SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
City Council Policies (WSO)
Body
SUMMARY:
Staff will be presenting the following changes at the May 1 work session:
1) Fire Lanes (23C) - Delete policy statement. City personnel no longer have enforcement powers.
Current language:
Fire Department personnel will participate in the enforcement of parking violations pertaining to fire lanes and fire hydrants.
2) Economic Development Incentive Policy (27M) - Add new policy statement.
Proposed language:
Economic development incentives should be carefully crafted in a transparent manner to ensure that they yield a net benefit to City residents, the following principles should be considered when making determinations:
a) The targeted investment would not occur without the incentive;
b) The investment should generate new economic activity in the area;
c) Each project should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis using the guiding principles articulated in the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan;
d) The Economic Development and Housing Department is the lead department for the development, evaluation, negotiation, measurement and reporting of City- wide economic development incentives.
1) Incentive Types: Incentives may be established as Programs or Tools and may provide financial and non-financial inducement to the business, property owner, or developer of a qualifying project:
a. Incentive Programs are established by Ordinance or Resolution and require the development of published guidelines and application for submittal by a qualifying project:
i. Qualifying criteria and disclosure of the methods by which the Economic Development and Housing Department will evaluate, negotiate, measure and report information contained within the application must be established within the guidelines.
b. Incentive Tools are those activities and resources provided by, or on behalf of, the Economic Development and Housing Department and are not subject to an
application process. The use of financial Incentive Tools are subject to Council approval.
c. Financial Incentives must identify the source of funds, as may be permitted by law and may be available from time to time, which may include, but are not necessarily limited to:
i. Ad valorem tax exemption as permitted by statute;
ii. The limited waiving, crediting, or payment of fees;
iii. Reduced rent on city-owned property;
iv. Grant or loan-to-grant agreements;
v. Low-interest loans;
vi. Land exchange of comparable appraised value;
vii. Financial support of infrastructure improvements;
viii. Matching grant funds or in-kind services;
ix. Funds for programs or services;
x. Brownfield assessment funds;
xi. Public utility tax exemption;
xii. Local match of state authorized programs.
d. Non-financial incentives may include:
i. Expedited planning review and approval process;
ii. Access to Economic Development services;
iii. Other city services, as appropriate.
2) Creation or Establishment of Incentive Programs and Tools: From time to time, Incentive Programs or Tools may be created or established. Such Programs or Tools must include:
a. A statement demonstrating how the proposed incentive relates to the broader economic development strategies including desired development areas identified in the Economic Development Strategic Plan, Adopted Long Range Plans, Consolidated Plan, and others;
b. Desired goal of the program or tool;
c. Identification of qualifying criteria which may include, but are not limited to:
i. Minimum number of new full-time city positions created by the business as a result of relocating to or expanding in the city;
ii. Minimum average annual wage of the new employees of the business located in the city;
iii. Minimum threshold of capital investment in the city;
iv. Geographic boundaries in which the Program or Tool may be applied;
v. Sales factor;
vi. Industry type including Primary Targeted Industry, if applicable.
d. Methods of evaluation:
i. Quantitative Measures:
1. Economic, Fiscal and Incentive Impact Analysis;
2. Jobs created/retained;
3. Average wage of new jobs;
4. Capital investment generated;
ii. Qualitative measures which identify the achievement of specific community goals.
e. Reporting requirements and maintenance of records:
i. Where applicable, economic development incentives approved by Council will be reported as per Council, State and Federal reporting requirements.
f. For Financial Incentives:
i. The method of payment for performance and recapture of funds for failure to perform.
3) Funding sources: Funding for economic development incentives may be obtained from the General Fund through the annual budget process or from time to time from any allowable source, including:
a. General Fund Reserve;
b. Central Insurance Fund;
c. Enterprise Fund;
d. Federal, State, or County government grants or allocations;
e. Other monies set aside, as appropriate.
4) Definitions:
a) “Project,” means company, applicant, developer, property or the combination of some or all which is evaluated for consideration of incentives.
b) “Desired Development Area,” means certain geographic region(s) of the City of Clearwater where development is preferred.
c) “Average Annual Wage” means statistical yearly average wage being paid or proposed wage to be paid by prospective company.
d) “Primary Targeted Industry,” means the seven (7) industries identified by the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan (2011) and those identified by Enterprise Florida, Inc. or the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity which may be subject to change from time to time.
e) “Capital Investment”, means the acquisition of capital assets or fixed assets, such as land, buildings, and equipment.
f) “Economic, Fiscal and Incentive Impact Analysis”, means the calculation of the worth of a project, business or activity to the community over a period of time using a recognized third party analysis tool, such as “Total Impact” by Impact DataSource, LLC.
3) New Sidewalks (30E) - Add new policy statement. The process to install new sidewalks in a neighborhood has been in practice since 1995 but never memorialized into the City Council Policies.
Proposed language:
In order for new sidewalks to be installed in an existing neighborhood, a petition is required indicating that greater than 50% of the property owners impacted are in favor. Exceptions include when the City determines that a sidewalk is necessary as part of a heavily used school route, or for sidewalks filling a gap between existing sidewalks involving two or less residences.