MAYOR JOE’S PUBLIC FORUM

August 13, 2013 MAYOR JOE’S PUBLIC FORUM

That was Gnarls Barkley with his hit song “Crazy” • The lyrics include: • “I remember when I lost my mind” • “Does that make me CRAZY” • Hopefully after tonight’s presentation you won’t think that he wrote this song about me • FYI – the Forum was standing room only and I was preparing for a protest of the naysayers – this never happened. • So please excuse all of the “Slovak” philosophy Setting the tone!

“If you’re not moving forward, you’re losing ground.” ~ attributed to many While change is not always welcome or viewed as positive initially, I hope to prove that if it is done properly, it will benefit the community Here’s a local example: Philosophy to start the day

“That’s their interpretation of beautifying the lakefront. I’ve told a lot of people I don’t understand how you take a baseball field with grass and make it a parking lot and that beautifies the area.”~ WHS Baseball Coach Kevin Lenz – NWI Times That of course was before he had a chance to see or play at Oil City Stadium – The quote obviously still serves as inspiration for me. Philosophy to start the day

“One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals” ~ Michael Korda, author I feel we have momentum, now we need to continue to push the envelope Philosophy to start the day

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go – so long as you do not stop.” ~ Confucius I had hoped by sharing that quote with you today, that you would forgive me for how long it takes to actually institute change! Philosophy to start the day

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.~ Albert Einstein As you’ll hear today, I may not have all of the answers or be 100% correct in every one of my assumptions, but it’s time to take some risks and change how we do certain things Philosophy to start the day

Mayor Joe’s Definition of “Controversial”(the word will appear several times in the presentation) • Something can be viewed as controversial if it can impact a person’s: • Employment • Salary or Income (Cost $$) • Home or property • Quality of Life • Philosophical believes • Or any Change that does not have unanimous support Philosophy to start the day

Full Slate of Interesting – ControversialTopics • I usually thoroughly enjoy these Forums • But… this will be a tough presentation for me • I am in the process of making several difficult decisions that impact a lot of people…and that’s not easy • For those of you who have not attended one of my past Forums, here’s a quick overview: • I’ll run through my presentation as quickly as possible to stay on schedule – probably 45 minutes or so • I’d ask that you please hold your questions to the end • At the end of the presentation, I’ll stay as long as needed to answer your questions Agenda

Funding Plan Overview WCC – YMCA Project Stadium District Plan New Hotel Concept Water & Sewer rates Residential Matching Assistance (Grants) Quiet Zone (Whistle Ban) Miscellaneous Projects Agenda

Important background info for today’s presentation Extremely unusual & complex financial situation Our Assessed Valuation (Taxable Property) is expected to grow significantly in coming years The growth will be short lived and then drop back down to slightly more than it is today Goal – Capture the maximum opportunity for City Funding plan overview

New growth will be captured in our TIF District: • Allows us to borrow to fund capital improvement projects • While there is not enough time to discuss the specifics at a Public Forum, this is the strategy that provides the biggest bang for our buck • Important Factors: • We don’t yet know all the financial details • Money must be spent on Projects • All debt will be repaid with Industrial tax revenue Funding plan overview

With that said, we are hoping that many of the projects in our plan can be funded in the short term, versus waiting to pay as we go Because the Funds are limited, my hardest task is to identify the projects that provide the biggest benefit to the community This was a cautious explanation suitable for public consumption Funding plan overview

I thought a brief review of the Funding Plan would clarify: • That there will be Capital Funds available • Why we will take on new debt – (NWI Times) • That none of the debt repayment will be paid by the residents • I was expecting to formally announce a few of these new projects today, but our final Financial Analysis was not completed in time. • So until the money is in the bank, it’s prudent for me to take the cautious approach Funding plan

History • I know many of us “Old-timers” grew up in this building • It is an important part of our community and our past history • I’ve fought hard to maintain the building and invest in improvements over the years • But, it’s a huge financial drain on the City’s budget WCC opportunity

Background • $750,000 in (WCC only) annual operating expenses • $250,000 in (WCC only) annual revenue • $500,000 annual loss or subsidy • None of the expected Capital $$ can be used to offset these operating costs • This loss was much worse in previous years, but improvements made have reduced the burden • New windows • Energy efficiency improvements • Staffing changes • Increased revenue WCC opportunity

Background • Why is the subsidy so large? • Inherited building – but no budget to support it • Laws prevent or limit us from making a profit • Always more difficult for a public entity to increase costs or reduce the workforce • Always had surplus funds to funnel to operation • Tax Caps have changed that dynamic • Maximus “Good Government” Study (2005/2006) • Recommended the sale of the building WCC opportunity

Decided to explore all options before divesting property • City Actions to Date • Internal Task Force reviews • Commissioned an IU-SPEA Study to review the operation and make recommendations • Study indicated the best “Financial” solution was to privatize the building as a Full-Service Heath Club • Makes sense – Gyms, Pool, Track, Fitness area, etc. • Issues with this solution included: • Displaced Youth/Seniors - Cost associated with the displacement • Difficult to return to current operation if project failed • Reviewed and studied other options including: • Streamlined City Operation • Privatization – non-Health Club operation • Sale of Building WCC Opportunity

Ideal Solution would: • Continue to provide community minded programming similar to today’s operation • Continue to serve all age groups of the community • Allow the City to maintain ownership of the building • Reduce or eliminate the City’s $500K subsidy • Allow for a workable “Exit Strategy” • The only option that provided all of these benefits was the YMCA WCC OPPORTUNITY

Lease the building for $1 per year • YMCA to pay all operating costs associated with their operation including: • Staffing • Utilities • Maintenance • YMCA to have complete control of the operation • Set their own rates YMCA proposal

Benefits include: • Immediate savings of the $500K annual subsidy • Continued and Improved Community Minded Programming and Facilities for all ages • New operation will be much improved over today • YMCA Expertise • Renovations • New equipment • Additional Programming • Childcare YMCA proposal

Benefits include: • Continued availability of facility for: • Emergency Shelter • Public Events • Building remains under City Control and Ownership • We will essentially act as the landlord and maintain the primary structural components of the building • Only people who choose to use the Facility will pay YMCA proposal

Important Factors: • Displaced employees will have multiple options • Bid/Transfer into open positions • Early retirement • Interview with the YMCA • Severance to all, including part-time employees • City will invest to renovate the lower level and complete the lobby restoration as planned • This would have occurred regardless of the option chosen • All donations to the lobby renovation will be used as intended YMCA proposal

Important Factors: • At least 4 of the 12 bowling lanes will be removed • Option to remove all 12 lanes is being reviewed • Cost – Funding dependent • Bowling League options for this season limited YMCA proposal

Important Factors: • YMCA is an extremely reputable organization • They have funding avenues simply not available to the City • They already have a proven track record in NWI YMCA proposal

Timetable • Signed MOU in place • Finalize YMCA Lease ASAP • Employee bidding and transfers by year end • Close building on January 1, 2014 for construction • Estimated savings of closing the building for construction ranges between $100,000 - $200,000 • Construction January – June • Reopen under YMCA control in June-July • If we cannot agree to terms with the YMCA by the end of construction, we will operate the renovated facility YMCA

This is simply the best business decision Not everyone will agree with it, but we can’t continue operating in the deep red YMCA

Now for controversial project #2 I hope you had a chance to review the graphic to get a feel for what I am proposing Stadium district plan

This project will: • Provide the needed infrastructure for new BP investment • Provide the needed attractions to create a destination place • Provide new “diverse” residential opportunities • Provide multiple new commercial opportunities • Serve as the ‘Gateway’ into the Lakefront Park Stadium district plan

While there are still some moving parts in the Plan, here are some of the highlights: • The project area includes all properties east of the Schrage Avenue east alley and north of 121st • All of Old Standard Avenue • All of Old Center Street • All of 119th Street • All of Front Street • Over 75 properties will need to be acquired(Additional comments on this topic later) Stadium district plan

The Proposed Plan (market driven) includes: • A variety of New Residential units • New commercial/multi-use buildings • Senior Citizen market-rate apartments • Multiple new restaurants and eateries • Entertainment venues – Museums – Sports Facilities • An allotted area for new BP development • Road closures and new roadways • Oil City Stadium additions • 100’s of new parking spaces Stadium district plan

Moving Parts - Entertainment Venues • Museums • Whiting-Robertsdale Museum (Refinery Component) • Chicago Baseball Museum • Strong commitment to lease the 2nd wing if we build our museum • National Mascot Hall of Fame • Moved from a Pipe Dream to a reasonable chance • Meeting with their Team inWhiting in September • Sports Venues • Expansion of Oil City Stadium to accommodate Minor League Team • Currently reviewing a proposal to include an Ice Arena to accommodate a Minor League Hockey Team • Children’s Activity Center option Stadium district plan

Market Based Discussion • Heavy developer interest • Financing projects in Whiting is an issue • No development history • No market data to support condo sales prices • No history to support high rents for apartments • Glut of condos in Chicago market - forcing high pre-sell % • “Village” Project demise • 1500 Block 119th Street Project will hopefully open the door • Almost all developers utilize the financial markets • Could determine final product mix Stadium district plan

Acquisition of Property • I am well aware that acquiring someone property is not always a welcome event • We will be compassionate and take great strides in making sure the transaction is fair • If a property owner has been an asset to the City, we will bend over backwards to accommodate them • Finding new homes/apartments • Senior Building construction • Trading, etc. Stadium district plan

Acquisition of Property • BUT……… • If a property owner has neglected their property for decades, I will use every tool in my bag to acquire their property at the lowest possible cost • I won’t allow bad absentee landlords or property owners to impede our growth Stadium district plan

Moving on to controversial project #3 You have heard me talk about this in the past, but if we want to grow and increase our tax base, a local hotel is a critical component As I stated in the past, such a hotel needs to fit our community, not a hotel developer’s plan If it’s done right, a new hotel will not only provide a needed resource, but significantly benefit our tax base New hotel concept

We have been in discussions for months about possible locations, and the optimum location always points back to the Park Vetting the location was the focus of this segment of the presentation. We have had discussions with numerous hotel developers but a deal is far from done The most acceptable location in the Park is depicted on the layout on the table This concept is a $20M investment – this is the proposal that is most acceptable at this point (Hyatt Place) The back of house operations would utilize the back side of the park New hotel concept

In the coming months, we will be discussing the project with multiple developers At this point in time, I’m supporting this location and will work to move the project further ahead so we could fine tune the details Public Process New hotel Concept

Now for controversial topic #4 • To continue improving our water and sewer infrastructure, we will need to raise additional revenue • Example: • A new water line is needed on 119th Street between Schrage & New York • Estimated Price Tag - $1 million • Annual Gross Water Department revenue - $550,000 • Rates have been flat for 13 years • Because we have made considerable operational changes to improve our efficiency • I will request a small $3 to $5 monthly increase soon Water & Sewer Rates

Somewhat controversial topic #5 • We’ve been flooded with calls asking why the matching residential grants are not available • The answer is: • We are attempting to allocate funds to resurrect the program for ONE more round of grants • Absolutely no guarantees, but the program will not be available any sooner than spring of 2014 Residential matching grants

Important Points • Must help a broad based portion of the community • Must focus on areas in need of development • Need a large pot to be able to distribute fairly • Poor use of Tax dollars, need special 1-time funds • Special program – cannot fund indefinitely • Commercial Investment critical to community • Will continue limited commercial grants ~$50,000 total • Impact shared across entire community • Stirs economic development to improve tax base • Detailed Strategy available Residential matching grants

This is an important factor for future development • No Controversy here • Everyone agrees that this is a project worth pursuing • Background • 3 independent railroads • 80+ trains a day • Low vehicular traffic counts • No requirement for railroads to improve technology like other communities • We have taken the necessary steps up to the point of committing the funds • $400,000 per crossing x 6 = $2.4 million Quiet zone

There is valid increased public concern City Council has identified the project as one of their top priorities It all comes down to funding Barring an unforeseen catastrophe with our Funding Plan– this project will be funded Even after funding is allocated, the project will not happen overnight Quiet zone

Lakefront Update • End of September – Current Phase complete • November – INDOT Phase begins • Connecting trails over tracks • Entry way beautification • Existing pathways redone • Event structure – Gazebo - Formal Garden • Design underway with completion next year • Finished Landscaping • Spring/summer Miscellaneous News/issues

Lakefront Update • Whihala Parking Improvements • Next summer • Dog Beach • 2014 start – Late Fall – Early 2015 completion • Whihala Lighting • Late 2014 into 2015 • Administration Building – Boat Club • 2015? Miscellaneous News/issues

Lakefront Update • Gun Club Restaurant • Conceptual Drawing – Vavrek Architects • Start construction January, 2014 • Completion – Fall? • Link to conceptual drawing included in email • Beach Parking • Reviewing sign policy – 1 sign at each entrance • New Parking Enforcement Crew beginning next year Miscellaneous News/issues

Atchison Avenue Parking (St. John) • Nearing Completion • Joint Project – City of Whiting & Parish • Increased parking – allow for new development • Dog Park • Whiting Dog Beach – Hammond Dog Park • Little League Improvements • T-Ball Field – by next summer? Miscellaneous News/issues

Indianapolis Boulevard • May bid letting • June – November construction • Includes: • Paving, Lighting, Turn lanes, Sidewalks, Trees, Sewer lining, Hydrant improvement • Partnership with: • INDOT and Hammond • $11M project to reconstruct our main highway Miscellaneous News/issues

117th Street (Cleveland to tracks) • Bond fund dependent • Will be ready for bid this fall • Includes: • Paving, Sidewalks, Lighting, Sewer, Water, Oliver Street intersection improvements, Brick restoration at Park entry, Bike Path connections • Hoping for January letting – 2014 construction Miscellaneous News/issues

Parking Projects • 1500 Block 119th Street • Building construction dependent • Spring 2014? • Schrage/White Oak/Ohio (Whiting Baptist Church) • Acquisition Dependent • Church agreement not finalized • Spring 2014? • St. Mary’s Church discussion – School & Parking Miscellaneous News/issues

MAYOR JOE’S PUBLIC FORUM