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Home My WebLink About07-27-2026 Community Investment Committee Minutes (signed)OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. 'T'IRADO, CITY CLERK COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Presenters: Agenda: JULY 27, 2026, 3:50 P.M. Sheila Niezgodski *, Sherry Bolden- Simpson, Kevin Upton, Ophelia Gooden- Rodgers, Karen L. White Tom Gryp Dr. Oliver Davis, Dr. Heidi Beidinger, Canneth Lee, Rachel Tomas Morgan Bianca L. Tirado, Matthew Neal, Jasmine Jackson, Lari 'onna Green, Veronica Pitt- Payne, Bob Palmer Jenna Throw, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Joe Molnar, Tom Everett Bill No. 46-26 -Amending Section 4-61 of the South Bend Municipal Code Regarding Taxicab Licensing and Operations and Providing for the Extension of Current Licenses Bill No. 26-20 -Resolution Approving a Lease Between the South Bend Redevelopment Authority and the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and Taking Other Actions Related Thereto Members marked with an asterisk (*) are in virtual attendance via Microsoft Teams. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https :/ / docs.southbendin.gov/W ebLink/browse.aspx? dbid=0,0&mediaid=411597 Jasmine Jackson 0rrEF D EPUfY 0TY Q ERK I 0rrEF OF STAFF INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Matthew N cal DEPUfY 0 TY Q ERK / DIRECTOR OF POU CY Veronica Pill-Payne DIRECTOR OF SPEOAL PROJECTS EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION / EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov {~ CITY OF SOlJIH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Committee Chair Karen L. White called to order the Community Investment Committee meeting at 4:05 P.M. Bill No. 46-26 -Amending Section 4-61 of the South Bend Municipal Code Regarding Taxicab Licensing and Operations and Providing for the Extension of Current Licenses The bill was presented by Rachel Tomas Morgan, Councilmember At-Large, with offices on the third (3 rd) floor of City Hall, South Bend IN, 46601 , and Jenna Throw, City Attorney, with offices on the sixth ( 6th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601. Councilmember Tomas Morgan provided background for the discussion, stating that she has been engaged in dialogue with the owners of local taxicab companies. She spoke about the impact of ridesharing services on local taxicab businesses, noting that there were two-hundred (200) taxicabs in the City prior to the debut of Uber and Lyft, with only fifteen (15) cabs from two (2) companies remaining today. She said the City's taxicab ordinance, which was introduced in 1981 and last amended in 2011 , imposes heavy regulations on taxicab businesses and merits a comprehensive review. She said the bill contains a limited number of amendments intended to improve the administration of the taxicab licensing program and help ensure a "level playing field" between taxicab companies and ridesharing services. Attorney Throw elaborated on the proposed amendments. She said the definition of"taxicab" was updated to incorporate the definition from state law, which explicitly excludes ridesharing services. She explained that the existing ordinance requires dispatch from a physical location, and the updated version would allow dispatch from a mobile location. She noted that the update would also give taxicab companies the option to close between the hours of 2:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M. instead of requiring twenty-four (24) hour service. She said other changes were made based on industry feedback, such as reducing the minimum number of cabs and drivers from six (6) to four ( 4) and extending the expiration date of current licenses from September 2026 to September 2027. She said the City will continue working on a more comprehensive update, which may include moving to a two (2)-year licensing cycle. Committee Vice Chair Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers asked for the addresses and phone numbers of the two (2) licensed taxicab companies. Councilmember Tomas Morgan said she would send the information. Committee Chair White opened the public hearing. Andrew Mwangi, 5022 Kirkshire Drive, South Bend, IN 46614, spoke in favor of the bill as a representative of Eagle Cab, one (1) of the City's two (2) licensed taxicab companies. He spoke about the challenges of sustaining a taxicab business due to competition from ridesharing services and the increased cost of insurance and vehicle maintenance following the pandemic. He explained the regulations in the current taxicab licensing process, which include annual background checks, health certifications, and commercial drivers license (CDL) or chauffers license verification. He said they would like to extend the license renewal period from one ( 1) EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov @ CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK year to two (2) years in a future ordinance update. Committee Chair White closed the public hearing. Committee Member Sherry Bolden-Simpson moved to send Bill No. 46-26 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Vice Chair Gooden-Rodgers and carried by a vote of five (5) ayes with one (1) Citizen Member absent. Committee Chair Karen L. White -Aye Committee Vice Chair Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers-Aye Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Committee Member Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Citizen Member Tom Gryp -Absent Citizen Member Kevin Upton -Aye Committee Chair White asked Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis for ten (10) minutes from the Zoning and Annexation Committee's time. Councilmember Dr. Oliver Davis agreed. Bill No. 26-20 -Resolution Approving a Lease Between the South Bend Redevelopment Authority and the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and Taking Other Actions Related Thereto Joe Molnar, Deputy Director of Community Investment, with offices on the fifth ( 5th) floor of City Hall, South Bend, IN 46601 , presented the bill. He explained that the bill authorizes a neighborhood bond for the River West Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. Tom Everett, Barnes & Thornburg, 201 South Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601 , stated that he is serving as bond counsel to the City. He said the proposed bond financing would involve a lease between the Redevelopment Commission and Redevelopment Authority, noting that both parties have already approved the lease. He stated that the agreement would allow the Redevelopment Authority to issue lease rental revenue bonds, secured by lease rental payments made by the Redevelopment Commission. Leased assets would include portions of Chapin Street, Sample Street, and Colfax Avenue, and TIF revenues would fund the lease rental payments. He said the estimated principal amount of the bond is twenty-seven million dollars ($27,000,000), and a financial analysis from Baker Tilly determined TIF revenues would be sufficient to cover the payments. He said they expect a bond sale in September, with a closing date in early October. Joe Molnar stated that this financing tool was last used by the City in 2022 and 2023 and listed the projects that were supported by those neighborhood bonds. He explained what the new bond would be used to fund , giving a detailed overview of each proposed project. The bond would fund twenty percent (20%) of the Coal Line Trail phase three (3) project, with federal funds covering the remaining eighty percent (80%) of the cost. The project would extend the trail from Lincoln Way West to the Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Center using existing City right-of-way. The bond would also fund streetscape improvements on College Street including new curbs, sidewalks, safer pedestrian crossings, and street trees. He noted that both projects are included in the Kennedy Park neighborhood plan and align with the recommendations from the Reparatory Justice Report. The bond would also fund renovations to convert the former William Penn EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov @ cnYOFSOUlliBEND I OFFICEOFTHECffYCLERK building into the new Rum Village Neighborhood Center. He explained that the new center was called for in the Rum Village neighborhood plan, and the City acquired the building earlier this year. He said they are still gathering community input regarding programming and activities, and the Boys and Girls Club is a partner on the project. The bond would also provide site acquisition dollars for a Near Westside Neighborhood park, which was called for in the Near Westside neighborhood plan. The next project he discussed was the redevelopment of the former Drewry's Brewery and Portage Elwood shopping center site. He stated that site cleanup is nearly complete following the City's acquisition of the property in 2022, and they have gathered community feedback for the project through a series of community listening sessions. He described the redevelopment concept plan, which includes street improvements, mixed-income housing, and a grocery store. He noted aspects of the project that would align with the recommendations from the Reparatory Justice Report and said the bond would be used to fund phase one ( 1) streets and utilities infrastructure improvements. The bond would also fund an improvement project for Muessel Grove Park. He discussed aspects of the project's concept plan including expanded playground facilities, courts, trails, and amenities. He explained other infrastructure improvements the bond would support, including utilities connections for forty-two ( 42) new affordable homes and road connections for New Day Intake Center. Finally, the bond would provide the required City match portion of funding for an ADA-accessible parking garage at the Morris Performing Arts Center. Committee Chair White opened the public hearing. Peter Hru, 25700 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46628, spoke in favor of the bill. He shared his perspective as a board member of the Bike Michiana Coalition and former chair of the City's Age Friendly Initiative. He said improvements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure on the west side will provide safe, equitable, and dignified transportation options for residents where they are needed most. Committee Chair White closed the public hearing. Committee Vice Chair Gooden-Rodgers moved to send Bill No. 26-20 to the Full Council with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Bolden-Simpson and carried by a vote of fi ve (5) ayes with one (1) Citizen Member absent. Committee Chair Karen L. White -Aye Committee Vice Chair Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers-Aye Committee Member Sheila Niezgodski -Aye Committee Member Sherry Bolden-Simpson -Aye Citizen Member Tom Gryp -Absent Citizen Member Kevin Upton -Aye With no further business, Committee Chair White adjourned the Community Investment Committee meeting at 4:37 P.M. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov ~1-,'TI(t,:l"i {~ CITY OF SOlITH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK Respectfully Submitted, Karen L. White, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 300 City Hall I 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. I South Bend, Indiana 46601 Ip. 574.235.9221 If. 574.235.9173 1 www.southbendin.gov