10-09-17 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING October 9, 2017 Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to adopt Bill No. 11-17 by acclamation. Councilmember John Voorde seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICES Representing the City Administration: Mayor Pete Buttigieg Suzanna Fritzberg Laura O'Sullivan RESOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE At 7:16 p.m. Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to resolve into the Committee of the Whole. Councilmember Karen White seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson,presiding. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic explained the procedures to be followed for tonight's meeting in accordance with Article 1, Section 2-11 of the South Bend Municipal Code. PUBLIC HEARINGS BILL NO. 48-17 PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING A SECTION OF CHAPTER 2,ARTICLE 6 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO TAX ABATEMENTS Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to accept Substitute Bill No. 48-17. Councilmember Dr. David Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic, Chair of the Community Investment Committee, reported that they met this afternoon and send this bill forward with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston, 838 North Elmer Street, South Bend, IN, served as the presenter of this bill. Councilmember Williams-Preston stated, This bill comes to the Council, tonight, after much consideration. I think we started this process about—well, back in August, sometime. The bill proposes a change to the current tax abatement ordinance to actually add a requirement that the applicants for a tax abatement actually will pay all company employees a minimum wage as least as high as the minimum wage paid to all employees of South Bend upon the confirmation of that abatement. Since that time,we've had lots and lots of conversation and discourse among Councilpeople, citizens, and current business owners, and we've added some things to include that: this would begin January 1St, 2018; it would clarify that we would include TIF workers and the process for making sure that TIF workers are compensated fairly, as well. This is just an opportunity for us to actually live the words that our Mayor set forth for us. His goal was that we become, as the City of South Bend, a model for equal opportunity by making sure that any business that comes to South Bend that receives a tax subsidy of any kind actually lives up to our expectations and pays its workers a decent wage. It's just one (1)way that we can begin to live out those values. So, I'm very proud that the committee saw forward to send this favorably. Councilmember Williams-Preston continued, We had a few other things. One (1) of the things we clarified, for those who have been following this, is that the business would agree to pay all 3