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Mr. Pawlowski handed out examples of the implementation plan for Lincolnway West and <br />explained that the project has been ongoing since 2014. <br />Councilmember Scott stated that his perspective is that we've moved on to other projects and <br />we're going to come back to it. <br />Councilmember Dr. Varner stated that the prior administration made the decision that all future <br />development in the City would be incorporated inside the TIF district. They did that because they <br />knew that would create a self - fulfilling crisis at some point in time if we didn't have growth <br />elsewhere. It is constraining our growth with regards to assessment, because all of that new <br />assessment is in the TIF district. We are up against the caps, and there is either going to be new <br />growth or we're going to have to look to TIF to fund things such as CSO and others. What we'll <br />end up with if we don't do that is a lot of pretty things we can point to downtown or at Eddy <br />Street Commons, then at the same time there won't be enough resources for the neighborhoods. <br />Our only way to get out of this is to grow out of it. To the extent that we can utilize those TIF <br />funds to incorporate and encourage growth is going to be absolutely essential. We want to take <br />TIF resources and use them in the best way that we can, and I am more than supportive of that as <br />a member of the Redevelopment Commission. I would support using TIF money to pay for <br />Police and Fire in the 40% of our City that is a TIF area. <br />Mr. Pawlowski responded by reiterating that they are looking at what those possibilities are <br />within legal limits, and reminded the Council that TIFs do have expiration dates. The <br />administration has been interested in the assessments, and there is a nationally renowned expert <br />coming to town in August that he'll make sure to invite the Council to hear. He doesn't know <br />that we are flat lined on assessments, but we do need to explore the options for TIF and look hard <br />at the assessments and what that means for future growth. <br />Committee Chair White encouraged the administration not to get too far into the TIF analysis <br />without involving the Council in terms of updates and the opportunity to give input. In terms of <br />neighborhood engagement, she sees an excellent opportunity to hear from the neighbors. We <br />have to make sure that as it is moved forward, it is not set in stone before we start giving input. <br />Councilmember Jo Broden asked how the project allocations and the dollars get reported back to <br />the Council. Especially at a time when there has been so much turnover, it would be smart to do <br />that. As a new person on board, there is a lot of stuff that goes through the Department of <br />Community Investment, and she would appreciate a lot more information about the goals and <br />objectives and the dollars associated with those. Since being here, so many large business <br />development has been brought to the Council. Councilmember Broden asked what is the process <br />and what are the allocations for small businesses, and how are we supporting them consistently. <br />She expressed her sentiment that small business development is a very important area. <br />Councilmember Broden stated she is hearing about initiatives coming out of the Mayor's Office <br />and the Gun Violence Initiative, and she would like the Council to have more information on <br />those programs so it can look at the job training programs more holistically. <br />n <br />