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Home My WebLink About09-11-17 Community Investment �SOU TIr d � x U d W PEACE 1V 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER,CITY CLERK COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 4:20 P.M. Committee Members Present: Gavin Ferlic, Regina Williams-Preston, Oliver Davis, Will Smith(citizen member) Committee Members Absent: Randy Kelly Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Jo M. Broden, John Voorde, Karen White Other Council Absent: Dr. David Varner Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer Presenters: Oliver Davis, James Mueller, Eric Horvath Agenda: Bill No. 17-56-Addressing the Double Tracking of the South Shore with Regard to Residents of Ardmore Neighborhood Bill No. 48-17- Tax Abatement Amendment (Continued) Committee Chair Gavin Ferlic called to order the Community Investment Committee meeting at 4:20 p.m. He introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Bill No. 17-56-Addressing the Double Tracking of the South Shore with Regard to Residents of Ardmore Neighborhood Oliver Davis, 1801 Nash Street, stated, I am a social worker for Dickinson and Coquillard school. I am over in the Ardmore Area often and I see a lot of the families from the schools. In talks with them we wanted to come up with a resolution that is pro-Transit and at the same time pro-Neighborhood. The $25 million has not been discussed with the Council because it goes through the Redevelopment Commission. I want to thank all the co-sponsors of this legislation. This resolution is a summary everything that has gone on in the news. We recognize Ardmore is not in the City but the proposed track would displace many people. The main question is whether or not the $25 million is worth the ten minute travel deduction. 455 County-City Building•227 W.Jefferson Boulevard•South Bend,Indiana 46601 Phone 574-235-9221 •Fax 574-235-9173•TDD 574-235-5567•www.SouthBendIN.gov JENNIFER M.COFFMAN ALKEYNA M.ALDRIDGE JOSEPH MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK OPERATIONS James Mueller, Executive Director of Community Investment with offices on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, The Administration shares a lot of the goals of this resolution to make sure we get this fifty (50) year decision right. We have two (2)points with this resolution. We first want to know what we are expecting out of the two (2) firm study. If you are referencing the full study,that is already required as the environmental assessment. It is incredibly expensive for just one (1) firm, let alone two (2). We want to know what the Council expects from the two (2) firm study. The second bullet in the resolution is actually a matter of federal law so they would be reimbursed by the Federal government. Also, if this passes with the third bullet remaining as written, it would make the whole project infeasible. Committee Chair Ferlic suggested the co-sponsors and the Council Attorney, Bob Palmer,to work with James to find the correct language to make the resolution passable before the 7:00 p.m. Council meeting. Councilmember Tim Scott asked, What does it cost for having two (2) studies instead of one (1)? Mr. Mueller replied, It depends. Committeemember Davis stated, People want options. Mr. Mueller stated, Feasibility studies range in the tens of thousands, but if you were to do the whole study we are talking about hundreds of thousands. Eric Horvath, Director of Public Works with offices on the 13'floor of the County-City Building, stated, Feasibility studies determine if there is a path there and what it would take to build it. That probably costs around $50,000 to $100,000. The other analysis that takes into account the NEPA requirements is $500,000 to $700,000. Councilmember Scott then asked, Is the study in the resolution referencing the feasibility study? In my experience usually we do three (3) firms. Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston stated, It is important for us to demonstrate our commitment to development without displacement. Whether it costs additional funds or time it is worth it. We need to look at people over profit. Councilmember Karen White stated, This is a fifty (50) year decision and we must address all the questions, especially from those that will be impacted. If people have to be displaced we must do our very best to make them whole. Committeemember Will Smith asked, So there has not been any sort of economic impact analysis the City is aware of? Mr. Mueller replied, There has been some preliminary research done with coalitions but for the record, we have not entered into an agreement with NICT on this. This is still in the preliminary stages. Committeemember Smith followed up, I just want to make sure that if we are spending $25 million that it will bring the benefits that we actually need. 2 Mr. Mueller replied, The goal of this is to create South Bend as a commuter City to Chicago. In terms of dollar-per-minute saved, this is the cheaper alternative than the double-tracking project. Committee Chair Ferlic then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Mick Perry, 901 E. Fox Street, stated, Actual double-tracking goes from Michigan City to Gary. I can see the wisdom of cutting down the time. I'm also concerned to hear the possibility of losing homes. Why couldn't we consider putting the track along Lincolnway? Randy Dudeck, 55171 Homes Road, stated, I want to know the reason for dead-ending the railroad at the airport. It used to be out of the Amtrack Station and the quickest way between two (2) points is a straight line. If you put it back to where the Amtrack Station is then maybe they could run lines to Elkhart or Goshen. James Dudeck, 55443 Orchid Road, stated, I concur with that. There would be more bang for the buck if they did that. Jeff Rea, President and CEO of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce located at 101 N. Michigan Street, stated, I'm not philosophically opposed to the content of the resolution. I'm just here to thank the Council on behalf of the Chamber for taking leadership on this important issue. We understand there are a number of details needed to be worked out but hope, at the end of the day, we accomplish the goal of becoming a commuter City to Chicago. I also think the language of making someone whole is very subjective and we need-to be careful of what that means. Marty Wolfson, 809 Park Avenue, stated, I support this. We are proposing $25 million, displacing thirty-five (3 5)to forty (40) families and saving nine (9)to ten(10)minutes in the commute from South Bend to Chicago and there is no concrete study that has been done to document the specific benefits. I would support a much stronger resolution that states we won't spend the money until we know more about the impact. Joseph Shabazz, 906 Blaine Avenue, stated, I've listened to the conversation and I hope this doesn't turn into something where you'll favor some residents over others. I hope you haven't decided that there is a particular group of people who are more entitled to keep their house than others. Sue Kessim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I'm also concerned with the terminology of making someone whole. It is really easy to relocate when you are young but we are eighty(80) and I have no idea where I would go. It is important to remember that there are real people in these homes. There is a person behind these decisions and they need to keep that in mind. Committeemember Davis stated, South Bend would not have double-tracking. There will be comments tonight regarding the dead-ending of the train at the airport. This resolution didn't want to address that yet because we are still in the early stages. I wanted to start the conversation and come to the middle ground. 3 Committeemember Williams-Preston made a motion to send Bill No. 17-56 to the full Council with no recommendation. Committeemember Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of three (3) ayes and one (1) nay(Committeemember Smith). Bill No. 48-17- Tax Abatement Amendment (Continued) Committeemember Davis made a motion to continue Bill No. 48-17 indefinitely. Committeemember Williams-Preston seconded the motion which carried unanimously by a voice vote of four(4) ayes. With no further business, Committee Chair Ferlic adjourned the Community Investment Committee meeting at 4:53 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson 4