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REGULAR MEETING April 8, 2019
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, Lastly,just a comment, well, a compliment to the staff of
<br /> DCI. When you look at this as a five (5) year project, frankly, we are getting at retention. I want
<br /> to also thank Press Ganey for their willingness to work with us. And of course, the developers.
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer stated, For the record, it's been all the way up and down the chain from the
<br /> developers and, I mean, a year ago, roughly, we were sitting in the Mayor's conference room and
<br /> this has been a very involved experience. We have worked very hard on this, every member of the
<br /> team has.
<br /> Councilmember Karen White stated, We recently attended a workshop dealing with opportunity
<br /> zones. Is this building in an opportunity zone? And what would that mean in terms of any type of
<br /> impact or incentives?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer replied,All of Ignition Park is in one(1)of the Census Tracts that encompasses
<br /> an opportunity zone. I can't speak to what that means but in one (1) manner, yes, that could be a
<br /> benefit should the developer want to create a fund for folks to invest their capital gains into. The
<br /> opportunity zones are a vehicle for that. There could be investment in this building from other
<br /> outside resources, but I don't know if that has happened.
<br /> Jeff Smoke, 112 West Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, IN, replied, In terms of the opportunity
<br /> zones,there is still a lot of language being fleshed out and how those are being implemented. Some
<br /> have been already but, basically, it allows for a lower cost of capital to go in and help incentivize
<br /> projects. So, we are not planning on that for this one(1) yet because the language is still new, but
<br /> we may end up doing it in the end. It is all being worked out in real time.
<br /> Councilmember John Voorde asked, Is this an Urban Enterprise Zone? If so, are there any benefits
<br /> that accrue to anyone doing anything in a UEZ?
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer replied, I believe it is in the zone, but they haven't done much with that.
<br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bills, proponents and
<br /> opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There were none.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, I just want to, again,thank you. When we sat on this Council
<br /> a few years ago, about the whole Ignition Park, we were highly concerned that Innovation Park
<br /> was going to be the big success and Ignition Park was going to be pretty much left to fend for
<br /> itself. That has not been the case at all and I remember back to Mayor Steve about that and Mayor
<br /> Pete has continued that, and this is really creating that. The way the Catalyst is set up, when we
<br /> brought people to that building, they have been amazed. It just gives a whole different flavor to
<br /> the whole Rum Village area as you come through that section and I think it is going to really build
<br /> up that whole section and I'm pleased to be a part of this.
<br /> Mr. Buckenmeyer stated, I'm thrilled you brought that up. You bring up a great point. I think that
<br /> if and hopefully when this happens, this will be absolutely transformational. You throw five
<br /> hundred(500)people into any concentrated area, you are going to have a transformational effect.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interrupted, I can see stores coming. People are going to want
<br /> everything from restaurants, to eating places to everything else. From my house, it's going to be
<br /> much easier to just enjoy life and so, yeah.
<br /> Mr. Smoke stated, As part of this expansion, we will be adding a full-service café to Catalyst One
<br /> (1).
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interjected, Ok, I will work with you on the menu and we can do
<br /> that kind of thing, that would be cool. I'm at peace.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis made a motion to adopt Bill No. 19-26.Councilmember Gavin Ferlic
<br /> seconded this motion which carried by a roll call vote of nine (9) ayes.
<br /> 19-28 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
<br /> OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND
<br /> DESIGNATING CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN THE
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