01-22-2024 Common Council Meeting Minutes (Signed)

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REGULAR MEETING January 22, 2024 Erik Glavich, Director of Growth and Opportunity, 14th floor of the County-City Building presented this resolution, reconfirming a resolution made in 2019 for a Real Property Tax Abatement for the South Bend Chocolate Company and Indiana Dinosaur Museum. The resolution comes before the council again because the COVID-19 Pandemic caused delays and the project was not completed within the timeline of the original abatement. The project was started in the beginning of 2017 and the project is finally close to competition with the goal of being open by Spring 2024. In 2019, the estimate for private investment for the project was$6 million, to date the project has $17 million in private investment. With this resolution, the owner Mark Tamer will sign another memorandum of agreement to reconfirm the abatement matches his commitments due to the property being transferred from one South Bend Chocolate Company entities to another and that the land was replotted. Mark Tamer, 1502 E. LaSalle Avenue, South Bend, Indiana 46617, spoke of the delays due to landscaping, but believes that the Dinosaur Museum will bring in an excess of 100,000 visitors a year. He spoke of working with other developers in putting in hotels in the area and believes that the Museum will be a big boom to the Northeast corridor of South Bend. President McBride requests any questions to the petitioner from the council. Councilmember Dr. Davis asked how much private investment went into the Dinosaur Museum. Mr. Tamer responded roughly $17 million. Councilmember Warner asked about a job fair for the new facilities. Mr. Tamer said that they need employees desperately but have yet to pinpoint a date on the job fair but that it will be in the next thirty(30) days. Councilmember Lee asked Petitioner Tamer what his vision was to bring a Dinosaur Museum to South Bend. Mr. Tamer responded that his daughter was a big inspiration and in working with the Children Museum of Indianapolis but decided that he wanted to do it at home. President McBride opens to the public for anyone wishing to speak in favor of Resolution No. 24-03. Clerk Tirado responds that there is no one online wishing to speak in favor of the resolution. President McBride opens to the public for anyone wishing to speak against Resolution No. 24- 03. Jorden Giger, 302 S. Falcon Street, South Bend, Indiana 46619 spoke with concerns about Resolution No. 24-03. He asked three (3) questions to the petitioner regarding the transfer in ownership, childcare for workers and wages. Mr. Tuner responded to the questions stating that wages will be an estimated fifteen ($15)an hour,but it's a complicated question because there will be factory workers, museum workers and restaurant workers. Childcare will be done in-house for the employees is currently on hold but will be started within the next year due to budget restraints. Mr. Tamer then spoke of training his son for a succession plan but mentioned that he will always be a part of his family business. Erik Glavich clarified that the abatements are connected to the parcel so if the property is sold it stays with the property. Clerk Tirado responds that there is no one else online wishing to speak in against of the resolution. President McBride closed the public hearing and turned to the Council for any further comments. 4