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Ord 038-2004 5/18/2004ORDINANCE NO. f �-�[ J ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, ORDAINING THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THIE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT, CHAPTER 2303, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (ACT), PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES, DESIGNATING A LIAISON FOR COMMUNICATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES, AND NOMINATING CHAVEZ CONTRACTING, INC. TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (EDT) THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK (BANK) AS AN ENTERPRISE PROJECT (PROJECT); FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas (City) desires 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 located in an area designated as an enterprise zone, and WHEREAS, the City has a previously- designated enterprise zone, approved by EDT's predecessor agency, Enterprise Zone No. EZ265- 111998 -WFN, originally approved November 19, 1998, which will expire on September 1, 2006, which the City requests remain in effect until the original expiration date, and WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 2303, Subchapter F of the Act, Chavez Contracting, Inc., has applied to the City for designation as an enterprise project, and WHEREAS, the City finds that Chavez Contracting, Inc., 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 consider this Ordinance was held by the City Council of Wichita Falls on May 18, 2004. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS THAT: S ECTION 1, The City nominates Chavez Contracting, Inc. for enterprise project status. S ECTION 2, The following 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) Permitting preferences — Enterprise zone businesses will be processed prior to non - enterprise zone businesses; b) Streamlined Permitting — The City has established a one -stop permitting process which streamlines the development review process for permitting qualified businesses within the zone, c) The Wichita Falls Board of Commerce and Industry (BCI), in conjunction with Vernon Regional College, is pursuing a State of Texas Skills Development Grant that would include specialized educational skills training for Chavez Contracting, Inc. employees. SECTION 3, The North Enterprise Zone within the City is a reinvestment zone in accordance with the Texas Tax Code, Chapter 312. S ECTION 4 The City of Wichita Falls City Council directs and designates its City Manager as the City's authorized representative to act in all matters pertaining to the nomination and designation of qualified businesses and other entities in an enterprise zone or affected by an enterprise project. S ECTION 5 , The City of Wichita Falls City Council directs and designates its Director of Community Development 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. SECTI 6 , The City finds that Chavez Contracting, Inc. meel:s the criteria for designation as an enterprise project under Chapter 2303, Subchapter F of the Act on the following grounds: a) Chavez Contracting, Inc., 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 located in an enterprise zone in the governing body's jurisdiction and at least twenty -five percent (25 %) 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 Chavez Contracting, Inc., as an enterprise project will contribute significantly to the achievement of the plans of the City of Wichita Falls for development and revitalization within this portion of the downtown. SECTION 7, The enterprise project shall take effect on the date of designation of the enterprise project by EDT and terminate five (5) years after the date of designation. SECTION 8, This ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage as the law and charter in such case provides. S ECTION 9 , It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at which this ordinance was passed was open to the public as required by law. PASSED AND APPROVED this the 18" day of May, 2004. MAYOR ATTEST: City Clerk