HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-08-08 Utilities CommitteeCOMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The December 8, 2008 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of the
South Bend Common Council was called to order by its Acting Chairperson, Ann Puzzello at 3:40
p.m. in the Council's Informal Meeting Room.
Committee Members present: Mark Smith, Citizen Member
Other's Present: Councilmember's Varner, Rouse, Oliver Davis, Tom LaFountain, Catherine
Fanello; Donald Brubaker, Don Inks, Mayor Stephen Luecke, Martha Lewis, Rita Kopala, Jamie
Loo, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Phil Faccenda, John Voorde
AGENDA:
Bill No. 08-110 -Tech Park Aoreement
Councilmember Ann Puzzello, chaired the meeting. She introduced Mayor Luecke who
proceeded to explain the purpose of the resolution. He explained the Council's role in approving
the execution of a Certified Technology Park pact between the South Bend Redevelopment
Commission and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. He said partnerships between
the City and Notre Dame and the Stated grade this creation of the State's first 2 site tech park
possible. The creation allows a $2 million dollar state grant along with the city's right to take and
dedicate up to $5 million more in various taxes over a 4 year period to put back in the park.
Councilmember Puzzello asked if Notre Dame was tied to the Sample Street portion of the
development site.
Answering both that questions as well as a timing question from Oliver Davis, the Mayor said
while Notre Dame was not tied to the Sample Street location financially, Notre Dame did pay $12-
15million dollars for the construction of a 50 thousand plus square foot building at the South
Bend Avenue site.
Councilmember Varner asked if the 2 sites were treated differently for tax purposes. No was the
_ Mayor's response. Varner asked if the incubator built at Notre Dame would house viable
companies. The Mayor said these companies were in the embryonic stage. Further South Bend
was one of just four sites in the nation others being Austin, TX, SUNY-Albany, and UCLA.
Councilmember Timothy Rouse voiced support for the park cautioning the search for revenue
streams for the city's budget.
Their being no quorum, no action was taken.
There being no further business to come before the committee, Chairperson Puzzello, adjourned
the meeting at 4:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Puzzello
Member, Community and Economic Development Committee