03-10-08 Community and Economic Development Committee

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COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 2008 SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL The March 10, 2008 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Member Ann Puzzello at 4:05 p.m. in the Council's informal meeting room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Karen L. White, David Varner, Oliver Davis, Timothy Rouse, Al "Buddy" Kirsits and Henry Davis, Jr.; Mrs. Kopola, Martha Lewis, Tom Price, Gary Gilot Mark Eagan, Phil Damico, Catherine Fanello, Mark Smith, Jamie Loo, Don Brubaker, Catherine Andres, Mayor Stephen Luecke, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney, John Voorde, City Clerk, Janice Talboom, Deputy City Clerk. Committee Members present, Ann Puzzello, Member, Karen L. White, Member, Henry Davis Jr., Vice-President. Mayor Stephen Luecke introduced Phil Damico who then made a presentation on the Chamber of Commerce's Business Growth Initiative. He reported that the Chamber had made contact with 114 businesses from 1/1/07 to 12/31/07. With initial visits, revisits and multiple visits to one business all total were 392 visits. There were a total of 17,871 employees represented by the businesses. The top 25 businesses (see handout attached) project a mild 2% growth in employment increase over the next 12 months. 55% are projecting an increase in the employee count, 9% project a decrease, while 37% are expecting no movement over the next 12-18 months. The largest sectors projecting an increase are Health Care, Manufacturing, Transportation/Logistics and Information Technology. 72% of the businesses visited have there headquarters located in South Bend. Mr. Damico explained how they would like to eventually visit businesses' headquarters that are located out of the area. He said this could help the Chamber see what problems or issues these companies might have with the South Bend location. Hopefully this could prevent some moving out of our area. He then told the Council if they had specific businesses in their districts that they would like the Chamber to visit to please call him and let him know. Council Member Oliver Davis asked if they visited by themselves or with the Council Member and Mr. Damico replied that either way would be acceptable. He said they try to resolve and respond to problems or questions within in a 72 hour period. Council Member Henry Davis brought up the fact of Clark Food Service closing and Mr. Damico said that Stanz Food had picked up some of those employees. He said that was one of the examples of the headquarters being out of the South Bend area. Council Member Timothy Rouse brought up the issue of downtown parking availability and the idea of parking meters. Mayor Luecke responded that they are always trying to make affordable and available parking for the downtown area.