12-14-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 14, 2015 RESOLUTION 15 -108 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND DESIGNATING CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 301 EAST SAMPLE STREET, SOUTH BEND, IN 46601 AN ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA FOR PURPOSES OF A (5) FIVE -YEAR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR MOSSBERG & COMPANY, INC Councilmember Ferlic reported that the Community Investment Committee met and sends the resolution forward with a favorable recommendation. Chris Fielding, Community Investment, Offices on the 14th Floor of the County City Building, served as the presenter for this resolution. He stated this a five (5) year personal property abatement for Mossberg who are looking to invest $490,000.00 in new equipment for their company. He stated they currently employ ninety -nine (99) full time staff. The total taxes to be paid on the equipment for five (5) years will be $62,768.00 and the total taxes being abated would be $19,268.00 and the total taxes remaining to be paid will be $42,036.00. There were no questions from the Council. James Holman, 301 E Sample St., served as the petitioner for this resolution. He stated they are an eighty -five (85) year old company and he is the third generation president of the company. He stated this abatement helps them acquire a piece of equipment that will allow them to win a one million dollar contract and employ new employees going forward. There were no questions from the Council. No one from the public spoke in favor of or against the resolution. Councilmember Dieter made a motion to adopt Bill 15 -108. Councilmember Ferlic seconded the motion which carried by a roll call vote of nine (9) ayes. RESOLUTION 15 -103 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA, ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A LOCAL PUBLIC POLLING SYSTEM Councilmember Ferlic reported the IT Committee met and sends this resolution to the Council with an unfavorable recommendation. Councilmember Henry Davis Jr., 5117 Idlewood Dr., made the presentation for this resolution. He stated two (2) weeks ago there was an idea brought before the Council to issue funds to support a public polling system. He stated this system would try to do all we can to expand democracy, constructive conversation, and extend the Council's reach into the public. He stated what they are proposing is a system that would allow the community to have the ability to participate in our discussion. He stated this system is solely about expanding democracy in South Bend. He stated he is going to leave it up to the person he has been working with to further explain this proposal. David Frank, 50520 Burton Wood, spoke in favor of the resolution. He reported he is a lifelong resident and has been pushing this plan for a long time. He stated it is time to use the 21St century technology to allow our residents input in how their tax money is spent. He stated taxpayers pay every dime that goes in this community, but they have no input. He stated the reason the Councilmembers are called representatives is because they are supposed to represent someone other than themselves. He stated we now have a system that is corrupted by lobbies and special interests and the people's voices aren't heard. Mr. Frank stated five percent (5 %) of the population now owns eighty -five percent (85 %) of the wealth. We can change this right now in our community. He stated this proposal will allow the Councilmembers to understand what their constituents think. Mr. Frank stated that he doesn't know how they are doing it now. We have a 14