Oakland County commissioners recommend zoo millage renewal, art‑authority amendment, workplace policy updates and several parks actions
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Summary
At its March meeting the board recommended to the full board a Detroit Zoo millage renewal placement, a change to the Oakland County Art Institute Authority appointment terms, an update to the workplace violence policy, and multiple parks grants and MOUs including the 9‑Line MOU and partnerships with Bloomfield Hills Schools.
The Oakland County Board recommended several items to the full board at its regular meeting, including a Detroit Zoological Society request for a 10‑year, 0.1‑mill renewal on the November ballot, a minor amendment to the Oakland County Art Institute Authority’s articles, an update to the workplace violence policy, and multiple parks‑related grants and partnership agreements.
Detroit Zoological Society: Amanda Hamlin, chief of staff for the Detroit Zoological Society, and Robbie Shoemaker, the society’s chief financial officer, asked commissioners to recommend a renewal of the society’s county millage at 0.1 mil for 10 years and placement on the November ballot. Presenters said the zoo’s 2025 total revenue was about $54,000,000, that Oakland County contributed about $16,800,000 in 2025, 42% of 2025 attendance came from Oakland County residents, and that millage revenue represents roughly 14% of the zoo’s total revenue. Commissioners asked about endowment options, pricing policy and conservation mission; presenters said the authority cannot set an operating endowment by statute and that much of the zoo’s endowment is donor‑restricted.
Oakland County Art Institute Authority: Doctor Rajpal, chair of the Oakland County Art Institute Authority, requested a minor amendment to change three board terms appointed by the Board of Commissioners from two years to four years to stagger them with executive appointments. Staff described the revision as technical and recommended it to the board.
Workplace violence policy: Tom Hiresti, director of emergency management and homeland security, presented an update to the county’s workplace violence policy — the first substantial update in more than two decades. The rewrite adds modern reporting pathways (including anonymous reporting), anti‑retaliation language, behavioral threat assessment team language and limited clarification about rare cases where employees may be authorized to carry firearms. Commissioners asked whether the update responded to a particular incident; staff said it primarily codifies practices developed over the past several years.
Parks and grants: Parks staff asked the board to recommend a variety of items: a deadline extension for a Ferndale community grant after the city received MDNR funding; a $150,000 MDNR off‑road vehicle trail improvement grant for Holly Oaks ORV Park (to fund a solar submersible well pump, pump house and vehicle wash; recommended 5–0); expansion of the 9‑Line corridor task force MOU to include Novi, Northville and other western communities; and a proposed 30‑year partnership to operate Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center in partnership with Bloomfield Hills Schools (the county would invest $1.5 million and BHS would match that amount). The parks proposals were presented as part of the county’s Mission '26 strategic framework and were recommended to the board for approval.
Housing/resolutions discussion: Commissioners discussed a proposed state resolution that would prevent minimum lot sizes or parking requirements in some cases; several commissioners opposed the proposal on the ground it would remove local control over zoning, while others said the item was intended to prompt discussion. The board proceeded to recommend related items and move forward with the agenda.
Next steps: Each recommended item will be taken up by the full Board of Commissioners for final action; staff will return with final contracts or appropriation requests where required.
