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t <br /> uCommitft Ittport <br /> Community anti Commit t1)tiopmtnt tommUUta AMENDED <br /> The February 10, 2003 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee was <br /> called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Karl King at 4:47 p.m. in the Council Informal <br /> Meeting Room. <br /> Persons in attendance included Council Members Varner, King, Kirsits, Aranowski, Pfeifer, <br /> Kelly, Coleman, Kuspa and White; Community & Economic Development Director Jon Hunt, <br /> Michael Beitzinger, Patrick McMahon of Project Future, Mark Eagan of the Chamber of <br /> Commerce, Don Inks, Bill Schalliol, Terry Bland of the §ouch Oentr Zttrtbun¢ and Kathleen <br /> Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. <br /> Council Member King called for a presentation on Bill No. 03-17 which would approve an <br /> interlocal agreement between St. Joseph County and the City of South Bend for the use of certain <br /> grant money. <br /> Mr, Bill Schalliol, an Economic Development Planner, made the presentation. He noted that St. <br /> Joseph County received a grant in the amount of$44,687 from the Indiana Development Finance <br /> Authority for evaluating potential environmental contamination in the area east of 514 West Ireland <br /> Road. The city's Department of Community and Economic Development would serve as the grant <br /> administrator. The work under the grant is to be completed by April 1, 2003. Mr. Schalliol <br /> provided a drawing of the subject property. He noted that a similar resolution will be acted upon <br /> by the County Council on Tuesday evening. <br /> No one in the public spoke in favor or against the proposed Resolution. <br /> Following discussion, Council Member Kelly made a motion, seconded by Council Member <br /> Kuspa that Bill No. 03-17 be recommended favorably to Council. <br /> Council Member King noted that a letter dated February 10, 2002 (copy attached) has been <br /> received asking that Bill No. 03-18, which would have authorized the Mayor to submit an <br /> application to EPA for a Brownsfield Job Training Grant, be withdrawn. The Bill will be struck <br /> from the agenda this evening. <br /> The Committee then reviewed Bill No. 5-03 which would amend Chapter 2,Article 6 of the South <br /> Bend Municipal Code addressing "Tax Abatement Procedures". Council Member King, the <br /> sponsor of the Bill, made the presentation. <br /> Council Member King stated that the Bill has been under discussion for the past two (2) years. A <br /> great number of Community and Economic Development Committee meetings have taken place and <br /> a great deal of research has gone into the project. The City Administration and the public have <br /> provided input throughout. The proposed ordinance reflects "new thinking" on tax abatement <br /> incentives. The Bill sets forth the goals which all parties have agreed upon, namely that it would <br /> encourage private sector entities to invest and rehab resulting in higher economic values and would <br /> encourage other actions for the right to receive other public benefits. <br /> Council Member King noted that there was a strong interest in tightening up the relationship and <br /> partnership between the city and the parties who receive abatements through strong contractual <br /> agreements. The City would use Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) modeled after the <br /> successful programs in the City of Indianapolis. He further noted that the tax abatement program <br />