10-12-95-C-3 - Resolution - 10/12/1995q sofution
RESOLUTION 10-12-95-C-3
WHEREAS,
Section 6.03 of the Texas Property Tax Code provides for the nomination
and election of the Board of Directors for each county appraisal district;
and,
WHEREAS, on December 31, 1995 the terms will expire for the five positions on the
Brazos County Appraisal District Board of Directors; and,
WHEREAS,
the City of College Station, as a voting unit of the county appraisal district,
may submit to the chief appraiser the name(s) of persons nominated by
the city to serve as director;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of College
Station, Texas, hereby nominates Larry Mariott, as a candidate for the
office of Director on the Brazos County Appraisal District Board.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THE 12 DAY OF OCTOBER, 1995.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
Conn:e Hooks, City Secretary
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND INCENTIVES
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Adopted by the College Station
City Council
January 23, 1991
Published by the City of College Station Planning Division
"Building a Better city in Partnership With You"
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND INCENTIVES
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION ...................
II. TAX ~B~TEMENT
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B.
C.
D.
Zo
Definitions .................. 2
General Criteria ................ 4
Specific Criteria ............... 5
Applications for Reinvestment ......... 5
Zones and Tax Abatement
Designation of a Reinvestment Zone .......
Tax Abatement Agreement ............
III. OTHER INCENTIVES ................
page
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7
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ECONOMIC DEFELOP~NT POLICY AND INCENTIVES
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
I. INTRODUCTION
Whereas it is the policy of The City of College Station to be
committed to desirable economic development and while a
successful economic development depends on a viable working
relationship between all aspects of the public and private
sectors; the City of College Station has necessary powers that
enable it to take action in this area.
In addition to keeping the protection of the environment and
other natural resources as high priority, any attempts to
stimulate the economy should be relatively assured of eventual
positive economic effects on the City of College Station's
revenue raising capabilities.
This document gives guidelines and criteria to 'opportunities
that the City will utilize in attempts to assert positive
economic development. Nothing herein shall imply or suggest
that the City of College Station is under obligation to afford
these opportunities to any applicant.
Ail applicants shall be reviewed on a case by case basis. The
customized design of a total incentives package is intended to
allow maximum flexibility in addressing the unique concerns of
each applicant while enabling the City to respond to the
changing needs of the community. Consideration will be given
to both new capital investment in the community and the
creation of new jobs through the development of new facilities
or the expansion of existing facilities. -_
II. TAX ABATEMENT
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Definitions
"Abatement" means the full or partial exemption from ad
valorem taxes of certain real and/or personal property in
a Reinvestment Zone designated for economic development
purposes pursuant to Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code.
"Agreement" means a contractual agreement between a
property owner and/or lessee and an eligible jurisdiction
for the purposes of tax abatement.
"Base Year Value" means the assessed value of eligible
property January 1 preceding the. execution of the
agreement plus the agreed upon value of eligible property
improvements made after January i but before the-~.~
execution of the agreement.
"City" means the city of College Station, Texas.
"Deferred Maintenance" means improvements necessary for
continued operations which do not improve the
productivity or alter the process technology.
"Distribution Center Facility" means buildings and
structures, including machinery and equipment, used or to
be used primarily to receive, store, service, or
distribute goods or materials owned by the facility
operator where a majority of the goods or services are
distributed to points at least 50 miles from its location
in the City.
Economic Development Policy page 2
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10.
11
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
"Expansion" means the addition of buildings, structures,
fixed machinery, or equipment for purposes of increasing
production capacity.
"Facility" means property improvements completed or in
the process of construction which together comprise an ~
integral whole.
"Manufacturing Facility" means buildings and structures
including machinery and equipment, the primary purpose of
which is or will be the manufacture of tangible goods o~
materials or the processing of such goods or materials by
physical or chemical change, including the assembly of
goods and materials from multiple sources in order to
create a finished or semi-finished product.
"Modernization" means the replacement and upgrading, pf
existing facilities which increases the productivity
input or output, updates the technology or substantially
lowers the unit cost of the operation. Modernization may
result from the construction, alteration, or installation
of buildings, structures, fixed machinery or equipment.
It shall not be for the purpose of reconditioning,
refurbishing, or repairing except as may be integral to
or in direct connection with an existing expansion.
"New Facility" means a property previously undeveloped
which is placed into service by means other than or in
conjunction with expansion or modernization.
"Other Basic Industry" means buildings or structures
including fixed machinery and equipment not elsewhere
described, used or to be used for the production of
products or services which serve a market.~rimarily
outside the City and result in the creation of new
permanent jobs and create new wealth in the City.
"Personal Property" means tangible persona~ prop~r~
located on the real property, excluding that personal
property located on the real property prior to the period
covered by the abatement agreement with the City, and
other than inventory or supplies.
"Productive Life" means the number of years a property
improvement is expected to be in service.
"Project" means any property improvement including
expansions, modernizations, and new facilities; but
excluding any deferred maintenance.
"Reinvestment Zone" means any area of the City which has
been designated a reinvestment zone for tax abatement
purposes and which is located within the taxing
Economic Development Policy page 3
17.
18.
19.
20.
jurisdiction of the City. It is the intent of the City
to designate reinvestment zones on a case-by-case basis
in order to maximize the potential incentives for
eligible enterprises to locate or expand within the City.
"Regional Entertainment Facility" means buildings and
structures, including machinery and equipment, used or to
be used to provide entertainment through the admission of
the general public where the majority of the users reside
at least 50 miles from its location an the City.
"Regional Service Facility" means buildings and
structures, including machinery and equipment, used or to
be used to provide services where a majority of the
individuals serviced are at least 50 miles from the
facility's location in the City.
"Research Facility" means buildings and structures,..
including machinery and equipment, used or to be used
primarily for research or experimentation to improve or
develop new tangible goods or materials or to improve or
develop the production processes thereto.
"Targeted Enterprise" means the following facilities :
distribution center facility, manufacturing facility,
regional entertainment facility, research facility,
regional service facility, or any other basic industry.
Be
General Criteria - Ail applications must meet the
following general criteria before being considered for
tax abatement :
The project expands the local tax base.
The project creates permanent full time employment
opportunities.
The project would not otherwise be developed.
The project makes a contribution to enhancing further
economic development.
The project must remain in good standing to all aesthetic
and environmental concerns.
The project has not been started and no construction has
commenced at the time the application is approved.
The project must not have any of the following
objections:
there would be substantial adverse affect on the
provision of government service or tax base
Economic Development Policy page 4
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b. the applicant has insufficient financial capacity
planned or potential use of the property would
constitute a hazard to public safety
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planned or potential use of the property would give
adverse impacts to adjacent properties; or,
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any violation of laws of the United States or State
of Texas or ordinances of the City of College
Station would occur
Specific Criteria- If the project in the application
meets the general criteria, is a facility of a targeted
enterprise and has a capital cost that exceeds $250,000
then abatement of any or all of the increased value will
be considered. In no case would tax abatement exce~ the
maximum allowed by state law, presently 100% for 10
years. Factors to consider in determining the portion of
the increased value to be abated and the duration of the
abatement agreement include, but are not limited to:
Total amount of the increased value;
Total number of jobs created;
Type of jobs created;
Dollar value of payroll created;
Other municipal costs and revenues associated with
the application.
De
Applications for Reinvestment Zones and Tax Abatement.
Ail requests for reinvestment zones and tax abatement in
the jurisdiction of the City of College Station shall be
made by filing a written application to the City Manager
after addressing all criteria questions contained in this
document. An application for designation of a
reinvestment zone and for tax abatement m~y be c6~ned
and submitted jointly. All applications shall include
the following unless the City has waived a requirement
that it has deemed unnecessary to properly evaluate the
request.
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be
a general description of the project including
purpose and explanation of the improvements as well
as how the project will meet the criteria
established by this document
a plat showing the precise location of the property,
all roadways within 500 feet of the site and all
existing zoning and land uses within 500 feet of the
site, (a complete legal description shall be
Economic Development Policy page 5
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provided if the property is described by metes and
bounds)
a complete estimated cost of the project by "line
item" approach
a description of the methods of financing all.. ~
estimated costs and the time when related costs or
monetary obligations are to be incurred
estimated number of employment opportunities the'
project creates over the period of the abatement,
distinguishing between employees to be used during
construction and permanent full time employees
remaining after construction is complete; included
will be annual pay for each position
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a detailed time schedule for undertaking and
completing the project
After reviewing the application, if City Staff finds the
application to appear complete and accurate and meets the
criteria established by this document, the City Staff
will then do or cause to have done an impact study, which
the applicant may be required to pay or participate in
paying for, setting forth the impact of the proposed
reinvestment zone and tax abatement agreement. This
study shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment
of the economic effects, including a municipal cost
benefit analysis, of the creation of the reinvestment
zone and the abatement of taxes.
After establishing the benefits of the proposal, the
economic development entity may propose that the City
offer a tax abatement agreement. The City will then meet
with representatives of each governing body of every
taxing unit that the proposed reinvestment zone involves;
this is to determine each taxing unit's intentio~.~of'
entering into a tax abatement.
The economic development entity will then inform the
applicant of the potential tax abatement agreement, the
intentions of the other taxing units on tax abatement
agreements, and what other incentives will be offered for
the proposed project.
Having completed all the required steps in the process,
and having been assured by the applicant that they wish
to proceed, the City may then follow procedures in
accordance with Texas Tax Code Chapter 312 (Vernon 1989),
as amended, and establish a reinvestment zone and tax
abatement agreement.
Economic Development Policy page 6
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Designation of a Reinvestment Zone - The city Council by
ordinance must designate an area as a reinvestment zone.
Prior to adopting such an ordinance the City Council must
conduct a public hearing on the designation that entitles
all interested persons to speak and present evidence for
or against the designation. Not later than the seventh
day before the date of the hearing, notice of the hearihg
must be:
Published in a newspaper having general circulation in
the City.
Delivered in writing to the presiding officer of the
governing body of each taxing unit that includes in its
boundaries real property that is to be included in the
proposed reinvestment zone.
Tax Abatement Agreement - The City by resolution ma~
enter into a tax abatement agreement. At least seven
days before entering into the agreement, the City wi11
deliver written notice of its intent to each taxing unit
that is included in the reinvestment zone.
Any agreement will include, but not be limited to, the
following specific items:
all appropriate stipulations included in the
application, as outlined by this document, for a
reinvestment zone and tax abatement agreement
b. the amount and duration of the tax abatement
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a method for determining the qualifications of
meeting the criteria and a promise to meet and
maintain these qualifications over the term of the
agreement; the City will be allowed, upon written
request and reasonable notice, to inspect and audit
such records of the applicant as are necessar~
substantiate that the applicant is m~eting drlteria
agreed upon during the term of the abatement
a provision that in the event the agreement is not
kept, the tax abatement agreement will be determined
null and void and all abated taxes will be paid
immediately to the City and all other taxing units
participating in the agreement
An agreement may be terminated by the mutual consent of
the parties in the same manner that the agreement was
approved and executed.
Economic Development Policy page 7
IIio OTHER INCENTIVES
The City Council may consider other economic development
incentives as necessary to promote or secure a targeted
enterprise. Such incentives may include, but not be
limited to:
Waiving of fees- Permit application, utility tap and
similar fees may be waived upon approval of the Council.
Infrastructure- Extension, construction or
reconstruction of infrastructure necessary for the
development of a targeted enterprise may be made upon
approval of the City Council.
Utility rates- The City Council may consider additional
utility rate classes for targeted enterprises that
require large amounts of municipal utilities. Any
classification established will be available to all'
utility users meeting the minimum usage requirements for
that group. Consideration will be given to capital
improvements required to provide utility service.
Economic Development Policy page 8