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challenges with regards to the Commission and who might be coming before you. Specifically as <br /> we move to working with smaller business, do you see any potential conflict of interest relative to <br /> your new position? Also,how do you sort and separate that out as a Commissioner? <br /> Mr. Ferlic replied, That is a good question and I can see how public perception could view that as <br /> a conflict.Just to let everyone know,the organization I work for,although it functions as a Venture <br /> Capital for-profit organization,is actually a not for profit organization.Typically,if I were working <br /> for a for-profit Venture Capital Investment firm, I would take a personal interest in any of the <br /> investments we are making. That is not the case and I am not personally investing in any of these <br /> start-ups. In addition, the types of companies and development opportunities the Redevelopment <br /> Commission are seeing are not the types of companies that Elevate Ventures are investing in. We <br /> are investing in one (1) to two (2) pers on early-stage start-up o pp ortunities. The Redevelopment <br /> Commission sees large developers so there certainly has not been any conflict and I do not foresee <br /> any conflict in the future. <br /> Council President Scott dismissed Mr. Ferlic from the interview. <br /> Dr. David Varner, 1306 Clayton Drive, was asked by Council President Scott why he would like <br /> to serve as one(1)of the Council appointees to the Redevelopment Commission.Dr.Varner stated, <br /> The Redevelopment Commission, prior to the onset of the development of TIF Districts, did not <br /> have much money to spend as it either came from the Federal Government through loan programs <br /> or other block grants. Those were never addressed by the Council and rarely was the Council <br /> involved with the expenditures of those monies. With the onset, development and growth of the <br /> TIF Districts, I think we are on track to collect about $27 or $28 million TIF District money this <br /> year. Our General Fund is $55 million so our TIF dollars are approximately fifty percent(50%) of <br /> our General Fund, give or take numbers and fluctuation over the course of the year. Whether it is <br /> me or someone else on the Council, I think it is incredibly important the Council maintain our <br /> interest, with regard to the TIF, by having Councilmembers on the Redevelopment Commission. <br /> I think having a Councilmember serving as one (1) of the appointments carries more weight than <br /> someone from the City who might or might not have an interest in that area. I think it is terribly <br /> important that the Council, given the size of TIF money,maintain that interest. We only have two <br /> (2) Council appointees and these other individuals interviewing could always be appointed by the <br /> Mayor because the Mayor gets three (3) appointees. It has become so large and there are a lot of <br /> issues throughout all the districts. If you have a law that is not enforced, you don't have a law. I <br /> think it was about seven (7) years ago when Council got two (2) appointments. It is a new thing <br /> and the State Statute says the Mayor gets three (3) and the Council gets two (2). The position I <br /> take on these matters have always been in the interest of the Council and I hope to continue to do <br /> that. <br /> Council President Scott then opened the floor to questions from Councilmembers. <br /> Councilmember White asked, What is your philosophy on how and on what TIF Funds should be <br /> spent? <br /> Dr. Varner replied, When laws are written, they are sometimes very specific and sometimes very <br /> vague. The statute regarding TIF says it must be used in the TIF District or inner-serving the TIF <br /> 3 <br />