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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2016
<br />Councilmember Voorde stated after each Councilmember has an opportunity to speak, I hope to
<br />be recognized to make a motion to continue this until the December 12th meeting, and I'll tell
<br />you why. I have been fortunate enough to have served on the City Council for three (3) terms,
<br />and back in the eighties (80's) as the Assessor for thirteen (13) years, after that. I think I have
<br />been a witness to and a partner to good economic development. As an At -Large Councilman, I
<br />think my view is a broader one, to try to do things that embody part of that Rotarian code, which
<br />says that this is best for all concerned. And along with that, I've seen plans come and go. I've
<br />seen projects that probably could have benefited the City lost because they didn't adhere to a
<br />plan. So, I'm a little skeptical about adhering to a plan, at the same time recognizing you have to
<br />have one or you won't ever get to where you want to go. I hope it does not sound like I'm talking
<br />out of both sides of my mouth. I think one of the reasons that, in the past, projects were lost is
<br />because they never saw the light of day. Deals were made on the fourteenth (14th) floor, or the
<br />thirteenth (13th) floor, or somewhere that, for better or worse, the public did not have any input
<br />on. And that's why I think we're here and, as messy and as difficult it is sometimes, it's like the
<br />old adage about making sausage —you don't want to see it made but you just want to enjoy the
<br />product after it has been made. This is difficult, but it comes with the territory. That's why we're
<br />here. I think that by asking for a delay of approximately thirty (3 0) days, it doesn't jeopardize
<br />Mr. Matthews' project. Maybe, after all of this, the project will end up proceeding because all
<br />concerned will think it is the best. But, while the research and discussions I've had on this with
<br />this probably pale in comparison to what Councilmember Broden has done, the other day I came
<br />in here on a Friday afternoon, and it was just her and I here, and she had things spread out on our
<br />caucus table that covered the whole table. We ended up talking for two (2) hours, just about this
<br />project and what she had found out. She asked me what I had learned and my discussions with
<br />Mr. Perri. I've never, ironically, spoken with Community Investment to find out what they think,
<br />nor have they approached me to give me their opinion, and that's my fault too. I could have
<br />asked them. As difficult as it is, and because it doesn't ultimately jeopardize the $5,000,000 Mr.
<br />Matthews has at -stake because he can still meet all of his timelines —if we do continue this, I
<br />hope that a continuance, with a lot of hard work inbetween now and the 12th to put all the parties
<br />together —one of the big questions that remains unresolved is parking. Not just for Mr.
<br />Matthews, he knows what he needs. He knows what the store needs. Bob Bartels knows how
<br />many parking spots he needs. But, we need spots for that whole area. We need spots for public
<br />access to the East Race. Stevenson Mills, I don't know if they've even been at the table. They've
<br />got some parking available. Frank Perri's got several properties over there that he's going to
<br />need parking for. Maybe the parking itself ought to be looked at in a larger context. Maybe it will
<br />take public investment to do it right. And that's the whole point: we really have a chance, if we
<br />take our time and try to come together, we can do this right. We are certainly not going to please
<br />everyone, whatever the outcome is. We want development, we want to be developer - friendly, but
<br />we have a responsibility to listen and to do it right. So, that's what I hope I get recognized to do.
<br />Councilmember Tim Scott stated that he appreciated everyone on the Council and their opinions,
<br />as well as Jo and Karen's hard work on this matter. Probably my biggest concern is with
<br />Community Investment. No disrespect to Brian Pawlowski —he's pretty much holding down the
<br />fort on what's going on here. I said to Community Investment, I said to Mr. Matthews that this is
<br />going to be tough and it needs a lot of work. It probably won't have everyone being happy, and
<br />may need some compromise on what needs to happen. I look at two (2) things. I look at the
<br />Master Plan and a plan is nothing without action. You work on a plan that lines out to 2017 that
<br />is going to bring $2,900,000 in new revenue in tax dollars to that area of the City. Really, start
<br />looking at it, besides the Hill Street development, Mr. Matthews is pretty much the only one
<br />developing part of that Village Plan. I agree with a lot of things that Gavin Ferlic said. This, to
<br />me, when I look at zoning and variances, is that buffer —where is that transition going? A lot of
<br />times, between business and residential areas, and I ask a lot of questions about fencing and
<br />bushes and how it is in that transition, and when I drive around the City I looked at it quite a bit.
<br />I see this as part of the Central Business Unit. I see this as the East Race and that island as part of
<br />that transition between it. If it was up on St. Joseph Street or next to St. Joseph Church, it would
<br />be a whole other matter. And, you know what? I have to get up in about four (4) hours for work,
<br />but I'll stay here another four (4) hours if that's what it takes, because anyone who wants to
<br />bring this type of investment to our community, I'm willing to stay here and work through it. If
<br />anyone wants to bring another one, Mr. Varner, I'll stay here again and work through it. I really
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