The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2. Minutes 3/5/10 Meeting SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING March 5, 2010 10:00 a.m. 227 West Jefferson Boulevard Presiding: Marcia I. Jones, President South Bend, Indiana 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ms. Marcia Jones, President Dr. David Varner, Vice President Ms. Nancy King, Secretary Mr. Greg Downes Mr. Donald Alford Ms. Stephanie Spivey Legal Counsel: Mr. Charles S. Leone, Esq. Mr. Lawrence Meteiver, Esq. Redevelopment Staff: Mr. Don Inks, Director Mrs. Cheryl Phipps, Recording Secretary Mr. Bill Schalliol, Economic Development Specialist Mr. Robert Mathia, Economic Development Specialist Mr. David Relos, Economic Development Specialist Ms. Debrah Jennings, Property Manager Others Present: Mr. Tom Price, Mayor’s Office Ms. Rita Kopala Ms. Linda Wolfson, Community Forum for Economic Dev Ms. GlendaRae Hernandez Mr. David Matthews, Ivy Quad Mr. Jeff Parrott, South Bend Tribune Mr. Richard Nussbaum II Mr. Greg Pink, CB Richard Ellis Ms. Marva Leonard-Dent Mr. Hardie Blake, Project Impact Mr. James Summers, Project Impact Mr. Joseph Tillman Ms. Elizabeth Leonard Ms Pamela Meyer, Community Development Mr. Ralph W. Landrum III Mr. Tim Davis Mr. Victor Seward Mr. Shane Peters Ms. Linda Carter, YouthBuild Mr. Wallace Williams Mr. Chris Derrickson South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Friday, February 19, 2010. CM Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by Mr. OMMISSION APPROVED THE INUTES OF THE RMF,F19, EGULAR EETING OF RIDAY EBRUARY Alford and unanimously carried, the Commission 2010 approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Friday, February 19, 2010. 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS Redevelopment Commission Claims submitted March 5, 2010 for approval. 324 AIRPORT AEDA Michaels Appraisal Services 900.00 Appraisal Witt Appraisal Services, Inc. 900.00 RC Ignition Pk Wightman Petrie 2,886.72 Transpo Site 420 FUND TIF DISTRICT-SBCDA GENERAL CB Richard Ellis 1,005.56 LaSalle Hotel Management Fee All-Phase Electric Supply Co. LaSalle Hotel 25.80 426 FUND SOUTH BEND CENTRAL MEDICAL DISTRICT DLZ Memorial Hospital 5,197.50 430 FUND SOUTHSIDE DEVELOPMENT TIF AREA #1 Christopher B. Burke 18,900.74 Erskine Detention Pond $ 29,816.32 CC Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by Mr. Downes OMMISSION APPROVED THE LAIMS M5,2010, SUBMITTED ARCH AND ORDERED THE and unanimously carried, the Commission approved the CHECKS TO BE RELEASED Claims submitted March 5, 2010, and ordered checks to be released. 4. COMMUNICATIONS A. Communications from Project Impact Clients CP Mr. Inks noted that the Communications from OMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO ROJECT II6.D.(3) MPACT MOVED TO TEM Project Impact Clients pertain to Item 6.D.(3). He 2 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 would like to address them at that point in the agenda. There was no objection and the item was so moved. B. Communication from Dennis Andres, Morris Performing Arts Center Mr. Inks read the Communication from Dennis Andres. CDA, To: Redevelopment Commission OMMUNICATION FROM ENNIS NDRES MPAC ORRIS ERFORMING RTS ENTER From: Dennis J. Andres, Executive Director, Morris Performing Arts Center Subject: Jon Hunt Plaza 2009 Repairs Date: February 19, 2 010 Reflecting on last summer and planning for this summer’s Hunt Plaza events, I realized that I had not thanked the Redevelopment Commission for its support. So, may I say “Thank You” for approving funding for repairs and upgrades to the Jon Hunt Plaza/Park and Fountain this past summer? Following the repairs/upgrades we have reduced, as desired, the operating costs of approximately $10,000 to the actual summer ’09 cost of $3,260. An annual summer expense of approximately $3,500 for labor and chemicals to maintain the fountain is manageable for this summer. Clearly the South Bend community appreciates the Jon Hunt Plaza and the various events that occur there. So, upkeep is a necessity. When in season, those casual lunches or “Fridays by the Fountain” events mean much more when the fountain is in good working order for all to enjoy. Again, thank you for your support. Mr. Inks noted that an additional Communication arrived late in the week that also pertained to the appropriation for Project Impact. That was a Communication from Council Member Timothy Rouse. Mr. Inks indicated he would read that as part of 3 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 consideration of Item 6.D.(3). 5. OLD BUSINESS TOB There was no Old Business. HERE WAS NO LD USINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Public Hearing (1) Public Hearing on Resolution No. 2651 appropriating tax increment financing revenues from the Airport Economic Development/Urban Enterprise Zone Special Zone Fund for the payment of certain obligations and expenses related to the Airport Economic Development Area and the Urban Enterprise Zone. Mr. Inks noted that under state statute, for areas of TIF districts that overlap with the Urban Enterprise Zone there is required to be established a fund. The monies related to the increment from the overlap area are required to be deposited in that fund. They can only be used for certain job training programs. The appropriation this morning is for the funds being placed there in 2010. Ms. Leonard noted that the amount of money received in 2010 was $169,000. That, with the unappropriated money left in the fund last year, totals $355,000. Resolution No. 2651 asks for an appropriation from that fund of $350,000. Mr. Varner asked for a more explicit explanation of the statutory use of those funds. Mr. Leone checked the statute and reported that the money in this fund is to be used for job training, job enrichment, and basic skill development that are designed to 4 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 benefit residents and employers in the Enterprise Zone, or other purposes specified in the statutes (which are the general purposes for the Redevelopment Commission). This particular fund has additional uses over the general redevelopment uses of TIF funds. Mr. Downes asked whether the funds if appropriated but not used in 2010, are carried over to the following year. Ms. Leonard responded that they are. Mr. Inks noted that the public hearing file is complete, containing a copy of Resolution No. 2651, a copy of the Notice of Hearing, and affidavits from the South Bend Tribune and the Tri-County News that the Notice of Hearing was published in those newspapers on February 12, 2010. PHRN.2651 Ms. Jones opened the public hearing for UBLIC EARING ON ESOLUTION O anyone who wished to speak regarding Resolution No. 2651. Mr. Blake asked if there would be a later opportunity for people supportive of Project Impact’s Agreement for Services to be heard. Ms. Jones responded that there would not be; they should speak now. MR. VICTOR SEWARD, 4319 S. Main St. I was a student at Project Impact. Had it not been for Project Impact I probably would have been in jail because I wouldn’t get any funds, and then I’d turn my back on the world. It would seem like the world turned its back on me. But I met this program, Project Impact, and I was able to get a little funding. I was able to pay bills. I had a better relationship with my wife. Had it not been for Project Impact, I wouldn’t be here 5 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 talking to you. I thank God for Project Impact. I’d like to thank the Reverend. I’d like to thank the Redevelopment Commissioners. It turned my life around, and a lot more people. Thank you. MR. RALPH W. LANDRUM III, 1711 W. Dunham St. Project Impact has done a lot for me in the past year or so. This program is not just for employment status, it’s for helping people who have been in and out of jails. I can honestly speak for myself and others who are in my position that without this program, there was not much hope. Loss of faith and self esteem. I’m in kind of a tight situation at this time. Outside of the fact of being a felon, I’m a registered sex offender. It makes it very difficult for me to find a job. But I can honestly say that with this program, no matter what the circumstances are, I can get through it. I’ve been with this program from the beginning, and I’ll be in it to the end. I hope that everything falls into place, because they are really good people. I hope there are more people like them around to give us all a chance in society, when society really doesn’t want to give us that chance. I want to say, “thank you very much.” MR. WALLACE WILLIAMS 12 4 St. Paul’s Place. I’ve been involved in Project Impact since the beginning. I don’t know if the Commission thinks Project Impact is a program to get you a job, but before they even try to get you a job, they try to get you job-ready. They try to transform your mind and your thinking about how you are going to be an employee out on the job. Everything that these two gentlemen before me said is Project Impact. But even more, I’d like to speak on redevelopment and how you might 6 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 be able to help Project Impact. Now, you need to have goals. Once you get goals, you need a plan for how you are going to achieve those goals. We as a community have ex- convicts and felons. What is your goal for these people when they are in your community? They are going to be in your community. I’ll use the example of wildlife. As you’ve noticed, we have more deer and skunks and wild animals in our community than we’ve ever had before. That’s because we are taking away their habitat. They have to go somewhere. These people that are coming out of prison with felonies. A lot of them have done bad things. That doesn’t mean they are bad people. They’ve done something bad. They are trying to get their lives back on track. If they go out and do everything that they need to do…they’ve got goals and a plan to get back on track…what is the community going to do to help them get back on track? There needs to be programs to help them. I’ve seen several different programs. But you haven’t seen one like Project Impact. Trust me, you haven’t seen one. Now I know Project Impact is here asking for funds. No one, as a businessman, gives out funds without checking on their investment. So we ask you to come to Project Impact and see the impact that they are making. They’re making an impact in the community, and without them you are going to have people coming into South Bend, Indiana, St. Joseph County, and they are going to have nowhere to go and nothing to do. If you have nowhere to go and nothing to do, trust me, you’re going to go somewhere and going to do something and it’s most likely going to be the wrong thing. Now, what I would like to see a community do… Now, if you’re like Ralph, a sex offender, he still needs to be employed to be 7 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 productive in a community. We don’t think that he should be employed in the South Bend Community School Corporation. That’s not the place for him. You have someone that’s a thief. He still needs to be employed, but I don’t think that he needs to be employed at Teachers Credit Union. A drug dealer, you wouldn’t put him in a pharmacy. My point is, they need to be somewhere and they need programs like Project Impact to help them with their goals and plans to become more productive citizens in our community. It’s only going to benefit each and every one of us. Without that, it’s going to hurt each and every one of us. Thank you. MR. TIM DAVIS, 1132 N. Meade. I’m also a member of Project Impact. I think the most important thing that Project Impact has done in my life is made me a better employee, a better person. Now I know that those problem situations that came up in previous job experiences, I have a better understanding of how to identify and resolve those issues. If it wasn’t for Project Impact, I was blaming the world for my problems. Blaming everyone but myself. Project Impact starts from the inside and moves outward. In order for you to be a better employee, or to keep a job, or to get a job, you have to know your limitations, you have to make sure have your values and morals in tact. Project Impact has helped me and a lot of other people that are in the program to do just that. I want to thank Project Impact and the staff, and I want to thank the board for allowing Project Impact to do that. MR. SHANE PETERS, 1333 N. Wilber. I’m an outreach coordinator for Project Impact. This was a pilot project. I’m an ex-gang 8 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 leader; I’m an ex-drug dealer; I’m an ex- everything. Before Project Impact got funded that first year I was part of Men of Scars for about six or seven years. Just being in a new environment that a lot of young guys don’t have helped me change my life totally around. By me being able to be on outreach work for Project Impact, we were not able to just work with older ex-felons, we were also able to work with the younger people, the ones that are really tearing up South Bend. Just through this first year… there are a lot of errors that we realize we can learn from, that we can do better at if we can continue doing what we’re doing now. I believe that in this next year we really can see a change happen in South Bend from the youth up through the older guys, because the main thing is to just stop recidivism, period. It’s a shame that when you sit back and look at our city… look at South Bend, as small as it is, for it to be one of the worst cities in the United States. If we don’t have the right group of people together to go out there and make the right kind of impact, it’s going to get worse. They’re not going to be just in South Bend, it’s going to spread farther and farther. I believe that if we can continue to do this, we can see a whole lot of stuff change in South Bend and we can reverse the trend in South Bend. We need this outreach part. We need this family-like atmosphere created through Project Impact because you don’t just come in and it’s a program, and you go home. But, we continue to check on them, we continue to call them, we continue to be with them. I spend a lot of time going to court with a lot of the guys. I spend a lot of time picking them up, taking them where they need to go. If they need a ride to work, I tell them, don’t worry about it. You get the job, we’re going to get you there. I just 9 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 realized that taking those steps makes a great impact on them. It’s drawing more and more people. But it’s needed. You know how pilot projects go, but you don’t want to miss it. You don’t want to be looking at the small picture. You can’t give up on small beginnings. But the greatness will soon come if this continues to go, because, no matter what, there has to be a change out here. In South Bend, there has to be a change. Because we know that our kids don’t have to continue to drop out of school. We don’t have to see their grades just go down. We can make an impact and make the grades go up. We don’t have to see the older guys continue going in and out of prison because they feel like they don’t have hope, they don’t have a chance at life. It’s time to see a change. And it can start right here in South Bend. It can spread to other little cities. But we have to stay together as a unit. I want to thank the Redevelopment board for allowing us to do this last year. I’ll be thankful if we can do it again. And I’ll be thankful if we don’t. But the blessing will be if we can, because, no matter what, this work has to be done. That’s all I have to say today. I thank you for your time. MS. LINDA CARTER, 26801Gene Ct. I’m not speaking on behalf of Project Impact, but I’m impressed with what I heard. This is another program that I need to mention, regarding the same funds. I’m speaking on behalf of YouthBuild, South Bend. IAGO. We sent a communication a few weeks ago. We’re on the other end of the spectrum: we work with the young folks in the community that have become out of school youth for various reasons, either they drop out to get 10 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 their GED and didn’t complete it, or they dropped out, got their GED, but got no training after that, so they are still not job ready. What our program has been doing for the last seven years, we’ve been assisting youth with various soft skills: interviewing, mentoring, encouraging them to set goals and reach those goals within the school setting. However, this year we have gone beyond that. We’ve joined YouthBuild USA. Now, in addition to soft skills, we offer them accreditation, actual certifications in job skills: construction, information technology/computer area. If they haven’t received their GED, we help them to get their GED as well as become job ready. Concurrently they receive their GED as well as training to become certified in IT or construction. While they receive their training they receive a $50/week stipend so they have travel money and don’t have to steal a pop. Our goal is to keep them from becoming on the other end of the spectrum. One of the gentlemen said, if they don’t have hope and they don’t have money they end up stealing. They end up becoming ex-cons, unfortunately. Our goal is to keep that from happening by giving them an opportunity to become job ready, to learn the skills, and to teach them the soft skills so they know how to speak to an employer so they can get the job. But it takes a little more than the soft skills. They have to get the training so they can go out and get the job. Unfortunately, people aren’t going to just hand that to them. We help them understand that. Participants have to sign a contract with us that states they’ll be there, they’ll be in class 90% of the time, they’ll abide by certain 11 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 conduct while they are there, so that when they get on the job site they know what to do. We work with IBEW and other unions so that they are working side by side with skilled tradesmen and women, so they can learn the construction skills. When they leave our process, they will have an opportunity to become carpenters, they can become management Level I on the construction site, they can become system analysts, TIA comp certified on networks so that they can get a job and support themselves and their families. I stand here and my heart is just …I would love for some of them to meet some of the gentlemen who just stood here, so they could say to them, “Don’t go this way.” You’ve got our communication. We’ve asked for a portion of the urban development funds. We did that because we also have other entities that we operate to be self supportive. We have a daycare that supports a lot of the youth, our young mothers and fathers so they don’t have to miss school because they don’t have a place to take their youth. We also have in our plans to set up an IT station where they can sell service, troubleshoot computers for the public, for companies, while they are learning. We’re looking for job opportunities along the way. So that they know how to go out and get a job, they know how to bid on a project, they know how to talk and walk like they need to in order to get and keep a job. These are jobs that are going to sustain them. They can take our certifications anywhere and get a viable job, starting at $18/hour up to $27/hour. Again, I don’t know if you have our communication in front of you, but we 12 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 have an application to South Bend Housing Authority SHIP program so that they can start right now, learning how to go along with these skilled workers to make bids, to see how to talk to a householder, see if they can get this job for themselves and make money along the way. That’s why we’re asking for a portion of the funds because it is an implementation budget. It’s a huge budget we have. We’ve applied to various sources so we’re not dependent on one source. I just ask that you take a look at that. See if perhaps there’s some way we can both utilize the funds to make this happen. I think what Project Impact is doing is necessary. I do think IAGO/YouthBuild, we can do a lot of positive things together in the Urban Enterprise Zone. Thank you. HARDIE BLAKE, 144 N. Summit. There are a couple of things I want to say. I appreciate what Linda is doing, too, with YouthBuild. Without the program, and a primary target is the ex-offenders, who play a major role in what we focus on. But it’s not just ex-offenders. Initially, when the program started, we had a hundred and fifty that signed up to take our classes. One hundred and twenty of those people went through a boot camp. Out of that one week boot camp, eighty-two actually finished the boot camp. Then we entered into a ten-week training. Sixty-seven completed the training. Guys and ladies like these gentlemen here. I think the experience for them all was similar to what you hear from these. There are a couple of things I want to say in regards to that. I got called to jury duty not too long ago. They said that we have to make sure if we’re going to the jury that a person is innocent until proven guilty. The 13 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 judge asked us if we had any problem with that. I said, “I’ve got a problem with it. If it’s true that you are innocent until you are proven guilty, why do you treat a person when you arrest them like they are guilty until proven innocent? He said, “Mr. Blake, I’m afraid we don’t have to give an answer to a question like that.” So, they kicked me out of the jury. I got excused. I figured I would. But, generally, when a guy gets a felony, he stays guilty and never gets proven innocent. Even after they do their time, they still continue to do time, except it’s in a different place. It’s in a different location. You’re not incarcerated inside, but you are incarcerated on the outside because of the difficulty you have getting a job. Being a felon is almost like being married, except you can’t get a divorce. It’s until death do you part. That’s what happens when you get a felony. Now there were some things I was going to read, but I’m not going to because I think these guys have done an excellent job. In Timothy’s correspondence one of the things I talked to him about is that we want to get full funding---the same as what we had last year, instead of half of what we had last year. The reason we would like to have that is because we have discovered that what we thought was the problem is nothing compared to what the real problem is and what it’s doing to our community. What it’s going to do to our community. We can put it on the side, but I can tell you this. What we are doing is worth much more than a million dollar building that you might build out here or anywhere else. It’s much more valuable than that. I’m saying it definitely is. One life. But we talk about economic development, but we forget about the human capital that is much more valuable, much more important. But we put 14 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 it on the back burner. We minimize it somewhat. And I’m passionate about it because I’m compassionate about it. Both of those things are important in order to be able to achieve and to accomplish the goal that we really need to accomplish. So, I can’t say it loud enough, or hard enough, or passionate enough, or compassionate enough to say that it is more than just important, it’s vital. Literally. It’s vital that we do it, and it’s vital that we fund it, as vital as anything you have on your agenda, is the lives of these guys and the lives of the guys and ladies that are in our program. It’s just as vital, if not more. So, I can’t express it enough, how vital it is. And I’m there! I know it! There is a writer that says, “There is a quiet plague that’s going on in America.” It’s not just in South Bend, and it’s talking about the punitive incarceration of black people. Because if you look at the numbers you can see that they are all out of proportion. The reason why that’s happening is because America still hasn’t gotten over it yet. We still got the same problems that we always had. That doesn’t mean that everybody is evil or anything like that. I’m just saying that there are some systemic problems that we still have to address and systems have to address them. And they have to be real and honest about the real problems and not just gloss over the problems and go onto the next thing because that’s what generally happens. We go on to the next thing. When I’m out there, when a guy comes to me and says, “I’ve got to have $15 to get some diapers. I can’t afford diapers for my kid. And I’m going to get some diapers one way or another.” So, I reach in my pocket and give him $15, because, I would rather give 15 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 him $15 than to have him go out here and rob somebody so he can get some diapers. Now, when I say that, I’m not just being dramatic. I’m talking about the reality, and it happens every day. And people get hurt because of it. So, when we ask for the kind of funding that we ask for, it isn’t begging. And it isn’t asking for a handout. It’s a hand up for people who need a hand up. And we use it right. We’re not wasting the money. We’re putting it where…and anybody can come and see any time they want to. So, thank you. Oh, there’s one other thing. We are working with WorkOne. WorkOne told us to tell you that we are going to get a contract with them that will help us to work with youth as well. They couldn’t get it into writing last night when we met with them. And, to tell you that they are excited about it! They are happy to be able to partner with Project Impact. MS. LINDA CARTER. We received our letter saying we are on the ETC employment list for WorkOne. So, we have at this point almost twenty youth that are approved and ready to start the program through WorkOne. We are on their ETC list and training is ready to go. We just need a little assistance to implement a few things. MR. WALLACE WILLILAMS. I’d like to see our community be more preventative instead of reactive type thing. What happens is we let something happen, and then we react to it as far as sending a person to jail or disciplining them for doing what they did instead of preventing it before it happens. Set up programs like this to help people not get into what they’re doing. It’s kind of like your car. If you keep your car up, it runs a 16 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 lot better. But if you wait until it breaks down, it’s going to cause you more trouble. It’s the same thing with government. Instead of having people out here like with the healthcare program. Instead of having people be able to go to the doctor, get diagnosed with diabetes or cancer or whatever, our system waits until you get diabetes or cancer and then they try to work on it, which costs a lot more money than if they would be preventive. But, everybody knows that economics makes a big difference. In any community you go to. If you go to a community where people are making $100,000, a quarter million dollars, it’s not the same as a community that is starving, and impoverished, and making $15,000. You have a lot more problems in those communities. We’re just asking for a little bit, just a helping hand to get on our feet to be able to be able to support our families, to be able to stand up in a community, be respected, and be loved. You guys have a chance to help us do that. Thank you. MR. MARTY WOLFSON, 809 Park Avenue. I teach economics at Notre Dame and I was going to come here and talk about the important role of human capital in the process of economic development. But, I think the students and Rev. Blake have expressed that more eloquently than I could have. I did have an opportunity last summer to meet with and get to know a number of students in the Project Impact program. We had some discussions about economics. I just want to report to you that I found the students to be quite knowledgeable, quite intelligent. They asked some very perceptive questions, actually, that compare with questions I get from university students at 17 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Notre Dame. So, the issue is really is the job readiness and providing some of the ways to overcome the obstacles of the backgrounds some of the students have presented. I think there’s not any question about the ability of the students to handle jobs in the work environment. I just want to mention, I’m tremendously impressed with the work that Rev. Blake and James Summers and Shane Peters have been doing. They are tremendously dedicated to this program, as I think you can tell. They put their heart and soul into it and it’s really made a difference. This program is certainly good for the students, but it’s good for the rest of us in the community. All of us who have an interest in South Bend and South Bend being a vibrant community. I want to see this program work. It’s good for the students, it’s good for business, it’s good for the general community. And it sends a strong message beyond this particular program. It sends a message that we as a society believe in people, we don’t want to throw people away. That we want to invest in people. This is really our strength. Thank you. There was no one else who wished to speak regarding Resolution No. 2651. Ms. Jones closed the public hearing for whatever action the Commission wished to take. (2) Approval of Resolution No. 2651. Ms. King asked for clarification that Resolution No. 2651 only approves the appropriation of funds, not the Agreement for Services. That will be up for action later on the agenda. Ms. Jones confirmed that is 18 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 correct. Mr. Varner noted that once funds are available, there will be additional requests for that money. The reality is that there was a buildup of TIF funds from the overlap area over several years. Once those are spent, the amount available each year will be only about $170,000. Mr. Varner said he was very impressed with the work both Project Impact and YouthBuild are doing. However valuable these projects are, the reality is that Project Impact will have to get to the point where they can sustain themselves. Unless something changes legislatively, the money isn’t going to be there. CRN.2651 Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED ESOLUTION O APPROPRIATING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the AE REVENUES FROM THE IRPORT CONOMIC Commission approved Resolution No. 2651 D/UEZ EVELOPMENTRBAN NTERPRISE ONE appropriating tax increment financing SZF PECIAL ONE UND FOR THE PAYMENT OF revenues from the Airport Economic CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS AND EXPENSES RELATED AED Development/Urban Enterprise Zone Special TO THE IRPORT CONOMIC EVELOPMENT AUEZ REA AND THE RBAN NTERPRISE ONE Zone Fund for the payment of certain obligations and expenses related to the Airport Economic Development Area and the Urban Enterprise Zone. B. Tax Abatements (1) Resolution No. 2660 approving an application for real property tax deduction for property located at lots 14 & 15 on Vorden Parkway adjacent to 3751 Olive Rd. (Olive Cleveland Partners) Mr. Mathia gave the staff report on the project. Olive Cleveland Partners is in the process of purchasing vacant Lots No. 14 and 15 from the Blackthorn West Business Park, LLC. Olive Cleveland intends to construct a warehouse/distribution facility to 19 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 accommodate the relocation and expansion of an existing tenant, Invacare Corporation. The new building will have a total of approximately 80,000 square feet, and will feature 32 feet clear height, 15 docks, grade level access and approximately 5,000 square feet of office space. The building will incorporate energy efficient heating and lighting. The estimated cost of the building is $2,400,000. Invacare Corporation is a leading manufacture and designer in the worldwide home medical equipment market. The company designs, manufactures and distributes an extensive line of health care products for the non-acute care environment, including the home health care, retail and extended care markets. Olive Cleveland Partners has just begun collecting information on potential suppliers and contractors for the project. For this reason they were unable to answer the questions related to suppliers of construction materials and construction contractors. They intend to submit this information prior to the Common Council meeting to consider their confirming resolution. At that time final points will be awarded and the length of the abatement term will be set. Based on current information, the Olive Cleveland Partners will score sufficient points for a three-year term. The Petitioner has supplied information from a previous project to be used for estimation purposes. If they score all of the points for construction they would have enough for five years. For purposes of consideration of the Declaratory Resolution we are estimating the term at six years to allow for any extra adjustment. Anything less will result in a reduction in the amount 20 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 of tax revenue abated. Assuming a six-year abatement term is approved at the Confirming Resolution, the total taxes to be abated during that term are estimated at $210,386. Total taxes to be paid during the six-year term are estimated at $218,637. If the term remained at three years, total taxes to be abated are estimated at $123,376. Total taxes to be paid over the three-year term are estimated at $91,136. The project will not create any new, permanent full-time positions. However, it will retain 23 existing permanent full-time positions, including 7 existing permanent full-time minority employees, with a total annual payroll of $668,820. Olive Cleveland Partners has one (1) previous tax abatement, a seven year real property abatement granted 2008. The property is properly zoned for the proposed project. The property is located in the Airport Economic Area, which is a Tax Incremental Allocation Area; therefore, the petition for real property tax deduction must first be approved by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission. The project meets the qualifications for tax abatement under the tax abatement ordinance. Mr. Varner asked if Invacare is relocating from another building in the area? Mr. Greg Pink, representing Olive Cleveland Partners, responded that they are. There is however, a tenant for the building Invacare is leaving behind. Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by CRN.2660 OMMISSION APPROVED ESOLUTION O APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR REAL Mr. Alford and unanimously carried, the PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION FOR PROPERTY Commission approved Resolution No. 2660 14&15V LOCATED AT LOTS ON ORDEN 21 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 P3751OR. approving an application for real property tax ARKWAY ADJACENT TO LIVE D (OCP) LIVE LEVELAND ARTNERS deduction for property located at lots 14 & 15 on Vorden Parkway adjacent to 3751 Olive Rd. (Olive Cleveland Partners) C. South Bend Central Development Area (1) Proposal for design services for Coveleski Park. (Marketing Materials) I6.C.(1) Mr. Inks asked that item 6.C.(1) be tabled. TEM WAS TABLED There was no objection and the item was tabled. (2) Proposal for professional services for 329 S. Lafayette. (Asbestos Inspection, former Schillings Camera Store) Mr. Schalliol gave the staff report. A result of the Commission’s environmental study of the recently purchased 329 S Lafayette building, the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment recommended obtaining an Asbestos Inspection and related testing for the facility. We have received a proposal from Wightman Petrie in the amount of $6,075 to perform the necessary study. The amount includes field inspection, lab fees, the final field report, and coordination with an abatement contractor. Staff requests approval of this proposal. C Upon a motion by Mr. Varner, seconded by OMMISSION ACCEPTED THE PROPOSAL FOR AN WP ASBESTOS INSPECTION BY IGHTMAN ETRIE Ms. King and unanimously carried, the . FOR THE SCOPE OF SERVICES AND FEE PROPOSED Commission accepted the proposal for an (AI,S SBESTOS NSPECTION FORMER CHILLINGS asbestos inspection by Wightman Petrie for CS) AMERA TORE the scope of services and fee proposed. (Asbestos Inspection, former Schillings Camera Store) (3) Contract for Sale of Land for Northwest Corner Sycamore St. and Colfax Avenue. 22 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 (former Rink Riverside site) Mr. Relos noted that on February 19, 2010, David Matthews with East Bank South Bend Development, LLC, submitted a development proposal for the Rink site at the corner of east Colfax and Sycamore streets. His proposal included eight riverfront units and two facing south along the northeastern property line. The Commission accepted the proposal and authorized staff to write a Contract for Sale with final site plans and design specs for the development. Upon further site and market analysis, Mr. Matthews felt unsure how the northeastern section of the property could best be utilized. If the market will support two condominiums without a river view, the plans as previously stated will move forward. If a better fit would be retail, or retail with living space above, then that use would be incorporated. Because of these questions, Mr. Matthews requested that the contract and its 36 month completion date pertain to the eight riverfront units only, with the understanding that he will develop the northeast corner to its best use based on demand. The requirements in the Contract for Sale of Land are: $10,000 sales price; proof of financing and Commission approval of the final site plan and development specifications before closing; thirty-six month construction period for eight (8) riverfront condominiums; restrictions for use of property (as detailed in the final site plan); liquidated damages for default (payment of $337,500); and title revestment upon certain events. Staff requests Commission approval of the Contract for Sale to allow the developer to 23 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 move forward with the redevelopment of this property. Mr. Downes asked Mr. Matthews how presale of the units is progressing. Mr. Matthews responded that he now has four cash deposits for the eight units. He has yet to do any marketing. People are excited. Ms. Jones asked if he will still build a model unit. Mr. Matthews responded that he will. Mr. Varner asked what Mr. Matthews anticipated would be a good commercial use for that Sycamore/LaSalle corner. Mr. Matthews responded that the first floor of whatever is constructed on that site will not have a great view. But first floor retail with condos above could give the condos a river view over the flat roofs of the riverfront condos. He didn’t speculate on what type of retail might use the ground floor space. CC Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED THE ONTRACT FOR SLNC ALE OF AND FOR THE ORTHWEST ORNER Mr. Downes and unanimously carried, the SS.CA.( YCAMORE T AND OLFAX VENUE FORMER Commission approved the Contract for Sale RR) INK IVERSIDE SITE of Land for the Northwest Corner Sycamore St. and Colfax Avenue. (former Rink Riverside site) (4) Proposal for professional services related to Northwest Corner Sycamore St. and Colfax Avenue. (former Rink Riverside site) Mr. Relos noted that the Contract for Sale of Land required that an ALTA survey be done at the former Rink site. Danch Harner has submitted a proposal for an amount not to exceed $2725. Mr. Relos asked for authorization to spend no more than $3,000. 24 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 C Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED THE PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO Ms. King and unanimously carried, the NCSS. ORTHWEST ORNER YCAMORE T AND Commission approved the proposal for CA.I OLFAX VENUE N AN AMOUNT NOT TO professional services related to Northwest $3,000/(RR) EXCEED FORMER INK IVERSIDE SITE Corner Sycamore St. and Colfax Avenue. In an amount not to exceed $3,000/ (former Rink Riverside site) (5) Resolution No. 2659 approving and authorizing the execution of an Addendum to the Master Agency Agreement (Coveleski Stadium Improvements Phase 1A, Project 1) Mr. Schalliol noted that on February 5, 2010 the Commission approved a Resolution and addendum to master agency agreement with Populous for the design and construction planning for Phase 1A improvements to Coveleski Stadium. As we are completing the design and specifications, we are ready to move forward to bid those projects. Phase 1A of Project 1 is for Field Lighting, Field Wall Pads and Backstop Netting. These three items are in the process of being quoted through the South Bend Board of Public Works and it is anticipated that quotes will be received by the Board on March 15, 2010. The project, based on an engineer’s estimate, should not exceed $750,000, depending on the options that are most appropriate for the project. This approval is necessary to authorize funding to allow for the quotes to be awarded on March 15th and allow Project 1 to move forward as soon as possible. As part of Exhibit A of the Addendum, staff recommends a not-to-exceed budget amount of $750,000 for Project 1. Staff doesn’t expect the quotes to be that high. Mr. Schalliol will report back on March 19 how 25 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 the quotes came in. On February 5, other items, namely design for bathroom improvements, dugout improvements, gutter replacement, an ADA audit and a couple of other things. Those have not been bid yet. They will come back to the Commission for an agency agreement for Project 2 at a later date. Staff requests approval of Resolution No. 2659 and the Addendum to Master Agency Agreement. Mr. Varner asked Mr. Schalliol to lay out for the Commissioners at a later date what will be included in Phase 1, Phase 2, etc. Mr. Schalliol said he would do that. Ms. Spivey asked when the project will be bid. Mr. Schalliol responded that the request for quotes will be mailed out March 5 in the mail. Sealed quotes will be received and opened on March 15. The Board of Public Works hopes to award the bid March 15. Ms. Spivey asked if there is a weight given to local vendors in the selection process. Mr. Schalliol noted that there are only three or four vendors in the country that provide backstop netting or wall pads, none of them in South Bend. Local workers will be used for some of the installation. Where local suppliers can be used, they will be. Mr. Inks noted that the Board of Public Works has struggled with trying to keep the city’s funds local. His understanding is that state law does not provide for us to try to hire local contractors. We are forced to accept the lowest responsive, qualified bidder. 26 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Mr. Leone noted that the Legal Department is actively reviewing the extent to which the city can weigh local contractors more highly. We would like to do that. Mr. Downes noted that he had asked the City Attorney’s office to look into whether he has a conflict of interest on agenda items related to the Coveleski Stadium as he is an investor in the Silverhawks. The City Attorney’s office has determined that he does not have a conflict of interest. CRN.2659 Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED ESOLUTION O APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION Mr. Alford and unanimously carried, the AMA OF AN DDENDUM TO THE ASTER GENCY Commission approved Resolution No. 2659 A(CS GREEMENT OVELESKI TADIUM approving and authorizing the execution of IP1A,P1) MPROVEMENTS HASE ROJECT an Addendum to the Master Agency Agreement (Coveleski Stadium Improvements Phase 1A, Project 1) D. Airport Economic Development Area (1) Staff report on acquisition of property in the Airport Economic Development Area. Mr. Relos noted that on January 15 and February 19, 2010, the Commission authorized staff to begin the process to study acquisition target areas in the Airport Economic Development Area. This process included the gathering of information on the parcels to be added, and an estimation of costs associated with the acquisition and redevelopment of these properties. Staff has broken these areas into four study groups, which are listed below. The information which follows is a summary of our findings: Area 1: Ignition Park South The entire area north of Indiana Avenue, between Franklin on the east and Prairie on 27 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 the west, was identified as weak residential in the 1995 Rum Village Neighborhood Action Plan, and as far back as 1971, as the logical southern boundary of the Studebaker Corridor redevelopment area. The area is plagued by vacant lots, empty housing, and substandard commercial and rental units. This study area encompasses the west side of Taylor Street as its eastern boundary, and Prairie Avenue as the western boundary. This study area consists of 50 vacant lots, 6 vacant businesses, 9 vacant houses, and what appear to be 45 occupied homes and 11 small businesses. Of the 128 parcels in this area, 14 are currently owned by the city, 4 are owned by the Rum Village Neighborhood Association, and 7 are owned by the rail road. Twenty-four of these properties are currently up for tax certificate sale, and in an effort to minimize cost, staff has registered and will bid on these properties. Also included in this study area are the six formerly owned Burton parcels that were donated to the Board of Public Works when the Waste Management property north of the tracks was purchased by the Commission in 2008. The inclusion of these parcels on the Acquisition List will allow title to be transferred from the Board of Public Works to the Commission. The estimated redevelopment cost for this target area is $8.5 million, and will be a multi- year project. This cost includes acquisition, demolition, relocation, and professional services. Area 2: Ignition Park West The areas to the east and south of Ignition Park have been studied, and inconsistent uses 28 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 have been or are in the process of being redeveloped. The area west of Prairie was recently brought to the forefront when a special exception was requested for a wrecker service in this area, which was not considered consistent with the planned future for Ignition Park. There are six properties staff has identified in this area. Most are vacant. Some have been behind in paying taxes. These properties bound the west side of Prairie from Indiana Ave to Sample, and from Sample west to Webster. Estimated redevelopment cost for this target area is $5 million, and will also be a multi- year project. This cost includes acquisition, demolition, relocation, and professional services. The largest old brick building about ½ block west of Prairie on Sample could be demolished and recycled by a private entity. If this occurs, the estimated cost of this project would be lowered by over $1 million because of lower demo costs. Area 3: Ivy Tech / Gorny Plaza Ivy Tech: There are four properties in this new area which would be acquired and eventually transferred to Ivy Tech for much needed expansion of classrooms, storage, and parking. Staff has been contacted by two of these property owners, indicating their willingness to work with the Commission once the Plan amendment process is complete. Staff asks that these properties be added in case agreement cannot be reached to acquire properties included for Ivy Tech last year, and is not in addition to those properties. Staff feels having options will enable better negotiations. 29 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 These properties consist of: four parcels of the Sinco property on Sample and Ohio; five parcels of the Enyart property on Sample and Ohio; three parcels of the Mason Heating & Air Conditioning property on Sample and Ohio; and one vacant lot on Ohio. Like last year’s agreement, this would be a joint effort between the Commission and Ivy Tech, with the Commission purchasing the properties and Ivy Tech doing the interior work to turn these buildings into classrooms and / or storage areas. Attached is a letter from Ivy Tech’s Chancellor, detailing their plans for these buildings if acquired. Redevelopment costs for this area are estimated to be $1.4 million, which include acquisition, relocation, and professional services. Gorny Plaza was recently for sale, and would be a target acquisition that could help with the redevelopment of south Michigan Street, including the Burke building at the northwest corner of Garst and Michigan streets, Real Services, or could allow for the redirection of Dean Johnson Parkway to Main Street. This property has long been identified as a potential redevelopment site because of its proximity to Ivy Tech and Ignition Park. Estimated redevelopment cost for this property, which includes three parcels, is $500,000. This cost includes acquisition, demolition, relocation, and professional services. Area 4: Airport Industrial Park, Phase 2 The City of South Bend and the St. Joseph County Airport Authority have been working together to coordinate infrastructure 30 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 improvements and parcel acquisition in this area southeast of the airport complex. The city was recently approached by this parcel’s owner, indicating his interest in selling if an agreement can be reached. This parcel is between Maplewood and Sheridan, and would allow Maplewood to be closed and vacated adjacent to and north of this property. The Commission currently owns four properties in this block. This parcel would be one of four currently not under control. Estimated redevelopment cost for this vacant lot is $25,000, which includes acquisition and professional services. Staff requests your acceptance of this report, and to allow a Declaratory Resolution be brought before the Commission to formally begin the process to allow the acquisition of these properties. C Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION ACCEPTED THE REPORT AND AUTHORIZED STAFF TO PROCEED WITH A Ms. King and unanimously carried, the DECLARATORY RESOLUTION TO ADD PROPERTIES Commission accepted the report and A TO THE ACQUISITION LIST OF THE IRPORT authorized staff to proceed with a declaratory EDAD CONOMIC EVELOPMENT REA EVELOPMENT resolution to add properties to the acquisition P LAN list of the Airport Economic Development Area Development Plan. (2) Resolution No. 2657 amending the Development Plan for the Airport Economic Development Area and adding one or more parcels to the List of Parcels to be Acquired and restating and confirming the Legal Description for the Airport Economic Development Area. Mr. Inks noted that a Substitute Resolution No. 2657 was submitted this morning which adds the newly re-written legal description 31 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 for the Airport Economic Development Area. Mr. Relos noted that Resolution No. 2657 is the declaratory resolution authorized above which begins the process of adding the properties previously described to the Acquisition List. The legal description was re-written to correct some inconsistencies and awkward earlier expansions to the area. The legal description is now one continuous description outlining the boundary. Following approval by the Commission the Area Plan Commission and Common Council will consider similar resolutions. Following approval by those bodies, a confirming resolution will come before the Commission. Staff also requests authorization to publish a Notice of Hearing following Council approval of its resolution. CRN.2657 Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED ESOLUTION O DP AMENDING THE EVELOPMENT LAN FOR THE Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the AEDA IRPORT CONOMIC EVELOPMENT REA AND Commission approved Resolution No. 2657 L ADDING ONE OR MORE PARCELS TO THE IST OF amending the Development Plan for the PA ARCELS TO BE CQUIRED AND RESTATING AND Airport Economic Development Area and LD CONFIRMING THE EGAL ESCRIPTION FOR THE AEDA adding one or more parcels to the List of IRPORT CONOMIC EVELOPMENT REA AND AUTHORIZED STAFF TO MAKE THE NECESSARY Parcels to be Acquired and restating and PUBLICATION TO CARRY IT THROUGH confirming the Legal Description for the Airport Economic Development Area and authorized staff to make the necessary publication to carry it through. (3) Agreement for Services with Project Impact – South Bend, Inc. Project Year 2010. Mr. Inks noted that the Agreement before the Commission is essentially the same agreement it approved last year, though the 32 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 amount has not been filled in, expecting that that would be part of today’s discussion. Mr. Downes thanked the clients of Project Impact for coming today and speaking before the Commission. He noted that the Commission thinks very highly of Mr. Blake and Mr. Summers and the job they have done with Project Impact. That said, he feels it is necessary for the Commission to ask some tough questions in order to respect the Commission’s fiduciary responsibility. Mr. Downes noted that when the Commission was first approached to fund Project Impact’s initial phase, everyone may have been overly optimistic about how quickly the program could be ramped up and how quickly people could be placed into jobs. He, himself, had the impression that there was tremendous support from employers in the Airport Economic Development Area (AEDA) to actually place people from Project Impact. He asked (1) how much time Project Impact spends visiting businesses in the AEDA to establish whether there are jobs available and their willingness to place these clients; and (2) looking forward, what Project Impact’s projection for the next six to nine months is. Mr. Summers agreed that he had expected a tremendous amount of support from the employers in the area. He outlined the methods he has used to try to find or create jobs for Project Impact’s clients. He made a list of all the companies in the AEDA, their executives and contact information. He sent them information about Project Impact and asked for appointments to talk with them. Those who responded were reasonably polite. But, unfortunately, Project Impact 33 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 was getting started at the time most all the companies were laying people off. When Mr. Summers was able to meet with a decision-maker, they agreed it sounded like a great program, but said they couldn’t imagine hiring a person with challenges over the twenty applicants without challenges who are waiting at the door for any job they’d have available. Mr. Summers pointed out to them that resumes can sound great, but he would be giving his personal recommendation to anyone he would put forward. He asked that his clients be given an interview and consideration based on that recommendation. There were not many jobs available at all. Many decision-makers have promised to give Project Impact clients a chance at jobs that do become available as the economy opens up. Mr. Summers said he had a difficult time getting in to talk with business owners. He asked Steve Hartz, Value Production, to create introductions for him with these owners. Mr. Hartz has been very helpful to do that. Mr. Summers believes owners have a preconceived idea of what Project Impact’s program is. He wants them to hear a full explanation. Project Impact held an open house on Martin Luther King day. A number of individuals came through, talked to representatives, and saw the facility. Some were surprised to learn it was different than they thought. They were willing to discuss the possibility of cooperation. Mr. Summers noted that Project Impact also said it would attempt to make Project Impact self-sustainable. He believes that is a matter of collaborating with other programs, looking 34 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 for other sources of funding, and taking a new look at the kinds of businesses they are partnering with. With some small community based businesses, Mr. Summers offered to do their marketing, finding them additional business, if those companies would consider hiring employees from Project Impact. Some small, start-up businesses have said yes to that offer. Mr. Summer said the third effort they have made is to develop a partnership with WorkOne. They explained Project Impact to WorkOne’s regional director: both the life skills training and the on-going support. Fort Wayne’s WorkOne has been providing those services. The regional director here said WorkOne anticipated they were going to have to create such a program here. Instead, they are thrilled to cooperate with Project Impact. Project Impact clients will have jobs to go to through WorkOne right after they complete their training. Project Impact wants to now leverage that partnership to get training certifications for their clients. In addition to partnering with small businesses, Project Impact has aggressively tried to create businesses at which the clients can work and that might generate income to support Project Impact. Mr. Summers found a small apparel manufacturer in Washington D.C. that was about to set up operations in Chicago. Mr. Summers convinced them to come and try setting up their operation right at Project Impact. They brought and set up five industrial sewing machines at Project Impact’s facility. Clients are now making sports uniforms for Chicago public schools. Plus, Project Impact has started to talk with local schools about producing for them. Youth Service Bureau has agreed to purchase 35 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 T-shirts for its upcoming dodge ball event the end of March. Mr. Summers believes they are being as creative as anyone could be trying to create opportunities for its clients. And after clients are placed, doing a great job for an existing employer, Project Impact is beating the bushes trying to find the next, better job for them. Ms. King asked how long his list was of the businesses in the AEDA he contacted. Mr. Summers responded that they contacted over one hundred with marketing materials, but were only able to talk face to face with about fifty. Mr. Summers added that he joined the Rotary Club last year hoping to get more opportunity to personally explain Project Impact’s mission. It didn’t work as well as he’d hoped. Mr. Downes noted that the Commission wouldn’t have appropriated the funds earlier in the meeting if it wasn’t in favor of Project Impact’s program. Everyone is counting on this being a success. That’s a lot of pressure on Mr. Summers and Mr. Blake. He asked if Mr. Summers was more or less optimistic for 2010 than he was at the start of the program. Mr. Summers responded that about three months ago his answer would have been that he was less optimistic. He was very frustrated and discouraged then because he couldn’t get in the door to talk to people. He had forty clients standing up to say if it weren’t for this program they’d be back in jail right now, and Mr. Summers couldn’t get any businessman to say that really mattered. After meeting with WorkOne and seeing how excited they were to partner with Project Impact, after Project Impact’s open house 36 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 and follow up meetings with business owners who wanted to collaborate, and after meeting with Ivy Tech and Notre Dame about partnering, he’s very enthusiastic and optimistic for 2010. Mr. Downes asked where Mr. Summers anticipates future funding might come from. Mr. Summers responded that he was designing programs for the Chicago Urban League before coming to assist with Project Impact. He came because the business plan for Project Impact looked at how we were going to create and develop businesses within the community. We expect the creation of jobs to start bringing income into the program. The professors at the Kellogg School of Management looked at the business plan and said it would work. He’s talked to minority businesses in Indianapolis about bringing their businesses to South Bend. He’s talked to Clarion Health Group in Indianapolis about how they could help fund some of what Project Impact does. Mr. Summers said he’s very confident they are on the right path to becoming self sufficient. Businesses that his clients start will be a major source of Project Impact’s income. He believes the partnerships they’ve created will make them more attractive for grants, but he doesn’t want to rely on grants. He wants to create businesses and jobs that generate income to support Project Impact. Mr. Alford asked whether Youthbuild is also under consideration for funding. He noted that Project Impact is the only one on the agenda. Ms. Jones responded that the Commission does need to decide that. Ms. Spivey asked for a summary of Project Impact’s outcome measures. Mr. Summers 37 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 responded that they measure their success by how many people participate in the program, how many complete the program, and how many clients get jobs and stay in those jobs. Project Impact’s goal for 2010 was to train 50 people; they trained 82. They were going to get 25 people placed into jobs; they got 49 placed. Unfortunately, out of the 100+ people who expressed interest in the program initially, 6 were re-incarcerated and 2 died. Ms. Spivey said she wanted to know the actual scope of services expected of Project Impact. She’d like a copy of Exhibit B to the Agreement for Services. Mr. Summers responded that they have classroom work where they go through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with a faith component Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit. And they teach the thirteen qualities employers said they want of their employees. There was a curriculum designed around those three things. Then, there is practical application. Various work is available to clients such as computer repair and servicing, construction, warehouse work, invoicing, etc. Then, they follow up with each client on a regular basis making sure they are following through on what they’ve learned. In the case of them getting a job, following up to make sure the employer is not having any issues with the employee. Ms. King said she was willing to vote for $350,000 to go to Project Impact. However, she is concerned about the way in which last years funds were used. Project Impact had $620,000. Half of that went to management and personnel. Of that half, only $50,000 went to street workers. The rest was a lot of overhead. She can only conclude that the 38 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 $350,000 for 2010 will be used for overhead. Personnel. None of it would be going to the clients. She requested the Commission put a limit on the portion of the $350,000 that could be used for personnel. She wants to see some of the Commission’s money go to the individuals it is trying to assist. She suggested that $155,000 be used for the individuals in the program. Mr. Varner said he, too, was surprised at the amount of money used for administration. The Commission is not going to be able to continue to provide funds at the level it has until now. As a small businessman, if his revenue goes down, administrative costs have to be reduced accordingly. He didn’t believe other non-profit agencies could have administrative costs that are that high a percentage of their budget. Mr. Varner agreed that the Commission does not have enough funds for Youthbuild as well as Project Impact. He was willing to second Ms. King’s motion if she intended it to be a motion. Mr. Blake took issue with the phrase “go toward the participants. If you go to Ivy Tech or to Indiana University, how does the money you pay Ivy Tech or other universities, how does that money go toward the participants? It goes to them in their being trained. So, every penny Project Impact gets is going to the participants.” Ms. King: I don’t argue with you on that. But, I respectfully disagree. I know you and James work in the program. You put every ounce of your energy into it. I understand that. However, if we give you these funds, it goes for no support, dollars, for individuals 39 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 in the program. Mr. Blake: I understand what you are saying. I don’t have a problem with that. But what I do have a problem with is this: you would evaluate us. You look at the glass and it’s half full or half empty. Pretty much what we’ve gotten is a half empty glass from you. You evaluate us from the part that’s missing rather than from the part that’s there: what we are doing. We’re doing it in the way that we know how to do it. Now, I understand. But, if you decide that you want to get a carpenter to work in your house, are you going to get one that’s the cheapest one you can find? Or are you going to get one that knows what they are doing? I’m trying to be as real as I can be. If that costs us not getting funded, that’s fine. But I’m going to be real. We have done this over and over again. We (the Commission) try to give certain organizations the least that we can give them. Dave, when you say, “You guys got to go find some money somewhere else.” Why don’t you help us find some? You’re not concerned about helping us find any money. You just want to make sure that we don’t use any more than what’s in the pot. I just heard you switch money from one pot to another pot to achieve whatever you want to do with Coveleski or something. You switch and you find money, you flip it around, but when it comes to us (Project Impact and other organizations like it), especially when we focus on the inner city, low income, no income, poverty. I know, I’ve been told, “Hardie don’t get up and say that kind of stuff.” Well I’m saying it, because I’m sick of it. I am sick of being treated second class. I’m sick of the way things are done. Ms. King: I don’t think that’s fair. 40 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Mr. Blake: I want to finish. I want to say it, because it’s true. When we talk about issues, there are some other issues that go beyond, that go below, that undercut the intentions because, again, the value of the people, and the relationships. See, you can take and put, I’m not saying, you could get the whole $350,000. But right now you’re saying $150,000 should go to them. But at the same time you’re saying next year, if we don’t have enough money, they get nothing. In other words, you’re not concerned about them two years from now. Right now you’re concerned about how much of the $350,000 would go directly to them. I’m concerned about it. I wouldn’t mind giving all of it to them. But I’m saying, what about two years from now? How much are you going to be concerned about what goes to them two years from now? What were you concerned about that went to them year before last? Nothing! You gave them nothing! But nobody was concerned about that. Nobody got up and advocated and fought for that. But I’m doing it now. That’s what I’m saying. There’s another side to this that we also need to see. I don’t like it when you just find fault. “Fiduciary responsibility.” When you talk to us you talk about fiduciary. I haven’t heard you talk about fiduciary responsibility for anything else in here. But you’re talking about it when you’re talking to us. I’m telling it like it is. I’m going to tell it like it is, because that’s the way it is. I’ve been quiet, and I try to be as patient and as quiet and as understanding and as caring and as compassionate as I can be. But I’m kind of tired of it, too. I’m tired of this game of playing by the rules when it’s in my favor. When it’s not, the 41 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 rules don’t matter much. Dave, I’ve sat here. When I was on the board. I’ve seen you fight for a cause when there was money for the police department, when you want the police department, you want the fire department, you want other people to get things, you tried your best to take and twist and get money out of this pool and that pool in order to meet your cause. But now, all you can see is, “You’re not going to have enough next year. We’re only going to have this amount of money.” You can put some more money into this pot if you wanted to. There could be. Ms. Jones: I don’t think we can… Mr. Blake: You say you can’t. All right. What does Timothy…read Timothy Rouse’s letter. Let’s see what he says. Ms. Jones: We have several things to read into the record. Mr. Alford added that he won’t be able to stay for the vote. He does side with Hardie. The Commission spends money on issues and we do not question. On this small item…$350,000 is small…we have scrutinized everything they have done. Ms. Carter: Can I just say something? Regardless of whether we get any money, our program will proceed because we are determined to help the youth do what they need to to get a foot up. So, I do want to thank you for the consideration, but our goal is we will proceed. Mr. Wallace: This may be out of place, but I’m sorry. I understand that the Commission doesn’t have money to fund certain things. 42 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 But what I’m curious about is, if you don’t have the money to support these things, how do you all of a sudden when a person commits a crime or something, how do you come up with money to incarcerate them? They didn’t have it to keep them from getting into trouble, but when they do something, they somehow come up with funds to support the jails and the present system. I just don’t understand how they get that money then. Ms. Jones responded that the Redevelopment Commission only has access to certain limited funds that we’re allowed to work with. We can’t answer that question. We can only deal with the funds that are under our control. Admittedly, most of what we appropriate goes to the Council for final approval. We appropriate TIF funds. In this case, a specific pot of money within a TIF fund called the Urban Enterprise Zone. Money comes into that fund from business taxes, and we are in charge of appropriating those funds. We don’t have access to any other tax funds out there. Mr. Downes noted that the Commission can’t spend these funds in any way it chooses. Mr. Wallace: Is St. Joseph County Community Corrections under… Ms. Jones: No. Mr. Varner: That’s a state function. Mr. Wallace: OK. Mr. Varner: Hardie, I appreciate your passion. My concern going forward is that there are great expectations, there’s enthusiasm, everybody appreciates what 43 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 you’ve done, but the money going forward isn’t there. We’ve got another young lady from that program…how do you divide up the pie? It’s a tough decision. You just happened to be first on the list when there was some pie available. And your organization got an enormous amount of money to fund a program which has enormous possibilities. Don’t think for a moment that there’s a question about the sincerity of the effort. But on the Council we get requests, I’ll use the example of the Hall of Fame. I don’t know how many millions of dollars we sent to that thing. And that was controversial. So, I hear your side of the story. I really do because I saw some of that as being totally unnecessary. What we have is a pool of money and you were wonderful beneficiaries of it the first half. But it is going to disappear. I don’t know if the legislature will change anything, or make any more available. Part of what you have to do …when we first talked about this a year and a half ago…boy you’ve got to find a way to make yourself self-funding because I just don’t see it happening long term. That’s my concern and my worry. Mr. Blake: We do have plans to fund ourselves. *****Ms. Spivey: I have a final question and comment. In consideration of all this dialog, I think, and my question when we were e-mail and sent questions and so forth, my question is, I guess, how do we as a Redevelopment Commission, and I look at the description of what we do, how can we properly evaluate what has gone on here, or the program effectively. That’s why I wondered how could we possibly and that is, and I hear your frustrations, and I feel your 44 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 frustrations, but I’m looking at the dollars and the questions that we have. How can we properly Mr. Downes: I think long term we can’t. That’s exactly the point. We’re not qualified to judge that program. Ms. King: Yes. And in the future we need to ask someone who does do this all the time, and give these funds to them to make sure that they go to good purposes. Mr. Inks noted that Mr. Rouse asked that his letter be read aloud at the meeting. There were sixteen other letters from participants in the Project Impact program. The gist of those was the same message we heard from the participants who are here this morning. Mr. Inks did not read those aloud, but they will be made a part of the minutes. The letter from Mr. Rouse: Members of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission I have a commitment that prohibits me from attending your March 5, 2010 meeting. Please allow this letter to be presented. I write on behalf of Project Impact. I am aware of the previous funding provided to Project Impact and I both thank and congratulate you for the foresight and commitment for the much needed support provided to this vital work in our community. I have been involved in the grass-roots issues Project Impact addresses for many years. A group I was part of 12-14 years ago met in this very room with Jon Hunt. We addressed how we could utilize the TANF program. 45 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Under the welfare reform legislation of 1996, (the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act – PWRORA – Public Law 104-193), TANF replaced the welfare programs known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the Emergency Assistance (EA) program. The law ended federal entitlement to assistance and instead created TANF as a block grant that provides states, territories and tribes federal funds each year. These funds cover benefits, administrative expenses, and services targeted to needy families. TANF became effective July 1, 1997, and was reauthorized in February 2006 under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. But the national poverty rate continues to increase and the issues we were addressing with Jon Hunt’s group are escalating in our city. There are many, many reasons why this is so. One of the major reasons is at the heart of Project Impact’s purpose and that is preparing people at risk (AKA men and women of scars) for sustainable employment. It is my understanding that upon the initial request to the South Bend Redevelopment Commission for funding, Project Impact requested 3 years of support. The Commission funded 1 year without any commitment to continue. I do very well understand your position, given the downtown in the economy as well as other existing factors. But the nature of my request this morning is based on a resolution that the South Bend Common Council will address on Monday, March 8, 2010. Resolution 12-10, A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON 46 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INCIANA, DESIGNATING THE CITY AS A RECOVERY ZONE (RZ). This designation will be solely based on the unemployment rate in our great city. The sector Project Impact serves has the greatest unemployment rate in the city of South Bend. The RZ designation will position South Bend and, I believe specifically our TIF districts to benefit from the RZ designation. I do believe that the South Bend Redevelopment Commission will see an increase in the revenue from this initiative. It seems ethically appropriate to prioritize unemployment issues based on the declaration. Don Inks can share the details of 12-10, but I believe the statement of purpose below points to allowing positive and proactive tax exempt bond activity to benefit all our citizens. (a) STATEMENT OF PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act include the following: (1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery. (2) To assist those most impacted by the recession. (3) To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health. (4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits. (5) To stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. 47 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 On January 15, 2010, a list of priorities for the South Bend Redevelopment Commission was published. Here are the allocations and potential projects identified for 2010: ? Airport Economic Development Area: $25.2 million, including $4.1 million in debt service – Potential projects include property acquisition, demolition and zoning for Ignition Park; acquisition, relocation and demolition in support of Ivy Tech Community College; design for U.S. 31/Adams Road interchange and Olive Road extension to Lincoln Way West. ? Central Business District: $5.2 million, including $2.1 million in debt service payments, assisting in new construction projects and adaptive reuse of the Hall of Fame facility. ? Central Medical District: $3.3 million – Parking garage façade improvements; sidewalk, curbs and tree-lawn ? Enhancement; widening of Bartlett Street. ? Douglas Road: $234,000 – reimbursements for previous road- widening project. ? Northeast Neighborhood: $60,000 – Continued planning/implementation. ? Southside – Erskine Village: $3.1 million – Acceleration of debt service payments on previous investments. ? Southside – Erskine Commons: $2.5 million – Acceleration of debt service payments on previous investments. ? Southside – Ireland Road: $1.2 million – Improvements to Erskine Plaza retention ponds. ? West Washington: $582,000 – Match for private contributions toward renovation of the Hansel Center. 48 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Whereas these are great projects, I do note that neither the $1.5 million committed to the Animal Shelter nor any of the $2.5 million that is to be allocated to the LaSalle Square redevelopment was listed, indicating to me that the list was incomplete and/or changes based on continuous change, activity and current dynamics. Having said that, I ask the Commission to fund the Project Impact program at the same rate as 2009 with a willingness to consider funding in 2010 based on performance, encourage businesses receiving the benefits of Recovery Zone Bonds to work with Project Impact and encourage the South Bend Community Economic Development staffers to aid in grant writing for Project Impact. Please note the city has used staffers before to aid non- profits, i.e., NRC as well as the South Bend Heritage Foundation, etc. In as much as CED staff works with the Commission, I don’t think such a request is a stretch or unreasonable. Such a collaborative proactive spirit addressing the funding issues confronting Project Impact will better enable the organization to be financially independent of the Commission in the future. Thanking you for your consideration. Sincerely, Timothy A. Rouse Common Council At-Large Mr. Inks noted that Mr. Rouse did not mention the Department of Community & Economic Development has offered to set aside part of a position to work with Project Impact, specifically to help with grant writing to help them achieve sustainability. The letters from Project Impact clients 49 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 follow: Keith Humes: What Project Impact means to me. Project Impact has been a large influence to me. It has given me structure in my life. I have been taught several new ideas I have a new outlook on life. When we learned the Deeds of the Flesh my eyes were opened to see my error in thinking. I have been given tools to help take time from quadrant 4 of my life and move ahead. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective people have help me to rethink things. Now I look at struggles in my life and evaluate them with those concepts. The faith I have gotten from this program has encouraged me to back to school and get a college degree. I can see were Project Impact is going to grow and be a large program, and a lot of people in the future will prosper. I am proud to be a part of project Impact from the beginning. I hope to grow as a person along with Project Impact as it grows. The community can prosper because of Project Impact. Pastor Blake has worked to hard to fail in his faith in the program. I believe that pastor Blake will succeed I his work. I have been given faith that I will succeed in my short term goals. My long term goals will happen one step at a time. Anthony Mason: Project Impact has helped me become a better man, Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother and Friend. It has helped my relationships with my Wife and entire family. Project Impact has also helped my relationship with God grow more closely and my faith much stronger than it has ever been before. Project Impact helped me love and learn to love in A world of so much hate, and I really appreciate Mr. & Mrs. Blake and their entire staff for taking their time to share 50 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 their undivided Love and attention to me and many others who just needed to be guided and have structure in their lives. Project Impact has also taught me 7 Habits of Success but also life, because in life you want to be successful. It has also taught me the fruits of the spirit and the deeds of the flesh and so I apply everything I’ve learned from Project Impact into my ever day lifestyle and I’ve became a better man and person in general. That’s what Project Impact has done for me. Richard Davis: I am writing this letter in regards to a very constructive as well as inspiring self help program that your office has helped to make possible. The graciousness of your support in this remarkable program has made me very proud and honored to be able to take part in Project Impact Job Readiness Training program. This program is headed by the remarkable Pastor Hardie Blake. The uniqueness of this program has enabled many of us to take a personal inventory of ourselves and of our lives to be transformed in a positive way step by step. I surmise that writing this letter is my way extending my gratitude for your good will and show of support for this direly needed transformational program. Mr. and Mrs. Hardie Blake and their dream team staff have formulated the most effective self help program ever imagined or dreamed of. Please continue showing your support for this unmistakable improvement to our society and we will in turn increase our commitment level as needed as well. Abundant thanks to you all! Ken Rayner: What Project Impact Has Done for Me.? 51 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 The job readiness class has thought me to take a deeper look at my attitude and behavior. The 7 habits have been very helpful to me not only with my attitude at work but also dealing with my fellow man. It has also taught me to recognize when I running on the deeds of the flesh and not the fruits of the spirit. The class has also helped me to work with others with in a positive and productive way. Pastor Blake has been very helpful in keeping me focused on doing the right things. He truly is helping me transform my old way of living. I am developing a new attitude. I now think before I react in to situations. I still make mistakes but not as many as in my past I believe this program could help many people. Moses Smith: To Whom It May Concern: I was an ex-felon without hope until I was accepted into the Project Impact program. Since entering the program I have learned the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and have begun to apply it to my life. Now I have a new out look on life. Before Project Impact because of my felony conviction I thought all was lost. But Project Impact has taught me to respect myself as well as others and to believe in my self again. I know now I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. I have put the past in the behind me and begin to move forward. Thanks to Project Impact I have Faith, confidence, and hope. My life has taken a turn for the better. Marvell Spears: I am in Project Impact program here in South Bend IN. The program has really changed my life and it really made a mindset change as well. I’m an ex-feline and the program has giving me hope that that I could still have a positive 52 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 life. Changing the way that you review life is good when you have a good teacher Pastor Hardie Blake. This program is very good for people that don’t which way to go in life. It has life skills training program that really gets in depth and to the source. The staff at Project Impact really makes life meaningful in being a better person in life. I have left down with life because my last job paid me $17.62 /hour and I got laid off. I haven’t work since June of 08’’. I was at dead in and then I heard about Project Impact Program. It has really opened my life again heart, mind and spirit about the goodness of life Indiana need more programs like Project Impact on Moss RD and Ardmore Trail. It made me to seek first to understand and then to be understood that in my program today this day I will give my life to the Lord on this day 5-14-09. Life is too short to let it pass you by. God loves us because he gave his only son to die for our sins. It is time for me to show myself a God that I love him as well. Please keep this program going on it will help lots of other people that need it as I did. I have never won anything but Project Impact help me to win the Best Employee of the Month award at my job the Century Center thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the program. First I would like to say good morning. My name is Wallace Williams I’m a student of Project Impact Job Readiness Program. I am writing you to you about this wonderful program. Project Impact is a program for people or at risk that have fallen through the cracks and are now trying to pick them self’s up but are finding it difficult because of their barriers in there way. With no hope they’ll find themselves back in the same position 53 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 they were in before. That’s were Project Impact Job Readiness Program come into play. They now have a program like no other that not only talk the talk but walk the walk. When I first came to Project Impact I was looking for a job but I received more than a job. I’m sure you the fish story give a man a fish he’ll eat for a day teach a man to fish he’ll eat for an life time. Well that’s exactly what Project Impact is doing training there students to become B.E.E.T.s (Best Employee Ever Trained). Had they given me a job when I first came through their doors I would just have been another employee and seeing that they are people at risk to complete a job. We have to become better and compete at a higher level than the next applicant. Project Impact has given us the tools were we can compete with others. Wallace Williams: My main reason for writing this is to make sure this needed program stay in our community and not l sweep it under the tabe because it would be detrimental to the hope of those that need it for a second chance in society to prove that they can be productive citizen as well as those with risk. But most importantly to make these people productive people in our community. I know just like any other (community) city, county, state, township act... That we are in an economic crisis of budget restraints of what projects to fund eliminate or reduce. Well I know we need grant money to build and fix up our community. But by building any thing in life you have to start with the foundation. Which the foundation is our people in the community none because without jobs and skills to get jobs and a chance to show they can be productive and do the jobs and a 54 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 chance to show that they can be productive and do the job. These people that were not investing in will remain in our community tears down the community we have invested in. Know too many times we invest money in projects and don’t know where it’s going or how it is spent and that is bad management. So I’m not just asking you to keep to keep investing and not seeing the fruits. I’m asking you to see our community dollars at work. See the progress in people you thought would never be worth investing in. I believe when you see our community with people building families, buying homes, crime rates going down and the money we were going to spend building our community coming naturally from productive citizen. The commissioner and the community will say money well spent. Know I’ve just told you about what Project Impact does and stand for. Know let me tell you what it’s done for me personally. It’ has transformed the way I feel and think. It’s changed my bad habits and behavior to good ones. It has stretched my thinking further than shallow thoughts I used to have. I’ve always had great ideals to be successful. But what I got from Project Impact was the motivation and desire that I was lacking. I know now how to set goals and give them a time table. I know now that if you don’t change things they will remain the same. And also to keep focused. There are two major components I have learned in Project Impact one being the 7 Habits of Highly Defective People. I won’t get into all of them but my favorite is sought first to understand them to be under stood probably because that one was a part of me already. But the other I was using the major one was the four Quadrants 1- Urgent and Important. 2 -Not urgent but important. 55 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 3- Urgent but not important. 4- Not urgent and not important. Know you may say that some of these things are common since and people should know. But a lot of these things are not taught you can go years without knowing how to put them into perspective. Well thank you for taking the time to let me tell you about the success of Project Impact and what it’s done for me. May God bless you to continue blessing this program (Project Impact?) Victor Seward: What I got out of Project Impact was another positive look on life and also spiritual when no one else would give me a chance Project Impact did. When no on else would listen to me Project Impact did. Had it not been for Project Impact I would have been in jail. Thank you, Pastor Blake and Project Impact Staff. Project Impact keep up the positive and spiritual work. Belinda Johnson: The day I found out about Project Impact my heart was filled with praise and hope, it was as if God had sent the answer to a much needed prayer. The newspaper article in which I read from about Project Impact stated; that there was help for issues people with in their lives just like me! Being an ex-gang member and ex-felon became an obstacle in my life. My life has been full of trials and tribulations, not only for myself, but for my family and loved ones as well. To make a long story short, I took the wrong path in life. Being a runaway at 12 years old, and having no supervision from an adult I made a lot of bad choices. Not having any money, I began to steal, lie, and cheat just to eat and have money. Then I began to use drugs to absorb the pains of life. This vicious cycle I kept up 56 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 for years, doing the same thing expecting different results. When I came to my senses, I had been convicted of the crimes I had committed during this cycle and was on my way to , where I spent time! prisonBeing released in 2000, I have changed my life. Leaving the past behind, I was determined to be the best that I could be. Landing a job and everything going well, I decided to try to move up the corporate ladder. This caused the company to run a background check; I had been working for 10 months with no problems, no tardiness or absences, but nothing mattered when the results from the background check came I was dismissed! back, This made me realize that my past was still a part of my live, and had placed barriers that I didn’t know how to penetrate until I got Project Impact. involved with I’ve learned a lot more about myself through Dr. Monroe’s “Beautiful Mind Classes” , I’ve also started Vincennes UniversityC & C, at studying and I’ve began to set goals in life for myself. Before Project Impact I felt limited in life, now my outlook is on life has changed and I accept life, on life’s terms. I no longer feel that I’m less than the next person, the insight and training I’ve received has better prepared B.E.E.T me to become a better person and a (Best Employee Ever Trained). Thank You Project Impact Ralph W. Landrum III: This is my Testimony on “How Project Impact has changed my Life.” First of all, I am an ex-felon, who has been out of prison since October 10, 2008. After being released, I had to readjust to all of the changes that took place while I was away. I had no idea what I was truly up against and 57 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 how hard things would really be for me. I heard about Project Impact via my Probation Officer. She had heard many good things about the program. She thought it would help me. So with that in mind, I called Project Impact/South Bend and set up an appointment. This, by the way, was my last hope at making it in life. Otherwise it was back to prison for me. After speaking with Pastor Blake and his wife Perl, as well as the other staff members, I decided that this was the program for me. Pastor Blake has not only taught me to re- educate myself on my job skills and working with others, but also taught me life skills, which included readjusting to changes of how I see myself, see others, work with others and how I fit into God’s overall plan. The program teaches self worth and motivates me to know that even with my background that I am a good person and that I have something to contribute to society and that I can make a difference. I learned a great deal in a short amount of time, from outside speakers and group activities. The program focuses on real world training, just like going to a real job. Accountability equal results. Focusing on personal appearance, job readiness, safety training, writing a resume, mock interviews, to practice what we have learned. Before the program I never heard about the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I was puzzled as to how this would affect me. Now I don’t know how I lived without them. They have given me an insight that helps me in my everyday living. By sticking with this program I have learned 58 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 the true meaning of life. By having values and having faith, there is no obstacle that I cannot overcome. I am part of a team and a family. Myself and others learn to draw on each others insights, life experience, and knowledge that we have gained from the program. Since the job training has ended, well, for me the program has never ended. I use what I have learned each and every day; I know that if I have a problem or question I can always turn to the people and the staff at Project Impact. We keep in touch. I always know that there is an answer to my questions. I commend Pastor Blake and the great people at Project Impact that he has surrounded himself with. They are truly a step above and take the time to go the extra mile to do whatever is necessary to make its members shine and to make the program work. I plan on being an ongoing participant, even though my classes have come to an end, I plan on doing what I can to help the Pastor and staff, keep the project going. I will give of myself and help out wherever needed because this is a program that I truly believe in. I know in my heart that this program will continue now and in the future. With faith and hard work we have been shown that anything is possible. I salute you and thank you. Gene Massie: I came to Project Impact with a bad feeling in my soul. I didn't care about my self much else others. For the last 10 weeks I listened and learned a lot. It takes a good man like Pastor Blake and Mrs. Perl to show love and caring to others and not ask 59 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 for anything in return. Every morning Shane reads from the bible. I feel like he is talking right at me. The message he reads hits home on me everyday. This program has changed me and every other person here. I hope and pray that others will have a chance in their life. This program has opened my hearts and my eyes to the love of God and all his people. I look at how fare Shane and Terrance have come with their life with Gods leading the way. Yasmeen Is a young women with a good soul. She has a kind word every day when I come in. But don't get on her bad side. Though love is hard to take. All the staff for Project Impact has their hearts in the right place. Thank you for your time. Clyde McCoy Jr : I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, I've blown a lot of chances, burned a lot of bridges. I thank God for Project Impact; they have given me a new outlook on my life. I now know why I think like I do, somehow knowing why, you do the things you do. Project Impact gives options and with that I can make better decisions. Thank you for your support! Dean Peters: Project Impact has helped me think about my future and about my habits and thinking. Project Impact has showed me how to make better decisions in life and giving me a different route to take other than violence. Project Impact has given me tools to for the work environment and dealing with different people in stressful situation. Project Impact has given me the strength to know that I can be a B.E.E.T and maintain employment because I'm the best Employee ever trained 60 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 thanks to Project Impact. So please help us continue to utilize Project Impact it change LIVES. Tony Harper: I'm 40 years old I am a father of 4 and trying really hard to turn my best friend into my life as my wife. One day Mr. Blake spoke about hopelessness and hoe us at times we allow it to consume us. Well that's how I felt before the program I was homeless trying to do what ever I could do from day to day to live. I knew I didn't want to go back to prison but my options were low on how I would feed my girls (Tanya, Nisha, Gabby and Kayla) my confidence was very low, my personal life was in shambles. But to my surprise the more I started to go threw the program my eyes started to open my self worth started to climb I stated to understand what I needed to do get rid of my anger to be a better man a better father, better person. I'm being program to be a B.E.E.T (best employee ever trained). Being a beet I place God first, teaches us 7 habits that when applied success is yours. Now I'm ready not just for a career I'm ready thanks to the Blokes and the staff at Project Impact has me ready for life. We are family some members may be dysfunctional but the sum of the hole is so much greater than its parts, I love my family, I love Project Impact thank you all P.S Love You Mr. & Mrs. Blake Jane: Project Impact "What a Blessing" Project Impact has had a very positive effect on my life; it has given me a vision and has helped me to start to fulfill my dreams. At one time in my life I was very discouraged due to my negative background, I knew that the odds were against me in society. Never losing faith I entered into the Job Readiness , Training program at Project Impact. 61 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Going through the Job Readiness Training program and learning the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and applying them to my lifeI had a paradigm shift. This , allowed me to see the world from a different view my hope has increased and I’m very , inspired about my future. My spiritual inspiration has heightened, I’m encouraged knowing that I have become a B.E.E.T (the best employee ever trained) and have learned lots of skills I didn’t have before. Project Impact is a phenomenal program that should be offered all around the United States because it is much needed for many people especially those re-entering society, it a great guide to success. Thanks Project Impact you/re great and highly recommended to all who are challenged and are trying to overcome! CA Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED THE GREEMENT FOR SPI$350,000 ERVICES WITH ROJECT MPACT AT Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE Commission approved the Agreement for CONTRACT WILL BE AMENDED TO ENSURE THAT Services with Project Impact at $350,000 $150,000 OF THAT WILL BE FOR DIRECT SUPPORT with the understanding that the contract will PI OF THE INDIVIDUALS THE ROJECT MPACT IS be amended to ensure that $150,000 of that SERVING will be for direct support of the individuals the Project Impact is serving. (4) Application to Indiana Brownfields Program for a Comfort Letter for property being acquired at 604 S. Scott Street (former Millenium Environmental property) Mr. Schalliol noted that on or about March 8 the South Bend Redevelopment Commission will be acquiring title to the former Millennium Environmental property at 604 S. Scott Street. This is a property that went through previous tax sales and was not redeemed. The St. Joseph County 62 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Commissioners now have a tax certificate on the property and will be deeding the property to the South Bend Redevelopment Commission either next week or shortly thereafter. The property has had a number of environmental problems on it and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has conducted much of the required cleanup. Their work is ongoing and they have assured us that they want to continue with the cleanup to its conclusion. We have been working with our environmental legal counsel, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun, to make sure that the Commission is protected from environmental liability on this property. Following their recommendations we have a Phase I Environmental Assessment that will th be completed before March 8 and are expecting a letter from IDEM and/or U.S. th EPA by the 8 as well. A final recommendation from legal counsel is that we seek a “Comfort Letter” from the Indiana Brownfields Program for this property. The draft application for this letter is attached to this memo. We will be discussing this application with the Indiana Brownfields Program this week so a Comfort Letter can be issued prior to the date of deed transfer. Once the Commission acquires title to the property we will begin work on preparation of demolition specs for the two buildings that are on the property. IDEM will coordinate their remaining remediation with our demolition of the buildings. They have told us that the only remaining remediation is to excavate soil that is under the south building. Our demolition of this building will enable them to get to the problem area and take care of this last item. 63 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 CA Upon a motion by Ms. King, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED PPLICATION TO IBP NDIANA ROWNFIELDS ROGRAM FOR A Mr. Downes and unanimously carried, the CL OMFORT ETTER FOR PROPERTY BEING Commission approved Application to Indiana 604S.SS( ACQUIRED AT COTT TREET FORMER Brownfields Program for a Comfort Letter ME) ILLENIUM NVIRONMENTAL PROPERTY for property being acquired at 604 S. Scott Street (former Millenium Environmental property) E. West Washington-Chapin Development Area There was no business in the West Washington- Chapin Development Area. F. South Side Development Area (1) Staff report on acquisition of property in the South Side Development Area. Mr. Schalliol noted that on January 15, 2010, the Commission was presented with a project overview of the Erskine Plaza Pond Project proposed to occur in the southwestern quadrant of the intersection of Ireland and Miami. As part of the project presentation, the Commission was presented with information about the proposal to relocate the existing Miami Street pond to a new location along the south side of Hawbaker Street. To accomplish this action, three properties along Hawbaker would need to be acquired to facilitate this plan. On February 5, 2010, the Commission approved Resolution No. 2647 and an Addendum to the Master Agency Agreement to authorize the South Bend Board of Public Works to procure professional design services from Christopher B. Burke Engineering to design and create construction documentation related to the Erskine Plaza Pond Project. 64 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Hawbaker Parcels There are three parcels on Hawbaker Street that will require acquisition to facilitate the construction of the new pond. The properties are located at 722,736, and 748 Hawbaker Street. The property at 748 is vacant due to fire damage, and the properties at 722 and 736 are both presently occupied. There are two parcels that make up the existing two-pond system and both properties are owned by the City of South Bend. There is a third property, owned by a private party, that serves as the north/south driveway connector located at the western end of the interior pond. Declaratory Resolution No. 2658 Attached to this memorandum is Declaratory Resolution No. 2658 which would amend the South Side Development Area Development Plan and the associated acquisition list by proposing to add six properties to the acquisition list. The properties to be added ti the list include the three properties on Hawbaker Street, the two City owned properties currently used as a pond, and the property presently being used as the drive lane. A detailed list of the property information is attached as Exhibit A to the resolution. Staff requests your acceptance of this report and approval of the attached Declaratory Resolution No. 2658 to begin the process to amend the South Side Development Area Development Plan and add six properties to the acquisition list. Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by C OMMISSION ACCEPTED THE STAFF REPORT ON SS ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY IN THE OUTH IDE Ms. King and unanimously carried, the DA EVELOPMENT REA AND AUTHORIZED STAFF 65 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Commission accepted the staff report on TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO ADD THE PROPERTIES AL TO THE CQUISITION IST acquisition of property in the South Side Development Area and authorized staff to begin the process to add the properties to the Acquisition List. (2) Resolution No. 2658 amending the South Side Development Area Development Plan and adding one or more parcels to the List of Properties to be Acquired. CRN.2658 Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED ESOLUTION O SSD AMENDING THE OUTH IDE EVELOPMENT Ms. King and unanimously carried, the ADP REA EVELOPMENT LAN AND ADDING ONE OR Commission approved Resolution No. 2658 LP MORE PARCELS TO THE IST OF ROPERTIES TO amending the South Side Development Area A BE CQUIRED Development Plan and adding one or more parcels to the List of Properties to be Acquired G. Northeast Neighborhood Development Area (1) Assignment of Interest from the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization to the City of South Bend. Mr. Schalliol noted that the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization has negotiated an agreement with the South Bend Public Housing Authority for the purchase of six properties, eight units, in the Triangle Area. All of the properties are vacant. The NNRO was able to negotiate a price of $45,000 per unit for a total of $360,000. We will move forward with acquisition and demolition. There are still eight properties to be acquired. Mr. Downes asked how we are doing budget- wise. Mr. Schalliol responded that there are eight properties yet to be acquired. Three of those are owned by a private owner who is going to end up with new lots in the 66 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 development. We have purchased all the property we intend to purcdhae as we are out of money. The properties were a lot more expensive than we anticipated. We are well over budget. Mr. Downes asked for an accounting of what was spent. Mr. Schalliol will provide that. Mr. Inks noted that South Bend Heritage Foundation, on behalf of the NNRO, was able to get additional federal funds to help offset some of those increased costs. CA Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED THE SSIGNMENT OF IN NTEREST FROM THE ORTHEAST Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the NR EIGHBORHOOD EVITALIZATION Commission approved the Assignment of OCSB RGANIZATION TO THE ITY OF OUTH END Interest from the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization to the City of South Bend. H. Douglas Road Economic Development Area There was no business in the Douglas Road Economic Development Area. I. Ratification of Services Contracts 67 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 Commission Role in Contract Staff Transaction Contractor Service Provided Amount Member 122 S. Niles Acquisition Ralph Lauver Appraisal $950 Schalliol 122 S. Niles Acquisition Jerome Michaels Appraisal $1,275 Schalliol 736/748 Hawbaker Acquisition Witt Appraisals Appraisal $700 Schalliol 736/748 Hawbaker Acquisition Michaels Appraisal $700 Schalliol Appraisals V/L Maplewood Acquisition Witt Appraisals Appraisal $300 Schalliol (Lot 36) V/L Maplewood Acquisition Michaels $300 Schalliol (Lot 36) Appraisals 2026 S. Main St Acquisition Wightman Petrie Phase I Site $1800 Schalliol (EMI) Assessment Niles Ave Acquisition Phifer Phase I Site $1500 Schalliol Washington St. to Environmental Assessment Jefferson Blvd Northeast corner Acquisition Danch Harner Survey $2975 Schalliol Niles/Jefferson 1028 Eddy, 1046 Acquisition Meridian Title Title Work Schalliol Georgiana, 1126/28 NNDA/Triangle $450 Burns, 1125/27 Duey, 1102 Burns, 1104 Eddy 122 S. Niles, 209 E. SBCDA $1050 Colfax, vacant lot 18-5003-0058 Vacant lot #36 AEDA $650 Maplewood, Vacant lot 24 & 25 S Main St, 2020 S. Main Street, Vacant Lots 29 & 30 S. Main St, 531 W. Indiana, 531 S. Chapin, and vacant lot at Chapin & Western 68 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 CS Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION APPROVED THE ERVICES C ONTRACTS APPROVED BY STAFF SINCE Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the F19,2010 EBRUARY Commission ratified the Services Contracts approved by staff since February 19, 2010. J. Ratification of Temporary Use Agreements Use/Agency Lot Event Dates of Use Public Education 121 S. St. Joseph, Towne Truck Pull 8:00am September 18 to Foundation, Inc. of South Surface Parking Lot 5:00 pm September 18, Bend Community School 2010 Corporation CTU Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by OMMISSION RATIFIED THE EMPORARY SE A GREEMENT APPROVED BY STAFF SINCE Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the F 19,2010. EBRUARY Commission ratified the Temporary Use Agreement approved by staff since February 19, 2010. 7. PROGRESS REPORTS Mr. Schalliol asked for permission to advertise to set public hearings for the Development Plan amendments for the Airport Economic Development Area, the South Bend Central Development Area and the Southside Development Area within 30 days of Council approval of its resolutions. In order to speed the process, the Notices of Hearing would be submitted to the South Bend Tribune and Tri-County News before the Commission’s confirming resolution is passed. C Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by Ms. King OMMISSION AUTHORIZED SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN and unanimously carried, the Commission authorized AE AMENDMENTS FOR THE IRPORT CONOMIC setting a public hearing on the development plan DA,SB EVELOPMENT REA THE OUTH END amendments for the Airport Economic Development CDA ENTRAL EVELOPMENT REA AND THE Area, the South Bend Central Development Area and SDA30 OUTHSIDE EVELOPMENT REA WITHIN C the Southside Development Area within 30 days of DAYS OF OUNCIL APPROVAL OF ITS RESOLUTIONS Council approval of its resolutions. 69 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting –March 5, 2010 8. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING NCM The next meeting of the Redevelopment Commission is EXT OMMISSION EETING scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT A There being no further business to come before the DJOURNMENT Redevelopment Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 12:10 a.m. Donald E. Inks, Director 70