County committee advances parks agenda: Bird City application, grants, leases, deer-management agreement and Turtle Woods acquisition

The committee heard a cluster of Parks and Recreation items and moved them forward to the board or finance committee.

The committee recommended that the county apply for Michigan’s Bird City designation; Kristen Wilthing of the planning division said the effort aims to protect bird habitat, promote citizen science and reduce threats such as light pollution and window strikes. The committee approved the recommendation 7-0.

Multiple on-site park residential leases (Springfield Oaks and Grove and Oaks) were renewed for one-year terms while staff completes a fee study; the committee voted to recommend approval.

Members approved amendment No. 1 to a telecommunications license agreement with Cellco Partnership (doing business as Verizon Wireless) for a cell tower on top of the Springfield Oaks water tower. Parks staff said the site generates revenue that helps pay utilities; staff recited revenue figures in the meeting transcript that appear inconsistent in places (see clarification below). The amendment was recommended to the board 7-0.

The committee also voted 7-0 to forward a request to create two parks positions — a recreation program coordinator focused on adaptive recreation and a strategic sourcing agent to coordinate purchasing — to the finance committee for budget review.

In wildlife management, the committee recommended a cooperative service agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for contracted sharpshooting deer-management operations at several parks. Staff said the USDA method is more efficient, occurs at night with fewer park closures, and that venison is donated; the motion passed 7-0.

Staff described a $250,000 county grant to complete restroom facilities at Royal Oak Township Civic Center Park as a match to a nearly $1 million state 'spark' grant; that item was referred to finance. The committee also recommended accepting a $2,170,000 trust-fund grant and proceeding with purchase of Turtle Woods Nature Preserve (71.17 acres) from the Troy School District; the referral to finance passed 7-0.

What happens next: Several items go to the full board for final approval; position requests and the Royal Oak grant proceed to finance for budget review.