Minutes Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting – Alden Community Center
Meeting date: March 19, 2013                                             Approved 4-16-2013

In attendance: Jan Loveland Carolyn Nowfel, Dave Peterson & Ruth Smith.
Absent: Harvey Bartel, Mike Crawford, Steve Dell, & Casey McDowell
Community Input – none
Minutes from 02/19/2013 meeting approved as presented.
Information from monthly Helena Twp. Mtg.:

March Meeting – Ruth informed the township board that we might be presenting the plan to them in July or August. Ruth also suggested the need for another garlic mustard pull at Coy Mountain. Dave Peterson said that Heidi Shafer had already contacted him and a date has been set for May 8^th. 10AM – Noon.
OLD BUSINESS:
**Steve is in the process of writing up something for the Five Year Plan concerning possible sites to be considered for protection and/ or purchase. Per the guidelines the sites need to be in the Plan if a grant is to be written concerning obtaining property.

NEW BUSINESS
** Jan will prepare a memo concerning the most urgent improvements needed at the Depot Park. This will be reviewed at the April meeting before being presented to the Township Board.

** We discussed the fact that certain portions of the HT Master Plan talks about specific responsibilities of the Parks and Rec. Committee. This item will be moved to the future agenda items list.
** A new goal / objective of unifying the visual statement made by signage, landscaping, paint colors, and style of any modifications or other new buildings to the park was approved by the Committee
*** Our plan to move forward was discussed and everyone is anxious to finish up the Five Year Plan.

FIVE YEAR PLAN – Any item underlined denotes action needed.
Report on assignments/research/activities since last meeting (Carolyn, Dave, Harvey, Jan, Ruth, Steve).

Carolyn:

1.   Continue typing new 5-year-plan as items come to her from P&R Committee members

2. Carolyn will research what is needed to send postcards telling about the Five Year Plan to all land holders in the Township.

FIVE YEAR PLAN – Any item underlined denotes action needed.

Dave:

1. Compile the information needed for the Inventory of Existing Parks, Natural Areas and Recreational Facilities for Alden Safe Harbor and Archie Valleau Landing & Email to Ruth.

   Redo the narrative description concerning Alden Safe Harbor & Archie Valleau Landing . This supplements the ‘ Recreational grid’ – # 1 above.

   3. Work with Harvey on a paragraph to go with the Goals and Objective’s
   grid for Alden Safe Harbor & Archie Valleau Landing. This will give an overview of information in the grid and offer justification for needs identified using demographic info, survey results and committee findings.

2. Before the next meeting will ask that a map (without Valley Street), reflecting the new
   P & R numbering / lettering system, be printed. It will identify the Parks and Road endings lake access sites.
   5. Dave will pursue getting a list of current land owners in Helena Township. This will include mailing information needed for mailings concerning the Five Year Plan.

                       Harvey:
1. Redo the narrative description concerning the Ball Park. This will supplement the inventory of Existing Parks, Natural Areas & Recreational Facilities Grid.
2. Work with Dave on a paragraph to go with the Goals and Objective’s
grid for Alden Safe Harbor & Archie Valleau Landing. This will give an overview of information in the grid and offer justification for needs identified using demographic info, survey results and committee findings.
Jan:
1. Jan will work on a paragraph to go with the Goals and Objective’s grid for the Depot park. This will give an overview of information in the grid and offer justification for needs identified using demographic info, survey results and committee findings.
Mike: Volunteered to obtain some abstracts we might find useful.

Ruth:
1.The approved February minutes are to be sent to Joyce Looman to be published online. February minutes will also be sent to Rick Teague. The March minutes need to be prepared for review by the Committee.

2. Send the ‘recreational grid to Dave so that he can review the set up.

FIVE YEAR PLAN CONTINUED – Any item underlined denotes action needed

Steve:

1. Work with Rick Teague on completing form for “previous grant-assisted parks section of 5-yr. plan.

2. Put goals and objectives information into grid format and add justification paragraph for
   each park when received from other work groups.
3. Prepare a Resource Inventory for the P & R 5-year plan that will list possible future land
   acquisitions. Steve has talked with Bob Logee and obtained several ideas for land
   acquisition. Mike Crawford also mentioned Alden State Bank lands that should be
   considered.
4. Update the Recreational grid format of the Inventory of Existing Parks, Natural Areas and
   Recreational Facilities when needed information is received from other committee members.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
These items will continue to be carried forward until they are discussed by the Committee
1. Deed restrictions for Helena Twp. Parks are to be reviewed. (Steve)

2. Riparian rights / possible review by township attorney (Dave)

3. Valley St Rd ending not listed on resolution accepting jurisdiction from Antrim Co. Rd Comm. by Helena Township.   Memo to Board regarding this? (Steve)

4. Handicap parking in Helena Township (Discussion).

5. Research rules and laws governing road ending lake access sites (Steve, Ruth)

6. Discuss possible memo to the Twn about developing a plan concerning reservation of usage for all Twn Parks

7. Discuss possible memo to the Township concerning placing signs at all Parks to clarify Township ownership and whom to contact if there are questions concerning or problems with the Park

8. Further discuss Alden Safe Harbor and its park status / ownership – memo to Board?

9. Look at the possibility of updating & correcting information on the Pk. & Rec. web pages.

10. The Helena Township Master plan (Jan. 2010) mentions that a member of the planning commission will appoint one of its members to the Pk. & Rec. Committee

 

 

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS CONTINUED:
11. Mike mentioned the AAU Sports / Recreation Complex – Morey Complex- and suggested that they may be looking to locate a similar complex in the North.

12. Look into the possibility of Flo McCormick (MI Assoc. of Counties) helping with writing any Pks. And Rec. grants. (Mike Crawford)
13. Consider Keith Charters as a resource for Pk. & Rec. projects.
14. Check responsibilities of the Parks & Rec. Committee outlined in the current HT Master Plan.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16^th , at 3 PM

Respectfully submitted by Ruth Smith 03-28-13

 

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