HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 09 28 Regular 601 Proposed Phase I Elements Of An Economic Development Incentive ProgramCOMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 601
September 28, 2009
Regular Meeting
Consent
Information
Public Hearin
Re ular X
Mgr./Dep
REQUEST: The Community Development Department requests the City Commission review and
consider the proposed Phase I elements of an economic development incentive program.
PURPOSE: To provide a list of proposed phase I economic development incentives in sufficient
detail to allow the City Commission to discuss the appropriateness and effectiveness of the proposed
incentives as well as specific time frames for their implementation, and to provide staff with any
additional information/incentives and direction the Commission deems appropriate.
APPLICABLE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY:
Florida Municipal Home Rule Powers Act
Resolution 2001-45
Resolution 2005-29
BACKGROUND:
In response the current economic downturn and in an effort to enhance the City's ability to work in
partnership with property owners and developers for the purpose of incentivizing appropriate new growth
as well as redevelopment projects, City staff is proposing what has been identified as Phase I of what will
probably become a broader program of economic development incentives. Phase I incentives are
primarily those efforts that can be readily employed without the need for funding from the City's
reserves. These incentives provide expedited services, lower permit fees, provide for alternatives when
paying impact fees, and offer more on-line services.
The latest revisions to the City's building permit fee schedule were made in 2005 as part of Resolution
2005-29. This resolution raised the building permit fee from $12 per $1000/valuation of the construction
to $17 per $1000/valuation of the construction. This fee increase applies only to new square footage.
CONSIDERATIONS:
The proposal for Phase I of the City's Economic Incentive Program is as follows:
• Reduce the building permit fees to $12 per $1000/valuation from the current $17 per
$1000/valuation for all permits. This change can be made by resolution.
September 28, 2009
Regular Agenda Item 601
Allow for the payment of impact fees associated with new commercial construction to be paid at
the time of and prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy (CO). Currently, all impact fees
must be paid before the permit is issued, thereby requiring the owner or developer to carry these
charges as part of the construction loan or, at a minimum, increasing the developer's upfront
costs. Another option is to offer a payment plan for impact fees structured on a per project basis
to alleviate upfront costs to developers/ owners in an effort to "jump-start" projects. A structured
payment agreement would be approved and executed prior to issuance of the building permit.
This incentive would require a text amendment, by ordinance, to Chapter 9 of the City's Code of
Ordinances.
• Expedite the planning and permit review process for any project that creates five (5) or more
permanent jobs.
• Waive annexation and associated rezoning and future land use fees, development agreement fees,
and other rezoning fees.
Currently, the Building/Permitting divisions are accepting over-the-counter permits via e-mail and FAX
in an effort to reduce the number of customer trips necessary to process these permits. On-line inspection
requests and inspection results are available 24/7 for the use of the City's permit customers. Additional
efforts/initiative proposals will continue to be explored by staff and will be forthcoming as part of Phase
II of economic development incentives.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Commission consider the Phase I economic development incentives presented
above and direct staff to prepare detailed resolutions and ordinances to implement these incentives. Staff
also recommends that the incentives outlined above be discontinued in six (6) months unless the time
frame is extended by the City Commission.
CITY COMMISSION ACTION:
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