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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 23, 2008
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<br />There being no one else present wishing to speak either in favor of or in opposition to this
<br />bill, Councilmember Varner made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council
<br />concerning this bill as substituted. Councilmember Rouse seconded the motion which
<br />carried by a voice vote of eight (8) ayes.
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<br />BILL NO. 37-08 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE
<br /> COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
<br /> SOUTH BEND, INDIANA APPROVING
<br /> A SECOND ADDENDUM TO LEASE
<br /> FOR CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC
<br /> IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN THE
<br /> SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT
<br /> AUTHORITY AND THE SOUTH BEND
<br /> REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
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<br />Councilmember Puzzello made a motion to hear the substitute version of this bill.
<br />Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of eight (8)
<br />ayes.
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<br />Councilmember Henry Davis, Vice-Chairperson, Community & Economic Development
<br />Committee, reported that this committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon
<br />and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation.
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<br />Donald Inks, Director, Economic Development, 12 Floor County-City Building, South
<br />Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill.
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<br />Mr. Inks advised that this bill is a second addendum to a lease between the
<br />Redevelopment Authority and the Redevelopment Commission and is part of a Bond
<br />process and will be a lease rental revenue bond and it will be issued to fund capital
<br />improvements for Century Center. He noted for the record that substitute Bill 37-08 does
<br />reduce the lease payment from the original bill which was 1.1 Million and then in the
<br />substitute bill it is $600,000 a year on the annual lease payment. That is being funded by
<br />pledge of Hotel-Motel tax revenues, so the funding source that is already in place, should
<br />the Council approve the lease this evening.
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<br />Ms. Vivian Salle, President, Century Center Board of Managers, 120 S. St. Joseph St.
<br />South Bend, Indiana, asked for the Council’s approval of this very important bill, because
<br />the Century Center needs some very major and critical repairs and renovations. She
<br />noted that without the Council’s approval Century Center won’t be able to remain
<br />competitive. The Century Center for over 25 years been the central focal point in the
<br />downtown area and they would like to keep it that way. There is going to be a lot of new
<br />development surrounding the Century Center, there is a lot of development that is going
<br />on outside the City, that will continue to be competition, so they really need to have the
<br />dollars to maintain the center to the way in which is should be maintained, so they can
<br />remain competitive in the community.
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<br />Kurt Brown, Executive Director, Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph St., South Bend,
<br />Indiana, stated that two project are currently underway, funded by revenues from the
<br />Hotel-Motel Tax Board. They include replacement of the boilers, the original boilers
<br />were installed in 1976 and they are being replaced by six smaller and much more
<br />efficient boilers. Additionally, they have initiated a project to put a safety film on more
<br />than 1,500 skylights, so the glass will remain in tact in case of a break. Projects that are
<br />included in the bond funds for would include repairs on Island Park, the replacement o of
<br />the fire alarm and security systems, the renovation of seven (7) restrooms, the renovation
<br />of C Hall, the replace of the roofs, site lighting additions, exterior masonry work, and
<br />additional enhancements to the building, grounds and streetscape including, but not
<br />limited to , street level and river level interior and exterior signage, enhancement to the
<br />upper level offices, and enhancement to the front of building and viewing park and
<br />related improvements, and the acquisition of an interest in certain improvements
<br />previously financed with the issuance of the St. Joseph County, Indiana Special Tax
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