HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-08 Community & Economic CommitteeCOMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUNE 23, 2008
Committee Members Present: Councilmember Henry Davis, Vice-Chairperson,
Councilmember Ann Puzzello, Councilmember Karen L. White, Catherine Andres,
Citizen Member, Mark Smith, Citizen Member
Others Present: Don Inks, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, John Voorde
BILL N0.37-08 APPROVING A LEASE FOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR
CENTURY CENTER
This bill requests the Council to approve a lease for improvements to Century Center
between the Redevelopment Authority and the Redevelopment Commission.
Acting Chairperson, Henry Davis recognized Don Inks to explain the lease. Don
introduced Rich Hill of the law firm Baker & Daniels, who authored the terms and
conditions of the lease. Also, introduced and part of the presentation were Vivian Sallie,
Chairperson of the Century Center Board of Managers and Kurt Brown, Executive
Director of Century Center. With the attached handout the Council was apprized of the
needed capital costs to keep the center safe and attractive.
On a motion by Councilmember Ann Puzzello, seconded by Councilmember Karen
White, the bill was sent to the full Council with a favorable recommendation.
BILL N0.38-08 EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AREA (AEDAI TO INCLUDE ALL OF PORTAGE PRAIRIE
Councilmember Henry Davis, Vice-Chairperson, called upon Don Inks, Director of the
Economic Development division to make a presentation. Mr. Inks noted that due to the
July 1St deadline imposed by HEA 1001, the city hoped to add a11450 acres of Portage
Prairie to the AEDA tax incremental finance district (TIF). After July 1St the expansion
decision would fall to the state through the Department of Local Government Finance
(DLGF).
Mayor Luecke reinforced the deadline requirement advocating this type of decision
should be a local one.
Tim Rouse asked why not make the entire city one big TIF.
Mayor Luecke said this would be inappropriate, having ramifications for other units of
local government in terms of tax allocations.
What Mr. Rouse wanted more specifically was the written assurance that the City would
keep its commitment to LaSalle Square.
The Mayor spoke to over $2 million dollars set aside for LaSalle Square. He had no
problem making it in writing.
Councilmember Varner asked why Portage Prairie could not be its own TIF area. By
inclusion in the airport TIF more money for public investment in infrastructure would be
made available sooner. Councilmember Varner remained unconvinced.
Paul Phair and Frank Perri both of the Holladay Corp. provided a handout for the Council
previewing their Portage Prairie Development timeline.
Jeff Gibney, Director, Economic Development, strongly supported Holladay's
commitment to South Bend with this and other downtown developments.
Speaking in opposition to the expansion were Cathy Bella of the German Township
Neighborhood Association and Marty Wolfson, A Notre Dame Professor and former
Citizen Member of the Community & Economic Development Committee. For both it
was a question of priorities and appropriate use of TIF dollars. Wolfson saw it as being
at the expense of people and places in the inner-city who he thought should be a higher
priority not the fringe at the expense of the core of the city.
Councilmember Karen White agreed stating the LaSalle Squire and Studebaker Corridor
projects should be the highest priority for TIF dollars.
On a ls~ by Councilmember Puzzello and a 2nd by Councilmember White supported by a
majority the bill was sent with no recommendation to full Council.
There being no further business to come before the committee, Councilmember Henry
Davis, Vice-Chairperson, adjourned the meeting at 5:31 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Henry Davis, Vice-Chairperson
Community & Economic Development Committee