[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6031879,"mediaKeyId","5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069","parentId",5462232,"title","Committee forwards salary corrections, new communications role, building‑maintenance post and several budget appropriations","audioSeconds",1782,"startMs",2188000,"endMs",3970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069&start=2188&end=3970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069/thumbnail_2188000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6031879/South-Bend-City/St-Joseph-County/Indiana/Committee-forwards-salary-corrections-new-communications-role-buildingmaintenance-post-and-several-budget-appropriations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031879-dfd93a77ff880ca20ae82e814129b0b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190561&Signature=AscLywdKNpoR~ksR2vLy4bQiQ0p5lqLfcY0tsVoCgfIDD82JN-z2sUbuiKGUpTjqm47H0cKyntr8LqKOsqsIHw9hkff97PX15~6g48IueDS~b8FgI9DHbNnH536bH5N83jxcOwNAW3zkxrsAa2Qj9sEyDUc~JFP-rzZmkrqJqMhfqUG7HGmplqlxRxpGnMlrFrU27HybzEubl58oCqmEYwRv7YAgu43nbWVYHJ6fy-oYYqsbWHZ7ejF8qhIn2Y-cDWmUH5KSvj-3PaVcYI-~hXbmkngAYDL7Y7rjTkpxMYJSYQzyYF9ssq9a7JlkmkUaAD2kzqZfVyOIO50af5Hfpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Bend City, IN","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Personnel & Finance Committee voted unanimously to forward a package of personnel and budget measures to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendations, commissioners said during the meeting.

The package included a salary correction for certain non‑captain fire positions, title changes and a new public‑facing communications role in the fire department, a Teamsters building‑maintenance position for the planned new City Hall, internal budget transfers to align program budgets, and multiple appropriations including a pending federal grant for Kennedy Park.

City Controller Kyle Willis told the committee that Bill 9‑25 corrects an omission in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations for fiscal year 2025: certain non‑captain positions that historically have been paid at the captain salary level were inadvertently omitted from the CBA chart. Willis described the change as retroactive for 2025 and requested authorization to correct the salaries and make retroactive payments. Assistant City Attorney Adam Taylor characterized the issue as a scrivener’s error in drafting rather than an operational change; Fire Chief Carl R. Buchanan said the omission was not intentional and that some employees who perform investigator/inspector/paramedic duties have long received captain pay despite not holding the captain rank in the 24‑hour captain contract.

Bill 10‑25 updates position titles in Innovation & Technology and creates a fire department non‑bargaining position described as a digital communications and multimedia training coordinator. Chief Buchanan said the role expands the previous public information function to provide more proactive, multimedia outreach about fire department programs (for example smoke alarm and carbon monoxide outreach, CPR instruction and other life‑safety education) and that the position would coordinate with existing public‑education officers.

Bill 11‑25 adds a full‑time Teamsters building‑maintenance position to serve as the primary maintenance contact for the new City Hall building; staff said the new building will require dedicated on‑site maintenance distinct from current arrangements.

Substitute Bill 12‑25 carries internal budget transfers, including alignment for community initiatives and reallocation of a personnel line to the legal department for an office clerk position.

Bill 13‑25 contains several appropriations: a $7.5 million appropriation to cover the Kennedy Park grant (staff said federal awards are paused at the federal level and the agreement is not yet executed, but the appropriation is being readied so the city can move quickly if/when the award is finalized); $1.3 million to furnish the new City Hall; $1.4 million for streets and sewers utility expenses that had been missed in the 2025 budget realignment; and a $250,000 increase to a sewer lateral connection program to meet increased demand from new housing.

All measures were advanced without public opposition and will proceed to the Committee of the Whole.

Votes at a glance (selected)

Bill 9‑25 — Salary correction for certain fire positions (retroactive to 2025)
Motion: Move that Bill 9‑25 be sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Vote: Unanimous roll call; outcome: Sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Bill 10‑25 — Title changes; creation of fire department digital communications and multimedia training coordinator
Motion: Move that Bill 10‑25 be sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Vote: Unanimous roll call; outcome: Sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Bill 11‑25 — Add Teamsters building maintenance position for new City Hall
Motion: Move that Bill 11‑25 be sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Vote: Unanimous roll call; outcome: Sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Substitute Bill 12‑25 — Budget transfers
Motion: Move that Substitute Bill 12‑25 be sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Vote: Unanimous roll call; outcome: Sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

Bill 13‑25 — Appropriations (Kennedy Park grant, City Hall furnishings, streets & sewers, sewer lateral program increase)
Motion: Move that Bill 13‑25 be sent to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Vote: Unanimous roll call; outcome: Sent to Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.

What officials said

City Controller Kyle Willis: Presented the salary corrections, title changes and appropriation summaries. He explained that many grants are reimbursable and that staff is preparing local approvals so work can proceed when federal agreement documents are available.

Fire Chief Carl R. Buchanan: Asked the committee to recognize that the omission was inadvertent and explained the new communications role would expand public education, including smoke alarm and CPR outreach.

Assistant City Attorney Adam Taylor: Called the salary omission a scrivener’s error in drafting and said both sides of the negotiating table understood captains and those positions should be paid at the captain level.

Public comment and next steps

No members of the public registered in favor or opposition during the committee hearing. The bills will proceed to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03-10-2025 South Bend City Council Committees","oneSentenceSummary","The Personnel & Finance Committee voted unanimously to forward a package of personnel and budget measures to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendations.","taxTitle","South Bend City, St. Joseph County, Indiana","taxId",3921,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6031885,"Committee backs developer‑backed TIF bonds for JC Hart’s Riverwalk apartment and parking project",1103,987000,2090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069&start=987&end=2090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069/thumbnail_987000.jpg","/articles/6031885/South-Bend-City/St-Joseph-County/Indiana/Committee-backs-developerbacked-TIF-bonds-for-JC-Harts-Riverwalk-apartment-and-parking-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031885-a255b2b0fa760f49e5322ab7151f0499/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190561&Signature=d-TgWuL6gq3cPU4OK2Tw9WAVAdH4adxcFuNJl2M6jStFplEPuFuFzY1qgy1Skaav5XWBHU5l9yS1h-X2TROvRlwVyXISqllHwT3~tbDf8lpE1BfTisbRfMlSJK2loG~6Ti8Oc0wmlio-K-LkPs7mYMGkZvgO~6IYOeHnnDUlgYbbg34ObahMF87-RIIhUma0lWMwTT8cWttAtrJbgpkM40i7foTQdUDsXfezjRsjOUNUMDu0NHWLzCEuPri~TZ4-~Il8JQqH56woyjlxZXoQurCEan~2vD8PR09GiymlgW5VEDjfYhP~VgiktOy82dA4Z3vIDsPa1NGIcmhvbp5Hxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A City committee voted unanimously to send an ordinance authorizing developer‑backed taxable tax‑increment‑financing (TIF) bonds for the JC Hart Riverwalk project to the full council with a favorable recommendation.

Staff said the ordinance would authorize the administration to issue taxable economic development TIF revenue bonds to provide upfront financing for a two‑building, 291‑unit apartment development that includes a wrapped, 398‑space parking garage. The project’s minimum private investment committed in the development agreement was listed at $61,500,000.

The financing structure described to the committee is a project‑based TIF in which 90% of the new incremental property tax revenue over a 25‑year allocation period would be pledged to cover debt service on the bond issuance; an additional 6% of increment (capped at $1,342,000) was negotiated to absorb a portion of Crowe’s parking into the structured garage. Staff estimated the bond issuance would generate about $14.8 million in gross proceeds and roughly $11.9 million in net proceeds after issuance costs and two years of capitalized interest. The wrapped garage was estimated to cost about $10.13 million, and staff said most of the incentive supports that garage construction.

Staff described the structure as developer‑backed, meaning the developer would absorb the risk if tax revenues fell short; city bond counsel also told the committee that a default on the developer obligation would not create a city general obligation or rating impact.

Staff said the project was on an accelerated timeline: the developer aimed to close on the property within the month and to close bonds this year, with a 30‑month construction schedule and demolition of the southern Crowe campus building later this year. The presentation noted that Holiday Corporation currently owns the site parcel in question, with the northern Crowe building remaining under a long‑term lease.

The committee heard that the project had been included in a newly created allocation area earlier and that the infrastructure supporting the site was expected to be partly funded by a READY2 award of $5,640,000 announced by the Regional Development Authority; staff said that award is contingent on a final contract with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).

During the discussion, attendees asked about the developer selection process and the timing and contingency of the READY2 award. Staff said the parcel at issue was privately owned and that Holiday Corporation conducted a private solicitation that led to JC Hart; the READY2 award requires a signed agreement with IEDC but staff did not anticipate an unresolved contingency.

The committee voted to forward the ordinance with a favorable recommendation; no public opposition was recorded.

Action details

Bill 8‑25 — Ordinance authorizing issuance of taxable economic development TIF revenue bonds (JC Hart Riverwalk project)
Motion: \"I'll make a motion to send Bill 8‑25 to full council with a favorable recommendation.\" (mover/second not specified in the committee record)
Vote: Unanimous roll call; committee recorded all ayes (Committee member Gooden Rogers, Committee member Bolden Simpson, Committee Vice Chair White, Citizen Member Kane Kojetzky, Citizen Member Thomas Gray, Committee Chair Warner). Outcome: Sent to full council with a favorable recommendation.

What officials said

Caleb Bauer, executive director of the Community Investment Office, summarized the structure and estimated proceeds: \"What we call a wrapped parking garage, meaning, if you're on the outside of the building, you're not going to see the parking structure itself.\" Randy Rompola, bond counsel for the city, characterized the financing as common and said, \"if the property taxes aren't generating... the city would not be at risk at all.\"

Why it matters

If the council approves the ordinance, the city will authorize bonds that unlock upfront financing to pay for infrastructure and a large portion of the structured parking garage, accelerating a major private redevelopment on the riverfront. The financing uses a project‑based TIF pledge and assigns revenue‑risk to the developer rather than the city’s general obligation.

Next steps

The ordinance will proceed to full council for consideration and final action. Staff highlighted the need to finalize the contract with IEDC for the READY2 award before disbursement of that grant funding.","A committee recommended a favorable vote to authorize developer‑backed taxable TIF revenue bonds to support JC Hart Development Company’s two‑building riverfront project, including a 398‑space wrapped parking garage and 291 apartments; the developer would absorb shortfalls in the project‑based TIF pledge.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6031890,"Committee forwards confirmations for three tax-abatement packages including HRP headquarters and Inwoods rehabilitation",833,139000,972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069&start=139&end=972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5462232-a1d1da331fcfafb15e57596957dbf069/thumbnail_139000.jpg","/articles/6031890/South-Bend-City/St-Joseph-County/Indiana/Committee-forwards-confirmations-for-three-tax-abatement-packages-including-HRP-headquarters-and-Inwoods-rehabilitation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6031890-a0b37d13f111cfebb66649dedb48f829/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190561&Signature=c1vf3ofZ86LXvtMqYa9aGwZf7tjaD~tgtzOKeL2Mfy8VmNjLWs-cK3uA1qi4YRNBdQhSq2zY~u84fsbC2YL-Vqjif~7TdumkWaf2IviF~6rIbabRYV-HQIDuTPjsZMyHNkGsUwExAOZL8ruHlsWs4ccCYQvH1ivgcMXsjGc5mGI-3JAWnm8PRyv13-BeuAL3HU-vtNLmv4NT4~9fpkHFkGn9UsClpb08cqmoNsR0Wy6oTYjcFByJNEvMI9Pu6BrttNNylN2TcV-WXqi6c97ODo-SixVoGzEM9r774zCxj~6u4WHpb6L~HX9P4fAhVNLSCF8JZZtB2qXIYK-KqaTJ7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A City committee voted to send three confirming tax‑abatement resolutions to the City Council with favorable recommendations, advancing incentives tied to a new HRP Construction headquarters and to a downtown rehabilitation project.

The resolutions confirm previously adopted designating resolutions and would finalize abatement terms that were presented two weeks earlier, staff told the committee. The HRP related abatement would apply to a parcel recently annexed into the city, and the Inwoods proposals would support rehabilitation of a long‑vacant, mixed‑use building.

The confirmations matter because state law requires separate designating and confirming resolutions for tax abatements, staff said. The measures will return to the full council for final action.

Staff described the HRP project as a seven‑year real‑property tax abatement for an entity called Blueprint LLC related to HRP Construction. HRP is planning a new regional headquarters on land recently annexed to the city. Staff estimated the developer’s total project investment at about $7,300,000, said the expansion would create six new full‑time jobs (with payroll around $500,000) and retain 48 current employees, and presented tax estimates showing a jump from a largely undeveloped parcel with roughly $6,000 annually in taxes to about $130,000 a year after the project is complete.

Staff also estimated that, over the seven‑year abatement period, the company would be abated about $500,000 in property taxes while paying about $400,000 in taxes during that same period. Presenters paused for the developer to answer technical questions; HRP representative Matt Cain identified himself and gave a local address for the record.

The committee heard two confirming resolutions tied to the rehabilitation of the Inwoods Building, a roughly 1920s storefront that operated for decades as a grocery and had been vacant for about 25 years. Penny Hill Properties purchased the property and has begun cleanup and stabilization work, staff said.

Staff estimated the Inwoods investment at about $1,440,000, said the project aims to reactivate storefronts and provide space for small businesses and artists, and gave a conservative employment estimate of at least eight new jobs. Current property tax receipts for the building were described as about $6,700 annually and estimated to rise to roughly $35,000 after rehabilitation. The committee was presented with two abatement structures: a vacant‑building abatement to reduce existing taxes during rehabilitation and a mixed‑use real property abatement that would apply to incremental assessed value after the project completes; a 10‑year abatement term was described in the declaratory resolution.

Committee members offered supportive remarks about the projects as local investment. No public speakers registered for any of the three bills during the committee hearing.

Votes at a glance

Bill 25‑17 — Confirming resolution (HRP/Blueprint LLC), seven‑year real property abatement
Motion: Move that Bill 25‑17 be sent to full council with a favorable recommendation. (mover/second not specified in the record)
Vote: Unanimous roll call; committee recorded all ayes (Committee member Gooden Rogers, Committee member Bolden Simpson, Committee Vice Chair White, Citizen Member Thomas Gray, Citizen Member Kane Kancheski, Committee Chair Warner). Outcome: Sent to full council with favorable recommendation.

Bill 25‑18 — Confirming resolution (Inwoods Building), vacant‑building tax abatement
Motion: Move that Bill 25‑18 be sent to full council with a favorable recommendation. (mover/second not specified)
Vote: Unanimous roll call; all ayes recorded. Outcome: Sent to full council with favorable recommendation.

Bill 25‑19 — Confirming resolution (Inwoods Building), mixed‑use incremental value abatement
Motion: Move that Bill 25‑19 be sent to full council with a favorable recommendation. (mover/second not specified)
Vote: Unanimous roll call; all ayes recorded. Outcome: Sent to full council with favorable recommendation.

What officials said

\"They will be consolidating operations around the region, into South Bend. So, it's an exciting project that we're happy that they've chosen South Bend to continue their operations,\" staff said while describing the HRP submittal, and council members thanked the developer for keeping jobs in the city and for engaging with local schools.

Why it matters

If adopted by the full council, the confirming resolutions would finalize abatement terms that reduce near‑term property tax receipts in exchange for private investment and projected new jobs. Staff presented estimates of post‑project assessed value and ongoing annual tax receipts for both projects to show projected fiscal changes.

The committee advanced the measures without public opposition and will reconvene for final council consideration later in the evening.","A City committee voted unanimously to send three confirming resolutions on tax abatements to the full council: a seven‑year real property abatement tied to HRP Construction/Blueprint LLC, and two abatements (vacant‑building and mixed‑use) for the Inwoods Building rehabilitation by Penny Hill Properties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards salary corrections, new communications role, building‑maintenance post and several budget appropriations

Committee backs developer‑backed TIF bonds for JC Hart’s Riverwalk apartment and parking project

Committee forwards confirmations for three tax-abatement packages including HRP headquarters and Inwoods rehabilitation