05-14-12 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 14, 2012 Councilmember Tim Scott asked how many salaries with the new cap have been reached or maximized that cap? Mayor Buttigieg stated that he believes the answer is none. He stated that they tried to change the approach that they used to have. He recalled that it often used to be a matter of course that what ever maximum the Council established they would hire in at that maximum. He stated that any of those salaries that were raised and he believes that on every one of them, they have left some headroom hopefully to grow as incumbents in those positions continue to demonstrate excellence. Councilmember Schey asked that in reviewing the department reports that the administration has prepared for the Council which was very helpful, one report that she found very interesting and would love to hear the administrations thoughts was from the Community & Economic Development Department. She stated that the Council and the Mayor ran their campaigns on economic growth and development and the need for the city to really move forward in that area. She stated that this is more of statement but would like to hear thoughts from the Mayor. She stated that as a new Councilmember she found it very encouraging that in the short time that she has served on the Council, they have already including tonight’s meetings had eight (8) abatements come before the Council for substantial investments and job growth. She stated that when she reviewed the reports from Community & Economic Development Department for last year, she stated that they are already ahead of what was filed for the entire year. She stated that she thinks there were four (4) or five (5) abatements filed in 2011. So as a new Councilmember, somebody who is hoping to encourage her constituents when they ask her what they are doing in terms of economic growth and development, states that we are already seeing promising signs of growth. She stated that they have had over $50 million dollars worth of investments come before the Council for tax abatement. She stated that she would love to hear the Mayor’s comments and if he is equally encouraged. Mayor Buttigieg stated that yes that is a great point. He stated that they have noticed the same trend and it is very encouraging to see just year to date this year, the level of investment in dollars just north of $30 million dollars associated with the tax abatement program already exceeds or pace to exceed what they got in the whole year last year. He stated that it is certainly an indication in his view that there is something of a wind in sails of the local economy. He stated that he thinks it is something great for Councilmember’s to point to if anybody is asking for encouragement. He stated that it is only half way into the year, it is early and they are not out of the woods by any means when it comes to the local or regional economy, but certainly takes it as very positive news. He stated that they will be tracking that number as an indication of continued local growth, especially on the commercial/industrial side. Councilmember White asked the Mayor to share with the Council, that he had made note in his State of the City Address that he had been meeting with the school superintendent and share with the Council a little bit about those discussions and any direction that he sees the city and the school administration moving towards. Mayor Buttigieg stated that he tries to keep open lines of communication with the school corporation and do that among other things by making sure that he has a regular pulse of meetings with Dr. Schmidt. Recently they came together not only in a meeting of the two of them but one that also involved a number of local employers. He stated that the goal there was really to pull together a number of the local businesses that say they are struggling to fill open positions. He stated that even as they note that there is a great deal of local unemployment. So they pulled together Dr. Schmidt along with Dr. Coley of Ivy Tech and Gregg Volmer of Work One to try to figure out where any of those gaps are and hopefully come out of that with some direction as those conversations continue. The meetings have not resulted in any formal initiative that he would bring to Council at this time. He stated that they are clearly under a level of budget pressure, as much as we are, so there are questions about resources that they are facing and wrestling with in the school corporation. He stated that he does think that over time one area of clear collaboration that is going emerge is making sure that they are able to address challenges among the youth of the area; it seems to him to be an obvious area for collaboration 5