MINUTES Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, March 18, 2021 Location: Teleconference Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. A Quorum was established at 9:05 a.m. PRESENT FOR BIPAC Attending remotely: Michele Hodges, Chair; Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan Michael Curis; Detroit, Michigan Bud Denker; Colorado Lonnie Peak, Detroit, Michigan Sommer Woods; Detroit, Michigan EXCUSED ABSCENCES Brad Dick; Detroit, Michigan Approval of excused absences: Moved by: Michael Curis Seconded by: Bud Denker UNEXCUSED ABSCENCES Bryan Barnhill DNR STAFF PRESENT Ron Olson, Chief, PRD Mike Terrell Karis Floyd Darren Swan Amanda Treadwell Todd Szyska Mia Moore Barbara Graves OTHERS PRESENT Todd Platt, Detroit Rowing Henry Goitz, Detroit Rowing Amy McMillan, Director, Huron-Clinton Metroparks Shawn Athayde, Huron-Clinton Metroparks Kiana Wenzell, Director of Culture & Community, Design Core Detroit Amy Greene, Belle Isle Nature Center BELLE ISLE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES – March 18, 2021 1 Aly Melnik, Belle Isle Conservancy Ayo Thomas, Belle Isle Conservancy Bill Shreck, MDOT Lance Couturier, MSP REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of Minutes for January 21, 2021: Moved by: Bud Denker Seconded by: Michael Curis GENERAL UPDATES Todd Platt and Henry Goitz of Detroit Rowing gave a presentation on the boat house that included the history and future plans, range of programming, organizational background, master planning process, building site assessment, rehabilitation cost associated with the building and site, and the proposed site for a new potential boat house. Chair Hodges asked Chief Olson to come back to the committee for options on the boat house and with a resolution of support at the April meeting. Michael Curis asked for a copy of the lease. Chief Updates - Ron Olson, Chief, PRD The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation donated over $2 million to provide leverage funding for the 6-mile Belle Isle loop trail, Iron Belle Trail Trailhead, and the Blue Heron Lagoon Trail. In recognition of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and Eugene and Elaine Driker for their contributions to the creation of the Belle Isle Gateway of the Iron Belle Trail, portions of the trail have been named as follows: • 6-mile Belle Isle loop trail to be known as “Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trail” • Iron Belle Trail Trailhead to be known as “Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Trail Gateway” • Blue Heron Lagoon Trail to be known as “Eugene and Elaine C. Driker Trail” The Grand Prix events will be consolidated back to the June 11th weekend. Still working on COVID-19 indoor protocol with more updates to come. Karis Floyd, Park Manager and Darren Swan, Park Supervisor; Belle Isle and Milliken • Took part in a meeting with Urban ashes to explore their interests on the park including removing different species of trees, donation towards the sawmill and a return-to-work citizen educational program. • 79 people applied for 3 janitor positions. Individuals have been selected and recommendations have been made to Civil Service. • 122 people applied for the 2 park ranger positions; 40 people will receive an interview. • The unit supervisor for Belle Isle is posted on the website and will be open until March 30th. • COVID plans for the Conservatory have been submitted and they are waiting on approval to open. BELLE ISLE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES – March 18, 2021 2 • Belle Isle Staff is fulling reporting to IA building. The White House will be closed at this time. They are moving equipment out of stable and moving it to office building. There will be no access to the former buildings. • The administrative staff comes into the IA building 3 days a week individually on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays to check voicemail, mail, etc. They will respond to any issues at that time. • Chemicals were discovered in the stable area, dated back to 1946. Contracted with a company to remove and dispose of properly. • Gearing up for spring/summer operation: putting buildings together to come back online. Updates will be posted on the Facebook page. • The coffer dam has been repaired and certified and we will have it reinstalled. • There will be some work done on the sidewalk and curb surrounding the Scott Fountain by MDOT. Once weather breaks, they will set up for work, which should only take a few weeks. • Verizon is installing their 5g towers on the park and they are also installing a generator adjacent to the athletic complex. • Started the hiring process for our Summer Temporary Workers for Belle Isle and Milliken Park. • Will address issues at the bridge and island closures at the April meeting we have had 3 meetings to date to come up with solutions. Amanda Treadwell, Urban Planner, PRD, presented the Belle Isle Infrastructure Update (attached). Lt. Todd Szyska, DNR Law Enforcement Traffic is picking up with the island and a lot of wrong way drivers. There are at least 4 stop signs missing so MDOT has been addressing signage issues. MSP donating purses with a purpose for assault victims for the month of April if there is any interest please reach out. Amy McMillan, Director, Huron-Clinton Metroparks Amy McMillan gave a presentation on the Metroparks system that included the history, what is offered, their mission, communication, rebranding goals, marketing focus, and partnerships. Future efforts will be made to collaborate with state parks. Aly Melnick Belle Isle Conservancy • Next stakeholder meeting is April 8th, 2021, at 8 a.m. If you would like to be a part of this process reach out at [email protected]. • The Dossin Museum will be having an Easter egg extravaganza April 3. • The Conservatory, Aquarium and Nature Center are still closed until further notice. • The Dossin will have a 90-minute photo walk on April 10. • The Nature Center will have a virtual bird watching event Sunday, April 11. • The StrEats of Belle Isle vendor application is available and has been opened since February 22, 2021 their application is available. BELLE ISLE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES – March 18, 2021 3 Michele Hodges, Belle Isle Conservancy Update • Acknowledgement of Ayo Thomas as essential to the ongoing community engagement and is really helping to lay the groundwork for the master planning process. • Acknowledgement of Kiana Wenzell, Director of Culture & Community at Design Core Detroit, as a member of the community engagement committee. She is a force in the community and is appreciated for attending the meeting today. • In honor of Earth Day, working with Detroit River Coalition partners and using funding from the EPA grant to do some rich programming on the week of April 15 – 20 in a virtual capacity. Please visit the website Belleisleconservancy.org to get additional details and you could possibly win a Shinola bike. • The official Belle Isle clean up date is April 24. • Visit the Belle Isle Aquarium portion of the website to learn of virtual field trips, scouting opportunities and various watch parties. • Would also like to thank Griselda Trevino who is new to the DNR’s diversity team for her help and it is great to learn there will be a dedicated employee covering the Detroit area. PUBLIC COMMENT Gerald Hasspacher – would like to provide a presentation to the BIPAC at a future meeting about hosting a Dark Sky program on Belle Isle. Patrick Livingston – Spoke of repurposing the Grand Prix paddock area for a welcome center. He feels that the visitors to the park deserve better than being greeted by a concrete slab, and suggested improvements for the park. Robin Heller – Announced that Wednesday April 21 they will be holding a virtual fundraising event to purchase daffodil bulbs to plant at Belle Isle and in Detroit. She gave thanks to MDNR, the Belle Isle Conservancy and the Grand Prix. Michael Betzold – Feels the public comments should take place at the beginning of the BIPAC meetings. Feels that the terms of BIPAC members have expired and that the Grand Prix should not be held on Belle Isle Park. Has questions about the Belle Isle master plan. Has it already been decided to give the Grand Prix another year to replace the previous year? Carol Rhoades – Agrees with Michael Betzold observation. As a nurse has concerns about mutant Covid-19 viruses if the public does not have vaccines and they come to the island on the buses it could pose a health hazard. The contract for the Grand Prix is supposed to be up this year what is the status going forward? Would like a camera on the bridge to find out who is destroying the lights on the bridge. End of public comment BELLE ISLE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES – March 18, 2021 4 Meeting concluded: 11:39 a.m. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: April 22, 2021 Approved: __________________________ ______________________________ Michele Hodges Ronald A. Olson, Chief Date: ______________________________ BELLE ISLE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES – March 18, 2021 5 FODR / BIPAC Meeting Pre-Read March 18, 2021 Meeting Date Confidential Information – Copyright © 2021 FODR Contents • Organizational Background • Range Of Programming • Master Plan Process Overview • Building & Site Assessment / Rehabilitation Costs • Proposed Site For Potential New Boathouse Friends of Detroit Rowing A Non-profit 501(c)(3) Organization Confidential Information – Copyright © 2021 FODR | 2 Background Organizational Statement The Detroit Boat Club Crew (DBCC), established in 1839, is one of the World’s oldest crews. Its current boathouse, built in 1902, is located on Belle Isle in one of the country’s first reinforced concrete buildings. The DBCC is sponsored by Friends of Detroit Rowing (FODR). FODR was organized in 1972 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to the education and promotion of amateur rowing in the Detroit metropolitan community. It provides fee-based competitive and recreational programs to men and women of all ages, and training opportunities to rowers competing on the national, international, and Olympic level.