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REGULAR MEETING February 22, 2015 Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand stated there is no problem legally with doing so but it has not been done in the past. In the interest of transparency and dialogue it would be a good idea. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if there has been any contact on the County Council to consider that option. Councilmember Randy Kelly responded not yet but he would be more than happy to start making calls. Those from the public wishing to speak in favor of the bill: George Horn, 100 N. Michigan St. South Bend, spoke in favor of the resolution. He is the president of the Potawatomi Zoological Society. The Zoo opened in 1902 and is the oldest zoo in the State of Indiana. It now houses over four - hundred (400) animals as part of its zoo family that have provided joy, educational programs, and conservation activities to our community. These animals depend on us for their health and wellbeing which is why the Zoological Society has been a driving force behind the request for this resolution and the potential tax of a fund to help infrastructure improvements. The part of the tax the Zoo is requesting is one quarter of one percent (.25 %) realizing the resolution proposes capping that tax at one percent (1 %). This would raise approximately over $22 million dollars over twenty (20) years, to help fund the infrastructure improvements needed at the zoo. Nationally recognized experts have been brought to build a master plan going forward in the future. The plan was approved by the Park Board and calls for $37 million dollars in infrastructure improvements. The Zoo hopes that this tax along with $15 million from private investment should pay for the improvements that are needed. The request does not seek funds for operational funds but only capital improvements. The Zoo has the rarest big cat in the world, the Amur Leopard, in 2015 the zoo had three cubs born and they live in a building constructed in 1936. These are the type of improvements we want to make. Mr. Horn asked the people in the audience to stand who were supporting this resolution. Mindy Aben, 4215 Edison Lakes Pkway Mishawaka, supported the food and beverage tax. She is a corporate sponsor of the Zoo through Northwestern Mutual. She has been a corporate sponsor of the Zoo for the past three (3) years. The Zoo brings approximately $3 million dollars a year into our community. By moving forward with the tax and the master plan that revenue number will go up even more. From a financial and from a family perspective, the zoo is a great asset to this community and this tax will allow the zoo to only becoming a better service for the community. Michael Hasick, 138 S. Hawthorn, thanked the Council for allowing this issue to come forward for public debate and comments. In 1995, he and his wife relocated from Florida to South Bend which was her hometown, six children later he can attest that this is a great place to raise a family. South Bend is truly blessed to have fantastic assets and the zoo is one of them and a fixture in the South Bend community. Many of the zoo exhibits and facilities were built during the depression or the 1950s and 1960s. The zoo has many needs including water drainage problems, storm water issues, and how the public, especially the disabled, enter and exit the zoo. The master plan goes far beyond sustaining the zoo but takes a long term look at the site and how to keep the zoo a valuable asset and fixture within our community. This tax would provide the means for this plan. Marcy Dean, Zoo Director with offices at 500 S. Greenlawn South Bend, spoke in support of this resolution. The Zoo has been leading the initiative to enact a food and beverage tax in St. Joseph County to help fund improvements laid out in the master plan. This .25 % food and beverage tax is a great fit funding wise for these proposals. As more people are brought into the community they will spend more money dining out. The zoo is also following a precedent set by many of their peers who receive zoo only dedicated tax funding. The Akron Zoo is a perfect example of how funds like this can transform an institution from a local attraction to a regional destination. Attendance at the Akron Zoo rose after a county wide tax levy from 100,000 to almost 400,000 annual visitors which has provided an economic boon for the region. There are only a handful of accredited zoos that do not receive dedicated tax funding. Based on current membership demographics 33% of members reside from outside St. Joseph County spanning over seventeen different states. South Bend is still number one in membership and visitation even with this large 0