Page 1 of 6 PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP 6161 BELMONT AVENUE NE, BELMONT, MICHIGAN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY - MAY 10, 2016

Transcription

1 Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - 4:30 A.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Agenda items a. Approve Agenda PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP 6161 BELMONT AVENUE NE, BELMONT, MICHIGAN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY - MAY 10, 2016 b. Consider minutes from the January 11, 2016 Parks & Rec/Township Board Workshop and the March 28, 2016 Parks & Rec/Township Board Workshop c. Park Updates Premier Park Grand Isle Park Versluis Park d. Grand Rogue Campground - Grant Update e. Trail Committee Report f. Schedule 2016 Meetings 3. Public Comment 4. Adjourn Page 1 of 6

2 Page 2 of 6

3 CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF PLAINFIELD 6161 BELMONT AVENUE NE, BELMONT, MI SPECIAL BOARD/PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES January 11, 2016 PRESENT: ABSENT: STAFF: ALSO PRESENT Supervisor Jay Spencer, Clerk Ruth Ann Karnes, Treasurer Bill Brinkman and Trustees Dave Grant, Vic Matthews, Dale Pomeroy, and Jon Rathbun Superintendent Cameron Van Wyngarden, Community Development Director Bill Fischer, Planner Pete Elam, and Parks & Recreation Administrative Assistant Cathy Beattie Parks & Recreation Committee members: Kyle Jenkins, Dale Hecksel, Sally Wesorick, Tom Wiarda, Dave Heyboer, David Meyerholtz. Also present: Planning Commissioner Karl Koster, and Township Attorney Dick Butler. 1. Call to Order The special meeting of the Plainfield Charter Township Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Supervisor Jay Spencer. All members were present except Brinkman who arrived at 6:38 p.m. 2. New Business moved from item 3. at Spencer s request a. Discuss millage request for Non-Motorized Pathways and Trails Members of the Board of Trustees and township staff members were joined by members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee for a workshop to discuss a proposal from the P&R Committee to place a recreational millage request on the August 2, 2016 state primary election ballot. Committee member and presenter Kyle Jenkins, referencing the 2015 Parks & Recreation Master Plan s survey of citizens which indicated that connecting neighborhoods to the White Pine Trail is most important to township residents, stated the committee has made it a priority to pursue the desire of the residents to develop a plan to connect neighborhoods to the White Pine Trail and the township park system with non-motorized trails and sidewalks. Jenkins provided a copy of the draft Non-Motorized Pathways and Trails map and pointed out the general areas where the 5 phases of potential construction would be located. He said the committee feels very strongly that the millage request should be exclusively for trails. Several Board members would prefer that capital improvements for parks be included in the proposed millage request. Members expressed concern that the plan does not propose connecting Premier Park to the White Pine Trail. Members would like more information about projected costs and other details of the plan. Attorney Butler discussed the limitations placed on governing bodies by PA 571 which restricts the use of public funds to disseminate information to citizens regarding ballot proposals within the 60 day period before an election date. This substantially narrows the period of time available to educate voters about a millage proposal. Board members thanked the committee members for their hard work, dedication, and their passion for building a trail system. No action was taken. Page 3 of 6

4 3. Board discussions moved from item 4. at Spencer s request 4. Superintendent s comments moved from item 5. at Spencer s request 5. Board members comments - moved from item 6. at Spencer s request 6. Public comments - moved from item 2 at Spencer's request. 7. Adjournment Spencer adjourned the meeting at 8:43p.m. Minutes Recorded by Ruth Ann Karnes, Plainfield Charter Township Clerk Page 4 of 6

5 CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF PLAINFIELD 6161 BELMONT AVENUE NE, BELMONT, MI SPECIAL BOARD/ PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES March 28, 2016 PRESENT: ABSENT: STAFF: ALSO PRESENT: Clerk Ruth Ann Karnes, Treasurer Bill Brinkman, and Trustees Dave Grant, Vic Matthews, Dale Pomeroy, and Jon Rathbun Supervisor Jay Spencer Superintendent Cameron Van Wyngarden and Community Development Director Bill Fischer Township attorney Richard Butler, Planning Commissioner Karl Koster, and Parks and Recreation Committee members: Kyle Jenkins, David Meyerholtz, Dale Hecksel, David Heyboer, and Tom Wiarda. 1. Call to Order Due to Supervisor Spencer's absence the Special Board Meeting/Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Workshop was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Clerk Ruth Ann Karnes. Motion by Dale Pomeroy, seconded by Ruth Ann Karnes to appoint Jon Rathbun President Pro Tem. Ayes: Ruth Ann Karnes, Jon Rathbun, Dale Pomeroy, Bill Brinkman, Vic Matthews, David Grant Nays: 0 Carried 2. Public comments Bob Homan asked whether a sidewalk could be added to the plans after the millage was approved if it wasn't on the map at the time of approval. 3. New Business a. Discuss potential Trails and Recreation Millage Parks & Recreation Committee member Kyle Jenkins opened the discussion for the Trails and Recreation Millage Proposal. He explained the revisions the committee has made based on direction given by Board members at the January 11, 2016 Special Board Meeting/Parks & Recreation Committee Workshop when the proposed millage request was first discussed. The proposed millage language has been modified to include "recreation areas" and specifically indicates that funds will be used for improvement, operation, and maintenance of non-motorized public trails and recreation areas. The proposed trails map has been revised to include a connector from the White Pine Trail to Premier Park as well as other changes. The "phasing" of the trails was removed. Instead, the trails are now labeled Park Connections, North Trails, South Trails, or Plainfield Avenue Trail. Board members, committee members, and staff members commented and asked questions throughout the meeting. There was a consensus that levying.5 mills for 10 years was reasonable and would provide enough time for progress to be visible when the millage comes up for possible renewal in 10 years. A Page 5 of 6

6 resolution will be presented at the regular Board meeting on April 18, 2016 to approve ballot language for the millage request and certify the proposal to the Kent County Clerk for submittal to the qualified electors of the Township at the August 2, 2016 special election. No action was taken. 4. Adjournment Rathbun adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Minutes Recorded by Ruth Ann Karnes, Plainfield Charter Township Clerk Page 6 of 6