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REGULAR MEETING <br />August 8, 2016 <br />Sarah Heintzelman, Community Investment with offices on the 14th Floor of the County -City <br />Building, served as the presenter for this bill. Somaschini North America has taken over <br />ownership of the real property portion of what was previously SBG Realty. This is a transfer of <br />the resolution so that it is in the appropriate name of the current title holder. <br />Paul Morrison, Operations Manager at Somaschini, served as the petitioner for this bill. He <br />spoke on behalf of the owners of Somaschini because they were unfortunately out of the country <br />and not able to attend. In December of 2010, SBG Realty petitioned the South Bend Common <br />Council for a reduction of real property taxes with a proposal to build a manufacturing facility in <br />what they had hoped would be an economic revitalization area. An abatement was granted by <br />this Council for an eight (8) year period. Subsequently a building was constructed to house the <br />manufacturing facility of Somaschini North America. At this facility, Somaschini manufactures <br />parts for the heavy truck industry. In May of 2012, they filed the paperwork requesting a <br />property tax abatement. Due to a change in business interests, the building was sold on October <br />201h of 2015. With purchase of the building along with previous investments, Somaschini has <br />invested nearly twenty (20) million dollars in South Bend. This petition requests the Council's <br />approval to transfer the tax abatement. <br />There were no questions from the Council. <br />No one from the public spoke either in favor of or in opposition to the bill. <br />Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to adopt Substitute Bill 16 -59. Councilmember <br />Regina Williams- Preston seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of seven (7) ayes. <br />16 -60 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY <br />OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT <br />INTEGRATED AND MULTIFACETED APPROACHES BE <br />PUBLICLY DISCUSSED AND FURTHER DEVELOPED <br />WHICH ADDRESS CANADA GEESE <br />Council Vice President Oliver Davis asked Committee of the Whole Chairperson Gavin Ferlic to <br />serve as the Chair of the Council for Bill 16 -60. <br />Councilmember Dr. David Varner made a motion to accept Substitute Bill 16 -60. <br />Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of <br />seven (7) ayes. <br />Councilmember John Voorde, Chair of the Health and Public Safety Committee, reported that <br />the Committee met and sends the bill forward with a favorable recommendation subject to the <br />approval of changes in Section Two (2). <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis, 1801 Nash Street South Bend IN 46613, served as the petitioner <br />and presenter of this bill. He thanked the Council for their comments and questions during the <br />Health and Public Safety Committee which lead to this substitute version. This is a bill regarding <br />the different situations our community has had regarding the local geese population. This bill <br />provides the framework to plan and provide an opportunity for public dialogue on this issue. The <br />bill outlines that the Council believes there should be discussion between the City <br />Administration and public on how the geese impact the local area. Councilmember Davis invited <br />Aaron Perri to discuss the bill further. <br />Aaron Perri, Director of the Parks Department, thanked the Council for their interest in this topic. <br />Mr. Perri expressed his belief that this is part of a broader conversation of how we deal with all <br />of our natural resources in our parks. We have to be more mindful of being inclusive of our plant <br />and wildlife species. Currently the Parks Department is undergoing one of the most <br />comprehensive planning exercises the department has ever undertaken when it comes to natural <br />resource management. We are about half way through that phase which is system wide and deals <br />with all of our parks. In the effort to help advance that work, they are forming an ecological <br />advocacy group. The resolution to form that particular committee went before the Park Board <br />last month and is scheduled to be approved in one (1) week at their next meeting. That group will <br />4 <br />