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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 11-087 ORDINANCE NO. 11-087 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT, CHAPTER 2303,TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (ACT), PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES, DESIGNATING A LIAISON FOR COMMUNICATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES, AND NOMINATING EXXONMOBIL OIL CORPORATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM (EDT) THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK(BANK) AS A TRIPLE JUMBO ENTERPRISE ZONE PROJECT (PROJECT). WHEREAS, the City of Beaumont endeavors to create the proper economic and social environment to induce the investment of private resources in productive business enterprises located in severely distressed areas of the city and to provide employment to residents of such area; and, WHEREAS, the project or activity is not located in an area designated as an enterprise zone; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2303, Subchapter F of the Act, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation has applied to the City for designation as a triple jumbo enterprise project; and, WHEREAS,the City Council finds that ExxonMobil Oil Corporation meets the criteria for tax relief and other incentives adopted by the City on the grounds that it will be located at the qualified business site, will create a higher level of employment, economic activity and stability; and, WHEREAS,a public hearing to considerthis ordinance was held by the City Council on November 15, 2011; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: Section 1. That the statements and findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby, in all things, approved and adopted, and Section 2. The City nominates ExxonMobil Oil Corporation fortriple jumbo enterprise project status. Section 3. The following local incentives, at the election of the governing body, are or will be made available to the nominated project or activity of the qualified business: a) The City may abate taxes on the increase in value of real property improvements and eligible personal property that locate in a designated enterprise zone. The level of abatement shall be based upon the extent to which the business receiving the abatement creates jobs for qualified employees, in accordance with the City of Beaumont Tax Abatement Policy and with qualified employee being defined by the Act. In addition,the City may enter into an industrial district contract which provides for in-lieu-of tax payments to the City at a reduced amount. b) The City may provide regulatory relief to businesses, including: 1) Exemptions from unnecessary building code requirements,development fees, or inspection fees; or 2) Exemptions from zoning, subdivision review and other land use regulatory controls; or 3) Streamlined permitting. c) The City may provide enhanced municipal services to businesses, including: 1) Enhanced police and fire protection; 2) Institution of community crime prevention programs; or 3) Special public transportation routes or reduced fares. d) The City may provide improvements in community facilities including: 1) Capital improvements in water and sewer facilities; 2) Road repair and enhancement; or 3) Creation or improvement of parks. e) The City may provide business and industrial development services, including: 1) Low-interest loans for business; 2) Use of underutilized publicly owned facilities as small business incubators; 3) Use of special one-stop permitting and problem resolution centers or ombudsmen; or 4) Promotion and marketing services. f) The City may provide improvements to housing, including: 1) Low-interest loans for housing rehabilitation, improvement, or new construction; or 2) Transfer of abandoned houses,owned by the City,to community housing organizations. g) The City may provide job training and employment services to businesses, including: 1) Literacy and employment skills programs; 2) Cooperation with our local Workforce Development Board, Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology in efforts for job training. Section 4. The enterprise zone areas within the City are reinvestment zones in accordance with the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 312. Section 5. The City of Beaumont directs and designates it Community Development Director as the City's liaison to communicate and negotiate with the EDT through the Bank and enterprise project(s) and to oversee zone activities and communications with qualified businesses and other entities in an enterprise zone or affected by an enterprise project. Section 6. The City finds that the ExxonMobil Oil Corporation meets the criteria for designation as an enterprise project under Texas Government Code Chapter, 2303, Subchapter F of the Act on the following grounds: a) ExxonMobil Oil Corporation is a "qualified business" under Section 2303.402 of the Act since it will be engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business at a qualified business site within the governing body's jurisdiction, located outside of an enterprise zone and at least thirty-five percent(35%)of the business' new employees will be residents of an enterprise zone or economically disadvantaged individuals; and b) There has been and will continue to be a high level of cooperation between public, private, and neighborhood entities in the area; and c) The designation of ExxonMobil Oil Corporation as a triple jumbo enterprise project will contribute significantly to the achievement of the plans of the City for development and revitalization of the area. Section 7. The enterprise project shall take effect on the date of designation of the enterprise project by EDT and terminate five years from that date. Section 8. That all ordinance or parts of ordinance in conflict herewith are repealed to the extent of the conflict only. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont on this the 15" day of November, 2011. C - or Becky A es - 1l 71a3r`" a