The proposal we have asked for is 50 percent 22 real estate tax abatement for 20 years and 50 percent 23 personal property tax abatement for 20 years. That was 24 the same thing that we asked for in the original 25 headquarters project and I was here then.

15 1 The City was tough and thoughtful and 2 looked beyond dollars alone and in the end, Centene has 3 finally agreed to only a 40 percent real estate tax 4 abatement for 20 years, 50 percent for personal 5 property but only 10 years, all of which is less than 6 before and I think all of which is less than we could 7 probably achieve other places. 8 The City also negotiated for a number of 9 other benefits as well. A new corporate and performing 10 arts auditorium with commitments for public and 11 community use, significantly expanded retail and retail 12 opportunities, enhanced pedestrian experience and 13 inviting public places. There's some really terrific 14 green spaces being provided in this development. 15 Significant public infrastructure 16 improvements, sustainability as a LEED Gold certified 17 world class office towers and all of this results in an 18 expanding commercial real estate property tax base. 19 We are all kind of focused on the 20 years 20 but I think one of the most important considerations of 21 a development like this is it will be here at the end 22 of 20 years and it will keep paying into the system for 23 decades beyond, a real important consideration. So 24 what we are asking for tonight is kind of what you have 25 heard said. We are asking for you to approve the

So 24 what we are asking for tonight is kind of what you have 25 heard said. We are asking for you to approve the

16 1 Chapter 100 plan and the Development Agreement that 2 goes along with it, so the project can proceed. 3 I am happy to answer any questions that 4 you have and I will be here to respond in any way that 5 you would like. Thank you. 6 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Chapman. 7 I think next, the school district has 8 asked for a moment. Somebody, Joe, do you want to come 9 down? 10 MR. MILLER: So my name is Joe Miller and 11 as a member of our Clayton School Board, I am reading a 12 statement on behalf of the Clayton School District. So 13 thank you for the opportunity to address the Board of 14 Aldermen this evening. 15 While it is ultimately up to the City to 16 make the important decisions related to the project 17 being considered tonight, it is up to the Board of 18 Education to advocate what is best for our students. 19 While there has been a great deal of 20 discussion about this project as a whole, the only 21 aspect the Board of Education is focused on is the use 22 of property taxes to provide publicly funded economic 23 development incentives. The Board of Education adopted 24 a standard set of guidelines in 2008 for evaluating 25 projects that requested incentives.

The City worked with Centene to include a 9 number of items in the Development Agreement that will 10 protect the district's interests. 11 Centene agreed not to request incentives 12 on the residential portion of the project, to protect 13 the base of tax revenue that the district is receiving 14 from the affected properties during construction, not 15 to contest its assessed value throughout the period of 16 the abatement. 17 We will continue to monitor this project 18 and look forward to working with the City and Centene. 19 Thank you for working -- thank you for your work 20 overseeing growth and change in our City and balancing 21 the interests of all members of our community, 22 including our students, families and tax payers. Thank 23 you. 24 THE CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Joe. 25 So this is not really a public hearing, so

18 1 I am not going to open the public hearing, however, we 2 will certainly take comments from people who have 3 comments or questions. 4 Did we have a sign up or no? 5 MS. FRAZIER: Yes. 6 THE CHAIRMAN: Okay. If you would like to 7 say something, please raise your hand and Courtney will 8 come around with the board, to get you signed up. 9 Go ahead, June. 10 MS. FRAZIER: Okay. We have a Diane Kopp. 11 MS. KOPP: I am going to wait. 12 MS. FRAZIER: You are going to wait. 13 Okay. 14 Fred Berger. 15 MR. BERGER: Good evening. My name is 16 Fred Berger. I'm an attorney and spokesperson for the 17 We Want a Vote Political Action Committee. Thank you 18 for the opportunity to address you all tonight. 19 Thank you for all of the hard work that 20 you've done. Appreciate all of the hard work that 21 Centene has done. Well, the project looks like an 22 exciting project and has a tremendous amount of 23 potential. The main concern that we have is that we 24 believe that this should be subject to a vote of the 25 people. When you all were put in office during your

The main concern that we have is that we 24 believe that this should be subject to a vote of the 25 people. When you all were put in office during your

19 1 respective tenure, we had different zoning districts. 2 We had different districts surrounding the Ritz, the 3 Carondelet district and this type of project wasn't on 4 the board, at least in the public dialogue discussion. 5 This is something new and the people who 6 put you in office never put you in office to vote to do 7 a project of this size and magnitude and provide the 8 public funds. 9 All we're -- and it would have been 10 interesting to see what would have happened, if that 11 would have been the basis upon which you would have 12 been elected by your voters, as to whether or not -- 13 what was your position on this. 14 So all we are saying is we just want a 15 vote. We want a vote of the people of Clayton, who put 16 you all in office and let them have a say. It's their 17 money. It's their funds. It's about government of the 18 people, by the people and for the people. 19 Centene is a great corporate citizen. 20 That's not an issue. The project is exciting. That's 21 not an issue. The only thing we are saying is we just 22 want a vote. We just want the people of Clayton, who 23 pay their hard earned money towards their taxes, who 24 pay the fees, who pay everything else to keep the 25 government afloat, let them have a vote. Thank you