HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-08 Community and Economic Development CommitteeCOMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
2008 SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL
The March 10, 2008 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee
of the South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Member Ann Puzzello at
4:05 p.m. in the Council's informal meeting room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Karen L. White, David Varner, Oliver
Davis, Timothy Rouse, Al "Buddy" Kirsits and Henry Davis, Jr.; Mrs. Kopola, Martha
Lewis, Tom Price, Gary Gilot Mark Eagan, Phil Damico, Catherine Fanello, Mark Smith,
Jamie Loo, Don Brubaker, Catherine Andres, Mayor Stephen Luecke, Kathleen
Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney, John Voorde, City Clerk, Janice Talboom, Deputy
City Clerk.
Committee Members present, Ann Puzzello, Member, Karen L. White, Member, Henry
Davis Jr., Vice-President.
Mayor Stephen Luecke introduced Phil Damico who then made a presentation on the
Chamber of Commerce's Business Growth Initiative. He reported that the Chamber
had made contact with 114 businesses from 1/1/07 to 12/31/07. With initial visits,
revisits and multiple visits to one business all total were 392 visits. There were a total of
17,871 employees represented by the businesses.
The top 25 businesses (see handout attached) project a mild 2% growth in employment
increase over the next 12 months. 55% are projecting an increase in the employee count,
9% project a decrease, while 37% are expecting no movement over the next 12-18
months. The largest sectors projecting an increase are Health Care, Manufacturing,
Transportation/Logistics and Information Technology. 72% of the businesses visited
have there headquarters located in South Bend. Mr. Damico explained how they would
like to eventually visit businesses' headquarters that are located out of the area. He said
this could help the Chamber see what problems or issues these companies might have
with the South Bend location. Hopefully this could prevent some moving out of our area.
He then told the Council if they had specific businesses in their districts that they would
like the Chamber to visit to please call him and let him know. Council Member Oliver
Davis asked if they visited by themselves or with the Council Member and Mr. Damico
replied that either way would be acceptable. He said they try to resolve and respond to
problems or questions within in a 72 hour period.
Council Member Henry Davis brought up the fact of Clark Food Service closing and Mr.
Damico said that Stanz Food had picked up some of those employees. He said that was
one of the examples of the headquarters being out of the South Bend area. Council
Member Timothy Rouse brought up the issue of downtown parking availability and the
idea of parking meters. Mayor Luecke responded that they are always trying to make
affordable and available parking for the downtown area.
He said the parking meters were taken out originally at the request of the downtown
businesses and that they might revisit the idea of parking meters.
Mr. Dimaco said the Business Growth Initiative will be an ongoing project and that they
would be filing quarterly reports with the Council. It was suggested that the reports be
filed with the City Clerk's office. That concluded Mr. Dimaco's report.
Under miscellaneous business Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand brought the Council up to
date on the CF1's that are allegedly not in compliance. She suggested that any
recommendations on the responses from the 9 businesses on their non-compliance be e-
mailed to Derek Dieter, Chairperson of the Community and Economic Development
Committee. Three of the businesses will be sent new letters asking for more information.
Ann Puzzello adjourned the meeting at 4:31 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
7/1~
Council Membe Puzzello, Member
Community & Economic Development Committee