06-25-12 Community & Economic Development

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COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUNE 25, 2012 5:32 P.M. Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, Dr. Fred Ferlic Citizen Members Present: Pat Crowley, Zach Raymond Other Council Member's Present: Tim Scott; Valerie Schey, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Derek Dieter Other's Present: Tim Hudak, Lynn Coleman, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Aaron Perri, Scott Ford, Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, Kevin Allen, Murray Miller, Sheri Miller -Story Agenda: Bill No. 12 -53 — Request — Western Avenue become a development priority Bill No. 18 -12 — Downtown Riverfront District • Bill No. 12 -53 is a resolution sponsored and presented by Councilmember Henry Davis Jr., to urge the city focus renewed and supplemented efforts to develop the Western Avenue business corridor. Henry with support from Oliver Davis maintained that as a key corridor and main entry point to the city from the west focused efforts should be directed to improving its economic health and vitality. Oliver mentioned the long vacant K -Mart property as an example in point. Karen white asked about a timetable for development. Henry and Oliver responded that a timetable was not as important as evidence on the part of the City of a commitment in the 2013 budget. Both Tim Hudak and Lynn Coleman in their comments underlined the need for development and voiced their support. After supporting comments Gavin Ferlic and Fred Ferlic offered the motions to forward favorably. The motion was supported by all. • Bill No. 18 -12 is a bill co- sponsored by Gavin and Fred Ferlic to create a Downtown riverfront development district. Gavin presented the bill pointing out that 22 other cities in Indiana had established riverfront development districts. One of the keys to the district development would be for the granting of three -way liquor licenses in the district for a nominal fee. These licenses outside of the normal population criteria would be issued for a nominal fee and would be non - transferrable. In towns where these type of districts were established over 130 new licenses have been issued. The district as seen on the attached map would be a corridor 1500 ft. either side of the river from Sample St. to Corby. Under the public portion Aaron Perri, Director, DTSB, spoke enthusiastically in support. Citizen member of the committee Pat Crowley asked pertinent questions while also voicing support.