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G-09-10-22-10A1 - 10/22/2009ORDINANCE NO. 4,001.-(0.-Z-Z-IVAI AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS ESTABLISHING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT, CHAPTER 2302, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE; DESCRIBING AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN LOCAL INCENTIVES; DESIGNATING A LIAISON; NOMINATING DRESSER, INC. AS A QUALIFIED ENTERPRISE PROJECT THROUGH NOTICE TO THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Round Rock, Texas desires to create the proper economic and social environment to induce the investment of private resources in productive business enterprises located in certain areas of the City, and to provide employment to residents of such areas; and WHEREAS, the project or activity considered herein is not located in an area designated as an enterprise zone; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Texas Enterprise Zone Act, V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 2303 (the "Act"), specifically in accordance with Section 2303.404, Subchapter F of the Act, Dresser, Inc. has applied to the City for designation as an enterprise project; WHEREAS, the City finds that Dresser, Inc. meets the criteria for incentives adopted by the City on the grounds that it will be located at a qualified business site, that being 3814 Jarrett Way, Austin, Texas 78728-1212, and will create a higher level of employment, economic activity, and stability; and WHEREAS, a public hearing to consider this Ordinance was held by the City Council on October 22, 2009; Now, therefore 0:\wdox\SCC1nts\0112\0905\MUNICIPAL\091022A1.DOC/jkg BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: Section 1 The City hereby nominates Dresser, Inc. for enterprise project status. Section 2 In accordance with V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 2303.4051, the City hereby identifies and summarizes local incentives that, at the election of the governing body, are or may be made available to Dresser, Inc.: A. Tax abatement, deferral, refunds, or other tax incentives: The City may offer tax abatements for new business construction and existing industry expansions, as well as personal property tax abatements associated with real property. The level of abatement is based upon the extent to business receiving the abatement creates jobs for employees, in accordance with the City's Tax Guidelines, with "qualified employee" being defined by which the qualified Abatement the Act. B. Programs to improve and increase value of real estate and new investment: The City may provide programs to improve and increase the value of real estate and new investment, including: (1) Freeport Tax Exemption (2) Foreign Trade Zones: The City was instrumental in the formation of the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas. Foreign trade zones are areas where foreign and domestic merchandise is generally considered to be in international trade and, as such, goods can be brought into a zone without formal 2 U.S. Customs entry or incurring duties or excise taxes, unless and until they are imported into the United States. (3) Chapter 380 Grants C. Regulatory relief: The City may provide regulatory relief to businesses, including: (1) Zoning changes or variances (2) Reductions or exemptions from inspection fees (3) Streamlined permitting D. Enhanced municipal services: The City may provide enhanced municipal services to businesses, including: (1) Improved police and fire protection (2) Institution of community crime prevention programs (3) Special public transportation routes or reduced fares E. Improvements in community facilities: The City may provide improvements in community facilities, including: (1) Capital improvements in water and sewer facilities (2) Road repair (3) Creation and improvement of parks F. Improvements to housing: The City may provide improvements to housing, including: (1) Low-interest loans for housing rehabilitation, improvement, or new construction 3 G. Business and industrial development services: The City may provide business and industrial development services, including: (1) Creation of special permitting processes and programs (2) Promotion and marketing services H. Job training and employment skills programs: The City may provide, through its funding of other agencies, job training and employment services, including: (1) Retraining programs (2) Literacy and employment skills programs (3) Vocational education (4) Customized job training Section 3 In accordance with V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 2303.204, the City Council hereby directs and designates its director of economic development for the Round Rock Economic Development Partnership as the City's liaison to oversee enterprise projects it has nominated and to communicate and negotiate with the Texas Economic Development Bank or the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the Office of the Governor, with the enterprise project, and with other entities in an enterprise zone or affected by an enterprise project, including a qualified business, within the jurisdiction of the City. 4 Section 4 The City Council hereby finds that Dresser, Inc. meets the criteria for designation as an enterprise project under the Act on the following grounds: A. Dresser, Inc. is a "qualified business" under Section 2303.402 of the Act; B. There has been and will continue to be a high level of cooperation between public, private, and neighborhood entities in the area; C. The designation of Dresser, Inc. as an enterprise project will contribute significantly to the achievement of the plans of the City for development and revitalization of the area. Section 5 The enterprise project shall take effect on the date of designation of the enterprise project by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the Office of the Governor, and shall terminate on the same date five (5) years therefrom. Section 6 This Ordinance shall be and become effective immediately upon and after its proper passage and approval. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this Ordinance was adopted was posted and that such meeting was open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Ordinance and the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted upon, all as required 5 by the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended. READ and APPROVED on first reading this the day of , 2009. y�}READ, APPROVED and ADOPTED on second reading this the 2)1 day of , 2009. ATTEST: /1(1,t/L- (atte SARA L. WHITE, City Secretary ALAN MCGRAW, Mayor City of Round Rock, Texas 6 DATE: October 15, 2009 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting — October 22, 2009 ITEM: 10A1. Consider an ordinance establishing the City's participation in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominating Dresser, Inc. as a qualified enterprise project. (First Reading) Department: Administration Staff Person: Jim Nuse, City Manager David Kautz, Assistant City Manager/CFO Justification: Dresser, Inc. (Dresser Wayne), located in Round Rock, designs and makes products for the gas dispenser market. The company also develops and markets software to support the gas dispenser industry. With annual product sales of $245 million and 633 total employees (including 197 contract and temporary employees), the company is a major employer for Round Rock. The company has a critical need to improve operating efficiencies and has identified approximately $7.5 million in future capital improvements to its plant location that will help in this regard. Under a state Enterprise Zone program administered by the Texas Economic Development Bank, a portion of state sales tax paid for applicable capital expenditures could be refunded to the company if the company retains jobs in our community. Designated projects are eligible to apply for state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures. The level and amount of refund is related to the capital investment and jobs created (or retained as defined under the program rules) at the qualified business site. Local communities must nominate a company as an Enterprise Project in order to participate in the Enterprise Zone Program. Communities may nominate projects, for a designation period up to five years, non-inclusive of a 90 -day window prior to the application deadline. Employment and capital investment commitments must be incurred and met within this timeframe. Projects may be physically located in or outside of an Enterprise Zone. • If located within a zone, the company commits that at least 25% of their new employees will meet economically disadvantaged or enterprise zone residence requirements. • If located outside of a zone, the company commits that at least 35% of their new employees will meet economically disadvantaged or enterprise zone residency requirements. Under limited statutory provisions, an enterprise project designation may be granted for job retention and this designation may supersede the 35% economically disadvantaged requirement mentioned above. - CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE - Strategic Plan Relevance City support of and participation of this program is in complete compliance with the Council's Strategic Plan Highest Priority Goal 16: Develop financial capital needed to support business growth and development, and improve the financial advantages of operating in the City. To achieve this goal the City, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, will pursue venture capitalists as well as various state and federal funding sources. Funding: Cost: N/A Source of funds: N/A Outside Resources: Background Information: Public Comment: A required public hearing is being held earlier in the meeting on Oct. 22