HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-12 CC memo re edc discussion points
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Brit Fontenot, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT:
Refinements to the Economic Development Council’s Recommended Discussion Points Regarding the Implementation of the City’s Impact Fee Policies and Economic Development
MEETING DATE:
December 10, 2012
RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS: H. 2 - 5
At the November, 2012 EDC meeting, the Council discussed, edited and suggested changes to the recommended discussion points and
agreed that discussion points should be forwarded to the Commission in time for the discussion of the implementation of the impact fee policy.
The timing of EDC meetings and packet material
submittals did not align well and therefore the final refinements were unavailable at the time the memos were drafted. Since the inclusion of the preliminary points of discussion,
the EDC met and refined the discussion points for Commission consideration. The following language is offered in place of the language presently contained in Section F of the four
impact fee study memos, Action items H.1-4.
Impact Fees and Economic Development
A well integrated policy and regulatory environment is advantageous for both the public and private entities
who work with the regulations. The effect of the new impact fee methodology on the adopted work plan and implementation of the City’s Economic Development Plan should be considered in
the overall impact fee implementation discussion.
Ideally, in its’ consideration of the implementation of an impact fee policy, the Commission should discuss the synchronization of the
impact fee program with the Commission’s established economic development goals, priorities and policy initiatives.
The Economic Development Council (EDC) discussed the issue of impact
fees on numerous occasions, hosting various experts on the issue. The EDC has ongoing concerns regarding the effect of impact fees on economic development in the community. Through
their staff liaison, the EDC submitted the following discussion points for Commission consideration:
Identify specific sectors, job creating and industry diversifying sectors, with high growth potential, for deferral of commercial impact fees, or a percentage thereof, until the application
for Certificate of Occupancy.
Manufacturing and fabrication (industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale which may include but
are not limited to textiles, outdoor goods and products, bio-science and technology products and photonics)
Bio-Science and Bio-Technology (including but not limited to technological
applications that use biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific uses)
High-Technology (including but not limited
to aerospace, artificial intelligence, information technology, electrical engineering, information systems, nanotechnology, nuclear physics, robotics and telecommunications)
Photonics
(including but not limited to laser manufacturing, advanced measuring devices, biological and chemical sensing, medical diagnostics and therapy, display technology, and optical computing)
the
Outdoor industry (active outdoor recreation businesses including but not limited to manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, marketers, sales representatives and retailers in the industry)
Increase
Education and Information
Commit to training and educating employees that interface with investors and developers because there is value in appreciating that the City competes locally,
regionally and nationally to attract new and retain existing business. Economic development is everyone’s business.
Prepare materials to educate potential investors, business owners
and entrepreneurs on the impact fee program as it currently exists.
On a yearly basis, compare the City’s development fee schedule against the development fee schedules of other communities.
The
EDC approved the discussion points at its regular meeting held on December 5, 2012.
Report compiled on: December 5, 2012