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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 23, 2006
<br />Center Parking Lot and the backside of the Sherland Building. In order to indulge their
<br />six or so game days a year. Mr. Schefmeyer stated that when he came here in 1977, the
<br />City had the South Bend Chamber of Commerce, again, the South Bend Chamber of
<br />Commerce, now we have the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce, there are many
<br />St. Joseph County’s in the United States, but as far as he knows there is only one South
<br />Bend. Instead of trumpeting our brand, we have diluted it. In the name of inclusion, we
<br />have forgotten who we really are. We need to rebuild the erosion of our brand before it is
<br />gone forever. Along with the significant retail development market rate residential
<br />development and major office hotel and hospital development which has already fled.
<br />Mr. Schefmeyer urged the Council to reject this City Plan, as emblematic, still defying
<br />the lack of leadership this City has had over the last decade. It is an exercise in mental
<br />gymnastics, whose principle conclusions could have been reached by a few reasonable
<br />well informed businessmen over a ten minute cup of coffee. Mr. Schefmeyer urged the
<br />Council and Mayor to enlist aid of established business people who have demonstrated
<br />their commitment to the City through development and investment and maintenance of
<br />the public good and to guide the Mayor and his Economic Development Department on
<br />how actually to attract new business and commercial activity instead of welcoming an
<br />environment which seems only lately to benefit the impoverished and anti-social
<br />elements of our society, indeed communities all over Indiana and from outlying areas in
<br />different states, which has over burdened our central business districts increasingly
<br />fragile infrastructure. Mr. Schefmeyer stated that this City Plan is a joke, thirteen
<br />chapters containing policies, action steps, subsections which few will read, let alone
<br />implement. By rejecting it, the Council can send a message to the Mayor, real progress is
<br />not just achieved by promoting diversity and Kumbaya rhetoric, nor is development
<br />encourage by simply buying eyesore properties and tearing them down. There actually
<br />has to be some business accumulated and employed. Yes, the City Plan is a joke, but by
<br />rejecting it, the Council can show that they will not be the butt of it.
<br />Sharone Smith, Vice President of Real Estate Association of North Central Indiana. She
<br />stated that they represent mainly landlords and people that wholesale properties. She
<br />stated that she thinks that it is great to have future plans, but the City is in trouble now.
<br />The City might not last five years to see this City Plan. The City has to close the tax
<br />disparity between housing providers and homeowners. Instead of giving just
<br />homeowners the homestead credit, they need to make it fair across the board. Landlords
<br />suffered greatly, their taxes went up 300 to 400 percent in 2003. The closure of the tax
<br />disparity will make the City a better place. There is very little income coming in to
<br />improve the properties. She urged the Council to keep this in mind when they are voting
<br />on the City Plan.
<br />In rebuttal,
<br />Mayor Luecke, stated that there are a number of positions that were stated here that bear
<br />refutation. First off the population of the City of South Bend, is not declining, it is
<br />increasing for the first time from 1990 to 2000. Since, 1960, the population had been
<br />declining, from 1990 to 2000 a growth had been seen, and expect that growth to continue.
<br />Yes, some businesses have left, other businesses have come into the City, the City
<br />Administration has worked well with those businesses who wish to. Certain specific
<br />projects were referenced, the law firm that left town, the Mayor stated that they did in
<br />fact work with them, and tried to find them a location in downtown, they said they
<br />wanted to build; they were not interesting in renting. The Mayor stated in fact, that he
<br />wanted to place them in Mr. Schefmeyer’s building, but they told the City that they were
<br />not interesting in renting. But, unfortunately, they were not familiar with the cost of new
<br />construction; the estimates that they had gotten were way below what actual costs would
<br />be. They also wanted to place a 30,000 square foot building on what should be reserved
<br />for a 60,000 square foot or larger building. The Mayor stated that he encourage them to
<br />look for other space. He stated that he told them if they decide that they would like to
<br />rent, there are a number of places that could be looked at. They stated again that they
<br />were not interested in renting. What are they doing in Mishawaka? They are renting!
<br />Why are they renting there, because, they got bargain basement price, because a company
<br />went out of business in Mishawaka, left Mishawaka, the company that has bought that
<br />place had to fill up their building and they were giving away space. He stated that he
<br />would have much rather seen them in Mr. Schefmeyer’s building, but unfortunately, they
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