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REGULAR MEETING MAY 27, 2003 <br />PRESENTATION - TAX ABATEMENT ANNUAL REPORT <br />Councilmember Karl King, Chairperson of the Community and Economic Development Committee, <br />advised that each year this committee receives a report on the tax abatement program that has been <br />operating for a number of years. Each year the report is given by Mr. Mike Beitzinger of the <br />Department of Economic Development. This year it was decided that due to a number of items that <br />were notable, that the report needed broader exposure and therefore Mr. Beitzinger was asked to <br />make the presentation tonight. Councilmember King noted that this committee believes that the <br />economic development benefits, the increased tax revenue benefits, the increased assessed valuation <br />benefits and the many social and public benefits that have been derived from the tax abatement <br />program were worthy of being presented at a public meeting of the Council. Councilmember King <br />thanked Mr. Beitzinger for his excellent work in managing the tax abatement program for the City <br />and noted that Mr. Beitzinger also played a key role in the drafting of the new tax abatement <br />ordinance that will take effect in August of 2003. <br />Mr. Beitzinger presented a brief power point presentation which included the definition of a tax <br />abatement as well as statistics regarding the number of approvals for real property, personal property <br />and residential property tax abatements. In each of these categories he provided the number of <br />projects approved along with the dollar amounts of investment which they represent. The <br />presentation concluded with pictures of various projects that received tax abatements. Copies of the <br />power point presentation were presented to Councilmembers. <br />RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE <br />At 7:17 p.m. Councilmember Coleman made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. <br />Councilmember Kelly seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes. <br />Councilmember King, Chairperson, Committee of the Whole, presiding. <br />Councilmember King noted that this is the portion of the meeting in which members of the Council <br />meet as the Committee of the Whole in order to hear presentations and public comments in favor of <br />or against each bill that has been submitted for ordinance consideration. After the hearing on each <br />bill the committee will vote on the disposition of the bill which typically is to send it to the full <br />Council with either a favorable or an unfavorable recommendation. Article 1, Section 2 -11 of the <br />South Bend Municipal Code requires that before the beginning of any hearings, the Chairperson of <br />the Committee of the Whole explain the procedure that will be followed for all public hearings on <br />bills filed for ordinance consideration. The Committee of the Whole of the South Bend Common <br />Council operates in accord with the Council Rules and Procedures and Roberts Rules of Order and <br />Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand serves as the Parliamentarian. The procedure for the <br />Public Hearing for each bill is conducted as follows: <br />1. The title of the bill is read by the City Clerk. <br />2. Reports are presented from the pertinent Common Council Committee and/or the <br />Area Plan Commission. <br />3. A formal presentation in favor of the bill which is not subject to a time limit is heard. <br />4. Comments are heard from members of the public who wish to speak in favor of the ■ <br />