10-11-04 Community & Economic Development

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e/n omnzitLEE cR f. o't: (� p /� &n2nzwiltt9. and &onot zi ..L�wrioprmEnt (. Prima-fp The October 11, 2004 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee was called to order by its Chairperson,Council Member Roland Kelly at 4:15 in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter, Pfeifer, Kelly, Puzzello, Varner, Kirsits,Kuspa,Coleman,and White; City Clerk John Voorde,Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair, Executive Director of the Community and Economic Development Department Sharon Kendall, Ed Fain, Tedd Schaffer, Derek Spier, Rita Kopola, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Kelly noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 04-119 which is a five (5) year personal property tax abatement request for Federal-Mogul Powertrain, Inc. for the property located at 3605 West Cleveland Road. Tedd Schaffer, an Economic Development Specialist with the Department of Community & Economic Development reviewed his report dated September 30, 2004 (copy attached). He noted that the petitioner is a manufacturer of automotive pistons for GM, Ford and Nissan. Federal-Mogul will transfer a piston machine line and tooling from Lagrange, Georgia to South Bend. The cost of the new equipment will be $ 7.482 million. 548 existing full-time jobs would be retained with an average salary of$44,521. The report concluded that the petitioner meets the qualifications for a five(5)year personal property tax abatement under Section 2-84.2 of the South Bend Municipal Code addressing tangible personal property tax abatement. Mr. Ed Fain, Plant Manager made the presentation. He noted in response to a question from Sharon Kendall that the piston machine line would be in addition to the currently lines operating at Federal-Mogul Powertrain,Inc. He added that it would improve productivity. There was no one present from the public to speak in favor or in opposition to the tax abatement request. Following discussion, Council Member Kirsits made a motion, seconded by Council Member Kuspa that Bill No. 04-119 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed. Council Member Kelly then called for a presentation on Bill No. 04-120 which is a five(5)year residential real property tax abatement request of Kendall-Weiss,LLP for various lots located in the Lafayette Falls Subdivision. Tedd Schaffer, an Economic Development Specialist with the Department of Community & Economic Development reviewed his report dated September 30, 2004 (copy attached). He noted that the petitioner proposes to build 58 homes on the south side of Kern Road. The report concluded that the petitioner meets the qualifications for a five (5) year residential real property tax abatement under Section 2-77.1 of the South Bend Municipal Code addressing single family real property tax abatement.