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REGULAR MEETING April 8, 2019
<br /> Councilmember Karen White followed up, And could you share with us what the average salary
<br /> would be? The hourly wages for the employees?
<br /> Mr.Wade replied, Sure,the average is anywhere from eighteen to twenty-five dollars an hour($18
<br /> - $25/hour) depending on what the job is for that position. There are twenty in this petition that we
<br /> will hire from this project. There are five(5) that will be salaried and fifteen (15) will be labor.
<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 John Voorde stated, I would like to make a brief comment. Tax abatements are
<br /> sometimes controversial items. I'm not running for office this election cycle, but I've been to a
<br /> number of political forums. There are a multitude of candidates out there for Council and for
<br /> Mayor and sometimes I've heard Council candidates, in particular, say we've got to do away with
<br /> abatement. I wish we had seven(7) abatements before us every meeting because that means there
<br /> are people that have faith in the future of this community. We are just deferring future taxes. We
<br /> are not giving anything away. We are creating jobs and we are creating a tax base. Tax abatement
<br /> is something we should all be enthusiastic about, in my mind.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis interjected,And I agree with you and I want to thank you for sharing
<br /> that because it's just been a lot of different discussions and emails about the fact we are giving
<br /> monies away and blasting us like crazy. But they are coming out to the sixth(6th) district, another
<br /> one (1) is coming over there with Catalyst coming over there, I mean, this is wonderful. It is
<br /> wonderful seeing an old manufacturing section not used for a long period of time and now you see
<br /> it spring up in that whole area. So, I agree with your thoughts and thank you for sharing.
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott stated, I'll comment too, just to follow up on that. Without this new
<br /> investment, we wouldn't have the taxes or the jobs on that. We'll talk about spec buildings, too.
<br /> You have a field that may generate $1,600 in taxes right now, but until there is a building and
<br /> actual employees and businesses in there, that is where the taxes come from.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston interjected, I have a comment as well. I think I want to
<br /> also validate, though, the experience of what people are hearing and what they think. There is a
<br /> way, and there are times when tax abatements are overused and sometimes, we do. I think what
<br /> this Council has a commitment to do is making sure we are leveraging our tools for attracting
<br /> investment in a smart way. We talk about these opportunity zones, we're talking about the tax
<br /> abatements, we're talking about TIF and Dan and I just had a wonderful conversation about
<br /> beginning to invest in cooperative businesses. I think as we move forward, and I'm sure we will
<br /> be doing this,we need to have more conversations with the community about Redevelopment tools
<br /> and all of the different ways we can attract business, so the public has a better understanding of
<br /> how we are using these tools in a way that is beneficial for the City. So, I've found, for example,
<br /> in these cases as we move forward with these tonight,that, you know,these are great investments.
<br /> What is happening and what is coming across the table, the jobs being created, the wages, and
<br /> these are all things we've talked about as Council, I know in the short time that I've been on
<br /> Council, looking to have that information right up front so it is easy for us to see and understand
<br /> the benefit. This is about community benefit. So, there is one (1) we are going to talk about that I
<br /> will probably mention tonight about, you know, what does it mean? We have another thing on the
<br /> table about project labor agreements. How can we make sure that, as we are doing this, we can
<br /> start making sure we are benefitting the community in the best way possible? So, thank you for
<br /> bringing that up, Councilmember Voorde. I think that's a really important conversation and it's
<br /> about educating the community and staying connected, so everybody is well-informed.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden interjected, If I might, I was just going to add, location, location,
<br /> location. Really, it matters to our community when we look at the benefits of this. Just a general
<br /> comment out of the benefit of hearing all these petitions together earlier this afternoon and really
<br /> vetting them, if you would, the livable wages, the job opportunities, yes. The training
<br /> opportunities, yes. Public transportation that actually enables people to get to those opportunities,
<br /> whether they be jobs or training. The ancillary benefits of suppliers buying, if it is personal
<br /> property, the investments that are, you know, made here in Indiana and in nearby communities,
<br /> and within our own community,all of those things. One(1)of the petitioner's tonight is suggesting
<br /> a walking path, right? To support the neighborhood. The conversation about all the synergy and
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