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Home My WebLink About01-22-2024 Community Investment Meeting Minutes (Signed) �u IH Ir �Jfl!d OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L.TIRADO,CITY CLERK COMMUNITY INVESTMENT JANUARY 22, 2024 4:40 P.M. Committee Members Present: Troy Warner, Ophelia Gooden- Rodgers, Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Committee Members Absent: Rachel Tomas Morgan Other Council Present: Canneth Lee, Dr. Oliver Davis, Sheila Niezgodski Others Present: Bianca L. Tirado, Danica Kulemeka, Elivet Quijada- Navarro, Victoria Stowell, Bob Palmer Presenters: Erik Glavich, Mark Tamer Agenda: Organizational Meeting Bill No. 24-03- Reconfirming Resolution: Real Property Tax Abatement for SBCC RE LLC and SBCC Development Corporation Committee Chair Troy Warner called to order the Community Investment Committee meeting at 4:40p.m. He gave a brief overview of the agenda and then proceeded to start the organizational meeting. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=3 80286 Organizational Meeting The Community Investment Committee oversees the various activities of the Department of Community Investment and reviews all real, personal, and residential tax abatements. The Committee also works closely with the Business Development Team. BM no. 24-03- Reconfirming Resolution: Real Property Tax Abatement for SBCC RE LLC and SBCC Development Corporation INTEGRITY SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY Danica Kulemeka Elivet Quijada-Navarro Victoria Stowell Coact 11trt nr{:Hirt or stall Ikn n;tkip rrae Pr to Maui( Of SKI Ski Yr.,r♦ra EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION j INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 Coa:+jty City B+laaaryl 1227 W.Jefferson Bte1.;South Rend.Indana 461 1)1 1 0 574 235 9221 t 57a 235 9173 t www.soutl+bend+ngrr. CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Erik Glavich, Director of Growth and Opportunity, 14th floor of the County-City Building gave a presentation concerning Bill No. 24-03, a resolution confirming a tax abatement originally approve in 2019 with the South Bend Chocolate Company and the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. During the designation period of the abatement the property owner must make improvements to the property. For this abatement, the time to make improvements to the property expired at the end of 2022, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic there was a delay. The property is almost completed with a plan to open the facilities in April or May. This resolution would confirm the abatement that was passed in 2019 and would allow Mr. Tamer to receive the benefits as was presented in the 2019 abatement. Mark Tamer, 1502 E. Lasalle Street, South Bend, Indiana 46617 continued the presentation, with the pandemic they are exactly two years behind schedule, but the complex will open around April or May 2024. Private investment is around $16 million, and he believes that its going to go back to the city. Chair Warner thanked Mr. Glavich and Mr. Tamer for the narrative concerning Bill No. 24-03 and proceeded to open the floor to the Committee for questions. Committeeperson Gooden-Rodgers asked the presenters what the expected competition date will be. Mark Tamer stated that April or May, depending on outside construction but the artists are running a little bit behind. Committeeperson Bolden-Simpson asked how many jobs the complex will provide. Mr. Tamer responded that at least onehundred and fifty(150)jobs with several volunteer opportunities as well. Erik Glavich states that as a part of the Reconfirming Resolution, Mr. Tamer would be signing a new memorandum of agreement which will layout his commitments for the abatement which will mirror the agreement signed in 2019. In 2019, that memorandum of agreement states that Mr. Tamer will retain fifty-four(54) full-time jobs and hire seventy (70) new full-time jobs. Mr. Tamer stated that there will also be a new South Bend Public House in the facility and that will employee sixty(60)to seventy (70) full and part-time employees just for the restaurant. Chair Warner asked what the timeline was for opening the restaurant. Mr. Tamer responded around the same time as the rest of the complex. Councilmember White asked if the abatement was just an extension or if it included additional funds. Erik Glavich stated that it was just an extension because the pandemic made the original timeline unreasonable. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 r574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov • • ► CI OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO,CITY CLERK Councilmember Lee expressed excitement for the project to be in the first (1st) district and asked what the admission fee is. Mr. Tamer stated around twenty dollars ($20),but that there will be a South Bend day and hopefully a discount, but they haven't come up with it yet. Councilmember Lee asked Mr. Tamer how many hours he's spent on the project. Mr. Tamer responded about ninety(90) hours a week. Chair Warner opened the floor to members of the public for questions and comments. Jordan Giger, 302 S. Falcon Street, South Bend, Indiana 46619, asked questions on wages and the number of black employees versus Hispanic employees hired by the company in 2019. He also asked about the ownership change, childcare and the owners hardship during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Mr. Tamer responded that wages will be increased fifteen(15) to twenty(20)percent, to around thirteen($13) to ($15) dollars an hour, South Bend Chocolate Company is a minority majority employer and that those numbers are likely from the factory workers as of 2019 but right now they are about eighty-seven percent (87%) minority employee, but that average employee remains at the factory over ten(10) years. Then Mr. Tamer discussed his succession plan with his son who is the current Director of Operations with a timeline of ten(10) to twenty(20) years. Erik Glavich stated that the original abatement was for a different LLC, but the ownership was changed to a different LLC with common ownership. Mr. Tamer then spoke about creating an internal in-house daycare for employees. No additional members of the public had questions. Chair Warner opened the floor to members of the Committee for comments. Chair Warner stated that the project will be very exciting because small dinosaur museums generate 100,000-200,000 visitors a year. INTEGRITY` SERVICE; ACCESSIBILITY Danica Kulemeka Eli'et Quill-Navarro Victoria Stowell (.ate,the &m,,u%r.W +s AMx.v Putt t*Jn.tu retivx tv EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION + EMPOWERMENT 455 County ay Budding 1227 W.iefterwn Bird. i South Bend tndana 46 01 1 o 574.235.9221 :f 574.235.91131 www iouthbrrxlm,gw CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK Councilmember Bolden-Simpson asked what the educational requirements were for the employees. Mr. Tamer responded that there's no formal college education required but there's internal training. He then mentioned that he's training his son to be a master candy maker. Councilmember Bolden-Simpson asked if there were any partnerships between the South Bend School corporation. Mr. Tamer stated that he'll be meeting with the Superintendent within the next month. Chair Warner entertained a motion send Resolution No. 24-03 to full Council. Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers motioned to send Bill No. 24-03 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Troy Warner seconded the motion which carried with a roll call of number(3) ayes. Chair Warner-Aye Councilmember Bolden-Simpson-Aye Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers-Aye With no further business, Chair Troy Warner adjourned the Community Investment Committee meeting at 5:02p.m. Respectfully sub ' ed, Troy W er, ommitt air NOTICE FOR HEARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auxiliary Aid or Other Services may be Available upon Request at No Charge Please give Reasonable Advance Request when Possible EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov