I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
AMANDA A. LICK: NO, YOU DIDN'T.
MARK STEPHENS: WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN ABOUT 15,000 STEELHEAD-- MICHAEL MCDONALD: NICE.
MARK STEPHENS: --YEAH, WHICH IS VERY NICE BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP THERE AND CATCH STEELHEAD IN THE RED CEDAR RIVER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: YES, HE WAS A SPECIAL DUDE.
[INAUDIBLE] MICHAEL MCDONALD: AND JOHN PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
MARK STEPHENS: AND JOHN, YEAH, AS WELL.
MARY NARDO-FARRIS: SO OUR NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 10 AT 4:30 AT THE SERVICE CENTER, AND WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 6:55 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.