Task Forces and Sustainability Team

Task Force Information

Volunteers named to three task forces

Volunteers for three task forces were approved by City Council at its Nov. 16, 2020 meeting. The task forces are focused on Ford Field, the Farmers’ Market and Rouge River Restoration (since renamed River Restoration Task Force). See the descriptions below for the role of each task force. Since members were originally named, there have been changes to the board with some members leaving and new ones coming on. As of early 2022, the River Restoration Task Force remains and has absorbed the roles of the other two task forces, adding sub-teams to explore various needs, such as walkability.

Farmers’ Market Task Force

The Farmers’ Market Task Force (FMTF) is charged with investigating options for future Farmers’ Market operations. Roles of the FMTF include establishing a vision for the market, assessing the needs of all stakeholders, identifying and evaluating potential locations, and identifying funding opportunities such as grants and partnerships. Chair was Andrew Krenz, and is now Susan Haifleigh. View the group's report to City Council below the task force descriptions.

River Restoration Task Force

The River Restoration Task Force (RRTF) is charged with creating a plan to restore the ecological health of the city’s waterways while improving public access and recreation through the implementation of a trail system referred to as “The Riverwalk.” Since being established, the RRTF created a framework plan, which will lead to a strategic plan. A needs assessment, documentation of current conditions, and concept drawings are part of the framework plan. Ongoing work includes identifying grant sources and managing the roles associated with the Farmers' Market Task Force and Ford Field Task Force, which ceased meetings after their reports were presented to City Council. RRTF Chair is Nancy Darga. View the group's report to City Council below the task force descriptions.

Current agenda will be posted when available.

Ford Field Task Force

The Ford Field Task Force (FFTF) is charged with creating a plan to re-establish Ford Field as a central gathering space. Since its creation, the FFTF solicited input from community stakeholders, established a vision for Ford Field as a central park, produced a needs assessment and management plan, and identified funding opportunities such as grants and partnerships. Chair is DJ Boyd.

To view the Ford Field Task Force report on programming, design and implementation presented to City Council on June 7, 2021, use the download link below.

Task Force reports

Farmers Market presentation to City Council 2/7/22
Download

River Restoration Framework Plan (presented to City Council 1/18/22)
Download

River Restoration Task Force update (presented to City Council 12/20/21)
Download

Farmers' Market Task Force presentation to Planning Commission (12/7/21)
Download

Mobility Network report (presented to City Council 12/6/21)
Download

Ford Field Task Force Report (presented to City Council 6/7/21)
Download

Photos: Top left, clockwise: A scenic section of the Middle Rouge River flows near Ford Field. A shopper selects sunflowers at the Farmers' Market. Ford Field has vast green space, baseball fields and a large play structure. Photos by Liz Cezat.

FordFieldWithVastGreenSpace

Sustainability Team has an action plan

City of Northville Sustainability Team established

The Sustainability Team was formed in early 2020 to initiate efforts that would help guide Northville toward becoming a more sustainable city. While most people primarily associate sustainability with environmental conservation, it is also about people and the health of our communities. Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, both now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment and contribute to a high quality of life.

Consistent with this vision and to provide a platform for future actions, a sustainability plan has been developed to be a resource that provides research, support and guidance to city officials and departments as well as the community.

Like many other communities, Northville’s sustainability plan has three components – environmental conservation, economic development and social responsibility. Within the plan document, these components provide the foundation for several distinct sustainability strategies that ultimately drill down to specific goals and objectives (some of which are already identified and/or in process by various city departments and organizations).

Role of the Sustainability Team
• To assist our community to think, plan and act more sustainably.
• To prepare and maintain a sustainability plan that provides a framework for identifying goals and objectives and for monitoring outcomes – this resource is a “living document” which will be modified and improved over time as we learn what is best for our city.
• To provide support to the city commissions and committees on issues and actions impacting sustainability
• To provide criteria for evaluating the sustainability impact of local actions, near-term and long-term
• To provide a point of contact for sustainability proposals

In short, a sustainability component assists the city of Northville in meeting its current needs – environmental, economic, and social – without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.

The Sustainability Team developed a sustainability plan, which was presented to City Council (see link below). The plan includes:
• Vision for the city
• Mission Statement
• Guiding Principles
• A Sustainability Framework, which contains the plan’s sustainability strategies, areas of focus and long-term goals and objectives.

Current agenda will be posted when available.

Kathy Spillane – Chair – BSCE, MBA, U of M. She has more than 20 years professional experience in the fields of construction, real estate development, environmental, strategic planning and IT primarily with Daimler/Chrysler.

Dave Gutman – MBA, Indiana University. He has 31 years of experience with Ford Motor Co., with extensive overseas work in new dealership design/construction, and U.S. product & marketing. Also serves as Co-Chair of the Mobility Network Team, dedicated to improved pedestrian safety and traffic flow in Northville. . He has recently completed building a new home designed for net-zero energy use with LEED Platinum Certification.

Thom Barry – BSME, MSU; professional engineer; entrepreneur; member of Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited; Northville Planning Commission member.

AnnaMaryLee Vollick – B.S. Environmental Science, Wayne State University. She worked for 11 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. She currently works for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit.

Susan Haifleigh – Principal/Founder of DiaMonte Design LLC, specializing in commercial and residential design services. Previously director of Sustainability Solutions for VFA, Inc., Boston MA, launching their Green Consulting advisory business for multi-national, education, healthcare, and State/Federal government facilities. Retired instructor Eastern Michigan University/Interior Design Program.

Lori Ward – The DDA has a full-time Director with an established office located in Northville's City Hall. Lori Ward joined the DDA as its first Director in July of 1999. Prior to working with the Northville DDA, Lori provided DDA consulting services to communities throughout the midwest while an Associate with Beckett and Raeder Inc., a landscape architecture, planning and engineering firm based in Ann Arbor. Prior to relocating to Michigan in 1990, Lori worked in the field of planning and preservation in London, England and Washington, D.C. Lori has a background in Urban and Regional Planning and Historic Preservation Planning. Lori has over 30 years of experience in economic development and community planning, specializing in the area of downtown development and the redevelopment of urban areas. Lori has been a member of the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA) since its infancy in 1991 and served as the Chairperson of the organization's Board of Directors from September 2006 to September 2009.

John Carter – Current City of Northville Council Member, elected in Nov 2021. John is the Automotive and Mobility Leader at Slalom Consulting and has over twenty years of management consulting experience. John’s background in Finance and Technology has enabled him to deliver complex, technology-enabled initiatives at a number of large multinational corporations. John has a BBA from The University of Michigan, MSA from The University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Duke University.

Mike Domine – Director of Department of Public Works (DPW) for the City of Northville. Mike has close to eighteen years of professional experience in Public Works. Mike holds many certifications including, S2 Michigan Drinking Water Operator license, and PACP certification for sewer inspection. He also earned a certificate in 2018 from the Michigan Public Service Institute.

Jim Porterfield – Northville (Township) resident since 1967. NHS and MSU grad. Founder of Northville Tree Champions, a citizen-led advocacy group that promotes tree appreciation, protection, preservation and new tree planting. Has worked in Arboriculture since 1975. Former owner of AAA Tree Service, focusing on tree care management for large condo and apartment properties, country clubs and homeowners in metro Detroit. Owner Porterfield Tree Care Consult. since 1996. ISA Certified Arborist. Notably, Jim is also the long-standing Shot Put Record holder for Northville High School.