July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Mayor favors proposal made by businessman (03/07/06)
Portland City Council
By By RACHELLE HAUGHN-
A local businessman has an idea which he believes could tempt people to move to Portland.
And the city’s mayor is on board.
Portland resident Bryan Alexander presented what he titled a Quality of Life Initiative Monday to members of the Portland City Council.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said this morning, he plans to appoint a five-member committee in the near future.
“I think this is a way to empower more people. I certainly think this is something that I’d like to move forward with. I’ll be acting upon that,” he said.
This group would work with various committees to improve the quality of life in the city, Alexander said.
Group members would come up with suggestions to improve the look of storefronts in downtown Portland and encourage growth west and north of the city. These ideas would then be suggested to city committees. Making these changes could encourage people to move here, work here and raise their families here, he told the council.
“Jobs follow people,” he said after the meeting. “People want to live in a cool city.”
Council members did not comment on the idea.
In other business, the council voted to install speed bumps on an east-west alley which runs west from Park Street on the west side of Portland.
Rogers and Janice Durham, 1187 W. Arch St., asked that the speed bumps be installed to slow down traffic on the alley, making it safer for young children who live in the area.
Rogers said the alley spans about two blocks and he said that traffic sometimes travels at 40 to 50 mph. Children like to ride their scooters and bicycles down the alley, he said.
“I recommend multiple speed bumps be added before someone’s child is injured,” he said.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said three speed bumps were installed on the alley this morning.
Also Monday, the council:
•Voted 5-1 to pass the declaratory resolution and economic development plan created by the Portland Redevelopment Commission.
Council member Jim Sanders cast the lone dissenting vote. Council president Glen Bryant did not attend the meeting.
The items will next be discussed during a public hearing which is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m.
Before voting, council member Jerry Leonhard asked why the declaratory resolution says the tax increment financing (TIF) district will expire on Feb. 23, 2036.
Bob Quadrozzi, redevelopment commission president, said a state statute requires the wording to be included. The maximum a TIF district can last is 30 years. Although the city is not considering a 30-year TIF district, including this wording will eliminate the need to create another resolution in the future, he said.
“I would like to see no more than 20” years for the TIF, he said.
•Granted two tax abatement requests by FCC (Indiana) Mfg. LLC, 555 Industrial Park Drive, Portland.
The company is requesting a five-year abatement to purchase automotive clutch manufacturing and assembly equipment at a cost of $3.5 million and a 10-year abatement to expand its current facility by 43,000 square feet. The expansion is estimated to cost $2.5 million.
Quadrozzi, who also is the executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, said members of the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently voted to recommend the council members grant the requests.
A tax abatement allows companies to pay taxes in increasing increments over several years, phasing in the additional taxes due on the capital investment.
•Heard Hosier announce that he is leaving for Washington D.C. today to attempt to get federal funds earmarked for the Hudson Family Park project.
Hosier said he and Phil Metzger, manager of business development for The Schneider Corporation, will go over the final plans of the project with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th District) and U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana). If they choose, Pence and Lugar will then take to the request to have funds set aside for the project to appropriations committees.
Schneider is doing the engineering work on the project.
Hosier is hoping to get funds to pay for phase three of the park project, which includes construction of the shelter, parking, amphitheater, playgrounds and recreational fields. This phase is expected to be the most costly of the three.[[In-content Ad]]
And the city’s mayor is on board.
Portland resident Bryan Alexander presented what he titled a Quality of Life Initiative Monday to members of the Portland City Council.
Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said this morning, he plans to appoint a five-member committee in the near future.
“I think this is a way to empower more people. I certainly think this is something that I’d like to move forward with. I’ll be acting upon that,” he said.
This group would work with various committees to improve the quality of life in the city, Alexander said.
Group members would come up with suggestions to improve the look of storefronts in downtown Portland and encourage growth west and north of the city. These ideas would then be suggested to city committees. Making these changes could encourage people to move here, work here and raise their families here, he told the council.
“Jobs follow people,” he said after the meeting. “People want to live in a cool city.”
Council members did not comment on the idea.
In other business, the council voted to install speed bumps on an east-west alley which runs west from Park Street on the west side of Portland.
Rogers and Janice Durham, 1187 W. Arch St., asked that the speed bumps be installed to slow down traffic on the alley, making it safer for young children who live in the area.
Rogers said the alley spans about two blocks and he said that traffic sometimes travels at 40 to 50 mph. Children like to ride their scooters and bicycles down the alley, he said.
“I recommend multiple speed bumps be added before someone’s child is injured,” he said.
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said three speed bumps were installed on the alley this morning.
Also Monday, the council:
•Voted 5-1 to pass the declaratory resolution and economic development plan created by the Portland Redevelopment Commission.
Council member Jim Sanders cast the lone dissenting vote. Council president Glen Bryant did not attend the meeting.
The items will next be discussed during a public hearing which is scheduled for March 16 at 6 p.m.
Before voting, council member Jerry Leonhard asked why the declaratory resolution says the tax increment financing (TIF) district will expire on Feb. 23, 2036.
Bob Quadrozzi, redevelopment commission president, said a state statute requires the wording to be included. The maximum a TIF district can last is 30 years. Although the city is not considering a 30-year TIF district, including this wording will eliminate the need to create another resolution in the future, he said.
“I would like to see no more than 20” years for the TIF, he said.
•Granted two tax abatement requests by FCC (Indiana) Mfg. LLC, 555 Industrial Park Drive, Portland.
The company is requesting a five-year abatement to purchase automotive clutch manufacturing and assembly equipment at a cost of $3.5 million and a 10-year abatement to expand its current facility by 43,000 square feet. The expansion is estimated to cost $2.5 million.
Quadrozzi, who also is the executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, said members of the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently voted to recommend the council members grant the requests.
A tax abatement allows companies to pay taxes in increasing increments over several years, phasing in the additional taxes due on the capital investment.
•Heard Hosier announce that he is leaving for Washington D.C. today to attempt to get federal funds earmarked for the Hudson Family Park project.
Hosier said he and Phil Metzger, manager of business development for The Schneider Corporation, will go over the final plans of the project with U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-6th District) and U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana). If they choose, Pence and Lugar will then take to the request to have funds set aside for the project to appropriations committees.
Schneider is doing the engineering work on the project.
Hosier is hoping to get funds to pay for phase three of the park project, which includes construction of the shelter, parking, amphitheater, playgrounds and recreational fields. This phase is expected to be the most costly of the three.[[In-content Ad]]
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