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Home My WebLink About17-56 South Shore Doubletracking w/regard to Ardmore Neighborhood f 13 Tit City of South Bend - Common Council 18b _,.• 441 County-City Building • 227 W.Jefferson Blvd (574)235-9321 South Bend,Indiana 46601-1830 Fax (574)235-9173 TDD: (574)235-5567 Tim Scott http://www.southbendin.gov President September 6, 2017 Filed in Clerk's Office Oliver Davis South Bend Common Council Vice-President 4th Floor, County-City Building South Bend, IN 46601 SEP 06 2017 Gavin Ferlic Chairperson,Committee KAREEMAH FOWLER of the Whole Re: Proposed Resolution Regarding South S o 1W"H,E IN Tim Scott Neighborhood First District Dear Council Members, Regina Williams Preston Second District Greetings. Please kindly consider supporting this resolution which is a request of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission by the South Randy Kelly Bend Common Council regarding the upcoming decision that pertains Third District to using $25 million dollars to help finance the Double Tracking of the South Shore Line with respect to the People who live in the Ardmore Jo M. Broden Neighborhood. Fourth District David Varner Fifth District Sincerely, Oliver Davis Sixth District Gavin Ferlic At Large Karefi L. White Common Council Vice President Councilmember At Large At Larrgge e John Councilmember 6th District Karen White At Large ;R1kX6k_ M D -c—, 4/, \L Regina Preston John oor e Councilmember 2nd District Councilmember At Large BILL NO. 17-56 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION BY THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL ADDRESSING THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION UTILIZING THE RIVER WEST TIF DISTRICT OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE $25 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP FINANCE THE DOUBLE TRACKING OF THE SOUTH-SHORE LINE WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE ARDMORE NEIGHBORHOOD Whereas, Ardmore is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, St. Joseph County, on the northwest side of South Bend, Indiana-https:Hen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardmore, Indiana; and Whereas, the re-routing of the South Shore line tracks would cause a great burden both financially and emotionally to the current residents of the Ardmore Neighborhood. The proposed plan to move the tracks would cause a relocation of many of the long term residents which would bring both the emotional and financial burdens, with various local reports expressing that an estimated 35 to 40 homes in the Ardmore Neighborhood area would have to be acquired to accommodate a re-routing of the railroad's approach to the terminal at the South Bend International Airport- http://www.wndu.com/content/news/230-LIVESTREAM-South-Shore- reroute-media-briefing-434523923.html; http://www.wndu.com/content/news/South-Shore-project-moves- forward-with-local-funding-429723993.html; and Whereas,the residents of the Ardmore Neighborhood have a petition, which has over 300 signatures in hopes that South Shore organizers might take a look at the actual people living in those homes which could be affected by the re-routing of the South Shore line tracks -http://www.abc57.com/news/ardmore-neighborhood- group-fights-to-save-homes-from-south-shore-rerouting; and Whereas, various City, County and Business Leaders say they have a prime opportunity to change the modest population growth in our area, which has grown for each of the past four years, but has trailed the State of Indiana's growth rate, by double-tracking part of the South Shore Line, which would eliminate the need for the passenger line to wait for oncoming freight trains, and realigning the South Shore's approach to South Bend International Airport - http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-county-will-commit- millions-for-faster/article 22b2d4cl-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484bI Lhtm; and Whereas, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg shared that the City of South Bend would tap its River West TIF district for the $25 million dollars to help finance the double-tracking part of the South Shore Line, which would eliminate the need for the passenger line to wait for oncoming freight trains, and realigning the South Shore's approach to South Bend International Airport. The City of South Bend would try to later get the money reimbursed from federal sources -http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/politics/st joseph-county- money-for-south-shore-double-tracking-in/article 74481930-ad94-5cOa-a221-4c6de143d806.html; http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-county-will-commit-millions-for- faster/article 22b2d4c1-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484b1 l.html; and Whereas, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, when asked whether reducing the trip by 10 minutes is worth$25 million, expressed, "The answer is in the economic impact,"he said. "We're talking about a game changer for economic growth. It's hard to think of something that would have a bigger potential bang for the buck than something like this,"he said. "We recognize it's not a small commitment, especially for the county with some of the pressure it's under fiscally, but we also see the return on investment that could make it one of the best bets we've ever placed." -http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-count will-commit-millions-for-faster/article 22b2d4cl-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484bl l.html, and Whereas, it is believed that there are ways to promote the South Shore Line plans for faster transportation service between the cities of South Bend and Chicago, which is for the betterment of the residents who live in the City of South Bend as it relates to their transportation needs and at the same time promote saving the homes in the Ardmore Neighborhood, which is in keeping with the South Bend Common Council's Mission Statement: To make certain that our City Government is always responsive to the needs of our residents &that the betterment of South Bend is always our highest priority - http://wsbt.com/news/local/study- underway-to-help-the-south-shore-line-reroute-and-decrease-ride-time; https://www.southbendin.gov/govemment/department/common-council. The following actions are respectfully being requested of the South Bend Common Council to the South Bend Redevelopment Commission for its thoughtful consideration: Section I. That the $25 million dollars of tax funds from the River West TIF Fund be solely approved with the understanding of the following specifics: • That the decision regarding the rerouting of the South Shore Tracks includes the rerouting plan which best promotes the preservation of the houses in the Ardmore Neighborhood area as determined by two or more firms who have expertise in the areas of architectural, engineering and surveying industry and with the public involvement with the Ardmore Neighbors who are affected by the rerouting plans; • That if any house in the Ardmore Neighborhood is acquired in the rerouting of the South Shore Tracks,that those affected would be made financially whole as it relates to their relocation process needs; • That the City of South Bend will assure the citizens of the River West TIF district that any of the TIF tax funds which are used to reroute the South Shore Tracks will be reimbursed to the River West TIF district from state and/or federal sources within a time frame not to exceed three years. Section II. This resolution shall be enacted upon the passage of the South Bend Common Council and signed by the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana I I Oliver J. Davis, 6"District Karen L. White,At Large Common Council Vice President I I Regina Williams Preston,2°d District John Voorde,At Large Filed in Clerk's Office BEN 06 2017 PRESENTED NOT APPIM KAREEMAH FOWLER CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND, IN