Laserfiche WebLink
REGULAR MEETINGNOVEMBER 27, 2006 <br />of Notre Dame home football weekends specifically is definitive the #1 reason to visit <br />nd <br />South Bend/St. Joseph County, the Football Hall of Fame is the 2 most visited attraction <br />in the City of South Bend, by out of town visitors. The hall brings people to the <br />community for a variety of events. Its efforts to draw these visitors is directly related to <br />the marketing exposure they achieve in corporate partnerships relationships with NCAA <br />and its member institution as well as the contributions from the NFF, allowing for South <br />Bend to receive positive exposure for the Community and its image to tens of thousands <br />of people. The Hall of Fame also positively impacts out bids to bring meetings and <br />conventions business to downtown South Bend, especially Century Center. Specific to <br />its location to downtown South Bend the Hall of Fame has been a significant reason for <br />many of the current and planned future developments. Its presence has definitively <br />contributed to development of new businesses as well as become a significant gathering <br />point for many special events. Many of which are enjoyed by local residence. He hopes <br />that this resolution will allow for the City to collectively move forward and discuss ways <br />for the Hall to be more successful, in all facets of its operations and to have continued <br />downtown and community development realized. The City of South Bend’s tourism <br />portfolio is enhanced by the presence of the College Football Hall. He respectfully <br />requests the Council’s favorable consideration of this bill. <br />Mr. Richard Nussbaum, Attorney at Law, 210 S. Michigan, South Bend, Indiana, spoke <br />in favor of this bill. <br />Mr. Nussbaum commended Councilmember Pfeifer, Chairperson, Personnel & Finance <br />for the series of hearings that accommodating with this resolution.As the Mayor said, it <br />sends a strong message to the outside world that this Council is in support of the hall here <br />in South Bend, and that it will stay here in South Bend. He was pleased to brief the <br />Council on a historical background with regard to the hall. Which has now spanned more <br />than fifteen years. This included discussion about the original hall proposal and the <br />definitive agreements that resulted from that proposal. And the interim agreements <br />which have modified that original proposal. As well as to have a discussion with regard <br />to public funding of the hall and the sources of the public subsidy that are mentioned in <br />the interim agreements. This was done by himself at the request of the Mayor and the <br />Council and as a volunteer. He hoped that it was beneficial to the members of the <br />Council, so that the discussions that are being held here tonight and that the discussions <br />that will be held in the future will be done based on the facts. He is pleased to see that <br />the Council is considering support of the second interim agreement. If there is blame to <br />be made with regard to what is contained in that interim agreement, he would share in <br />that blame because, he was one of those individuals who helped to negotiate it. He told <br />the Council that he is proud of what they did, it was a give and take, and there is many, <br />many good things about this interim agreement far better than the original agreements <br />that were set up some years ago. There were three goals that were to be met. 1. To <br />provide resources necessary for the success of the Hall of Fame. Mr. Nussbaum stated <br />that he has seen from meetings this afternoon that the Council is hopeful that the Hall of <br />Fame is successful in South Bend. That these resources would not include any property <br />tax dollars for the operations of the Hall of Fame, and have been successful in that regard. <br />That is an important point that needs to be addressed. He noticed that there is some <br />st <br />media here, and hope that they will hear what he is saying, that since January 1 2001, <br />there has not been a single dollar of property taxes that have gone to the operations of the <br />Hall. As the Mayor has indicated there have been property tax dollars that have gone <br />toward the building of the Hall. That is the City’s building and investment. But as far as <br />the operations are concerned, these interim agreements provide that there is no property <br />tax dollars that are going toward the operations of the hall nor is there any risk of any <br />deficits with regard to the interim agreements. The second goal is that the public subsidy <br />that is found and has occurred is capped and that it decreases over time. And that has <br />been accomplished. The third goal is that the City’s investment in the building is <br />protected and the Council has taken the first step toward that this evening by transferring <br />funds into a capital reserve account. The Hall of Fame budget is about a million and half <br />dollars of that in 2006 the public subsidy is $600,000 and the NFF contributed $900,000. <br />It is about a 60/40 split at this point. The resources from the public are two basic sources <br />for that, one is the hotel/motel tax and the second is the PSDF. Due to the efforts of Greg <br />Ayers and many others in this community, those hotel motel tax dollars continue to <br />35 <br /> <br />