06-23-14 Community Investment - Laserfiche WebLink

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COMMUNITY INVESTMENT JUNE 23, 2014 3:44 P.M. Committee Members Present: Gavin Ferlic, Henry Davis (AB), Valerie Schey, Derek Dieter Citizen Members Present: Austin Cabello (AB), Patrick Mullin (AB) Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Dr. Davis Varner, Oliver Davis, Karen White Others Present: Mel Reed, Katheryn Roos, Jack Smith, Erin Blasko, Chris Dressel, Tony Bogart, Kathy Hahn, John Voorde Agenda: Bill 14 -62 J.J. White Inc. - Real Property Abatement (2 yr.) Bill 14 -65 Interlocal Agreement between SB /Mishawaka And Brownfield Assessment Grant Gavin Ferlic, Chair of the Community Investment Committee opened the hearings with two bills on the agenda for consideration and recommendation to full Council. Present were committee members Gavin Ferlic, Valerie Schey and Derek Dieter. Henry Davis was absent as were citizen members Mullin and Cabello. All other Council members were present as well. The first bill 14 -62, was a petition for a 2 year real property tax abatement for J.J. White at 1904 N Kenmore. Kathy Hahn from the Community Investment Department reported that J.J. White is a general mechanical electrical contractor based in Philadelphia. They hope to make this location their Midwest hub for their expanding business. State law allows two year abatement for adaptive re -use of an existing building. Kathy went on to say 6 offices and 42 field jobs would be retained while 5 new office and 25 field positions would be created in the next two years. Tony Bogart from J.1. White was present to answer any questions. There were no questions from either the Council or the Public. On a motion from Valerie Schey, seconded by Derek Dieter the bill was forwarded to full Council with a favorable recommendation. The other bill on the agenda, 14 -65 was an interlocal agreement among the City of South Bend, Mishawaka and St. Joseph County to jointly apply for and manage USPEA Brownfield Assessment dollars. Chris Dressel from the Cl Department explained that the $600,000 available would be used first for a county -wide survey of potentially polluted sites. The survey contracted to a private firm would include a prioritization of sites for clean -up as well as estimated clean -up costs. Tim Scott asked when the last inventory was taken, Chris said 10 years ago.