Task Forces and Sustainability Team

Volunteers named to three task forces 

Volunteers for three task forces were approved by City Council at its Nov. 16, 2020 meeting. (View the list here.) The task forces are focused on Ford Field, the Farmers’ Market and Rouge River Restoration. See the descriptions below for what each task force plans to accomplish, and their meeting dates and times. Since members were originally named, there have been changes to the board with some members leaving and new ones coming on. Please contact the task force chair for the current list of members.  

Farmers’ Market Task Force

The Farmers’ Market Task Force (FMTF) is charged with investigating options for future Farmers’ Market operations. Roles of the FMTF will 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 is Andrew Krenz.

Current agenda

Link to attend virtual meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243276229 or dial 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 892 4327 6229

Rouge Restoration Task Force

The Rouge 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.” Roles of the RRTF will include creating a framework plan from which a strategic plan will be developed, conducting a needs assessment, documenting current conditions, identifying grant sources, and producing cost estimates and concept drawings. Chair is Nancy Darga.

Current agenda

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. Roles of the FFTF will include gaining input from community stakeholders, establishing a vision for Ford Field as a central park, producing a needs assessment and management plan, and identifying funding opportunities such as grants and partnerships. Chair is DJ Boyd.

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

As the Task Force delved into the work involved, membership changed. View the updated volunteer list here. The Task Force is currently not meeting, having fulfilled its goal by developing the comprehensive report for the city. 

Task Force reports

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.

City of Northville Sustainability Team established

In early 2020, the Sustainability Team was formed to initiate efforts that would help and 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 whose purpose is 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, to ensure the City of Northville can continue to meet 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