HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-16 PARCPARC COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 22, 2016 4:40 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Randy Kelly, Dr. Varner, Oliver Davis, John Voorde
Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Karen White, Gavin Ferlic,
Regina Williams- Preston, Jo M. Broden
Others Present: Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand, Adriana Rodriguez
Alkeyna Aldridge, Joseph Molnar, John Murphy
Agenda: Bill 10 -16 — Appropriating additional funds for Elbel Park
And Golf Course
Bill 16 -10 — Resolution supporting additional research on
Potential Food & Beverage Tax
Randy Kelly, Chairperson of the PARC Committee, called the meeting to order with two bills for
consideration.
Bill 10 -16 — Appropriating additional funds for Elbel Park and Golf Course
Aaron Perri, Director of Parks Dept. 321 Walter St., served as the presenter for this bill. There
are funds available that the Parks Dept. would like to invest at Elbel. Over the past two (2) years
there has been conservative capital spending at Elbel. The future of Elbel was uncertain, bids
were out for surveying, and the appraisals for the golf course were out as well. The team at the
time made the decision to take a conservative approach to the course because they didn't know
what was going to happen. Nonetheless that money is still available and in a golf non - reverting
fund, it was not money that was appropriated elsewhere. This bill allows for that money in the
fund to be used at Elbel. During the past two (2) years the department has invested $31,000.00 in
the course for capital investments. There has been approximately $30,000.00 approved in last
year's budget for Elbel which is already being spent. This is an additional $68,000.00 to make up
for what has been put off in the previous years.
Councilmember Gavin Ferlic asked if the Parks Dept. anticipates spending all of this allotted
amount regardless of who ends up running the course.
Mr. Perri responded they will put what is needed right now into the course to bring it up to
standards regardless of who runs the course.
Councilmember Randy Kelly asked how much that would be in the short term.
Mr. Perri responded the immediate things that need to be taken care of are the repair of the
greens and the tee -boxes and that is about half of the funds to be appropriated with this bill.
Councilmember Oliver Davis stated he is glad they are moving forward with this to get the park
up to standard. Being on the Council the past few years, he had never heard the spending slowed
down the past two years. The Council was never informed that the spending was slowing down
for this purpose. What can you do going forward so that the Council knows how to deal with
these issues going forward because we never had that discussion to tail back this spending. Mr.
Davis asked what will change in the future so this does not happen.
Mr. Perri responded the way it was publically discussed last year was through the Board of
Public Works and their appraisals going out, but clearly it was not discussed with this body.
Going forward any type of change that the department brings to other bodies will also be brought
to the Council. To the first question, any major variance to the budget should be discussed here
because that is what you approved.
Mr. Davis stated he appreciated that because now he questions whether all the funds for the other
parks are being spent the way they were allocated.
Mr. Perri stated he agreed wholeheartedly about that. On the Parks Dept. website there is now
every approved budgeted item and a status update of where the project is currently and when it is
estimated to be completed. Mr. Perri stated he can't talk about what was done before he came to
the department but can assure the Council he will make it better and this is one of those steps.
Councilmember Dr. Varner asked what is the current balance in this non - reverting fund.
John Murphy, City Controller with offices on the 12th Floor, responded there is around
$400,000.00 total in the account.
Councilmember Dr. Varner asked how much does it bring in a year?
Mr. Murphy responded approximately $160,000.00 a year which is all three (3) golf courses
combined.
Councilmember Dr. Varner asked perhaps going forward to segregate that in at least accounting
purposes to see which course is providing what money.
Mr. Perri stated over the past ten year average Elbel non - reverting revenue is approximately
$38,000.00.
Councilmember Karen White asked what is the time frame to make the course ready for the
season.
Mr. Perri responded they are starting those improvements now and operating under the
assumption we are opening the golf course. In mid - December, after the Park Board meeting, the
department began operating as if they were not going to have golf this year so we are playing a
bit of catch up. Everything is back online, reservations can be made for this year, and there are
workers out today starting to work on the course. The timeline really depends on when the snow
melts and when the weather breaks but most of this work can be started tomorrow. From his
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estimation it will take about four (4) weeks of solid work to get it up to standard. Operations
have already been budgeted and there is no plan to come back for more appropriations.
Councilmember John Voorde asked if we do all the repairs in house on the greens.
Mr. Perri responded the day to day operational maintenance the department does in house. To
build everything back up to par that will be contracted out which will have to go through the city
purchasing process.
Mr. Murphy stated there will be quotes and we will try to at least get two (2).
Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked about what plans for marketing are happening to get back
those golfers who may have been turned away at the limited capital resources spent on the
course.
Mr. Perri responded the department just held golf night at Erskine that they do every year around
this time, unfortunately the electricity was out, but he spent a few hours talking with the golf
community and they were all excited that the department is actively pursuing leagues and outing
at the course. This appropriation is certainly a marketing tool to those individuals that the city is
investing in the course.
Councilmember Oliver Davis stated the message needs to be that there is going to be golf at
Elbel this year.
Mr. Perri responded correct, there will be golf at a good quality.
Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston stated perhaps all of this discussion and debate over
the course will be good for Elbel this year and it will get people out in support.
Mart Biseki, no address given, spoke in support of the additional appropriations for Elbel. There
needs to be concentration on running the course by the city for the year and let the committee
determine the years going forward.
No one from the public spoke in opposition to the bill.
Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to send the bill favorably to the full Council.
Councilmember Dr. Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes.
Bill 16 -10 — Resolution supporting additional research on potential Food & Beverage Tax
Councilmember John Voorde made a motion to accept the substitute bill on file. Councilmember
Dr. Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes.
Councilmember Randy Kelly served as the presenter for this bill. This resolution is calling for
research into a food and beverage tax of one percent (1 %). There are over twenty (20) counties in
Indiana who already have some type of food and beverage tax. This substitute bill no longer
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includes suggesting to dedicate a portion of the tax to the Potawatomi Zoo because this bill
simply calls for research and there are of course a number of other wonderful attractions in our
community.
Councilmember Oliver Davis asked when it comes to making the final decision on implementing
a tax how does that proceed.
Councilmember Randy Kelly responded first the state needs to send its approval and then at least
two of the three local legislative bodies in St. Joseph County (St. Joseph County Common
Council, South Bend Common Council, City of Mishawaka Common Council) would also have
to approve it.
Councilmember Oliver Davis stated with past history relating to the St. Joseph County Council,
sometimes South Bend gets left in the cold and all the blame and responsibility falls upon this
Council and that is his issue with this bill.
Councilmember Randy Kelly responded that he understands where Mr. Davis is coming from but
he will vote on an issue with how it is set before him and not try to worry about what other
people are doing. If he can justify why he is voting in favor than the rest will fall where it may
but he does understand the concern.
Those wishing to speak in favor of the resolution:
Marcy Dean, Zoo Director with offices at 500 S. Greenlawn Ave. South Bend, spoke in favor of
the bill. The Zoo has been spearheading this food and beverage tax initiative. If the Zoo would
get a portion of this tax it would help fund a majority of their proposed master plan which would
regionalize the zoo and bring more people into the area with an estimated increase of 200,000
more people in attendance. Many of the buildings at the zoo have been around for fifty (50) to
eighty (80) years. Several zoos and aquariums across the country have dedicated tax funding and
it greatly helps the ability of the zoos to put these capital investments into place. The zoo is only
looking for a small percentage of the proposed one percent (I%) tax. This resolution would
provide much needed support down at the general assembly especially along with the resolution
of the County and hopefully one from Mishawaka's Council as well.
Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked about the process if the state did accept the proposal what
would happen next.
Marcy Dean stated there is no set time table set for after the statehouse would approve the ability
of a tax. That would essentially be the beginning of the research phase and the time to try to
develop public support.
Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked where the burden of responsibility would fall for the
research stage of the process.
Marcy Dean responded the Zoo would certainly take a lead in researching this with coordination
from the Councils.
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Council President Tim Scott stated he believes the various Councils who were on board with this
could hold some joint meetings where real debate for and against the tax can be held.
Councilmember Dr. David Varner asked what part of the $37 million dollars for their master
plan does the zoo propose to raise privately.
Marcy Dean responded since the zoo was reorganized as a public - private partnership they have
seen an increase of private donations since then both on the operational side and the capital side.
They are optimistic that with this tax that is a clear marketing tool to private donors that their
money will go to a real cause and would hopefully raise $12 to $17 million dollars. This tax is
for shear capital support and no operational dollars would come from this.
Councilmember Dr. David Varner asked if they tied the zoo to the professional sports
development tax which is already in place. If there is going to be a discussion about levying a
new tax, there needs to be a serious look at the options currently available.
Marcy Dean responded absolutely, the Zoo is open to using other funding options besides or in
place of this tax.
Council President Tim Scott responded he came from St. Louis and they have a top five (5) zoo
in the country because they have utilized these zoo dedicated taxes.
Councilmember Gavin Ferlic thanked the zoo for taking the initiative on this but there are other
great organizations as well who could use these funds and their needs to be a well vetted process
in the community to what organizations they would rather see the money go to.
Kathryn Osborne, 517 River Ave South Bend, stated if you are thinking about a tax then be more
ambitious with it because it looks like we have had many things underfunded for a while in the
city and she is in support of research.
There was no one who spoke in opposition.
Councilmember John Voorde made a motion to send this bill to the full Council with a favorable
recommendation. Councilmember Randy Kelly seconded the motion which was defeated with
two (2) ayes and two (2) nays (Councilmember Oliver Davis and Dr. David Varner).
Councilmember Randy Kelly made a motion to send this bill to the full Council with no
recommendation. Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried with four (4)
ayes.
There being no further business before the Committee, Randy Kelly adjourned the meeting at
5:45 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Kelly, Chairperson