HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-19-06 Community & Economic DevelopmentCOMMUNITYAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
2006 Comman Council
The June 19, 2006 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee
was called to order by its Chairperson, Councilmember Roland Kelly, at 3:30 p.m. in tlae
Council Informal Meeting Room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Kelly, Puzzello, Pfeifer, Kirsits, and
Professor Martin Wolfson, Citizen Member on the Community and Economic
Development Committee, Chip Lewis, Christina Garcia, Robin Slutsky, Julie Pavnicka,
Shannan Essig, Ted Foti, Rich Hill, Natakit Burapratee, Stephen Hayes, Dean Bergeman,
Greg Downes, Matt Kahn, Roger Depoy, Mary McLain, Don Inks, John Stratigos.
Roland Kelly called the committee meeting to order promptly at 3:30 introducing Chip
Lewis who is the chair of the board of directors of (DTSB} Downtown South Bend. Mr.
Lewis asked the Council to support the ordinance creating the BID or Business
Improvement District in downtown South Bend. He outlined the background work
DTSB had completed over the past 4 years since their re-organization in 2002. He
defined the BID as apublic-private partnership that would create a new revenue stream
by assessing properties within the BID to fund a budget proposed at $500,000 a year.
The BID fund would be used to provide supplemental services to BID properties above
and beyond baseline city services already provided. This approach would allow eight
identified advantages to the BID. 1.} Cleaner area 2.) Safer Area 3.) Innovative
management of area 4.} Increase sales in and occupancy of the BID 5.} Create a distinct
BID identity 6.) Speed responsiveness to market forces 7.) Make the BID area more
livable and S.) Increase the BID competitiveness vis-a-vis other commercial areas.
He stressed that DTSB was ready to move forward and then introduced Laura Guy the
Executive Director of DTSB who by power point presentation explained the nature of
Business Improvement Districts. Laura's power point supplemented printed materials
that are a part of these minutes. She explained BIDs were by virtue of state statute both
self imposed and self-governed. Their advantages include creating a new revenue stream
that would provide enhanced services to include 1.} Capital improvement-signage,
lighting 2.) Economic development recruitment of new business 3.) Marketing --- create
identity 4.) Hospitality & safety ambassadors 5.) Beautification flags, banners, flowers.
Laura further explained that two criteria needed to be met to form a BID which would
have to be renewed in S years. First 51 % of the owners of parcels in the BID and owners
totaling 66 2/3% of the assessed value of parcels in the BID would have to approve its
formation churches and single-family owner occupied parcels would be exempt. A BID
Board of Directors would propose an annual budget to the council for approval during the
Council's normal budget process.
Rich Hill, Attorney for the DTSB BID formation process outlined the workings of the
revenue side of the BID as directed by state statute. He noted that the BID assessment
would be identified on and be a part of the property tax bills of BID properties. Failure to
pay the BID assessment by an owner, would result in a lien being placed on the property;
but would not be part of a tax foreclosure process as would failure to pay normal property
taxes.
Following Rich Hill's presentation and several questions by Councilrnembers, Kay
Walsh for DTSB introduced downtown stakeholders who spoke in favor of the BID
creation. These included John Stratigos, an owner of Barnaby's; Ted Foti -Vice
President of Memorial Hospital; Mark Tanner- South Bend Chocolate; Mirian Makielski,
owner, Bombay International; Roger Depoy, Holladay Corp.; Mary McClain, Director,
Transpo. Chip Lewis then summarized the presentation adding that public/private
partnerships made things happen.
Mayor Luecke offered the city's support.
Councilmember Kelly adjourned the meeting at 5:03 p.zn.
Respectfully submitted,
Rolarid Kelly, Chairperson
Community and Economic Development
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