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Special Meeting June 7, 2005 Section B of the ABEP Report: Ms. Welsch said that number one was included in the Plan. Number two was not discussed in the Plan. Number three was included in the Plan. Number four was included in the Plan. She did not see numbers five, zoning incentives for mixed use, and six, encouraging ethnic businesses/organizations, in the Plan. Ms. Brot believed that number five was discussed; she said that the Plan talked a good deal about mixed use development, but wasn’t sure about the zoning incentives. Number seven and eight was in the Plan. Number nine, a TIF district and number 10, proactively acquiring property for redevelopment wasn’t in the Plan. Ms. Brot said that a TIF was mentioned as one possible concept to use in development. Ms. Welsch responded that this was true, but the Plan did not specifically talk about setting up a TIF district on Olive. Mr. Sharpe inquired as to any TIFs located from Hanley towards the east. Mr. Ollendorff said that the TIF area goes from the river by Royal Bank to Midland. Responding further to Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Ollendorff said that a new TIF would have to be separate from the existing one. He further explained that a TIF is usually established when you first get a big development. The Council could be proactive and establish it right now. Mr. Ollendorff said it would be better to set up a new TIF for the west area rather than enlarging the central area. The main reason being is that the central area TIF only has a few years left in its life. Responding to Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Ollendorff reported that state law allows most TIF to stay active for approximately 23 years and our Central area TIF has been active for about 15 years. Mr. Ollendorff noted that neither ABEP nor the Plan recognizes that the Olive businesses established Olive Link. They have already created a brand for linking together all of the ethnic groups. He feels this idea should be grown instead of implying that we need to start all over. Ms. Welsch said that the ABEP report does mention Olive Link, but they don’t say how it came about. Ms. Brot said that, referencing page 43 of the Plan, it says the City could also promote the International District as a tourist destination. She would really like to see the Council agree that we would like to create an International District. Mr. Wagner said that this is in the Plan on page 44. Mayor Adams noted that there are many citizens and citizen groups that do not like the concept of an International District. Ms. Brot said she understands this, but part of her job is to try to keep what is wonderful about University City and try to improve it. She knows that there will be criticisms and is trying hard to learn to deal with them. She believes that creative and innovative ideas are what are going to help us in the long run as a land locked community. Ms. Brot continued by saying that she supports helping to protect homes and neighborhoods and understands the criticisms of Ames Place, but she knows that some people will be annoyed regardless, even though we aren’t trying to do so. Mayor Adams continued saying that if you look at the area of Big Bend and Forest Park Expressway with the Metrolink station, ABEP is recommending development around it – it may be difficult to dismiss the Ames Place criticisms. Mr. Wagner said that his feeling was that the subcommittee of ABEP who came up with this Page 10