Belle Isle Advisory Committee
Michigan Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee
Parks
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023
9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. EDT
Belle Isle Detroit, MI 48207 (Directions)
Check source website for Microsoft Teams link to join online.
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Meghan Rutigliano
Residents plead with advisory committee to avoid demolition of the Belle Isle Boathouse following the collapse of its roof.
Good morning, Detroit! I’ll be live-tweeting The Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee meeting from 9-11am on behalf of #DETdocumenters. @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
07:33 AM Oct 19, 2023 CDT
This meeting is only happening virtually. To join, visit , which lists the online and phone-in options for the public. michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
Here is a link to the agenda for today’s meeting: michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Pr…
michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Pr…
It looks like the meeting is intended to be focused on information-sharing as opposed to decision-making, with General Updates making up the bulk of the agenda.
There will be time alloted for public comment. The public is asked to limit comments to 3 minutes. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations should contact the BIPAC Assistant at gravesb1@michigan.gov.
IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
The Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee advises the state on implementation of improvements, master planning and public safety for Belle Isle Park. The Chairperson is Michele Hodges. More information about the group: michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
"see" you back in about 20 minutes. I'll be joining via Zoom and live-tweeting right here! And in between, I'll be getting some coffee into my system. ;)
Correction: the committee is using Microsoft Teams. It can be run from your browser OR, like Zoom, you can download the App and launch it that way.
The group is beginning to assemble. So far there are 13 participants including me.
Meeting is called to order at exactly 9:00am. 55 attendees. Chairperson Michele Hodges will be departing her role of chair. She is going to Habitat for Humanity in Oakland County.
She is assuring the group that she is still in authority to run the meeting. She is in Traverse City at a conference.
Michael Curis will help her run the meeting. Hodges: regarding the Boat House, how can the rowing club continue their operations while Boat House is being worked on? No decision have been made so far. She assures everyone that things will be done in consult with community.
Item 3: General Updates: I. Parks and Rec: RonOlson,Chief, PRD speaking: Detroit Rowing Club will construct a temporary facility. The Boat House's ceiling fell down on the west side of building last year. Rowing Club will continue to be able to operate.
(Continued) Olson: Restoration happening now in Conservatory (10M) Aquarium and Conservatory will have leaks shored up and heating installed. (10M) The fountain is being worked on, as well as the roof on the casino building. Athletic building and police building, many upgrades
Continued: Since 2014, over $110M has been invested into the park, since they took the lease. MDOT has repaved roads, upgraded MacArthur Bridge (close to $10M) to keep bridge safe and operational, DTE has supplied new infrastructure to electrical system.
Olson says they will publicly post the 2 studies done on the Boat House building. It's in compromised state. They will have a public meeting with architects on hand to explain the current state. Says labor situation is volatile and labor estimate costs are increased since study.
The new budget cycle has begun. $23M to remove derelict buildings from Zoo area. Says he's explaining the bigger landscape of upgrades. Sustaining uses of buildings is already challenging. Public input will be solicited but assures everyone that he's trying to deliver outcomes
When public restrooms are shut down for the Winter, the public will be notified about which ones are closed versus open. There will be additional porte-potties installed for the public. Concluded Summer workers on Oct 14. Great crew. (I'm not sure who is speaking right now)
More picnic tables will be installed over the Winter. They will all be replaced, eventually. Hired new seasonal janitor. Will hire a FT janitor. Will announce when position is filled.
Thomas Bissett: Resolution 10-2023-02 to Support the Establishment of Temporary Storage and Operational Facility
Floor open for discussion for the internal team. Mr Bud Danker from Belle Isle is now on the call. Hodges asked him to introduce himself in compliance with the OMA (Open Meetings Act).
Rowing Club will need to pay for the temporary facility. They are trying to raise funds to move forward. Rowing Club needs to know that the Committee supports them.
There is NOT a quorum but they are saying that the public needs to understand that the committee is ADVISORY in nature and want to give the Rowing Club feedback that they DO support them, although (bc of quorum issue) informally.
Hodges is extolling the virtues of the longstanding Rowing Club tradition (which has been running since the 1800s). Encouraging everyone to move into a space of solutions and support for Boat Club.
Says they will have to work hard to make sure that "the most viable solution" prevails and everyone wants the best outcome. Hopes she's set the stage for great outcomes, even though she will not be facilitating the process directly. She will remain active as residents stakeholder
They are HOLDING OFF VOTE ON RESOLUTION because of no quorum. They are now continuing to next update item: iii. ARPA Projects
Denker to group:Are the ARPA funds use it or lose it? Answer: Has to be used by end of 2026. Hodges says upgrades will help raise the bar overall which will lead to other funding coming in.
Now: InfrastructureUpdates(AmandaTreadwell,UrbanFieldPlanner, PRD)
Treadwell is the speaker. DNR=Department of Natural Resources Received $1.25 from General Funds, has ARPA funding for conservatory and casino. Will be able to fund another $400,000 to fund accessibility at the Casino.
Handball courts to open next Spring. Hopes they will be used and enjoyed.
Looking to maintain 1-way traffic around the park, still looking to achieve safety goals set forth about navigability. Support traffic-calming measures around the park. Met with NDOT and reviewed plans. Elevated cross walks, etc.
Plans for more way-finding signage, there will be plans rolled out for review and public input. Way-Finding Plan will be done by end of the year and they will look to implement them next year.
Will Casino be useable this coming Spring/Summer 2024? Treadwell says it will be completed in June (in a perfect world).
Is there a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year priority list for construction projects?
Treadwell: When 2019 Strategic Plan was rolled out, they have a Master Plan list, gets re-prioritized bi-annually. All the $ must be spent by 2026. Will take a lot of work and capacity to manage projects. Request made to put that list in front of Committee quarterly for input
Next item: Law Update (Lt. Todd Szyska, LED and Lt. Lance Couturier, MSP)
Syzka: -Speed limit is 25 mph. It's an ongoing issue. -Race for Cure with Kamanos just happened. Went really well! -Reduced staffing for Fall/Winter now.
Next item: Belle Isle Conservancy Updates (Michele Hodges, Chair, BIC; AyoThomas, Engagement Associate, BIC)
She's sharing a bunch of information on upcoming events. Check out the Belle Isle Website.
Detroit City Council has supported repeal on the ban of plastic bags. This bill allows individual jurisdictions around use of single use plastic. Belle Isle Conservancy has contributed feedback into the process. Happy that the Bill is advancing.
There were some issues with the visibility of her slides, which was a bummer. She's provided her contact information here in case there are questions: community@belleisleconservancy.org or thomasa@belleisleconservancy.org
Public comment that was written in was read about the paddock. Writer requested it be read (it was).
New commenter: Detroiters would look forward to Treadwell having the historic boat house on her agenda and would expect that the building might need to be renovated.
Saying she thinks the Michigan DNR needs to reach out to the public to created a collaborative conversation about renovations. Feels that this is missing. She's been involved in many renovations. Revenue CAN be generated to support new, upgraded structure.
Feels the DNR needs to preserve, protect, and support the park AND its structures.
Here is the strategic plan that was being referred to during the formal updates: michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Pr…
michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Pr…
Several members of the public are speaking out against consideration of demolition. Saying that it is possible to do a lot more with less.
Bissett is clarifying that the aquarium $10mil designation is legislatively mandated, FYI.
Lots of input being given that destroying historical buildings should not be a priority.
Member of Historic Designation Board: Expresses concern and offers assistance.
West Village Association member calling in to go on record about the Boat House. Wants to share that it should be preserved and wants any demolition to be stopped. There are tremendous intangible benefits to preservation. Connection to place, environment, history.
Folks have called in from Wisconsin, Chicago, etc. to voice support for the boat house.
Public Comments ended. Hodges: Leaving Belle Isle to head up Oakland County Habitat for Humanity.
She's been there 11 years, wants to keep it free and open to the public. Has watched it be a place for memorable moments. Gets to see their educators (STEM) that they'll never forget them. Volunteers have been amazing. Fog (Four Old Guys) group, tank group, foundations, funders
She has every confidence in the team and community and wants the next chapter to be the most riveting and productive. Looks forward to celebrating the next chapter from afar.
This concludes my coverage of The Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee meeting today. For information about the next meeting, visit: michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
michigan.gov/dnr/about/boar…
Attachments
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Agency Information
Michigan Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee
The Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee advises the state on implementation of improvements, master planning and public safety for Belle Isle Park.
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