The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM with Commissioner Schwarzlose presiding.

ROLL CALL: Dooley (Present), Blair (Present), Iszler (Present) Policicchio (Present), Schwarzlose (Present), Staab (Present), Wingfield (Present), Bharadwaj (Absent), Venigalla (Absent).

It was moved by Commissioner Policicchio and seconded by Commissioner Dooley to approve the agenda as written.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS: None

Commissioner Staab wished to amend the January 8, 2009 minutes under Foundation Report, item B, Jay Dooley was elected Vice President of the Parks Foundation.

It was moved by Commissioner Dooley and seconded by Commissioner Staab to approve the January 8, 2009 minutes as amended.

A. Administrative Report – Randy Auler, Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry

1. Update on the Signature Park Project

A conceptual plan for Signature Park was presented at the February 9^th City Council meeting. Financing options, capital and operating costs were also discussed.

We would use the 73 acres of property which was part of the land exchange between the City of Novi and the Novi Community School District. It excludes the 19 acre parcel on which we have a purchase option. It is designed, at this point, in a way that does not require the 19 acres. In the future it could be acquired as part of a larger parcel or a single parcel itself. This would net a savings of 1.5 million dollars for the taxpayer. The parking lot, when coming in to the park, will be able to accommodate up to 450 vehicles. There are 10 acres which are reserved as part of the school district in the event that they ever need to build an educational facility. Until that time, we have complete and unfettered use of the space and have designed the area as a multi-purpose field as well as a festival area. It is also large enough to accommodate two full size soccer fields, a football field and a cricket field. These fields could be rented. Private areas become focal points to holding different events. The back area parking lot hold up to 54 cars and has a circular traffic pattern that takes people to an area that has a four or five acre dog park. There is a boardwalk leading out into the wetlands giving a view of the open area. Also in the back area will be a series of tree houses that will be connected by walkways. These are unique play areas which draw people to use the space. In the interior of the park are pathways that connect to the ITC transmission corridor. Pathways and bikeways are rated number three in the National Citizen’s Survey of what the community needs. They did price out what it would cost to build a greenway from the park corridor up to Providence Park Hospital campus and it would be about 1.1 million dollars. This is not included in the presentation or proposal to City Council.

What is being presented is a concept and is not "set in stone" but a possibility which is subject to change. In front of the building is a plaza which could be used for a multitude of things. It has a fountain or water feature so that in summer children and families can congregate there and in the winter it could be flooded and made into an ice rink. The building is divided in to three sections. To one side is a multi-use theatre area which has a very nice stage with dressing room and storage area and support facilities we do not have now. It would seat up to 200 to 250 people but would have an area in which to expand and accommodate around 400 people. Other activities could be held there or it could be rented out.

There will be a Welcome Center when you come in as a point of contact. The building has been designed in a way that it will minimize the number of staff. There will be no new full time staff in this facility. It will be run by part time and our current full time existing staff. There will be a changing room but not a full locker room. There will be four regulation High School size gymnasium courts surrounded by a walking/jogging/running track. There will also be a multi-purpose room where recreation programs, activities, or adult services can be held, including fitness programs. This includes a very aggressive program plan.

Presented to City Council was the concept for the facility as well as developing the first phase area of the park which includes the infrastructure, the plaza area, and the multi-purpose festival field. We estimated this at fifteen million dollars. We presented this to City Council with four different funding or financing options. City Council provided staff with direction to present a limited millage rate for Parks and Recreation services that would increase our millage rate by half of a mil.

The next step is to present a resolution authorizing this to be put on as a special ballot issue for the City Council to consider. If it is approved it will be submitted to the State and to Oakland County by February 24^th to be placed on the May 5^th ballot.

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission and the staff can not promote the project. They can only provide information and educate.

Commissioner Winfield asked if the cost of $15 million includes the whole park or is the back part phase 2.

Director Auler replied that it includes the infrastructure, the facility and the multi-purpose area.

Commissioner Wingfield then asked how phase 2 would be financed.

Director Auler replied that it would be like any other capital improvement project where a concept plan is developed and things are phased out as funding becomes available or other opportunities become available.

Commissioner Policicchio asked what kind of tournaments this facility might attract.

Director Auler replied that the facility will attract basketball and volleyball tournaments. It also has the opportunity to attract outdoor activities as well such as three on three and cricket. This facility will generate income which can be put back in the system but it is not a 100% cost recovery facility. It was designed by utilizing community input, the Strategic Plan, the Community Recreation Plan and surveys, to meet the wants and needs of the community now and in the future.

Commissioner Policicchio asked if the sports fields are dedicated strictly to those sports.

Director Auler replied that they are not. He said to picture it as a ten acre field. It could also be a place to hold an arts festival or have other activities. The 50’s Festival is currently housed on 2.3 acres so this space could be a community draw. Bringing the community together is what signature parks are about.

Commissioner Blair asked if Director Auler could give any examples that are similar to this sort of project.

Director Auler stated that there are many signature park projects and each one is unique. On a large scale, Central Park in New York City is a signature park and locally Canton has The Summit.

2. Power Park Phase 3

This is the final phase of the development of the softball complex. The bids came in on this project and will be reviewed at the next City Council meeting for consideration and approval of the removal of the existing concession stand, score tower and all of the asphalt. The plan is to make it more of a park like setting as well as put in a new facility. One of the reasons this is being done is to attract economic development opportunities to Novi. We have been selected in 2010 to host a national softball tournament. Just this week we were notified that we will host the State 2009 Girl’s Fast Pitch Softball Tournament. It will attract between 1,000 and 1,500 people to Novi during a 3 to 4 day period which will be an economic benefit for the community.

Commissioner Staab asked Director Auler what kind of profits, for the department, the tournaments bring.

Director Auler stated that he would have to do research on it and it also depends on how the packages are put together and how we put sponsorship packages together. We have been in conversation with sponsors to put up the tournament fees. It will generate some revenue for the department and certainly for the community.

3. Fuerst Park

This project is near design and construction drawing completion and will be going out to bid in March and will go to construction as soon as the weather breaks. This facility should be open in late summer.