Redevelopment Commission Meeting Minutes 2016

CALL TO ORDER:

Mr. Barenie called the January 28, 2016, special meeting of the Redevelopment Commission meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Clerk Treasurer, Beth Hernandez took roll call with the following members present: Michael Forbes, Mark Barenie, Steve Hastings, Christen Jorgensen and Greg Volk. John Devries was absent. Attorney David Austgen was present. Town Manager, Steve Kil, was present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JANUARY 29, 2015 SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 25, 2015 SPECIAL MEETING

Mr. Barenie stated the first item on the agenda was approval of the special meetings held on January 29, 2015 and June 25, 2015. He stated he has reviewed the minutes, and he has no adjustment or amendments. He asked if any Commission member had any adjustments or amendments. There were none.

Mr. Barenie stated he would entertain a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Forbes made a motion to approve the minutes of the special meeting of January 25, 2015 and June 25, 2015. Mr. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (5/1). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Mr. Barenie stated the next item on the agenda was the election of officers. Mr. Forbes nominated Mark Barenie for the position of president. Mr. Hastings seconded the motion.

Mr. Barenie asked if there were any other nominations. There were no other nominations. Mr. Barenie asked for all those in favor to say aye. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

Mr. Barenie asked for a nomination for vice-president. Mr. Barenie nominated Christian Jorgensen to sit as vice-president. Mr. Volk seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously carried by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

Mr. Barenie asked for a nomination for secretary. Mr. Barenie nominated Michael Forbes to sit as secretary. Mr. Volk seconded the motion. Mr. Barenie asked if there were any other nominations. There were no other nominations. Mr. Barenie asked everyone in favor to say aye. The motion was unanimously carried by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE AND THE FISCAL BODY --- ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2015.

Mr. Barenie stated the first item under New Business is the Annual Report to the Executive and the Fiscal Body, and Acceptance and Approval for Calendar Year 2015. Mr. Barenie stated that he would like to talk about the highlights of the St. John Redevelopment Commission for 2015.

Mr. Barenie stated that TIF Districts One (US Route 41) and Two (Route 231), total income for 2015 was $778,000.00. Mr. Barenie stated that this is income is slightly up from last year. He stated income went up approximately $10,000.00 due to a partial year of the McDonalds Restaurants.

Mr. Barenie stated expenditures for 2015 is a total $944,000.00. Mr. Barenie stated that these funds, for the most part, went to Lake Central Drive, purchasing of some additional road, an enhanced traffic signal and also 600 feet of land that was needed.

He stated some paving was also done in the TIF Districts. Mr. Barenie stated that expenditures were approximately the same as last year when $927,000.00 was spent, most of it for land acquisition and roadway repairs in Ravenswood.

Mr. Barenie asked if there were any questions. There were no questions. Mr. Barenie stated that he would entertain a motion to accept and approve the Annual Report and Comprehensive Plan for Calendar Year 2015. Mr. Jorgensen made a motion to accept and approve the Annual Report and Comprehensive Plan for Calendar Year 2015. Mr. Volk seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

B. ACCEPTANCE OF THE LAKE COUNTY ANNUAL ---- LAKE COUNTY AUDITOR FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE JANUARY, 2016 ASSESSMENT DAY.

Mr. Barenie stated the next item on the agenda was acceptance of the Lake County Auditor for the Capture of the Assessment for January, 2016, Assessment Day. Mr. Barenie stated that there are recommendations from Mr. Kil that the Town should move with.

Mr. Barenie stated, looking ahead, there are some projects. He stated that these are good recommendations for both TIF Districts. Mr. Barenie stated if there is no discussion on the two letters, he would entertain a motion to approve the two notices to the Lake County Auditor as written. Mr. Forbes made a motion to approve the letters as written. Mr. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

REPORTS & CORRESPONDENCE:

Mr. Barenie moved on to Reports and Correspondence. He noted there is a tremendous amount of information in the packets. He asked if any of the members wished to discuss any item. There was no discussion.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Mr. Barenie opened the floor to public comment related to the Redevelopment Commission only. He called for public comment.

Joe Hero, 11723 South Oak Ridge Drive:
Mr. Hero stated he would like the Redevelopment Commission, with the new members, to ask the State Board of Accounts to do an audit on all of the expenditures of TIF money to see if these funds were appropriately spent. Mr. Hero stated he has a questions, especially about Lake Central and the traffic signal that was put in.

Mr. Hero stated, to him, it serves no useful purpose. He stated the Town had an opportunity to connect to Golden Pond and that has been blocked off. He stated that, right now, to get to the light from the strip mall, one must go through the parking lot at Livio’s or the alley in back. Mr. Hero stated that he thinks there should be an audit of the TIF District to see if there is any collusion with any developers or if any developers received any special favors outside the Indiana Code.

Mr. Barenie called for additional public comment. There was no further public comment. Mr. Barenie closed the floor to public comment.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Barenie stated he would entertain a motion to adjourn. “So moved” by Mr. Forbes. Mr. Jorgensen seconded the motion. The motion was carried by voice vote (5/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

(The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.)

ATTEST

Beth R Hernandez Clerk-Treasurer

CALL TO ORDER:

Mr. Barenie called the July 28, 2016, special meeting of the Redevelopment Commission meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Clerk Treasurer, Beth Hernandez took roll call with the following members present: Mark Barenie, Christian Jorgensen, Michael Forbes, and Steve Hastings. Attorney David Austgen was present. Town Manager, Steve Kil, was present. Mr. Greg Volk was absent. Dr. John DeVries was absent.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JANUARY 28, 2016 SPECIAL MEETING

Mr. Barenie stated the next item on the agenda was approval of the special meeting minutes for January 28, 2016. He asked for any comments.

Mr. Barenie stated he would entertain a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Forbes made a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Jorgensen seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (4/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Resolution No. 2016-07-28 RDC, a resolution approving the Boyer Properties LLC Economic Improvement Agreement.

Mr. Barenie asked Mr. Austgen or Mr. Kil for any comment. Mr. Kil stated that this is the typical agreement that you would enter into prior to the commencement of same. It includes the development responsibilities as well as the Town responsibilities.

Appended to it is the St. John Commercial Development proposal that would be made by Mr. Boyer as well as a spreadsheet prepared by Mr. Gender, which lays out all of the financial information that would be included as part of it. It identifies square footages. It identifies the cost of improvements that are going to be borne by each party. It identifies the value of the center and things of that nature. Mr. Kil believes all of the members have seen the plans or the presentation at some level. He said that Mr. Boyer is present if there are any questions for him. Mr. Kil mentioned this agreement lays out the nuts and bolts of the project, and it is the first step. Mr. Kil noted that this will also be on the Town Council agenda if it goes forward from the Redevelopment Commission to approve the agreement and commence with the engineering and land acquisition. He said that if anyone has any specific questions he would be happy to answer them, or Mr. Austgen and Mr. Boyer are available to answer as well.

Mr. Barenie referred to the financials, specifically Exhibit D. He asked Mr. Kil if Mr. Gender, from Gender & Company, and his team put these financials together. Mr. Kil responded, "Yes," the financials were prepared by our Town financial advisor, which is Gender & Company.

Mr. Jorgensen referred to the agreement where it states that construction is to commence no later than December 31, 2017. He said that to his understanding this is a lenient date, and that we are expecting and hoping that construction begins prior to December 31, 2017. Mr. Kil said that is accurate.

Mr. Barenie asked for any other comments or questions. Hearing no further comments or questions, Mr. Barenie said he would entertain a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2016-07-28. Mr. Forbes made a motion to adopt the resolution. Mr. Hastings seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously by voice vote (4/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

REPORTS & CORRESPONDENCE:

Mr. Barenie moved on to Reports and Correspondence. There were none.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Joe Hero. 11723 South Oak Ridge Drive:
Mr. Hero stated that he would like to remonstrate against this development and incorporate his comments at the public hearing in front of the Plan Commission as part of his remonstrance. He also objected that there are dedicated streets to the Town in this development which will cost the taxpayers money. All the internal streets should be paid for by the developer and the successors. Mr. Hero said he believes there was no proper meeting notice for this meeting on the bulletin board outside. He thinks we need to do soil borings for peat-bog in that area. The development will cause traffic and will push traffic out to the side streets. Mr. Hero said for all of these reasons he remonstrates against this project. It should be re-studied. He said we are looking at this plan coming out on Joliet Street and putting it on 95th, which is going to shove all the traffic to the neighborhoods. Mr. Hero stated that this project is "ill-planned" and should be re-evaluated.

Ms. Hernandez noted that the meetings were properly noticed on both the indoor and outdoor bulletin boards as well as online. Mr. Hero: 48 hours in advance? Ms. Hernandez responded that they were posted over 72 hours in advance.

Mr. Barenie said he would like to note that we have been looking at this plan for about 16 months.

Mr. Barenie closed the floor to public comment.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Barenie stated he would entertain a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Mr. Jorgensen. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hastings. The motion was carried by voice vote (4/0). Ayes --- all. Nays --- none.

(The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.)

ATTEST

Beth R Hernandez Clerk-Treasurer