HomeMy WebLinkAboutRedevelopment Authority Meeting Minutes 12.19.24 - SignedCITY OF SOUTHBEND
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
December 19, 2024 —10:00 a.m.
CCB Conference Room, 14th Floor or via: https://tinyuri.com/RDA-1 2-19-2024
The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m.
President Erin Hanig presiding.
Roll Call
Members Present: Erin Linder Hanig, President - Virtual
Anthony Fitts, Vice -President - IP
Richard Klee, Secretary - IP
Redevelopment Staff: Laura Hensley, Board Secretary
Legal Counsel: Michael Schmidt, Asst. City Attorney
Danielle Campbell Weiss, Asst. City Attorney
Attending: Sarah Schaefer, Deputy Director DCI
Erik Glavich, Director Growth & Opportunity, DCI - Virtual
Joseph Molnar, Asst. Dir. of Growth and Opp., DCI - Virtual
Erin Michaels, Property Development Manager, DCI - Virtual
Richard A. Nussbaum, President of Midwest League,
Joe Hart, President of South Bend Cubs
Tom Kwietniewski, Vice President of Estimating,
A -One Group Ltd. - Virtual
2. Approval of Minutes
A. Approval of the Minutes of May 1, 2024
Upon a motion by Secretary Richard Klee and seconded by Vice -
President Anthony Fitts, the motion carried unanimously, the Authority
approved the Minutes of the Meeting of May 1, 2024.
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
B. Approval of the Minutes of May 20, 2024
Upon a motion by Vice -President Anthony Fitts and seconded by
Secretary Richard Klee, the motion carried unanimously, the Authority
approved the Minutes of the Meeting of May 20, 2024.
3. New Business
A. First Amendment to Stadium Use Agreement (Swing Batter Swing).
Michael Schmidt, Assistant City Attorney, stated that back in May 2024 the
RDA was asked to accept as part of the bonding package to go forward
with this project. The new use agreement will be for twenty (20) years. Mr.
Schmidt explained that we have signatures on that document, but then we
had this protocol and sent it over to Major League Baseball for their
approval under their governing bylaws, they wanted additional provisions
related to how the Cubs franchise works within the operating bodies of
Major League Baseball and that language was added. Mr. Schmidt stated
that now we are coming back to get the Redevelopment Authority's
approved on the amendment.
Richard A. Nussbaum wanted to speak in favor of the amendment to the
operations and management agreement. Mr. Nussbaum explained that
the financing to support the bonds is working and the revenues that are
being produced by the professional Sports Development Fund are more
than enough to pay for the bonds. He states that the amendment extends
the agreement through the 2044 season within the timeframe of the
bonds, recognized the roll of the RDA body as the bond issuing authority
as well as the Venue Parks & Arts department as operational entity for the
City, the City has some maintenance responsibilities which are now being
assumed by the team which includes a new field. Mr. Nussbaum stated
that we have Major League Baseball approval of the agreement that was
necessary because Major League Baseball adopted a brand-new
relationship with Minor League Baseball, which they have more control
and there are new entities that were formed that needed to be defined
within the scope of this agreement. There were some that needed
clarification, which is why Major League Baseball needed the amendment,
and this has already gotten approval from the Board of Public Works as
well as VPA. Mr. Nussbaum stated that Minor League Baseball has had a
good relationship for 34 years with the City and that is not always the case
with some communities struggling to meet basic baseball standards with
needing to spend $100 million or more for a new stadium.
President Erin Linder Hanig stated that she had no further questions. Vice -
President Anthony Fitts asked about the relationship with the Professional
Development License League (PDL) because the agreement previously
was with the South Bend Cubs organization. Dick Nussbaum explained
that the South Bend Cubs have great relationship with Major League
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Baseball and the Chicago Cubs and given the fact that we are only 90
miles from Wrigley Field and also the fact that our facility is not only a
great facility, but it's going to get better, there's little or no fear that there
will be a different team. However, if something catastrophic happened,
there would be another PDL team that would be put here. Mr. Fitts also
asked about the clause about an untenability period and timing. Mr.
Nussbaum stated that this is not an issue at this facility in South Bend
because the standards are being met for the players. Attorney Schmidt
stated that the improvements are on schedule. Secretary Richard Klee
asked if there are any provisions that would be at all onerous or untenable
as a result this new agreement. Dick Nussbaum explained that the new
provisions are all based upon the operating guidelines that PDL puts in
place to make sure the South Bend Cubs are doing what they are
supposed to under the license and this facility with the improvements
being made currently will be a model for other stadiums.
Upon a motion by Secretary Richard Klee and seconded by Vice -
President Anthony Fitts, the motion carried unanimously, the Authority
approved the First Amendment to Stadium Use Agreement (Swing Batter
Swing) on December 19, 2024.
4. Adjournment
The Authority adjourned the meeting at 10:21 a.m.
An ony Fitts Rick Klee
South Bend Redevelopment Authority South Bend Redevelopment Authority
in Lin r anig
South Bed Redevelopment uthority
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