06-23-80 Human Resources & Economic Development

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COMMITTEE REPORT OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE RE: Tax Abatement Petition of Mossberg and Company, Inc. , 301 East Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana 46618 The meeting was called to order by Councilman John Voorde, Chairman at 4 :00 p.m. , June 23, 1980. People in attendance included the following: Councilmembers Crone, Szymkowiak, McGann, and Voorde, Citizen members, Marc Brammer and Chris Davey; Council Attorney, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, the Petitioner by its' President Mr. Charles Hillman and their attorney, Mr. Ernest Szarwark. Councilman Voorde explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the Tax Abatement Petition on file along with the report from the Redevelopment Commission in order to determine whether the area under consideration qualifies as an Urban Development Area. Councilman Voorde then turned the meeting over to the Council Attorney who in turn went section by section over the petition to see if it satisfied the Municipal Code requirements. The Committee upon review of all the material present determined that the petition and accompanying data appeared to be in order. The Committee then was advised that the following question was raised at the meeting of the Redevelopment Commission: May the immediate surrounding area also be taken into consideration when reviewing a petition for tax abatement consideration? A series of discussions followed highlighting public policy positions, incentive positions, and the need to look at each petition on a case by case basis. Mr. Hillman highlighted that the company has been serving the South Bend community for over fifty years. He stressed that in that period of time there have been two additions, with the last one being completed some twenty years ago. He emphasized that he believed the immediate surrounding area should be looked at when reviewing the petition. Councilman Voorde then noted that certain factors in the Redevelop- ment Commission's Report and the petition should be taken into consideration when reviewing the petition.. These included: that the assessed value of the land in question has increased at a lower percentage rate than the city as a whole; that the area is located within a Community Develop- ment Neighborhood Strategy Area; that eight (8) new jobs would be created with an annual payroll exceeding $100,000; that a $750,000 new addition would be constructed; and that the surrounding neighborhood would benefit by such an improvement. Upon the motion of Councilman McGann and seconded by Councilmember Crone, the Committee unanimously recommended that: the land immediately adjacent to, or contiguous to, the land petitioning for tax abatement consideration, may be taken into consideration along with the factors required in the petition; and that; the petitioner, Mossberg and Company, Inc. , located at 301 East Sample Street. South Rana _ Tnai ana dtiF1 R anp.