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REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 27, 2006 <br />reports of the NFF moving their administrative offices to Dallas, Texas, along with that <br />came some rumors that that meant that the Hall of Fame would be moving as well. That <br />is not the intent of the National Football Foundation. As long as we continue to welcome <br />the Hall of Fame here. He thinks that it is important to send a strong positive message of <br />support for the College Football Hall of Fame, the role that it has played in Economic <br />Development Downtown. The national publicity that it brings to the City, the other <br />positive benefits ensuing from the Hall, that the second interim agreement does reduce <br />the public subsidy for operations of the hall. Earlier today, Councilmember Varner <br />mentioned 1.2 million going to the Hall of Fame, this year that includes $500,000 that is <br />going into a reserve account; those dollars are available for City expenses in the future. <br />If the roof needs to be replaced, if the heating and air conditioning units need to be <br />replaced, so it is actually good planning. He wished that he had reserve funds for all the <br />buildings. He believes that this is a positive step in the second interim agreement as well. <br />Further the dollars that they are using to support the operations of the hall are not local <br />property tax dollars. Yes, there are local property tax dollars used on the bond issue, <br />absolutely, but in terms of the operations using the Hotel Motel Tax and PSDF dollars, <br />has in fact relieved local tax payers of a burden. Mayor Luecke apologized to the <br />Council for not including them as fully as he should have in past discussions and <br />negotiations. He commits to in the future he will more broadly include Councilmember’s <br />in any future negotiations. He commended Councilmember Pfeifer for her leadership as <br />Chairperson of the Personnel & Finance Committee to hold a series of committee <br />hearings so that we can have better discussion and dialogue, and he welcomes that and <br />wants to continue that actually after the action is taken on the budget for the Hall of <br />Fame. He would like to come in on a regular basis, to report on activities and special <br />activities and dollars that are being brought into the hall as well. Mayor Luecke urged <br />the Council’s favorable recommendation on this bill. <br />Councilmember Varner noted that welcoming them means giving them the dollars that <br />they request. <br />Mayor Luecke stated that it means they get the specific dollars in the interim agreement. <br />He stated that he thinks that it is important for the City to not only welcome but to not <br />strangle them, and again as there will be additional meetings with the Hall, <br />Councilmember Pfeifer is scheduling, he thinks that the NFF has brought more to the <br />table and again, he should have been better in sharing some of that information earlier <br />with the Council. <br />Councilmember Varner stated that an agreement that reflects contribution by this <br />particular agreement, as well as one might think notable for what is doesn’t have as for <br />what may have, and what is doesn’t have is a financial contribution on an ongoing basis <br />from the NFF. What it doesn’t have is a commitment to raise funds even though they are <br />aware of the shortfall and he thinks that they know that there haven’t been any financial <br />contributions from the NFF since 1999, for support of operations. It also doesn’t have is <br />an ongoing effort on their part to create an endowment to support the operations and the <br />shortfall. So, while there are some nice things about the agreement, he doesn’t mean to <br />demean the efforts of everyone involved, agreements need to convene things that support <br />both sides not just one side. Councilmember Varner stated that he will not be supporting <br />this bill. <br />A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. <br />The following individuals spoke in favor of this bill. <br />Greg Ayers, South Bend/Mishawaka Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, 401 E. Colfax <br />Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill. <br />Mr. Ayers stated that he is asking the South Bend Common Council to support this bill. <br />The tourism industry in St. Joseph County is very significant to the local economy. Over <br />337 million dollars in direct visitors spending occurred in calendar year 2004. The most <br />recent study was performed by a business out of Lexington, Kentucky. By the University <br />34 <br /> <br />