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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-09-05 Informal Meeting State Senators & State Representatives Informal Meeting With State Senators&State Representatives 2005 South Bend Common Council The Saturday, April 9, 2005, Informal Breakfast Meeting with State Senators and State Representatives was called to order by Council.President Charlotte D. Pfeifer at 8:40 a.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Pfeifer, Dieter, Kelly, Puzzello, Varner, Kuspa, Kirsits, Rouse and White; Mayor Stephen J. Luecke, State Senator John Broden, Commissioner Cindy Bodle, Commissioner Steve Ross, County Council. President Rafael Morton, County Council Member W. Randall Przbysz, Citizen Member Martha Lewis, Rita Kopola, Executive Director of the Department of Economic Development Sharon Kendall, Jeff Parrot of the South Bend Tribune and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand,Council Attorney. Council President Pfeifer welcomed everyone to the meeting and had all individuals present introduce themselves. She then called upon Mayor Luecke to provide an IACT update. Mayor Luecke noted that 1113 1120 addresses the tax levy. The Governor would like the amount capped which is paid by the state (currently 20%). An Income Tax Council is being proposed. He provided a written summary. The Mayor expressed concern over giving more power to Local Government Finance and with their ability to get their work done in a timely fashion. TACT opposes this bill. He believes it warrants a Summer Study Committee or an implementation date of for the 2007 budget. Mayor Luecke state that there is a bill proposed which would take gaming monies for the state. Currently $78 million are raised annual in gaming revenues. Communities are relying on that money and this bill is being opposed. Mayor Luecke state that HB 1063 would restrict eminent domain by changing the definition of blighted. TACT opposes this bill. South Bend uses eminent domain as a last resort. It passed in the Senate 26-22 and was sent to a conference committee. SB 524 now has an amended added by Representative Ryan Dvorak which would restrict annexation such as the Portage Prairie annexation/rezoning. It would give residents who live outside of the annexation area of up to 1/2 mile to petition the township and if there are 65% petitioning they can then challenge such annexations thru the court system. The Mayor stated that he opposes Representative Dvorak's amendment. Representative Warlorski has added an amendment to a different bill to allow Nappanee to annex land near their airport. In response to a question from Dr. Varner, the Mayor noted that Senator Broden introduced SB 524 which would allow any bidder to bid on sub-standard properties so that they could be made before the deed is transferred. A banned bidder list would also be created. In response to a question from Council Member Puzzello, Senator Broden noted that the Senate is stricter than the House with regard to having bills amended. In the Senate such amendments April 9,2005 Informal Meeting With State Senators and State Representatives -page 1- must be germane to the main subject matter addressed in the bill. Such a determination is made exclusively by the Senator Pro Tempore. Senator Broden noted that HB 1718 would provide tax advantages for properties. The Mayor sees this as good news. The bill has had alot of work in the conference committee. HB 1182 addressing TIF and tax abatement may move forward. SB 620 dealing with CSO's and wet weather conditions may move forward. Gary Gilot stated that he hopes to work with the EPA in light of this bill. Dr. Varner noted that Chicago has been allowed to dump certain storm sewage water into the lake,noting that it was reported in yesterday's Chicago Tribune. Senator Broden noted that HB 1120 deals with the Urban Enterprise Association and it would cap property tax replacement credit. He believes it will go to a conference committee. Senator Broden noted that HB 1063 deals with eminent domain. He does not believe that the Senate would pass it. He added that the US Supreme Court is right on point with regard to a Connecticut case where a city took private property for a shopping district. A decision will be handed down this summer. In question response to uestion from Council President Pfeifer, Senator Broden noted that 3 of 7 p sub-sections in the definition are proposed to be deleted, with lack of development being one of them. Obsolesce is still in the bill. If such a bill would be passed, projects like the AM General Plant would never have happened. In response to a question from Dr. Varner, Senator Broden does not believe a definition change is being proposed for tax abatement state laws. He believes that the bill will go to a Summer study session. Gary Gilot noted that the State of Indiana had extra right-of-way by Scottsdale Mall which was necessary in order for the Kohl development to take place. This extra right-of-way was transferred to the developer. If the bill as proposed would pass,it would stop transfers like this. SB 549 is a self-insurance bill for the city. It would address amusement rides like the train at the zoo. A vote will take place on Monday. Mayor Luecke stated that he supports SB 549 especially since insurance for the train is costing $5,000 per month. SB 524 is fluid with a vote required by midnight on Monday.. In response to an inquiry from Council President Pfeifer, Senator Broden stated he would check on the adult education bill. Council Member Kelly asked for an update on the daylight savings bill. April 9,2005 Informal Meeting With State Senators and State Representatives -page 2- Senator Broden stated that a vote is schedule for Monday and then it would go to a conference committee. The amendment to opt out passed 52-45, and a petition to the Department of Transportation would be necessary to go into the central time zone. We are currently in the Eastern Time Zone and Chicago is in the Central Time Zone. In response to a question from Council Member Kuspa, Senator Broden did not see any bills which would permit convenience stores to sell cold liquor products, noting that they currently may sell warm liquor projects. In response to an inquiry from Council President Pfeifer, Senator Broden stated that the Governor continues to float the idea on the toll road, citing the Chicago Skyway sale. The northern state legislators are unanimously opposed to this. Commissioner Ross inquired about the common wage. Senator Broden stated noted that the bill in the Senate was defeated. Council Member Kirsits thought that the DROP program was to be re-evaluated. Senator Broden stated it has not come forward. Mayor Luecke stated that the cost in 2007 for the police and fire under DROP will be $ 2.5 million.. He stated that is a one-time pay out which is reimbursed by the state at 50%. Council Member Rouse inquired about 1120. Senator Broden stated that the cap would drive property taxes higher. Senator Broden urged everyone to make contacts by phone,email,mail and especially in person. Council President Pfeifer thanked everyone for coming. She stated that she hopes to have such informational meetings on a quarterly basis. There being no further business to come forward, Council President Pfeifer adjourned the meeting at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, cAA,cs -- Council President Charlotte pfeifer South Bend Common Council KCF:kmf Attachment April 9,2005 Informal Meeting With State Senators and State Representatives -page 3-