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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-02-08 Redevelopment Commission MinutesSOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING January 2, 2008 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 Mr. Karl King, Vice President Mr. Greg Downes, Secretary Mr. Hardie Blake, Jr. Mr. Ken Peczkowski Legal Counsel: Mr. Charles S. Leone, Esq. Redevelopment Staf£ Mr. Don Inks, Director Mrs. Cheryl Phipps, Recording Secretary Mr. Bill Schalliol, Economic Development Specialist Ms. Jennifer Laurent, Economic Development Specialist Mr. Nicholas Witwer, Economic Development Specialist Others Present: Ms. Rita Kopala Ms. GlendaRae Hernandez 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Friday, December 21, 2007. Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by Mr. Peczkowski and unanimously carried, the Commission approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Friday, December 21, 2007. 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS COMMISSION APPROVED THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2007 Redevelopment Commission Claims submitted January 2, 2008 for approval. Fund 420 SBCDA TIF Meridian Title $164,686.78 Fund 324 AEDA TIF Meridian Title $282,736.01 Total $447,422.79 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS (CONT.) Upon a motion by Mr. Downes, seconded by Mr. King COMMISSION arrxovED TxE CLAIMS and unanimously carried, the Commission approved the suxMiTTED JaNUaxY 2, 2008, aND oxDExED Claims submitted January 2, 2008, and ordered checks TxE cxECxs To xE xELEasED to be released. 4. COMMUNICATIONS There were no Communications. THERE wExE No COMMUNICATIONS 5. OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business. THERE was No OLD BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Public Hearing (1) Public Hearing on Resolution No. 2414 amending the Northeast Neighborhood Development Area Development Plan. Mr. Inks noted that the public hearing scheduled on Resolution No. 2414 is not needed. The purpose of Resolution No. 2414 was to add to the Northeast Neighborhood Development Area acquisition list three properties which were needed for right of way for the extension of Napoleon St. to S.R. 23. Staff has decided it is more efficient to have the Board of Public Works acquire the right of way. As a courtesy, he asked if anyone was present to speak regarding Resolution No. 2414. There was no one who wished to speak. Upon a motion by Mr. King, seconded by RESOLUTION No. 2414 was wiTxDxawN. Mr. Downes and unanimously carried, Resolution No. 2414 was withdrawn. 2 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) (2) Commission approval requested for Resolution No. 2414. Resolution No. 2414 was withdrawn. B. South Bend Central Development Area (1) Commission ratification requested for Certificate of Completion in the South Bend Central Development Area. (623 S. St. Joseph St.) Ms. Laurent noted that this is a housekeeping item. In 2000 we required some minor landscaping of River of Life Church on property it owned at 623 S. St. Joseph. Although the work was completed, a Certificate of Completion was never issued. As the property was about to be conveyed to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, this encumbrance appeared on the title. Mr. Downes signed the Certificate of Completion so the closing could take place. We'd like the Commission to ratify that action. Upon a motion by Mr. King, seconded by Mr. Downes and unanimously carried, the Commission ratified the Certificate of Completion in the South Bend Central Development Area. (623 S. St. Joseph St.) C. Airport Economic Development Area There was no business in the Airport Economic Development Area. D. West Washington-Chapin Development Area RESOLUTION NO. 2414 WAS WITHDRAWN. COMMISSION RATIFIED THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IN THE SOUTH BEND CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT AREA. (623 S. ST. JOSEPH ST.) There was no business in the West Washington-Chapin Development Area. South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) E. South Side Development Area There was no business in the South Side Development Area. F. Northeast Neighborhood Development Area There was no business in the Northeast Neighborhood Development Area. G. Douglas Road Economic Development Area There was no business in the Douglas Road Economic Development Area. H. Other (1) Commission approval requested for Resolution No. 2428 setting procedures for filing and consideration of matters for the Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Leone noted that Resolution No. 2428 establishes procedures for the Commission to do business. It follows a pattern other boards and commissions use giving staff and commissioners more time to consider the matters that come before the Commission. It sets 5:00 p.m., Tuesday before the Commission meeting as the deadline for substantive items to be provided to Commissioners and 5:00 p.m. the business day before a Commission meeting for any additional routine items added to the agenda to be provided to Commissioners. Mr. Downes asked what the procedure would be if something more significant and urgent came up that Commissioners wanted to add to the agenda late. Mr. Leone responded that 4 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) H. Other (1) continued... the Commission is able to waive its own procedures. A procedure to allow for that could be added to this resolution, or be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The Commissioners expressed the desire to not make it too easy to add a significant item at the last minute. There was discussion about whether to require a super majority vote, a simple majority, or a unanimous vote to add an item. Ms. Jones noted that in addition to serving the Commission better, the deadline for agenda items also gives staff a tool to use when requesting documents by a deadline. The request will have "more teeth." In addition to this procedural resolution, Mr. King asked counsel to research the question of whether and how certain items that are now being brought to the Commission for a vote, such as approval of professional services contracts and use of Commission owned property, could be contracted directly by staff. Those things are being made subject to a vote of the Commission which in an ordinary business environment would be within the purview of the staff person's authority. Mr. Leone agreed to check on whether those powers of the Commission maybe delegated to staff. He suggested another way to reduce this type of business on the agenda might be to approve blanket contracts at the beginning South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) H. Other (1) continued... of the year. He will get back to the Commission next meeting with some information and a recommendation. Mr. Peczkowski said he would like specific thresholds at which the Commission would want those decisions to be brought before it. He expressed concern that without the Commission's oversight, staff could take unauthorized liberties, up to and including embezzlement. Mr. Inks noted that even if the Commission were to give such authority to staff, that would not waive any of the city's internal checks and balances related to processing claims and issuing checks. Mr. Peczkowski also wanted to make sure that contracts are always considered competitively. Mr. Downes made a motion to amend Resolution No. 2428 by adding an item e. under paragraph number 3. to cover appraisal services after the pattern of items a. through d. and by adding to paragraph number 4. the words "unless the above provisions are waived by a majority vote of the Commissioners." Mr. King seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of four to one with Mr. Peczkowski opposed. Mr. Downes made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2428, as amended, setting procedures for filing and consideration of matters for the Redevelopment Commission. Mr. King seconded the motion. The motion COMMISSION AMENDED RESOLUTION NO. 2428 COMMISSION APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 2428 , AS AMENDED, SETTING PROCEDURES FOR FILING AND CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 6 South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting -January 2, 2008 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) H. Other (1) continued... carried on a vote of four to one with Mr. Peczkowski opposed. 7. PROGRESS REPORTS Mr. Inks noted that staff received notice on December 22 that the Department of Local Government Finance has signed off on the Lease between the Redevelopment Authority and Redevelopment Commission for the Eddy Street Commons project. We are set to proceed January 18 with the pledge resolution, pledging the TIF from that area for the lease payments on the bond. Mr. King asked when the objection period expires. Mr. Inks responded February 12, 2008. 8. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING The next meeting of the Redevelopment Commission is scheduled for Friday, January 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Redevelopment Commission, Mr. King made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Downes seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 a.m. _ ~~~~ D~~~:~~..inl~; L~ire~.tor. PROGRESS REPORTS NEXT COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNMENT ~+Iar~~a I. James, Frei 7