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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> has to be delayed, it has to be delayed. I can see where some Council Members are quite frankly <br /> saying we did the biggest change over back in 2014 that had ever been done, and it got nothing. <br /> I've been to most of these meetings and I've studied most of this. When are all of you going to <br /> work together? If this passes tonight, we'll be back to the same thing. It'll be appointments to the <br /> Board of Public Works that has no Council Members on it. It will be the Redevelopment <br /> Commission with different people, and we won't be getting to the heart of what we need to, and <br /> that is to inform neighbors. I know in our neighborhood, you have spoken plainly about West <br /> Washington Street. But, a lot of people didn't know how much money was spent on the two (2)- <br /> way conversion of Colfax. The reason why they didn't know that is because no one was reaching <br /> out, until recently, to tell them. Even though there were things being said, it wasn't getting to the <br /> people. So, how do we do that? Why would Council not want to pass this? Because, if they pass <br /> it, no one from the Administration is ever going to come back in and say there is a different way <br /> to do this. We are all here because we care about the community. I've reached the end of the line, <br /> five (5) years of looking at this, and asking when are we going to work together? Thank you. <br /> Councilmember Dr. Davis interjected,You're welcome. <br /> Committee Chair Ferlic stated, I would like to remind everyone that we already have made a <br /> recommendation,just at the Committee level on this bill but I encourage you all to touch base with <br /> Dave and Tim, as well as members of the Administration, in the time in between Committee and <br /> full Council to see if there are any amendments or other things worth considering. I will just state <br /> that, from the Administration's standpoint, I think they have tried and have done a number of <br /> things. Whether it be highlighting different items before Redevelopment meetings in the Council <br /> Member's district, as well as working collaboratively with Council in how they spend TIF dollars. <br /> They used to be spent pretty specifically and we've since shifted because of Council feedback. <br /> While I think there is always opportunity for improvement, I do think the Administration and <br /> Redevelopment has been receptive to Council in the past. <br /> Committeemember Dr. Davis interjected, They've been receptive in many ways, but in terms of <br /> what they clearly shared that we were going to do,the whole realignment, that is what Mr. Bognar <br /> is talking about. That piece of whatever their receptiveness would be has not been in place. That <br /> is what we are talking about. That part of it has not been done. <br /> Update: Commerce Project on LaSalle and Sycamore- Dave Matthews, LLC <br /> Dan Buckenmeyer, Director of Business Development for the Department of Community <br /> Investment with offices located on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, So, you all <br /> have received a great deal of communication on this. I'll just reiterate to frame it, and then have <br /> Mr. Matthews speak. Again, the Commerce Project was conceived and received support from the <br /> City of South Bend back in January 2017. At Council, it came in the form of a tax abatement and <br /> in the form of an Area Board of Zoning Appeals height variance. Then at the Redevelopment <br /> Commission, it came in the form of a TIF allotment for the project. So, the project is underway. <br /> There are still a few loose ends. We do not want to release any funding or support until a few <br /> things happen. Private funding needs to be secured so we know the project is going to happen, and <br /> then there were a few things in the development agreement that also specify the presence of a <br /> grocery store and pharmacy. That was an extensive part of the discussion, even with a <br /> representative from Martin's present at a lot of those meetings back in 2017. With us today are <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 6 <br />